Chi

Okay, it's time to get back onto the exercise wagon. Some things happened. During the middle of the previous six weeks challenge, my first six weeks challenge, pieces of my world crumpled down around me. There was a lot of pressure coming from unbalanced family members and friends, and I let it affect my newly established work out motivation. Though I tried not to freak out about slipping in my Krav Maga attendance and my stretching routines, I succumbed to the fear and frustration and just kind of broke from it. Though I did manage to get to Krav Maga class once in a while, there was little hope for completing my challenge, and I just let Nerd Fitness slip away for a while. I'm sure it happens to lots of people, and I'm not ashamed that it happened to me. Continuing exercising is going to be harder than I want it to be, and it's going to test my own insecurities and willpower. Support is extremely important, I've found, and the past week I reached out for some of that support. Reenlisting in the Rebellion could help me gain more support. I hope it does because having classes on Monday and Friday, then 8-9 hour internship on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, along with some work on the weekends, is going to be pretty intense. So intense that I am positive that regular exercise will help me succeed. So here goes! Progress Two weeks ago I went to the gym. I had signed up several months ago, but stopped attendance due to lack of direction. In order to alleviate this, I got a free fitness plan consultation with a certified trainer. Her name is Shelby and though I only met with her once, so far, I have been able to stick with the routine. Gym Stuff: Two days a week, one hour per day, workout. Since I have never lifted heavy things before, she suggested I start getting into the routine by using machines. Later on I plan to move to free weights and body weight exercises, but I'm happy to start where I am starting. The first day is upper body and core focused. I start by doing fifteen minutes of interval training on the arc trainer, then transition to six different arm exercises, and finish up with an ab twist workout and a Spider-man plank. Doing workouts with superhero names is fun, but planking is really hard. I fall down about halfway through the minute and get up again to finish it up. The second day is lower body and core focused. I start by doing five different leg exercises and squats for floor exercise, ab twist and Spider-man plank, and then finish up with fifteen minutes of interval training on the arc. So far I've been able to go consistently twice a week. This is my third week and I haven't gone yet, so I'm looking at today, tomorrow, or Sunday. Being flexible with this one to try different days and times at the gym to see what the level of busy is, and the atmosphere. The gym has turned out to be quiet, cool, and not overcrowded, so far. The story might be different in the evening. Krav Maga: Finally I reached out to one of my instructors, Elisabeth, and talked about the trouble I was having with Krav Maga. Mainly motivation and anxiety focused, I have been standing in my way to attending my classes more regularly. Talking with her allowed me to vent a little, get some feedback, and obtain a manageable level of accountability. I will post what we did in class today, and will be attending class two times next week as was suggested. Hopefully in my final-month-to-school countdown, I can get into the long sought-after rhythm. At least if someone knows that I'm struggling, I have someone to contact and who knows when I should be there, and will look for me. This does a lot of good. I'm convinced that's really why teachers tend to take attendance. It's accountability. And now for something completely different... Hula Hooping Actually, I've really liked hula hooping for a while. It's dance-oriented and trick oriented, and I'm hoping to try to get into it again. In fact, I've ordered a hoop from a friend of mine who teaches classes and makes hoops. One of my friends, Stephanie, has actually had a deal of success with hooping. She loves it, almost like a spiritual practice, and has lost some weight having fun. Though I haven't a precise hooping plan, yet, I'll be working on something once I get the new hoop. More to come!

Friday, June 22, 2013 -- Biked for 1 mile

Saturday, June 15, 2013 -- Walked (fast-paced) for two miles outside around a lake Wednesday, June 19, 2013 -- Walked (fast-paced) for two miles outside around a lake

So it's been a slow week, but I'll not be discouraged. Adjusting to life, and all its nemeses is an important skill for anyone. Jumped back in this morning with a little refresher on the roller. Accomplishments: 1. Foam Roller a. Upper back roll. Roll and pause on tension points and wait for release. 4 up-and-back rolls. b. Neck roll. Rest neck on roller and turn head slowly from side to side, pausing and releasing tension. c. Back release. Lie on foam roller, supporting entire spine, and allow limbs and body to relax. 2 minutes.

Thanks for the feedback guys and gals. I think I'm going to foot the $60 to attend their handgun disarming seminar on Sunday instead of stress now. I'm SO not ready for level 2 classes, so I don't think I'll be attending them anytime soon. If I decide to do something else, I'll go to the gym and do shadow boxing. Thanks for the suggestion, cob. Every time I think I want a Reese's Cup? I go and try to get something else that's okay for me to have. Like some peanut butter, or even some honey on apples. Or, one of my favorite other snacks, popcorn. But it is tough! What's tougher for me are the potato chips that linger on top of the refrigerator. I am blessed to have only a minor sweet tooth. Chi

Today is going to be tough, guys. I have a meeting at work when I should be going to Krav Maga. It's the only remaining class I can attend this week around work and at my level. This means that I'm going to only have one class this week instead of my promised two. So, I'm trying to come up with some kind of exercise that is compensatory. I've considered going to the gym and finally asking them to make a fitness instruction appointment for me, and maybe doing some running? T-T Ehhh, I'm not sure what to do. I feel his disappointment... searching for me. Saraahh.

David Bowie is my other other hero. This week, let's all avoid this:

Dear Cob, I am using fictional characters more of an inspiration and for fun. I think I have real-life role models, but I am being totally realistic about this challenge! Basically, I chose things that I told myself I wanted to do, anyway, and was working towards, and created a level of accountability. If I'm not accountable to myself, I'll hear it from The Batman. And just in case anyone was wondering, I'm writing down what I do in the Epic Quest section. This, as far as I am concerned, counts towards my Epic Poetry challenge. If you want to be whisked away... Here is a Link. Also, I plan on doing weekly updates and reflections on this thread, rather than daily ones. I think I'll have more data and to share at the end of each week! Thanks to everyone for being so supportive, I'll be combing through your all's challenges soon. So beware! Chi

Wednesday, June 05, 2013 -- Despite some minor anxiety about attending Krav Maga class throughout the day, I tried to just relax. Before this challenge, I had a bad habit of psyching myself out before class and procrastinating. Now that I've committed to a twice-a-week schedule, it's either make it or don't. Let's stick with the "make it" option! Accomplishments: 1. Attended level 1 Krav Maga class from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. a. Jogging to warm up: jogged with high knee, jogged with "butt-kickers", strafed to inside and outside of building, around the strip mall. Near the end I got really tired, so I kind of speed-walked the rest of the way. Last one back into the classroom. b. Squats, jumping jacks, shoulder-tag, close-quarters random partner shoulder-tag with squat penalty for being tagged c. Straight Punches, Straight Palm-Strikes (need to work on speed and recoil, and to remember to properly tuck thumb) d. Controlling/Turning Attacker (remember to keep arm against chest/throat) e. Groin Kick (need to work on pointing toe to kick with whole shin-to-shoelaces area of leg) f. Knee while Controlling/Knee while in Fighting Stance (keep arm in seat-belt position and gain more distance? in order to deliver more force) g. Knees while Controlling and Awareness of Environment: When instructors yelled, "RUN!" we ran and tagged an exit after kneeing partner h. One-handed break from choke and palm-strike combo. i. Plus false strikes, including freestyle knees, kicks, hammerfists, and straight punches ii. Plus false strikes and turning to face second partner for for straight punches Mood: Today I experience less-anxiety, overall, and addressed the issue from this past Sunday. I made a conscious decision to cut out some of my ritualization before class when I realized that focusing on going to class was the root of a lot of my anxiety. It doesn't have to be such a big event, just like my college classes, and it won't be so scary. I would rate my mood at a 7 today. While in class, I had two moments where I just wanted to stop because I was so tired. These thoughts didn't get much space to grow, but I think they're probably normal. After tiring out and slowing down while jogging around the building, I realized I should work on my jogging stamina. So I may add a side-quest to my challenge to try and go to the local gym and do some jogging once in a while. Soon I will also talk to one of the instructors after class. Today they had to get to their next class, and I was kind of unsure of what to ask, anyway, but I think I need to consult with them about how I'm doing. Everyone at the dojo is really encouraging, but I feel that I am kind of lame. Today was a successful day!

Yikes! Grats on going to class and getting all of that done. Shucks on the yawning. We have burpees too, at my Krav Maga class, but they consist of different grueling things. XD

The Battle Log of Chi "Atoms Attempting to Understand Themselves" Tuesday, June 04, 2013 -- Captain's Log... After yesterday's customary homework procrastination day, the journey has begun. My boyfriend recently told me that physicists were only atoms trying to understand themselves, but I think it might apply to all of us. My atoms are currently trying to understand how to respond to relaxing (see 'exercising' on tomorrow's log). Accomplishments: 1. Stretching (routine originated in previous yoga class) a. Roll foot on the floor, rotating ankle: 11 rolls one way and 11 rolls the other way, per foot. b. Roll knees. Place hands above knees with knees and feet together. Rotate knees 10 times both ways. c. Hip rolls. 10 times one way, 10 times the other way. d. Waist twist. With arms out to the side, swing to rotate waist and look over shoulder at a fixed point. 20 times. e. Roll shoulders forward 20 times and back 20 times. f. Tense and stretch hands -- clench to fists and stretch out. Repeat several times. g. Forearm/Wrist rotations. Loosely lace fingers, rolling hands in a circle. Roll 10 times and then reverse. h. Roll neck. Stare at a fixed point and rotate head one way, 10 times, then the other way, 10 times. i. Forgot to stretch up spine! 2. Stretch Out Strap routine a. Hamstrings (page 6-7): 3 repetitions of tense, relax, and 10-second stretch per leg. b. Hamstrings (page 8): 3 repetitions of tense, relax, and 10-second stretch per leg. c. Inner Thighs (page 23): 3 repetitions of tense, relax and 10-second stretch. d. Hip Rotators (page 31): 3 repetitions of relax and 10-second stretch per side. e. Front of Shoulder (page 34): 3 repetitions of tense, relax, and 10-second stretch per side. f. Torso (page 35): 2 stretches per side. g. Chest and Shoulders (page 38 modified): 4 front-to-back over-head circles. 3. Foam Roller a. Upper back roll. Roll and pause on tension points and wait for release. 4 up-and-back rolls. b. Neck roll. Rest neck on roller and turn head slowly from side to side, pausing and releasing tension. c. Back release. Lie on foam roller, supporting entire spine, and allow limbs and body to relax. 2 minutes. Mood: Despite an anxiety-provoking Sunday, the psychological tenseness has started to ease. On a scale from 1 (worst) to 10 (best), I would rate my mood at a 6. I woke up with some dull pain in my lower right hamstring and it was temporarily pain-free after stretching, but the pain has returned. Shoulders are more relaxed than this morning. After the back-release exercise, my back (sans neck) is much more supple. Neck is an ongoing issue and will require constant attention to address. That's a wrap! Feel free to comment, if you like. Updates tomorrow.

Dear Arch Nemesis Nivek, I encourage you to try and keep up with me! I want a challenge in our inevitable duel. This means I may have to start creeping on your posts to seek to understand your secrets, though I would never stoop so low--let's just call it "detective work." In response to p.s. : I didn't really notice they were supposed to add up to 15. I suppose I can give myself extra points! I just thought that what I put was a fair assessment of what I would be doing, but the 15 thing makes sense. In response to p.p.s. : Where I am still considering making a battle log, it has yet to be decided. It's almost sacrilege for a pending member of the bat family to write down their secrets in any place other than in the bat computer. You know how Bruce likes to keep tabs and make contingency plans. Let's not mention Tower of Babel.

This is the best. theme. ever. XD I can't wait to see you make it work.

By that I mean, how do we post updates? Will there be separate threads for them, or just continuations on to our original posts?

I think we have to be arch enemies if you like Damien better than Drake! That's written in stone somewhere, man. In the future, when many moons have passed, we will have a duel, and to that day I look forward. Until then, enjoy your travels and pick up a martial art, because you'll need it! >:3 Also, I wish you luck on your journey and hope to see your progress as you go!