Mortikar

I was wondering if anyone had experience with a good cable machine routine. I used to have my own squat rack and barbell set, but I moved from a house to a studio apartment. Now all my complex has is a few treadmills and one of those very versitile cable machines, like this one on amazon- XMark Functional Trainer Cable Machine with Dual 200 lb Weight Stacks XM-7626 (Not sure if links are allowed). I was doing the Stronglifts 5x5 with the barbell, and that felt great, since moving I haven't moved the iron for several months. I want to try to use the apartment gym until I can get my diet and motivation under control, then spring for the 24-hour fitness down the street. But in the meantime I need to make due.

Hey everyone. I moved to Denver (E. Hampden/Tamarac-Quebec area) back in September and I'm just now getting into a normal rhythm, wanting to start lifting weights again and getting more active. If anyone is in the area for a workout buddy, let me know. Also, I'm super interested in getting in on some meetups, or recruiting some pals for my downtown adventures.

Day 1 (1 day late) I've been a member of these forums for over a year now and have fallen off putting health as a priority for most of that time. I'm back in the saddle and ready to start changing things around again. There's a lot of changes going on in my life right now. I'm doing some major renovations on my home--finally going to have to a garage to put in woodworking tools and have a nice big area to work out in. I decided to get braces last year, so those will be coming off very soon and I'll have a nice shiny smile before too long. So with all these changes I thought I would start out small for this six week challenge. I think losing 20 pounds and getting to a nice round threshold of under 300 pounds over 12 weeks is doable. And as I haven't been under that weight in about 3 years, it would be quite a feel-good achievement. I know my second goal may conflict with that--doing weightlifting, however I simply want to get into the habit. Right now I'm looking into doing the bodyweight excercises from this website just to get a schedule going. I made myself one of those TRX bands quite some time ago so it would be a good time to get that going as well. The work on my garage is supposed to wrap up this week, so I can start moving things (like my heavy punching bag and elliptical) out of my crowded 3rd bedroom and into a more manageable space. I've been working in the IT field for about 5 years now for a very small company and recently decided to get my A+ cert, which I passed a few weeks ago. Looking forward to the Network+ material, I already know quite a big chunk of that information, so I want an agressive goal of passing that cert within the next few weeks. The old version of the test gets retired in August, and I have already paid for my voucher. So if I don't do it by July 19, I definitely need to do it by August (i forget the day), or lose that money!

1) Pick your main goals By July 19 (2 6-week challenges), I want to be under 300 pounds, which is about 20 pounds from the writing of this post. By May 24, I want to be regularly lifting weights 3 times a week. 2) Pick your side quests By July 19, I will pass my Network+ Certification

*End of Challenge* The last two weeks were crazy hectic for me. I've been coloring pages for my side job like crazy. We have a big meeting with a publisher coming up soon so we need to get half of the book done. I have like 5 to go D: And I totally let my diet go. Two weeks ago I went on a binge and I'm not proud of it. But it happened. So this week I'm going for an all fish diet to get kick started back on track. Scores: 1) Get to week 6 of C25K. I only made it to week 4 Score: D +2 STA 2) Work out on TRX. Never got around to this! Score: F 3) Strict Paleo. i think my grading was too harsh on this. I was great until the last week. Score: F Overall: F! I did lose about 4 pounds though, But I was expecting to lose a lot more!

Wow grats Nat! Nice scores all around!

Week 4 has been alright. I haven't been running, have a few too many coals in the fire right now. The D20 group I was helping to start up shattered because the other guy dropped out, so now I'm trying to look into absorbing those members or something else... Also got into archery and bruised up my arm pretty good . And then an old friend was visiting so lots of hanging out with her. And now that school is back on, I have games to go watch from my newphews. So, busy busy... In fact, right now I need to do some coloring. I've been slacking on that quite a bit and the writer is getting upset with me

So my plateu finally broke. I reached 2 pounds past a barrier that I haven't been to yet. (I always float around 1-4 pounds at any given time, I usually use my lowest weight possible for refrence). I'm almost positive I'll win the first 3 week period for the biggest loser competition. 2 weeks to go, I'm hoping to get to the 270's by then. Currently 282. Starting weight 309. Starting weight for the NF challenge was... 286. So, 4 pounds (after my 3 week plateu), and a total loss of 27 pounds.

Way to go Stacee! I'd probably be the guy that got the 200 question test That's very good though, I'm so proud of you! And c3, nice! I love that feeling when you go down a pant size. My pant size down fits, but isn't entirely comfortable, while every week my current pants feel a bit looser.

Hah that was the same for me yesterday. It was a run day and I just said, "nope!" Breaks are good as long as its just a short break.

Baron, I am loving it. It challenges me. I never used to like running. In fact, my entire life I always said, "I aint runnin unless theres a cop or a dog behind me." And I skirted through PE in high school and college avoiding it as much as I could. I've always been a bad runner. Running flat-footed and wreaking havok on my shins. I still do, but as the days go on I'm finally "learning" how to properly run just from doing it so often. But I started experiencing runner's high, I think. And it feels really good. So now I love running. It is hard, and sweaty, and makes me huff and puff but I've learned to enjoy the feeling and my dog loves me for it when I take him. The C25k program is a great way to give you a little direction in how to get up and going again. I tried learning how to run back in college and did my own thing on a treadmill which was boring and got stale quickly for me. Now I run outside at a school around the football field, sometimes I meet people and have a little chat. Sometimes my dog meets new dogs to socialize with. Sometimes I get to really appreciate the weather (The desert has some of the most amazing sunsets you'll ever see). So to me it's more than just going out and completing a time trial. It is getting fit, and so much more. And the C25k program takes a lot of the thinking out of it. I also got a free program on my phone and now I don't even have to check the times (I run times, not distances, but most programs give you benchmarks for both) and it makes a little chime and tells me to start walking, or start running, etc. Very cool. Now I can concentrate on the run and not on the clock. I'm sure any program out there works just as well. But this one is designed to work around someone who has never ran a mile in their life. The zombies one sounds fun too.

Yeah, doing Paleo. So no grains to cut out. I have been tracking my meals on the livestrong website. It gives you a breakdown of everything you never wanted to know about ratios for what you're consuming. Including if you are over the limit on sodium, cholesterol, what percent is fat, carb, and protien. Pretty snazzy stuff. I was using it when I first started paleo and quickly noticed I was way under my recommended goals for losing 2 pounds a week and so I stopped tracking. But yeah, it has to be something obvious that I'm not noticing. I had paleo spaghetti this week again and upon entering the recipe in the databse, quickly saw that I need to switch ground beef with ground turkey. I need to start making breakfast at home again (which i've been lazy and buying at the cafeteria the past few weeks), and make my eggs and turkey bacon again. And good tip on the bananas. I'll look into that as well. I haven't been buying fruit because nothing has been on sale. Except figs at $2 each, which I hardly consider a "sale" xP so I've been having the cafeteria's bananas. In fact, i should cut out all beef and substitute for turkey. So after 1 day I've already found a few problems. I should have this sorted by the end of the week. I'll see if there's a way to link my nutrition log.

Your food logs are making me hungry! Keep up the great work. I hate moving too. I usually wait till the last minute and shove everything in garbage bags and let God sort out the rest!

I'm so proud of you Nat! You show that scale how robots do! I will try to channel your robotic tendencies this week.

Stacee, how's your C25k going? I went up to week 4 and it's kicking my butt! I have a feeling I'm going to finish strong tonight though.