Ad Chen

I started the challenge a bit late (on July 25th), so just for the record: My goals: run 4 times every week for 25-40 minutes (according to my training plan)almost 100%, just the last week when I run into some personal problems I got sidetracked a bit - grade A-do my gymnastics static and basic strength workout 4 times a week (also according to my training plan)almost 100%, as above - grade A-be able to do all gymnastics pre-reqs - i.e. to hold Hollow, Arch, Plank, Reverse Plank, Parallel Bar Support, Dead Hang positions for 60 secs, 3sets100% I did it! It was tough though! grade Astay smoke-freea complete failure - I give myself F+ (the plus for trying)Besides, during this time I have managed to do 5 clean consecutive chin-ups and greatly improved my max static holds (I'm shocked myself!). Waiting for the next challenge! Here's my thread: http://nerdfitnessrebellion.com/index.php?/topic/31938-ad-chens-first-6-week-challenge/

I started the challenge very late - on June 25th... so I'm not sure if I really should report it! Next challenge - definitely fighting the Smoke Dragon, that's something that bothers me for the last couple of months and starts to really get on my nerve! And I guess I will change my profession to Assassin as suggested before, since I want to concentrate on gymnastics for this year at least. Hiraedd, how come that you're an Assassin AND an Adventurer Guild Leader at the same time?

I started the challenge a bit late, so just for the record: My goals: run 4 times every week for 25-40 minutes (according to my training plan)almost 100%, just the last week when shit hit the fan I got sidetracked a bit - grade A-do my gymnastics static and basic strength workout 4 times a week (also according to my training plan)almost 100%, as above - grade A-be able to do all gymnastics pre-reqs - i.e. to hold Hollow, Arch, Plank, Reverse Plank, Parallel Bar Support, Dead Hang positions for 60 secs, 3sets[edit July 18th] 100% I did it! grade Astay smoke-freea complete failure - I give myself F+ (the plus for trying)Besides, during this time I have managed to do 5 clean consecutive chin-ups and greatly improved my max static holds (I'm shocked myself!). Waiting for the next challenge!

Yay for me!

Thanks so much, Hiraedd! I guess I just need time and lots, lots of patience, and sooner or later I will be ok. My 2.5-year relationship has just ended, both of us have made this decision... But it's very hard on us nevertheless. In fact, when I think about it, what we really wanted, was the relationship to work well, but it didn't, we just were not able to make it work well . Perhaps we tried too hard? And we built a lot of resentment along the way. Gosh... You're right, Hiraedd, one day at a time is the best - sometimes the only - solution. Nothing is for good, everything changes constatnly, ups and downs, and we need to know our chosen direction and keep going, no matter what pace, put one leg in front of another, and repeat, repeat, repeat, until the life gets brighter again.

July, 13th I didn't do anything. The crisis thing - still not easy but I'm well aware I need time and patience to endure the pain I'm experiencing now. I was reading a lot, analyzing the situation and doing lots of trivial things just in order to keep going. July, 14th Gymnastics - static strength: a big day, today I was checking my max holds and how they have improved after completing my 1 cycle (8 weeks, 4 days a week) of the gymnastic training. Here are the results:May, 15th: L-sit (L-sit - PB low): 10 sec ==> July, 14th: 38 sec ==> 3.8 times better, May, 15th: planche (Planche - frog stand): 6 sec ==> July, 14th: 65 sec ==> 10.8 times better, May, 15th: straddle-L (Straddle L - PB bent): 2 sec ==> July, 14th: 37 sec ==> 18.5 times better.

Thank you, Hiraedd..

July, 8th Running - as scheduled.July, 9th Stretching & joint mobility - almost as scheduled (I skipped a couple of stretches).July, 10th and July, 11th I didn't do anything. A huge life crisis that has made me unable to think about working out and basically about anything. July, 12th Running - as scheduled.Gymnastics static strength - as scheduled (finished the cycle! ).Trying to get back on my feet.

Nobody seems to be willing to accept this challenge, oh well.. c'est la vie. Another exercise aid - I'm not the first to use it but it's not the mainstream anyway, so why not to put it here? - plastic buckets filled with water. Except for regular lifting and carrying, why not to go back to the past and just use them to flush the loo? This way we lift it a couple of times a day, no extra workout time required.

July, 7th Gymnastics basic strength - as scheduled.Gymnastics static strength - as scheduled.Stretching & joint mobility - as scheduled.Smoking - just so-so.Today I absolutely wasn't in the mood for working out and almost let myself "have a rest day" (excuses, excuses...). It really feels great when you fight this laziness and do work out though

Thank you for the link, EmCarter

Thanks, DD!

July, 5th Stretching - done; joint mobility exercises - I didn't do them out of laziness (I will do them tomorrow).Smoking - no change.July, 6th Gymnastics basic strength - as scheduled.Gymnastics static strength - as scheduled.Stretching and joint mobility exercises (yesterday's routine) - as scheduled.Running - as scheduled.Smoking - no change.

OK, so that's what I came up with today. Simple and useful! What: sodas' plastic caps. How to use: just walk/stand on them. Why to use: preparing feet to barefoot running.

The challenge is to invent your own workout aid, exercise using it for the following week and of course post a photo! Why always pay money for stuff that we can make ourselves? Working out doesn't have to be expensive and we know it, right? Let's get started! Challenge time: 5-11 July 2013. What to do: think what everyday or easily obtainable stuff you can use as your exercise aid, use it for one week, in this thread post a picture and some explanation on how you exercise with the aid.Voila! That's all! I'm not sure if after completing the challenge we will be allowed to earn ourselves some points, I hope we will! Anybody for the challenge?

July, 4th Gymnastics basic strength - as scheduled.Gymnastics static strength - as scheduled.Running - as scheduled.Smoking - 2/3 of what I smoked yesterday.

I'll try not to beat myself up too much...

These are great goals, EmCarter! I like that you put your health first, I think it's the most important thing. From there we can built further and higher! I'm also a martial artist... at heart I did ving tsun kong fu and karate shotokan when I was in high-school (that was more than 20 years ago, time does fly like crazy, doesn't it!) and I am considering getting back to MA in the future. Let's see. As for now, I want to: get some upper-body lean and strong muscles,run marathon.

Thanks! Yes, I've been doing negatives for about a month now, it does help!

July, 3rd Gymnastics basic strength - as scheduled.Gymnastics static strength - as scheduled.Running - as scheduled.Smoking - no progress.I've been a bit weak today and not really in the mood for working out. Perhaps because I didn't have enough sleep last night. I'm glad I did work out in spite of the tiredness and lack of motivation. Feeling better now!

Just signed up! The next 6 week challenge as an Assassin!

Hahah, sorry! Made a mistake: it's not about pull-ups but chin-ups! I know, that's not many for many of you LOL but for me 5 clean consecutive chin-ups is something! YAY! As for pull-ups - a half is my personal norm and record so far

July, 2nd Stretching - as scheduled.Smoking: I was smoke free till 12:30 today, ie. for 21h 30 min . What a stupid roller-coaster, on-off, on-off!

Hi spoonymog!

A bit scared, they're ASSASSINS, lol! I'll take a look at what they specialize in and decide, thank you Hiraedd!