TheMightyMinotaur

Well, sounds like I'm in good company. Fizzling is exactly what happened to me last challenge. Best of luck to everybody.

Hello, everybody! This thread is take two because last challenge I let life get away with me and sort of gave up. Not on being healthy in general, just on my challenge. I had goals that were a little too lofty for me to keep while taking 16 credits. Turns out I don't have enough will to run every day while reading entire books in weekends and cramming for tests. Who knew? Anyways. My long term goal is getting close, actually. My long term goal is that on my birthday, December 29th, I weigh 200 pounds or less and/or fit into a medium shirt. As for some perspective, when I started back in March I weighed 279 pounds, now I weigh 211 pounds, roughly. I wear a large right now, which is down two sizes from when I started, I'm down 3, possibly 4 pants sizes. My motivation is not really anything too shocking at the moment. I'm this close, it'd be a shame to fail now. So, my goals. 1. I get some gym time in, three times a week. (+1 STR) I'm taking a weight training course through my college's health and exercise sciences department. It meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. So, getting some time in the gym shouldn't be an issue. Unless I decide to skip. 2. I get an hour of cardio in a week. (+1 STA) During September I did the Hard Hat Challenge and I ran every day. I thought I could keep this up during the school year, not so, it turns out. So, getting an hour in should be a sufficient challenge. 3. I eat near 100% Paleo a minimum of one day a week. (+1 CON) This is something I've done every challenge and it's one of the things I didn't give up on last challenge. I'm not in charge of all of my food, because I live with my folks, so once or more a week is good, considering it would be close to impossible to do it every day of the week. Best I can do. 4. I've finished three books by the end of the challenge. (+1 WIS) This is one I did last challenge and even though I didn't technically finish the challenge, I did finish that goal. So I'm gonna do it again. You can always read more books. So that's me. One thing that has been difficult in the past is I think I've been a little lone wolf-y about all of this. If I don't find a squad, I might make one. So. Yeah. There's that.

So. Today I had gym time again. 8x4:117 Back extensions 8x4:Body sit-ups on that bench thing, yet again. 6x4:125 Bench press 6x4:35 Barbell Rows 6x4:??? Leg Press (The infernal machine didn't actually have weights marked on the plates.) 6x4:15 Seated Bicep curl 6x4:30 Tricep extension Also the dinner party went really well.

So, how's it goin? Today I was in the gym again. I'm really digging this, but not sure how much I'm enjoying the actual class. Being in the gym is good, being in the class is okay, but I think I'd enjoy it more just getting the credit for working out three times a week. I posted a detailed account of my experience in the gym today in my battle log. One thing I will tell you. Kinda sad that I'm not stronger. It's irritating. I remember being much stronger than this in a lot of things in High School. It's gonna take longer than I thought to upstage the dudebros.

Right, so today was gym day again, but I was all by my lonesome this time. I started my workout with 10 minutes on the cross-trainer thing..machine... It works sort of like an elliptical machine, so... It seemed like a good choice for my starting cardio. Then I went through a bunch of weights stuff. I'm enjoying working out in a gym even though it isn't as comfortable and private as my house. Also I did some stuff machines today that I didn't before because I didn't have a spotter and it seemed safer. Also did some things freeweights that I did machine on Friday, because I remembered how to do them. So, what I did today. 8x3:117 Back extensions 8x3:Body sit-ups on that bench thing again. 6x3:125 Chest Press (machine) 6x3:35 Barbell Rows 8x3:87.5 Leg Extension 8x3:87.5 Leg Curl 6x3:15 Seated Bicep curl 6x3:30 Tricep extension So. I remembered Rows are what you do to work the opposite muscles from the push-ups in the BBWW, so I added weight. I didn't do bench presses today because I didn't want to run the risk of getting the weight stuck on my chest cause that almost happened on Friday. Also I switched to seated bicep curls because I swing too much if I do them standing and free. I don't know how it affects how it works your muscles, it just seemed like the sing to do. Also, not fitness but life related, a lady from my church is throwing a dinner party for the young adults tomorrow night. I'm excited. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

So, this morning was my first in-gym workout of my own volition. It was pretty awesome. Got a buddy of mine to join me and we worked out for about an hour. I'm going to note my weights on things as (Reps)x(Sets):(Weight) so that you can follow along. Goill ahead and assume anything that works a single limb I did one movement with each limb for the count. I did: 6x3:135 benchpress. 6x3:871/2 Lat Pulldown. 10x3:Body Sit-ups on the little rack/bench thing that gives you more range of movement. 10x3:100 back extensions. 12x3:20 bicep curls 10x3:30 tricep extensions 10x3:80 leg curls 10x3:80 leg extensions Then after all that I ran for 5 minutes on the treadmill. I still have difficulty actually running. Doing stuff like an elliptical or a stationary bike is easy for me, but actually running just sucks for me. Don't really know why. I've also been thinking about supplementing my diet on days I work out with some kind of protein supplement because most of what my diet is or has been is portion control, considering I don't make all of my own food. So some days, it's hard to make sure I get enough protein and if I'm building muscle, I really want to make sure I get enough. I know at the moment I'm not trying to "gain" really but I am trying to build plenty of strong, dense, and maybe even large, muscle. So... Yeh. I don't really know what I'm doing with all of this.

So, weekly roundup. I got a bit of gym time in on Wednesday, really worked out today. I hurt all over and it's awesome. I'm going to post more detail about the workout in particular in my battle log, but I've nailed my paleo day and started a new book so we'll see how things go with all of that next week.

Hey everybody. I'm not dead. I don't have much to post about anything battle-loggy, but I'm not dead, and I thought you all deserved to know considering I disappeared for like a week.

Okay, I'm terrible. Just absolutely terrible. I skipped most of last week. I think I did one workout. I ran a couple times? I've been neglecting my workouts and running pretty hard. I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things now that the weight training class I signed up for is really going, basically I have money and a college credit riding on working out three times a week. And considering I have something like two hours in between the time that class is over and my next class begins, I'll be able to stay late and get a full workout in if I so choose. What I have been hitting well are my other two goals. I haven't let any paleo days get past me and I've finished two books. I finally finished Blood Meridian on Saturday and about half an hour ago I finished The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. It made me cry. Like a little girl. I wept. That's actually why I finally decided to come back and actually, you know, participate like I signed up for. Cause it only makes sense. And I have a need for people to understand the fact that a piece of fiction just demolished my emotional strength. That happened. Other things, that weight training class I talked about is looking good. It "started" on Monday, but today was the first day we actually did anything. The book we have for it is pretty decent. It mentioned how ladies aren't built right to get bulky and should lift heavy, and how "tone" isn't a thing, and how diet is most of the battle when losing weight. So I'm feeling pretty confident that it's at least good information I'm getting. Unfortunately the instructor doesn't want us to use freeweights until we go over them in class unless we have experience, spoiler alert, I don't. So I'm stuck using the machines, which are lame and dumb. I want to squat deep and deadlift enough to make the obnoxious curl bros shit themselves. I want that. But no, can't do that yet.

Awesome! You've got good kids. If we do this again, you've gotta bring them. Also, glad you liked the trail mix. I have like... A pound of a it left, it's probably going to last me a few weeks.

I'm posting two days late, forgive me! I did my workout on Friday as per usual, not much special there. I'm gonna do one more week with my core times at 45 and 25, but after that I should be okay considering I start weight training next Friday. I am pretty psyched about that. Also, I went hiking yesterday with metal_weaver and FalseAesop and we had a blast. Weaver posted some great pictures on the meet up thread including some great pictures of the landscape, plus an awesome one of me at the peak of the eastern bluff. Go hiking sometime, I'd never been and it's super awesome. As far as challenge stuff goes, I missed my first day for the Hard Hat Challenge, but that's okay because I hiked for like 5 miles, so it's not like I didn't do anything, I was just completely worn out by the time I got home. Peace, e'rebody.

Nope, after that when Jorah stops the wine seller from poisoning her. What a week though. Holy cow. I got all of my workouts in I got a lot of reading done and I had my paleo day. I missed a day running, unfortunately, but that was yesterday, My excuse was I was hiking 6+ miles with metal_weaver and FalseAesop. After 6+ miles of steep up and downs, by the time I got home my legs had decided they were too tired to run. That's okay. They earned their rest. Be sure to check out weaver's pictures, there's some killer shots in there. Good week? Great week. Also, I'm giving myself the title Bluff Conqueror, because I think I earned it.

Whell, this was a crazy good time and all of you who missed it really did miss out. Even though we got absolutely soaked. I'm gonna do a write up about the trip sometime this week, so keep on the look out for that.

Apparently I lied. Disregard me saying I was bringing a friend. Because I'm not, my friend won't be able to make it, so you can expect just me. Still bringing paleo-trail mix and water.

Awesome, awesome, awesome. I did manage to wrangle one of my friends into coming, so there's that. I'm planning on making some paleo-friendly trail-mix for before, during, or after the hike, cause I'm nice like that, and I'm also going to bring plenty of water, for the same reason. I'm getting super pumped. Had a co-worker ask me to switch shifts with him and I got to say, "Nope, I've got plans, I asked off for Saturday," which was fun.

Weaver, your math is so much better than my math. There is a reason I'm taking college algebra again. So, yesterday's workout was my most badass workout yet. I'd been letting Game of Thrones marathon in the background while I wrote papers, so I paused that and ran for 15 minutes and then I did my three circuits while Game of Thrones played. I did push-ups to the oath of the Nights Watch and I did squats to Khal Drogo pledging the kingdoms of Westeros to Daenerys Stormborn. It was magnificent.

So, yesterday's workout was my most badass workout yet. I'd been letting Game of Thrones marathon in the background while I wrote papers, so I paused that and ran for 15 minutes and then I did my three circuits while Game of Thrones played. I did push-ups to the oath of the Nights Watch and I did squats to Khal Drogo pledging the kingdoms of Westeros to Daenerys Stormborn. Anyways, 3 circuits, still at 22 per circuit for squats and lunges, planks at 45 seconds, my added flutter kicks still at 15 and the side bridges at 25 seconds.

Consider my fancy struck. But you probably already knew that.

Well! I'm still going to go. I asked off and everything. I've been looking forward to this for a while. I've wanted to check out more of our state's natural attractions since I was inspired by a friend who toured the nation with Americorps. So yeah. You can still count me in.

Are we all still good for this Saturday? I'm getting pretty excited. Do we have a general headcount?

So, today was a good day. Just finished my workout, I know it's pretty late, but hey, better late then never. Also got a ton of reading done today, which is pretty great. Blood Meridian is a complex book, though I'm hoping some things become a bit more clear as it goes on. You all start your week on the right foot?

Better late then never right? I just finished my workout, typing this up at 10:47PM. I ran my fifteen minutes and I did my three circuits. I upped my planks and my side bridges by 5 seconds each. My core hurts, in a good way. Today was a good day. Looking way forward to the Wisconsin area Devil's Lake meetup/hike this weekend. Sad-thing though is that I've invited people to go with me and thus far everybody's bailed.

So my first week went well. Technically I sort of missed a day of running. Kind of. I ran for about 7 and a half minutes. But! Those were outside. Actually running. Which I haven't done of my own volition in probably forever. I need more training and better footwear before I start really hitting it. It was fun though even though my shins still hurt. I'm counting it, I had to walk 12 minutes home. Everything else has been golden this week. I probably need to pick up the pace on my reading a bit more, because Blood Meridian is a long book. Also, Nerd sharing time! I've been perfecting my Magic: The Gathering deck with a friend, spent last night doing that. I'm going to be running a zombie mill where my output every round is (1/2x)*16 where x is the number of zombie type cards I have out. If my math is right, starting with 8 zombies, I could have 2048 zombies in two rounds. F*** Yeah, zombies!

So, Saturday was my workout day, cause I shifted everything. I've been keeping on top of my daily running, so no worries there. But anyways, yesterday morning I ran outside of my own volition for the first time ever. I learned a couple things. One, I am not prepared to run outside and my elliptical does not in actuality prepare me for real running. I'm gonna train up. I ran for 7.5 minutes and walked home for around 12, so I'm counting it as running my 15 on my elliptical, because it wore me out just as much if not more. So, my three circuits went well. I'm planning on upping the time on my planks again. My standard 3 circuits is what I did though. Felt good too. I still hurt from all that running though. Apparently I haven't used certain muscles in a while.

Heyo everybody. This week has been full of asskickery thus far. I haven't missed a day running, I've hit my paleo day, and I've gotten a long ways through Blood Meridian. I had to shift my midweek workout so that just means that it's MThSa this week instead of MWF. All good though. I had to pick up a bunch of paleo friendly foods at the grocery today because I ended up eating something like a pound of chicken to hit my calorie Goldilocks range and that kinds sucks. Beef Jerky and fruit. Awesome stuff. Hope you are all doing fantastic.