Mandelbaum

Wow - is this Week 4 already?? I took a "deload" week this past week. I still worked out, but I didn't do anything too taxing. It was time. I've been working out very hard and I think my cold/laryngitis was my body trying to tell me that I needed to cut back and recover. My first "real" workout was Saturday. This morning, my body said, My foot doctor is happy with my progress (that makes one of us - sigh.). I am going to keep using my Vibram Five Fingers and keep up with the walking on the beach. I see him again in two months. It still hurts and it is still red and swollen. I have only been walking on non-lower-body training days. That seems to be working. I, again, didn't do pull-ups. I moved the pull-up bar to the living room floor as a reminder, but now it just mocks me. <rolls eyes> Life Quest 1: I went to a minor league baseball game. I even ran into an old friend while I was there. I spent two of the innings playing with/supervising my two great-nieces on the playground equipment, which was fun. Life Quest 2: I sent in another job application. I also spent some time today putting the postings I'm interested in into a table. That way, I know which ones have a deadline (I missed one last week!!) and I can choose the one(s) that I want the most to work on next. I signed up for my first powerlifting meet! It's at the end of July. I'm glad to have something to work toward.

I finally started feeling better about three days ago - yay! Exercise - I still didn't get my pull-ups in! I'm not sure what the hang up is (no pun intended). Plenty of excuses, but none of them valid enough. I've done some walking on the beach. I've shifted to walking on days that I don't have training, which seems to be working. This is the best my foot has felt in as long as I can remember. I see my doctor on again on Thursday. Life Quest #1 - I didn't get anything in...where did the week go? This wasn't even on my radar. Life Quest #2 - I got two applications done today!! I've realized the reason I struggle with getting them done. They dredge up all of the "mis-steps" that have occurred to get me where I am now. Hopefully, being aware of the association that I've created will help me just let it go and knock out several more before next week. Also on the job front, I reached out this week to former colleagues and professors about doing some editing work. It's been good to re-establish some connections that I've let slide. Next week is going to be better. I've finished up facilitating some online courses, which should give me more free time to take care of myself!

Overall, I think this week was better than last. I am still sick, though. I even lost my voice for three days. I still had three solid days of training. I think I would have felt worse (mentally) had I let my illness keep me from the gym. Exercise: I did not get my pull-ups workout in this week. My body needed more recovery (time for a deload week, me thinks). I did physical therapy for my foot three times this week. I decided to alternate days, as I seemed to be aggravating things/causing pain. This coming week, I need to walk half the distance each day. That seems like it would be ideal. Life Quest 1: My outing was somewhat public...I volunteered at an elementary school's Spring Carnival. It did involve meeting and interacting with lots and lots of new people and that was the point. Life Quest 2: I submitted one job application this week. I hope to ramp it up and submit two next week.

As of Sunday, I am headed to my first powerlifting meet (also in FL, late July). Wildross, you had encouraging words and suggestions for me after my partly-awesome (deadlift PR), partly-disappointing (squat fail) performance at the Camp NF competition. Those words have stayed with me. Just wanted to say "thanks". I wish you luck on your challenge!

Yes! That episode was the inspiration for my username (I'm a Seinfeld nerd?). Soooo many funny quotes from that episode...

So, Week 1 was "interesting". Two things. I've been really sick for the last four days (don't do much more than sleep) and I had a doctor's appt for the same unresolved foot issue that lead me to my first 6-week challenge a year and a half ago. He told me to buy a pair of Vibram five finger shoes to wear (exclusively) for the next two weeks and to walk barefoot in the sand or grass each day as physical therapy. I'm not the best at doing at-home therapy, so I'm going to revise my nutrition goal to "walk 30 minutes barefoot in the sand or grass each day". The nutrition piece will sort itself out, as I contacted my workout partner to set up official training sessions 3x/week instead of our usual 2x/week (my nutrition issue is not eating often enough because I'm too busy working). Knowing that I'm going to have an intense workout will force me to eat leading up to the workout and then post-workout, too. Progress: 1) I only did squats and deadlifts this week due to illness/exhaustion, but I had a PR on my final set of 12 reverse hypers (175lbs). Woot! 2) I've done my daily walking on the beach. Painful, but I'm hopeful that it's making a difference. Life Quests: 1) I went to a kayak/SUP demonstration event yesterday morning. I tried out a SUP for the first time. It was fun! 2) I sent out one job application today - out of state, even - and I have about nine more positions printed out that I will tend to asap.

I would like to do academic advising at a college or university, preferably with student-athletes. I discovered my passion for it while working part-time while getting my doctorate in curriculum and instruction. My hurdle is convincing interview committees that I'm not over-qualified, just 'broadly prepared'. Camp Nerd Fitness gave me the courage to get out of my comfort zone and pursue advising! My squat PR/1RM is 165, bench is 120, and DL is 200. I have "Impossible List" mini-goals of a 195 squat (1.5x body weight), 130 bench (1x bw), and 228 DL (1.75x bw). I'm fairly new to powerlifting, so gains are still coming pretty steadily. I know consistency is what will pay off for me. Thanks for checking in! I'll add my weekly update separately.

Hey, Jen - thanks for joining! Check out my post: http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/63463-its-go-time-part-2/

Hello, again! This is my first challenge since the summer of 2014. I've been doing pretty well with my overall health and progress toward fitness goals, but my current job makes it challenging to keep these things in the forefront. I know how much happier I am when I am exercising regularly (I also eat better and get more sleep), so I knew it was time to hit the "reset" button with another 6-week challenge. Main Quest: Get stronger (bench 1.5x, squat 1.5x and deadlift 2x bodyweight) and maintain weight (within 5lbs) Goals - Exercise: Strength train 4x per week (bench, squat, deadlift, pull-ups) Nutrition: Log food intake daily in MyFitnessPal (get enough protein and healthy fats) Life Quest 1: Do one fun, public activity each week Life Quest 2: Submit at least one job application each week (unless I get hired before the six weeks are up!!)

Yay - Shaunty! On all accounts! Thank you for keeping in touch for these six weeks...it's really, really been helpful.

Six-Week Challenge results: 1) I went to the gym on Sunday night to "test out". Although I'd been doing a pull-up readiness routine for weeks, I'd not been able to do a chin-up yet (I'd tried a few times, here and there). Anyway...I did 2 chin-ups!! Yay - I honestly wasn't sure that I was going to be able to do one, let alone two. 2) I ended up with a "C" on this part of the challenge. I've learned some things along the way. Yes, the confidence to eat what I want in front of others is one of them. Just the other day, I had steak and eggs for breakfast (very unusual, but I had to use up the meat before it spoiled) and was amazed that it kept me feeling full for hours and hours. It was great. I'm trying it again this morning (but with pork this time). I also know that I need to start off my day right. If I start off 'relaxed' with what I eat (and how much I eat, really) then I seem to stay relaxed throughout the day. So, although my grade wasn't good on this part of the challenge, my awareness of my eating patterns and habits have increased. Plus - two good friends of mine (a married couple have just started eating Paleo now and are very excited about it). 3) I am still doing what I am supposed to with my foot. The second cortisone shot seems to be working so far. There is no running in my foreseeable future, unfortunately. My physical therapy is progressing, though (adding harder exercises each time). I've been icing it each day, too. I'm hoping that helps. Life Quest: I feel good about my progress with this goal. I am definitely more comfortable with venturing out on my own to attend public gatherings. I'm more comfortable when I'm there, but also more likely to venture out in the first place. It doesn't seem like such a big deal any more. Also, I started my self-defense class on Monday and am enjoying it.

What a week. My foot was hurting so bad that I made an appointment to see my orthopedist right when they opened Tuesday morning. He checked out my foot and then gave me another cortisone shot (in between the 2nd and 3rd toes this time; last time was between the 4th and 5th). If this doesn't work, I will get an MRI to (hopefully) find out what's going on. I am not sure what caused the pain to flare back up, but I am not going to go to Boot Camp until I am cleared to run. I was gone for Sunday/Monday for Labor Day (the sauteed cabbage and sauerkraut salad was a HUGE hit!). When I got home, I found that my shed had been broken into and two of my bikes had been stolen. I am getting nervous about my chin-up "test" on Sunday. I am resting up (no upper body workouts) and trying to get enough calories in so I'm at my best!

How is your week shaping up?

Mission 1: Getting a little nervous about being able to "complete" this mission. I have been doing my pull up exercises diligently, but don't seem to be making the progress I think I need to be able to complete a chin up within the next week....I'll keep moving forward though and see what happens. Mission 2: Peaks and valleys with my food intake. Started off weak, but have ended strong. For whatever reason, I have a renewed interest in being strict with my Paleo diet. I am dog-sitting for friends during our 4-day holiday weekend. Instead of trying to figure it out as I go along (like last time I was here), this time I packed some ingredients and snacks and went to the grocery store each day to grab something to make for dinner. My friends that I visited were surprised at how much I eat (big portions of meat and lots of veggies) and still look healthy. I am bringing my own meat and also a Paleo side dish to my parents' house tomorrow. I'm sure I'll get some looks and comments, but I don't care anymore. I know I'm doing what's best for me. Mission 3: I must have done something to aggravate my foot at Boot Camp on Wednesday. I know what exercises to avoid (which I did...no lunges, running, bear crawl, burpees), but I must have done something because it's hurt ever since. I've used little ice packs to try and calm the nerve down. I see my physical therapist on Tuesday and will ask him if he thinks that I should contact the orthopedist to get another cortisone shot (they work very closely with each other). Frustrating. I don't want Boot Camp to slow down my timeline to start running again, so I won't be going for a while. I'll find something else to take its place for a few weeks. Life Quest: Hmmm...looking back, I don't think I did anything this week that would qualify as meeting this goal. Somehow the time got away from me. I just put something in my planner to do for this coming week, though.

WOW. I am so impressed by your confidence - and at such a young age. I am just now getting to the point of not caring so much about what others think. Kudos to you! You inspire me. I am glad that you have such an open-minded teacher. It is tough to get students to accept one another's differences (I taught middle school [6th-8th grades, most are 12-14 years old]). I had to research XCO...I've never seen anything like that. Interesting. Will that be a regular part of your circuit training class? Did you like it? I am looking forward to making the Zuur­kool­sa­la­de for my family tomorrow!