Raev

I work in Dearborn, a block away from Detroit.

I wish I could join ya. I used to be fairly active here and an active lifter. That was until I was diagnosed with a genetic bone disease that's impacting my right leg. I have orders against running, jumping or lifting/carrying a load. Squats and deadlifts with a barbell were specifically ruled out by the specialist, due to the location of a bone tumor in the fibula. I got depressed. Got lazy. Got weak. Got out of shape. I'm trying to fight through this. Figured looking and seeing how the Rebellion is doing may help.

*Former Warrior gangsign*

I'm in for all of the mini wars.

Friday I worked with a therapist on my legs. It was a long, very painful process that I can still feel today. They are slowly improving though. Hopefully it won't be much longer before I get a thumbs up to resume leg work. As weird as it is to say, I miss doing the split leg Bulgarian squats! Saturday With the blessings of zee therapist, I did a break in hike. Over the winter season my wife, daughter and I all upgraded packs and hiking footwear. I also picked up a few more accessories. Before we are doing the massive trek in July, we want to have all the kinks in our gear worked out and do a half dozen or so dry runs of our game plan so that we are prepared. We loaded the packs up as if we were about to do 8 hours on a Newfoundland mountain and hit a trail. Because it's our first of the season and my leg issues, it was a fairly even trail with only minor elevation changes and no real surprises. We did 5 miles, figured out a few gear tweaks we need to make and had a pretty good time. Photography We took our dslr out with us and took our time so we could snap some pics. I haven't had a chance to pull them off of the memory card yet but once I do I'll post any that are worth sharing. Today After work and a trip to the barber shop, I'll be hitting the upper body/core pretty hard. Elevated pushups, rows, dips, assisted pullups (the downside of being 6'4" 215lbs, those are hard as eff on me!), assisted chinups then the finisher of Tabata style pushup/side plank/row/other side plank. AMRAP 20 seconds, rest 10, next position. 3 cycles.

Yesterday: Rested lower body. 4 sets of Dumbbell incline chest press x12 Dumbbell row x4 3 sets of Seated incline press x12 Bent over rear delt raise x25 Side lateral raise x12 3 sets of Cable overhead tricep extension x12 curl up/hammer down dumbbells x12

So, yesterday I was supposed to work out. I gave it a pass though, as walking was bringing some discomfort (see: hip flexor) and I knew there was no way I'd get through a routine. I tried a plank but upon tightening up everything for the hold I experienced pain. So, I stretched and did mobility/roller work instead. Tomorrow I work with my trainer, who is going to blast my upper body since I can't do lower body work. I can't wait to see what barbell and dumbbell work he has planned! /sarcasm (I like him but he works me until I want to puke, which is less than fun lol).

I couldn't do it. I work with a few fellas that are gym rats and the running phrase among us is "We all know *** don't run unless he's being chased!"

I would if I could. Google is blocked for me, I can't access anything they are tied to. No gmail, no google docs, no google searching, no youtube... edit: I r smrt. Used phone to complete it.

Woo! Someone noticed I was gone! It's good to be back. I find that I need this place to help keep me moto. Welcome to the comedy that is my workouts, Brother! I'm not very good at this but I try hard. That counts right? Death to injured legs! Erm, wait...that would be bad. HEALTH TO INJURED LEGS!

What's on my mind? I'm actually a little nervous about trying my hand at 6 weeks of intense calisthenics/body weight training.

Following along, because Seven is my hero.

Following for Mitten Power!

Following for Mitten Power!

When things get tough in the coming days, just remember what Uncle Iroh once said to Zuko....

I was going to say something along these lines but Achaedia did it a lot better than I would have.

Same here. Except 20 years later, I still am.

I'm watching to see how IF works for you. I've considered it myself - but I really REALLY like food.

I approve of the usage of an Avatar reference.

There is a complete lack of Clash of Clans in your challenge.

A little background here. For 17 months now, I've worked as a Warrior. I enjoy barbell and weight training, I really do. However, in this time frame I've also suffered 3 groin pulls, rotated my c3 & c4 and am currently recovering from a strain of the hip flexor. This streak can't continue. It feels like I go two months ok then get hurt. Go two months and get hurt. A lot of it has to do with piss poor mobility. I have been at a desk since I was 21 years old (currently 35) and was less than active until just a handful of years ago. This leaves me moving like an 80 year old man. I have a lot of work left to do, as I am still alive. I have become an avid hiker in the last 5 years, travelling every chance I get to hike/climb/explore SOMETHING. I am taking up floor hockey in a league once I am healed. All of this tells me I need to put more emphasis on my mobility work. Why switch teams for just mobility work, when plenty of Warriors do mobility work? Well, I'm also taking up more bodyweight/mechanical disadvantage training. I'm not interested in gaining mass. I'm interested in maximizing my strength for my size already and mastering the movements of my own body. See: avid hiker. I'm switching off to training for how I like to play. Scrambles up mountains, long treks along ridges, being checked into the boards, these things interest me. Powerlifting style training just isn't the right style for my hobbies. Mastering the movements of my body against mechanical disadvantages will serve me greater when scrambling uphill across loose and treacherous terrain. SO. To the meat and potatos of it all. THE CHALLENGE: PRIMARY: Barstarzz routine, except for lower body work (see:current injury). Inspired by some stories I've seen on THIS guy across multiple sites, I'm going to tackle the Barstarzz beginner routine. I'm not sure how well I'll do with BW stuff, so I'm checking the ego and running 6 weeks as a beginner with upper body stuff and will reevaluate myself from there. is a link to their youtube video. SECONDARY HEAL LEG, HEAL! For at LEAST the next 4 weeks, I'll be resting the injury. R.I.C.E. method plus some light stretching, foam rolling and mobility/massage work while the left flexor heals. I have a 16km trek up a mountain in Newfoundland coming in July. I need to make sure I am uninjured. TERTIARY: Continue to do some strength training with my trainer at the gym once a week until the sessions I've paid for are completed. I have 5 more weeks of strengh training with him to go. LIFE GOAL: Learn more about photography. I do a lot of hiking and exploring with my wife/daughter and we see a lot of amazing stuff. We recently purchased a DSLR camera with an 18-55mm and 55-250mm lens and I am trying to gain some proficiency with it. So far, I'm not that good. I may post occasional pictures in here of things I snap throughout my days.

Crystal I...making the push to Master. It's getting tough.

Yeah, all the unused attacks is frustrating. Well, I just started one inferno tower. Just 5mil more until the second inferno tower is started and I opt back in.

Did that series get finished? I thought it was incomplete due to the author dying. I have been contemplating picking this one up. I read the Song of Ice and Fire series and really enjoyed the epicness of the tale. It's turned me on to reading the epics.

I've opted out until I build my last two buildings. Once I have, I'll be able to put together a good defensive base and will opt back in.