Wheels of Steele

Well done everyone on your challenges - keep up the good work! My goal was to get stronger and fitter to pass the WFTDA's minimum skills for roller derby by doing the beginner's body weight workout 3 times a week (in addition to 5 hours roller derby training a week and sprint training 3 times a week), introducing paleo to my diet and getting enough sleep. (I'm sure there was something else, but I have completely forgotten it!). The first two weeks were epic - I learned a lot about nutrition, switched to around 75% paleo and was starting to look toned and defined. I had bags of energy! I went from being able to do one press up to doing seven, and was woring on improving my squatting technique. I lost half an inch around my stomach but gained nearly an inch on my thighs and hips and, while I was not sure what to make of this, I felt pretty good. Then I got the flu and had to take a week off from the gym and, as my fiance is bulking and not quite ready to fully embrace the paleo way of eating (too many horrid veggies for his taste), my diet hasn't been as clean and low carb as it would have been if I was well and cooking. Also, I definitely have not been getting enough sleep. So, I don't look or feel as good as I did just over a week ago, but there is still time to get back on track! I am not back to 100% strength as this flu bug is really sticking around, but I went to roller derby training on Sunday and, although I wasn't able to give it my all, was signed off for receiving repeated blocks and giving repeated blocks and whips - hooray!! Blocking was my big worry because I am quite small and light and haven't fully mastered some of the skating techniques needed to swoop into another skater and deliver a really big hit. Saying that, I did knock over a girl twice my size with a fully legal block and no one sent me flying, so I was doing something right! I went back to the gym yesterday and, although I have lost some strength, I think I am going to move up to a more challenging workout regime, either Barbell Batallion or the bodyweight equivalent. I have made some positive changes with this challenge, and have found the community to be very inspirational so will be trying my best to smash this challenge and build some good habits for the future. Good luck with the rest of the challenge!

Progress report: The half-way mark of the challenge has come and gone and I am not currently in the place I wanted to be regarding my off-skates training, strength and fat loss. I have been laid up in bed with the flu so haven't been working out. I did manage to go to roller derby practice on Wednesday, where I strained my groin. This was a silly thing to do as I still didn't feel great and hadn't really moved/ stretched at all so was super tight from derby on Sunday. Oh well, hilarity did ensure due to having an icepack on my groin for half of practice and the other girls trying to figure out whether I had hurt my lady parts or not. My diet has slipped too, but I can't complain as my fiancé was doing most of the cooking when I was sick. On the plus side, I have once again had to practice being nice to myself and not expecting more than I can give. It is ok not to go to the gym when you have the flu, it isn't the end of the world! I was able to get back on my skates on Saturday and had a great session on the half pipes at the skate park. I also went to training on Sunday and have been signed off for blocking (I knocked down my first roller girl, a girl over twice my size!) and wheel bumps. I am so very near to being signed off on all minimum skills, I can taste it! Hooray!! My groin did twinge again though, so I will have to be extra careful on Wednesday. Getting back in the gym yesterday was hard and crappy, as it always is after some time off. I have come to the definite conclusion that my squat form absolutely sucks and will continue to do so for some time due to various muscle imbalances, it feels a bit embarrassing to be doing terrible squats in front of everone so I will be squatting with the aid of a swiss ball for the time being so I work the correct muscles. With just under a fortnight until the end of the challenge, I am sure I can pull things back and will have something to show for the changes I have made to my diet and workout routine. Until next week! Wheels

So, the last 2 weeks have been a bit of a blur, there have been some highs and lows but I've come out fighting! Here are my measurements from 16th November (there is a 'before' picture, but I am not ready to share it just yet, it is AWFUL!): Weight: 116lbsNeck: 12.5"Biceps: 9"Chest: 28.5"Bust: 31"Waist: 25"Hips: 36.5"Thigh (L): 21.75"Thigh ®: 21.5"Calf: 13"And my measurements from today: Weight: 116lbsNeck: 12.5"Biceps: 9"Chest: 28"Bust: 30.5"Waist: 25.5"Hips: 37"Thigh (L): 22.15"Thigh ®: 22"Calf 13"Judging by the slight changes in my measurements, I am assuming that I have started loosing fat and gaining a little bit of muscle in my legs and hips. I have changed my diet to approximately 75% paleo and feel fantastic for it. I have also been doing the NF Basic Training ( on 15th, 18th, 20th, 25th) and have seen great improvements in my push ups. Alongside this I have been sprint training and going to roller derby training twice a week. My gym sessions haven't been as consistent as I would like (i.e.: missing out on Friday's session) due to a gas leak on our road that resulted in pneumatic drilling outside my flat until around 4am. Needless to say, getting up after less than two hours sleep to go to the gym was not going to happen! On Saturday I went to a great 6km hike along the Dorset coast that made up for missing out on the Friday. Yesterday I switched to weighted lunges as I am comfortably doing reps of 40, 38 and 36, and will switch to weighted squats tomorrow as well. I am going to see how this works for me and start to transition across to the Dumbell Division for lower body work outs because I want to be gaining strength in my legs, not size or muscular endurance, which roller derby has given me plenty of. I am going to move to Bodyweight Brigade for upper body work as I am still quite weak up top. Muscle rolling and physio exercises have been pretty consistent and I am happy that I am sticking to my target. 7 hours sleep a night has proven quite difficult due to the road works outside my flat and an over-active mind. I am going to start using the Headspace sleep meditation before bed until my sleep pattern returns to normal. My life quest is ticking along a little slowly, something which I hope to rectify this week. There you have it. I'll check in again at the weekend!

Hi there, My fiancee very kindly bought me the Rebel Strength Guide today and I though I would dive straight in to the community! I am undertaking this challenge because I feel it is time to take control and to push myself. I have been going to the gym pretty regularly (usually 3 times a week) for almost a year and have been going to roller derby practice once a week since March, I try to walk to and from work every day and to eat healthily. Recently, I have noticed a plateau in my performance and want to push myself to be better. I have just been selected, along with many of my fellow roller derby rookies, to practice once a week with the league in addition to the usual rookie weekly practice. The league girls have passed their minimum skills tests and have completed in bouts against other teams. Being 5' 2'', 116 lbs and not as strong as I could be means that I am going to get pushed all over the track. I want to be a small, immovable object that other players bounce off when they try to block me. Two derby sessions a week is going to place alot of strain on my knees, which give me trouble due to a tight ITB in each leg, so I also need to make sure I take proper care of myself. In addition to this, I also want to challenge myself to be more productive and proactive. I am preparing to go though a huge career change that is leaving me overwhelmed, stressed, with little motivation in my current job and completely ineffective. I'm hoping this challenge will push me to make some positive changes. So, without further rambling, here is my challenge: Main quest: Pass minimum skills and join the roller derby league. NF Basic TrainingComplete stretches and muscle rolling set by physio therapist at least 5 days a weekGet a minimum of 7 hours sleep a nightLife quest: Complete one basic graphic design course and have somthing to show for itMotivation: I have cheated here, I have a photo and a quote. My motivational photo is of Suzy Hotrod (Gotham GIrls Roller Derby) from ESPN's 2011 body issue. To me, this photograph represents the dedication, will power and strength required to be an exceptional derby player, something I very much want to be. My motivational quote is from CT Fletcher: 'Don't look for an easy way out'. Pretty much all of this video motivates me to command it! There you have it! I'll post my body metrics, and maybe a 'before' photo soon. Good luck to the rest of the community with your challenges! Wheels