Viper

Between working two jobs, looking for a new one, working out, and the rare occasion I get to spend time with friends, I honestly don't have much time to do anything else unless I give up sleeping (something that might end up happening tonight). While posting this, I have procrastinated doing work for my second job and I have a deadline for tomorrow (which I have already extended one week). People have begun commenting on how it looks as though I'm losing weight, and that's always nice to hear, but for some reason I can't help but get the feeling that they're all just trying to be nice. When I step on the scale, I don't see much of a difference at all, and when I look in the mirror all I see is how much work I still need to do. In fact, I shy away from looking at the mirror, because more often than not, I honestly just don't really like what I see staring back. That girl doesn't look like the way I feel. The reflection doesn't serve the reality I perceive. It's kind of why I just didn't take pictures for this challenge. Maybe for the next one though? I would really like to join the druids, but I think before I can come to them I need to first make peace with my inner warrior. (The Hero Within, anyone? Any psych majors out there?) Anyway, I'm sick (literally) from the rollercoaster that's been these past two weeks. I'm probably going to take a break these next couple days. I just need to yoga the fuck out instead of pumping iron. And that's my long as shit update on how my past two weeks have been. I shall leave you with some really insightful articles on motivation and self compassion.

Hahaha. I read this while I was at work and I started to laugh loudly and everyone knew I wasn't doing work. Here's a rundown on what some of my workouts have looked like as of late. I'll start with Saturday morning of FYF Fest, because that was a supremely ass-kicking workout that my lower back has only fully recovered from as of today. 8/23/2014 Week 4 Day 6 Drank 2 liters of waterPastry? None.Workout -- Stairmaster: 10 minutes Deadlifts: 2 sets x 8 reps 135 lbs; (and then it felt fucking heavy and my form was beginning to be compromised so...) 2 sets x 4 reps @ 135lbs Hyperextensions: 3 sets x 15 reps @ bodyweight Goblet squats: 3 sets x 12 reps @ 25 lbs Pushups: 3 sets x 12 reps @ bodyweight (some were on knees when I got tired) Something else that I can't remember (I did the second day of the abs and squats workout) Elliptical: 10 minutes My trainer has noticed that I particularly enjoy heavy lift days and because we text frequently and I keep him updated with how amazing I workout without him, he has me doing a lot of agility/HIIT workouts when we get together. I am particularly grateful that he is there to keep my time and everything because I suck at staying focused on speed and momentum and things of that nature. Yesterday was my first day of not drinking two liters of water and I'm feeling ever so slightly under the weather after screaming my lungs out for Our Queen, Beyonce, at the VMAs last Sunday. 8/12/2014 Week 3 Day 2 Drank 2 liters of water? Check!Workout? YesPastry? NoneWOD: Yoga with some post-yoga stair mastering 8/13/2014 Week 3 Day 3 Drank 2 liters of waterWorkout? NoPastry? I don't think so? I can't really remember all that clearly. 8/14/2014 Week 3 Day 4 Drank 2 liters of waterWorkout? Yoga. Only.Pastry? I have no recollection, but usually I whine and bitch about the bullshit I eat when I eat it, so I'll say no.8/15/2014 Week 3 Day 5 Drank 2 liters of waterWorkout? YesPastry? I distinctly recall NOT eating any sweet crap that day, because AMURA, a friend and I got together to play this game called Forbidden Island and he broke out the Nutter Butter bites and I distinctly recall thinking to myself, "Goddamn, I don't want those, and Razzy would be so proud of me because of how long I haven't eaten any pastries." Which therefore backs my case about not eating anything shitty for those past few days.8/16/2014 Week 3 Day 6 Drank 2 liters of waterWorkout? Yes? Yoga and then just a little bit of shoulders.Pastry? None?8/17/2014 Week 3 Day 7 Drank 2 liters of waterWorkout? Yes. Pastry? Is the question.WOD: Stair master Shoulder press Dumbbell Lateral raises Dumbbell Front raises Pushups Something else (that could or could not possibly be related to shoulders) Something else (I think it was lat pull downs, like three sets. Actually, yes it was.) AND THEN THIS WAS THE DAY THAT I ASKED SOME RANDOM ASS GUY AT THE GYM TO SPOT ME BECAUSE I WANTED TO TRY DOING BOSU BALL SQUATS WITH A BARBELL AND THEN I GRABBED THE 20 LB BARBELL AND DID BOSU BALL SQUATS WITH IT LIKE A BOSS. (INSERT 80'S BODYBUILDING ARNOLD GIF HERE) I have a new sidequest to start squatting on a bosu ball regularly with large amounts of iron on my back looking like a fucking badass. 8/18/2014 Week 4 Day 1 Drank 2 liters of waterWorkout? Yes, with el personal trainer. Legs and something (Front squat day?) I'll hand you this workout at a later date. The other beauty of having a trainer is that aside from the fact that I'm almost 98% guaranteed to have a great workout, he writes them all down for me AND does all the counting. Basically, he does all the parts I find difficult and it's the closest thing I have to actually working out with somebody.Pastry? Probably?8/19/2014 Week 4 Day 2 Drank 2 liters of waterWorkout? Doubtful, don't have anything written, I don't think so.Pastry? Uhm, I think so. I think there may have been two cookies from Subway involved. No...?8/20/2014 Week 4 Day 3 Drank 2 liters of waterWorkout? Trainer, again. I think?Pastry? I had a whole lot of Chinese food. Which tasted good, but was really bad. THIS WAS ALSO THE DAY I HAD TWO CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES FROM SUBWAY. AND. CHIPS. Sadface.8/21/2014 Week 4 Day 4 Drank 2 liters of waterWorkout? Nope.Pastry? Uhm? I may have had a bite of leftover cookies.8/22/2014 Week 4 Day 5 Drank 2 liters of waterPastry? I think so, but I didn't write it down, so I'm going to go with none. WOD: Stairmaster, pushups, and Day 1 of our Power Ranger Abs/Squats thing, shitty workout in terms of how amazing my workouts usually are. Post this before I delete it all or something.

I'm still alive, I just got discouraged when I tried to post the beginning of my week 3 and the post failed to save. I will update presently.

I'm looking for the post where we called colors and I'm not seeing it so just to be official: I call dibs on the red power ranger! I'm not letting you guys stick me with the yellow one! Is it cool if I start tomorrow? My hiit workout killed me today.

Hahaha. Tusen takk, ja! How often do you have a cheat day? I'm resisting joining a paleo diet because when I go out to eat at nice places I honestly don't like saying, "Oh, I can't eat that." But you know, I think the way I could compensate is to eat Paleo regularly that way I can justify eating during parties or eating out with friends on occasion. I've held off replying to this because I wanted to tell you, "TOMORROW! TOMORROW SHALL BE THE DAY I GO COLD TURKEY ON EL PASTRY!" And guess what? Tomorrow is the day. Something that really helped (in the past) with that morning sugar fix was to just drink a protein shake for breakfast. It just really helped because I would just have a snack of some nuts later on or eat a banana with the shake and I'd be set till lunch honestly. Maybe it'd be a good idea to start doing that again. 4 lb win, here I come!

8/9/2014 Week 2 Day 6 Drank 2 liters of waterWorkout? Yoga for 40 minutes, swim 0.5 milesPastry? No.Split a bowl of pho and walked around the Art Walk in Downtown with a friend. 8/10/2014 Week 2 Day 7 Drank 1.8 liters of waterWorkout? NoPastry? No. Okay. Let's talk about this day. I meant to work out this day. I honestly had all the intention in the world to. It was supposed to be a good long leg day. But due to previous engagements (mother/daughter bonding shopping time for new clothes for me because all she does is complain about all the clothes I wear AND a movie and a dinner date with AMURA) I just didn't have the time. Agh! I only worked out 4 times this week and then my diet this day. AGH! I had two tacos with some chips and salsa for lunch. And there was a side of beans that snuck in there as well. Then, for dinner, we went out to Taste on Melrose before the movie and I ordered the penne cecca: brown rice pasta, basil and tomatoes with some fresh cheese topped with chicken paillard. Goddamn. Food was so good. We even ordered some of the Pomme Frittes dusted with parmesan and truffle oil and three side sauces to go. The chicken was breaded. AMURA ordered this blue crab and sweet corn risotto that was to. die. for. Needless to say, when I stepped on the scale today it wasn't pretty (even though it was a night weigh in). Totally worth it? Let's be real here. I have no regretz. There's nothing I enjoy more than a great meal shared between friends. Was it justifiable at the very end of this week without having worked out prior to eating there? Nope. Not even a little bit. 8/11/2014 Week 3 Day 1 Drank 2 liters of waterWorkout? YesPastry? Pastry.I skipped work today. I told them I was sick so that I could go to an interview for a job that's closer to home. Pays the same, the company is kind of the arch-enemy of another company that I really love, and it's still primarily office work that might consist of sitting on my ass all day long. But, if it's closer and it's in a supportive and encouraging environment and they have a cause I feel like I can support, I'll take it and I'll stay. I went to the Klatch after the interview to try and de-stress and write. I think I added almost 1.5k words to my new story. Not bad, not bad at all. I left an email open on my laptop when I went to go and use the bathroom in regards to looking for a job and I think the guy next to me noticed. He's in marketing for dental/dentist things and he started asking me a bunch of questions. We ended up exchanging contact information. I think they're trying to hire somebody at his company to do clerical/phone/contacting people work. It honestly isn't the most lucrative line of work, these clerical/filing/organizing random jobs. And it isn't necessarily the most fulfilling way to spend my days. Unfortunately, while waiting for the interview in The Village, I stopped by an old classmate's work (she's a baker) and tried out some of her baked goods. I had a dark chocolate walnut cookie (that I don't feel that bad about) and a Boston Creme Cupcake (that was sinful, and I feel guilty about it). I repented my sins in the gym today. WOD: Stair master: 10 minute (interval training) Hip Adductor machine: 1 set @ 50 lbs x 15 reps, 1 set @ 70 lbs x 15 reps, 1 set @ 90 lbs x 12 reps Hip Abductor machine: 1 set @ 50 lbs x 15 reps, 1 set @ 70 lbs x 15 reps, 2 sets @ 80 lbs x 12 reps Leg curl: 2 sets @ 45 lbs x 15 reps; 1 set @ 45 x 12 reps Seated leg press: 2 sets ? weight x 12 reps; 1 set @ 210 lbs x 12 reps Leg extension: 3 sets (did not take note of weight; it varies) x 12 reps Bosu ball squats: 4 sets x 15 reps @ bodyweight Lunges: 2 sets @ 50 lbs (did not take note of reps) Crunches: 120 Push ups: 3 sets @ bodyweight x 12 reps Stair master: 10 minute (interval training) Protein shake with frozen banana and peanut butter for dinner.

8/8/2014 Week 2 Day 5 Drank 2 liters of water Workout? Fuck yeah. Pastry? A chocolate chip cookie from Vons. Let's start with diet today, shall we? Breakfast: Black coffee and chocolate chip cookie Lunch: Vegetarian sundried pesto pasta, 3 slices of garlic bread Dinner: Red rice, half wild salmon, broccoli with some cheese, 1 hard boiled egg over-hard WOD: Pull-ups: 95 lb assist x 10 reps, 2 sets: 90 lb assist x 10 reps Push ups: 3 sets x 12 reps Burpees: 2 sets x 10 reps Deadlift: 2 sets @ 95 lbs x 10 reps, 1 set @ 95 lbs x 8 reps Rear delt fly: 2 sets @ 7.5 lbs x 12 reps Hyperextensions: 3 sets x 15 reps Stairmaster: 15 minutes Treadmill: 10 minutes I just made a bet to lose 4 lbs... According to this I can still eat 2000 calories a day and lose 2 lbs a week. Sigh. This is going to be rough, but I got this. i can't lose. I can't.

Sure. The principle I'm following is: stop being a fatass. Haha. The actual food I eat is normally okay. I'm pretty on it about eating wholesome meals regularly. I think the devil is in the pastry. I'm trying not to actually eat pastry - which I failed at this week, but I think the best idea is probably to start scheduling a day and a kind of pastry to eat on that certain day. I work a lot of office jobs and I don't know what it is about sitting on your ass in front of a computer all day that tends to seduce all of the cheap, bad cookies/cakes/muffins/scones/bagels to the break room, but it just always seems to be there and is always up for grabs. If anything, in honesty, there has been a slight improvement in eating that kind of crap less, albeit not drastic enough to congratulate myself about. Sigh. Don't be too jealous. It wasn't as amazing as it would be to have abs. Haha.

8/7/2014 Week 2 Day 4 Drank 2.5 liters of waterWorkout? No.Pastry? A banana chocolate chip muffin (400 calories) from Trader Joes, and a chocolate chip cookie from Vons.My diet was just okay. I took the day off from my workout to watch a lot of Castle (I'm now on Season 3 Episode 2) and write a little bit (I wrote a total of 5 sentences last night). For breakfast I had that chocolate chip muffin with a black coffee.Lunch was 2 slices of whole wheat sourdough with 1 veggie pattie, some spinach dip, lettuce, and basil pesto with a side of kale salad. That chocolate chip cookie came after.Dinner was potsero again with red rice.

Week 2 is not going as well as Week 1, to be quite honest. Anyway, I have a workout scheduled later tonight with my personal trainer. I'm sure that's what I need to kickstart a better Week 3. Thank you very much for the message! Here's the link to my battle log: http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/51884-vipers-battle-log-challenge-1/#entry1143841 I've been keeping it updated pretty consistently.

8/6/2014 Week 2 Day 3 Drank 2 liters of water? I drank 1.5 liters of water and like 2 big ass cups of tea (which I'm pretty sure amount to 500ml) so I'm counting this one as a Yes.Workout? Yes.Pastry? A slice of lemon pound cake from Corner Bakery.Wow. This week is shaping up to be full of pastry, huh. I think it just really goes to show what an emotional eater I am. On top of the pound cake, I had two pieces of fried chicken, some macaroni salad, a big potato wedge, and a bread roll for lunch. I had some oatmeal for breakfast, and homemade potsero (this Filipino beef stew with plantains) and some red rice for dinner. I guess you can tell it was a pretty bad day. I spent the majority of it in tears. I had the worst interview for a job that I wanted on top of other things. It was a domino effect of badness that was only made better with a nice relaxing workout session. WOD: Cycling - 18 minutes (around 4.2 km)Swimming - about 30ish minutes (.5 miles)Weighed in at 179lbs today. I'm going to shoot for a leg day next workout.

8/5/2014 Week 2 Day 2 Drank 2 liters of waterWorkout? Nope.Pastry? A slice of coffee bread cake thing, a bite of a chocolate chip cookie, (this foccacia jalapeno cheese thing, but I don't know if that counts) a cake pop, and some chocolate mousse. Well that didn't exactly go as it should have.

8/3/2014 Week 1 Day 7 Drank 2 liters of water Workout? Yes! Pastry? No. Pre-workout music: Spanish acoustic guitar My workout: I swam a mile in 1 hour and 2 minutes. It may seem like a long ass time to swim a mile. But the average person swims it in about 40 minutes so I'm not judging myself too harshly, especially for my first time swimming a mile. Hopefully I can get my time down the more frequently I do it. Also, for some reason, I've been experiencing some difficulty breathing when I'm swimming. Maybe I'm just thinking about it too much. Anyway. No weights today, all cardio. Saving the lifts to start up my second week. Geez, I can't believe I'm already at the second week. I ate a lot. After an In-N-Out cheeseburger (animal style, whole grilled O and no side of fries) there was pizza, cheese and crackers, and an ice cream drumstick. And this is at the very end of the day too. Sigh. What can I say. It was game night. There was no cookies or cake or brownies involved. For breakfast I made french toast with scrambled eggs and some bacon. (It was a pretty good breakfast.) And lunch was salmon with red rice and some steamed asparagus. It wasn't a terrible food day, but I wish I hadn't had that pizza or ice cream, because otherwise it would have been a great food day. 8/4/2014 Week 2 Day 1 Drank 2 liters of water Workout? Yes. Pastry? 1 cake pop from my mom's work - totally worth it because I fucking love cake pops. Warm-up workout music: Murda' Somethin - ASAP Ferg feat Wocka Flocka Flame WOD: Stair Master - Intervals 10 mins Tricep pull downs - 3 sets x 16 reps @ #2 weight Pushups - 3 sets x 10 reps @ body weight Dumbbell bicep curls - 1 set x 12 reps @ 10 lbs, 3 sets x 12 reps @ 15lbs Barbell bicep curls - 4 sets x 12 reps @ 20 lbs Pectoral fly (machine) - 4 sets x 12 reps @ 55 lbs Pushups - 4 sets x 10 reps @ body weight (mostly on knees) Chest incline - 2 sets x 12 reps @ 40 lbs Treadmill - 10 minutes Workout music: Need Your Heart (ft Kai) - Adventure Club Remix Good workout. BUT had a burrito. So. Idk. I'm not willing to call it a bad day, but I'm also not about to call it a good day either. PLUS, it's the very first day of the second week and I already had a pastry. :[ Tomorrow is a yoga/swim day. Looking forward to that greatly.

8/1/2014 Week 1 Day 5 Drank 2 liters of water Workout? No. Pastry? 1 cookie from Trader Joes. Shortbread with Apricot filling = 70 calories My diet wasn't all it could be that day so I'm trying to make an effort at eating better as well. I've been thinking maybe I should add an extra 500ml to my water minimum daily because the 2 liters is going down pretty easy. But I'm also reminding myself, baby steps. I'm thinking I'll up my water intake next week or the week after instead of jumping balls in and telling myself, "YOU MUST DRINK 2.5 LITERS NOW!" It's like the way I gym, I like to mentally prepare myself for whatever workout I'll be doing before I nosedive in. 8/2/2014 Week 1 Day 6 I woke up I got ready for the gym and work and headed straight to the gym. Got there early and unfortunately found out that I lost my brand new swimsuit there. Pretty depressing to say the least. It was bright purple. It was like I paid $11 to wear it once and throw it down the drain. Sigh. Nevertheless, I didn't let that stop me from having a good workout. WOD: Stair master for 11 minutes 4 sets of leg extensions 4 sets of bosu ball squats, 2 sets unweighted, 2 sets with 10 lbs x 15 reps Yoga - 50 minutes Post gym, I went to Chipotle and brought that to work to eat... Needless to say that wasn't exactly the best idea ever. BUT, it was better than waiting for my supervisor to go out and pickup food from this Mexican joint down the street where I would have ended up eating much worse. Next time, if I really am pressed for time and food, after the gym, I'll just buy one of those meal replacement drinks. It's just, I ate 2x the amount I should have in that one meal and my mom and I still had BLT's for dinner. Workout? Yes Drank 2.5 liters of water Pastry? No pastry.

7/31/2014 Week 1 Day 4 Beyonce's Baby Boy played on my drive to work, the sun was out, and I was driving with my left foot on the driver seat. I told myself, "Today will be a good day." And, yeah, I guess so. For the most part. I received a rejection letter from one of the jobs I applied to and then right after that I got denied the raise at work that I had requested last week. It was a day full of denial and rejection and for some odd reason, I wasn't completely wallowing in dejection. (Ha. How poetic.) I think I must have known all along that I would get denied that raise and rejected from that job, but for some reason, this time, it doesn't feel like it's something that will slow me down. I honestly feel like that it's all okay. And it's all going to be okay because I feel like something good is beginning to shine on the horizon; and because I'm still able to look at that beautiful horizon dead on, it just means that the suns not fully out yet. Sunrise metaphors aside, today was another awesome day for me at the gym and I wasn't even with anyone - I was by myself in my own little world with nobody to bother me. Let's back track to what I ate though. Breakfast: Oatmeal with a shitload of cinnamon (by semi-accident), some pecans, some almonds, 4 dates. Lunch: Half a pita with some hummus, alfalfa sprouts, cucumbers, seaweed, and something else I can't remember. Kale salad from Costco and some chow mein from Panda Express. Dinner: A bacon/sausage breakfast burrito (pretty big) Post workout: 1 scoop of peanut butter chocolate MP protein with some almond milk I arrived home from work today with my demeanor regarding the gym, the same way I approach Facebook. Basically: fuck it, don't want it, don't need it. I don't want to work out or do anything except be the beloved bum/stalker on the Internet my friends have come to know and love. I just want to lie in my space and watch Castle or play Hearthstone. But honestly, I have been in need of a yoga session for a good week now. I was missing my yoga practice. I missed the stretching and the breathing and the calm that comes into my mind while I focus on correct form of my chaturanga. [This is why I have a feeling, next challenge I'll be joining the Druids.] So after finishing that whole breakfast burrito [Which was pretty good, mind you. no regretz] I looked up what time the next class would be and lo and behold yoga's at 8PM -- I had time. Got to the gym, put my swimsuit on underneath my workout clothes, and decided on a weigh in. I eyed the sliding weight scale that was already affixed to 178 lbs. I warily stepped on, knowing full well I had just finished off a breakfast burrito. And guess. Fucking. What. The pendulum swayed but didn't hit the top bar and stopped dead center. "Whatthefuck?" I murmured to myself in disbelief. I slid all the measurements down to 0 and climbed back on for a reweigh. A smile spread over my face. A post-burrito, pre-workout evening weigh-in and I was down 6 lbs my starting weight. 178 lbs. I was in child's pose for one of the sun salutations, but by the time yoga had ended, the same calm I felt on my drive to and from work overcame me and this feeling that no matter how crappy I think my job is right now, everything is going to work out just fine. Like, I've done what has needed to be done. I asked for a raise and I didn't receive it. I am asking for a newer better job, and I have this gut feeling that I will get it this time around. Like the universe is preparing to get all the stars to align in my honor and all I need to do is wait. After yoga I got into the pool and told myself, "Today. Today is the day I swim a mile." My breathing was really off and for some reason I kept swallowing water today during my freestyle stroke, but I still managed to swim 32 laps = 1/2 mile in 45 minutes. I know it's a slow 1/2 mile, but it was still a pretty big accomplishment for me. Drank 2 liters of waterNo pastryWorkout? Yes.

Much rejoicing indeed! Garrus was my man (or alien, rather) because I met him so early on in the game. Plus his alias was Archangel which made him that much cooler to me because I have a thing for angels. I have mad Thane love too, but Kasumi easily had him tied in my book. Her story was just too I can't even. Anyway, if you're ever in the mood to read boring stats about how some random person over the internet who just so happens to enjoy Mass Effect 2's day went, you can find that battle log here: http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/51884-vipers-battle-log-challenge-1/ It's mostly lists. I'm not big on pictures.

Following you for the Thane avatar and the laughs. Even though I'm more of a Garrus girl myself. ;]

My main goal: To feel confident wearing a bikini in public 1. I will drink 2 liters of water daily. 2. I will go to the gym and work out 5 out of 7 days a week. 3. I will limit myself to one session of one pastry a week AT MOST. Start: 7/28/2014 Week 1 Day 1 -- Drank 2 liters of waterWent to the gym: Cycled 10.2 km in 35 minutes, Abs = 100 crunches, some pushups and planks, leg lifts, hip-ups, and 70 suspended leg liftsNo pastry7/29/2014 Week 1 Day 2 -- Drank 2 liters of waterNo gym1 pastry = 1 short bread cookie with raspberry filling and a bite of cake (bosses birthday at work)7/30/2014 Week 1 Day 3 -- Drank 2 liters of waterNo pastry -- I did want something from Corner Bakery when I went today, so what I did was I bought a slice of their coffee cake and gave it to my boss.Rocked it at the gym with my Personal Trainer WOD: Shoulder dumbbell press = 4 sets x 12 reps @ 20lbsDumbbell bicep curl = 4 sets x 15 reps @ 7.5 lbsLateral raises = 4 sets x 15 reps @ 10 lbs (I think?)Seated tricep extension = 4 sets x 12 reps @ 15 lbs (with assist on last set)Bench dips = 4 sets x 15 reps @ body weightStanding preacher curl = 1 set x 12 reps @ 40 lbs?; 1 set x 12 reps @ 20 lbs?; 1 set x 15 reps @ 15 lbsTwo-arm tricep extension = 2 sets x 12 reps @ 15 lbs; 1 set x 15 reps @ 10lbs1st attempt at Dive Bomber Push Ups -- Failed. Need a lot more practice. Bosu ball squats 1 set x 15 reps @ body weight; 1 set x 12 reps with 5 lb kettlebellStairmaster for 10 minutes @ intervals -- Trainer wants me to start skipping steps at a faster speed. My trainer also said that I was one of his stronger clients which is why he's so much more willing to work with me with higher weights he normally wouldn't use with his other trainees. I was ridiculously happy and flattered to hear him say that cuz I didn't think I was lifting that much. Luckily I got like, a 45 minute workout with him because the person he was supposed to train after me is a flake and no showed on him so it was cool even though I was 15 minutes late. I don't really remember how heavy some of the weights are that I was lifting today because unless I make a point to look at whatever my trainer's handing to me or ask I won't really know. Part of the reason I'm using a personal trainer is because I workout alone normally. I don't mind this, I actually enjoy it. Sometimes, my time at the gym is the only time I get to spend by myself outside of driving to work. The thing is though, I tend to get there and then walk around the gym, afraid to look like an ignoramus using some of the equipment incorrectly or with improper form in front of all these people who are already super cut. So another part of the reason I have a trainer is because I want to build some confidence in the gym by gaining knowledge on proper form and etiquette. And it's been working. However much I'm paying for these sessions is so worth it. I love my trainer and I love the confidence I'm building in the gym. Especially when I'm alone around free weights. Anyway, it was a great day and I hope to continue seeing more days like this. Especially more gym days like this. :] I would normally say, "I don't mean to brag" but fuck it. This is my space to brag and complain and not have to care.

Yee boiii. Let's start a squad!

Yee boiii. Let's start a squad!

To be posted presently.

Oh nice! Thanks, bitch. Do you have one yet?

Lilith, I don't find it that difficult to drink water. I enjoy it. It's just sometimes I don't make it a point to be conscious of the amount I should be drinking. 2 Liters a day hasn't been a real challenge so far. ChristArtist, What are egg monsters in muffin cups?! Anyway, because I'd like to follow through every day I'd like to start posting how I'm doing daily so I guess I'll do that here. Week 1 Day 1 -- Drank 2 liters of waterWent to the gym: Cycled 10.2 km in 35 minutes, Abs = 100 crunches, some pushups and planks, leg lifts, hip-ups, and 70 suspended leg liftsNo pastryWeek 1 Day 2 -- Drank 2 liters of waterNo gym1 pastry = 1 short bread cookie with raspberry filling and a bite of cake (bosses birthday at work)

Well. Seeing as how I'm taking things week by week and I am trying to measure how well I do within a week, I think that it'd be a good idea to rate myself by the following: 1. If I'm able to drink 2 liters of water 7 days a week = A 6 days = B+ 5 days = B 4 days =C 3 days = D 2. I will go to the gym and work out 5 out of 7 days a week. 7 days = A + 6 days = A 5 days = A- 4 days = B 3 days = C 2 days = D 3. I will limit myself to one session of one pastry a week AT MOST. 1 pastry/week = A+ 2 pastries/week = B 3 pastries/week = C 4 pastries/week = C- 5 pastries/week = D 6 pastries/week = F Then I was thinking I'd just average the GPA after 6 weeks, haha. I would be most interested in posting a day by day of how my 6 weeks goes. Where would be a good place on the site to do that? Should I just post it here on this thread? ChristArtist, in regards to my diet, drinking the amount of water I've been drinking has been pretty helpful thus far. (By thus far, I meant the two days since I've started my 6 week challenge, ha!) I think the trick is trying to stop myself from binge eating. I have the ability to finish whole meals that are good for two or three people in one sitting and then feel like shit about it after. So the moment I feel hungry, it's always good to be prepared with healthy snacks, or know what are the good fast food options that are nearby before eating something that will throw my diet off balance. Where's a good place to find out some snacking tips on here?

Eventually one of my goals will be to do one unassisted pull-up. I've never been able to do one, and it would be amazing to accomplish that.