Design Wizard

Our semi - impromptu mini-meet up is set for Saturday at 9am (EST) at Military Park, just outside the convention center. Come meet some fellow rebels, practice some body weight exercises, talk about diet, and get a special sneak peak of our up coming Yoga program!! Anyone interested please check out the event and group here:https://www.facebook...09885902441216/ Look forward to seeing you and may the dice fall in your favor.

Our semi - impromptu mini-meet up is set for Saturday at 9am (EST) at Military Park, just outside the convention center. Come meet some fellow rebels, practice some body weight exercises, talk about diet, and get a special sneak peak of our up coming Yoga program!! Anyone interested please check out the event and group here:https://www.facebook...09885902441216/ Look forward to seeing you and may the dice fall in your favor.

I'm glad you're interested! Looks like we'll have a few people. You should definitely join the FB group! It'll be easier to communicate with the participating rebels while on the go that way. https://www.facebook.com/groups/809885902441216/ If we have enough people commit, a company called Small Potatoes may bring us breakfast! It's going to be much excite!

Our semi - impromptu mini-meet up is set for Saturday at 9am (EST) at Military Park, just outside the convention center. Come meet some fellow rebels, practice some body weight exercises, talk about diet, and get a special sneak peak of our up coming Yoga program!! Anyone interested please check out the event and group here:https://www.facebook.com/groups/809885902441216/ Look forward to seeing you and may the dice fall in your favor.

Hey! Indy nerds! Anyone going to GenCon? I want to get a meet up planned, anyone interested? I've stared a facebook group. You can see it here:https://www.facebook...09885902441216/ Can't wait to see you all!

You shshould join our Facebook group and help spread the word. Thanks! https://www.facebook.com/groups/809885902441216/

Currently we're leaning toward early afternoon on Saturday. We'll get together in military Park and get a little exercise! It should be a welcome break from all the standing in lines and sitting to game. After we'll all find some paleo (or as close as we can to paleo) grub and hang out! Post any events you are for sure going to attend so we can avoid them if possible!

Hey! Midwest nerds! Anyone going to GenCon? I want to get a meet up planned, anyone interested? I've stared a facebook group. You can see it here:https://www.facebook...09885902441216/ Can't wait to see you all!

Hey! Midwest nerds! Anyone going to GenCon? I want to get a meet up planned, anyone interested? I've stared a facebook group. You can see it here:https://www.facebook.com/groups/809885902441216/ Can't wait to see you all!

So, been taking it easy for a few days. I did some yoga yesterday. Just focused on designing today. I feel like my back is back to normal. Tomorrow I'll head back to the gym. I think I'm working chest and upper back. Probably need to get in some more yoga and a head stand. Yeah, a friend of a friend has a favor called in to get me in on the first cancellation. We'll see and I'll start exploring other options.

So I need to post my thoughts on the rest of the weekend and Monday: Ugh! My body seems to be breaking. Following our workout, we had lunch with Steve and even ended up in a rowdy game of freeze take at a nearby Park. My 8 year old quickly found half a dozen other 8-ish year old and it was on. Steve was officially designated the "freeze monster"! It was a ton of fun, but kinda hard on my knee. Later we went to the convention center for more time with stitches. We did a little shopping, explored the Opryland hotel and had dinner. We were pooped. Sunday I was sore everywhere. Way more than I expected. Our workout wasn't extreme, but something was off. My knee was tender and my back was stiff. But we had stuff to do, and that stuff was the Nashville zoo. It was a nice zoo. A little expensive as zoos go (we visit a lot when we travel) but all in all, very nice. After that we found a sushi train and I went on a total binge. All you can eat sushi for $9 doesn't come along often, so I went nuts! We drove home and passed out for the night shortly after arriving. When I woke on Monday nothing was working right. I could barely stand. My back was completely locked up. I was beside myself. I hadn't had that happen in a year or more. Ugh! I got to the chiropractor and did a lot of stretching through the day. I didn't go to the gym or do any yoga. About the end of the day, it loosened up. Tuesday I finally had a chance to discuss my MRI on my knee with my doctor. It's not good, but it could be worse. So there is range of various types of damage and deterioration on my knee, chondrosis, arthritis and a few other things. Basically I have the knees of a 60 year old, the consequences of being over 100 lbs over weight for the past 20 years. Now that I'm trying to become an athlete, the damage is starting to be revealed. The treatments are 1, physical therapy to teach me how to protect my knee. 2, steroid injections and 3, collagen injections. From what I've read, the collagen injections sound promising. The problem is, my insurance don't give me "priority" access to the orthopedist that would provide either of the shots. Nothing till October. So, for now, I'm still in a holding patter. No leg exercises for a while. I have some clarity, but nothing actionable. I'll update as I can.

What takes you guys to the sheep and wool festival? Do you or Shandon knit? Kelly just told me another friend asked her to come to another fest in New York. I don't know if this is the year for a New York trip, but the wheels are turning. Spezzi and I are the only "full time" warriors, I think, but we may convince Lairpie to stay with us after this challenge. Rah! And yes, it is obviously the right choice! Haha

On Saturday, the family and I woke up at 4:30 AM and headed to Nashville, TN. My wife was attending a class at Stitches (http://www.knittinguniverse.com/south2015) a yarn and knitting convention, one of the largest of it's kind. And I was planning to meet Steve at his YMCA for a workout. It was great. The Y has a "Kid's Zone" where they could play, Steve and I could workout, and my wife was free to enjoy her class. Other than being a little sleep deprived, the workout was great. I got some great help with my form and warm-ups. First we did Steve's typical warm up. He tried to help me with some hand stands. When I practice them in my office, I do them in a hall way. I have both walls to push off of to eventually get my feet upright. Here I attempted to just flip up to a single wall. Even with Steve's coaching I fell. I still have a goose-egg on my head to show for it. I've come to the conclusion that I don't quite have the upper body strength yet. I'll keep practicing in my hall till I do. We also lifted weights. Rah! Deadlift 3 Sets: 8 reps @ 195 lbs Steve really helped me focus on form here. I think I made some significant improvements and learned a bunch! Good Mornings Set 1: 5 reps @ 45 lbs (bar only)Set 2: 8 reps @ 45 lbs (bar only)Set 3: 10 reps @ 55 lbs This was my first time seriously trying good mornings. It felt good. I think the work for my lower back and hamstrings could really do me some good. Steve said my form looked good, so I think I'll be adding these in. Overhead Press 3 Sets: 8 reps at 95 lbs.

Awesome leg day, man! I worked out with a friend who did some Snatch Grip Deadlift. I may try adding that in. Anything to strengthen my lower back. How do you think it's working for you?

I'm a little behind, so I think I'm going to break this into two posts. In addition to yoga and some handstand practice, I got a workout in on Friday. Pull Up Set 1 x 4 Set 2 x 3 Set 3 & 4 x 2 Bench press Set 1: 18 @ 135 (failure) Set 2: 5 @ 150 (failure) Set 3: 5 @ 155 Set 4: 5 @ 160 Set 5: 5 @ 160 Inclined Bench dumbbell fly Set 1: 20 @ 30 each arm Set 2: 12 @ 35 each arm Set 3: 12 @ 35 each arm Barbell Rows Set 1: 12 @ 135 Sets 2-4: 5 @ 155 Set 5: 4 @ 155 I wasn't getting these reps in as strict as I should've been. I'm going to re-evaluate my form and probably drop some weight. Later that day I hear from my doctor. He said they'd heard back from the physical therapist and the earliest possible appointment for me was Oct. 6th! What the crap?! That's not a referral, that's a deferral. My doctor understood my disappointment and offered to set up an appointment with him. I realize the need for a specialist, at times, but I don't think my situation is all that unique, so I hope (and am confident) that my doctor will be able to tell me what my next steps are. One of the reasons I'm so frustrated is that for Chondrosis, the possible treatments range from... Rest... to ...Surgery! That's a huge range and I need to know how to proceed. I have an appointment with my doctor on Tuesday.