Yraen

Thanks SuzyQ. Sorry I stopped checking in. Got really busy then just forgot. Despite not being on the forums I had a pretty good challenge. I didn't really track so I can't say for certain but I'm going to say I met my goals better on this challenge then about any other I've done. To take it week by week, the second week was extremely busy, I was commuting an hour each way to work, putting in 8 hours each day, getting home, grabbing a shower and a quick bite to eat, then going to church for revival services. I made it to each one and I couldn't be more glad I did. I don't know how ya'lls churches are but where I go, when someone is at the altar praying everyone gathers round them. I hate crowds and being surrounded and more then once I let that stop me from going down. Well the Lord's been helping me with stuff like that and I actually went down to the altar and prayed in three of the services. I got a lot of help every time. It was just an amazing revival. Three men at our church, one of them my best friend, got sanctified(again don't really know what ya'll believe but our doctrine), and everybody got a lot of help. Best week I think I ever had. Third week was good. Got in some great workouts, worked a little, devotions every day, just a good week. Forth week wasn't the best. The devil really started fighting my and I could till that I my relationship with God was set back a ways. Still there where good times in it. I went on Thursday to test for my GED and while I haven't gotten official scores I know I passed and the unofficial scores had me at 78 out of 80. Then on Friday night I went to the best concert of my life! Aaron Watson and Kevin Folwer. They both put on amazing shows and I had the best time. And I got to meet them both and get their autographs! Like I said this was my best challenge that I remember. Again sorry for skipping out.

Great to have you here! Swimming is cardio yes. Didn't get my studying or devotions done yesterday. Carbs where good. Got a workout in today. Not feeling 100% so I took it a bit easy 3x5x135 Squat 3x5x95 OHP 1x10x90 Hip Raise 1 Tri-set rear delt raise, lateral raise, front raise, 10,8,6 20 pounds 2x5x45 Weighted pushups 2x4 Pull-ups 2x10x20 Reverse wrist curls 2x10x40 Wrist Curl 2x12x35 Neck Curls 2x15x35 Neck Extensions Carbs good, study and devotions done, and I made it to church tonight. Not too bad a day all in all. Something I forgot when I set my goals was that my church is having revival next week. Still going to try to make every service.

Thanks Tank. Thanks. I'm looking forward to this one too. Took my measurements today Neck 16 Chest 44.5 Shoulders 51 Waist 35 Bicep 15 Forearm 12.5 Hips 41.25 Thigh 24 Calf 16.5 Worked out after that 5x5x135 Squat 5x5x95 OHP 2x5x40 dumbbell lunge 2xTri-set rear delt raise, lateral raise, front raise 8, 6, 4. 3x5x185 Bent over row 3x5x45 Weighted Pushups 3x5x50 Neck curl 3x8x50 Neck extension 2 15 second plate pinches 25 pounds 2x5x20 reverse wrist curl Not very good but I got it done. Went swimming with a couple buddies in the early evening and had a pretty good time. Carbs are well under 100. All other goals met.

Sorry you got sick man, glad you're better.

Right back at you. I don't really go for piano pieces during pushups, but I have found that Tchaikovsky goes good with jumping rope. Hope your son passes the test. I know how hard it can be to make and stick with a fitness plan.

Goal One For those unaware I am a high school drop out. It made it difficult for me to find a job last challenge so I need to get my GED so I can get a better job. This goal is to study for at least one hour everyday, and to take the test towards the end of this challenge. Goal Two This is the same as last challenge, to read my Bible and pray everyday. This challenge I'm adding not missing any church services barring emergencies. I made some good progress last challenge but I still have a long ways to go. I'm at a turning point in my life and I don't know what the Lord wants me to do. I need to read His word, speak to Him, and fellowship with His people so that I can draw closer to Him and hopefully figure out what He wants from me in life. Goal Three/a I've decided to start focusing on improving a couple of lifts at a time rather then try to get better at everything at once. This challenge I'm focusing on improving my squat and overhead press. I'll be weightlifting three times per week, doing full body workouts with at least two exercises each for my legs and shoulders and one exercise each for my back and chest with a focus on big compound movements. What else I do in my strength workouts will depend on the time and energy I have, but I want to try and do a lot of grip and neck work. Goal Three/b Much as I hate it cardio is important for overall health so I need to do some of it. I'm going to do some sort of cardio three times per week. This can be running, jumping rope, or some sort of strongman gpp conditioning work. Doesn't really matter what so long as my heart is thumping and I'm breathing hard. Goal Four Diet goal. Eat less then 100 grams of carbs per day. Pretty simple. I'm also going to try to cut grains down to once a week at the most. This will be hard. Those are my goals this time around. I'll take my measurements and all tomorrow.

Great to have you back.

Sorry to check out like that again. I've been kinda busy and things have happened. But for now a bit more complete rundown. So last week was just kinda okay. I didn't do much of anything for the first half. Met my goals but in a kind of barely, whatever fashion. I did go and play basketball Thursday night and I did alright. Made some good threes played some good D. Good time and a great workout. I went rock climbing or more accurately bouldering with my friends on Saturday and it was awesome. Had a great time driving there, had an amazing time climbing, grabbed some grub afterwards and had a good time. Just a fun day all in all. Carbs way to high with absolutely no regrets. Sunday and Monday were nothing real special. Didn't workout Monday though. Yesterday I went into a temp service in Springfield for an interview and more or less got hired. That was pretty awesome. Also for a great thrift store find I got Firefly the complete series for $2.48. $2.48! Played basketball at night and had a good time. Today is a win. Like just win. Went back into the temp place to fill out some paperwork, was there maybe all of two minutes, and got sent to a job. I actually worked today! Real, money-earning work! It feels SO GOOD to be back at it. I might not like the job I'm doing but I love working again. Finding work is an amazing answer to prayer and a major win. For another massive answer to prayer and win, tonight at church I got up and for the first time since I can remember I testified about how the Lord helped me to find a job. I've been praying a lot this past week or so that God would help my with all of my mental problems and hang ups and to stand up in church and talk in front of everybody like that is a defiant answer to that prayer. I don't think I could've done that even just a few days ago. I was shaking like a leave when I sat down but I did it. Big combating social anxiety and awkwardness win there. Putting that aside we had a great church service tonight. Our paster had families gather around the alter one at a time for all of us to pray for. It was just a great time of worship and fellowship. Needless to say devotions done for today. That plus my main goal completed. The work was hard so we'll call that a workout. Carbs way over because I had a good day and I wanted to celebrate and I wanted chili dogs dadgumit.

Thanks but no thanks. SuzyQ! Great to have you here. More ups would be nice. Didn't train much Thursday, just some stretching and all. Carbs where good. Devotions done. Friday I did 4 sets incline dumbbell press 40 pounds 10, 10, 5, 5. 30/s rest 4 sets dumbbell bent over row 75 pounds 12 across 30/s rest 3 supersets 10 rear delt raise 6 lateral raise 20 pounds 30/s rest 5 sets squats 135 8 across 1 sets dumbbell lunges 40 pounds 4 2 sets incline dumbbell curls 20 pounds 8, 6. 30/s rest 3 sets single arm overhead tricep extension 20 pounds 10, 10, 8. 30/s rest 3 sets barbell shrugs 185 10 across 30/s rest 3 sets neck curl 35 pounds 10 across 30/s rest 3 sets neck extensions 35 pounds 12 across 30/s rest 3 sets reverse wrist curls 15 pounds 8, 8, 10. 30/s rest 2 sets wrist curls 40 pounds 10 across 30/s rest Not my normal type of training but I hadn't worked out in a while and wanted to kick myself in the jowls a bit. I both love and hate these types of workouts. Carbs for Friday good. Also did my first session of NerdFitness Yoga. Talk about a kick to the jowls. Never knew it was that hard. Did my devotions. Saturday I jumped some rope and that's it. Carbs not good. Didn't do devotions. Today I got into church for both services. During Sunday school after are lesson we had time left and did a sword drill. I won for I think the first time in my life. Then at youth service(yes I still go to youth service) that evening we had two riddles the first one I managed to get after only two lines but I haven't solved the other one yet. All in all it wasn't to bad a day. Depression acted up throughout but I made it through. Carbs not good. Planning on basketball with the guys Thursday night and weather dependent rock climbing Saturday afternoon so this has the potential to be a good week. Here's hoping.

It wasn't really all that bad. I was just very sleep deprived and coming down sick when I last posted. My carbs where mostly low because my overall food intake was low, and my workouts where subpar. They did help though. Thanks for the prayers, I really appreciate them. I want to get my GED but here in Missouri it cost $95 to take the tests. As I said I'm broke. Stupid thing is I could've passed the tests a long time ago but I kept putting it off. Thanks for checking in. Like I told Tank it wasn't really all that bad but everything just pooled together to make it seem worse. I know it makes a huge difference, there have been about a dozen jobs I would've been perfect for if I had my stinkin' diploma. So I been sick since Saturday night and haven't really trained. Also haven't been eating very well because low carb requires cooking and I have not felt up to that at all. Coming out of it so hopefully I can train tomorrow. Not been in a good place spiritually past few days. Haven't done my devotions and pray's been at the minimum. Got it done today though so hopefully I can get back on the right track.

Thanks. Basketball went okay. I caught an elbow to the ribs so their a bit tinder but other then that good. Weekends going okay all in all I guess. Carbs for Thursday good at just under 100. Got a workout in Friday nothing major to report. Way to many carbs on Friday, somewhere around 200 I'd guess. Got some cardio in today. Carbs good. Devotions every day. Like I said all in all it ain't been too bad, I'm just tired, depressed, and stressed. I'm completely out of money and don't have any job prospects. I've spent far more time crying then I care to admit and put a good sized dent in one of the walls. To top it all off I've hardly slept the past few days.

Had some good devotions today. Went to church for a great missionary service. Good workout in. Probably over did it a bit. Bwx5 45x5 95x5 135x5 205x1(Failed 2nd) 185x2(Could probably have gotten 3 but didn't want to change it) Squat 45x5 135x5 205x5 285x4 Deadlift 205x3x2 Bent over row 45x5 75x5 125x3x2 Overhead Press 40x6x2 Rear delt raise Bwx5 45x5 75x3 Weighted Pushup 40x10 incline dumbbell press 45x5 90x5 125x10 Hip Raise 45 second weighted plank with 45 pounds(for extra points I listened to the Ranger Creed to motivate me while doing this). 20x5x3 Reverse wrist curl 40x10 Wrist curl 45x8x2 Neck Curl 45x10x2 Neck extension 20x10 Overhead extension Same write up as last time Carbs today at 102.5 total 86.5 net. Call it good. Planning to play basketball with the guys tomorrow for my cardio.

Happy anniversary!

Did my Bible reading and praying today. More cardio type workout today 5 rounds 1 minute jump rope 1 minute rest 5 minutes rest 2 rounds 45 second waiter walk with 40 pound dumbbell per side. 5 seconds rest between arms 2 minutes rest 10 Burpees with push-up 3 minutes rest 30 seconds mountain climbers This sucked. I should've rested less but it still sucked. Carbs at 94.5 total and 67.5 net.

That game sounds awesome.