Zacsmith3

It's been a week since my last post, and I definitely fell off the wagon. Yesterday was my only workout since then, but it was a really good workout!  Deep squats - 8,8,8 Incline Diamond Pike Presses - 8,8,8 Push-ups - 6,6,6 Forearm knee raises - 8,8,8 The days off helped my triceps a lot. Last time I did push-ups it was a huge struggle to get through my smaller sets but this time they felt smooth and easy. The other three workouts are all ready for leveling. So, Deep squats → split squats Incline Diamond Pike Presses → pike presses Forearm knee raises → forearm bent leg raises Can't wait to start these and see some legitimate progress! Sent from my TOUCHBOOK7.0 3G using Tapatalk

Oops... Haven't posted for a couple days. Time to fix that. Tuesday after I posted, I did some yoga, ' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'> ' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'> https://youtu.be/6JiIb8nUNJM Thursday I did my Bodyweight progressions. Deep squats - 7,7,7 Incline Diamond Pike Presses - 7,7,7 Push-ups - 6,5,5 Forearm knee raises - 7,7,7 Bent knee Australian pull-ups - 8,8,8 I think that's what I've seen the pull-ups I did called. Only thing I can suspend myself from at all is a table. For now it seems like push-ups are the progression closest to my actual strength for a given motion, and the others I'll keep hurrying through till I get to see similar level of difficulty. After I get done with work today, I'll probably do one of the yoga routines above, then crash. I'm doing a 12 hour shift today, and I work early tomorrow. Sent from my TOUCHBOOK7.0 3G using Tapatalk

Thanks for the welcome! I like the idea of setting times to stretch throughout the day, so I think I'll use that. I transport people who are wheelchair or bed bound to and from doctor appointments and such, which keeps me from sitting still for too long, but it doesn't necessarily help with flexibility or decrease muscle tension. Today I had a 12 hour shift starting at 6am. When I got home my wife had just started dinner. I used the cooking time to do my workout. Deep squats - 6,6,6 Incline diamond pikes - 6,6,6 Forearm knee lifts - 6,6,6 Dips - 5,5,5 I don't have a pull-up bar yet, but I'll add those progressions in as I figure out how with what I have around.

I enjoy the snippets you keep giving us. Each one flows smoothly enough to draw focus away from the words and leave only the scene, until someone trys to focus on the technical aspects at least. Totally changes a piece from writing to story.

It's awesome to be starting my first challenge with the assasins. I have several Main Quests that I'm working towards this challenge. First I'm dropping 90 lbs. In the process, I'll make bodyweight flags and walking on my hands, when I get to them< significantly easier than they would be at my current weight. For any assasin there are three key fitness areas to completing any misson; strength, dexterity, and speed. So, I'll do one quest in each area. Quest 1: Strength, 3x a week (4 STR)My strength training is going to be loosely based on the basic workout and progressions on startbodyweight.com. I'll do circuit workouts, and instead of only allowing myself to increase my reps by only one rep per excercise, I will allow myself to increase by up to one rep per set per excercise. Once I can do 3 sets of 8 reps, I reset to sets of 4 at the next progression. Quest 2: Dexterity, Daily (4 DEX)Every day, I am goig to do a stretch routine or a yoga practice for flexibility. Quest 3: Speed, 12 miles a week (4 STA)Right now, I walk a 17 minute mile, on average. I want to start running with a focus on my 2 mile time. I'll do 12 miles a week, broken up any way that works. All of my attribute points will be awarded based on percentage of expected tasks completed.100-90% (All points)89-80% (points * 0.75)79-70% (points * 0.50)69-60% (points * 0.25)59% down (No points) My wife and I might be moving in the midst of this challenge, if that does happen, I'll revise my quests as necessary.

You should feel that tomorrow. Challenge looks well thought out. :-) Sent from my TOUCHBOOK7.0 3G using Tapatalk

Great fitness goals. Like the branching into yoga for combining strength and flexibility. Seemed like you killed most of your last challenge,so I bet we'll see the same this time. Sent from my TOUCHBOOK7.0 3G using Tapatalk

Awesome! Especially at the 20 minute mark! Sent from my TOUCHBOOK7.0 3G using Tapatalk

For the last threeish weeks, my wife and I have been eating paleo all but a meal or two on Saturdays. Then on Sunday we ate pizza and other junk. Then on Monday I had the worst migraine of my life. As much as I hate it, I can't see anything else that was different and might have triggered it... So paleo may be an enforced lifestyle change, fortunately it's a change that I like to begin with. I've been walking or cycling depending on when I get to workout. I'm in Arizona, so walking outside is only feasible if I do it early in the morning. I haven't focused on what I am and am not drinking, I just know that I am more likely to drink pop if I get tired at work than any other time. Sent from my TOUCHBOOK7.0 3G using Tapatalk

Next challenge (or 2 or 3) I'll be with the Assassins focusing on bodyweight progressions. Sent from my TOUCHBOOK7.0 3G using Tapatalk

Great progress Briniel!

I just stumbled onto your challenge log a couple days ago and have been catching up since then. Loved the story, and I'll be looking out for you next challenge.

So... The last few weeks have been kind of crazy. It started off with my wife and me driving from Arizona to my parents house in Colorado. While we spent a day there we did an inspection of our car and realized that the engine is burning almost as much oil as fuel, so needs a rebuild or replacement. At about the same cost, we'll probably replace it. Then we spent a couple days at my mom's family reunion and a couple days relaxing at my parents house. Next, my wife's family reunion; camping up in the mountains by Colorado Springs. Since the last time I was up that high (10000+ ft) I've gained 50 lbs, and lived in Arizona for 3 years. We walked everywhere and I thought I would suffocated up there several times. It was definitely worth it though, if only to get to know my nieces and nephew.  They are awesome kids! Then back to my parents house for a couple more days before coming home. Highlight of the trip: I was the only one to catch a fish before we left, even though my father-in-law is super outdoorsy. Now as to how I've done with my quests. Quest 1 Eating Paleo Went very well. Both our families are very supportive of us trying to improve our health. They were even helpful with eating paleo, once they were assured that no we gone crazy and stopped eating meat [emoji43] Quest 2 Walking This one was even easier than the eating paleo. Both reunions were outdoors where much walking was required. Walking to meals accounted for 2 miles round trip each time. Quest 3 conquering sweetened drinks Here was my downfall. While my parents and my in-laws drink almost exclusively water, my brothers drink almost exclusively Mountain Dew. Worst part is that they learned that from me. So while I was hanging out with them, I drank 3-4 cans a day... Life Quest posting daily Clearly did not remain a priority in the midst of my vacation...as shown by the lack of posting. This has shown me that of the things I'm working on right now Mountain Dew is my biggest weakness, followed by other sweet drinks. Now I can learn guard against them better [emoji1] Sent from my TOUCHBOOK7.0 3G using Tapatalk

No stimulants, good eating, and exercise. Shocking that it's does end up in lots of energy like every fit person I've ever even heard of says... Maybe they ARE on to something. @kagemusha haven't had a chance to jump in your thread yet, but I will, promise. Stay strong, damned sugars are addictive [emoji14] @Briniel it's true, energy seems to come based on activity. If we didn't have to eat, I would think I solved perpetual motion. So I'm updating from work again (waiting on patients to be discharged from hospitals is very conducive to this). I had a lemonade earlier today. I was drinking from my cup before I even saw the unsweetened blackberry tea. 😢 but I biked 5 miles this morning before starting my shift. I had the energy to finish my 10, but the outside of my foot started cramping up, so I'll do another 5 after I get done. The cramp could have been dehydration. My mouth was dry as a bone when I woke up. Sent from my TOUCHBOOK7.0 3G using Tapatalk

Nothing else special happened today, just busy at work. But not a workout day or a paleo day. Although, I had a LOT more energy than usual today. Maybe from eating better over the weekend than has been my norm, maybe an energy boost from cycling yesterday. My guess: both. Sent from my TOUCHBOOK7.0 3G using Tapatalk

So I've missed a couple days off posting. Seems like I'm always so busy I don't think of it till I'm already doing something else. But a couple victories since my last post. Saturday my wife and I got up a local ranchers market to buy freggies. I love this place and don't know why I stopped going for a while. Fresh fruits and vegetables at about half the price of anywhere else. We proceeded to eat those and some pork we already had for the rest of the weekend, and feel so much better today than we have in a while. Yesterday my wife kicked me out for a few hours to get over a migraine. So I went to the gym and cycled 10 miles. My legs felt like jelly when I was done, but feel fine now. Well, gotta get back to work but I'll update more later. Sent from my TOUCHBOOK7.0 3G using Tapatalk

Thanks for the welcome Briniel! And good luck job hunting. Today I only focused on drinking unsweetened drinks, but it turned into quite a challenge. I often work 12 hour shifts at my job, and most of my day is spent driving in the metro area, so when I get sleepy, I don't have a lot of options for how to get myself alert again. Up until starting this challenge, my typical routine was to stop and buy some Mountain Dew. The only reason I didn't today is because I knew I'd be posting here tonight. I ended up getting sunflower seeds to snack on and that did the trick.

Awesome and specific goals. A lot like mine right now too.

I didn't include rewards. It's after midnight and I want thinking clearly enough to figure them out. Any suggestions are welcome.

Introduction: Hi, I'm Zacsmith3. This is the first of what I hope will be many quests with NF. Mainly, I want to lose weight (again), but keep getting waylaid by cheap fast food and comfy chairs. Since I'm starting late, most goals will start with week 2. Main Quest: Release 90lbs (cause you try to find what you lose). Starting weight: 290 Goal weight: 200 Quest 1: Gradually switch over to the Paleo diet by eating completely paleo 1 day in week 1, 2 days in week 2, 3 days in week 3, etc., until I am eating all paleo every day. Measurement: A = 21 days, B = 18-20 days, C = 15-17 days Reward: Quest 2: Walk 5 miles or Cycle 10 miles 4 days a week, starting in week 2. Measurement: A = 19-20 days, B = 15-18 days, C = 11-14 days Reward: Quest 3: Drink only unsweetened drinks, water, teas, infused water.... Measurement: A = 35+ days, B = 30-34 days, C = 26-29 days Rewards: Life Quest: Use this thread daily to update progress towards each challenge goal and to maintain accountability for myself. Measurement: Same as quest 3 Reward: Motivation: My motivation really is twofold. First, I'm just sick of feeling like one of the Hutts, slow, sluggish and gross. I remember what it felt like to run a few miles and still feel like I had the energy to do anything, now after just a few moments of running, I'm bent over gasping. It's just not healthy. Second, while I just like the sound of the paleo diet and getting fit, my wife gets migraines and has learned that the paleo diet, with a few tweaks I don't understand yet, can help to reduce migraines. But if both of us aren't on the same page regarding what we eat, we both end up eating the laziest and usually worst option.