Finisterre

Hello fellow Scottish person *sidles away trying not to look like a creepy stalker*

3 hours ago, sylph said:

I think of seated rows as something else.

 

These are like--super exaggerated reverse crunches, kind of?

Huh. I am trying (and failing) to picture them... The only other thing coming to mind is super slow plough roll downs but I don't think that's what you mean either! 

Sorry to be the misery guts here, but I would be very wary of this unless you have a freestanding aerial rig available.  Looking at their website they include inversions, and talk about swinging - their rigging procedures really are not up to this.  There are so many forces involved in aerial movements that rigging over a beam or from a ceiling (without involving a professional rigger) just isn't safe.  This isn't like a pull up bar where you have a limited range of motions, and where if it fails you land on your feet - if something goes wrong when you're inverted you can hurt yourself very very badly.

 

Making your own rig system is possible but requires a very high level of technical knowledge - much safer is buying a rig from a reputable source which runs to several hundred, if not thousands, of dollars.

 

Please have a look at the files here, in particular the "So you want an aerial point at home" document.  These are articles written by highly experienced aerial riggers and can explain the dangers and requirements much better than I can.

 

Again, sorry to be the miserable voice here, but I don't want you to get hurt!  The Safety In Aerial Arts facebook page I linked above is a great resource for getting more information on this sort of stuff, and can also help you to find a reputable aerial yoga studio near you if you want to pursue that

 

 

Woohoo for (possible) re-opening!

 

We call the tuck things seated rows (if they're what I think they are).  And I'm impressed at the hollow body dedication, I avoid doing that whenever possible!

My friend has gone and found herself somewhere to live (woop!) so I will have a spare room for that weekend (woopwoop!)

 

Nothing fancy but there's a double bed, and a group of pet rats who loooove visitors ^-^

After some playing around with a spreadsheet I have come up with target numbers.  I've got a points aim per week in each section, based on what I think is realistically achievable but still challenging myself e.g. assuming no fizzy drinks in a week (challenging but feasible) but not assuming I'm going to eat 20 portions of fruit and veg each day (just not going to happen).

 

Diet:  90 points/week

Mental health:  85 points/week

Running:  20 points/week

Circus:  85 points/week

 

I also rounded up to the nearest multiple of five because it looks nicer...

These are subject to change if it turns out I've made a huge miscalculation in what I can achieve, and don't take into account any of the Big Bonus Goals (such as a completely organised flat or a heel hang) since the reason they're so high scoring is because I'm not entirely convinced they are achievable in the next four weeks.

Yay books!!  I read Nod a couple of weeks ago, it's pretty good.  Even The Dead sounds interesting as well!

14 hours ago, lucky fire dragon said:

Awesome theme!!!

 

Following,of course

I didn't even know that there is such a thing as a half mudder, now I am jealous

This is so cool,you have so many things going you love among the less pleasant necessities. I also love how you're warming to the cooking. All the yummy meals!

 

Thank you

 

Half mudder is amazing, half the distance and none of the really awful obstacles (I have zero interest in electrocution) 

I genuinely never thought I'd enjoy cooking but it's actually becoming quite fun

 

3 hours ago, The Scarlet Pimpernel said:

Love the theme! And interesting points system - do you have a points goal that you are aiming for?

 

I too seem to swing between healthy eating and eating everything I can get my hands on - let us know any tricks you find to help!

 

Thank you! I am aiming for points but I need to work out the target based on how many of each thing can realistically happen, and possibly using week one as a baseline. 

 

I've found that just not having crappy stuff in makes the biggest difference , but the discovery that my local supermarket is open to midnight hasn't helped

Yay new challenge!  And gifs and stuff!

 

I love Alice in Wonderland, the show I'm in is based on Alice in Wonderland, Alice in Wonderland is super gifable...perfect challenge theme!  Admittedly I prefer the book to the film, and the animated is vastly better than the 2010 version, but book gifs don't work quite so well.

 

I liked my points method in the last challenge so will probably repeat that.  A google sheet means that I can update categories on the go so don't have to try to remember what I've done at the end of each day, and points are just fun.

 

Down the rabbit hole we go...

 

 

 

One side will make you grow taller, and the other side will make you grow shorter

 

 

As we all know, you can't outrun your diet (boo!).  And my diet is...dubious.  I seem to swing between eating really well and eating everything I can get my hands on.  Add to this new meds which have appetite increase as a side effect (double boo!) and I really need to take a long hard look at my eating habits.  I've started getting HelloFresh boxes, and whilst they're not the most cost efficient (it works out as ~£6.50 a meal, ouch!) but it's getting me cooking healthy food on a regular basis, and since the portions are actually massive I tend to end up with three meals instead of two from a lot of them.  Plus they're really yummy (and I genuinely am a terrible cook).  I also massively reduced my coke consumption in the last challenge so let's keep that up!

 

This challenge I'm being harsher on myself for coke drinking and fast food, but also more rewarding for cooking and keeping on top of my calories.

 

So points for this:

Portion of fruit or veg  +1

Bottle/glass of coke  -2

Bottle of other fizzy drink  -1

Take out/fast food  -10

Home cooked meal  +5

Daily calorie tracking  +2

Under calorie target  +1

 

 

We're all mad here

 

 

 

Or at least I am.  Last challenge I got a new diagnosis, a shiny new drug, and a shiny new therapist.  This challenge ends two days before I'm due to go back to my PhD so excellent timing for finishing sorting my life out for that fun and exciting development (ohgodpleasekillmenow).  This section is going to include specific mental health things as well as more general adult life things.  Because realistically a lot of the issues with adult stuff are a result of being slightly mad.

 

Psychiatrist appointment  +5

Therapy session  +5

Taking all meds  +1

Daily thought record  +1

Shower  +1

Bath  +2

Cleaning teeth  +1

Hour of tidying  +10

Completely sorted room  +25

Completely sorted flat  +100

Unnecessary spending  -25

 

I say, you'll never get dry that way

Get dry?

Have to run with the others.  First rule of a caucus race, you know.

 

 

I'm doing a half mudder at the end of the month, so much training is needed.  Run run run!

 

Going for a run  +5

Each km run  +1

5km in one session  +10

8km in one session  +20

 

 

Twinkle twinkle little bat/ how I wonder what you're at/ up above the world you fly/ like a tea tray in the sky

 

 

Can you stand on your head?

 

 

Circus!  Ciiirrrrccuuuuuuussssss

 

Ahem.  I like circus   Much circus etc etc  I've got moves to work on, rehearsals to get to, and I really need to get my flex work on again

 

Aerial class  +2

Rehearsal  +1

Double skinner  +10

Single toe hang  +20

Heel hang  +50

Forward belly spins/millwheels  +10

New move/transition  +1

Handstand work  +5

Juggling practice  +5

Hula hooping  +1

Splits work  +5

Backbend work  +5

Doing less than 4 stretch sessions in a week  -50

 

Good job on third Brotherhood!

 

And thanks everyone for a great mini challenge - so many days I really didn't feel like going running but knowing my team needed me got me out there

Slightly sad I've reached my peak for flight this week, but my body is definitely happy to have a Friday night off!  I'll let you have this week @Nuala, but watch your back for next week 

I am loving this mini challenge SO MUCH.  It's been chucking it down all day and I really didn't want to go for a run, but knowing getting out there would help the team dragged me out the door

 

I did come back drenched and spent the first five minutes of my shower trying to get rid of the purple in my nail beds, but overall I feel pretty good about it!

I only have my ears pierced (and hardly ever wear earrings these days) but two tattoos.

 

My willow tree

 

 7

 

And my fox

 

 

 

Both of these photos were taken right after they were finished...the tree doesn't actually have a red background...  I really should get some recent shots, but it's very difficult taking pictures of your own back and ribs!

Week 3

Sunday

Sunday was a better day!  I stupidly didn't take my meds on Saturday night so didn't sleep At All (I gave up once it got to 9am on Sunday morning) so was pretty exhausted but aside from that...

Had a lovely ride on Willow, without the massive rain shower in the middle of it.  Then the evening was rehearsal, an intense cardio circuit first off, followed by running the hula hoop act then almost two hours on an aerial hoop.  Working a scene where I'm interacting a lot with a ground person and have finally got some choreo set for that.  Also produced this excellent blooper...   I'm totally making a blooper reel for the end of this ^-^

Eating wise I was actually pretty good.  I did stop for fast food on the way home after rehearsal (mainly to try and stay awake for the drive...), but stayed pretty much within my calorie goals so that's good.

 

Monday

I had considered going for a run today, but I was aching from last night so decided to have a complete rest day.  I'm now thinking - Sunday rehearsal, Monday full rest, Tuesday aerial, Wednesday run, Thursday run, Friday rehearsal, Saturday active rest (riding), with the option to add runs in of course. 

I ate loads, but tbh I'm ok with it.  It wasn't binging, just having more than I needed.

I did spend a fair amount of time sat on the balcony with a book, and a punnet of cherries which was really quite lovely.

I also got my first delivery from Hello Fresh - I got a voucher via Amazon to get £20 off each of my first two boxes, so it works out as £19 a week for six meals.  I've never been one for cooking, but I'm quite looking forward to trying this out and seeing what happens

 

 

 

And finally a picture spam of Things What I've Been Doing featuring baby rats and ponies

 

 

 

 

My nuisance circus babies <3 (that barrier is waist height...)

 

 

On 22/05/2016 at 10:57 AM, lucky fire dragon said:

that is an awesome arrangement with the pony, great parents are worth more than gold!

 

yes, it does look like a mix of difficulties, but probably only to me as I have dabbled a bit with the beginner moves. Someone who was never on a hoop probably won't notice the difference so much but go ooooh and aaaaah as is

 

 I was wondering about your times on the mini, just didn't dare ask as I wanted to let sleeping dragons lie  yet it was slightly worrying me if you're okay... torn feelings these minis give us

 

Good to know, I'll give it my everything this week then, yay. You know it was great because as it was, I thought that I can catch up and otherwise might have not even tried. This way I tried some spinning pole moves, but got so nauseous at a point that I couldn't do another minute... which was the reason for the brief tie. I would have so loved to get on that leaderboard, but any more spin I tried or even static moves, my tummy said no-oh

Will do spinning in shorter units, me thinks.

 

When is your actual show again? As you say your progress is HUGE, so with a bit more time it'll be absolutely spectacular!!

 

I always find as well that the moves that are most impressive to muggles aren't necessarily the hardest moves (like muggles get super excited about the splits, circus people go "eh, who can't do them" XD)

Hahaha sorry!  Glad it gave you a boost though!  I'm putting in a lot of hours because of rehearsals but I'm not training full time or anything.  Definitely beatable!

Ugh spinning.  I accidentally went too fast last night and really thought I was going to spew...

 

Not till the beginning of August, so loads of time for us all to be awesome

40 minutes ago, erosan said:

Till this week, you mean...

 

Pah!

20 minutes ago, lucky fire dragon said:

 

Great idea!!

 

I have them occasionally

Spring rides on my hilariously over-exuberant pony through the bluebells.  

Also in terms of suggestions for other moves to work on - might as well start basic with forwards/backwards rolls and can build from there

3 hours ago, lucky fire dragon said:

hey that is three good eating days, lots of hoop wins AND great pony fun - so much WIN!!!

 

I love the lighting when the clouds are so dark and houses and bushes shine so bright in front and all.... never been to Scotland only Ireland, but I could imagine it being similar in some ways landscape wise?? We had a mood like that here too the other day and I love walking on days like that. Could drink it in it's so vibrant and contrasty and fresh 

Didn't know you had a pony along with all the rats, wow. You must have a lot of pet care to do!

 

The rehearsal video is BEAUTIFUL!!! Yes, they should rather put you in center, why don't they?!?! But in parts the two of you were nicely synchronized. Love how solid and smooth all your moves look and then with that clockwork effect on top  wow

The one balancing on the neck looks super scary. And there are a few ones in between I can do too, yay

 

Keep rocking, just rest for now... I caught up so nicely on your flight numbers

 

It is SO green here just now, it's lovely!  Scotland and Ireland are pretty similar, though obviously Scotland is nicer (not that I'm biased )

The pony lives with my parents so I am incredibly lucky and get all the fun with not so much of the work.  Though it does mean I only get to see her on weekends :'(

 

Aww thank you!  I think it's partly because me and the other girl in the video look similar, whereas the third (least experienced) looks quite different so it balances better this way.

The shoulder stand is way less scary than on a trapeze I have to admit!  It's a weird mix between beginners moves and the teacher going "eh we'll throw this in and hope for the best"

 

Hahahaha sorryyy.... I somehow forgot to add the numbers from one of my sessions in.  I'd been thinking it seemed low this week and redid the maths...  No rehearsal next Friday though so my numbers will definitely be down in week three!

I'm in!  My cartwheel is lovely on one side and verrryyyyy melty on the other.  Like Wicked Witch of the West I'm meeeellllltttiiinnggggg melty

 

On 20/05/2016 at 3:48 PM, starsapart said:

 

Yesterday was more work madness, plus working on an RP project that stillskies and I are managing.  Had gyoza for dinner because sometimes you just need some damn dumplings.  Went to open gym, rode the struggle bus from start to finish.  BUT worked on the foldover sequence, did tidy slowwwww helicopters on both sides from tick tock entry, refreshed myself on candlestick climb, tried and failed to remember how do mermaid climb, tried and failed to recreate the single-pull helicopter - it didn't even work after I watched my old video, shaaaaaaaammmmmmmmme.  On the bright side, I focused very hard on no microbends in my straddles, I think I did pretty well.  AND near the end of the session I balanced an okay Scorpion!  With help from the wall to set up so I'm still far from my goal, but, progress!

 

 

Microbends are sooo hard to get rid of, every time I think I've got rid of them I see video and they've snuck back in.

 

That sounds like so much for a struggle bus session!

On 20/05/2016 at 7:51 PM, lucky fire dragon said:

yayyy for great movies and good psychiatrists!! That is definitely an event that would take a lot out of you, emotional muscles are muscles too!

 

How's your second week coming along for you? Any weekend party plans again

Hope you're happy and going strong

 

Hahaha no partying this weekend - just rehearsals and pony fun times

 

 

Week 2 Summary

Tuesday

Good with my eating, had trapeze class in the evening where we did loads of stuff in the ropes and it was fun.  Generally a good day!

 

Wednesday

Good with my eating again, but apparently did nothing else all day...  

 

Thursday

Good with eating (don't get your hopes up that this is a pattern beginning...), went for a run, did a whole load of tidying (who has two thumbs and clean dishes?  This bitch!), did some juggling, did some baking...  Basically an awesome day where I was awesome.

 

Friday

Friday started with such promise.  Went for a run, was eating really well, went to rehearsal, rehearsal was good...  The aerial conditioning is consistent each Friday and it is starting to feel easier each time *flexes muscles*  The hula hoop act ran pretty nicely (apart from when I almost brained someone with a hoop...), and we had nearly two hours working on the aerial hoop act.  It does feel like it's starting to come together, I'm feeling better on the hoop generally.  I was a bit frustrated with the two other girls - one doesn't have as much experience and it's really showing.  I know that there's nothing we can do about that, but with the rigging set up she's likely to be in the middle so centre stage and it's a bit frustrating knowing that I am better.  The other girl was on her phone a lot, she's a friend but I felt like she was being quite rude to our teacher.  Friday is usually his only day off teaching aerial each week so the fact he's coming in every week to work with us on this act is a pretty big deal.  I didn't say anything because I don't do confrontation, but tried to make up for it by being really into what he was doing with us, and trying to engage as much as possible, and giving ideas etc.  The goalposts were kind of changed - what we thought was a completely aerial act is actually meant to be part aerial, part ground, moving between the two... *Sigh*  The joys of the director being in Brazil and everything being relayed through 3 different people!  I think we've got a good basis though now

 

Then I got back to my parents and it all fell apart eating wise, and I basically binged.  Joy joy joy.

 

Saturday

Had a lovely ride on Willow this afternoon.  She was in a hilarious mood where she was super excited and over-enthusiastic about everything, which I love.  So we sproinged around the countryside for a bit, got a bit drenched when the heavens opened (half the sky was pitch black, half was bright blue, oh Scotland....).  I do love that pony.

Eating was going well until the evening when I just pigged out again.  There's something about being at home with my parents - I think it's because there is so much more temptation.  In the flat I just don't buy things that I might stuff my face with (except things like raspberries omnomnomnom) but here there's so many more things and my self control is dubious.  Oh well, tomorrow is another day right?

 

Overall

Points wise I am up from Week 1 but still not where I want to be.  That said, I'm improving, and even if I only ate well three days this week, that's three days more than last week so I'm looking at this not as a failure but as a step towards success, and learning where my problems tend to occur.

 

 

 

Rehearsal video from last weekend here

I'm the one on the left.  Don't love how huge my arse looks, but do love the edge of back muscle you can see when I hang from the top of the hoop!  We've changed a whole load of the choreography around, and it needs sooooo much cleaning up but when you compare it to how I looked on the hoop in the first video there's a massive improvement

On 28/04/2016 at 2:58 PM, Jem said:

In regards to both joints and general hypermobility tension development is a frequent course of action. In other words taking ownership of the hypermobile range which results in it being an asymptomatic mobile range. If that doesn't work on occasion medical intervention is used.

 

How is your glute strength? Feet pronate to involve the glutes in responsive actions such as running or jumping so that would be another suspect. Alternatively Primal rolling patterns can also cause deficiencies in balance, how do you perform on a hurdle step test? Ankle circles are useful for general strength in end ROM, deep squat position rocking back to to wall can be used for eccentric neural grooving of the anterior compartment, and half kneeling work will statically improve ankle strength.

 

A simple but effective drill for wrist extension is to stand with your hand in a supinated position, place it palm against the wall just beneath shoulder height so it's in an extension position, keep a slight bend in the elbow the entire time, step away from the wall and while keeping the bend try and reach your fingers as far back towards your forearm as possible. Expect cramps on your extensors and metacarpals but maintain inhalation through your nose and exhale through your mouth twice as long as you inhale. To progress go higher up the wall before stepping away, to regress go lower.

 

Yup to your first point - this is something I'm actively working on with my elbows and a specialist physio, retraining my muscles that just because they can hyperextend doesn't mean they should.

 

My glutes are pretty good - I spent my teenage years running, playing hockey and riding horses so my lower body strength is generally passable.  Can't say I've ever tried a hurdle step test.  Squats annoyingly irritate other joints (particularly knees), but I am working on wall sit progressions - again it's retraining my body to the proper alignment.

 

I'll try that with my wrists!

 

On 30/04/2016 at 4:58 AM, Machete said:

Might have to work on motor control for the feet. Special insoles allow you to have weakness in the joint, so if you're going to function without them you're going to have to learn to do so and gain strength throughout the otherwise unstable joint. How is your gait? Do your arches collapse when you're walking and your feet are pointed straight?

 

Oh I have no doubt that the insoles fix the symptoms but not the cause - unfortunately it had got to a point where I couldn't run (or even really walk long distances) without knee pain.  They do collapse walking.  I can control it if I really concentrate but it's difficult.

 

On 10/05/2016 at 8:15 AM, Silvertongued said:

Hypermobility is a personal speciality of mine (9/9 Beighton, but like you mentioned, it doesn't cover all the joints)! I don't have much advice for wrists, but for ankles, ballet foot exercises really help. Tendus, picking things up with your toes, releves... all strengthen the foot and ankle. This is a great video that only uses a tennis ball and from there there is a whole rabbit warren of videos to explore!

 

9/9?? Ouch!  I'm always glad my knees are pretty good!  That video is great, thank you!