Elleica

Welcome here!!! I am definitely signing up to this mini challenge and keeping my fingers crossed that I get to finish it.

Last Monday, I managed to do a C25k run! Yey! And I was amazed that after weeks of not being able to do one run, I was still able to successfully complete the alloted run for the day - without breaking up! Normally, I would give up mid-run and just walk but this time I was able to maintain it. My legs are kind of killing me now (DOMS!) but all the more I feel that today must be another workout day! Yesterday was a rest day and my activity was confined to going to the market and buying some produce. Which was really cool considering that it was an exercise on its own. I am perpetually amazed at the strength my hands now have.

It was AWESOME! I felt like a kid all over trying all the different thrilling rides! My dad wanted to go to the roller coaster but he couldn't because of a heart condition. All the more I realized that as young as I am now, I should be taking care of my health so when I am older, I can ride on all the amazing rides with my kids. Thanks for the tips on the calories! I try to just follow the app and not stress about it too much.

following to also check out the handstands which is also one of my future goals although I am still so new to the progression

Great challenge goals. I'm learning something new here. Will be following along again

Glad to see you back!

Update: (haha so soon) Yesterday the challenge started but I haven't achieved any of those above. I was at an amusement park and had the time of my life as I had thrill after thrill going through all the extreme rides! I'm counting yesterday as an active day nonetheless. So nothing lost. But I don't want to make all this excuses so only ONE "LOST" day per week is allowed. Lost day would be a day when I haven't done anything to further my goals above but are still considered as active days.

Last challenge was not as active as I wanted but it was still a great in my books because of the physical results that people and myself can actually see. I have been complimented time and time again for being leaner. I am also able to carry little boys in my arms (my cousin, son of a friend) and can play with them without being short of breath. I can run up steep flight of stairs (vs using escalator) without being short of breath. I may not have been able to follow the workout plans to the T but I can see the vast improvements in my body. So, the way to go, is forward. No going back. So for this 4WC my challenge goals are: weight I need to lose at least 22 lbs! This is according to the doctor when I had my checkup done. My goal is to lose 4lbs for this challenge. I began calorie counting and must stay within 1,378 calories per day so I can lose 1lb per week. How did I compute my calorie? I used the BMR methor and the Harris Benedict Equation. I track using My Fitness Pal. However, I am not sure if I should follow the re-adjustment with the steps measured by iPhone? strength I noted I can do 10 push ups in proper form last week. Goal this challenge is to increase it to 15 push ups by the end of the challenge. For pull-ups, my goal is to be able to do at least 1 pull up within the challenge month. I'm ok with an assisted pull up. I'll consider this a great move forward because in the past months I've tried a pull up, all I managed were 2 instances of dead hang and body weight rows done indoors. workout challenge To push myself to keep doing a work out, I must not miss a day of the following: 7-min workout Abs Total Workout Challenge by Darebee endurance This is still a major component of my training and I must devote time to increasing my endurance by: Achieving 8,000 average steps per week (current average is 7,000) C25k run at least 1x a week regeneration Most of the battle is in the kitchen and when we sleep so I must: Achieve at least 7 hours average sleep a week Eat 90% Paleo meals -- continue my no (or minimal rice / bread / etc) diet To make things simpler, I have decided to stick to fitness goals. Everything is still tracked here - https://goo.gl/XIwH7v Looking forward to another great month and I'll do my best to update this thread even as life catches on.

POKEMON GO is everywhere! Hehe. It's not even available here in the Philippines (at least for iOS I believe) and for those who would like to risk it, they try the work arounds. What's funny is that even our government agency tasked for traffic enforcement has used the popularity of the game to send their warnings and messages to drivers and pedestrians alike. I'm a big Pokemon fan and I want to play Pokemon Go when it becomes officially available but I don't want to get so hooked up in the game. I wonder what the next mini would be like.. hmmm..

hello everybody!!! I feel so MIA the past days because I simply can't keep up with everything happening here. When I joined NF, life was pretty boring for me and I was really looking for a way to motivate myself to be more physically outgoing (cue: exercise) rather than spend all my free time binge-ing on tv series and stuff. Fast forward 2 months and life has filled itself up for me. I'm juggling physical activities (workouts anyone?) and social life (love life, career life) and simply must prioritize between these and all those other stuff. But I haven't forgotten you my NF friends and will do as much reading as I can.. or at least comment on the last bits. I hope you all had a great 4WC. My biggest win is the evident - very evident - change in my overall body. People really can't help but complement that I've gotten thinner and leaner. I posted a photo of mine in my challenge thread which is here: This week, I noticed I can do 10 complete and correct form push ups! Yey! Which was really more than I can do before. From this, my next 4WC was inspired. So I am thrilled to write it down. Last month, I also got the nerve to go see a doctor and get my health checked and well, I still have some pounds to shed -- 22 lbs to be exact! So next 4WC will mostly center on that. NF (namely Noel) has been very helpful in teaching me how to do calorie counting and though still very challenging, I am doing my best (thanks to those who suggested My Fitness Pal). I'm sad not to have participated as much in the minis though but hopefully, I can still participate in the next one? See you all in the next round!

amazing trip and great photos!!!! I so wish I can go on a road trip one day. When that happens, I'll post pictures too!!

I definitely had a fun weekend and time flies so fast I realized the 4WC is almost over and I haven't updated as much as I want to do so here. So much has been happening in my life lately. Not that I am complaining of course A quick run through of my challenge updates: strength Workout wise I fail because I my last real workout was the 1% body workout I logged on 6/24. I did another 7-min workout on 6/28 and 7/5 though. But I noticed that I can carry a small 2-year old kid whose weight I have yet to determine and confidently swing him around my arms without getting tired. endurance Workout wise, again this is failing me since my last C25k run was (goodness!!!) 6/13. I walk a lot though and my average steps so far was 7,121 last week and this week I am at 4,049 average steps. But my goal is 8,000 average steps per week. regeneration Average sleep is still at 6 hours and I can't seem to break it to reach 8 hours average sleep. Sometimes I feel like giving up on this and resigning myself to my busy schedule that allows me only this much sleep. Although last Monday, 7/4 (4th of July in the US), I skipped work to sleep in. I felt really tired from all my activities that I had no choice but to call a day off and just sleep for almost the entire day. Bum life. Haha. Food is doing well but I have taken calorie counting to heart. I decided to give it a shot and calculated the ideal calories I need daily in order to lose weight. To lose at least 1lb per week, I need to eat only 1,378 calories everyday. So currently, I am at wits end trying to find the right food that will give me the least calories but a fulfilled feeling. (At wits end is an exaggeration haha). I find calorie counting as a challenge and losing 22 lbs as the greatest challenge I face today. I calculated and it will take me 5 months to complete! But, I believe I will get there. So back to the internet to research on what those low-calorie but fulfilling foods are. exploration finally got this last weekend! To think it was my first date too with the guy I currently like. We explored our national museum and had a walking tour -- which due to the intense heat was cut short. Instead of visiting some of the other heritage places, we skipped to our lunch destination which is an exploration of the local Chinatown. We wanted to try several Chinese dishes but ended up eating at only one restaurant and leaving full. Conclusion: I really don't prefer Chinese food that much. What I like is Japanese food. Conclusion I was not that active in the challenges this season. I followed a lot of threads but really, I failed to check up on them. Too much has happened lately that being active as much as I want in the forum took a back burner. However, I haven't forgotten my fitness goals -- not when I can actually see the results. I love looking at myself in the mirror and everyone keeps complimenting me of the change. Of course, I need to remind myself that all the hard work must not be wasted by going back to old habits which are unhealthy eating patterns, wrong diet and a generally lazy life. Although not as intensely working out as before, I take it upon myself to still incorporate exercises in my busy schedule (hello 7-min app!!) and to really watch out with my diet (hello calorie counting!!). I remain excited for what will happen and as early as now, look forward to the next challenge. (hah! I haven't even completed this week's 4WC but I am eagerly plotting in my mind the next round)

Update: It's Friday here and the weekend is almost over. It's another jampacked weekend so I am unsure how to get a workout in. But will try to get some of the stretching poses that have been recommended to me. Also, I am doing a walking tour tomorrow so I think that will count as a workout. Week 3 of my 2nd 4WC hasn't been the greatest. The only workout I did to develop my strength was the 7-minute workout on Tuesday and the only thing I do to develop my endurance is to constantly keep walking (averaging 7,084 currently). It's far from what my target is to perform at least 2x bodyweight exercise for the week and at least 1x C25k run (last run was June 13!). Average sleep for the week is still at 6 hours (target is 8hours) and diet is still doing great (no rice and mostly self-prepared meals) but because of all the chocolates from an aunt, then I am eating more than what I should. What really striked me this week is the motivation level I've been feeling. I was shocked to find myself skipping a workout on Monday since I told myself I was tired (and have some slight colds) so I had to rest. Tuesday came in and though I had the time to workout, I was also feeling lazy. Good thing I managed to do a 7-min workout. Wednesday and Thursday were busy days and so I had no time to squeeze in a workout though these were the days I logged more steps than the others. I am proud of how I look now but I also can sense an attitude of being lazy and settling down. My sister warned me that I may lose all the effects of the hardwork I did if I don't continue exercising and eating healthy. I think I won't go back to old habits but I am finding the inspiration to keep going. That inspiration came yesterday when I had my very first check-up with an OB. I was informed that I had to really get into my ideal weight. I am 5' and weight 130 lbs. This is slightly overweight. Checking online, my ideal weight should be 94 - 128 lbs. I am targeting for 110 lbs. Looking at it right now, I am not that far away from my goal (I thought I was yesterday). I am inspired to push for total fitness because I want to get married soon and have kids and the doctor told me that being overweight may have implications on the possibility of me getting pregnant. This was based on the result of the ultrasound she asked me to take. And so it begins. Elleica is no longer training to be strong and quick as an assassin. She is also training - HARD - to reach her ideal weight. I was told I should measure what I eat via calorie counting but honestly, I find that too tedious and time consuming. I don't really weigh what I eat so I am at a loss how to determine how much calories they are. BUT--- the rule of the rebellion (is this an actual rule???) is to NEVER BE LAZY and JUST DO IT. Give it a try before debunking it as not working for you. SO--- I will commit to buy that small weighing scale that allows me to weight my veggies, meat, etc and commit to actually measuring and tracking my calories. Who knows? I may enjoy it (this is me talking to myself right now to ACTUALLY enjoy it or at least GIVE IT A SHOT!).

Thank you so much @Jayniana Jones This is a wealth of information! I am keen on putting the poses you mentioned in my tracking sheet so I can also do them. Thanks also for the encouragement. I sure could use one!

Thank you for this. I have been on the lookout for scolio exercises so I can incorporate them in my workout. Although I believe I need to see a doctor so I can get proper assessment as sometimes I am unsure where my scoliosis curves so I end up confused with the exercises and afraid I may be exercising the wrong side.

Another weekend went by in a flurry and before I knew it, 2nd week of 4WC is over. I can say that working out and eating healthy has become so ingrained in me that tracking them has proven difficult. Why? Because I just do it and then I forget to record. I went swimming last Saturday and people kept complimenting how good I look. I was even strong enough to lift myself up from the edge of the pool without using the ladder. Yey! They keep telling me to stop at the current look I have but I know that there is no other way to go but be leaner i.e. build more muscles. Last week I didn't get the chance to do a C25k run but I did 2 instances of the 1% Body Workout Routine I found online. I also logged all the reps I did so I can measure if I'm getting stronger. In fairness, I am because on Tuesday I did 3 sets but on Friday I was able to do 5. Not sure if that's a good progression but the target was really 5 sets. So quick run through of skills mastered: strength 2 instances of 1% body weight workout completed 1st instance (Tuesday) 3 sets 2nd instance (Friday) 5 sets effect: Saturday swimming I am able to lift myself up from the edge of the pool gracefully so I can leave the pool without using the ladder endurance zero instance of C25k run managed only 5,174 average steps for the week. goal is 8,000 miles covered 20 (tracking this for the mini) regeneration diet is great since I always eat healthy these days I noted I don't need breakfast all the time which is great! I drink black coffee though. managed only 6 hours average sleep. goal is 8 hours. still falling behind here so need to get more zzzz but at least better than previous week average of 5 hours intelligence, inner strength and exploration only 1 instance of Duolingo and that's pathetic. I am not so motivated to learn French right now still consistent in reading the Bible and managed to finally finish the book of Acts and Romans no verses memorized though target exploration site coming up on July 2. I'll be excitedly blogging about it. Hope the weather cooperates. Rainy season has already started. --- overall, it's been great. Everyone says my hard work has been showing as they can see all the changes happening in me. I am also able to fit into my old clothes again Hooray! I saved all the pretty little dresses I had when I was slimmer and I am surprise at how easily I can fit into them now. But of course I haven't lost sight of my original goal which is to learn Parkour. So I'll keep strengthening myself until I get there. --- I am unable to participate any further in the minis at this point My back is proving problematic and I should really go see a doctor. I have ventured to looking at yoga poses for scoliosis in the Internet and I think I'll incorporate them in my workout.

I can see you're nailing it in the mini's. Bravo!

I was browsing old photos and ran into a photo of me back in Dec 2015 during a company event (left photo). The right photo (one in blue dress) was taken last Saturday during the wedding where I was a bridesmaid. Photo Proof of what NF has done for me!!! Men... this feels so good! Thanks for the tip. I have a Flickr Account so I used that.. and found a way to control how large it is.

Everyday I don't get to log some progress here, I feel like I'm missing out or losing out on something. But truth be told, I just have been busy following the weekends but I have not for once neglected my diet though I wish I could have done more for my exercise. So for a quick update since it is the start (or middle) of the 2nd week of the challenge: strength I know I made significant progress here. Despite not having my usual planned workouts, I can feel my strength growing in my body. I took selfies of myself during the wedding I was a bridesmaid at last week and I am so proud to see my biceps actually having some shape. Everyone was also complementing me on how lean I am getting. Here's a photo (uhhmm how do I insert a personal photo in the thread??) Last week, I was fairly consistent with the 7-min workout but the past days, I regularly broke hearts and has lost my streak. This is sad because I was initially motivated to really complete the 7 month challenge streak. But my circumstances has been very busy so I was unable to squeeze this daily workout. On a good note, my regular workout routine has made some progress. Last week, I only had 1 instance of doing my parkour routine (which is mostly body weight exercises) and this week, I tried another body weight exercise routine. I'm bad at sticking to one particular routine so I am not even so sure how progressions will work for me. But I made my excel charts to log in the reps and hopefully that motivates me to maintain progressions. Under strength, I was also able to do several Daily Dare challenges by Darebee. It's fun learning new workouts but the daily dares really push you to the limit. Some are easy for me while others are hard!!! endurance Only 1 C25k run last week and none yet this week. Looking at the week's schedule, Friday may be my only opening for a run. I will do my best to run on that day. Walking has been my constant refuge but I discover that to really hit my average of 8,000 steps a week, I have to walk to the farthest bus station from work vs the nearest bus station. regeneration Diet is king! I am proud to say I have conquered my diet and though I still eat chocolates and sweets, I find that my body craves them less. And my body knows when I eat any junk because I can feel it resisting as if internally it is telling me I am polluting an otherwise pristine river. I have learned to eat without rice which again I am amazed at and everyone around me is simply amazed at what I eat. Sleep is another story. Last week I averaged only 5 hours sleep and this week, I am averaging 6 hours. I planned to sleep by 10pm at night and wake up around 5:30 but in reality, I sleep around 12-1am and wake up 6:30am. I am late at work but my work is not time critical so that's ok. I'm still at a loss how I can sleep earlier because I just have a lot to do at night (mostly talking to someone) and I compensate for the late hour by waking up late also. So far, I am not that sleepy unlike in the past challenge. intelligence / inner strength / exploration My life quests. I am on and off in Duolingo and not maintaining my streak but I have been consistently reading my Bible everyday and as a result developing greater and bigger faith. I plan to explore Manila before the challenge ends. --- Overall, even if I don't really post so many updates here, I am living an incredibly healthy and happy life. Despite the temptations around me, I have managed to maintain my new found diet and actually eat healthy. People are also observing it, commenting over and over how lean I am getting. They even ask me to stop at the current look I have because they don't want me to be too thin. But I am on a quest to create muscles -- to become strong and eventually attempt parkour. And getting lean and slim is a much appreciated by-product.

Swimming has indeed been recommended to me as well as yoga. I guess it's time to listen. I've been putting it off for years and finding excuses. Thank you for your insight Thanks! The weekend was great! Too much happened and too little sleep. I've been MIA for so long, I am just about to make an update now.

Question-- is the Hollow and Arch safe for scoliosis? I have been recently concerned about this and truth be told, haven't yet consulted a doctor (but been meaning to) so I am now unsure what exercises I can safely do....

back to doing daily dares!!! last one I did was the tricep hold then the star plank! hope to do today's daily dare later but it's something i am not so confident about----

Didn't thought I could do the dip hold but I did! With EC too Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I woke up this morning with painful arms. I believe it's DOMS from the scissor hands dare I did the other day. Yesterday was a no workout day (but I managed 8K+ steps based on Argus). The week is essentially over for me because I am off to a sleep over at a friends' tonight and a convention and wedding tomorrow. So no means, except for the 7-min workout, to be able to squeeze in an actual workout. Since I am getting leaner, my scoliosis has become more pronounced. My sister took a photo of my back last night and I was disheartened at what I saw. I have mild scoliosis which was diagnosed some 6-7 years ago. Since then I haven't done much about it despite the doctor's advice to treat it with exercise particularly swimming. I don't know how to swim and swimming pools are not easily accessible where I am right now so I am looking at other exercises - stretch exercises - that can help my condition. Any suggestions?? On a better note, I am thinking of putting a theme further to my workouts - basically my reps and progressions. Elleica has been judged worthy to be an assassin and is now currently training for her first real battle - happening in about 3 weeks from now. To qualify for battle, she must accomplish reps and sets of the various workouts. I hope I get to finish this and actually theme my workouts. It will help alleviate the boredom from them so I can motivate myself further. Since I am a fan of Flame of Recca, I am leaning towards something like that where they will battle different opponents with different strengths. Will be thinking of this over the weekend and hope to fully form the theme. Happy Weekends everyone! I believe I am signing out for now.

No points for jump squats I am experienced DOMS in my arms I think after the scissor hands. Not sure I can try the dips later so I'll look out for the next dare.