nighteyes

Thanks very much, everyone, I really appreciate you putting so much thought into this. I'm planning to start with 3 different moves, with one set of 5 reps for each. From advice given (and based on the fact the only kit I have are DBs and a yoga mat), it looks like 3 good moves to pick would be DB squats (potentially box squats) DB rows DB presses Does anyone have any particular thoughts about a good weight to start with, per DB?

Hi folks, I have fibromyalgia, which comes with chronic fatigue and I've found that every time I try to start at bodyweight level 1 it ends up triggering a fatigue flare. I posted about this in a different area of the forums and they said that heavy, low rep stuff had worked for them: She suggested barbells but I only have dumbbells, so she suggested I ask here if you had any advice, specifically "to check if it's safe to do heavy , low rep dumbbell work, and to ask what the best basic push, pull and legs movements" would be. Thank you all!

Thanks so much for replying, Harriet, that's really helpful. Would there be something similar I could do with dumbbells?

Hello folks, I have fibromyalgia, which is associated with chronic fatigue and pain. I've been going through a "rough patch", particularly fatigue-wise, for the past 2-ish years. Every time I try to start back at Bodyweight Level 1, I end up crashing again. How can I find a level that's right for me without crashing out?

Hey @Bookish Badger. I disappeared from this one because I started (and finished) the challenge a week early, so my final post was pretty early As for general forum absence, I sort of just can't decide what to do for the next month. I want to give myself a break, because I'm off work for a month (annual leave) before I start my new jobs. I don't want to be too restricted. But I also want to keep moving forward, so it's a difficult one! How are you? Thanks for asking about me

I started the challenge early, so I finished on Friday Here's my summary... I only missed 2 x planks; 3 x handstands; and 5 x protein shakes; and I feel really good about that. London choir trip didn't really derail me at all (apart from missing 2 protein shakes). I wasn't forbidding snack food, but have really not been eating much of it - when I had some chocolate at choir I felt really sick after, which suggests my body's adapting to having less sugar in its system. I have visible arm muscles now! I am super excited and have been showing a LOT of people. Fortunately I mostly wear t-shirts so it's not too awkward... I was down to 129 lbs on my last day of the challenge (although this fluctuates). This is good, 14 lbs down from my first weigh-in on May 19th. I held a handstand AWAY FROM the wall for 4s! I think it's easier if my hands are a little further away from the wall to start with - more potential space. I've been trying to hold free ones on my way up to, and down from, the wall I have bought a pull up bar as my loot! It is going to be incorporated into my next challenge and I am super excited I have been feeling a bit weak, though - perhaps not eating enough - and am having a proper rest week or two (I will probably stick pretty closely to things, but I'm giving myself the freedom not to). And I didn't miss a single day of IF!

Definitely - I find it way too easy to get rigidly caught up in a new, exciting plan, and that just means I eventually feel weird about either myself or the plan.

Update time! Diet: - Intermittent fasting going well For now, it's not as hard as I thought it would be - I haven't really been snacking, but at choir on Thursday I had some chocolate treats (partly for deliciousness, partly to prove to myself that I wasn't doing a strict regime, because those are not good for me) - I didn't have a protein shake yesterday because I had a beer and then I forgot. There you go. Fitness: - Bodyweight workouts going well. Yaay level 2. - Planks, I'm mostly doing (although I didn't yesterday because I fell off a small wall and grazed my knee and didn't want to), although I'm not sure I feel they are getting any easier Assassin skills: - Handstands! Pretty good. Mostly doing 30s, and today held it free for 3.5s on the way up My right arm has been a bit trembly though Life: - Same as the last report...

Um, a post from Mitchilich seems to have been deleted, here, accusing me of hijacking the thread, and suggesting I should have PM'ed him. On hijacking - I'm sorry, Marlah21. I wanted to make it really clear to you that that sort of response (i.e. the one to Happytin) isn't characteristic of these forums. And I know what it's like to be in a position where, physically, even the basic bodyweight exercises can be exhausting and painful. I like to think that this is a safe, supportive community, and I felt that 1) the response to Happytin didn't fit with that; and 2) it's important to call out things that feel unsafe/unsupportive. This isn't "hijacking", it's making it clear that some behaviour is not tolerated.

Whoa, this reads like a super uncompassionate response to Happytin. I think they meant that strength training is great but in some contexts (maybe including this one), it's something that needs to be built up slowly, possibly benefitting from some habit-building prep. They weren't saying they didn't like you, or that strength training was bad, just that they didn't agree with you in this context. marlah21 - I have fibromyalgia and OCD, and find it a tricky balance between progressing and making sure not to overdo things. I really hope that Nerd Fitness works out well for you

Yes! AND I managed to say no to really convincingly-presented chocolate from my lovely conductor.

Thanks Dagger. It went WAY better than I expected. I was worried that it would be really hard to eat and sleep enough, but it was all fine

Was away with my choir at the weekend so thought I'd do an update: Diet: - IF still going well, didn't miss anything while away, which is good. This involved not eating/drinking alcohol at a party after the concert. I befriended the dog that lived there instead. - Snacks went well too. Didn't snack much, but when I did I had dark chocolate, an apple, and/or almond butter - Didn't manage to have protein shakes while away but only missed two since I had one when I got back yesterday evening (before 8pm ) Fitness: - Did bodyweight workouts before leaving on Friday and again today, so nothing was thrown off there - Have been keeping up with the planks, apart from Saturday - I was exhausted, my shoulder hurt from inch worms on Friday, and wanted to give myself a proper break Assassin skills: - The same as the planks, I gave myself the day off on Saturday. Gearing up to do today's soon Life: - Softball going well, we one our last game (and I got the last out!) - Sewing is not going well, I just haven't been prioritising it. I'm not too upset about that, though.

See that is EXACTLY why they are secret handstands

Totally achieved goal "Meet up with SpecialSundae" (see attached!) Also fell on my head doing a wall handstand (secretly, at work, yesterday). It was more surprising than painful but I have a bump on my head now! Have still been doing the handstands but do feel a bit more scared. I'm starting to get arm muscles - very exciting. IF is still going well. I'm going away for the weekend for a choir concert, so I'm not sure how things will go when I'm away from all my prepped meals. Am taking apples and nut butter for snacks.

Update! It all went well, and I bought the blender as a reward. It is definitely making the protein powder WAY nicer. Quads are feeling okay now - will see how it feels after softball today. New challenge is in the assassins - see here:

Ooh, I only just saw this! Hello

Awesome, well done Badger

Uupdaate! Progress... Diet:- IF: Going well, I still get sort of cranky around 11am though. Would be great for that to not happen anymore - Snacking: Had a brownie from my desk drawer the other day. Have decided NOT to just get rid of everything, but to allow myself processed/sugary treats in moderation. I'm more likely to stick to it that way.- Protein shakes: Still good, have been blending frozen raspberries in and the seeds are not good. Pre-freezing banana chunks is going super well, though.Fitness:- Bodyweight: Beat General DOMS (Level 1 Bodyweight Boss) today, so moving up to Level 2! I am concerned about the side planks :/- Planks: 45s still my top score. Have done 40s a couple of times. Is WAY harder when it's at the end of a workout - then I really struggle to do 20s.Assassin skills:- Handstands: Handstands are fun. Have done a couple more 60s handstands, a couple more 30s handstands, and a few free attempts. I am getting way better at landing at the top softly. Have been practising on trees, and at home, and at work.Life:- Softball: Quads feeling much better so should be back playing on Monday.- Sewing: I have identified fabric, and pinned and cut it. Then need to transfer markings, and, like...sew stuff.

Could not like this more

I started on Saturday (4th) because 1) Saturday-starting weeks make sense to me; and 2) I wanted to get started right away. Eager wolf. Progress... Diet:- IF: Going well, managed to finish eating before 8pm at pub quiz yesterday and only drank water- Snacking: Working fine - I'm feeling the need to snack less anyway- Protein shakes: Mostly good, although missed yesterday (I usually have them at 7:30pm) and was out between 7:30AM and 10:30pm.Fitness:- Bodyweight: Going well - did 1 on Saturday, will do another today. Have modified slightly to remove some things I find easy and replace them with things I find harder.- Planks: Have done 45s now I am very pleased with myself!Assassin skills:- Handstands: Gonig well. Have been doing 30s wall handstands, and have been doing free attempts (3s = best attempt so far). Fell over yesterday because I was handstanding against a tree and it was a bit trickier.Life:- Softball: Didn't play yesterday (quads, plus had other plans) but will be back next week- Sewing: I am going to make boxers! Have decided to reframe it - rather than 5/7 days pw, I'll give myself a certain amount of "gimmes". So, probably 10 gimmes for each thing, considering I'll probably be doing this for 5 weeks.

Thanks Pavowski! I'm up to 45s plank now - you're right, the difference in activities between people is v interesting!

I joined half-way through the last challenge so did a mini-challenge with the rebels (intermittent fasting, join a softball team, 2x bodyweight level 1 workouts per week). I'm having fun, and want to continue those things, but this challenge I want to add handstands, so I thought it was time to join the assassins :D. I need to not take it too hard, though - I have mild fibromyalgia and also hurt my quads last challenge (still not sure how). THIS CHALLENGE Diet: - Continue with Intermittent Fasting, for at least 5 out of 7 days per week (I plan to do this every day but want to build in for the possibility that context makes it very difficult). - If snacking, try to mainly stick to dark chocolate, fruit/veg (e.g. apple and nut butter), but nothing in particular is forbidden - Try to have a pea protein shake every day (my reward for the last challenge was a mini-blender) Fitness: - Do 2x Bodyweight workouts (right now, Level 1) per week (modifying where necessary, i.e. to help my quads heal, and eventually to upgrade to knee pushups) - Do at least 1 20s plank, for at least 5 days pw Assassin skills: I was absolutely terrified to do a wall handstand but I've now managed to hold one for 60s. I want to practice so I'm able to do this easily, and start attempting 1-2 seconds free (by taking my feet gently away from the wall). So my challenge is, as long as it isn't hurting my quads... - At least 30s wall handstand for at least 5 days pw Life: - Continue playing softball (again, quads dependent) - Identify a sewing project, and then do the project! My reward will be a pull-up/chin-up bar to put over my door Or an Assassin's Creed t-shirt to work out in!

Thanks I think it may actually be the protein in milk that I have a problem with, so I've bought pea protein for now. It does *not* have an amazing flavour

The wall handstands were good, I could do 30s! But I'm not super in control of them, and I'm concerned that the going up and down might screw my quads up further. I'll start again when I'm feeling healed. My next challenge is going to be with the assassins, I think. Will you still come and say hi? It is supporting me, Badger, and I have more range of movement in my walk. Thanks - I initially felt really derailed, because I really like following the structure of the workouts, but my new one is good AND gives me a chance to start using my new dumbbells. Double win. I have identified a reward for this first half-challenge - it is a Breville Blend-Active Blender to make my protein shakes. Currently I just put pea protein into a glass jar with water and shake it up. It does not taste good, but I cannot face washing my food processor every time. So this should make things a lot easier