Ash3177

all right! still going strong. on goal with all my challenges. have lost 20 lbs. since the challenge began (tho that wasn't a goal). feeling way more healthy and mobile. when i finally get to the point of being able to do my kata (my partner has to learn it too.) i'll make sure and post it for everyone. sorry for the infrequent updates. thanks to everyone that has been supporting me. best challenge yet.

update!! rafting guide training has been one of the most intense things i've done in a long time. i'm starting to get used to it, so i've been able to get my push ups and squats going again. my healthy drinking is also coming along nicely, and i've got a good head start on my kata. this is turning out to be one of the best challenges i've done. it's possible that i'm just a summer person. in another woot, i've also lost 10 pounds already this summer and i'm looking forward to tracking my progress. also, my wife likes my new shoulder muscles. thank you. that is all.

thank you mr. sensei. your appreciation means a lot to me. kishi, ippon all opponents in my honor, or at least fight with your heart til the end. watch out for the johnson city judo club (my club). they are some bad mofos! (but really they are SUPER nice guys. introduce yourself and talk to them if you get the chance.)

that's what i figured too. it seems like the training is the most intensive part of it. LOTS of paddling. AND i won't be making it to that tournament.

whew!!!!!!! i started this thread before i started my training to be a whitewater rafting guide. talk about a lot of exercise!!! i have been good with drinking the good drinks so far, but forget push ups and squats! i'm so wiped by the time i get home i can barely stay awake. i have been working on my kata tho, and i feel pretty good about it. on another side note, i just got certified for first aid and cpr, so woot! i'll try to keep up with this a little better after this week.

i think i might have the most beautiful gym here. 2 miles of trail running.

haha. after my super intense judo workout tonight, and tracking my food, it says i still get to eat like 3000 plus calories. too bad i don't have any ice cream! also, i've already drank my gallon of green tea this week. woot!

ahhh, another ogre! welcome! i did paleo for a while last year and it really worked for me. i guess i was only about 80%, but i saw results. i have since fallen off the wagon tho... good luck!

hahahaha! they are especially good for martial artists.

thank you cheechoe. my garden is pretty small. right now it is a 4X12 raised bed and a growing number of cheap plastic pots. thanks keesh. it seemed like a stroke of brilliance when i thought about it at the time. that lasted about 7 reps in. then i was like, "omg. (pant pant pant) omg."

all right! first workout of the week done! i decided to streamline my workout a little, so instead of doing push ups then squats, i combined them and did burpees! i got a push up and a jump squat in there with one movement. i think i'll be doing more of these, as i am also trying to work on my explosiveness for judo. i also have my first 1/2 gallon of green tea in the fridge. next i have to study my kata a little and then i will feel as if i've got this challenge started off on the right foot! now i just gotta stick with it. (side note: i also started my garden. so far i've planted 4 tomatoes, some garlic, a bunch of ramps, and a bunch of green onions. working on getting sweet potatoes started in a week or so.)

No, you're totally right. and it's really the same with the calorie counter. if you're not adding in every little measurement of ingredients in your food, it won't be scientifically accurate. there'll certainly be some discrepancies. And, you're totally right about the calorie counts for specific martial arts. like the article above talks about, most of those studies concentrate on exercises that have been separated into groups such as "cardio" and "resistance" types. how can you accurately rate the caloric burn of a sport like judo which is both cardio and resistance? i try to get as much out of my workouts as possible, 90% of the time. but there are inevitably some days where you are just going thru the motions or are injured or are working something that is not nearly as intense, like kata. in the end, you have to be the one who decides how good your workout is. on the "off" days, i think it'll probably be more honest to 1/2 the time performing the exercise in the calorie counter. either way, it is far from an exact science. i do think tho that it will be helpful to give me "general guidelines" about where i stand. i just have to keep it in mind when i'm tracking it.

Has anyone used the food tracker on the Livestrong website? i just started doing it and it's pretty neat. you can put in things like your weight and activity level and it will track your calories. you can even put in your workouts and it will calculate that into the mix. the funny thing is that i find myself wanting to lie to my food journal! how effed up is that? it is actually a struggle to keep this denial thing at bay, but really being honest with myself is really what my challenge is about, so.... i've noticed i have a problem with late night snacking.

Phoenix, in that kata, that throw is called "uki goshi" and is sort of a "half" hip throw. always been interested in aikido but never had a chance to do any. neat stuff. i've also really liked ueshiba's philosophies, tho i haven't studied them very extensively by any means. thanks for the well wishes! Kishi, do it!

i like the idea of the "curse". it really resonates with my own struggles.