Choppins

Right. OK. Ummmmm. So, things didn't go too well. Some stuff was completed, some stuff wasn't. Some stuff went well. Some stuff didn't. All in all I tried and I did OK I think. Here's the review: (1) Road cycle across Wales – (Done - +2 out of +2 stamina). DONE! Run 13 miles – (Managed 8.5 maximum - +2 out of +3 stamina). (2) One-arm push ups, pistol squats, divebomber pushups, burpees and stretching – (I passed on burpees and stretching, failed the others so +2 out of +5 Dexterity). (3) Track diet to some extent – This was a big old fail! (0 out of +2 Constitution) (4) Be a better Nerd Fitnesser, post 5x more in others’ threads than I do in my own. (I got some way there so I'll give myself +1 out of +2 Charisma and +0.5 out of +1 Wisdom) So there we have it - baby steps forward but nothing to set the world alight! Still - I did what I could and will resolve to do more. I'll round up character stats etc. later in the week or perhaps at the start of my next challenge. I'm doing another one - oh yes sirree!

Oh dear, oh dear - yet again I'm negelecting this thread. But I have some good reasons this time as we've had to undergoe a lot of changes back home. But that isn't an excuse really! Anyway - here's my update: (1) Road cycle across Wales – DONE! One of the best things I've ever done. Run 13 miles – Currently at 8 miles but I'm sure I have more in me! (2) One-arm push ups, pistol squats, divebomber pushups, burpees and stretching – Starting = 4 good form one-arm pushups on each arm, 2 pistol squats, 3x5 divebombers, 20 burpees and stretches have included sit and reach and lots of achilles stretching! Going to try and double these stats, here's the current performance: 6 good form one-arm pushups on each arm, 4 pistol squats, 3x8 divebombers, 30 burpees and a good bit of stretching. (3) Track diet - this hasn't really happened! Oh dear. (4) Be a better Nerd Fitnesser – At the moment I'm on target for this on others' threads - not my own though!

Pretty rubbish to have my first official update now but I'm doing it anyway! So the bike ride took a lot out of me, mainly hurting both my achilles which made it impossible to run and very difficult to do anything else. Both needed rest for a couple of weeks which has set me back a bit but c'est la vie! Here's where I am: (1) Road cycle across Wales – DONE! One of the best things I've ever done. Run 13 miles – Currently at 6 miles but need to really push it. Need to do so soon! (2) One-arm push ups, pistol squats, divebomber pushups, burpees and stretching – So far I can do about 4 good form one-arm pushups on each arm, 2 pistol squats, 3x5 divebombers, 20-odd burpess and stretches have included sit and reach and lots of achilles stretching! Would like to double to numbers on the exercises plus learn a few basic yoga poses as well as stretching every day during daily exercises. (3) Track diet - this isn't going so well. But I plan to turn this around today once I've met a few client deadlines. (4) Be a better Nerd Fitnesser – At the moment I'm on target for this (I think anyway) and will hopefully be posting more and more often. Hope everyone is well!

Just wanted to say I think you guys are great for the brutal honesty in this challenge thread - putting yourself out there is great, one the clearest displays of awesomeness I've seen on this forum! This is a difficult area for you both, along with many other people (hey, probably everybody to some extent, including myself) and the way you're handling it is nothing short of inspirational. I think you both deserve to approve of yourselves today, tomorrow and every day that you are so much as slightly conscious of the fact that you are taking steps to address things in your life that you want to fix. Lukup - you smashed a chair assissted chin up the other day and I see from your challenge you're trying to go without pop for the 6 weeks. These sort of achievements and commitments are awesome - nobody is perfect and everyone has relapses, but they aren't a transition back to an old way of life, they're blips in your new and better one. Keep it up! Milythael - your commitment and performance with changing your diet and sleeping habits is amazing. These are possibly the two biggest areas of anyone's lifestyle that they usually do nothing about. Exercises are looking good too and I love the way you are tracking everything - good and bad - and learning from it. That's the way to do things! So both you guys - keep at it! You're both doing really well and this thread is really inspiring. Congratulations!

Keep up the good work - I can see you are really far along with knowing what works and what doesn't, and every piece of information (positive or negative) adds to the development of the whole picture. Keep at it - you're doing great!

Keep up the good work on the exercises - use that Dr. pep caffeine headache as a reminder and you'll be golden!

Congratulations Lukup! That's a solid achievement! Keep it up.x

Congratulations! Sounds crazy - that's some serious balancing muscle development. Best of luck smashing the endurance routine in the future.

Well done!! What's 0.1kg? You've done it in my book! COngratulations!

Welcome to the forums! Sounds like you could really enjoy it here! Good luck with everything.

Hi there and welcome to the forums. Lots of great advice out there to search through and plenty of useful people to ask questions of or check things with. Good luck!

Welcome to the forums. Another UK nerd here. Hope you enjoy it here!

Congratulations on the interview! And for the progress with other goals too. Sorry to hear your brother can't go on the mission trip but, as you say, fingers crossed for next year.

Sounds pretty good to me! A 3 mile cycle up hill in that heat is surely a good way to lose a few pounds too. If I were you I would do as others suggest and simply try as many days as you can - when you're really tired, take the day off (but make that the exception not the norm). Also, as has been suggested, the ride home is an excellent warm up for a further workout. Drink plenty of water towards the end of the day (all day if you can of course) and then get on the bike and get home, once there, well - you're warm now so why not go a little further? Could start with a few simple exercises every day and build from there - perhaps a few bodyweight squats, sit ups, whatever, just for 5-10 minutes, a quick strecth and you're done. Sounds ideal! Best of luck and well done!

Loren - I think it shows how well you're doing with your challenge and how serious your commitment is to making it work that a little dietary slip has such a big effect. IMO no you haven't failed, no you don't need to restart anything and no you shouldn't feel down about anything at all (and I know you've said you aren't - so that's good!). I've been experimenting a little with rewards and punishments just for a laugh - perhaps you might want to do the same? For example, a nice cold beer on a Friday feels amazing and I try not to factor it out of my diet and fitness goals. But, if I feel I haven't earned it due to poor training or slipping with my diet then, if I want it, I need to make up for it. I do 20 burpees, drink at least a pint and a half of water and have one or two pieces of fruit (all of which I can do in about 5 minutes) then I think I have earned a half hour chillax with that beer! Helathwise I'm not sure you can directly compare the negative effects of one beer with the positive effects of extra burpees, water and fruit but it is just my rough and ready estimation. Just a thought!