kingclumsy

Bit of long winded medical intro but hey, its called NERDfitness, expect science Last August I was pretty good. I was skating with two roller derby leages (2-4 times a week) as well as skating to work, going to the gym up to 3 times a week and I was considering a career as a personal trainer. Then I went to hospital (well firstly I got fired because I was crap at my job, but turns out in hindsight I was pretty effing ill) with abdominal pains. To cut a long story short I am missing a section of my Inferior Vena Cava, the vein that carries bloody back from your legs and kidneys to the heart (see the below picture). My body solved this by forming lots of little bypassing veins, these clotted easily and threw clots all over my abdomen and legs causing a LOT of pain. Two different anticoagulants and another return to hospital later I'm at home but on sick leave. Later I get a temp job, only to have nerve pains in my left leg. I am given strong painkillers which make me sleepy and dizzy and crap at this job. I am fired, but not before I am admitted to hospital again on Boxing day just gone with pain in both legs. This is under control thanks to painkillers (which I've now adjusted to) but its still unknown what causes it and a TENS machine for pain at work (permanent job now) as it appears the pain is increasing over time. I'm diagnosed unsurprisingly with posthrombotic syndrome, pain caused by bloodclots. Tl;dr : Circulation is knackered, on strong pain meds, electrostimulation and occaisional walking stick for leg pains. I can't skate any more and I can barely run! Swimming is doable though, as I can focus on using my upper body Luckily, my body is MASSIVELY out of proportion. I have quite muscular toned legs and the most ridiculous skinny arms (owing to poor motor control in my hands and so poor muscle tone) and awful upper body strength. So my rough goals are: Slowly build up to some kind of fitness with light cardio, i live near a lido and its summer, so I might go Eat Healthily and reasonable (Tablets have really increased my appetite and working in a call centre leads to snacking) Do upper body workouts to improve strength and get some exercise in. Will write up tidy goals soon

Days 1-3. No excercise (Though did walk a lot getting to interview to see my brother in hospital (he's out now) then to home). Lots of job hunting. A good level of self care. Day 4: Shed load of job hunting, I may have a choice of two temp jobs starting next monday! And two potential interviews, one of which i REALLY want. Which is cool And Upper body workout #1 Warmup (the below but 2x20reps with 2.5kg in each hand) Each I did 3x5 with 7.5kg in each hand and 2x10 with 4.5kg in each hand One-Arm Dumbbell Row Flat-Bench Dumbbell Press Seated Overhead Dumbbell Press Dumbbell Shrug Alternating Dumbbell Curl Dumbbell Wrist Curl and stretches and cooldown I ache a little now. I havent lifted in ages! Feel good though Interview, potential second interview and signing on tomorrow. Then announcing a derby double header on saturday

Thanks both It is honestly the only sport I've absolutely loved. Great community and great (if rough) sport. I'm announcing/commentating two games on saturday and officiating (off skates) next month. Main problem at the moment is will my anticoagulants make me bruise horribly. It is rather, and something I neglected before as I found lower body excercise a lot easier, unsurprisingly. I'm going to aim to attempt 10 pressups a day. I did that back in august and made good progress.

Bit of long winded medical intro but hey, its called NERDfitness, expect science Last August I was pretty good. I was skating with two roller derby leages (2-4 times a week) as well as skating to work, going to the gym up to 3 times a week and I was considering a career as a personal trainer. Then I went to hospital (well firstly I got fired because I was crap at my job, but turns out in hindsight I was pretty effing ill) with abdominal pains. To cut a long story short I am missing a section of my Inferior Vena Cava, the vein that carries bloody back from your legs and kidneys to the heart (see the below picture). My body solved this by forming lots of little bypassing veins, these clotted easily and threw clots all over my abdomen and legs causing a LOT of pain. Two different anticoagulants and another return to hospital later I'm at home but on sick leave. Later I get a temp job, only to have nerve pains in my left leg. I am given strong painkillers which make me sleepy and dizzy and crap at this job. I am fired, but not before I am admitted to hospital again on Boxing day just gone with pain in both legs. This is under control thanks to painkillers (which I've now adjusted to) but its still unknown what causes it. Tl;dr : Circulation is knackered, on strong pain meds for leg pains As such, due to sick leave then leg pains I havent skated in 4 months, I've barely exercised. I'm not sure if I should exercise my legs too much as I'm still suffering this leg pain (when not on painkillers) and as such I dont want to do any damage Luckily, my body is MASSIVELY out of proportion. I have quite muscular toned legs and the most ridiculous skinny arms (owing to poor motor control in my hands and so poor muscle tone) and awful upper body strength. On the whole, I'm feeling good, if unfit. I'm unemployed and I think some exercise will help improve my mood as well as improve my confidence So my rough goals are: Slowly build up to some kind of fitness with light cardio. Eat Healthily and reasonable (Tablets have really increased my appetite) Do upper body workouts to improve tone and get some exercise in. (oh, and find a job)

1 Mile in 13 mins (Done better but not in a while) 1km rowing in 4:45 Overhead press: 2x5 25kg 3x5 20kg (because i couldnt get to a barbell i could vary the weights on) Squats: 5x5 27.5kg (because I think i jumped too quick last time but was easy this time) Deadlift: 37.5kg 3x5 10 half way down pressups 30second plank

Stronglifts 5x5 Week 2 Day 1: Pattern B Warmup: 5 minute row, 1100 meters Squats 27.5kg 5x5 Benchpress 22.5kg 5x5 Barbell Row 20kg 5x5 Pull ups (60kg assist= 25kg lift..ish) 5x5 5 35 Second planks (in between the sets of the barbell row)

Thanks everyone. I'll keep that in mind. Im way less developed on upper half than lower so bicep curls and (Assisted) pullups would be good there. I'm not going for anything specific, just a starting strength to decide from there. Some muscular strength and endurance for roller derby would also be good PBs Squats: 55kg (3x5) Deadlifts: 60kg (3x5) Overhead press: 25kg (this took ages but was really worth it) Assisted pull up: 60kg counterweight, meaning i was lifting about 30kg Cant remember the rest I stopped due to bad planning, news I was being made redundant, having to plan my wedding and other stuff..

Friday 15th Stronglifts Part 2 5x5 30kg Squats 3x5 35kg Deadlifts Both slow focused on form 10 pushups, managing to reach about half way down 1km row in 4:40 Saturday and Sunday: Had a friend visit, so days off with nerdy boardgames

I've recently (Re) started stronglifts 5x5 and I was wondering what people's opinions on it. Are there any excercises I could add? Is the 5x5 pattern fundementally flawed? Given I currently have a lot more time available than when i started, should I try something more focused?

Thanks dude I appreciate it. Ive got a pre interview on Tuesday (and maybe an interview on friday) which is cool. In the mean time, it means going to the gym when its quiet, and so leg day, quick! While the Squat Racks are free!

Monday Stronglifts 5x5 20kg Squat 20kg overhead press 40kg 3x5 Deadlift Today: Part 1 of two consecutive days split into upper and lower body 20kg overhead press 20kg bench press 20kg barbell row, 10kg Tricep extension all 5x5 Life Goals: To be honest, I was suspended from my probationary period at the electricity company I worked for on Tuesday. My own fault in the long run. So after a trip to the zoo with my wife and my mother (tl;dr bats are CUTE) I applied for 6 jobs today. Been rejected for 1 and I've got an interview for another. Cool huh?

Right, last week was a write off, but mostly because I let it be a write off. Results back from doctor. I've got low red blood cell count, probably caused by anemia. I then had more tests to find out what caused the anemia. I think a lot of the problems came from me worrying about it as much as the problem. I need to work out my jumpy brain. I hereby modify my goals. Changing stronglifts 5x5 to any decently knackering workout, home, gym or outside. at lest 3 times a week! Preferably upper body focused! And finally a Life goal: Slow down, meditate, even if in little bits and whenever I have the time, slow down and enjoy the moment, when eating, when working, when waiting. Because I don't.

No more curried eggs for me! (You have the best name on this forum btw) Days 2-6 in review I haven't lifted again. Between timing, other events and nonspecific illness (I'll get back to that later) I've not been to the gym again. I've skated to work 3 times (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) and back again and its fast becoming an easy thing. I did stumble on a paving slab once and finally did in one of my wrist guards but still fun. Going to skate to a roller derby bout tomorrow. Cooking meals has been fun and good, once I slipped into laziness but that was partly due to being short on time. I cooked an amazing Somewhat lacking in energy at the moment. A weird permanent thirst, stomach pains, fatigue, diziness, disorientation and so forth which lead to me fainting last week (And scoring a glancing blow on my head) so I'm off to the docs tomorrow. As such I'm not too annoyed if I don't hit my targets. I''m definitely not at 100%

Day 1) Stronglifts Day B (because i wanted to rest my upper body) done Deadlifts 40kg 3x5 Squats 40kg 5x5 Overhead press 20kg 5x5 Not my Personal best but starting low as per Stronglifts (and Im still not great, ongoing possible diabetes possible anaemia) but felt better for going to the gym I didnt jog to the station but fear of being late meant I ended up jogging bits of it in jeans+converse! Point 3 fulfilled too. I cooked a chickpea Korma on garlic and herb couscous for my wife and I before walking her to her nightshift. 1-2-3. Woo!

I return! Married and re-employed! Long term goals: Pass roller derby minimum skills Get an upper body that matches my lower body! Fitness Challenges Run or skate to work at least 3 times a week: I've got a 2 mile travel from my house to the train station on my commute to work. Given the good weather I want to run at least to (if not from) the station or if the weathers good enough I'll skate it. Lift 2-3 times a week: Although I get home from work later than usual I should at least try and get to the gym and restart stronglifts 5x5. Cook good meals: This one is somewhat nebulous but I have a tendency to cook rubbish meals when only cooking for myself (when my wife is on a late shift) so I want to focus on cooking good meals then and packed lunches for work. I'm not sure about my life challenge I'll get back to you on that.

Right. Back on this as I just completed run 2 of my plan to run (some of the way) to work. 1.8 miles from my house to Cheltenham Spa train station where I get the train to the town where I have worked since Monday. I ran it on monday in 22minutes and today in 24 with a pack full of work clothes on my back too Not bad and I'll keep doing it. I eventually want to be able to jog to and from the station every day. but 1 jog about every other day will do fine for now I need to start packing for work though. I forgot to pack my lunch and got held up because I had to dash back for my passport and phone. So I got onto the platform as the train arrived. I got to work okay but I don't like leaving things that close. Still have a month of Gym membership left... may go this weekend as this new found running time still neglects my already skinny and out of proportion top half. Time for chest presses and overhead lifts methinks. Reading "Plant powered men" at the moment. Its a bit hit and miss but in between people singing the sometimes slightly incredudulous virtues of a vegan diet there are some pretty inspiring stories

Yes. I live in Cheltenham but work in Stroud. I'll start updating my log but I did my second jog to the train station. 1.8miles in 24 minutes. Slower than my first attempt and I only just made the train. I need to pack my bags the night before if I'm going to do this!

I'm gonna agree with everyone else. Way more than 2lbs!! Probably gained muscle too Very cool. W00t!

Way to go, its so hard to go overboard at a con. I'm sure you look fine in the pictures (And if Chloe Dykstra agreed, I'm not going to argue) . As long as you had a good time at Wondercon

woot! Congrats on the kids too!

See above. I was made redundant from my old job 4 weeks ago and i went straight into a new job. Its a company I've wanted to work for for a very long time and although the commute is longer and more expensive I'm going to make the most of it. Theres a 1.8 mile walk/jog to and from the train station so I'm going to look into building up to running that at least once daily. I've got to do this. I might as well make the most of it! Oh, and it comes with a free gym membership. Its in the town where my job is (not where I live) but still woo. Less of a woot more of an excitement.

02.04.2014 5x5 Assisted Pull ups alternating with 5x5 Assisted Dips Both with 60kg counterweight 3x15 20kg overhead press 3x10 25kg (2x12.5kg dumbell) press. These last two were experiements with lower weights and varying speeds, doing a1/3 warmups, 1/3 controlled 1/3 explosive speed. certainly got me into a sweat!) Tried to go rowing (as i accidentally packed my flat soled shoes instead of running shoes) but my movement kept making the machine jump backwards a little with every cycle! I'm so bad*ss I can row a stationary rowing machine! Couldve done more but it wasnt until afterwards I realised I'm really not feeling great. Not particularly ill, just not on form

First Outdoor run of the year. ran a 1.1 mile circuit around Sandford Park in 13 mins. I feel really good but knackered. Its a start though

There are a lot of people in South West Wales. I'm just over the Severn so of anyone ever fancied a meetup or whatever I'd be happy to hop on the train. Oh? whereabouts? I'm just south, in Gloucestershire.

I wore a suit, shaved my beard off and took out my facial piercing (through the bridge of my nose) and then found my interviews all super casual and that Ecotricity have no dress code. Oh, i walked from home to station on saturday. Google maps said 35 mins, i did it in 20-25. So easily joggable.