smazzon1

Alright, time to start. Here's a picture I took two days ago: Please ignore the ugly shorts. I'm hoping to get rid of the small amount of fat on my lower abs, and add muscle to my arms and core. Time to work!

Congratulations! Where in Italy?

Yaay! Congratulations! My goal is to do one by Dec. 31st. Way to be a badass!

Ran in this hot Urbino weather. It's super hilly here but the harder the better. Trail Running 3.25 miles in 35 minutes* I took a picture the other day. Hopefully the abs will change over time along with the legs and arms (ignore the ugly shorts): *Time is approximate.

My first name is very Irish so unless I'm in Ireland or parts of the UK nobody knows how to say it. Being on this trip has definitely made me think about learning Gaelic. And Dothraki all the way yo.

A real push up is awesome. I know before I started training I couldn't do a proper one to save my life. Good luck!

Yaayyy!

..what would it be? Would you learn the language of your ancestors or something completely out of your comfort zone? If you are studying/have studied a different language than the one you grew up with, what made you decide to pursue it? I've been in Italy for 5 weeks now studying Italian. You learn so much more when you actually have to use it outside the classroom. Plus thanks to learning Italian, I'm going to meet a distant relative I met through Facebook! Ciao a tutti gli italiani sui Nerd Fitness!

I did the usual ab workout today with a friend. Nothing fancy, but it's something I can do since there's no gym here. Super Set #1 Crunch: 30 reps 30 reps 35 reps Body Weight Lunge: 20 reps 20 reps 26 reps Super Set #2 3 two minute rotation starting with bicycles (:45), heel touches (:45), and ab climbs (:30) Super Set #3 Russian Twist: 40 reps 40 reps 50 reps Lying Hip Raise (3 second hold): 12 reps 15 reps 15 reps Bonus! Plank: 42 sec I don't normally do planks two days in a row but I wanted to show my friend (who's never done them before). And thank you Cliff!

Just joined Nerd Fitness just in time for a challenge! I'm starting this challenge while abroad, so for the next week or so all I'll be logging in are bodyweight work outs, running, and ab workouts. My 3 Fitness Goals: Do 20 push ups without stopping Cut out ice cream completely Do 3 one-minute planks in a row My 1 Life Goal: Finish reading the Italian translation of Matilda I would have more fitness goals with weights, but since I'm away I can't measure a starting point. The last time I was on a scale was a few months ago and I weighed 135 lbs at 5'5". How I Plan to Achieve My Goals: I plan on doing push ups at least 3 times a week during bodyweight workouts along with planks. My record for planks was 1:03, but I'm down to 0:56. My sweet tooth is one of the reasons why I'm not losing weight. I don't drink soda but chocolate and ice cream are the enemy. I plan on slowly but surely cut out ice cream and if I can do that I will cut out chocolate (it helps that I made the change to dark chocolate this year). I would like to finish Matilde, Italy's version of Roald Dahl's novel. I'm a couple of chapters in, but it would be great if I actually finished. I'm going to try to do 10 pages a day. Here we go!

Grazie millie, ragazze! Yup, I've heard that it's not good to go cold turkey. I was able to do that with soda my junior year of high school but chocolate is something else. I did make a New Year's Resolution to stick to dark chocolate, and for the most part have done so. I no longer eat Hershey's bars or any other "chocolate" bars they sell at the checkout line. Ice cream and cookies? Ugh, it's hard. But I still have to read the Paleo Diet blog and go from there. The only access to sweets I have over here is gelato. Again, thanks ladies!

Well, very soon anyway. There's no gym where I'm currently living (Italia) but that will change when I get back August 12th. Until then, just doing bodyweight workouts. I can't do a pull up. I never have been able to do a pull up. Until last year, I didn't care. But now I want to be in my prime. And my first goal is to do a pull up by December 31st. I also log in my workouts on Fitocracy, but I'll do it here to to add to the pressure Today I did the Beginner Body Weight Workout since I haven't worked out that much since I've been here (5 weeks ago). I did three full rounds and added Reverse Crunches since I didn't have anything to use for Dumbbell Rows (they don't really sell gallons of milk here). Body Weight Squat: 20 reps 20 reps 20 reps Push-Up: 10 reps 10 reps 10 reps Body Weight Lunge: 20 reps 20 reps 24 reps Plank*: 56 sec 35 sec 40 sec *I know that it says to do 15 second planks, but my usual time with rest is 50+. Jumping Jacks: 40 jumping jacks 40 jumping jacks 45 jumping jacks Reverse Crunch: 15 reps 15 reps 15 reps I was outside for only 20-30 minutes, but I was sweating like a pig when I was done. Whoo!

Bless you for you working out while recovering. My bf broke his right hand recently and is sad that he won't be able to play basketball or workout at all Good luck with everything!

"Ciao da Italia!" Hello from Italy! I'm overseas while I write this, and I couldn't be more excited. This is my year. I'm going to get in the best shape of my life this year, inside and out. After years of no results from treadmills and cardio, I finally got a trainer at my university (R U RAH RAH!) to learn how to lift weights last November. I slowly got stronger and stronger and soon people started to notice the difference. After six months, I put an inch of muscle on my arms and thighs. It's not a lot, but I was proud. I knew I was making some progress. Unfortunately, my commitment still wasn't where it should have been. When the school year ended, I still went to the gym to lift but I didn't eat well since I have a love affair with chocolate and ice cream. Then I came to Italy for a six-week study abroad program. Between eating carbs ALL THE TIME (cornetto for breakfast and pasta for lunch and dinner), not having access to a gym (although I walk a ton here), and not having a solid training plan, I have definitely gotten weaker. I haven't put on any weight (again, thanks to walking up all the hills in Marche) but after I did one of the beginner workouts on this site today, my muscles are killing me. And they shouldn't be. Anyway, long story short, as soon as I get back to the US where I have full access to a grocery store, a refrigerator, and a gym, I plan on giving it my all this year. I now have the tools to make my body into a lean, mean, fighting machine. Last time I was on a scale I weighed roughly 135 lbs at 5' 5". I would like to lose 10-15 lbs in fat and gain that loss and some back in muscle. I don't think anyone read this far, but if so, any tips on getting started that Paleo Diet I've heard about let me know. Eating sweets is without a doubt my number one problem in my diet.