AsianBourne

Thanks guys for the tips and motivation! Yeah I just need to keep at strength training for the moment, actually super sick right now.. will probably miss out on a whole week of working out, but once I'm back not going to skip a beat! Never 2 in a row...

Hey all, been a while since I've posted here... Just typing out loud... Had a ton of fun with last winter's 6 week challenges and the level up club, did not make a lot of my goals, but I'm still further ahead then where I was when I started. I think one thing that has held me back is that I want to be in the Ranger class, but my current body type makes me a natural Assassin, and Assassin on the smaller side. I've come to think of NF classes as weight classes similar to the UFC hehe. Warriors being Heavy Weights, Rangers being Welter to Middle Weights, Assassins being feather to light weights. Naturally I think my body fits the 155 frame the best (that would be my fighting weight or probably 145 after cutting). At the moment I'm 184 and 29-30% body fat. Skinny fat, tried to do some Ranger challenges like CrossFit, started several times and just got blasted! Then got into Bikram Yoga (Monk questing) for a while and that was a great experience, now just trying to build up strength with weight training and tons of sushi and protein shakes. Goals are to get more fit for the next 6 week challenge, dominate it, get down to my class / fight weight, then be able to move up a class.

Oh sorry did not come back here to check on replies... posted updates here! http://www.nerdfitness.com/community/showthread.php?19982-Rangers-Report!-How-did-you-do&p=325440&posted=1#post325440 Basically did not do well on most of my goals, however I gained a ton of experience and a love for Bikram Yoga, but I think even more importantly I get up at 6am now. Something I haven't done since I was 19 and going to college and back then it was 7am! My goal in January is getting up at 4am so I can make 5:30am workouts and have my evenings back.

My 6 week challenge posting Main Quests Bikram Yoga Starting Zone quest C+ Start Bikram Yoga class, go every week at least 5 days a week for 6 weeks. I started Bikram Yoga and went 15 days in Oct and 5 days so far this month, love it! However did not meet up my high goal of 5 days a week every week (I avg 3-4 days a week). Bikram Yoga Side quest D Bikram Yoga 10 days in a row starter quest I did 5 days in a row in Oct and this month, however did not complete 10 days in a row Early Angry Bird Workout for 6 weeks F Angry Bird Workout (starting 1 set, then 3 sets Oct 8th) every day for 6 weeks, allowed rest on weekends. Failed here I tackled a lot of high level bosses which interfered with my morning workout goals, however I have the experience now to better work towards conquering this mission Ranger Quests A Quest 1 - Rise and shine Rise before the sun (6am) The only Quest that I've completed perfectly everyday for 6 weeks (well couple of times I woke up at 7) Quest 2 - Lose to fight F Lose 12lbs Failed, I infact gained 2 lbs and 3% body fat, I have however been eating 3000 calories a day on purpose, to ready myself for bulking up during Crossfit, also trying to bulk up because technically my body type falls in the Assassin class and I want to make it here in the Ranger class Quest 3 - Pulled F 10-15 unassisted pull-ups Failed, since I did not complete my Early Angry Bird Quest, I failed this Ranger side quest My current thoughts Even though I failed on many of these quests I've listed, the positives are I've cut out basically all processed food for 6 weeks, increased my water intake, gotten out of bed at 6am, and fallen in love with Bikram Yoga I may have increased weight and fat% but I feel slightly toner since Oct 1st, leg strength is definitely leveled up due to Yoga. I'm not going to dwell on my missed missions here, in fact I'm going to reflect on the experience gained... I'm more focused on health and fitness this month and last month way more then the entire rest of the year. Oh yeah I quit smoking Oct 1st too.

Went to CrossFit last Sat! I was crazy sore till today Bikram day 5 out of 60 so far... going strong, Bikram day 6 tonight, Bikram day 7 at 5:30 am tomorrow morning (Wednesdays I have an 7pm meditation class and not missing any of those ever again). So far this month I've hit 3000 calories or super close! CrossFit again this sat, and will sign up for their onramp 3 personal trainer classes. BEAST MODE! Still feeling guilty about failing to follow through with my Early Angry Bird workouts, however I recognize the problem, my roommates and friends are at a different level of health motivation at this point in their lives (I'm old) so I just have accepted that and just don't hang out with them as much anymore, no more late nights, no drinking, no smoking (since Oct 1st!) Some more actions I'm going to take this month to reinforce that: * If I have to work on my computer at home, I'll do it from Wholefoods or Barnes & Nobles * Considering a small desk to put in my bedroom (to avoid all the gaming that goes on downstairs) * After Bikram 8:15pm class, home at 9:50 / 10pm, walk dog around apt, drink protein shake and sleep out immediately before 11 * After the 60 day Yoga Challenge, drop Yoga classes down to 3-4 days a week (need time for CrossFit! And keeping my bedroom clean)

My Bikram Yoga 60 day challenge starts tonight! CrossFit Sat class 3000k a day

The only Quests I'm still leveling in are: Bikram Yoga Starting Zone quest Start Bikram Yoga class, go every week for 6 weeks. They have a 60 day challenge starting soon, I'm going to sign up for that (was going to start Crossfit next month, but I think it would be better to get 60 days of Yoga in, plus I've gotten use to Yoga now, so maintaining a good thing rather than stacking on 2 things may be the smarter option). Another thing, I'm starting a new quest (Monk quest) next week, I've taken this Meditation class on Weds, however I've missed it the last 3 weeks, it really helps get me centered and helps with information overload, so my goal for this is going to be every week, never miss a day. I'll have to do 2 Bikram Yoga classes on either Sat or Sun however, or 5:30am on Weds to make my 60 day challenge work. Ranger Quests Quest 1 - Rise and shine Waking up at 6am everyday, I've learned that I have better days, not just when I wake up at 6, but when I wake up at 6 and drink 16oz of water right away with some Rock salt. Also helps to make a Kale Shake with a big hunk of ginger + boiled eggs or some Oats Monk Quest Quiet the mind Weekly meditation & practicing mindfulness at least 1 day a week, shorter few minute meditations in the morning and between poses in Bikram.

So far this month done 11 days of Bikram Yoga, love it! Hate when I miss days however missing these days and getting made has forced me to adjust my schedule to better fit time in. Hardly game as much as I use too and push freelance work to the weekends. Also don't party as much... too old for that anyways. Day 12 tonight, week goal is 6 days of Bikram (taking weds off to make it to my Meditation class, can't skip that ever again. Bikram is physical stress relieving and meditation is mental stress relieving.) So far all month I've gotten up at 6am, however some days have been much harder than others. 6 days of crossfit this week and 6 days next week and also starting Crossfit in Nov. Eventually and this may take a couple of months, but I need to level up my early bird 6am wakeup to 4am, in order to switch to working out at 5:30am.

Exjamieus - Have you tried stuff like Pro-biotics, like Kambucha's?

Quick challenge updates, so far things have been good, however been off track on several goals, fought some high level mobs which has hurt my progress, but doing well in other quests... Bikram Yoga Starting Zone quest Start Bikram Yoga class, go every week at least 5 days a week for 6 weeks. ^ So far on track, at least 5 days a week, longest streak has been 5 days in a row. Bikram Yoga Side quest Bikram Yoga 10 days in a row starter quest ^ Failed, got up to 5 days in a row, then had issue with other commitments, experiance points gained from this was learning to manage other commit Early Angry Bird Workout for 6 weeks Angry Bird Workout (starting 1 set, then 3 sets Oct 8th) every day for 6 weeks, allowed rest on weekends. ^ Failed, a combination of Yoga in the evenings being so intense, as well as a couple of late night outs, has hurt my progress here, in effect killed my questing in this area completely, I still have gotten up by at least 6 every day since the 1st however. Ranger Quests Quest 1 - Rise and shine ^ Been killing it here! Up by 6am even if it hurts, really sets the tone for the day better, I have some time in the mornings to make a meal as well as do some light reading, new goal however for next challenge / next month is getting up at 5. Could use that whole extra hour to feel less rushed in the mornings. Quest 2 - Lose to fight Haven't weighed myself in a bit, not sure I've lost too much here, also kinda conflicts with my goal of bulking up then slimming down (want to start crossfit soon) Quest 3 - Pulled Haven't been doing pullups in a while, but plan to get back on it tomorrow in the mornings...

Go full organic Paleo Also Ginger is suppose to help with digestion, they say Bikram Yoga can cure a lot of issues as well!

Day 8 of Bikram Yoga tonight, love everytime I go, miss it everytime I don't! It is so taxing and exhausting, you feel like a true caveman that has gone out and done some hard work... I believe we really need Bikram in our daily lives if we're cube monkeys. The lack of sleep mobs/bosses have been very taxing on me for the past week, the big fight with the All nighter Sat boss was fun, but left me drained for days, and even last night while trying to level up my cooking skills, failed to realize how long it would take to bake chicken. Ended up in bed after midnight again (I'm not in my 20s anymore, can't hang like I use too). I have to be in bed by 10:30, no later then 11, ABSOLUTELY never by 12 again. Been keeping up a daily written journal too, keeps to keep focusing on health all the time and every time, being Neurotic about health is much better then just being meh.

3 days in a row of Bikram Yoga, on the way to 10 days in a row! Before allowing myself a day off (For a full Angry Bird set!) The start of the 2nd day was the hardest because my mind was playing tricks on my, I had experienced intense dehydration the night before and my sweat on the towel smelled strongly of ammonia. Did some googling and found all kinds of articles talking about hyponatremia and ammonia sweat related to a high protein low carb diet. Freaked myself out, thinking I wasn't ready for another day, like I would lose too much salt and water would rush into my brain cells and cause death! However braved the 2nd day and it was easier than the first! Last night did day 3 and it was easier the day 2 and the class seemed shorter! Learning to love the small meditations between poses, while standing I'll bring my hands down and into a meditation pose, the left hand gently holding the right with thumbs touching, then eyes closed. For a brief moment my mind is clear of everything, then the next pose starts... Day 4 tonight...

So I took my first Bikram Yoga class last night, loved it! Though it there was a lot of suffering hehe, but the good kind... however afterwards I really felt extremely dehydrated, my fingers and stomach started to cramp up towards the end. Also I noticed that my Yoga towel on my mat smelled really strong like Ammonia while in the lying down poses... Today at work my head has felt super spacy all day long, and kinda tired, did some googling and I think I have Hyponatremia, because I started getting some heart palpitations today. Ugh, I thought I wasn't drinking enough water. For the last couple of weeks I've been drinking over 64oz. I googled the sweat smelling like Ammonia problem and it's a result of a high protein low carb diet I think I need to see a Nutritionist

Thanks for the props guys! Up at 6am today and busted out a set, started the day off right