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Brogo’s Rocky themed challenge Rocky I Yeah. This is way too long overdue. Considering how much I love Rocky I – IV. So you can expect three more of these. In my universe, we pretend that Rocky V and beyond don’t exist. In fact, III and IV are not great movies either, but contain certain redeeming elements. Those being [Mr. T], and [topical Cold War political discourse disguised as a boxer known as “The Italian Stallion” fighting an exhibition match in Russia + a badass, “old school” training montage in the Russian wilderness], respectively. WARNING: 1. This thread will contain Rocky spoilers. If you haven’t seen Rocky... 2. WTF is wrong with you? It’s a classic and you should have seen it already like a million times. 3. Not only that, if you’ve made to adulthood, you’ve probably pieced together the entire plot and ending from movie and TV references and parodies and various internet memes and gifs. 4. So really it’s you’re own fault for not having your shit together enough to sit down and watch the whole movie so stop whining about spoilers. 5. There. I’ve used up enough of this post to sufficiently warn you about spoilers (that won’t ruin the triumphal cinematic experience that is Rocky anyway). I’ve done my part. Now… Main Goals: Get down to “fighting weight” of 199 lbs. I’m closing in on 250. Getting to goal is way beyond the scope of this series of challenges. Build a satisfying career. I’ve been a machinist for a year now. I like it. I can tolerate it as a necessary 40 hours a week put food on the table job. But I need a more intellectual engagement to be happy with my work. And money. I’m working on a certification in Data Science on coursera. I’m also exploring a bootcamp on artificial intelligence and machine learning… (oooohhh, can’t wait ‘till we get to Rocky IV XD.) That, and lately I’ve been dicking around with editing audio files using Python. I really want to keep going forward and I’m aiming for a Machine Learning Engineer type of position… which might be possible with the bootcamp certifcation. The plot Every Rocky movie has three main elements and basically follows a sequential formula. I. Introduction phase – Rocky’s current situation is introduced, we meet the opponent and Rocky’s motivation for rising to the challenge. Roughly the first half of the movie. Basically, this post and week zero where I figure shit out. II. Training phase – Rocky begins training, often using unique or eccentric means based on his circumstances, often with some sort of montage. Plot develops as Rocky faces and overcomes small challenges that result from interactions with his supporting characters, primarily: his trainer, Adrian, and Paulie. This phase finishes with a training montage. Roughly the third quarter of the movie. Weeks 1-3 of this challenge. This is where I’ll do stuff and score points. III. Final fight – From the end of training to the credits, pretty much, Rocky fights his opponent. Week 4 of the challenge. I’ll set some specific, quantifiable goal and try to reach it. On to the challenge. I. Introduction: Rocky Balboa vs. Apollo Creed Rocky Rocky at the beginning and I have a lot in common. We’re both southpaws. We both have small time jobs, live in obscurity, and shitty apartments. We’re both yearning for a shot to make something of ourselves. We both eat weird shit for the sake of fitness. Rocky sets his sights on his goals and trains hard. For me this means: 1. Maintaining ketogenesis with my pescatarian, dairy-free ketogenic diet. 2. Following a lifting program 3. Working extra hours and saving money 4. Working on my certification and getting better at programming and statistics Apollo Creed Apollo is the current champion. Not only is he undefeated, no one has gone the distance, the full 12 rounds, with him. Rocky just wants to get his chance to show the world his best in the face of fighting the champ. For me, beating Apollo is setting new post NF weight PR. The lowest I’ve ever weighed since joining NF was 244, which I set about a year and half ago. I’m at about 252.2 on average. I’d have to lose over 8 lbs in four weeks. I probably won’t get there by the end of this challenge. But I will commit and go the distance. I will also go the distance and finish my Data Science Certificate on Coursera. I have one assignment from the penultimate course, then the last course to finish. Totally doable in 4 weeks. II. Training Phase: meet Mickey, Adrian, and Paulie Here I track points according to how each character helps support me on the way. Mickey Mickey is Rocky’s trainer. Mickey is a mean, tough old fucker who yells at Rocky to get him to do more and follow his training regimen. +1 point for time I use my willpower to stick to a goal even though I don’t want to. When I turn down a food that’s off plan, when I pick up the barbell, when I go in to work an hour early or stay an extra hour, when I make time for a lesson on cousera even though I just don’t want to. No points for simply doing. Points for doing it anyway. Adrian Adrian is the love of Rocky’s life. Adrian is supportive and roots for Rocky to win, but also doesn’t want Rocky to get hurt. Mickey thinks she distracts Rocky, but Rocky can’t fight without her support. Whenever she disapproves or is absent, Rocky turns into a giant wuss. +1 point for every time I do something extra for recovery from all the goal oriented work. Go for a walk, do some yoga or stretch. Catch up on sleep on weekends. Take time to cook a better tasting more enjoyable meal so my diet doesn’t stagnate. Play guitar to clear my head from coding. Etc. Constructive Tangents that support goals. Paulie Paulie is Rocky’s best friend and Adrian’s older brother. He drinks a lot and throws temper tantrums. He’s jealous of Rocky sometimes, but he’s also Rocky’s biggest fan. He really just wants Rocky’s attention and friendship. +1 point for every time I overcome an obstacle. Make time to get training done, or eliminate a distraction, or fulfill social obligations Etc.

For those of you just tuning in I’m Joe. Hi! I consider myself fairly average. I’m ~210lbs and 22-23% BF. It’s taken me a while to get here and I can’t say it’s been easy. In fact the past few challenges (This will be challenge #10! can you believe it?!?) I’ve kind of coasted. Actually at the end of the last challenge I compared it to Rocky III. I felt like a champ after my first few successful challenges. The weight was dropping I was getting fit, faster and stronger. And I let things slide. I ‘fell off the wagon’ more and more. Basically Mr. T came in and kicked my poser ass! So my recent lack of success significant forward momentum has me feeling pretty low. Wondering if I still have it in me to reach my goals. I’ve lost the “Eye of the Tigerâ€. But like Rocky I feel like I’ve still got some “stuff in the basement†ready to come out and kick ass! So I’m going back to basics. Stick with things that I know I can do and enjoy, so I can put my energy into pushing myself harder. So here’s the split.. Diet! AKA “Chug the Eggs!!†No I’m not going to drink half a dozen eggs every morning. But the point is Rocky was more concerned about fuel than food. Could he have taken those eggs and made a delicious omelette or frittata? Of course, but that takes time and energy away from training. So my goal is to keep my diet simple and repeatable with the main purpose being FUEL. Here’s pretty much what’s going to happen. Breakfast: 3 scrambled eggs (microwaved), 1 piece fruit, 1 oz nuts Lunch: Salad with homemade vinaigrette and 4 oz. lean protein (chicken, fish, etc.) Snack: Veggies and 4 oz hummus Dinner: 1 to 2 cups steamed veggies, 1 medium baked potato, 4 oz. lean protein Note: I’ll allow myself to formally adjust my food plan if I find that I’m not consuming enough fuel for workouts/recovery. Scoring: 1 pt per day on track (6 weeks x 7 days = 42 days total). (For every 8 pts earned I get a skill point to be assigned as I see fit, 5 possible skill points) Exercise! AKA I’m a fighter! I like boxing/martial arts training. Who doesn’t? Hitting things, picking up heavy weights, ...It’s the best way to get a great work out and feel like a total BadAss Dude!! So that’s how I’ll train. After 6 weeks I want to feel like I could step into the ring and at least go the distance. That’s not too much to ask. (I mean even Rocky didn’t win until the sequel right?). Monday: Boxing Workout (includes all the classics, jump rope, speed bag, shadow boxing, heavy bag, abs, shoulders, etc.) Tuesday: Weight training (Back and Legs) Wednesday: Boxing Workout Thursday: Weight training (Chest and Arms) Friday: Boxing workout Saturday: Run Sunday: Rest Scoring: Each workout completed = 1 pt (6/wk = 36), Unlocked achievement: Jump rope 2 minutes non-stop 1 round = 2pts Unlocked achievement: Speed bag 2 min. non-stop, full speed = 2 pts Unlocked achievement: Clap pushups (3 set total) 30 = 2 pts, +10 = +2pts, Unlocked achievement: Decline sit ups (2 minutes) 60 = 2 pts, +20 reps = +2pts Unlocked achievement: Pullups (3 set total) 20 = 2 pts, +5 = +2pts Unlocked achievement: Bench Press (3 x 10 reps), 145 lbs = 2 pts, +10 lbs = +2pts Unlocked achievement: Barbell curls (3 x 10 reps) = 85 lbs = 2 pts, +10 lbs = +2pts Conquer the Stress: AKA “Get your head on Straight!†I don’t handle stress well. I know it. My wife knows it. Most people who get close enough to me know it. When I’m stressed I snap at people more, I don’t always filter what comes out of my mouth or what goes in for that matter. When I’m stressed I eat, and eat, and eat. It’s not good. It’s also a snowball of problems, I’m stressed→ I eat → I feel guilty → it makes me stressed → So I eat → I gain back weight → I get stressed…. You get the idea. So I need to fight the stress. Exercise helps but it isn’t always enough. I’m going to try and have a nightly “De-stress session†before I go to bed. What that entails will probably vary depending upon the level and type of stress I’ve encountered that day. Scoring: 1 pt per sucessful session (6 weeks x 7 days = 42 days total). (For every 8 pts earned I get a skill point to be assigned as I see fit, 5 possible skill points) So that's where I stand. Here's to an EPICALLY AWESOME Challenge #10!!!

I came back! Now that I've graduated, moved out on my own, and gotten a job, I should have a steady routine for the foreseeable future, so I should be around more regularly. Main Quest: Run Over 1000 Stairs I live near Harvard Stadium, which consists of around 30 rows of concrete seats (someone involved in November Project probably knows the exact number) broken up into 37 sections. It's a long-term goal, but I want to be able to run all 37 sections in one go. If I got the 30 rows right, that comes out to 1110 stairs. The first time I ran there I struggled through 3 sets broken up by like 2 minutes of rest, so I've got a long way to go. How I'm going to get there: Run at least 3 days per week. This one could be hard because it's summer in New England, so it's hot and humid almost all the time. If it's not, it's probably thundering. Run at Harvard at least 1 of those days. Ideally I can add one additional section per week, but we'll see how that goes. Run with the marathon team on Sunday mornings. This one could be hard because while I still live close to my college, it requires public transportation to get there, which involves getting up super early because the runs start at 8. (Also acceptable: Brunch Runners)I will allow 3 exceptions: working past 7:00 pm, outrageously bad weather (thunderstorms, pouring rain, or over 90°F), and illness/injury. Life Side Quest: Learn German I'm also back on the Duolingo horse after a long absence. After resetting my German progress, I've kept a consistent streak for 16 days. I want to keep that going until I complete the skill tree. I don't necessarily need to learn a new lesson, but I need to practice at least once a day. Fitness Side Quest: Do a chin-up I bought a pull-up bar for my new place, and I'd like to be able to use it for its intended purpose. I'm working on negatives right now, but hopefully I can do a chin-up by the end of the next 6 weeks.