Search the Community

My primary goals for 2014 are to become physically and financially stronger. My challenges will all be focused on this using baby steps to get there. Convict Conditioning Goals for 2014: Pushup SeriesStarting: Level 2 Intermediate Standard (2x20) - Incline PushupsGoal: Level 5 Beginner Standard (1x5) - Full PushupsSquat SeriesStarting: Level 2 Intermediate Standard (2x20) - Jackknife SquatsGoal: Level 5 Beginner Standard (1x5) - Full SquatsPullup SeriesStarting: Level 1 Progression Standard (3x40) - Vertical PullsChest High bar horizontal pulls with straight legs (23/18)Goal: Level 4 Beginner Progression Standard (2x15) - Half PullupsLeg Raise SeriesStarting: Level 1 Intermediate Standard (2x25) - Knee TucksGoal: Level 4 Progression Standard (3x25) - Flat Frog Raise Challenge Goal 1 (Strength): Complete 2 Hard Convict Conditioning Workouts per week (+2 STR, +1 DEX, +1 CHA) Challenge Goal 2 (Endurance): Complete at least one cardio workout per week (+2 STA, +2 CON) Need to get consistent with this again. Swimming 3 times per week previously was a bit too much to shoot for.Challenge Goal 3 (Fuel): Lights out by 10pm work nights, 3+ servings fruits/veggies daily, 6 glasses of water daily (+2 CON, +2 WIS) I've felt weak, tired, and sluggish for awhile. I attribute this largely to eating poorly, lack of fluids, and poor sleep habits.Challenge Life Goal (Finances): Update spending records daily for accurate tracking of spending and staying within budget. (+3 WIS) I just setup my first Dave Ramsey style zero-based budget and my first budget period in awhile. I have a history of allowing my records and receipts to pile up such that I don't have an accurate record of what I spend where. Since we are expecting our second child in about 1.5 months and the associated expenses that come with that, I need to get serious about controlling spending.EDIT: Making this a Hard Hat Challenge starting 1/8/2014 for the rest of the challenge (and beyond). 15 minutes per day adding receipts and checking budget. I will post my calendar at the end of the challenge.

Main Quest: Grow old but stay fit. This man did a one arm chin up on the day of this photo (89 years old). He is my hero GOALS: (in order of importance) Life Goal 1: Have my work and practice all set up for my impending return to Australia on 25/11/13. There are a hell of a lot of forms, paperwork and email I need to get through. I won't be able to do it all by the end of the challenge, but there are certain things which have a lot of red tape attached to them which need to be started early. Fitness Goal 1: Develop a training program based on the principle of 'Minimum Effective Dose'. I know when I return to Australia I am going to be much busier. I plan to create a program which involves the shortest amount of time (utilising as low as 1 set of 1 rep) to maintain a certain level of fitness during this busy period. If for example I do 1 1-arm push up every 2nd day. That takes about 10 seconds to drop down and do it, but I could potentially keep that certain baseline level of fitness indefinitely. This will involve a lot of trial and error. Fitness Goal 2: Continue one arm chin up training. Continuing on from my previous 2 threads - this is my constant dream. A line in the sand, which when crossed will mean that I have surpassed my previous pulling strength peak in youth. I however plan to go about this very slowly and without injury. My only goal for this challenge is to be better at one arm negatives than I was by the end of my last challenge. My longest hold was R:20s (8s hold at top + 12s descent). L 18s (6s hold at top + 12s descent). My best consecutive alternate reps attempt was R:12s,L12s,R10s. My most amount of (good 10s+) reps done in one day was R:5, L:2 Fitness Goal 3: Continue full depth HSPU training. Did 1 full depth HSPU last challenge. But not as controlled as I would like. Aim for this challenge is to have a perfectly controlled full depth HSPU. Controlled negative. Pause at the bottom (shoulders touch hands/bars). Press out without arching my back too much. Currently doing reps with 5 inches of elevation. Aim to increase the total reps in a training session by 1 per session. Aim to have 8 consecutive elevated HSPUs by the end of the challenge. Fitness Goal 4: Continue planche progression training. Aim to have tuck planche holds at 30s sets by the end of 6 weeks. Making my 4th goal rather small and very achievable. This one will just take consistency. And it is a little baby step towards Phylanx and the full planche! Side Goal: Pancake flexibility It sucks. Make it better! I aim to be able to make my PIPJs touch the floor with straight knees by the end of this challenge (and hold for 5s). (currently just finger tips).