The Dawn of New Goals: Nic Respawns

[NicTheRugger]

Hello friends!

Just a short update from me today:

I got a 2 mile run in and my knee feels good! It felt a little "loose" after the run for a bit, but now it's all better. The part of me that really suffered was my lungs! I haven't gone running in a while and it was a chilly day, so my lungs were feeling the burn.

Duolingo is going well, and I'm progressing! For pull-ups, I am still greasing the groove, bit my shoulders are pretty sore from yesterday so I haven't been too successful at that today.

I'm almost set with my water goal for the day (just a glass away!) and I did my mindfulness practice today.

In other news... Haircut! I quite like it. It actually looks really cute with the dress I got for formal/friend's wedding.

[NicTheRugger]

Hello friends! Happy Sunday!

 

Today was a rest day, and my body certainly needed the rest. In lieu of a workout today, I had the opportunity to go to a beginner firearms safety course! It was a gift from my family, to help me get comfortable with firearms before OCS/Marine life, and I am grateful that they're supporting me and my goal of being a Marine! (And that's my gratitude moment for the day, will have to add that to the journal later) I am by no means a good shot, but I'm happy to say I got everything in the target!

 

I've practiced my Polish for today, have almost met my water goal, and just put down "Harry Potter à l'école des sorciers" so I can make this update. I'm going to do some crunches before bed, to make sure that I get that 4th time this week.

 

That's it for now, folks. See you tomorrow!

[karinajean]

Oooh nice, you are definitely starting the challenge on your best foot!

[WhiteGhost]

8 hours ago, NicTheRugger said:

In lieu of a workout today, I had the opportunity to go to a beginner firearms safety course! It was a gift from my family, to help me get comfortable with firearms before OCS/Marine life, and I am grateful that they're supporting me and my goal of being a Marine! (And that's my gratitude moment for the day, will have to add that to the journal later) I am by no means a good shot, but I'm happy to say I got everything in the target!

This is great, and something that I wish I had before I went to boot camp.  I was such a terrible shot I almost flunked out  

[NicTheRugger]

17 hours ago, WhiteGhost said:

This is great, and something that I wish I had before I went to boot camp.  I was such a terrible shot I almost flunked out  

That's why I'm practicing now! I'm an awful shot and definitely not comfortable around firearms (yet) and didn't want to be the one person who panics when they hear gunfire at training. Apparently that happened to a couple of candidates a couple years back...

[NicTheRugger]

Happy official first day of the challenge, friends!

 

Here's today's workout:

Warm up:
- 3 minutes run/row
- 2 minutes foam roll
- 10 PVC pass thrus
- 10 scap push-ups
- 10 band pull aparts
- 10 back band pull aparts
- 10 shoulder press with band, per shoulder
- 10 BW squats

Workout:
Pyramid band assisted chin-ups to 5, 10 incline push-ups (1-2-3-4-5-4-4-3) (skipped last set push-ups)
3×10 lat pulldown @115
3×8 SA KB swings @20/20/20
3×8 hip adductors @8/9/10
3×8 hip abductors @7/8/7

STRETCH

 

You can see by now that my workouts tend to have a pattern to them. My knee was a bit achy today so I decided to skip squats and lunges in the workout, and I didn't take the stairs as much as I could have. I did pretty well on my Duolingo practice for today, and went over 2L of water! I also got my gratitude journal in early in the day. 

 

In addition to my workout this morning, when I walked by the pull-up bar, I nearly got to 3!! It was super close. I think I may be able to get that third in the next couple of weeks, and may even be able to get to 4 by the end of the challenge if this rate of progress keeps up!

 

All that's left for today? Updating my physical logs, mindfulness meditation, and blessed blessed sleep.

 

See you all tomorrow!

[The budgie smuggler]

That’s a fantastic start, keep up the good work.

[NicTheRugger]

Hey all,

 

Sorry for not checking in yesterday! It was my brother's last day at home so I was trying to squeeze as much time in with him as possible.

 

Week 1 Tuesday update:

- drank 2L of water!

- practiced Duolingo Polish

- ran 1 mile (not as much as I would have liked but I was pressed for time in the morning)

- meditated with my mindfulness app

Sadly, I forgot to write on my gratitude page in my bujo.

 

Week 1 Wednesday update:

- almost at 2L of water and I'm still at work for another hour!

- got my Duolingo practice in this morning

- had an awesome workout at the gym!

- wrote down what I'm grateful for today in my bujo

 

What's left for today:

- crunches!!! Gotta ask mum to hold my feet for me

- finish that 2nd litre of water!

- use the mindfulness app

 

Today's workout

Warm up:
- 3 minutes run
- 10 PVC pass thrus
- 10 scap push-ups
- 10 scap pull-ups
- 10 Y-W-Ts
- 2×5/side KB press up @15

Workout:
- 4×5 assisted band pull-ups PU grip
- 3×8 bench press @ 45/55/70
- 3×10 toes to barbell
- 3×10 lat pull downs @115
-  3×10 military press @40
- 3×5 lunges/side
- 3×10 bw squats
- 3×8 hip adductors @9/10/11
- 3×8 hip abduhctors @7/8/8

STRETCH

 

I'll try to check in at the end of the day to let you know if I finished my daily objectives!

[jenkofb]

Your challenge goals are super impressive. Well done! The workouts look really inventive and challenging. Keep it up!

[Little Miss Camouflage]

Those look like great work outs! *impressed*

[NicTheRugger]

Hi friends,

 

Gonna keep it short and sweet tonight:

- 2 mile run

- meditation

- practiced gratitude

- over 2L of water

 

More tomorrow!!

[NicTheRugger]

Oops, I forgot to check in yesterday! I was feeling a bit under the weather and went to sleep early.

 

Update for Friday:

- worked out

- drank 2L of water

- Duolingo

- practiced mindfulness

 

Update for today:

So, today I had to attend a driver's reeducation class because I've had a few accidents on my record. I didn't get to go for a run, as a result. I did, however, get my crunches in! I also practiced my Polish on Duolingo, and even got to read for fun. I'm going to pull up an article on Le Monde to read after I post, and will hopefully get through 2L of water by bedtime.

Let's see.... What else... I think that's it in terms of an update! Oh, I dropped the ball on my gratitude journal yesterday but made sure to write in it today.

 

On a personal note, I think my study and practice of Stoicism has really helped me adjust how I view and react to things. In the past, I would have been really angry about attending this class, angry at myself, angry at the whole situation. Instead, I've found myself accepting the situation and appreciating that I was able to learn from the class. I feel a lot more in control of my emotions and reactions, and I feel like I've reached an equilibrium that I never had before.

[Whisper]

11 minutes ago, NicTheRugger said:

On a personal note, I think my study and practice of Stoicism has really helped me adjust how I view and react to things

 

I'm happy to hear that it is helping you. Learning to accept things can be a difficult process, but it is a valuable tool.

[BardicGarlic]

These are exciting goals!

 

You are coming along very well. 

[Son of Rylos]

Things are looking up!! Way up! Great work on the goals! I've had to do one of those re-education classes (They get REAL uppity about those here in Michigan) and it's a pain in the rear but it gets you thinking, reevaluate things. If we can learn from the errors of the past then that's a good experience.

[NicTheRugger]

Hello, hello, my friends! Sorry I haven't been super active/attentive in posting my updates.  I kind of slacked off, posting only the bare minimum, and there are days when I just lack the mental energy to log on and post-- but I promise I'm keeping up with my challenge.

 

Here's Monday's update:

Yesterday was reeeaaallly rough at work. Despite starting the day strong with a great workout, I was mentally drained by the end of it. I may have indulged in a snack or two because of stress. That being said, despite the struggles of dealing with tax season, I was able to:

• Do a great workout that focused on pull-ups/upper-body strength as well as lower-body strengthening with my knee
• Drank over 2 liters of water
• Practice my mindfulness with the app I'm using
• Listened to the most recent episode of one of the Stoicism podcasts I'm listening to
• Purchased a hard copy of The Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (yes! finally! It's been on my "to-buy" list for a while)
• Wrote down my daily gratitude
• Practiced crunches
• Practiced Polish on Duolingo

Here's my workout from yesterday:

Warm up:

- 3 minutes jump rope

- 10 PVC pass thrus

- 10 scap push-ups

- 10 scap pull-ups

- 5 BW squats

- 15' hip rotations/extensions alternating

- 10 Y-W-Ts

 

Workout:

- 4×6 assisted band pull-ups CU grip

-4×10 BW squats 

- 3×8 bench press @ 65/75/75

- 3×10 toes to barbell

- 3×10 lat pull downs @120

-  3×10 military press @40

- 3×5 lunges/side

 

STRETCH

 

As for today, today was much better work-wise than yesterday. In fact, this was probably one of the best days of work I've had in a while-- it was a good reminder about what I actually like about this job. Today was cardio day, and I got a good 2+ miles of sprint intervals in before my lungs started being unhappy in the cold air of my basement (we have a dreadmill in the basement, which is both a blessing and a curse haha). As far as goals for today go:

• Cardio for strengthening conditioning of knee/furthering goal of getting into OCS
• Had 2L of water
• Practiced gratitude
• Did my crunches
• Practiced Duolingo
• Greasing the groove by doing 5 band-assisted pull-ups every time I walk by the pull-up bar
• Successfully avoided snacking today

What's left for today: 

• Practice mindfulness

And that's it folks! I'm gonna bop around and check in on how y'all are doing on your own challenges, and then call it a day!

[Son of Rylos]

Hey, tis all good!! Sometimes not getting on here isn't a bad thing, makes you focus on your real world goals. 

 

Work can definitely pull focus from you, especially this time of the year for some people (you with tax season, me with beginning of the year medical season  ) Looks like you're really keeping up on things despite the work stuff. 

 

You've got this!

[WhiteGhost]

Glad to see you are keeping up with the challenge  

[BardicGarlic]

Did you just call it a dreadmill?

 

What a proper name. 

 

Anyway, it seems you are keeping up fine. Continue with the good work!

[Son of Rylos]

 

Awaiting a delicious update for the week!!  

[NicTheRugger]

Wow wow wow it has been 7 whole days since I last updated?! Whoops....

 

So, this past weekend was my insanely busy weekend. I had a med school formal on Friday, and bright and early Saturday morning, I was off to Pittsburgh for a wedding. Sunday was a challenge because of the snow storm that hit the Northeast, and I didn't get home until late Monday morning! It's been wild. Not only that but... I've been sick for the past 6 days. Because of that, my goals for workouts have taken a hit. I was so congested on Thursday and Friday that I honestly thought I would pass out while doing any workout more strenuous than walking. That being said, I did take the chance to fit some chin-ups on Friday and... I got 3!! I haven't been able to replicate it since, because of my exhausting (but fun) weekend. I actually meant to post this last night but for some reason, I couldn't type in the text box. Weird.

 

But the good news is: I've mostly been able to keep up with Duolingo. Really, that's about it though. But today it's business as usual, and I'm about to hit the treadmill for a quick run in my boots to get used to running in them.

 

That's all for now, folks! I will check in soon.

 

[BardicGarlic]

3 hours ago, NicTheRugger said:

 

 

But the good news is: I've mostly been able to keep up with Duolingo. Really, that's about it though. But today it's business as usual, and I'm about to hit the treadmill for a quick run in my boots to get used to running in them.

 

That's all for now, folks! I will check in soon.

 

 

Brain and brawl in a day? Quite a bonus!

[WhiteGhost]

18 hours ago, NicTheRugger said:

I got 3

Nice!

[RES]

On 1/22/2019 at 5:43 AM, NicTheRugger said:

I haven't been able to replicate it since, because of my exhausting (but fun) weekend

This does sound like the best reason I can think of!

[NicTheRugger]

Hello friends!

 

After my crazy weekend, it took me a bit to get back into the swing of things. That being said, I'm adapting back to my normal patterns.

 

An update for the past few days:

Somehow, I managed to bang up my other knee (how?!!!) and so running and doing lower body stuff hasn't been very easy or fun. The good news is that the pain is much better than it was for the past few days, so I'm hoping that I can get a nice long (3+ miles) trail run in tomorrow or Sunday, weather permitting.

I've fallen behind in reading Harry Potter in French, but have stayed consistent with reading news articles via Le Monde! I've practiced Polish almost every day this week, and can definitely see improvement from where I was just a few months ago.

Practicing mindfulness and Stoicism has been challenging, due to upsets and shenanigans at work. That being said, I'm feel like I'm still on track with this goal. I've been killing the water goal! My definition of "water" includes not just plain water, but water with lemon, herbal tea (unsweetened), and mineral and seltzer water, which makes it easier for me to hit the goal of 2+ liters a day. I've noticed that just plain water makes my mouth feel dry after a while, so having the variety helps reduce that dry mouth feeling.

Re. the no snacking goal, I've actually been pretty good about this! Making sure I eat a bigger breakfast and lunch makes it easier to prevent gratuitous snackage, and treating myself to a single piece of dark chocolate mid-afternoon or a nice sweet after dinner has helped stem those snacking urges.

 

Based on how this challenge is going so far, I'm planning out my next challenge to streamline things a bit and make it a bit more manageable. I may have bitten off more than I can chew, with this one, so I want to adjust my approach for the next challenge to be more holistic and adaptable!

 

Today's workout:

Warm up:
3 minute run
2 minute down roll
2×5 kb press, bottom up 10/15
10 Y-W-Ts
10 BW squats
10 PVC passthrough s

Workout
6×4 pull-ups band assisted (plus bonus 1 unassisted)
3 handstands
3×8 calf raises @40/40/40
3×8 SA dumbbell rows @25/30/35
3×8 SA dumbbell bench @25/arm

STRETCH

 

That's all for now, folks! I'll try to check in tomorrow.