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Challenge 5 - Tobbe fights the dinosaur


Tobbe

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3 minutes ago, Tobbe said:

Going to have to find some way to do inverted rows at home!

 

Sturdy tables work really well for this. I have learned this during business trips when I was forced to stay on hotels without a gym.

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The Great Reading Thread of 2023

“I've always believed that failure is non-existent. What is failure? You go to the end of the season, then you lose the Super Bowl. Is that failing? To most people, maybe. But when you're picking apart why you failed, and now you're learning from that, then is that really failing? I don't think so." - Kobe Bryant, 1978-2020. Rest in peace, great warrior.

Personal Challenges, a.k.a.The Saga of Scalyfreak: Tutorial; Ch 1; Ch 2; Ch 3; Ch 4; Ch 5; Ch 6; Intermission; Intermission II; Ch 7; Ch 8; Ch 9; Ch 10; Ch 11; Ch 12 ; Ch 13; Ch 14Ch 15; Ch 16; Ch 17; Intermission IIICh 18; Ch 19; Ch 20; Ch 21; Ch 22; Ch 23; Ch 24; Ch 25; Intermission IV; Ch 26; Ch 27; Ch 28; Ch 29; Ch 30; Ch 31; Ch 32; Ch 33; Ch 34; Ch 35; Ch 36; Ch 37; Ch 38; Ch 39; Ch 40; Intermission V; Ch 41; Ch 42; Ch 43

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19 hours ago, Tobbe said:

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try our kitchen table when I get back home Thumbs Up

Make sure to put lots of liquids on it first and get a video :P 

 

For your pullup progression, as well as negatives, the single best exercise for me was Bent Over dumbbell rows, progressively build them way up and you just suddenly can do a pullup. 

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On 1/12/2019 at 10:52 AM, Tobbe said:

Here's my jump rope, hanging from my hand. It's frozen, so it can't hang straight :P 

 

Ha! I'm in 35 degree heat at the moment and cursing how hot it is, a frozen rope is amusing to see! 

         Endor, LVL 45 Half-Elf Ranger 

PR and Motivation Log | Current Battle Log 

      

                    Feb-March 2022 Challenge

   

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On 1/13/2019 at 2:32 AM, scalyfreak said:

Sturdy tables work really well for this. I have learned this during business trips when I was forced to stay on hotels without a gym.

 

3 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

If your pull-up negatives are 28s you really should be able to do full ones now! Should try it out. :) 

 

Just tried the kitchen table for doing inverted rows. Same problem there as in my pull-ups. I can't get the last few inches. Can't get my chest to the bar/table.

 

Is it a mobility issue? Form issue? I don't know...

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6 hours ago, Tobbe said:

Just tried the kitchen table for doing inverted rows. Same problem there as in my pull-ups. I can't get the last few inches. Can't get my chest to the bar/table.

 

Is it a mobility issue? Form issue? I don't know...


I also struggle with row movements, especially the last bit, but I think it's pure weakness. Can you pull your elbows back fully when they're not loaded with weight? If so that might rule out mobility problems. 

Let cheese and oxen and mead crowd out our secret desires for power and domination - Harriet the Viking

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On 1/14/2019 at 8:33 PM, Tobbe said:

Just tried the kitchen table for doing inverted rows. Same problem there as in my pull-ups. I can't get the last few inches. Can't get my chest to the bar/table.

 

Is it a mobility issue? Form issue? I don't know...

It’s probably just a strength issue as Harriet said. At this point I don’t think negatives are useful anymore though, instead I’d go for full pull-ups and supplement with bent arm hangs for time where you really focus on staying nice and high and keeping your shoulders down. 

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On 1/15/2019 at 12:11 AM, Tobbe said:

 

Fine. Guess I am just weak then :(  :P  :D 


What I meant is slightly less strong than we will be soon, and significantly less strong than we will be in time, of course. 

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Let cheese and oxen and mead crowd out our secret desires for power and domination - Harriet the Viking

Just be bold, fluid and unapologetic, not small, hairy and indecisive - Harriet the Artist

You can absorb me! - Harriet the Contextless Guru

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On 1/14/2019 at 8:10 PM, Harriet said:


I also struggle with row movements, especially the last bit, but I think it's pure weakness. Can you pull your elbows back fully when they're not loaded with weight? If so that might rule out mobility problems. 

 

On 1/15/2019 at 3:11 AM, Tobbe said:

 

Fine. Guess I am just weak then :(  :P  :D 

 

It can also be poor activation. I like banded pull aparts and face pulls to help with this before a session. If reverse body weight rows are proving to be a problem, and higher grips are not available, I would look to bent row variations with DBs and BBs. (If you have access to a smith, that's where I prefer to see the reverse row progressions.)

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On ‎1‎/‎14‎/‎2019 at 10:33 AM, Tobbe said:

 

 

Just tried the kitchen table for doing inverted rows. Same problem there as in my pull-ups. I can't get the last few inches. Can't get my chest to the bar/table.

 

Is it a mobility issue? Form issue? I don't know...

Have you taken a video of yourself doing pull ups and rows? Looking at the video might help you see the form issue. And posting here, people could probably help you. You were able to do some many negatives in the PVP, way more than I ever could, I just don't think it is very likely a strength issue.

Form points to keep in mind;  Before you do the pull ups do  a warm up of just practicing the movement of pulling your arms down, practicing the movement of pulling them down while keeping the correct form

Before you start the movement,pull your shoulders down

keep your shoulders down

keep your elbows in tight to your body

activate your whole body, use your core

squeeze your legs together- this will help you keep a tight body

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On 1/15/2019 at 6:11 PM, Tobbe said:

 

Fine. Guess I am just weak then :(  :P  :D 

 

6 hours ago, RedStone said:

 

 

It can also be poor activation. I like banded pull aparts and face pulls to help with this before a session. If reverse body weight rows are proving to be a problem, and higher grips are not available, I would look to bent row variations with DBs and BBs. (If you have access to a smith, that's where I prefer to see the reverse row progressions.)

 

 

I also recommend a TRX-like setup (you can buy off brand TRX type things here for peanuts - I bought one that literally clips to the top of a door). It's really easy to modify the difficulty.

 

I personally bounce between the TRX and using a bar setup in a rack.

 

Also... a small after thought... if you feel weak at the top portion of the row (ie: touching chest to table/bar), try pulling more aggressively so you can ride a bit of momentum...

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9 hours ago, Blocky said:

I also recommend a TRX-like setup (you can buy off brand TRX type things here for peanuts - I bought one that literally clips to the top of a door). It's really easy to modify the difficulty.

 

I lurve my off brand TRX! Tool of choice at home :D 

 

giphy.gif 

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17 hours ago, RedStone said:

It can also be poor activation. I like banded pull aparts and face pulls to help with this before a session. If reverse body weight rows are proving to be a problem, and higher grips are not available, I would look to bent row variations with DBs and BBs. (If you have access to a smith, that's where I prefer to see the reverse row progressions.)

 

Used to do face pulls when I did gym workouts. Forgot all about them now when I'm mostly doing bodyweight stuff at home. But I do have some resistance bands that I could use to incorporate the face pulls in my routine again. Thanks for the suggestion :)

 

I went to a gym the other day just to play around, and tried inverted rows in a smith machine for the first time. It was awesome! I would most definitely do more of those if I had access to one at home :) 

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16 hours ago, Elastigirl said:

Form points to keep in mind;  Before you do the pull ups do  a warm up of just practicing the movement of pulling your arms down, practicing the movement of pulling them down while keeping the correct form

 

Should get myself a broomstick or something to practice form with.  Just need a good place to store it so it doesn't end up being a sword in the hands of my kids :P 

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10 hours ago, Blocky said:

I also recommend a TRX-like setup (you can buy off brand TRX type things here for peanuts - I bought one that literally clips to the top of a door). It's really easy to modify the difficulty

 

Hmm, do you have a link to something like that?

 

10 hours ago, Blocky said:

Also... a small after thought... if you feel weak at the top portion of the row (ie: touching chest to table/bar), try pulling more aggressively so you can ride a bit of momentum...

 

Yes, this definitely help when doing the rows!

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1 hour ago, Tobbe said:

 

Should get myself a broomstick or something to practice form with.  Just need a good place to store it so it doesn't end up being a sword in the hands of my kids :P 

Just give that up, if they don't use a broomstick they'll find something else to use as a sword. In my son's eyes everything was a sword (or baseball bat:smile-new:)

But really, you don't need anything, just use  your arms to practice the movement

Wisdom 22.5   Dexterity 13   Charisma 15   Strength 21  Constitution-13

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind' Luke 10; 27

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3 hours ago, Tobbe said:

Should get myself a broomstick or something to practice form with. 

 

Bathrobe belt. Grab it and tug it straight, put it in place, and start your form practice.

The Great Reading Thread of 2023

“I've always believed that failure is non-existent. What is failure? You go to the end of the season, then you lose the Super Bowl. Is that failing? To most people, maybe. But when you're picking apart why you failed, and now you're learning from that, then is that really failing? I don't think so." - Kobe Bryant, 1978-2020. Rest in peace, great warrior.

Personal Challenges, a.k.a.The Saga of Scalyfreak: Tutorial; Ch 1; Ch 2; Ch 3; Ch 4; Ch 5; Ch 6; Intermission; Intermission II; Ch 7; Ch 8; Ch 9; Ch 10; Ch 11; Ch 12 ; Ch 13; Ch 14Ch 15; Ch 16; Ch 17; Intermission IIICh 18; Ch 19; Ch 20; Ch 21; Ch 22; Ch 23; Ch 24; Ch 25; Intermission IV; Ch 26; Ch 27; Ch 28; Ch 29; Ch 30; Ch 31; Ch 32; Ch 33; Ch 34; Ch 35; Ch 36; Ch 37; Ch 38; Ch 39; Ch 40; Intermission V; Ch 41; Ch 42; Ch 43

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Challenge over. Sorry I dropped the ball on updating :( But I did continue with working towards some of the goals. So I'll write a small summary/status report below.

 

 

Nutrition

 

For three to seven days:

  • Eat only Kitchari all day
    • Eat until you're full
    • Eat whenever you feel hungry
  • Drink only water, water+lime+salt, or water+kitchari spices

I did this for five days (or perhaps a little more). Great success! Had some nice insights from doing this too. Might even do it again sometime :) Wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be to go without all the sweets. I think a big part of that was because I knew it was just a few short days.

 

After the mono-diet

  • Drink protein smoothie at least three times per week

I managed to uphold this for one week. Then stopped, and began skipping meals again to eat sweet things instead :( Big fail :( 

 

 

Fitness

  • Practice jump rope at least twice every week
  • No workouts on consecutive days
  • Try to beat Tyrannosaurus Flex 11th or 12th of January. Keep trying every Friday or Saturday until he is conquered

I did practice jump rope until I beat Tyrannosaurus Flex, which I did on my first try! :D So I leveled up to bodyweight 5, and haven't missed a single workout! And haven't done any workouts on consecutive days!

 

 

Level Up Your Life

 

Still doing this, and doing good enough with it too

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

All in all more green than red. So I'm calling this challenge a success :) Going to set up a new challenge thread, but that challenge will be totally different from this and previous challenges! Can't wait to get started! *So excited* :D Thumbs Up

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