Scalyfreak continues her studies of pyromancy

[Scaly Freak]

Feeling immensely better, now that she’s not on fire in any way, Scalyfreak resumes her journey. The road takes her through a beautiful forest, up a hill, and eventually into the mountains. Beautiful tall mountains, and soon she is standing above the trees and near the clouds, and admiring the breathtaking view.

 

Of course, it’s not long before the beautiful view is ruined by the appearance of a large monster. It is blocking the only road that leads back down from the mountain top Scalyfreak is standing on, and the creature is watching her. Intently.

 

“Great. Another Stress Hydra.” Scalyfreak sighs, and that familiar painful burn that starts in her stomach and eats its way towards the chest and her skin, takes hold. As she spots a second hydra further down the road, the burning intensifies. And intensifies. Tiny flames begin to dance at the edges of her field of vision…

 

No.

 

Scalyfreak takes a deep breath and focuses on redirecting the flames away from the explosion they want to turn into, and attempts to gather them around her fist and keep them in place. And it works… for now anyway.

 

 

 

Physical Stress Management:

• Go to the gym and lift on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
• Decide what my new lifting program will be, and schedule it in Progression so I can track it

 

Mental Stress Management:

• Continue resisting the"I'm in the middle of something"-reflex when it's time to go to bed
• Make it a big event to order my plate necklace with the engraving, since the barbell row has reached 105 lbs

 

Happiness Factor:

• Wrap up the Camp NaNo project, and stay involved with it after the month of April
• Get more involved with the local writers' group I found, and attend at least one of their events, to see if they can become my people
• Stay involved with volunteering even tough the State Legislative session is over.

 

The goals may or may not work out. The first Stress Hydra, as always manifested in the workplace, has begun approaching slowly, and the battle is inevitable. The second one will most likely arrive during or right after the final round. Mental health will need to become the focus of future challenges for the rest of the year. And that is fine. That’s what I have NF for.  

[Stronkey Kong]

First!

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Second, because I chose not to abuse my mod/admin powers to make myself first.

[Harriet]

Excellent. Which is likely to be your next 100-pounder? 

[Grumble]

14 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Second, because I chose not to abuse my mod/admin powers to make myself first.

I don't know what you're talking about.

[Scaly Freak]

2 hours ago, Harriet said:

Excellent. Which is likely to be your next 100-pounder? 

 

Probably the barbell row. I did three work sets of 95 lbs on that one yesterday.  

[JessFit]

oooooh yay for a 100# lift! I'm happily following along because I really love your goals. 

[Grumble]

3 hours ago, scalyfreak said:

 

Probably the barbell row. I did three work sets of 95 lbs on that one yesterday.  

 

You probably already know, but this being your second biggest lift to date makes me a very happy Grumble.

[Scaly Freak]

56 minutes ago, Grumble said:

 

You probably already know, but this being your second biggest lift to date makes me a very happy Grumble.

 

I also did two bench press work sets at 95 lbs before I was forced to drop to 90 lbs to get the last set out, so... it's close between the two. I like the barbell row because it works so many different muscles, but I especially enjoy strengthening my upper back. The mythical pull-up feels like it gets just a bit closer, the stronger my back is.  

[Harriet]

18 minutes ago, scalyfreak said:

 

I also did two bench press work sets at 95 lbs before I was forced to drop to 90 lbs to get the last set out, so... it's close between the two. I like the barbell row because it works so many different muscles, but I especially enjoy strengthening my upper back. The mythical pull-up feels like it gets just a bit closer, the stronger my back is.  

 

Waiiiit. The first 100lb lift is your squat, right? Where's your deadlift at? 

[Scaly Freak]

20 minutes ago, Harriet said:

 

Waiiiit. The first 100lb lift is your squat, right? Where's your deadlift at? 

 

165 lbs.

 

The deadlift does not count towards the 100 lbs goal, since I have been blessed with long limbs that makes deadlifting comparatively easy, and because I started so far ahead of the other lifts on that one. The reward goal for all other barbell lifts is 100 lbs. For the deadlift I get a shiny reward when I can lift my own body weight.

 

And I'm surprised it took this long before someone asked about that.  

 

 

[Deckard Gainz]

Good luck on your next 100lb BB lift, and all that other stuff too!

[Mike Wazowski]

Here for the fire and the iron slinging.

 

And I guess the mindfulness, cause that's important or something.

[Grumble]

17 hours ago, scalyfreak said:

 

165 lbs.

 

The deadlift does not count towards the 100 lbs goal, since I have been blessed with long limbs that makes deadlifting comparatively easy, and because I started so far ahead of the other lifts on that one. The reward goal for all other barbell lifts is 100 lbs. For the deadlift I get a shiny reward when I can lift my own body weight.

 

And I'm surprised it took this long before someone asked about that.  

 

There's a reason deadlift is where all the biggest weights in the world live. We already knew you were a badass there. 

[JessFit]

On 4/15/2019 at 5:28 PM, scalyfreak said:

 

165 lbs.

 

The deadlift does not count towards the 100 lbs goal, since I have been blessed with long limbs that makes deadlifting comparatively easy, and because I started so far ahead of the other lifts on that one. The reward goal for all other barbell lifts is 100 lbs. For the deadlift I get a shiny reward when I can lift my own body weight.

 

And I'm surprised it took this long before someone asked about that.  

 

 

It is a good thing the long limbs get your deadlift numbers up because they trash my upper body numbers. Dumb noodle arms. 

[Harriet]

On 4/15/2019 at 3:28 PM, scalyfreak said:

 

165 lbs.

 

The deadlift does not count towards the 100 lbs goal, since I have been blessed with long limbs that makes deadlifting comparatively easy, and because I started so far ahead of the other lifts on that one. The reward goal for all other barbell lifts is 100 lbs. For the deadlift I get a shiny reward when I can lift my own body weight.

 

And I'm surprised it took this long before someone asked about that.  

 

 

Wait... long limbs make it easy? I would have thought shorties have an advantage (less ROM)? Or even short legs and torso, plus long arms. Like this:

 

[Harriet]

Sorry, double post.

[JessFit]

38 minutes ago, Harriet said:

Wait... long limbs make it easy? I would have thought shorties have an advantage (less ROM)? Or even short legs and torso, plus long arms. Like this:

Long arms make for a shorter pulling distance off the ground, just like short arms make for a shorter ROM on bench! I have noodle arms and my bench is trash and my DL is poppin. 

[Grumble]

26 minutes ago, JessFit said:

Long arms make for a shorter pulling distance off the ground, just like short arms make for a shorter ROM on bench! I have noodle arms and my bench is trash and my DL is poppin. 

 

My lifting life in a sentence. 6'4 with a 32" inseam and my hands can touch the middle of my thighs. In the 3 weeks ~ i've been back lifting my DL has jumped 50 lbs and my bench has jumped...15.

[Scaly Freak]

1 hour ago, JessFit said:

Long arms make for a shorter pulling distance off the ground, just like short arms make for a shorter ROM on bench! I have noodle arms and my bench is trash and my DL is poppin. 

 

And long legs actually makes it easier to lift the barbell off the ground, due to the levers simply being longer.

 

1 hour ago, Grumble said:

 

My lifting life in a sentence. 6'4 with a 32" inseam and my hands can touch the middle of my thighs. In the 3 weeks ~ i've been back lifting my DL has jumped 50 lbs and my bench has jumped...15.

 

Yep, this sums it up. My squat progression is slow and bad too. The long legs that provide such excellent leverage for deadlifting are not good at squats.

 

They look spectacular in jeans or boots with a knee-long skirt though, so I don't mind them that much.  

 

Yesterday I learned that my gym is going to be closed on Sunday, due to it being Easter Sunday, so I have changed my plan for this week and will go to the gym on Thursday and Saturday instead of Friday and Sunday.

[Mike Wazowski]

Ooh good call to check that in advance! I kinda forget places close for Easter Sunday, but I’m entertaining my parents for the weekend so there will be limited gym time anyhow.

[Scaly Freak]

18 minutes ago, Mike Wazowski said:

Ooh good call to check that in advance! 

 

I didn't.  

 

The gym had a big sign in the lobby. They do that for all holidays, which I greatly appreciate.

[Mike Wazowski]

1 minute ago, scalyfreak said:

I didn't.  

 

The gym had a big sign in the lobby. They do that for all holidays, which I greatly appreciate.

Even better! Good way for them to avoid disappointed people down the line.

[JessFit]

Oh, I keep forgetting that there's a holiday this weekend! Hope you have great lifts on Thursday and Saturday! 

[Scaly Freak]

Back-to-work-music!

 

 

 

Challenge to be updated either tonight or tomorrow. Changes are happening...