RogueLibrarian: I am one with the Force

[RogueLibrarian]

 

I'm dedicating this month's challenge to one of my all-time favorite Star Wars characters, Chirrut Imwe (played by my #1 all-time favorite Hong Kong actor and all-around badass, Donnie Yen).

 

I came back from vacation and immediately got sick for a week, so I have gotten out of step with my usual fitness routine. We did a lot of walking in Thailand (and even some actual hiking, and met up with a NF friend in Hong Kong) while on vacation, but no actual workouts to speak of. I've been back to a couple of kickboxing classes in the last week and survived (and even nicely outlasted a noob on Saturday).

 

One thing I have been working on is push-ups. For the last month or two I've been doing 30 push-ups per day, started with 3 sets of 10 and then went to 2 sets of 15, and now I'm doing 3 sets of 15 every day. I've missed a very few days, but for pretty good reasons -- like I was on planes and in airports for literally 24 hours at a go, or I was sick and just crashed out and let myself rest all day. I'm tracking daily with Habitbull and it's a pretty respectable streak. They are getting easier and I think I can see a difference in my upper body starting to show.

 

So. All that said, this is going to be a pretty minimal challenge (again) as I just try to firm my habits back up.

 

• 3 workouts per week.
  • Usually, this is 2 karate classes and a kickboxing class.
• 45 push-ups every day, 3 sets of 15.
• Don't eat like an asshole.

 

 

[sylph]

1 hour ago, RogueLibrarian said:

I'm dedicating this month's challenge to one of my all-time favorite Star Wars characters, Chirrut Imwe

I knew I liked you for a reason.

[raptron]

Ahhh, I was wondering what happened post-trip! Sorry to hear you've been sick.

[RogueLibrarian]

5 hours ago, sylph said:

I knew I liked you for a reason.

 

I can also report that Donnie Yen and Andy Lau both have healthy secondary careers endorsing products in Hong Kong. I think every 7-11 and department store we passed had a picture of one of them.

 

3 hours ago, raptron said:

Ahhh, I was wondering what happened post-trip! Sorry to hear you've been sick.

 

Nothing serious, just a virus that I've had trouble shaking. I got checked out at the doc when I still had it over a week later, and they just told me to go back to bed until I was better. (I'm better!) I gave it to Ms Rogue and she's still getting rid of the last of hers.

[KB Girl]

13 hours ago, RogueLibrarian said:

That smile at the end. And the unscrewing was just beautiful. 

Welcome back! 

[RogueLibrarian]

5 hours ago, KB Girl said:

That smile at the end. And the unscrewing was just beautiful. 

Welcome back! 

 

EVERYTHING HE DOES IS BEAUTIFUL

 

[RogueLibrarian]

Hey, gang -- time for a week 1 check in.

 

All good on push-up progress this week. Last night I got home from the store to a sink full of dishes that I had to deal with, so I put groceries away, did a set of 15, did half the dishes, another set of 15, the other half of the dishes, then finished with a third set. 

 

I have not started week 1 out strong on the workout front. Yesterday I was suffering from lack of sleep, and I wasn't up for karate class (but I slept really well last night). Today I was going to get out to the work gym, but actual work has gotten in the way. Okay. Tomorrow night, karate class, Thursday afternoon, gym break, Saturday, kickboxing class. That will work.

 

I had a muffaletta sandwich for dinner last night, not incredibly healthy, but a salad for lunch today, and my weight's staying right where I want it lately.

[RogueLibrarian]

OH AND by the way

 

When I went to the doctor after being sick for a week, the nurse said I have the blood pressure of a teenager and wanted to trade BPs with me.* Three years of kickboxing classes pays off.

 

 

 

 

*I assume this would have involved some sort of vampire machine; I didn't ask

[sylph]

Cardiovascular health for the win!

[raptron]

19 hours ago, RogueLibrarian said:

Tomorrow night, karate class, Thursday afternoon, gym break, Saturday, kickboxing class. That will work.

Yes it will!

[Manarelle]

20 hours ago, RogueLibrarian said:

All good on push-up progress this week. Last night I got home from the store to a sink full of dishes that I had to deal with, so I put groceries away, did a set of 15, did half the dishes, another set of 15, the other half of the dishes, then finished with a third set. 

 

Brilliant way to break up not-so-fun things with things you want to do. 

 

20 hours ago, RogueLibrarian said:

When I went to the doctor after being sick for a week, the nurse said I have the blood pressure of a teenager and wanted to trade BPs with me.* Three years of kickboxing classes pays off.

 

*I assume this would have involved some sort of vampire machine; I didn't ask

 

Ask next time, I'm curious. Nice reinforcement that your hard work is paying off. 

[WhiteGhost]

Great job on the pushup consistency! 

[RogueLibrarian]

23 hours ago, Manarelle said:

Ask next time, I'm curious.  

 

Next time someone expresses a desire to trade blood pressure with me, I will definitely ask.

 

13 hours ago, WhiteGhost said:

Great job on the pushup consistency! 

 

Thanks! I'm using the HabitBull app to track three things right now: daily meditation, push-up streak, and workout routine. Yesterday I got to check off all three and it was very gratifying. (I could probably take meditation off there, since it's pretty ingrained at this point and I'm not even including it in challenges any more. Hm, maybe put a work habit in there instead?)

 

Back to karate yesterday for the first time since before vacation. About 70% of the class is new people, which was very weird. I realized I'm closing in on my one-year anniversary as a karate student (October).

 

Class was INTENSE cardio last night. We covered some basic striking moves, then got out heavy bags and hit them a lot, which I'm not gonna lie was pretty good for my brain. Exhausting myself hitting things is one of the best anxiety treatments I've found. We alternated hitting bags with our choice of push-ups or squats, so I got in my push-ups during class. Challenging, but I hit my quota. My arms are noodles.

 

I was thinking that after last night's intense class, I might take a rest day and do the work gym tomorrow, but I keep forgetting that we have an all-day staff training day tomorrow, so today it is. I *think* my plan is some cardio on the machines, some work on my belt form, and of course the daily push-ups. We're on break, so I expect the gym and especially the martial arts room to be nigh empty.

 

Two bits of hot goss from the karate gym: 1) I just found out that two of the instructors have been in a relationship all along and I had NO IDEA, and 2) one instructor just invited me to his birthday party which involves getting drunk and shooting nerf guns at each other on the gym floor.

 

NFR news: 1) someone who's playing in the space LARP just offered to send me a couple of screen-worn Killjoys costume jackets she bought and can't wear, and 2) I just agreed to run a tabletop (well, online tabletop) RPG for the first time in a year or more.

 

Oh right, Donnie Yen gif:

[raptron]

1 hour ago, RogueLibrarian said:

Back to karate yesterday for the first time since before vacation. About 70% of the class is new people, which was very weird. I realized I'm closing in on my one-year anniversary as a karate student (October).

Aww, no longer a newbie. Are there still folks from your adventuring party there?

 

1 hour ago, RogueLibrarian said:

Class was INTENSE cardio last night. We covered some basic striking moves, then got out heavy bags and hit them a lot, which I'm not gonna lie was pretty good for my brain. Exhausting myself hitting things is one of the best anxiety treatments I've found. We alternated hitting bags with our choice of push-ups or squats, so I got in my push-ups during class. Challenging, but I hit my quota. My arms are noodles.

YEAH. PUNCH ANXIETY RIGHT OUT THROUGH THE KNUCKLES.

 

1 hour ago, RogueLibrarian said:

Two bits of hot goss from the karate gym: 1) I just found out that two of the instructors have been in a relationship all along and I had NO IDEA, and 2) one instructor just invited me to his birthday party which involves getting drunk and shooting nerf guns at each other on the gym floor.

OOOOOH! GREAT GOSS!

 

1 hour ago, RogueLibrarian said:

NFR news: 1) someone who's playing in the space LARP just offered to send me a couple of screen-worn Killjoys costume jackets she bought and can't wear, and 2) I just agreed to run a tabletop (well, online tabletop) RPG for the first time in a year or more.

When is the space larp happening?? It's coming up soon-ish at this point, right?

[RogueLibrarian]

45 minutes ago, raptron said:

Aww, no longer a newbie. Are there still folks from your adventuring party there?

 

I think one of my old level 1 gang is still a regular, but he wasn't in this class. Maybe next week! 

 

45 minutes ago, raptron said:

YEAH. PUNCH ANXIETY RIGHT OUT THROUGH THE KNUCKLES.

 

For sure. It's an important part of my process.

 

45 minutes ago, raptron said:

OOOOOH! GREAT GOSS!

 

I was so gobsmacked when I saw this on Facebook. I was like, wait, I've been coming here for three years and they never make dumb jokes about each other, what's happening?

 

45 minutes ago, raptron said:

When is the space larp happening?? It's coming up soon-ish at this point, right?

 

Three months. I've got a bunch of character notes written up, but we're kind of waiting for registration to close before going all in on writing up character sheets. I'm trying to relax about it! With mixed results.

[RogueLibrarian]

20 minutes of karate form practice, 20 minutes of elliptical, 45 push-ups. All done.

[Manarelle]

Sounds like a dang good week for you. 

 

21 hours ago, RogueLibrarian said:

Two bits of hot goss from the karate gym: 1) I just found out that two of the instructors have been in a relationship all along and I had NO IDEA, and 2) one instructor just invited me to his birthday party which involves getting drunk and shooting nerf guns at each other on the gym floor.

 

1) Woah, impressive compartmentalization. 2) YAAAAAS! That sounds amazing. You going for it?

 

21 hours ago, RogueLibrarian said:

Class was INTENSE cardio last night. We covered some basic striking moves, then got out heavy bags and hit them a lot, which I'm not gonna lie was pretty good for my brain. Exhausting myself hitting things is one of the best anxiety treatments I've found. We alternated hitting bags with our choice of push-ups or squats, so I got in my push-ups during class. Challenging, but I hit my quota. My arms are noodles.

 

The gentleman and I used to, independently, have punching bags up for stress/ anxiety relief. The current house has no place for them, but 100% agree that it's a great treatment method. How are the arms today after all that and no rest day? 

[RogueLibrarian]

9 hours ago, Manarelle said:

Sounds like a dang good week for you. 

 

I feel like I'm getting back on the horse, which is satisfying.

 

9 hours ago, Manarelle said:

1) Woah, impressive compartmentalization. 2) YAAAAAS! That sounds amazing. You going for it?

 

Probably not -- I don't drink all that much any more and I feel like I'm a little old to enjoy it to its fullest.

 

9 hours ago, Manarelle said:

The gentleman and I used to, independently, have punching bags up for stress/ anxiety relief. The current house has no place for them, but 100% agree that it's a great treatment method.

 

Yes. I keep looking for a way to hang up a heavy bag here. We have no room inside, and if permanently outside it'd be subject to weather. We're talking about putting a pergola over our back deck that might have sufficient cover for one.

 

9 hours ago, Manarelle said:

How are the arms today after all that and no rest day? 

 

I am sore all over. But I just did my daily push-ups.

[KB Girl]

15 hours ago, RogueLibrarian said:

Probably not -- I don't drink all that much any more and I feel like I'm a little old to enjoy it to its fullest.

Even without drinking that might still be fun! I mean, surely there is someone you'd love to shoot a nerf gun at?

[Mad Hatter]

Welcome back!!

 

19 hours ago, RogueLibrarian said:

I feel like I'm a little old to enjoy it to its fullest.

You won't know until you tried it!

[Mad Hatter]

19 hours ago, RogueLibrarian said:

if permanently outside it'd be subject to weather.

You could probably sew some kind of cover it for? Only the fixture would then have to be weather proofed.

[RogueLibrarian]

On 8/10/2019 at 9:47 AM, KB Girl said:

Even without drinking that might still be fun! I mean, surely there is someone you'd love to shoot a nerf gun at?

 

Probably

 

On 8/10/2019 at 1:59 PM, Mad Hatter said:

Welcome back!!

 

Thanks! I need to catch up on the rest of the forum

 

On 8/10/2019 at 1:59 PM, Mad Hatter said:

You won't know until you tried it!

 

Mmmmmaybe.

 

On 8/10/2019 at 2:01 PM, Mad Hatter said:

You could probably sew some kind of cover it for? Only the fixture would then have to be weather proofed.

 

Possibly! Hadn't thought of that.

 

So, now it's public and can be told: 

 

Our spaceship LARP has hired J.G. Hertzler, who played General Martok on Deep Space 9, to play the fleet admiral. I'm going to spend two weekends in November on a battleship with General Martok.

 

 

 

[Mad Hatter]

You do you, but I feel like you're not allowed to use the age card to decline a nerf war when you're going to play space battle for two weeks.  

[raptron]

DOOOPE. 

[RogueLibrarian]

9 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

You do you, but I feel like you're not allowed to use the age card to decline a nerf war when you're going to play space battle for two weeks.  

 

FEELING ATTACKED