[Gemma]

This is my first challenge back after a much longer than expected hiatus, so I am keeping it Super Super Simple. 

 

1. Work out at least 6 days/week - mix of GMB Elements, GMB Recovery, and NF Prime Push-Up Challenge 
2. Achieve my "frog" goal in Hero's Journal at least 6 days/ week 
3. Walk my new doggie every day

 

That's it.  That seems enough.

 

Push-Ups 

I used to do push-ups all the time. I served for 15 years in the U.S. Navy, and I survived it by being so good at push-ups and crunches that it didn't matter that I am terrible at running. That was our semi-annual fitness test. Straight up just push-ups, crunches, and running.
 

I converted to civilianism in 2000 and had not done a push-up since. I just recently learned that I no longer have that level of bent-arm strength. I want it back. 

 

Eat the Frog

One feature of The Hero's Journal is the setting of three goals every day "To seize the day." The first goal is marked with a little froggie icon, per Mark Twain (allegedly) “If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the biggest one first." I think this was the premise for the book Eat that Frog! by  Brian Tracy (which I have not yet read.) 

 

My frog goal for every day is one that will actually move the needle, and the one that I am most tempted to procrastinate.  My current Hero's Journal quest revolves around creativity, specifically outlining the novel that I plan to write starting in November (NaNoWriMo nerds FTW!) so my frog goals are currently things like "write 500 words of mentor's backstory" or "create list of protagonist's limitations,"  etc.

 

Doggie

A recent addition to our family is a three year old mixed breed girl that #2 son found as an emaciated and sickly stray a couple of years ago.  Son recently had to re-home her because of his job's travel requirements, so Cassiopeia is now my companion and walkies accountabilibuddy, in addition to being Apollo's new BFF.  She is a really good dog,  great cuddler and generally well behaved, but she is overly reactive to other dogs, cars, and bicycles when she is on a leash so we are executing some very specific training protocols. The more we walk, the better. This is as good for me as it is for her. 

Somewhat sad/depressing additional pet information behind spoiler

Spoiler

The hubs and I already had two dogs, but the elder one, Peace, had multiple significant health concerns. She was 13 years old, which I guess is pretty old in pit bull years. She shuffled off this mortal coil two days ago and is now officially pain free, and we are happy for the end of her suffering but we miss her terribly. 

Our middle aged boxer-pit, Apollo, had never been an 'only' dog and really doesn't like to be alone, so Cassie came along at the perfect time. 

 

Peace

 

 

Cassie

 

 

Apollo

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along. I really don't see the point of making sailors run farther than the length of the ship on which they serve.

[Waanie]

Your dogs are lovely . 

 

I really like your challenge as well; the frog-eating is something that more people should do, and push-ups are something nice to get back to .

 

46 minutes ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

I really don't see the point of making sailors run farther than the length of the ship on which they serve.

The ladders though... Maybe they should let sailors do 20 flights of stairs up, 20 flights down and then up again instead of straight running?

[Alanna]

It's nice to meet someone else doing GMB Elements! And I always enjoy dog photos . Sorry to hear about your recent loss - I'm glad Cassie was able to come into your lives at a time your family needed her. 

[Gemma]

6 hours ago, Waanie said:

 

The ladders though... Maybe they should let sailors do 20 flights of stairs up, 20 flights down and then up again instead of straight running?

 

Yes, the ladders are a 'thing'. I am an anomaly, though. 15 years in the Navy and not a single day of sea time. I was an airplane mechanic on large planes with no tailhook so I was on dry land the whole time.  

My main fitness need was the strength to carry toolboxes across the flightline. The ability to run a mile and a half was never useful in my daily life. Up and down ladders would have been more appropriate. 

[Gemma]

3 hours ago, Alanna said:

It's nice to meet someone else doing GMB Elements!

 

Elements rocks! I am doing it for the second time - I did it the first time through with just the 15 minute sessions, as sort of a 'back in the saddle' thing, and I still loved it when I finished so I turned right around and started it again.  I love how easy it is to integrate with other workout plans. 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

30 minutes ago, Gemma said:

 

Yes, the ladders are a 'thing'. I am an anomaly, though. 15 years in the Navy and not a single day of sea time. I was an airplane mechanic on large planes with no tailhook so I was on dry land the whole time.  

My main fitness need was the strength to carry toolboxes across the flightline. The ability to run a mile and a half was never useful in my daily life. Up and down ladders would have been more appropriate. 

P3s?

[Gemma]

3 minutes ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

P3s?

C-130s to start with, then a 707 modification called the "E-6 Mercury" - we were basically giant flying VLF radios so the Pentagon could talk to submarines.   I was in VQ-3 virtually my whole career until I went to teach A school. 

You? 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

1 hour ago, Gemma said:

C-130s to start with, then a 707 modification called the "E-6 Mercury" - we were basically giant flying VLF radios so the Pentagon could talk to submarines.   I was in VQ-3 virtually my whole career until I went to teach A school. 

You? 

Just a civilian who knows a bunch of acronyms and equipment names due to fanboying in my teens and 20s.

[Alanna]

12 hours ago, Gemma said:

Elements rocks! I am doing it for the second time - I did it the first time through with just the 15 minute sessions, as sort of a 'back in the saddle' thing, and I still loved it when I finished so I turned right around and started it again.  I love how easy it is to integrate with other workout plans. 

 

The ability to modulate session length (and intensity it seems, based on the "how are you feeling" question) is a nice new addition since I bought the programme! I'm using it to get back into the habit of regularly training, too, and build a good base for future strength/skill work. It's great to hear you enjoyed it so much that you didn't stop! How are you finding it during your second go-through compared to the first? 

[Gemma]

13 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Just a civilian who knows a bunch of acronyms and equipment names due to fanboying in my teens and 20s.

 

That is some pretty convincing fanboying - I easily assumed that you also had military aviation experience. P-3s were sort of an obscure platform (I mean, E-6s more so!) that most people don't associate with the Navy. I blame Top Gun for most folks thinking we were all F-14 Tomcats all the time. 

 

3 hours ago, Alanna said:

 

The ability to modulate session length (and intensity it seems, based on the "how are you feeling" question) is a nice new addition since I bought the programme! I'm using it to get back into the habit of regularly training, too, and build a good base for future strength/skill work. It's great to hear you enjoyed it so much that you didn't stop! How are you finding it during your second go-through compared to the first? 

 

The lower intensity option ROCKS! I've only used it once, but it was the perfect bridge between "I feel like crap maybe I'll skip it" and "I'll just suck it up and soldier through, hope I don't get injured." It let me keep my momentum, which makes me a happy Gemma. 

 

My second go through has been amazing.  For each session, after you finish the "Ponder" notes  Praxis lets you see your notes from the other times you've done the same thing, which is fun to compare - but also just stuff I noticed like "wow, I can get my hips a lot higher in 3-point bridge without my heels coming off the ground or my knees collapsing" and "holy cow, that Frogger felt strong and I landed with control, don't think that's happened before!" is super motivating. I honestly might go through it a third time, interspersing it with things like pull-up progressions or some parallettes work, before I move on to Integral Strength. Or, at least, I will keep doing this for as long as it remains fun  

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

1 hour ago, Gemma said:

That is some pretty convincing fanboying - I easily assumed that you also had military aviation experience. P-3s were sort of an obscure platform (I mean, E-6s more so!) that most people don't associate with the Navy. I blame Top Gun for most folks thinking we were all F-14 Tomcats all the time. 

There was a time I really wanted to be in, then a second time when I wanted to be a military chaplain, so I did a bunch of research. 

[Alanna]

1 hour ago, Gemma said:

 

The lower intensity option ROCKS! I've only used it once, but it was the perfect bridge between "I feel like crap maybe I'll skip it" and "I'll just suck it up and soldier through, hope I don't get injured." It let me keep my momentum, which makes me a happy Gemma. 

 

My second go through has been amazing.  For each session, after you finish the "Ponder" notes  Praxis lets you see your notes from the other times you've done the same thing, which is fun to compare - but also just stuff I noticed like "wow, I can get my hips a lot higher in 3-point bridge without my heels coming off the ground or my knees collapsing" and "holy cow, that Frogger felt strong and I landed with control, don't think that's happened before!" is super motivating. I honestly might go through it a third time, interspersing it with things like pull-up progressions or some parallettes work, before I move on to Integral Strength. Or, at least, I will keep doing this for as long as it remains fun  

That is really exciting! The movements seem like they'd work well for a few of the "play" sessions during another programme, too. 

 

I'm sure I'll need the lower intensity workout option at some point - it's good to know that it will be there when I need it! 

[Scaly Freak]

On 12/29/2021 at 9:14 AM, Gemma said:

 

Doggie

A recent addition to our family is a three year old mixed breed girl that #2 son found as an emaciated and sickly stray a couple of years ago.  Son recently had to re-home her because of his job's travel requirements, so Cassiopeia is now my companion and walkies accountabilibuddy, in addition to being Apollo's new BFF.  She is a really good dog,  great cuddler and generally well behaved, but she is overly reactive to other dogs, cars, and bicycles when she is on a leash so we are executing some very specific training protocols. The more we walk, the better. This is as good for me as it is for her. 

 

Both your son and Cassiopeia are very lucky that you were able to adopt her. Him, because he knows his dog lives in a good home where she will be loved and well cared for, and the dog for the same reasons.  

 

I'm sorry for your loss. Thinking about how their pain is over has always helped me, but it only goes so far.

[Gemma]

I didn't really check in here for zero week, but my workouts worked out:

 

Push:
S - Elements

M  - NF Pushup challenge

T - 15 minute GMB Recovery session

W - NF Pushups

R - Elements

F - NF Pushups 

Today - Elements

 

Today's Elements session included Backwards Bear and I was really happy with how my shoulders felt, they are definitely stronger than when I started this weird zoology project. 

Eat the Frog:

So far I've got my 'frog' task done five days. Today's frog is to figure out what my primary antagonist's primary goal is. 

 

Walk the Dog :

We did walk every day. Apollo and the Hubs came with us some days. Having A along seems to help Cassie deal with cars more calmly, which is nice. She is improving.  And I'm getting my daily dose of fresh air and sunlight, so that's a win.  

[Alanna]

That's a great zero week!

 

1 hour ago, Gemma said:

weird zoology project.

Haha that also aptly describes some of my feelings about Elements. 

 

I'm glad Apollo is being a good role model for Cassie! 

[Harriet]

I'm sorry for the loss of Peace.

Oh, that quote about frogs is surely the height of wisdom. I must reflect on it. Frogs... yes, of course. And the big one... it all makes sense now. But will I have the discipline?.... Frogs. Hmmm.

Anyway, happy challenging!!!

[Waanie]

14 hours ago, Gemma said:

Today's Elements session included Backwards Bear and I was really happy with how my shoulders felt, they are definitely stronger than when I started this weird zoology project. 

Small wins! I do enjoy backwards bear as well, especially when exaggerating the movement . I imagine myself being a big, heavy bear, and do use sound effects as well sometimes .

[Gemma]

Day One: 

 

Work Out: ✅

Push-up workout 

 

Eat the Frog:  ✅

Today's frog was to spend 15 minutes developing a short story idea that I sketched out a long time ago and forgot. One of my HJ side quests has been about going through my old writing and looking for wheat kernels in the chaff, and I actually still like this story concept and want to work with it. 

This will eventually tie in to a 20 seconds of courage moment,  because I  (goal for next challenge) plan to enter a writing contest -OR- submit a story to Uncharted Magazine or some other spec fic journal. I write mostly dark fantasy and I've never been brave enough to let anyone read it, much less send it off to writing judges for critique.

 

My deadline to send a story off to somewhere is March 31. 

 

Walk the Dog: ✅

We are having weather here, so this needed to be done earlier than planned, before the rain started.  

 

For the future, the inclement weather plan is for Cassie to work out her excess energy and exercise her brain power with her snuffle mat, and for me to get the extra movement in with 2 sets of kettlebell swings.  Not for regular rain, but some of the wildly blowing storms common to my area really do preclude walking. 

[Alanna]

Great day 1 of the challenge! How is the push-up progression going?

 

Preparing a story to submit is very exciting, even if it's also scary! 

[Mad Hatter]

I love the eat the frog goal! I could really do with that as it really forces you to prioritize.

 

15 hours ago, Gemma said:

This will eventually tie in to a 20 seconds of courage moment,  because I  (goal for next challenge) plan to enter a writing contest -OR- submit a story to Uncharted Magazine or some other spec fic journal. I write mostly dark fantasy and I've never been brave enough to let anyone read it, much less send it off to writing judges for critique.

Ooh how exciting! 

 

So sorry about your loss.  Cassie is adorable!

[Gemma]

Day Two: 

 

Work Out: ✅

Push-up workout  - this was a glitch in my matrix, I did not plan to do push-up-centric work two days in a row, and my elbows and wrists made clear that I ought not have done so. Tuesday's workout will be a nice active recovery session, in their honor. 

 

Eat the Frog:  ✅

Today's frog was to clarify my protagonist's primary motivation.  I also spent 10 minutes on the short story and was happy with the progress. 

 

Walk the Dog: ❌

Winds of 25 mph and gusting to 40 mph pretty much all day, so we didn't. I gave the pups their snuffle mat to burn off some excess energy, but I did not execute my half of Plan B and swing kettlebells.  No excuse. I just didn't. 

 

 

On 1/2/2022 at 3:37 PM, Alanna said:

Great day 1 of the challenge! How is the push-up progression going?

 

Not bad. I am stuck at a weird plateau on push-up progressions, and have been for a long time. I can do incline push-ups at waist high, no problem, easy peasy lemon squeezy, 10-15 reps no prob - but when I go down to a knee high surface my arms turn to wet spaghetti.  I have just recently been able to do ONE strugglebus one at knee high.  My new fun hobby is searching out all the pieces of furniture in my home that stand at various heights lower than my bathroom counter but higher than my ottoman.  I have a sideboard in the kitchen that I think will serve for now. 

My knee push-ups have improved, I can now do four of them (I started at two, two weeks ago)

 

Negative push-ups are still not as slow as I would like but I think they are slowing down, slooowwwly. 🙄

 

 

[Alanna]

5 hours ago, Gemma said:

Not bad. I am stuck at a weird plateau on push-up progressions, and have been for a long time. I can do incline push-ups at waist high, no problem, easy peasy lemon squeezy, 10-15 reps no prob - but when I go down to a knee high surface my arms turn to wet spaghetti.  I have just recently been able to do ONE strugglebus one at knee high.  My new fun hobby is searching out all the pieces of furniture in my home that stand at various heights lower than my bathroom counter but higher than my ottoman.  I have a sideboard in the kitchen that I think will serve for now. 

My knee push-ups have improved, I can now do four of them (I started at two, two weeks ago)

 

Negative push-ups are still not as slow as I would like but I think they are slowing down, slooowwwly. 🙄

 

Ah yes, the eternal challenge of finding the perfect height for incline push-ups and recruiting odd household items. If the sideboard doesn't work, maybe you could find something solid to stand on to increase your height relative to the counter? Or do some more challenging variations at the counter height, like diamond push-ups and/or ones with a wider hand width? You're definitely ready to move on if you're at 10-15 reps!

 

Congrats on the knee push-up progress! 

 

I hope the wind calms down so you can go on your walk tomorrow - I imagine the achy elbows and wrists would not have liked the KB work, anyway. Do you know what's causing your elbow pain?

[Scaly Freak]

21 minutes ago, Alanna said:

Ah yes, the eternal challenge of finding the perfect height for incline push-ups and recruiting odd household items. If the sideboard doesn't work, maybe you could find something solid to stand on to increase your height relative to the counter? 

 

I use a straight staircase inside our house. Is that an option? Or a stepladder, pushed against a wall so it won't move?

[Alanna]

Just now, Scaly Freak said:

I use a straight staircase inside our house. Is that an option? Or a stepladder, pushed against a wall so it won't move?

 

A ladder is a great idea - it's basically an incline push-up machine.

 

I used to use a smith machine for inverted row progressions since it was easy to slightly change the height of the bar, but unfortunately that's not an option for home workouts.