Witty But Nondescript Challenge Title

[tenaciousglee]

Hi Fit Nerds,

I discovered NF about 6 months ago and have been enjoying the articles and a few of the workouts, but haven't gotten off the bench and into the challenges until today. I bought the Rebel Strength Guide 2 weeks ago and am currently working through the Dumbbell Division. I am a self-diagnosed hardgainer who was ecstatic to hear about Operation Bulkup. I've tried lots of "scrawny to brawny" workouts through the years with no success. Since focusing more on my nutrition intake, I've put on about 10 pounds in the last 3 months. I'm hoping to keep the momentum going!

3 Fitness Goals

1. Gain 5 pounds in the next 6 weeks. (3000-3200 calories/day) [currently 163.2 lbs] +2 CHA & +2 STR

2. Get my chest measurement to be bigger than my hip measurement (currently 38.25" and 39") by finishing the Dumbbell Division Rank One and re-evaluating from there. +2 CHA & +2 STR

3. Use the Beast Skills tutorial to start working on handstand pushups. http://www.beastskills.com/tutorials/tutorials/41 +2 DEX & +2 STR

1 Life Goal

Learn 2 complete songs on the banjo. Probably "Power In The Blood" and "She'll Be Coming 'Round The Mountain". Been goofing around on the banjo for a couple of years and keep meaning to get serious with it. Plus, I have a family reunion in 4 weeks where we always do a talent show and my wife wants me to play. +2 WIS & +1 CHA

[BadWolf]

Nice goals! I look forward to seeing your progress. Are you going to focus on a higher protein/fat intake or a specific dietary plan?

[elefevers]

I'm right there with you being a hard gainer! good luck! hopefully we can both pack on some muscle & weight!

[tenaciousglee]

Thanks for the words of encouragement! I'm trying to follow the Healthy Bulkup diet Steve talks about in the Rebel Strength Guide. I've been focusing on increasing my protein intake, but I'm really just realizing I need to EAT MORE! My diet has consisted of meats, veggies, nuts, and granola. I'm not going full paleo, but I am trying to cut back on breads. I really like my rice and potatoes, though!

[Kegzilla]

Good luck on the Banjo! I'm a big fan of it, mainly due to Billy Connolly

[Kyzel]

Generic positive encouragement!

[tenaciousglee]

Generic positive encouragement!

You get me!

[elefevers]

Thanks for the words of encouragement! I'm trying to follow the Healthy Bulkup diet Steve talks about in the Rebel Strength Guide. I've been focusing on increasing my protein intake, but I'm really just realizing I need to EAT MORE! My diet has consisted of meats, veggies, nuts, and granola. I'm not going full paleo, but I am trying to cut back on breads. I really like my rice and potatoes, though!

I'm the same way, I never ate breakfast, so I'm doing that now, hopefully it will help!

[tenaciousglee]

Day 2 - Did my Dumbbell Division workout yesterday morning, but fell short of my calorie count. Had kind of a small dinner and forgot to have a pre-bed meal. I'm a little behind schedule today, so I'll have to be conscious of my intake tonight. Just found banjo tab for Comin' Round the Mountain, so I need to give it a try tonight.

[tenaciousglee]

Day 3 - Hit 3000 calories yesterday and then worked out this morning. Deadlifts, lunges, and planks. Still haven't pulled out the banjo or started with my beast skill yet...

[BadWolf]

Day 3 - Hit 3000 calories yesterday and then worked out this morning. Deadlifts, lunges, and planks. Still haven't pulled out the banjo or started with my beast skill yet...

Nicely done!

[tenaciousglee]

Day 5 - Week 3, Day 3 of Dumbbell Division Rank 1:

5x5 Push Press @54lbs

7,5,4 pull ups

17,15,12 push ups

2x2 Side Plank @30 sec

Hit 3000 calories yesterday and even pulled out the banjo for a little while. Still searching for the right tablature.

Planning to rest and EAT this weekend and take new measurements on Sunday, which will be 3 weeks after I started the Rebel Strength Guide. May also work on handstands and banjo.

[tenaciousglee]

Thinking about adding a race and attributes, but I never got into RPGs, so I'm truly a newbie. I live at the beach, so I was thinking Merman, but I'm pretty lanky and don't spend all my time in the water, so now I'm leaning towards... Gungan. Possibly an unpopular choice, thanks to Jar Jar, but there were (had to be) other cooler Gungans. So, I'll update my signature, but here goes:

Gungan Adventurer

STR: 3 DEX:2 STA:2 CON:4 WIS: 2 CHA:2

[tenaciousglee]

Took new measurements today, three weeks after starting Dumbbell Division in the Rebel Strength Guide:

[table=width: 300, align: left]

Date

6/3/12

6/23/12

Neck

14.25"

14"

Shoulders

45.5"

46.75"

Chest

38.25"

38.5"

Biceps

11"

10.75"

Waist

36"

34.75"

Hips

39"

39.5"

Thigh

22"

22.25"

Calf

13.25"

13.5"

[/table]

It looks like my shoulders got a little bigger and my waist got a little smaller and everything else stayed about the same. Guess I can't complain about that... Five more weeks left in the challenge to get my chest and bicep numbers up!

[Frozen Gator]

Nice progress. The work is paying off.

[tenaciousglee]

6/25/12 Workout - Dumbbell Division Rank 1, Session B

Front Squats - 5x5 @ 74 lbs

Deadlift - 4x5 @ 74 lbs

Plank - 3 sets at 50 seconds each

Vertical Knee Raise - 3 sets of 12 reps

Somehow I dropped a pound and a half over the last week despite hitting 2900-3000 calories a day. Hmmm.

[tenaciousglee]

Update: Haven't worked out since Monday. Was a little under the weather on Wednesday and Thursday and then just slept through my alarm today. Oh well, I will go outside and play tomorrow and then get back to the serious exercising on Monday.

I have been strummin' on the old banjo this week, but no measurable progress yet on either song.

[tenaciousglee]

Worked out Monday and again today. Felt good to exercise, but my cold is still lingering. Haven't been tracking my calories for the last few days, so I doubt I'm hitting 3000. I've been re-thinking that goal anyway. Zero progress on the handstand pushups and banjo. I've been trying to get to bed early the last few days to get over this cold. Going on vacation next week, so I'll be off the Dumbbell Division, but I'm hoping to switch to bodyweight exercises and keep some momentum going to finish the challenge strong!

[elefevers]

Hey, I noticed you lost some weight too... I dropped a pound and haven't been able to get it back. It worries me a little lol.

[Mad Rocker]

You'll be rocking Dueling Banjos in no time (different style I know). Practice, practice, practice.

I find wall handstands are tough enough, so good luck with the handstand pushups.

[tenaciousglee]

Sadly, I'm thinking about packing it in for this challenge and regrouping. I haven't really been getting the results I was after and I realized I didn't put enough thought into my goals.

-I've done 5 weeks of the Dumbbell Division, but I'm not really seeing much change in my physique. I think it has to do with not lifting enough weight, but I'm limited by what I've got at home. I'm going to focus on bodyweight exercises until I can find an affordable set of dumbbells heavier than 35 lbs.

-Also, I've gained some weight, but it seems to be settling in my midsection which is NOT what I was after! I'm going to try and research the optimal diet for maintaining my current mass but dropping my mini-gut. I also think I'm going to get back into running. I haven't run seriously since 2003, but I ran a couple of times last week while I was on vacation and I think that may help for slimming down my stomach.

-While the handstand pushups are still a long-term goal, I haven't put any real effort into following the tutorial on Beast Skills.

-I did play "Power In The Blood" on the banjo last week at my wife's family reunion, but it was my own made up picking/strumming version. Still, a partial victory!