Re-Miximus to the Maximus - It's Habit Forming!

[tenaciousglee]

I have the vibram five fingers and to be honest after using them for over a month initially I forgot about my toes being uncomfortable. Give it some time instead of getting another shoe--your body will adapt.

 

I picked up my Fila Skeletoes as an introduction to minimalist shoes.  They were only $20 on sale.  I've been wearing them for my workouts/lifting for a few months and don't mind the toe pockets, except when I run.  That was my biggest turn off for the VFFs, too.  I also got a pair of Merrell Barefoot Radius Glove shoes for wearing to work and flippin' love them!  So, I'm leaning towards a pair of Merrell Flux Gloves for running.  I've also got a Dick's Sporting Goods gift card burning a hole in my pocket...

[surge_supra]

Oh! Didn't realize you'd had them for so long. Sorry to hear that about the running-ness. You've got a great idea on your hands them lol and the giftcard to boot!!

[tenaciousglee]

Oh! Didn't realize you'd had them for so long. Sorry to hear that about the running-ness. You've got a great idea on your hands them lol and the giftcard to boot!!

Yeah, I guess I did make it sound like today was my first run in them. And I probably would stick with them longer if I wasn't so impressed with the Merrell shoes.

[tenaciousglee]

Week 4, Day 5 - Bodyweight

Jacknife Push-ups - 2 sets of 10

Pull-ups - 2 sets of 7 regular and 1 set of 5 wide grip

Assisted Pistol Squats - 2 sets of 5 each leg

Crunches - 30 & 27

Dips - 10 & 12

Bench Jumps - 2 sets of 10

[tenaciousglee]

Week 5, Day 2 - Slow Start to the Week

Chose sleep over workout yesterday morning with intention of working out after the kids were in bed last night.  (Didn't happen.)

 

This morning, I begrudgingly got up when the alarm went off and stumbled down to the man cave.  I decided to try yesterday's NF9 sandbag workout instead of today's banjo practice.  I warmed up and did my first set of 9 get-ups with a 35# sandbag.  Instead of moving on to lunges, I just laid on the floor and fell back asleep!  (I even used my sandbag as a pillow.)  I couldn't decide if I wanted to post this or not, but it was so ridiculous I couldn't keep it to myself...  

 

Time to start getting more sleep!

 

Tomorrow is my run day and I will do it.  I got some new shoes this weekend and I really want to try them out.

[tenaciousglee]

Week 5, Day 3 - Run and Arms

1 mile run on the treadmill @ 9:23 - started at 6 mph and bumped it up 0.1 mph every minute. Ran in my new Merrell Bare Access 2's.  Felt good!

 

YTWLI - 2 sets of 8 reps with 5# dumbbells

Push Press - 10 reps with 35# sandbag, 10 reps with 50# sandbag

Hammer Curl to Press - 25# dumbbells - 1st set 10 reps, 2nd set 7 reps

Reverse Drag Curl - 2 sets of 7 reps with 45# sandbag

 

So much for getting more sleep.  Stayed up till midnight and got up at 5.  This calls for 2 cups of coffee and a possible power nap at lunch.

[PippinPDX]

Nice workouts! Good luck with the more-sleep goal -- it's hard to make that happen with life being busy, and there's always coffee to wake up with. Maybe you can plan some extra rest over the weekend?

[tenaciousglee]

Nice workouts! Good luck with the more-sleep goal -- it's hard to make that happen with life being busy, and there's always coffee to wake up with. Maybe you can plan some extra rest over the weekend?

Thanks, Pip. I wish I could plan for extra rest on the weekends, but that's highly dependent on the napping habits of my 1 and 4 year olds.

I'm currently working on a plan to reduce the amount of time it takes me to get ready in the morning so I don't have to get up as early to fit in my workout.

[Librarian of Doom]

I must admit that I laughed a little bit about the falling asleep with the sandbag pillow thing. As someone with a 1 and 3-year-old, I feel your pain. 

 

I love my Merrells too, but my feet are just a bit too wide for them; my little toes keep wearing holes in them

[Chaze]

Week 5, Day 2 - Slow Start to the Week

Chose sleep over workout yesterday morning with intention of working out after the kids were in bed last night.  (Didn't happen.)

 

This morning, I begrudgingly got up when the alarm went off and stumbled down to the man cave.  I decided to try yesterday's NF9 sandbag workout instead of today's banjo practice.  I warmed up and did my first set of 9 get-ups with a 35# sandbag.  Instead of moving on to lunges, I just laid on the floor and fell back asleep!  (I even used my sandbag as a pillow.)  I couldn't decide if I wanted to post this or not, but it was so ridiculous I couldn't keep it to myself...  

 

Time to start getting more sleep!

 

Tomorrow is my run day and I will do it.  I got some new shoes this weekend and I really want to try them out.

That cracked me up.  It's really impressive that you even managed to get out of bed if you were that tired; I wouldn't have been able to.  I also have a 1 year old and a 3 year old, so this is me at work all of the time

 

[surge_supra]

I also laughed although I do not know the exhaustion that is paired with being a parent. I could totally imagine walking in and seeing you clutching the sandbag passed out.

 

Glad you did get the workout in and it was a good one!

[tenaciousglee]

Week 5, Day 5 - Bodyweight

 

Jacknife Push-ups - 2 x 10

Pull-ups - 1x8 regular, 1 x 5 wide grip

Assisted Pistol Squat - 2 x 5 

Crunch - 2 x 30

Dips - 2 x 10

Bench Jumps - 2 x 10

 

Weigh-in - down 0.2 lbs since last Friday, when I was down 0.8 lbs from the previous week.  I have lost 1 pound in the last two weeks of my "bulking" attempt!  I'm glad I have all my data compiled in that spreadsheet so I can hopefully figure out WTH happened there!  I think I may need to bump up my BMR or TDEE or whatever, because I even skipped a few workouts in the last two weeks.  I kept my calories up, so I thought that would have resulted in a weight gain. To the data!

[surge_supra]

Hmm...I'm no expert but I know sometimes when you're trying to lose weight you won't budge at all for like three weeks and then all of the sudden in the fourth or fifth week you lose like ten pounds. Maybe bulking is the same thing?

[tenaciousglee]

Hmm...I'm no expert but I know sometimes when you're trying to lose weight you won't budge at all for like three weeks and then all of the sudden in the fourth or fifth week you lose like ten pounds. Maybe bulking is the same thing?

 

Yeah... I don't know.  I looked over the numbers this weekend and they didn't make sense to me.  I have consistently averaged 3000-3100 calories all 5 weeks of this challenge with fairly similar workouts each week.  I gained 4 pounds in the first 3 weeks and lost a pound in the next 2 weeks.  My carb/fat/protein macro splits even remained within 1 percentage point of each other.  I haven't measured in a few weeks, so maybe that will help shed some light on the issue.

[tenaciousglee]

Week 6, Day 1 - Sandbag NF9s

1 circuit of 9x9 with 35# sandbag

 

It's amazing how much heavier a 35# sandbag feels than a 35# dumbbell.  This workout was tough, especially the Get-Ups and Man Makers.  I think I tweaked my right shoulder on the Man Makers.  I have been wearing a wrist brace on my left wrist this whole challenge because of some tendon strain or something, and I think I overcompensated for my left arm weakness while pressing the sandbag overhead during the Man Makers.  Another reminder that I'm not as young as I used to be...

[surge_supra]

Let us know how those measurements look! Sorry about your arm

[tenaciousglee]

Week 6, Day 3 - Low Intensity Steady State Cardio

 

Low Intensity Steady State sounds better than "walking".

 

30 minutes on the treadmill, at 2.5 mph walking uphill from 2 to 6 percent incline

 

Skipped any arm stuff this time.

[Librarian of Doom]

I sympathize with the shoulder issue; pretty sure I tweaked my shoulder doing keg carries last week. So of course we did Atlas stones this week Do what you have to do to heal. We're almost ready to wrap this challenge up!!!

[tenaciousglee]

Week 6, Day 5 - Cardio

 

20 minutes on the treadmill at 3 mph, 3 to 10 percent grade

 

Official weigh-in day - 161 lbs, up 4.4 lbs since January 2nd!  Still not sure why I went down for those 2 weeks.  

 

Final measurements and challenge wrap-up coming Monday.

[Librarian of Doom]

Maybe your body was just making some adjustments. Glad things are headed the way you want!!!

[tenaciousglee]

Challenge Wrap-Up

Goal 1 - Meal Plan for Weight Gain - I never did get a week-long meal plan together, but I definitely made strides as far as planning ahead. I consistently planned for breakfast by making some oatmeal breakfast bars over the weekend that I could eat during the week. Lunch and dinner weren't as consistent, so I'll give this a C and take 1/3 points. [+1 WIS, +1 CON]

Goal 2 - Compile Fitness Data - I was able to get all of my recorded calories and macros transferred from MyFitnessPal to a spreadsheet and then I played with it a bit to see where my macro splits fell. The data wasn't very enlightening, but I think it will prove to be helpful as I make future adjustments. I also have my body measurements in a separate spreadsheet and I think joining the data from those two will help me plan as well. An A for effort. [+3 WIS]

Goal 3 - UFO - Stayed pretty consistent with remembering to do this throughout the day, but I'm not sure if I made any improvements in the area I was targeting. Still I formed the habit, so partial credit. Grade C [+1 STA]

Goal 4 - Bass and Banjo Practice - I did great my first 3 weeks and then trailed off terribly. Instrument practice is just not a priority for me right now. I'll give myself another C for hitting 3 of 6 weeks. (And I did get a compliment on my banjo playing after church last night.) [+2 CHA]

Starting/Ending Measurements

Weight: 156.6 / 159.2 (+2.6 lbs) I somehow managed to lose 1.8# over the weekend. Super.

Neck: 14" / 14"

Shoulders: 46" / 45" (-1")

Chest: 38.5" / 38.5"

Biceps: 11.5" / 11" (-0.5")

Waist: 33" / 34.25" (+1.25")

Belly: 35.5" / 36.5" (+1")

Hips: 38.25" / 38.5" (+0.25")

Thigh: 21" / 21.5" (+0.5")

Calf 13.5" / 13.5"

So my "bulk" was a bust. I gained a couple of pounds, but it was all in my waist and belly. Planning to address that in the next challenge and get my BF% lower before I attempt my next bulk.

Thanks to all who followed along and commented. I appreciate the support!

[surge_supra]

Congratulations on completing the challenge! Sorry your bulk was a bust but you stuck to your guns for six weeks and got some results either way...I'd say that is outstanding.

[PippinPDX]

Great work finishing the challenge! It sounds like you've set up a good foundation for the next challenge. Congrats!

[Chaze]

Good job with this challenge. My bulk turned out very similar to yours in that I mostly put on weight where I didn't want it (expected) and not quite as much as I wanted everywhere else. I totally over did it though on the first few weeks which led to a lot of fat around the midsection and almost 10lbs total. At least you had some moderation, so very well done! 

[Librarian of Doom]

Good for you for sticking with your challenge and forming good habits!!! Sorry about the bulk not working as desired, but you did a great job setting yourself up for success by creating the habits you wanted to make!!!!!!