Challenge Accepted!

[m12lrv]

Ok, so I know the current challenge isn't officially over and tallied, but I wanted to set out some goals for myself, as I'll be joining the next challenge. Here are my big four:

 

1. Start each meal (yes, this includes breakfast) with

    -1 serving of fruits

    -1 serving of vegetables

    -8 oz of water

 

2. Do a back walk-over (this is my motivation for joining the Druids for this challenge)

 

3. Run/walk 10 miles a week

 

4. Build a resume

 

I know, this seems fairly simple, but I don't want to over-commit for this first challenge. Baby steps will work me into a new lifestyle rather than fad-dieting. And with my birthday being near the end of the challenge, I think I will combine the celebration with my level-up! Here's to living!

[stelmer]

Sounds like an awesome plan, high five to setting the challenge of a back walk-ver. That will be awesome.

[DaniRiekwel]

Nice plan! Never underestimate the power of small wins.

How do you plan on learning the back walkover? I want to learn one too

[m12lrv]

Dani, great question! This is a combination of strength and flexibility, and there are several steps that can be used to mark progress. I have to preface this with a mention of safety...do use mats, spotters, and lots of stretching in learning new exercises like this!

 

First thing...get your backbend down. Here is a page with a bunch of stretches. Once you can go into the "wheel" pose (a.k.a. "bridge") from the ground, stand with your back to a wall, a few steps out, and walk your hands down the wall into the pose. This mimics the motion for a backbend. As you progress, get further away from the wall until you can get into a backbend without a wall. This is where I currently am, so I'm moving onto the next step.

 

From there, I feel like there are three parts: flexibility, strength, and confidence. A back walkover is easier to do if your hands are closer to your legs, so when in your backbend, push with your legs to stretch your back, pushing your stomach towards the sky. Work on minimizing the distance between your hands and feet. This is the flexibility aspect.

 

With regards to strength, there are several target areas. From a backbend position, do single leg lifts. Work to lift your leg high and hold it. This is also great for working into standing splits. Also, like mentioned before, push with your legs. You can hold or pulse this (slowly, don't bounce). Calf raises in this position are good as well. Also, work your arms by lowering in and out of this, as if you were doing pushups.

 

Finally, confidence. Start by facing a wall and doing handstands against it. Pay attention to what it feels like coming down. Next, lay on your back on a bed, hands on the floor "above" your head. Simulate a back walkover from this position. I see the next step as standing facing the wall. Do a backbend, then walk your feet up the wall to kick over. 

 

And just so you're aware, this is NOT a plan developed by an expert, it's just something I put together. I also plan on going to an "open gym" when I get the chance to work on this with a coach. In the meantime, do you want to be my virtual training buddy for this endeavor? If so, where are you at in the process? Can you do a bridge from laying on the ground?

[DaniRiekwel]

I can do a back bend from the ground, before I got pregnant I could go from standing into back bend and pull myself back up. I used to face the wall, back bend, then walk my legs up the wall to flip myself over. I tried to get my legs over without the wall but never could

I don't think my stomach muscles are quite there yet to accomplish this, but I will definitely work on those exercises with you!

[Chanda]

Welcome to the Druids!

Love your goals and I look forward to following your progress with the back walk over.

I would recommend drinking the water 15 to 20min before the meal. Generally having a lot to drink during a meal can impair digestion. I know drinking water just before a meal is a trick often used by dieters. However, for good health, its best to drink ahead of the meal. Having said that, I do usually drink 1 glass of water with each meal.

[Sunmage]

Welcome here!

I had to lookup these backwalks. Terryfying! But Awesome!

Good luck with that... I will try yoga for flexibility this time, too!

Have much fun and success here!

=)

[I am Eve]

Simplicity rocks, welcome to the druids!

[marieclare]

Hello!  I'm going the "baby steps" route, too.  I love your back walkover goal...I might have to steal that one for the next challenge. 

[m12lrv]

In looking at all the amazing recipes I have in my collection (as well as a bundle of them I've found this past week online), I've decided to alter my plan just slightly. I'm going to take Chanda's advice and have the glass of water a bit before my meal, then give it 20-ish (maybe 30) minutes to settle, which is about how long it takes to cook most meals. I also have decided not to necessarily start with a full serving of both fruits and vegetables prior to every meal, but to at least incorporate them into the meal. That having been said, my lunch today was a little low on veggies and completely lacking in fruits. What a way to start a challenge, eh!? But I went to the grocery store tonight and bought a few things so tomorrow can be different. 

 

The other change I have decided to make is to the miles per week. I have found room in my budget to join a studio locally that offers a TON of fitness classes at an incredible price! I am going to take advantage of doing what I enjoy in order to find my fit body underneath these layers of chub. So the alteration is as follows: one hour in the studio will remove one mile from my mileage requirement. Yes, I realize that's not a perfect trade, but it will work for me. And that's what this is all about, right!?

[Wandern]

Until she was well into her 60s my grandmother could go into a backbend, pick up a handkerchief on the floor behind her with her teeth and come back up with it. She taught second grade and would do it in front of her class to teach the kids that even "old" people could still do cool stuff. Then one day she got stuck in the backbend and had to send a kid down the hall to find another teacher to rescue her. Anyway, that's what I think of when I think of backbends. Never could do one myself, but love the idea of it as a challenge :-)

 

Finding $$ in the budget is a lovely thing! Have fun with those classes! 

 

Wait - you found something - quick, go log it on this week's mini-challenge!

[m12lrv]

Your grandmother sounds like an amazing woman! My mom told me her grandmother was the one that got down on the floor and taught her how to do a somersault. I hope I am fortunate enough in life to be a healthy old lady someday!

 

I did find something! In fact, I did laundry tonight and paired all the socks...I will have to post a pic of my final "pairing"

[Maris Stella]

Hey m12lrv! How's it going?? Any progress on the back walk-over?

[Chanda]

Hi m12lrv! How are things going? Hope to hear from you ...