Nuala: "Oh right, I'm supposed to write my challenge too"

[Nuala]

As you may have noticed, I totally gave up the previous challenge, holidays at my parents (cheese! pastis! more cheese!) then sick for one week than had the most ridiculous sugar cravings when I was feeling a little better. Well, yeah, let's not speak about it ever again ^^

 

Let's face it, I'm still kinda overwhelmed. And even more than ever, so my challenge this time will be simple:

 

 

And that's all. I'm not a leopard obviously because I'm a robot. And my creators apparently forgot to give me enough joins or maybe I forgot to oil them. Not really sure. So, my challenge will be self study. I have the book, I'll read it, so the tests, pick some exercises, do more tests and more exercises. And do some daily report, with cookie points if I add some pictures and video. 

 

I have to admit that the "resolving pain and preventing injury" subtitle sounds dreamy, because my body tend to hurt, before it was my back, now my right shoulder... being pain free sounds so nice...

 

So, IF  and only IF I manage to make this self study an habit, I will allow myself to add a second goal during week #3 or week #4. But only IF it became a real habit. Else: just keep trying and DON'T ADD ANYTHING NEW FFS! Seriously, I'm already overloaded with work and things to do so, one goal only. One. Only.

 

Measurements (just because)

Weight       : 51kg

Biceps       : 

Tight         : 51 cm

Waist        : 68 cm

Shoulders : 96 cm

Hips          : 88 cm

Chest        : 88cm

 

And because it's been a while:

A few bouldering video

https://plus.google.com/photos/108480292517047016938/albums/5884990217641754993?authkey=CL3xxJeH6Nu84gE

 

#1: Half tunnel. I missed the last move! Rage!!

#2 Tunnel part one: I was confused on where to put my feet... And thus, failed

#3 Tunnel part two. Started at the checkpoint. Still confused with my feet and I didn't took enough rest while starting from the resting point. Thus my left arm failed me (and it hurt quite a bit)

#4 Tunnel part three: final part of the tunnel. I just messed up the last move. Graaaah.

 

So technically, I can finish the tunnel, I need to learn to rest more if I want to be able to do so.. :x Here we go, let's try not to give up this time!

[OrangeJorwell]

I figured you were too busy being Super Leader to write up your own. Your challenge reminds me a lot of my mantra at work: KISS (keep it simple, stupid!). It's a lot easier to fix the one thing that's really wrong if you aren't concentrating on all of the little stuff trying to force its way in. Best of luck and we'll all be cheering you on! Also, good job on the bouldering! Even if you don't have it down pat.

[Wolverine]

 

Robots can be cats too!

[Aeryn]

Go robot go! Love the laser-focused challenge, looking forward to seeing what you think of the book!

[Church]

Great challenge. I like how simple it is and I sincerely hope you rock this b*tch

 

Robots can be cats too!

I think that should technically be Gundam Cat. Just sayin'...

[Elastigirl]

Love the bouldering vid's. It is so fun to see how much you've improved. hanging upside down, climbing around corners, all sorts of epic awesomeness

[Effie_]

Just stopping by to say I LOVE your name. It's on my short list for future children, even!

[chris_de_maas]

Love your challenge, oh Great Mistress of Pain!

[KB Girl]

Love the video's, damn you're hanging upside down half the time! Must take a lot of grip strength. Very cool.

 

Also wanted to drop by to say I think it's pretty awesome/great how you post on everyone's thread and connect ppl together by their goals and pvp challenges

[OrangeJorwell]

Also wanted to drop by to say I think it's pretty awesome/great how you post on everyone's thread and connect ppl together by their goals and pvp challenges

This. I'm continually super impressed by the things you come up with to do for the guild. Thank you.

[Norgaard]

Love to see you stepped down on the amount of challenges and listen to yourself instead!.

 

Im sure you are going to do great! just keep climbing

[Nuala]

Love the video's, damn you're hanging upside down half the time! Must take a lot of grip strength. Very cool.

 

Also wanted to drop by to say I think it's pretty awesome/great how you post on everyone's thread and connect ppl together by their goals and pvp challenges

 

The holds are very good, so it's not "that" painful. My biggest problem is definitely my feet. I can't seems to place them right.  By the way, I finally managed to have my BF take a picture of my back bend!

 

Back in November:

 

 

3 days ago:

 

Yay progresses! But not enough to try a stand to full back bend. 

 

And thanks

 

This. I'm continually super impressed by the things you come up with to do for the guild. Thank you.

 

I love all of you, so of course I will do my best to make the most awesome guild even more awesome! 

[obax]

Love the simplicity of your challenge. I'm very interested to see how it goes, I'm interested in that book but haven't been able to justify the cost yet, I need to hear more about it.

 

Also, those bouldering videos are super impressive! I've got a long way to go... Did you get to this point just by bouldering regularly, or did you train specifically for the strength/technique needed?

[KB Girl]

That's really good progress! You're right, it's not enough just yet but if you'll get there if you want to I guess hands need to be under shoulders somewhat. 

You can actually see in the video you're struggling to place your feet, which only seems harder on your grip from where I'm standing. But I suppose that's just practice?

[Nuala]

Supple leopard first study: the bracing position. 

 

Aka: your posture sucks, go put a dictionary on your head. The bracing position is intended to be your normal posture, your spine in a neutral position, head and shoulders resting. So, let's play the 7 differences:

 

Before bracing: 

 

After bracing:

 

From this exercise, I can see that: 

- I don't keep my feet parallel. My right foot is always turned to the outside.

- My back is overextended

- My whole body is leaning forward putting most of my weight on my toes

- My waistline really need to decrease >_>

- Even after bracing, my posture is not perfect. I need to work on that!

 

The bracing sequence is basically: 

- Squeeze your but as much as possible

- Align the rib-cage and the pelvis

- Get the belly tight (need to work on this one >_>)

- Set head and shoulder in neutral position. 

 

Tonight exercise was keeping the posture for at least 5 minutes. It's really hard to keep that posture for that long. I had my BF check my posture and concluded that when I'm in a braced position:

- I feel that my right foot is leaning inside while it's perfectly parallel.

- I feel like my left foot is a little backward while it's not

- My left quad must be really flexed to keep the posture

- Same for the posterior side of my right leg and its knee

- My butt is definitely lazy, it's the first to give up.

 

I'll try to do the bracing sequence as much as possible during the day and try to make it my natural position. For now it just feel really awkward 

 

@Obax: mostly bouldering I suppose. Sometimes I do a little strength training, like pullups or pushups but most of my training is done while climbing.

 

@KBgirl: it's 2 things actually. 1 my core is not strong enough to keep my fees firmly in place . 2 is mostly because I messed up my feet placements. And dancing feet makes it harder on the arms and grip. But I have build quite a lot of strength in my arms because of that Still, it's bad! I need to work on my core and my feet position. So, yes. Practice practice and more practice

[Church]

I have similar postural issues. I feel like I'm out of whack when I'm not, and I feel fine when I'm a little out. Lol.

[OrangeJorwell]

That is quite some progress on your bridge.  And I'm working my way to the braced position and whenever I try it I feel really weird, but seeing the difference for you makes me want to do pictures as well to see the difference and see if it looks better than it feels like it looks. Also, do you do anything to improve your grip for bouldering, or is it just practical training?

[obax]

@Obax: mostly bouldering I suppose. Sometimes I do a little strength training, like pullups or pushups but most of my training is done while climbing.

 

 

Ah, good, that give me hope.

 

It's amazing the difference with the bracing position. My posture is horrible, I'm glad you wrote all that out. I'll have to give it a try as part of my mobility stuff tomorrow.

[alienjenn]

interested in seeing how this goes

[Nuala]

Yesterday and today, I have tried to focus on my everyday posture. Not so fun fact, even keeping my feet parallel is difficult. I really feel it in my lower back when I try.

 

So my goal these two days was to keep a braced posture when cooking and playing violin. I noticed quickly that when I'm not careful I lean my weight on my left leg. Like 70% / 30 %. Sometimes even more. Keeping a braced posture requires a lot of concentration as my feet are tilting, I'm leaning left and I'm slouching after 10-15 seconds >_> But the challenge is also about building good habits. No more crossing legs when I sit is also something I should really do. Right now I'm reading about how to keep a braced posture when sitting (aka: half of my time ) and how to get-up, sit down. From the test (p 84) I can see I have a "Knee forward fault", I don't keep my shins vertical when I stand up nor when I squat. 

 

*note to self: take a video of me standing-up/sitting down to evaluate my future progress*

[Elastigirl]

Interesting stuff. Technically, I know what good posture is, but I never remember to practice it. Good stuff. I'm interested to see how your body feels after you've been focusing on it for a while

[Nuala]

For now, it feels awful. My back don't like standing straighter apparently, my quads are not happy either. It makes me realize how weak and uneven my lower body is. I'm curious to know why I tend to put all my weight on my left leg, to compensate something.. But what?

[OrangeJorwell]

I'm reading your challenge and knowing that I'm going to have to deal with this stuff over the next couple of weeks, once I get to that point. And as I read I'm thinking, "Yup, do that, do that, definitely do that..." So I feel you on how hard it is to keep everything proper, and I'm starting small. The bright side is that you'll have amazing posture and significantly better posture by the end of this challenge.

[Nymeria]

I love the bouldering videos!  You have some really impressive arm and shoulder musculature going on, and you're so much better than I am with not letting your feet slip off of the wall on the overhanging stuff.   I'm pretty jealous of your gym.   At mine, the only full arch/undercling part is at the top of a top rope route, which means I either have to rope in ;( or I have to do without.

 

Also, great job with the bridge progress!  You've come a long way already with it.

[lyranedara]

Amazing bridge progress!

BASL just arrived for me, so I'll be keeping a close eye on your challenge. I haven't read through very far yet, but if it's anything like the site, I know I won't regret it. I can never thank you enough for that mini challenge!