RiotInferno Upgrades his lifestyle

[RiotInferno]

Challenge Time!

 

In the last challenge, I became self-aware. I learned a lot about myself, and so I'm working on some of my blind spots.

• I have 2 roll-overs from the last challenge. 
  • Quit Smoking. Seriously.
  • Schedule my check-ups with the various guys I listed last time.
    • This has real consequences. If I don't get my yearly physical by the end of June, I won't qualify for my work's reduced health-care premiums.
    • ( +2 Con, +2 Wis )

And the new stuff:

• Keep on working out. Specifically, work on my L-Sits. At the end of the challenge, I'd like to be able to at least do a full one, even if it's only for 5 seconds. I'll settle for being able to hold a tuck for 20s though.
  • ( +2 Str, +2 Dex, +1 Sta )
• Couch to 5k. Run 3 times a week, preferably with my wife. For this to be successful, I'll have completed 5 weeks of the 9-week course by the end of this challenge.
  • ( +2 Sta, +1 Dex )
• ​Read More Books! I will read 3 books by the end of the challenge. 300-500 pages, preferably. If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to let me know!
  • ( +1 Wis, +1 Cha )

[RiotInferno]

Also, I'm super excited that my wife joined NF for this challenge!
She joined the Adventurers, so we're half-way there!
 
If you'd like, head over to her challenge page and say Hi! to Tyrannosaurus Rae

[Elastigirl]

Looks like a good challenge. This time you will kick the smoking habit. I'll pop over and say hi to your wife, glad she joined the Rebellion

[RiotInferno]

This week has been a bit of a slow start.

I got a cold on Sunday, and have been dragging feet since then.

I was back to work today, so I'm on the upswing.

I hope to kick it tomorrow, so I can exercise Thursday and go jogging on Friday.

[RiotInferno]

Started feeling worse last night, so I went to the doctor this morning. Apparently I have bronchitis.

My doctor thinks I should be clear by Monday.

I want to work out, not be sick!

[RiotInferno]

I'm back! Sorry for the disappearance, things have been crazy.

I'm healthy again, which means I only lost 2 weeks of work-outs. Time to get back on the horse and destroy the rest of the this challenge.

 

I don't know how much exercise it qualifies for, but I spent Sat. afternoon walking the fence line of a pasture, fixing and modifying the electric fence as necessary. It was really just like a 3-hour hike.

[Rooks]

Good luck my man!  4 weeks is better then no weeks.  Time to bring the thunder!  Subbed!

[vengefulpear]

Hi Riotinferno! Great goals and well done on jumping back in as soon as you could!

I'd be happy to recommend some books, what sort of thing are you into?

[RiotInferno]

Good luck my man!  4 weeks is better then no weeks.  Time to bring the thunder!  Subbed!

 

Thanks! 4 weeks IS better than no weeks.

 

Hi Riotinferno! Great goals and well done on jumping back in as soon as you could!

I'd be happy to recommend some books, what sort of thing are you into?

 

Reading is one of the goals I was able to work on while I was sick.

I've been reading some classic Sci-Fi. I tore through Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead, and am working through Xenocide right now.

I'm partial to Lovecraft, Sci-Fi, cyberpunk, urban fantasy and some classic fantasy. Although I've had the latest Game of Thrones book for a year and a half and still haven't finished it.

I also really like JD Salinger, but classic general fiction isn't something I read a lot of. Most of it is genre-specific fiction.

[vengefulpear]

I really enjoyed reading up on some Conan for classic fantasy, and there's a really good sci-fi book called Ready Player One by Ernest Cline if you've not read that. 

 

And for urban fantasy I keep getting recommended RIvers of London although I've not read it it's definitely on my to read list

[RiotInferno]

Okay! Workout report.

It occurred to me after my workout that this was the first workout I'd had in three weeks. One week off between challenges, and then 2 weeks out being sick.

 

So, I hit it back hard:

 

Pistol Squats: 8/8/8 - I don't have full range of motion, but I work at going deeper each time.

L-Sits: 5 sec x10 - I'm not doing full L-Sits. I'm lifting myself up on my rings, and bringing my legs into a tuck position. I'm working towards full L-Sits.

Diamond Push-ups: 8/8/8

Pull-Ups: 5/5/4

Hollow-Body Hold: 10 sec x 6 - I still can't get a full extensions, but I've found that if I close my eyes and just extend until "I can feel it", I worry less about how far I'm extended.

 

After all that, and a brief cool-down, TyrannosaurusRae and I went and did day 1 of Couch to 5k.  So a 5 minute warm up, then alternating 90 sec walk / 60 sec jog for 20 minutes, and 5 minute cool down.

 

The C25k totally kicked my rear though, in a good way.

[RiotInferno]

I really enjoyed reading up on some Conan for classic fantasy, and there's a really good sci-fi book called Ready Player One by Ernest Cline if you've not read that. 

 

And for urban fantasy I keep getting recommended RIvers of London although I've not read it it's definitely on my to read list

Conan has always floated around near my list. Robert E. Howard was a contemporary of Lovecraft (if I remember correctly), and I tend to enjoy writing from that time period.

 

The synopsis of Rivers of London seems genre-similar to The Dresden Files, which has also been recommended.

 

I'll look into them!

[vengefulpear]

Ah yes! I did think to suggest the Dresden Files (it is a very enjoyable series) but i thought I'd try for something slightly different

[RiotInferno]

It's been a few weeks, sorry about that guys, life has been crazy!

Here's a small update:

 

Quit Smoking - Done! I'm 4 days in, and starting to feel great!

Schedule my Check-ups - Done! The Doc says I'm super-healthy, and I'm waiting on the results from my X-Rays.

Read More - Doing! I finally finished the first 3 books in the Ender's Saga (Xenocide took forever)

 

My workouts / running have definitely suffered from being busy, but I hope to end this week strongly.

I had a mini-vacation over the weekend, and was very active (walking, etc), and can definitely tell that it's easier to do that. I tire less easily, and I'm not nearly as winded.

 

I'm still not that great at meeting all my challenge goals, but I'm definitely getting better.

[Elastigirl]

Grats on the the things. No smoking-woot! And being able to do more without getting tired-woot!

 

Right now I am reading Speaker For the Dead So far I am enjoying it

[RiotInferno]

Grats on the the things. No smoking-woot! And being able to do more without getting tired-woot!

 

Right now I am reading Speaker For the Dead So far I am enjoying it

 

I don't know if I'm in the minority here or not, but for as much as I enjoy Ender's Game, I really enjoyed Speaker and Xenocide more. They seem more philosophical, and that appeals to me more. That being said, there's no real way they can make it into a movie, so we'll just have to enjoy Ender's Game on the big screen.

[RiotInferno]

The Wrap-Up:

 

I failed miserably at my fitness-related goals, but rocked the others.

Here we go:

• Roll-overs from the last challenge 
  • A - Done! +2 Con, +2 Wis - Currently 11 days smoke free

• Keep on working out. Specifically, work on my L-Sits. At the end of the challenge, I'd like to be able to at least do a full one, even if it's only for 5 seconds. I'll settle for being able to hold a tuck for 20s though.
  • F - I had bronchitis for 2 weeks, worked out maybe 4 times, then clutter took over my basement work-out space )
• Couch to 5k. Run 3 times a week, preferably with my wife. For this to be successful, I'll have completed 5 weeks of the 9-week course by the end of this challenge.
  • ​F - I got to day 2, and then our summer humidity hit and I got lazy )
• ​Read More Books! I will read 3 books by the end of the challenge. 
  • ​A - +1 Wis, +1 Cha    - Ender's Game / Speaker for the Dead / Xenocide.  I really enjoyed the last two.