Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Artinum

[Artinum]

Name: Andrew Williams
Callsign: Artinum
Race: Asparagus

 

My last challenge went rather well. Exercise suffered a little from a shift in routine, but I lost seven pounds in five weeks and my belly is looking a little slimmer than it was. All good!

 

And yet... I am not happy. I feel I've got stuck. I'm running every Monday evening, but it's the same run. I'm maintaining my blog, but I'm not sure how to increase my readership. I'm just about keeping up my bodyweight workouts, but they haven't changed in a long time.

 

So I'm pushing for change. Running is easy - I've joined a running group at work, which is pushing me in new and interesting ways and adds a vital social dimension to an otherwise lonely hobby. And I've now started reading though the Rebel Running Guide, which I'm hoping will provide new ideas and inspiration to take it further.

 

THE QUEST - break out of my comfort zone. I've settled into a routine, and I need to change that. I need to grow and improve, not just maintain. I am going to give the Rebel Running Guide a good go and see what happens.

 

OBJECTIVE 1 - Work out a new workout (1 DEX, 1 STA, 2 STR)

 

The bodyweight circuits have lasted me a long time, but are they enough? My pull-ups have stopped recently, too. How can I push harder on these workouts to make them tougher and make me stronger? It may be time to change. I've had a look at the Rebel Running Guide, and some of these exercises I have never heard of.

 

Aim - adopt a new strength training workout routine from the Rebel Running Guide. It may take me a while to get it all figured out, but I hope to have made it stick by the end of the challenge!

 

OBJECTIVE 2 - Cool runnings (2 STA, 2 CON)

 

I've got a little stuck on how to improve. It's time I took on a new running plan! I'm not sure where I fit on the scale and I think the only way I'll find out is by trying it. I am unfamiliar with many elements of the plan and need to see how I get on. I can go up a level if needed.

 

Aim - follow the Rebel Running Guide's level 2 workout plan (Recruit). Aim is to do the first six weeks, but I'll need to assess my level as I go along and this goal may change. I'm also going to be limited somewhat by Thursday's running fitness sessions at work and will need to factor those in.

 

OBJECTIVE 3 - Diet another day (4 CON)
 

The diet went well. My abs are still not visible, but I'm well on the way. Now it's time to do something about my eating habits - maintain what I have, but eat cleaner and get stronger. I don't plan to go full paleo, as this is likely to be at least expensive and most probably impossible. But I do intend to eat better.

 

Aim - At least four days a week I hope to eat well. Conditions for eating well are:
1. Diet consisting of 80% fruit, vegetables, meat and other paleo items (though I will also allow milk and cheese).
2. Net calories to be between 1800-2000 (after workouts/etc).
3. Protein to be at least 120g.

 

LIFE GOAL - Promotion (1 WIS, 2 CHA)

 

My blog needs more eyes looking at it. To this end, I need to start promoting it more - by getting myself out there more, attracting more attention. I also need to up my game. I'm writing good posts, but they need to be better. Again, I've fallen into comfortable. I need to push harder. But that's outside the scope of this challenge (how would I measure it, anyway?).

 

Aim - promote blog by networking with other bloggers. Seek out and comment on five new blogs every week, preferably related in some way to self improvement. (Not begging for attention, but an attempt to interact with them!)

[18ck]

Asparagus? I hope replying to this thread doesn't make my wee smell funny.

Anyway, this looks like a good shake - up challenge to keep things from getting stale, and that has to be a good thing. Good luck with it.

[Artinum]

Oh dear. Things are not getting off on the right foot. A second week off would be so helpful! I've been suspicious about it all weekend, and now I think it's true - I have contracted the office cold. Symptoms are currently a sore throat and a general lack of energy, though I'm also sneezing a lot more than usual. Things will probably get less pleasant soon enough.

 

Today is technically my first workout day - a warm-up, a gentle walk/run combo, and then a core workout. I'm not sure it's wise for me to push too hard. Besides this, my partner's evening is all over the place and I'm having to fit around it, so I may not even have a suitable time for it! However, I'm all for doing something when I can't do what I intended, and this evening I have been watching the various videos of the warm up routine. I've never heard of most of these. They all seem quite simple (not necessarily easy - I don't think I'm even stretchy enough for scorpions!) and the hard part will be getting the whole lot together. Assuming I have any time and energy later on, I will attempt the warm up tonight. Workouts and walks and such be damned; getting this much down will be challenge enough.

 

In other news - breakfast this morning was half a gala melon (my partner's treat from last night, which he declared inedible - gala melons are hard work to get into. Honeydew is much nicer...) and lunch was a trip to the salad bar. Cheese was the only non-paleo item in there, and I'm allowing that. But dinner is a potato bake, which is decidedly unpaleo. I may have to adjust my conditions for my diet goal as dinners are routinely going to be a problem for me.

 

Last night saw me finishing off the rewrite of my interview course in a final splurge. Hurrah! Next I want to get some feedback on both courses, but blog promotion is the priority now.

[Artinum]

After yesterday's dinner I felt a bit nauseous (a lot more so this morning, but it passed). So no warm up last night.

 

I have instead done the warm-up today. I don't have time tonight to do a lot even if I had the stamina for it, so I'm pleased with what I managed. Ironically, my unintentional "rest day" yesterday has shunted the weekly pattern of the Rebel Running Guide workout back to how it was.

 

Diet today has, however, been pretty abysmal. Vegetable soup for lunch was a good choice. I skipped breakfast, however, due to nausea more than anything else - and when I felt the need for food at work, the porridge oats I was hoping for had already been cleared away ready for lunch stuff. So I bought a flapjack (an oaty, syrupy bar, not an American pancake, but equally unhealthy). I also succumbed to a couple of chocolate biscuits on my way out as it's been a stressful day at work!

 

Tonight's meal is unknown and likely to be pub or fast food. Tomorrow we return to something resembling normal. In the meantime, I'll just have to do  the best I can in the circumstances.

[Artinum]

Yesterday started badly, and ended terribly. My partner had a rough day at work and in the end didn't even get food - which, to be honest, is his own fault. He got fed up waiting around at the talk we went to and wandered off for 45 minutes, plenty of time for him to get something to eat. I grabbed some chips at the venue - not healthy, but quick and simple, and options were very limited.

 

So the evening ended with him saying he didn't want anything to do with me and going to bed in the spare room. It was just me and the cat during the night. I haven't even seen him since (he's napping in the bedroom at the moment). I've been dreading coming home from work as I hate big emotional scenes.

 

I have no idea what dinner will involve. I think my eating goal has not only gone out the window but plummeted several stories already. But I did press on with my exercise program. The Rebel Running Guide has today down as "gym workout". I don't have a gym, but I do have the beginner bodyweight. Only managed two circuits before my stomach warned me that further exertion might lead to vomit. I think the stress I'm under has made my routine more intense.

 

Tonight - one way or another - there will be a confrontation. I'm not sure whether things will resolve or not, but either way I'll at least know where we stand.

[shortstuff]

Oh no! It doesn't sound like you had a good day yesterday. I'm sorry to it, but hopefully things will work out for the better how ever they end up

[Batwoman]

I hope things have worked out okay for you Atrinum. I too dread confrontation especially with those I hold dearest to me.

 

**hugs**

[Artinum]

It seems he's giving me the silent treatment. Separate meals last night, and looks like it will be again tonight. Not sure if he'll hold out for Friday, usually pizza night, but I can't see him cooking one for himself. I've made a few gentle efforts at engaging in conversation. It's up to him to grow up and actually talk to me. I'm not even sure what he's angry about - or if he is now.

 

Tonight is a warmup/run/walk/workout day on the RRG. I'm not doing it - and probably won't for any Thursday for a while yet. Lunchtime today saw me attending another running fitness group session at work - in the cold and rain. Numbers were down by about a third, which sort of shows which of us are particularly keen (or mad). Today we ran 400m-ish circuits on the field, with 45s break between each lap and two minutes between each set of four. I did four sets in total. I made it through with stitches and borderline dizziness by the end, and I'm definitely the slowest in that group (but far too proud to join the other group, running 300m laps and much less fit than I am). Hey, I'm a distance runner, not a sprinter.

 

It's proving a good exertion for me, though. A chance to socialise, an excuse to push myself harder and something a bit different from my standard runs. And probably somewhat more advanced than the equivalent in level 2 of the RRG, so I'm winning there...

[german]

Sorry for the bumpy start and the relationship issues, but glad to know your running group is fun and challenging, to be the slowest one on the fast group is a lot better than to be the fast guy of the slow bunch, IMHO, and perfectly in line with your "out-of-the-comfort-zone" philosophy.

 

Also, FWIW, I enjoy reading (most of) your blog posts.

[Artinum]

Communications are being restored, though I'm not sure how effective they are yet. My lunch time text message asking what he'd like for dinner seemingly went unanswered by the time I got home, but it turns out his response merely didn't come through. We ate together tonight, the bad news being that this involved the chip shop, though I've given up on eating healthily for the time being. Plenty of time to work on that later.

 

And we've watched something together tonight! Doctor Who - "Planet of the Dead". I'd forgotten how fun this episode was.

[Gyro]

Hey Artinum - that's really exciting about you switching up your routine.. change is good! That is one of the few tidbits I gleaned from Dr Phil's exercise book many years ago.. to avoid staying in a rut in your workout routine.

 

Ah, Doctor Who! I met 2nd Doctor companion Frazer Hines at my local comiccon last week! Planet of the Dead is a really fun episode. I can hardly wait for the 50th anniversary special!

 

For intimate relationships, I think it's so essential to patch things up before hitting the hay.. if at all possible..

[Artinum]

No posts yesterday as it was a rest day. I needed it!

Today has been less productive than I'd like. I did eventually get around to the warm-up for today's session, but that's all. On the positive side, I did so faster and more confidently than last time. And I mostly ate well, though this evening was a bit rushed and ended up involving fast food. But not too much of it.

 

Must get on with blog. Monday's post has not gone well, but this evening's trip to the theatre - a very positive night out with partner, so things are getting better again - has inspired me to write something else. Something better. I'll think about the other idea another time and see what I can do with it. Half-finished ideas are always useful if I have a dry spell.

[Artinum]

Should have been a workout day. Hasn't happened. I am cross with myself and will make up for it tomorrow (which should be a rest day - I'm swapping them).

[Batwoman]

Nobody is perfect. Just get back on that horse and RIDE!

[Artinum]

Phew! Instead of running tonight, I've got through three bodyweight circuits. Dead now. I also attempted some chin-ups this morning at work, but only managed a few. I'm out of touch on those.

 

Eaten pretty well today - the bread and butter for breakfast was definitely NOT paleo, and I succumbed to a couple of sweet treats at work, but one thoughtful lady brought in soft, sweet plums. I ate three. Tonight - garlic-sprinkled roast chicken breast with a tin of peas. Mmmm....

 

And I've done the unbelievable. I actually did something with my novel... for the first time in I dread to think how long. It's probably forgotten who I am.

[18ck]

Blimey. Maybe you need emotional turmoil to get your creative juices going. Perhaps pick a big fight and see if you can make it a trilogy?

Srsly though, and chippy aside, it sounds like to you are doing ok with the goals, and all relationships have their rough patches, so - and I'm sorry I'm about to use a cliché - hang in there!

[Artinum]

Today's schedule - warm up, then a walk/run session followed by four strides, then a core workout.

 

Actually done - most of it, I'm pleased to say. The return home of my partner interrupted the workout at the end, but I think I've done quite well. I was dreading the strides but they actually seem rather pleasant.

[Artinum]

According to the schedule, today is gym day. I ain't gonna.

1. I switcherooed the last rest day, so I've already worked out an extra day than intended.

2. I have an ache in my right upper thigh - not serious, but it's been there a few days now and I don't want to overdo it.

3. Tomorrow is running fitness group. I want to retain some energy for that!

 

So I'm taking today off. My life seems unable to work to a schedule anyway...

[Artinum]

Running group attended. Aaargh aaargh aaargh. I ache.

My leg is still aching; it calmed down overnight but today's exertions have got it singing a little louder than before.

 

Now I'm just chillin' with a cup of tea before I start dinner. Happy sigh...

[Artinum]

Yesterday was a rest day, so no reports. Today I have a run/etc to do, which will be later this afternoon. For now, I just wanted to mention that I've made some progress with my life goal, posting comments on about 5-6 blogs (I lost count!). Must press on - lots to do!

 

EDIT: Nope, no exercise. Partner and I are going for a walk shortly, though. Main reason? My back and leg have been grumbly lately. I'm letting them rest.

[Artinum]

Gym day today - insofar as my gym is my kitchen. Three sets of bodyweight circuits completed despite the best efforts of the cat to distract me. Tired now.

 

I'm pleased to note that my jeans are feeling loose. I think I need to make a new hole in my belt. It's actually possible for me to take these jeans off now without undoing them! Hmm, I wonder if I'll ever find a use for that...?

[Gyro]

And I've done the unbelievable. I actually did something with my novel... for the first time in I dread to think how long. It's probably forgotten who I am.

 

Congrats, Arty!

[Artinum]

Week 2 summary

 

New workouts:
Going well. I've learned a lot of new moves from this guide, and I've now sussed the warmup. The post-run core workouts have still not been roadtested. Must do better!

 

Running:
My Thursday sessions continue. Otherwise, running has sort of taken a step back - I'm no longer doing my three mile runs, in favour of shorter walk/runs from the programme. I may have to just say "to hell with it" and go running one evening - this may be my best approach with regards to the Doctor Who themed run, anyway.

 

Diet:
Not going well at all. This was a poor objective for me - if I'd had more time to think about it, I'd have picked something better than this. Between my limited local resources and my "normal" eating partner, there's no way I can do this. On the plus side, I am generally keeping within sensible calorie counts to maintain my weight and getting plenty of protein - and where vegetables are a possibility, I'm making full use of them.

 

Blog Promotion:
Week one got off to a slow start with only two comments left. This week I went on a splurge, leaving about five or six. I've had a number of page views since then and one or two new followers, so it looks like it may be working! I'm also looking into PHP to try and figure out how to host my own site rather than use the main one. I apparently need a database. Hmmm.

[Artinum]

No exercise yesterday. It was technically a rest day anyway. But still no enthusiasm today - I've hit one of my low moods. The past few days have been pretty melancholic. Potentially good news in that today I'm not just depressed but irritable - is this a sign that I'm moving up again? I can only hope so.

 

I've been looking into self-hosting for my blog, in order to play with the theme and get it looking half decent. This involves PHP, which I know very little about, and I've found the whole thing baffling so far. Once I have a bit more oomph, I'll try some experiments. Probably not tonight.

[Artinum]

Enthusiasm is building again. Today I decided on my way home from a (dull and irritating) day at work that I'd go running tonight. Not a long or fast run, just a run for the sake of running. I think it turned out to be about a mile and a half in the end.

 

I don't want to push too hard given that I have the running fitness session tomorrow!

 

I'm a long way from normal at the moment, but things are getting easier. All I need now are a few days of steady progress and I'll hit the weekend with energy and motivation.