Sam[balina] just wants to have fu-un!

[Blaidd]

mmmm i discovered awesomeness of persimmons recently too - they're especially nice grilled

[Kim Taura]

You know, your breakfast sounds yummy. I may have to incorporate it!

[Sambalina]

Persimmons are so gewd!

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

 

 

Ooh, I just bought persimmons for the first time on Saturday, too! Whatcha gonna do with 'em? Just eat them out of hand, or ??

 

 

I'm not sure I've ever had a persimmon... What are they like.

 

Also keep up the awesomeness!

 

 

mmmm i discovered awesomeness of persimmons recently too - they're especially nice grilled

 

Lol @ the persimmon love I used to think I didn't like them, but it's because I accidentally bought soft ones instead of hard. Now I've got the hard ones and they're a little bit like an apple crossed with an apricot. Firm and crunchy like an apple, but coloured and a little flavoured like an apricot. I am really enjoying just eating them raw. They are pretty high in sugar (which is totally fine, I believe sugar in fruit is negated by their fibre), but because of my current goals I'm using them as a treat food. I've just finished day six of no sugar!

 

I actually had a nightmare last night that I ate sugar by accident I'm totally going to make it to seven days sugar free!

 

You know, your breakfast sounds yummy. I may have to incorporate it!

The breakfast is sooooo good! I have a protein shake on workout days, and then the sweet potato blueberries on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It's delicious.

 

So, I got to the gym this morning - upped my goblet squats to 7kg. Still doing just fine at that weight. HOWEVER - I tried squatting atg with just the broom handle and it was very hard to keep proper form. Which tells me there's something about the position of having a bar (or stick in this case) on my back that's messing me up. I'm going to try squatting with just the stick and sitting down in the bottom of the squat for as long as I can to stretch things out and get a feeling for what's going on.

 

I PR'd on OHP this morning - I managed a couple of lifts at 25kg. I reckon in a couple of weeks I'll be 5x5@25 for OHP, which will be an awesome achievement.

 

I deadlifted 5x2@52kg and have some lovely running bruises on my shins to show for it Luckily it's winter, so no one can see. Or unluckily??

 

I am OWNING my carb intake and starting to get a handle on fibre. I've gone six days with no sugar whatsoever and feel like a boss. I think I'd like to see if I can do 2 weeks sugar-free, just to show that I can.

 

And in other news - my copy of the magazine I got published in arrived today! You know, the article I wrote as part of my second or third NF challenge ever? Well, it's finally be printed! It looks so cool and professional. Now to take it to work and see how they're going to weasel out of that pay bonus they promised us if we got published (I'm the first one...).

 

So, halfway through week 2 and I am kicking some major butt!

[mitch_dee]

I'm going to try squatting with just the stick and sitting down in the bottom of the squat for as long as I can to stretch things out and get a feeling for what's going on.

So I have now added the pause based on your example........my new goal in life is to track you down and have you carry me everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holy hell a 2 count has never seemed to take so long!

 

You are doing great though, keep it up and before you know it you will be squating with the best of them.

((ok that doesn't sound right, but you know what I mean))

[Hiraedd]

Wow, Sam, that post is so full of WIN!!!  Congrats on the PR and on owning sugar big time.  Also, how exciting was it to get that magazine??  You must be over the moon.

[Sambalina]

I'll sleep with one eye open, Mitch! And IKR, two seconds never felt so long!

 

Thanks, HIra! I definitely sqee'd! I'm sort of carrying it around with me everywhere now

 

Oh - and 7 days sugar free!

[Pallas Athena]

 

And in other news - my copy of the magazine I got published in arrived today! You know, the article I wrote as part of my second or third NF challenge ever? Well, it's finally be printed! It looks so cool and professional. Now to take it to work and see how they're going to weasel out of that pay bonus they promised us if we got published (I'm the first one...).

 

So, halfway through week 2 and I am kicking some major butt!

Ooh, what was your article about? Congratulations! What kind of work do you do (writing, obviously, but what kind)?

 

Gotta try your breakfast idea! Sounds yummy! My grandson just found out today that he likes both persimmons (not crazy about them, tho) and sweet potatoes. He already loves blueberries. Maybe this will be a breakfast we can share as an alternative to our daily bacon and eggs. I've been trying to figure out how to get veggies into breakfast without more cooking. I can nuke the sweet potatoes, so that should work fine.

 

Congratulations on the workout progress, too! Especially the squats. So hard, but you're doing great! Persistence pays off.

 

I made a warm salad with one of my persimmons. Wilted some beautiful chard with garlic, then added some sweet red pepper and chopped persimmon. Dressed with a simple vinaigrette with fresh thyme. Bliss!

[Blaidd]

i remember that challenge. Take a photo of your publication and post!!  We don't want to read it, just see it.  I hope you do get that pay raise

 

also good on all the other things.  those 2 seconds do feel like eternity, but it's a great way to get your self repositioned under the bar again before coming up (not that you can do all that much under the weight, lol).

[Sambalina]

Ooh, what was your article about? Congratulations! What kind of work do you do (writing, obviously, but what kind)?

 

Gotta try your breakfast idea! Sounds yummy! My grandson just found out today that he likes both persimmons (not crazy about them, tho) and sweet potatoes. He already loves blueberries. Maybe this will be a breakfast we can share as an alternative to our daily bacon and eggs. I've been trying to figure out how to get veggies into breakfast without more cooking. I can nuke the sweet potatoes, so that should work fine.

 

Congratulations on the workout progress, too! Especially the squats. So hard, but you're doing great! Persistence pays off.

 

I made a warm salad with one of my persimmons. Wilted some beautiful chard with garlic, then added some sweet red pepper and chopped persimmon. Dressed with a simple vinaigrette with fresh thyme. Bliss!

Thanks so much, PA! I'm an ESL teacher with academic leanings Originally an Anthropologist.

 

The breakfast is really good - it tastes just like a muffin to me - the cinnamon is important to this, I found. Your salad sounds good - might try that next week - I'll certainly be getting some more persimmons if they have any. I'm totally converted!

 

i remember that challenge. Take a photo of your publication and post!!  We don't want to read it, just see it.  I hope you do get that pay raise

Me too! Ok, here it is - four whole pages:

 

 

 

Now just finishing up day 8 of no sugar. This wasn't even a goal, but it sure is now. I'm sure I'll want to celebrate fully when KJ get's home, but I'm thinking - can I do this for a full 21 days? Today has been a little bit of a struggle. My meals didn't turn out quite as I was planning, and it's cold, and I'm tired. I had meat and veg for dinner, some pop-corn for a treat, and now I'm thinking about sweet things. I don't actually have anything, but anyone who's been through sugar addiction knows that you can really stoop to some low points to get a fix - mix sugar into peanut butter and eat it with a spoon, that kind of thing. I've simply breezed through 7 days, so a little craving now is not worth breaking it.

 

Gym tomorrow!

And I'm thinking of taking myself to the movies on Monday to see 'Catching Fire'. Fun

[alienjenn]

AEEEEKKKKK

 

Sam that looks pretty!! I  can't read it... but it's all shiny!

[Endor]

Wow sam published author! Congrats that's amazing

[Kim Taura]

Yaaaaay published! I am going to hunt down the article so I can read it.

And a PR?! And possibly finding the cause of the squat issue? And going up on the squats?

I think your post may just have too much awesome in it.

[Pallas Athena]

Yaaaaay published! I am going to hunt down the article so I can read it.

And a PR?! And possibly finding the cause of the squat issue? And going up on the squats?

I think your post may just have too much awesome in it.

What Kim says ^^^^!

 

I'm trying to think of sugar as a food form of crack. It's just about as dangerous, I think, and definitely as addictive. Just a lot cheaper and more socially acceptable... In fact, I'm trying to reframe all my tempting foods into something that looks sparkly and attractive but is actually akin to a land mine in terms of its capability for ruining my life. Might seem excessive, but I have to stop thinking of them as "treats."

[Sambalina]

Thanks for all the well-wishes, guys I'm pretty happy with the article, and have a couple more in mind to write over my Christmas break. 

- As for tracking it down and reading it - I don't know if you can unless you're subscribed to the magazine. I could totally secretly shoot you the PDF version though, if you're truly interested in reading it. 

 

I know what you mean about the sugar, PA. It is really hard, after a lifetime of being 'rewarded' with it to break the cycle. Today I was having a really fun and relaxing 'me' day and I really wanted a treat. I was super good though, and had 7 (tried to stop at 5, but they were sooo good) pitted prunes. Really sweet, but no added sugar at least. And I eat dried fruit once every... I dunno, 4-6 months? I have pre-planned a celebration treat for Sunday night when my room mate moves out. I'm going to buy some cream and some strawberries and chow down on that. I'm really looking forward to it

 

Ok, Week two down! Another success under my belt for this week too.

I went to the gym three times last week and really got stuck in to working on my squat issues. I was working on goblet squats and thought things were going well, until I realised I was holding the dumbbell away from my body to help balance myself. I made sure to shift it back in and the squats were much harder. It is not a strength issue at this point, but something, somewhere is too tight to let me barbell back squat with my chest up and ATG. Today, Monday, I front squatted with the 10kg BB and my form was great. I did a whole 5x5 ATG at that weight. However, when I put it on my back, I got major hip crampy-soreness at the very bottom. So, I'm going to mix up the squat variations as well as spending as much time 'in the hole' with something on my back as I can.

 

Also, I tried the thorasic mobility stretch PA posted over on her thread, and I can't say I felt all that much going on. I'll try it again all this week, but it wasn't the release I was hoping for.

 

I got in a really strong 1x5 set of deadlifts today @ 55kg. Next time around I'll be shooting for 57

 

My nutrition goal is going unbelievably well. I am currently on Day 11 of no sugar at all. I track all my food all day, every day. I don't know what's happened, but I am (temporarily, I'm sure) totally on top of this. I am, however, still struggling to get the fibre intake up. I've been gluten-free (apart from a lamb kebab I had on Saturday night), and haven't had any liquid calories.

 

                 Cal          Carbs(g)

Mon         1,920        95

Tue          1,680        104

Wed         1,982        122

Thu          1,255        141

Fri            1,870        149

Sat           1,590        114

Sun          1,440        91

 

Fun things completed this week:

-          Knit a scarf (in progress)

-          Go somewhere new (I went on a tour of a palace in Seoul, it was awesome)

-          Go to a meetup (yup, Saturday AND Sunday)

-          Read a book club book (I read 'Misery' by Stephen King and watched the movie for the upcoming books vs. film meeting)

-          Go to a movie, incl. popcorn. (I went to see 'Catching Fire' - alone - and I really, really liked it)

 

So, a week of doing pretty well. 

Aaaaaannnddd... One month till Christmas! Woohoo!

[Blaidd]

Me too! Ok, here it is - four whole pages:

 

 

 

Now just finishing up day 8 of no sugar. This wasn't even a goal, but it sure is now. I'm sure I'll want to celebrate fully when KJ get's home, but I'm thinking - can I do this for a full 21 days? Today has been a little bit of a struggle. My meals didn't turn out quite as I was planning, and it's cold, and I'm tired. I had meat and veg for dinner, some pop-corn for a treat, and now I'm thinking about sweet things. I don't actually have anything, but anyone who's been through sugar addiction knows that you can really stoop to some low points to get a fix - mix sugar into peanut butter and eat it with a spoon, that kind of thing. I've simply breezed through 7 days, so a little craving now is not worth breaking it.

4 whole pages!!!

 

For the sugar cravings, i usually just grill some fruit with a dollop of coconut cream - should help a little.

-          Go to a movie, incl. popcorn. (I went to see 'Catching Fire' - alone - and I really, really liked it)

 

So, a week of doing pretty well. 

Aaaaaannnddd... One month till Christmas! Woohoo!

great week 2

 

I can't wait to see Catching Fire - this week, yay!

 

Also 1 month to Brazil for me

[Sambalina]

One month to Brazil! Now THAT is something to celebrate!

[Sambalina]

Day 13 of no sugar! I don't know what's gotten into me, I've never done even close to anything like this before. I'm eating 1-2 pieces of fruit a day and that's about it. I can't say I'm really feeling anything - perhaps some increased mental clarity/reduced laziness, but it's hard to say. Nothing drastic, but I DO feel good knowing that I'm doing well for my health. And, I now know I have the strength to NOT eat sugar, I am perfectly fine without it.

 

I'm still going hard on my squats. I did front barbell squats on Monday, and back squats today. Today I was able to do 5x5 with the 10kg bar with a 2 second pause at ATG - something I was not able to do two weeks ago, so WOOT! It was a lot of effort, I got me some squat-dizzies. The weight wasn't hard, I can squat 10kg ATG easy as pie, it was trying to keep my chest up and breathe at the bottom, as well as keep my knees out and not roll forward onto my toes. Breathing 'in the hole' was especially problematic, I believe because of overly tight chest muscles from sitting hunched at a computer. Nothing I can't work through.

 

So, I'm going to stay at the 10kg bar for the next week at least - I really want to stretch it all out and work out the kins before adding more weight. 

 

In other lifts: I'm up to a 30kg bench, which is great! And I randomly decided to try hanging leg raises today and busted out 3 sets of 6 of those bad boys. I'll be keeping them in future workouts, they targeted heaps of things I want to work on - grip strength and core, namely.

 

Yeah! On track for week three

[Vixen68]

Yay for progress!!!!

[Panczo]

not bad Sam, not bad

 

[Kim Taura]

Yaaaaay! Continuing awesomeness!

Your ability to completely destroy challenges is so bad ass, words escape me.

[Pallas Athena]

Wow, so happy for you on the squats progress! So hard! I'm getting lower every time I do them, but still can't ATG flat footed without falling backward.

 

Brava on the sugar-free eating, too. I find I feel calmer when I don't eat sugar. My mood is more stable.

 

You're doing fantastic, Sam, rock on!

[Blaidd]

so much win here!  It's awesome!!!

[Endor]

-          Go to a movie, incl. popcorn. (I went to see 'Catching Fire' - alone - and I really, really liked it)

Love going to the movies on my own, get to watch ALL the sci-fi without worrying someone else is bored to tears

 

Great to see your perseverance with the squats and success with no sugar. Those 2 things have the biggest impact on fat for me so you're probably dropping some weight too?

[Sambalina]

Thanks everyone!

Dom - well, I'm at the very bottom of the 'healthy range' for my BMI, so losing weight is not only not desirable, but difficult. I've lost maybe 0.5kg? 

 

Anyway, I went off track today. 14 days sugar-free and I'm not 100% sure whether I made a conscious decision or broke under the pressure, but I just didn't want to be 'good' any more. I ate some donuts and a chocolate bar. I'm on track with my carb intake, but I ate gluten AND sugar. I don't regret it, and I REALLY enjoyed it. In fact, I'd do it again I've decided to re-start on Monday 'cos I'm going to a couple of special events over the weekend where I want to be 'naughty'.

 

Gym this morning was good. More bottom of the squat goodness! No PRs this time, but I should be working towards some new ones next week. It's also starting to get seriously cold, and the road to the gym was icy and a bit dangerous to walk this morning. I'm going to have to be careful.

 

Hope everyone is well

 

Oooh! And I spent the money I made from publishing (from the magazine, haven't heard from work yet) on the black Friday sales at modcloth.com - I have got some super cute vintage style dresses coming my way for Christmas! So excited! This one especially (which was a total steal at just over USD$20!):

 

[Pallas Athena]

As long as you're enjoying what you're eating, have a nice weekend, Sam!

 

And really cute dress! Nicely done!