tenaciousglee goes to eleven

[Eilyd]

I'm sure you will look exactly like that, complete with self-satisfied smirk.

 

(Warning, when you do, your wife will shower you with compliments and your head will expand. I have made this mistake with my husband, but I can't seem to regret it)

[tenaciousglee]

Week 1 wrap-up

 

Lift - Lifted Monday and Wednesday, skipped Friday due to illness

Eat - ate 16,938 calories out of a planned 17,150; averaged 125 g protein a day, macro split for the week was 21P/36F/43C - a little low on protein, a little high on carbs

Sleep - Was fighting a cold, so I did a lot of sleeping, 56 hours for the week

Track - Combined a couple of spreadsheets and started filling out some historical measurement data.

 

It was a weird week with Monday being a holiday and then being a little sick the rest of the week.  Skipping Friday's workout made me feel like I blew the week, but I guess I did okay.

 

I skipped this morning's workout, too, but I'm thinking I may switch to a Tuesday/Thursday/Friday split to make up for it.

[Eilyd]

Looks pretty good, especially with the cold throwing you off.

[tenaciousglee]

Week 2, Day 2

 

Deadlift

1x5x180# warm-up

3x7x200#

 

OHP

10x80#

6x80#

10x80#

 

Crunches

55 (up from 45 last week!)

 

Sleep

6.5 hours

[Librarian of Doom]

Colds suck. Nice work getting back in the groove!

[Eilyd]

Nice lifts! Your sleep looks a little short, though. How's that going?

[tenaciousglee]

Nice lifts! Your sleep looks a little short, though. How's that going?

 

Ugh. Sleep is about the only thing going well right now.  I averaged 8 hours a night the first week and 7 hours a night last week.  Over 1/3 of the way to 300 hours!

 

Only lifted once last week and already skipped my workout this morning.  A combo of kid waking up in the middle of the night, 30 degree weather at 5:30 in the morning, and general lack of motivation.  I sense a program-hop on the horizon.

[DirtyLittleSecrets]

How is compiling your data coming along? I wanted to see if you've given any thought to your life side challenge

 

What weekend would you like to do the Marine Corps Fitness Test? We should probably each set a date a little while before the challenge end (fourth or fifth week) to give a little time to play with and get it done. I'm aiming for Dec 7th.

[tenaciousglee]

How is compiling your data coming along? I wanted to see if you've given any thought to your life side challenge

 

What weekend would you like to do the Marine Corps Fitness Test? We should probably each set a date a little while before the challenge end (fourth or fifth week) to give a little time to play with and get it done. I'm aiming for Dec 7th.

 

Data compilation is stalled.  I've got a new-ish job and it's taking up all my brain power.  I usually work through lunch and then I don't want to look at a screen once I get home.

 

I was planning to do the MCFT this weekend, but I can push back to the 7th.  I was going to wait until the forecast was dry.

[DirtyLittleSecrets]

This weekend is perfect! I just didn't know how early you wanted to do it!

[tenaciousglee]

Thankful for a day off where I could sleep in a bit and still work out. First workout this week, but every one has the potential to be the first in a new streak!

[tenaciousglee]

Romanian Deadlifts yesterday equals DOMS today. #hurtssogood

 

Also, I'm starting to transition into a 16/8 intermittent fasting schedule and stuffing myself on Thanksgiving makes it easier to push back breakfast.

[tenaciousglee]

Best remedy I know of for DOMS? Another workout!

Quick Squat and Bench workout

[Librarian of Doom]

Sounds like you had a good holiday week! With workouts!!!!

[tenaciousglee]

Sounds like you had a good holiday week! With workouts!!!!

 

Indeed!

 

I did the Marine Corps PFT yesterday.  Results below.

 

December 2012

Pull-ups: 10

Crunches: 40

3 mile run: 28:16

Points: 128

3rd class

 

November 2013

Pull-ups: 14

Crunches: 48

3 mile run: 28:10

Points: 157

2nd class

 

In order to get to 1st class, I need 200 points.  Not sure I'll be able to make that jump by the end of the challenge.  It would take something like 16 pull-ups, 74 crunches, and a 27-min 3 mile run.  I can strive for improvement all the same.

[tenaciousglee]

*PROGRAM HOP!!*

[tenaciousglee]

I recently read Man 2.0, Engineering the Alpha, based on Maledictus's recommendation and my own concern about out-of-whack hormones.  The book seems to address some of my concerns about not making much progress in the last year despite trying a variety of things.  (Cue the 'consistency is key' chorus.)  Anyway, I'm starting this week with their "Prime" diet and workout phase.  Very low carb and 4 workouts a week.  I'll be eating at a deficit and following a 16/8 IF scheme, so I should lose some weight and burn some belly fat in the next 4 weeks.

 

As far as a challenge update through week 3:

Lift - I missed my Monday and Wednesday workouts, but lifted on Thursday and Friday, and took the Marine Corps PFT on Saturday.

Sleep - still going well, over halfway to my goal of 300 hours

Eat - Tracked 5 out of 7 days.  I only hit my protein goal once.  My maintenance goals were pretty close and while I never hit my macro splits exactly, I was never too far from the ballpark.  Also, as of this morning, I'm only up 1 pound since the start of the challenge, so that's pretty well maintained.

Track - Did pretty well tracking this week, but I took off Thursday and Sunday for Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving 2 - The Search for Curly's Gold.

[DirtyLittleSecrets]

Indeed!

 

I did the Marine Corps PFT yesterday.  Results below.

 

December 2012

Pull-ups: 10

Crunches: 40

3 mile run: 28:16

Points: 128

3rd class

 

November 2013

Pull-ups: 14

Crunches: 48

3 mile run: 28:10

Points: 157

2nd class

 

In order to get to 1st class, I need 200 points.  Not sure I'll be able to make that jump by the end of the challenge.  It would take something like 16 pull-ups, 74 crunches, and a 27-min 3 mile run.  I can strive for improvement all the same.

 

Yeah, I'm questioning my ability to move up to the first class in 4 months. All we can work for is improvement and now we have a better baseline to work upon

[Librarian of Doom]

Maybe you should just start doing half challenges But seriously, hope the new program works for you

[tenaciousglee]

Maybe you should just start doing half challenges But seriously, hope the new program works for you

HA! I wonder who I could talk to get authorized to do half challenges... This new program has four 4-week phases, so I'm not sure how it will align with NF anyway.

[tenaciousglee]

Week 4, Day 2 - Engineering the Alpha

 

Ate at a deficit the last two days and got in two workouts.  Didn't finish Tuesday's workout because I overslept, but got over half of it in.  The 16/8 fasting isn't too bad.  By not eating breakfast in the morning, I have more time to get ready for work and help get the kids ready for bed.  Then I've had meetings at work that last until lunchtime, so I haven't had time to think about hunger.  Today should be interesting because I don't have any meetings and tonight I have a group dinner where the choices are not usually very low carb.  I'm also pretty sure there will be chocolate pie that I will be expected to eat.  My friends know I eat differently, but they still tease me about my calorie counting because I'm already pretty skinny.

 

Oh yeah, I also resorted to taking shots of olive oil the last two days to get my fat calories in.  My wife just smirked at me.

[Librarian of Doom]

Good luck today!!!

[tenaciousglee]

Did fairly well yesterday. Had three bowls of soup at dinner, but they were mostly meat and veggies. Some had corn and some had potatoes, which are apparently not part of the Alpha diet, but oh well. I did manage to skip the cornbread, brownies, cookies, and chocolate pie.

[Librarian of Doom]

Nice work skipping the stuff you needed to skip!!!

[Maledictus]

HA! I wonder who I could talk to get authorized to do half challenges... This new program has four 4-week phases, so I'm not sure how it will align with NF anyway.

 

I pushed them into being six week phases, which was alright but meant I had an extra 2 weeks of alpha presses and hack squats.  Neither of which I'm comfy with.  Also subbed to see how you get on (thought I already was but I've been reading these a lot more on tapatalk and you wouldn't believe how much stuff I've missed as a result...)

 

 

 

Oh yeah, I also resorted to taking shots of olive oil the last two days to get my fat calories in.  My wife just smirked at me.

 

I eat coconut oil from the jar but I used to do that anyway..

 

Hope it works for you.  My break down is

 

Phase 1: Yes but I was already low carb/fat burning so nothing awesome

Phase 2: Hell YES!!!! Cheat days were turning into a chore but I think I'll be moving to this in January for some quick fat burning.

Phase 3: Meant to be bulking.  Lost 2lbs but had more muscle.  Think combining it with Obstacle races meant I actually needed an extra 2k calories a day

Phase 4: Nice way to round it off.  Had to alternate some exercises because of assorted injuries.