Against the chicken winged dragon

[sammyrulez]

After my first skirmish with the Skeleton warrior I understood that the best way to defeat it is taking down his minion one by one. The first will be the chicken winged dragon.

 

 

This freak monstrosity has hunted me down for too long. Now the pray will become the hunter.

 

 

Ok end of the RPG mode :-)

 

My main goal for this challenge is to get rid of my "chicken wings": shoulder blades stick out too much. I have them checked several times by several doctors and thei found nothing abnormal. I have just ave been a skinny guy with no back muscles

 

Main quest

 

• Follow the BODYWHEIGHT brigade Rank 1 workout
• Integrate some shoulder blades specific set +5 STR
• Keep on with the 2500 cal a day diet + 2 CON
• Keep on drinking 1 lt of water a day +2 CON

Side quests

 

• meditate 10 min every morning +2 WIS
• hip flexibility workout every morning +2 DEX

Life quest

 

• clear my mind on the trip to Thailand. If I really want to do it and finally take action. Or leave it behind and stop daydreaming about it all the time. +2 INT

Comments and suggestion on shoulder blades specific exercises are very welcome.

 

 

 

[Kishi]

Well, welcome! Good to see you. We will help you slay this mighty beast.

 

Shoulder blades stick out too much, huh? Need some exercises specifically for that area? Well, if your posterior deltoids aren't terribly well developed, then you're going to want to work on pulling exercises - things like pull ups, chin ups, rows, etc. Effective execution of these exercises requires you to 'socket' the joints, pulling the blades together and activating the rhomboid muscle as well as the shoulders. Another good exercise for the shoulders, given that you want to do bodyweight, would be working toward handstand push ups. Unlike regular push ups, which develop the anterior deltoid, handstand push ups develop both the front and the back pretty evenly.

 

At least, I think that's where a possible solution lies. I've never dealt with anyone with disproportionate shoulder blades.

 

You're going to Thailand, huh? You gonna be training there?

[Nusuth]

That's one impressive chicken-monstrosity

[sammyrulez]

Thanks Nusuth

 

Kishi: Thanks for the suggestions. If by handstand push ups you mean this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGhdSLkf-8o I don't think I will be able to perform such a thing. My actual max rep for chin-ups is 5 and for pull-ups is... 2. 

Since I have a couple of adjustable dumbbells I think I'll go for some plank pull ( I do not know if is the right name of the exercise) and candler. What do you think? 

 

Day 1

 

Workout: today is bank holiday so I had the chance of an extra training session. It has been amazing. Few of us, very focused feeling great!

Meditation: None let's see if I can make it to the evening

Lifequest:  4 Kishi: yeah I have been dreaming to go to Thailand for some weeks of training since a year ago. I'm considering the south to merge holiday and training. Koh Samui seems a good but tranquil spot. I have to start to put some real money a side and take action.

[Kishi]

Kishi: Thanks for the suggestions. If by handstand push ups you mean this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGhdSLkf-8o I don't think I will be able to perform such a thing. My actual max rep for chin-ups is 5 and for pull-ups is... 2. 

Since I have a couple of adjustable dumbbells I think I'll go for some plank pull ( I do not know if is the right name of the exercise) and candler. What do you think?

 

Well, you might not be able to perform them yet, but you have variations like the pike press and just developing the handstand alone. Those are places you can start on that, you know?

 

But, if Plank Pulls are the exercise I think they are, they aren't a bad one to use either. It's definitely worth a shot.

[RisenPhoenix]

Looks like a good challenge.  Though I feel like the chicken-raptor thing wants to be called a clever girl....

 

Good luck!

[Miyuki]

that's one evil looking monster!

tackle the chicken? EAT IT!

protein, swimming and rows! them bones will be covered in pure muscle in no time!

Kick that chicken beasts butt!

 

btw - whoo hoo thailand! been there thrice, planning next trip for 2015! You're going to love it! food, culture and yes, the muay--thai!

[sammyrulez]

Day 2

 

• Workout: My back hurts because I worked a lot on ducking and dodging in kick boxing class ( and obviously I did it wrong). So I decided to skip push-ups. While doing pull-ups.. the bar fell down on me... so I went to sleep... FAIL   
  
• Meditation: I wake up at 5 in the morning because of my mini-me had a nightmare. I could not fall asleep again but at least I had time to meditate. DONE!
  
• Drinking 1lt of water: DONE!
  
• Lifequest:  I searched for the flight. I asked for suggestion for train  from BK to Koh Samui... as this thing is getting more real... I'm getting really scared. To fail, not enough skilled and left to work on a bag all the time, to be homesick, to miss wife and kids to much, to be missed to much
  

[Kishi]

Oh wow, that training session. You okay?

[The Shogun]

I hope you didn't get hurt with that bar!

Ooo I like that "s#!t is getting real" fear! Don't let it get to you, shake it off and enjoy Thailand! Take lots of pictures

Good luck with your challenge!

[Miyuki]

 

Day 2

 

• Workout: My back hurts because I worked a lot on ducking and dodging in kick boxing class ( and obviously I did it wrong). So I decided to skip push-ups. While doing pull-ups.. the bar fell down on me... so I went to sleep... FAIL   
• Meditation: I wake up at 5 in the morning because of my mini-me had a nightmare. I could not fall asleep again but at least I had time to meditate. DONE!
• Drinking 1lt of water: DONE!
• Lifequest:  I searched for the flight. I asked for suggestion for train  from BK to Koh Samui... as this thing is getting more real... I'm getting really scared. To fail, not enough skilled and left to work on a bag all the time, to be homesick, to miss wife and kids to much, to be missed to much

 

aya! Hope you're ok after the fall!!!

And no, that cant be classified as a fail, you still pushed to do something.

 

As for the life quest - the best successes stem from overcoming fear. Never failing means never Attempting anything new.

Clearly your family means the world to you, but being in Thailand doesnt mean leaving them, just being gone for a little while. Plus the internet is really good and cheap and most places(restaurants, cafes) have free wifi so you can skype all the time!

basically, what Im trying to say, and not very well, is Don't let fear of failing cripple you. Your family and you are stronger than you could ever imagine.

[sammyrulez]

Thanks you all guys & gal

 

The fall was nothing: the bar did a wicked sound just before failing so I had my feet on the ground ad ready to hod the bar. Just an annoying fact that I had to stop my workout and mount it again ( properly) this evening. 

 

As for the life quest: I know my kids will probably even do not remember, in a few years, that I missed for a few weeks, But they are so fragile and emotional at the moment. Yes Internet will help. The accommodation I'm thinking about has free wifi so I'll be connected all the time. I plan to buy a second hand netbook  ( my precious macbook has a damaged charged connector and I'm afraid to expose it to the humidity of a tropical Island). 

 

Day 3

 

• Workout: kickboxing class. The training was good but I was a bit out of tone. In the final sparring session I hit with the heel the knee of my partner. Quite painful. Walking out the feet keep on hurting so I did the R.I.C.E. (Rest Ice Compression Elevation) at home. I hope Is nothing cause in that part of the feet there are a hundred little bones that break easly
• Meditation: just 5 minutes. Then one of the kid started crying ( 50% Done)
• Drinking 1lt of water: 50% Done: someone stole my bottle ate the office!

[Kishi]

Well, you know how it is. You do what you can and take life as it comes. It's better to have done a thing interrupted than not to have done a thing at all, when it comes to your health.

[sammyrulez]

Just a super quick update

 

Day 4

  workoput: rest day.. I was still dead tired from previous day kickboxing session

  meditation: Done!

  Drink: Done + 0.5 lt of whole milk

[Kishi]

Get some rest, bro. The challenge is still on.

[sammyrulez]

I know Kishi .. trying to stay consistent and accountable

 

Day 5

 

•   workoput: kickboxing session. I vouluntiered to hold the Thai pads for the the beginners so it had  not  been a super hard session.
•   meditation: None.. had some hard time falling asleep and  wake up late
•   Drink: Done 

 

Day 6 and 7

 

LOT OF FESTING: I went out on saturday with wife ( we sometimes have "dates" like back in the days ) Then a huge lunch on sunday with my parents in law. I tried to fig the chinup bar but with no success. I had a workout on Saturday replacing the chin-ups with Dumbbell rows. Rested on Sunday

Got a lot of "liquid calories" ... 

 

Life goal quest: A dude I know and log time expat to Thailand told me that the unrest and protest are worst than the western media are showning. Nice timing  Sam...   I'm doing the homework anyway planning the expenses and the savings...

[Kishi]

Well, you couldn't have known that before the guy told you, right? And anyway, your goal is your goal. Until it definitely looks like a bad idea, there's no reason to proceed as if it could be.

[Miyuki]

I second Kishi!

 

Your goal is your goal.

 

Im in the process of planning another holiday for myself and mates back to Thailand. We were going to hit BKK again but right now isnt a good idea, but we dont have money or leave to go right now. Doesnt mean that things will not change in a month or two. Keep on track, besides, if you shift the trip by a few months or a year it still doesnt change the fact that the leg work needs to be done  

 

oh, and REST! dont  hurt yourself!

[sammyrulez]

Thanks Miyuki and Kishi. The plan has not changed. Just a bit worried because if I want to have a cheap air-fare I have to book it in a month.

 

Day 8

 

•   workout: Done. I still have to fix the damn bar since I like chin-ups the way more than dumbbell rows
•   meditation: None. This is becoming an Issue. If i set a separate alarm to wake up earlier than my wife... I will end up waking up her anyway. Smart watch?
•   Drink: Done

Day 9

 

•   workout: Done. But I forgot to do the cool down and stretching
•   meditation: None
•    Drink: Done

 

Life goal:  My total savings for Thailand should be 1500 euros  ( 1513.89 to be accurate. I can expose breakdowns if someone is interested. I made a big spreadsheet with formulas to evaluate possible destinations etc). Half of this money is the air-fare. I'm going to this gym wech pinyo muaythai . Looks amazing and the head trainer is famous for his teaching technique ( so I have been told     )

[Lexionidas]

Inserting meditation is your life is freaking HARD, i know! >.<

[Kishi]

Have you considered auditory, guided meditations? Not to play shill again, but MindValley is a company that specializes in that kind of stuff. It helped me out a ton, and I've started to re-introduce the practice into my life. I find it actually helps me get to sleep and just de-stress.

[sammyrulez]

Inserting meditation is your life is freaking HARD, i know! >.<

 

Yeah man... I have done morning meditation this summer for about a month, but now is freaking hard. My original ( secret ?!?) plan was to build the habit of waking up a little earlier and then introduce  HFS ( Hips flexibility System) training in the morning. But it's not working well. That said yesterday , after kickboxing session, when I came home there was "the girl with the dragon tattoo" ( but the Swedish original title is far better " Men who hates women). I loved that book so I watch (again!!!) the movie . Guess what? Gone to bed late, no meditation in the morning....

 

Have you considered auditory, guided meditations? Not to play shill again, but Mind Valley is a company that specializes in that kind of stuff. It helped me out a ton, and I've started to re-introduce the practice into my life. I find it actually helps me get to sleep and just de-stress.

 

I'm already using some kind of audio guided meditation. Basically there is an app that plays 2 sounds. You focus on the "background sound" (is wind bells ) and let the "overlay sound" ( it Tibetan chant) go. This should prevent your mind to roam while meditating.

 

 

Day 10

• workout: Kickboxing. A good session. But the class was really packed with two noobs. Three of us made shifts to teach them basic stuff ( stance right cross jab) In my pad round I did great. One of my mates, hearing all the noise I was making ( I tent to become loudy when kicking full power), told me in the break "Hey Sam, you are a Spartan!". Best thing someone ever told me!
• Drinking: Done
• Meditation: None

[sammyrulez]

Day 11

 

• Workout: rest day.. but I fixied the cinup-bar
• Drinking: None.. crazy day at the office
• Meditation: Still nothing

[Kishi]

Man, the meditation goals always kick our ass in these challenges. I don't know why. :/

[sammyrulez]

Hi folks. Laid back week end.

 

Day 12:

• Workout: Kickboxing session. I managed to hurt myself in the final 5 minutes of sparring. I eat a couple of low and mid kicks and, still don't know how, hurt my left foot pinkie. The good news is that I'm sure is not broken since it do not hurt if I touch it or walk barefoot. But walking with shoes is killing me. I put Ice on it all Friday evening and it helped a lot. Now is just very swollen with blue aura all around ( want some pics? NSFO!    ) I hope everything is gonna be ok for the end of the week
• Dinking: Done!: I was forgetting it again but in the afternoon I recovered my water ratio.
• Meditation: None

Day 13:

 

• Workout: rested. My pinkie deserve it
• Drinking: Did not track
• Meditation: None

Day 14:

 

• Workout: Strength workout without lounges since my left leg still hurts
• Drinking: Did not track
• Meditation: None

I' thinking to redefine a bit some of my goals for this challenge... cause I don't feel challenged enough! 

 

NOW I'm setting a new alarm on the iphone to wake up 30 min earlier. It's time to take action.