Thatgirljj is in for the long slog

[thatgirljj]

Ah... it's challenge time again.  And once again, my epic quest is to become moderately good at a really hard thing.  

 

I had all these other ways to couch that quest before, more romantic, sexier, more "epic"... but frankly, it is what it is.  I am an intermediate level recreational aerialist.  And I'd like to keep working at becoming moderately good at it... which is a loooooooong slow process.  Sure, anyone can learn the first few tricks, but to keep progressing, to start to develop into the major strength skills?  It's a day-by-day, brick-by-brick slog.  You know when you're grinding out to level up your experience and get to the next level, yeah... that's where I am.  It may seem like a miserable place to be, if you're a jumpy 18 year old.  But as a 40 year old mom, I really just love playing the game.  I love that my body even can play the game.  

 

And so this challenge, I'm coming into it with a different attitude.  Gratitude to my body for bringing me this far, and the patience to grind through calmly till I can hit the next level.  Even if that takes a few challenges or a few years. I'm cool with that.  

 

My actual EPIC goal for the year would be to achieve either a press up handstand or a roll up on straps.  That may not be do-able, and that's OK, but I'm working hard to make it happen.

 

With that out of the way, my goals:

 

1. Stick to my new and improved circus+GMB training schedule, now with 100% more squats.  Basically, Monday & Saturday is handstand or aerial training.  Tuesday & Thursday is some basic lower body compound lifts in the gym (squats & rom deadlifts).  Wednesday & Friday is phase 2 of the first level of GMB P1.  Basically my goals are to continue to stabilize my back and get a good strong handstand position (to enable progress in aerial moves requiring back stability), as well as add some overall power and strength in the gym.  Sticking point here is actually doing the GMB wrist & shoulder conditioning even on days when I'm training something else.  Also, I'm going on vacation to Palm Springs for part of the challenge, so I get a few days off of extra rest and playing in the pool with my kiddo (and just maybe a massage!).  

 

(If you remember my last challenge, we were supposed to go on vacation at the end.  I was going to try skiing.  It was going to be great!  And then my whole family caught the flu 1 day before we were supposed to leave.  No vacation.  My challenge ended with a fever and sinuses clogged all to hell, so that sucked.  I'm really hoping the family vacation happens this round!)

 

2. Six days a week do at least one, 1 minute handstand hold at the wall and stretch my hip flexors.

 

3. Three days a week do theraband & bungee conditioning for my shoulders.  This takes maybe 10 minutes, but is going to be critical for injury prevention.

 

And lucky #4, my life quest: Continue to unpack one box a week.  We moved last summer and we still have a garage full of boxes.  And a couple of boxes in the master bedroom.  And a few in my son's closet.  If I just do one box a week, that's 6 boxes by the end of the challenge, solid.  

[Mad Hatter]

Don't sell yourself short - based on the video you're already moderately good. And even if progress is slow at this point you have all the time in the world - just imagine what you'll be able to do in 10 years time. Plus you'll be the baddest ass on the block.

 

Looking forward to an awesome challenge!

[thatgirljj]

Haa haaa... Yes my darling hatter, I am moderately good.     But I'm trying to learn a really hard apparatus (straps), and that's going to be a challenge to get to the level where I am on hammock.

 

So I have two lovely things this First Tuesday of The Challenge:

 

Ira Glass being fucking awesome on the topic of how to level up:

 

And a hugemongous victory... I got a muscle up last night on straps!  Not just one but TWO!!!  Me and two other people were working hard for a good half the class on strengthening the parts of the muscle up and correcting our form on each part, and then I did it.  I did the first one and I stood at the top squealing in joy.  Then my friend Hope goes "What are you so excited about?  Oh you got it?  Let me see it..." and I did it AGAIN... although the second one I fought for the press something fierce, but I got it.  

 

This is #1 a huge personal accomplishment and #2 proof for me that my focus on pressing motions with P1 last challenge is paying off.  Heavy dedication to using that grind to correcting my weaknesses  actually works!  Yipiee!!!  

 

Now for more grind.  Because, now I've got to get a muscle up again next week.  

[Mad Hatter]

Woooohooooooo, that's fantastic!!!  

[Mad Hatter]

Did you sign up here for the challenge btw? You appear to be missing.

[Nymeria]

 It's a day-by-day, brick-by-brick slog.  You know when you're grinding out to level up your experience and get to the next level, yeah... that's where I am.  It may seem like a miserable place to be, if you're a jumpy 18 year old.  But as a 40 year old mom, I really just love playing the game.  I love that my body even can play the game.  

 

And so this challenge, I'm coming into it with a different attitude.  Gratitude to my body for bringing me this far, and the patience to grind through calmly till I can hit the next level.  Even if that takes a few challenges or a few years. I'm cool with that. 

 

Whenever I start feeling old or regretting that I hadn't pushed myself harder when I was at more of an ideal age to do so, I think of the grandma gymnast or the 70 year old bodybuilders that always crop up in Yuen's thread.  And then I realize that it's totally doable to put on strength and achieve wonderful things, even when you're a middle aged mom.    What we may lack in sheer physicality, we can make up for in terms of patience, discipline, and consistency. 

 

I think you're doing so many awesome things, and I'm jealous of the muscle up!  Great job!

[BruceHeat]

wow great goals!!! I was working on my HS last challenge and this challenge as well!! good luck!!

 

it sucks that you didn't go on vacation but you will eventually!!!

 

I like your unpacking goal and I'm curious to see how it goes;)

[thatgirljj]

Did you sign up here for the challenge btw? You appear to be missing.

 

No, I did not.  Thanks for the heads up.  

 

Whenever I start feeling old or regretting that I hadn't pushed myself harder when I was at more of an ideal age to do so, I think of the grandma gymnast or the 70 year old bodybuilders that always crop up in Yuen's thread.  And then I realize that it's totally doable to put on strength and achieve wonderful things, even when you're a middle aged mom.    What we may lack in sheer physicality, we can make up for in terms of patience, discipline, and consistency. 

 

I think you're doing so many awesome things, and I'm jealous of the muscle up!  Great job!

 

Yeah, I don't think anyone can underestimate a 40 year old mom on patience & discipline!  Also, how did I miss that your ACL was screwed... like I missed that LAST challenge too? Grrr... I gotta get better at keeping up with my peeps.

 

wow great goals!!! I was working on my HS last challenge and this challenge as well!! good luck!!

 

it sucks that you didn't go on vacation but you will eventually!!!

 

I like your unpacking goal and I'm curious to see how it goes;)

 

Handstands are awesome!!!!  :-)  Now that I'm becoming a regular at the Muggle Gym I get stares for doing 1 minute holds between sets of R. deadlifts, but hey, they're fun!

[KB Girl]

Wooo, congrats on the muscle up!

As a middle aged mom you're certainly up-staging this 26 year old. It would probably take me 14 years of patience and hard work to get a muscle up Way to go!

 

It's funny, sometimes I already have this 'too old, wish i had done more when i was younger'.. madness. Still trying to get my 17 year old sister to get het butt into action, so she'll be way ahead of me by the time she's 26.

[thatgirljj]

Challenge update:  Things are going OK.  I'm missing a workout today, but not entirely stressing about it because my day has been insane, plus I tried to go to the gym but got their childcare hours wrong and by the end I was just so exhausted I decided it was better to just take a rest day.  Yesterday I kinda tweaked my shoulder on the paralettes, so it's probably reasonable to take some extra rest.  

 

No boxes unpacked.

 

Life update:  I didn't much fill people in on the stuff that happened between challenges.  Not only did the family catch the flu (at least it was short since we had gotten vaccinated).  Then the next week?  My son tripped in the living room and bashed his head into a shelf of our bookcase.  I was upstairs and did not see it immediately, but my husband saw the gash all the way down to the skull bone.  So we spent an evening in the ER and he's got a hefty set of stitches across his head now.  So that was an adventure...

 

And I don't remember who was my Mythbusters geek buddy (Nymeria?  Elastigirl?) but OMG, OMG, OMG... Herding Cats!!!!  Like seriously that was a total moment for our family.  Like seriously... HERDING CATS?  F-Yeah!  

 

 

It's funny, sometimes I already have this 'too old, wish i had done more when i was younger'.. madness. Still trying to get my 17 year old sister to get het butt into action, so she'll be way ahead of me by the time she's 26.

 

I know, right?  I try really hard not to get into that with my younger friends.  People are at the place they are in life.  Mentally there's a lot to be said for being older, but the body?  The body only recovers more and more slowly after a while.

[Nymeria]

My son tripped in the living room and bashed his head into a shelf of our bookcase. I was upstairs and did not see it immediately, but my husband saw the gash all the way down to the skull bone. So we spent an evening in the ER and he's got a hefty set of stitches across his head now. So that was an adventure...

And I don't remember who was my Mythbusters geek buddy (Nymeria? Elastigirl?) but OMG, OMG, OMG... Herding Cats!!!! Like seriously that was a total moment for our family. Like seriously... HERDING CATS? F-Yeah!

Oh no! I hope your little guy is recovering well. That sounds absolutely terrifying.

And yes!!! Herding cats! I felt so sorry for the poor herding dog. He looked so forlorn that the cats weren't cooperating.

[KB Girl]

That does sound terrifying, seeing the bone! Everything ok now? 

 

Extra rest days are hard to take but sometimes simply better/smarter.

[Nymeria]

Re: the herding cats mythbusters....

 

I wish they would have tested my method for herding cats.  Just get my 6 year old daughter and all of her little friends who really want to pet and hug the fluffy kitties, and then tell them that the one place they're not allowed to go or pester the cats is the herding pen area.  I bet it wouldn't take too long for the cats to all end up there.  Cats always seem to run away from little girls. 

[thatgirljj]

I know, right? Little boys armed with cat toys have the same effect. "Kitty, play with me!!!!" and the cat is herded straight under the bed. That poor dog, he just needed a bunch of toddlers.

And the kiddo is fine, he had a day of school & swimming lessons to observe for a head injury, but everything is OK. The skin split cleanly, so they were able to glue the top layer of skin over the stitches.. Hopefully the scarring will be minimal.

[milythael]

I can't believe I missed your entire last challenge.  I'm crazy jealous of your handstand class.  I'll be watching you this time around, I promise.

[thatgirljj]

OMG... P1 Phase 2, Workout 2 just broke me.  Seriously, WTF.  Ph2, W1 was challenging, definitely a step up from phase 1, but do-able, with moderately decent form.  Workout 2?  I fell on my ass... seriously, fell on my butt twice.  Could not get the shoulder stand jumps at all, I was lucky to pull my feet 1" off the floor.  And the dive bombers?  I mean... I could do them.  My form was good.  But I think I've put in less effort to squat my body weight... literally every freaking muscle in my body was dying.  (OK, it doesn't entirely help that I'm on the verge of shark week so both easily in pain and a bit overdramatic... but seriously, that was a workout and a half in 25 minutes.)  I may be spending a little more time on Phase 2 than suggested, just to fully get control in some of the moves.

 

Handstands was last night.  It was our main instructor's last class before he leaves on a 4-6 month tour for a major arena show.   I'm bummed that S is leaving because he's pretty much an ideal instructor for me.  He's a tough Israeli dude who doesn't take much shit, but he doesn't take your shit by laughing it off... so he really inspires all of us to do our best for him.  However, that being said...  our new replacement instructor is good too, he spotted me through 2 handstand forward rolls last night and I've never been able to do more than one of them very sporadically (like I'll randomly get one and then it will be a month before I can get another one, even with a spotter).  I think it will take him a little while to learn to push us the right amount, but I'm hoping he'll grow into the role.  

 

Oh and my husband used up nearly all my tiger balm.  Hrumph.  I had to scrape the bottom of two jars with my fingernails to get out enough to cover my dying traps & shoulders.  Handstands + P-bars = sore jj.  

 

Rest of the challenge is percolating along.  I've been doing my hip flexors stretch & handstands like a boss.  I did not unpack a box last week.  :-P  But I decided to do a 40 bags of trash in 40 days challenge for Lent (not like I'm catholic, but my house is a mess), and I'm going to count unpacking a box a week towards 1 bag of trash.  

 

 

 

I can't believe I missed your entire last challenge.  I'm crazy jealous of your handstand class.  I'll be watching you this time around, I promise.

 

Mily dear, it's cool.  You had a hard challenge last round.  Watch, don't watch, it's all good.  Half the time I'm not able to check in on everyone as much as I want to during a challenge.  It's no big thing.  :-)

[ApfelStrudi]

http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/45109-most-wanted-assassins-list/?p=933164

 

There are wanted posters all over town with your picture on it!

Quick!

Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuun!

 

Congrats

[thatgirljj]

So I'm having a problem.  An overtraining problem.  I'm just going to type it out here, leave it and hope that coming back to it and looking through it might help me sort out the best solution.

 

Right now my training schedule looks like this:  

2 days of 1.5 hour circus training classes (hand balancing & straps)

2 days of about 20 minutes lower body weight training (usually paired with a 20 minute warmup on the rower)

2 days of the GMB parallettes training (about 30 minutes)

1 minute handstand holds 6 days a week

1 day a week fully OFF

 

Here's the problem.  I'm making progress, but I'm not recovering well.  I can feel both the weight training and the P-bars work training paying off in terms of better form and strength in my circus training.  But I'm feeling overworked... either just generally overworked, or specifically in my shoulders or forearms/wrists.  In not sure how to start resolving it... 

 

Clearly the phase 2 P-bars workouts are a different level from phase 1 in terms of how I'm recovering.  And as it is I'm keeping the reps really low (3 sets of 5-6).  I don't mind keeping the reps low and taking 3 months before I move onto the next level, but I can't really scale that far back from what I'm doing.

 

The weight training work is the least fatiguing on the specific muscles that are giving me problems, but it may be contributing to my overall recovery needs.  As it is I have scaled back adding weight to the bar for now, and am just chilling at a much lower weight than I used to be able to lift.  I will say the combo of proper lower body training and stretching my hip flexors is really fixing some positioning problems I was having in handstands, so I'd like to keep at it.  I can reduce the load on my forearms by warming up on the treadmill instead of rowing, but I'm a little sad, because I like the rowing and it's awesome cardio cross training (most cardio is useless for promoting aerial endurance because it doesn't do much for upper body endurance). 

 

Circus training is non-negotiable.  That doesn't change.

 

So the best I can think of is to freeze my weights in the gym.  Skip the rowing machine in favor of a gentle treadmill warm-up (for now).  Just complete the minimum reps on the P-bars (even the things I can do easy, like the mountain climbers).  I may even need to scale back 2 specific moves in the day 2 P-bars workout to 3 sets of 4 or even 2 sets of 5, because that particular workout leaves a lot of strain on my shoulders.  

 

As it is, this week I've skipped 2 consecutive days and am finally feeling recovered enough for class tomorrow.  Grrr....  I'll be happy the week after next when I'm actually leaving town for several days of full recovery & playing in the pool.

[thatgirljj]

OK... I'm glad I wrote through that last night, because it gave me some mental space to chew on the situation a little and I realized something critical.

 

My goal is to make progress in my circus training.  The benefits I've gotten from the GMB P1 training were from the basic phase 1 workouts.  If phase 2 is stressing my shoulders and forearms, why not go back and keep doing the phase 1 training exercises?  My fitness goals right now don't include rocking the hell out of the GMB P1 flow, that would be a cool bonus if I get there.  But if the phase 1 is giving me strength benefits, and I'm not in any big hurry to get to the full flow, there's no reason for me to push onto phase 2.  I can hang with phase 1 for as long as it's serving my purposes (which is to get stronger at press and hold motions and to get better at holding my back stable).  Problem solved.

 

For the next week and a half I am going to hold my weights stable in the gym and lay off the rowing, both until I get back from my holiday and then see how I feel.  For the remainder of the challenge, I'm going to go back to the phase 1 P1 workouts on the days I have planned for the GMB workouts.  This should ease the overall load for a bit, give me a break and hopefully get me back to a happy place with recovery.

[milythael]

I'm glad you figured it out.  I was contemplating a "what are your goals really" post, but hadn't figured it out yet.  It sounds like that is exactly where you went.  Good job, and I like what you came up with.

[Mad Hatter]

Another thing, are your classes all year round? Or do you have any other natural lulls? If you do maybe you could focus more on P2 then and for now make sure that everything serves circus purposes like you already figured out.

[Nymeria]

I'm glad you figured things out on your own.  Honestly, one of the biggest issues I have with the GMB programs, P90x, or just about any other strength building program is that they don't have advice for working around other strength intensive activities like aerials or climbing.  It would be nearly impossible for a person to do 2-3 times/week of circus training and also do a GMB program as written without risking injury and overtraining issues.  I think your best bet would be to go through both phases and just cherry pick the things you want to work on without worrying about the program as a whole.  And then on days where you're already tired and sore from your aerial stuff, you should just take rest days without worrying about the P2 at all.

 

I hope you let your muscles get some much needed rest! 

[milythael]

Honestly, one of the biggest issues I have with the GMB programs, P90x, or just about any other strength building program is that they don't have advice for working around other strength intensive activities like aerials or climbing.

 

To be fair, GMB is very happy to work with you if you have one of their programs and will suggest modifications you can make if you email them questions.  In fact, they specifically addressed the idea that their programs are for the average person, and will need modification if you aren't average in their latest podcast.

[Nymeria]

To be fair, GMB is very happy to work with you if you have one of their programs and will suggest modifications you can make if you email them questions.  In fact, they specifically addressed the idea that their programs are for the average person, and will need modification if you aren't average in their latest podcast.

 

Fair enough.  I guess I misspoke earlier in criticizing full time strength programs when the real issue is that it's tough to modify them in a manner so you can do two different full programs at the same time (like P2 and aerials) without overtraining.  I've been really intrigued by the GMB programs, and honestly, I've been more than a bit frustrated that I can't come up with a way to do them and still climb without having the climbing suffer horribly.  Maybe other people will have different experiences, but I've more or less concluded that if I'm doing 2-3 times/week of something strength intensive, like climbing, then any other strength work just needs to be supplemental work that patches whatever gaps I might have in my training. 

 

I'm not sure how much overtraining Thatgirljj is experiencing, but that's why I suggested just cherry picking through the P2 program, rather than making any attempt to actually follow the program.  But yeah, I didn't mean to criticize the GMB people.  They seem pretty awesome and helpful. 

[milythael]

Fair enough.  I guess I misspoke earlier in criticizing full time strength programs when the real issue is that it's tough to modify them in a manner so you can do two different full programs at the same time (like P2 and aerials) without overtraining.  I've been really intrigued by the GMB programs, and honestly, I've been more than a bit frustrated that I can't come up with a way to do them and still climb without having the climbing suffer horribly.  Maybe other people will have different experiences, but I've more or less concluded that if I'm doing 2-3 times/week of something strength intensive, like climbing, then any other strength work just needs to be supplemental work that patches whatever gaps I might have in my training. 

 

I'm not sure how much overtraining Thatgirljj is experiencing, but that's why I suggested just cherry picking through the P2 program, rather than making any attempt to actually follow the program.  But yeah, I didn't mean to criticize the GMB people.  They seem pretty awesome and helpful. 

I actually think cherry picking is a great idea.  I don't really think it is a flaw in strength programs that you can't do two high strength activities at once.  Evaluate your goals, and do what makes sense to support your goals.  This could be 1 day a week of strength cross training, if your volume of activity specific training is high, or it could be working out more often, but doing less.  Either way, support rest and recovery over volume, and make sure you don't burn out. (climbs off soapbox)