Mexican Slayride

[Hannibal]

Goals for six week challenge, September 5th to October 17

Fitness:

1. Keep running 3 times a week. I'm going to be doing interval running, the first four weeks are 30 seconds hard, 2 minutes easy. Over the course of said four weeks, I intend to push myself to increase the intensity of each set. So in the first few weeks, if I run hard for 30 seconds, and weeks five and six I cut the recovery time down to 1:30. I'll also be jogging before & after as a warm up and cool down. I'm toying with the idea of having one of my three running days be endurance only, and try to get my max time up to 40 minutes.

2. Continue doing bodyweight exercises three times a week. I'm doing three sets at a time now, and I'd like to get up to four, then up the difficulty. So, first two weeks will be three days, three sets. Then the second two weeks, three days, four sets. Then the last two weeks I want to do four sets, three days a week, with raised difficulty. Raise my feet for the pushups, add a weighted backpack for my squats & other exercises, or something like that.

3. Further refine my diet. I've been doing well eating somewhat Paleo, and I want to keep it up. Not only keep it up, but I want to cut down on the fatty meats I've been eating. I know some fat is good for you, but some of the greasy, fatty meat I've been eating leave me feeling ill. I only eat meat with dinner, and I'd like to only eat red meat once a week. Keep the rest as fish, chicken, and veggies. I think the fish part is important. I feel good when I eat fish, and there's lots of really good fish to be bought here. I'd like to learn how to cook fish other than just grilling it. I also plan on making my lunch every day. No more buying overpriced salads from convenience stores. Also, I want to start working on portion control. I'm still eating a lot and I want to start using my smaller bowls.

4. I will not buy anymore alcohol. I'm going to go out with friends twice, and going to a wedding. I'll give myself a pass on those. I also have some scotch that I bought a while ago, that's almost gone. Once it's gone, it's gone. I won't buy more this 6 Week Challenge.

Non-fitness:

1. Get out more. I think I might be overly sensitive to this one based off of how I spent my summer vacation (locked in my apartment trying to keep cool and studying, studying, studying), but I want to get out and experience some of what this wonderful part of the world has to offer. At least three times over the six week period, not counting plans that I've already made, I want to get out and do something on the weekend. And one day = one time, so I won't allow myself to do two thing in one day and count that as two things. There are loads of museums in Yokohama and Tokyo. I want to go to one. There's Kamakura just south of here. Loads of historical places and famous landmarks. There's hiking just north of here, near Hachioji. Something. Anything. GET OUT!

Get out check-list: [ ] [ ] [ ]

2. Study Japanese. I've done well this past six weeks studying math and German, but have done NOTHING with my Japanese. I'm taking lessons now, and I need to work hard to stay on top of the subjects we're learning. It's an intermediate level class, and the pace is quite quick. Furthermore, I need to sign up for and prepare to pass the N3, as I failed it in August. I plan on following my text book for my class. I plan on using my kanji flash cards. I want to finish all the cards I've marked off as "N3" by December 1st. Not just practice, but FINISH.

3. One big Japanese related goal: I want to have at least one conversation in Japanese a day at work. I can do well reading & writing, but my listening & speaking suck. My coworkers are nice, friendly people and I set a goal to speak to them in Japanese everyday. This is something I desperately need to do, and I know it'll get easier and easier as time goes on. I'm a quiet person by nature and I don't talk too much in English, but if I don't start working on speaking Japanese I'll never be able to improve.

4. I want to read at least three books this six weeks. I've started reading five different books, but I've not been able to finish them. So I'll read every day, take my kindle to work & read on my lunch break, and get it done. I like to read, I just very rarely do.

Book check-list: [ ] [ ] [ ]

*****************************************************************

I started today. I've already ran, which is good. I kept my dinner portions small, which is good. I used Japanese a little bit at work. Not as much as I'd have liked, but I did use it a bit. With some of my students, oddly enough. I haven't studied yet. Studying regularly is probably going to be one of my harder challenges, as I have very little motivation right now. That's the main reason why I set this as a goal. I know I won't do it otherwise.

Enough talk. Time to study.

*****************************************************************

Edit: Reading TomKai's thread I just remembered I also wanted to set a reward for myself this challenge. If I get a better average than last time (above a 3.07, or a , I'll get a Nerd Fitness shirt.

[Affienia]

Those are some cracking goals hun, you can so do this. I particularly like none fitness number 3. What books do you want to read over the next 6 weeks?

Why is studying the one you have no motivation for?

[Hannibal]

I think the reason I have no motivation for studying is good ole' fashioned burn out. I've been working pretty hard at Japanese since 2006. They have a standardized test, and I passed level 3 almost two years ago (1 is highest), which at the time I felt was a huge accomplishment. At the time my job sucked, and I was basically getting paid to study six hours a day then go read some flashcards in class. Wasn't a bad deal for learning, but once I got past the test I felt less motivation to study, then moved here where my job is a lot busier (I haven't had any time to study an hour at work this year, much less six) and all the wind left my sails. They reorganized the test format, so my level 3 has been bumped down to a 4, and I found out I failed the new 3. Not surprising at all, really. Plus, I'm finally getting around to "leveling up my life" and leaving Japan, and I doubt I'll be needing Japanese in my future. That's a shitty excuse, I know, but it does have a psychological impact. It's easier to give up something you want than something you feel you need.

I am trying to re-motivate though.

tl;dr I'm burned out, hit a plateau and I'm questioning my need for the language.

As for the books, I'm at least partially through The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism At The Heart of American Power; The King James Bible; The Christian Delusion: Why Faith Fails; The Spanish Civil War; and a biography of Joseph Goebbles. They're all massive, so it's going to be a huge challenge to get through three of them.

My family always made fun of me for having an odd taste in books. I haven't the slightest notion why.

[Affienia]

Them's some mighty books! Good luck with them.

I can see why you would struggle for the motivation on the studying. However even if you are planning on leaving Japan having the language, to a tested level, will be a huge advantage in many areas of your future I'm sure. Plus, think of the NF shirt hehehehe

[Loren Wade]

This looks fantastic! You're going to do great, man!

[BarefootDawsy]

Nice goals - Let me know what you're doing for your bodyweight stuff - I'm doing something similar I think...

[Hannibal]

Thanks for the encouragement, everyone. I appreciate it.

Dawsy, I've been doing the Advanced Body Weight Workout, although slightly modified, since the last challenge. Wanting a change, I tried the Angry Birds tonight. I think I'll probably stick with the former, unless I'm stuck for time like I was tonight.

Day two, and I'm off to a decent start. I ate smaller portions tonight, did some body weight exercises, and studied a little Japanese. I didn't have any conversations today, unfortunately. One area where I fell short. That one is going to take me a while to get used to.

Now off to read a bit, before bed.

[Crooked]

Awesome goals. I've heard The Family is fascinating.

[tomkai]

Nice goals! Looks like the weather can't knock one of them out for you this time too. I used to do interval runs all the time when training for soccer and just got back to it. That stuff is killer! Good luck! You're gonna demolish it.

[FiendFyre]

Sounds like you're off to an awesome start. Getting into conversations can be tough, even when you have people handy to talk to. I haven't read The Christian Delusion, but I read a few short essays by Richard Dawkins (who writes in the same vein) and they were some dense reading, and very thought provoking.

[Hannibal]

Crooked: I'm not too far into The Family, only one or two chapters maybe. I've already learned some interesting things though, about the history of the American Evangelical movement, and how it ties into the Family.

Tomkai: Sure, the weather can't stop me, but if I fail, it's 100% on me this time. Sure, it was on me last time, but I at least had the weather to blame. I could have still done it. Hence the F grade. And so far, the interval running has been killer. I find I do well on the first few sprints and the last one, but 4 & 5 are pure hell.

FiendFyre: I've read The God Delusion. It was pretty good, and laid out his case pretty well. Dawkins also did a pretty good documentary with the same name that was entertaining. The Christian Delusion is a collection of shorter essays from various writers. It's also pretty dense, but educational. A lot of stuff dealing with anthropology/sociology, psychology and the like.

Challenge update: Like last time, I'm doing better with the fitness goals than I am with the life goals. To change things up, I started doing the Convict Conditioning workouts instead of the Advanced Body Weight one I'd been doing. Only one day so far, but I like it. See how things go. And I had a good run tonight. I can't wait for fall to come though. It's still brutal when the sun is out.

[cacodaemonia]

Wow, yeah, I can see why your fitness goals are giving you less trouble than the life goals. I passed 2-kyuu in 2005, but since moving back to the US in 2007 my Japanese has gotten super rusty. When are you planning to leave Japan? If you think it will be fairly soon, will it be worth your while to put so much time into studying Japanese? Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that you want to study more, but I guess I'm wondering if it is important enough to devote time to.

[Affienia]

Hey hun. How's the getting out part of your goals doing?

[EvanW]

Getting out and speaking Japanese will be a two for one! Not to mention it will be a blast!

I just moved back to NYC from a 9 month stint in rural Honduras. It could be tough to motivate myself to speak with the rural hondurans whom I didn't understand well, but I always had an awesome time when I forced myself to do it!!!!

[Hannibal]

Wow, yeah, I can see why your fitness goals are giving you less trouble than the life goals. I passed 2-kyuu in 2005, but since moving back to the US in 2007 my Japanese has gotten super rusty. When are you planning to leave Japan? If you think it will be fairly soon, will it be worth your while to put so much time into studying Japanese? Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that you want to study more, but I guess I'm wondering if it is important enough to devote time to.

I'm planning on leaving in two years. Seems like a long time, but I when I think of how quickly the past two years, and the two years before that went past, I think it'll just zip by. And is it worth my time? I've been asking myself that a lot lately. It's something that I want, but I don't know if I want it bad enough to put in the effort needed to be where I want to be. Like I've said in a couple different posts, I'm really struggling with motivation on that one.

Hey hun. How's the getting out part of your goals doing?

I've not done anything to specifically meet that goal yet. One of the keys of that goal is, "not counting plans that I've already made." I went out to meet some old friends, two of whom I've not seen in a year and a half, drank heavily and had fun in Shuijuku. Problem is, it was planned six months ago. Doesn't count. I had an AWESOME time, though!

Getting and speaking Japanese will be a two for one! Not to mention it will be a blast!

I just moved back to NYC from a 9 month stint in rural Honduras. It could be tough to motivate myself to speak with the rural hondurans whom I didn't understand well, but I always had an awesome time when I forced myself to do it!!!!

Yeah, I know what you mean. The more I learn, the more I get out of things, and the deeper my understanding is. Unfortunately, doing so is going against every natural inclination I have.

Update to challenge:

Fitness is pretty much going as planned. I've been running fine, aside from skipping a scheduled day due to hangover. I can rearrange my workouts to still get in three runs this week, though. Still on target.

I've been up to snuff on these body weight exercises. Some are easier than I expected, some harder. It's a new program, so I've still got a lot to adjust.

Diet was HORRIBLE on Saturday & Sunday. I knew it would be, so I'm not upset by it, but it was probably the worst day, diet-wise I've had since I started dieting three months ago. Worth it. Back on the "good" diet now, so all's well that ends well.

Drinks? Used up one of my free passes.

Japanese? I'm maybe at a C- minus at this point. Like I said, no motivation. I've got two lessons tomorrow, back to back, and I'm pretty sure it's going to suck.

I already addressed getting out.

Conversation wise, I've had more than average. Try to do a little more each day. I need to step it up on this one.

Books? Doing alright. I'm reading regularly at lunch and at night. Three in six weeks is going to be very hard, just based on the size of the books I so foolishly selected. Bah, it's a challenge! If it weren't hard it wouldn't be challenging!

[Affienia]

I had an AWESOME time, though!

Surely that's what counts, right?

[cacodaemonia]

I'm planning on leaving in two years. Seems like a long time, but I when I think of how quickly the past two years, and the two years before that went past, I think it'll just zip by. And is it worth my time? I've been asking myself that a lot lately. It's something that I want, but I don't know if I want it bad enough to put in the effort needed to be where I want to be. Like I've said in a couple different posts, I'm really struggling with motivation on that one.

Well two years is still quite a while! Better speaking skills would certainly help you in the "getting out and having fun" department.

パソコンで日本語が書ける？会話とかやってみよう？

[Hannibal]

はい、会話しましょう！

2007年帰ったけど、まだ勉強しているか？もし僕は4年前日本出ったら、止めたかもしれない。

Surely that's what counts, right?

I can't argue with that. Besides, one day or one weekend isn't going to completely ruin my progress.

[Hannibal]

Get out check-list: [✔] [ ] [ ]

For my first venture out & about, I decided what better way to start this challenge here on Nerd Fitness than by going to one of the great Nerd Holy Lands, Akihabara. Electronics, maid cafes and unwashed otaku as far as the eye can see! I wandered around the back alleys for a couple hours, took in the sights and even bought a new external hard disk. Today was the first time I've been there in about five years. If it's five more until the next time I go back, I won't complain.

I have a few friends who love that place. They go there every week or two. Maybe I've grown up or matured (yeah, right. I just asked my mom for a Big Boss Man & Akeem the African Dream t-shirt for Christmas.), but I just don't get video games and comics anymore, at least as an all-consuming passion. These guys skip work to go to all night video game parties, whereas I might replay The Legend of Zelda if I get bored & the weather is crappy. They'll discuss the finer points of GTO. I'll read the odd comic here or there, but I'm no longer a collector, and I don't particularly care for manga. Not to mention I can't stand anime, and they're always going on about some nonsense show or another. The only thing I really enjoyed was going into a couple toy stores and seeing some old figures from years gone by that I used to play with. They had some Star Wars figures still in the packages (tempted to buy the R2D2), some Transformers, Kinniku Man stuff, and an old WCW/NWO Hulk Hogan & Dennis Rodman figure set. A fun little nostalgia trip, but nothing else. I'm not trying to put the whole otaku culture down, I just don't get it. I know everyone has their "thing." Some people are into football, some snowboarding, some Star Trek. I consider myself a nerd, but not an "Aki-ba" kind of nerd.

The only thing I will denigrate them over is the smell. Seriously guys, put the keyboards down and take a shower. Soap is your friend. You will not rust! You're not a robot, cyborg or a computer. You won't ruin your motherboard or anything.

But it is interesting to note that whether you're in some back-alley electronics shop in Tokyo or a Magic: The Gathering tournament in Kalamazoo, Michigan, unwashed nerds smell the same.

[cacodaemonia]

Haha, I hear ya! I used to be really into anime, manga, video games, etc., but now I'm pretty much where you are. Though I have to admit, I am looking forward to Skyrim (the new Elder Scrolls game) in November...

いや、今は勉強していない。日本に行く前は３年間ぐらい勉強して、札幌に住んでいる３年間も勉強していた。ハニバルは日本に行く前勉強したの？日本語では一番難しい部分は？私には、話すのが一番難しい。わあぁ、日本語文保は下手になってしまったぁ。。。

[Affienia]

The only thing I will denigrate them over is the smell. Seriously guys, put the keyboards down and take a shower. Soap is your friend. You will not rust! You're not a robot, cyborg or a computer. You won't ruin your motherboard or anything.

Might have snorted coffee everywhere

[Hannibal]

前にはぜんぜん勉強しなかった。とりあえず、山形市に住んだときもあまり勉強しなかった。2007年位真面目に勉強を始まった。

自分の弱点は語彙です。単語がいつも忘れているから会話のするときに自信がない。もし文法で間違えたら、本当に気にしない。

[Garth]

Hannibal, how are you feeling about the challenge so far? Seems like you've been doing pretty well.

Still on target with the runs and bodyweight workouts?

[Hannibal]

Hannibal, how are you feeling about the challenge so far? Seems like you've been doing pretty well.

Still on target with the runs and bodyweight workouts?

Thanks for asking that question! It reminded we're about half way through the challenge, so that means it's time for a mid-term report card.

Fitness

1. Running

I've been doing fine with this. The intervals are getting easier, and I ran for 36 minutes yesterday. So I'm not only going faster, but running for longer. The longer runs are hard on my knee though. The weak joint has kept me from running as much as I want. I won't lower my grade for that though. It's physical weakness in the joint, not mental or muscular, and overcoming the mental laziness is far more important to me.

A

2. Body Weight

I started that Convict Conditioning program and I've stuck with it so far. The exercises are challenging in only in the number of their repetitions. Doing well, and improving. *Pushups went from 30/25/25 to 40/40/40; knee tucks from 20/10/9 to 20/20/20; vertical pulls from 40/40/40 to 50/50/50/50 and I'm going to move on to exercise two tonight; jackknife squats 20/20/20 to 20/20/25 (not much improvement. I don't know why I didn't push myself harder here); bridges 30/30/30 to 50/50/50/50 & I'm going to move on this week; and wall stands are still the same at 30 seconds where I'm not even all the way up. Those scare me, and I can't get my second foot off the floor.

*tl,dr: consistent work and steady improvement.

A

3. Diet

My portions hare a little smaller, and I'm consistently using smaller bowls. I don't have smaller plates, so no way to judge there. Also, less fried stuff. It's not quite where I want it to be, but it's better.

BA

4. Buying alcohol

Does cooking wine count? If so, I guess I fail, as I bought a bottle of Marsala wine to make chicken Marsala. But no Scotch, sake or cognac, which was my main goal.

B

Non-fitness

1. Get out

I've been out once out of the three times I'm shooting for. I'm formulating a plan for this weekend. I have Monday off, so I might go somewhere then. This is the third weekend of the challenge, and I had a lot of plans the first weekend, did something the second. If I go out tomorrow or Monday, things are perfect here and I'll be well on my way to reaching this goal.

A

2. Study Japanese

I've only touched my kanjii cards to dust them, and outside of my lessons I've not done much. Some, but not much. Like I said, no motivation.

D

3. Japanese conversation

Everyday? No. More than before? Yes. I wish I could get over myself and step up on this one.

C

4. Reading

Well, I have been reading, but nowhere near fast enough or just simply enough. I'll be lucky to finish one book, let alone three. I'm thinking about cheating and reading three short, easy books just to give myself a pass on this one. Kind of hard when the three books I chose have 1281, 936 and 422 pages and I'm only reading about 50 pages or so a day. Too busy watching El Santo movies to read!

C

GPA: 2.9375 or a little under a B.

Much like the last challenge, I'm doing fine with the fitness part, but struggling with the life goals part. I'm thinking my problem might be that I'm choosing inappropriate goals. I get hyped up about something and think I can do it, then that momentary enthusiasm wanes and I'm left with a low grade. However, there's nothing I'm doing so poorly in that I can't turn it around. I might not give myself an A in the Japanese department by the end, but I can at least bring it up to a B. I can certainly step up the other two non-fitness goals I'm sucking at. If I can bring up two of my grades I think my average will go up enough to earn me that Nerd Fitness t I set as a goal for myself.

[BarefootDawsy]

So what's this 'convict conditioning' program anyways? Sounds like you're going well....