Mexican Slayride

[Hannibal]

Convict Conditioning is a workout program written by an ex-con. It's six body weight exercises that are what he used & taught people while he was in the pen. Supposed to get you to the point you can do one arm pushups, one arm pullups, one legged squats, handstand pushups, some ab exercise I can't recall right now, and a back bridge. I like it because it has 10 clear steps for each exercise with a beginning, a middle, and an end for each one. Just more programmatic than some of the body wight things on the main site.

[BarefootDawsy]

Is it the book by Paul "Coach" Wade?

[Hannibal]

Yep. That's the one.

[cacodaemonia]

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.

Psh, I don't think that counts. Cooking wine is a very useful ingredient in many meals. Besides, it's not like you're going to just bang it back, right?

Do you have a long commute each day? If so, you could focus on reading during that time.

[BarefootDawsy]

Got a copy of Convict Conditioning...seems like it makes a lot of sense...I'm really looking forward to trying out some of the bridging stuff

[Affienia]

Well you seem to be motoring along at the mid-way point hun.

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.

Maybe this is the case. One of the parts of goal setting is to make them realistic. Being able to meet them isn't just is is possible but also do you really want to.

[Hannibal]

Being able to meet them isn't just is is possible but also do you really want to.

Exactly what I was thinking. Looking back, I think my thought process going into the first challenge was to just come up with something. I didn't know what non-fitness things to go for, so I went for something that made sense at the time and managed to do in the end. Now on the second one, I just kind of recycled the previous goals even though the circumstances were different, not really thinking about if I was going to stick with it or not. Gives me something to think about for the next challenge.

Got a copy of Convict Conditioning...seems like it makes a lot of sense...I'm really looking forward to trying out some of the bridging stuff

I really like the ultimate goals in there. I hope I can get there.

Psh, I don't think that counts. Cooking wine is a very useful ingredient in many meals. Besides, it's not like you're going to just bang it back, right?

Do you have a long commute each day? If so, you could focus on reading during that time.

I don't just "bang it back." I put it in a glass first.

And reading on the train is a good idea, but to be honest I probably won't do it. My commute is about 45 minutes, so I have plenty of time. However, I tend to just listen to podcasts and space out. I'm not a morning person at all, and it usually takes me about 2 to 3 hours to really wake up and be with it enough to be able to understand what's going on around me. I'd just be dragging my eyes across the page.

[BarefootDawsy]

And reading on the train is a good idea, but to be honest I probably won't do it. My commute is about 45 minutes, so I have plenty of time. However, I tend to just listen to podcasts and space out. I'm not a morning person at all, and it usually takes me about 2 to 3 hours to really wake up and be with it enough to be able to understand what's going on around me. I'd just be dragging my eyes across the page.

Have you considered audiobooks? I used to read heaps but circumstances are such that I never have the time to just sit down and read. Now I listen to books whenever I leave the house to go shopping, commute, etc. There's heaps out there for free, and of course you can get them from the apple store. Have a look at Librivox if you're interested - it's got hundreds of free classics all read by volunteers.

[Hannibal]

That looks like a cool site. Looks like it'd be a good way to get some foreign language listening practice, too.

Book check-list: [✔ ] [ ] [ ]

Finished The Death Of WCW by Bryan Alvarez on Thursday night. Sure, it's not one I was reading at the start of the challenge, but I did finish it. Is it cheating? Maybe. But like Eddie Guerrero used to say, "if you're not cheating, you're not trying!"

I've got two weeks left to get two more done. Time is getting short, so I need to read, read, read and find someplace to go!

And on the conversation front, I had a nice talk with the art teacher at my school about her trip to Spain over summer break.

[Hannibal]

Started doing the Rebel Running Guide today. I'm trying to start the level 3, Rebel level. The first run was much easier than what I'm used to, and it was hard to stop after only 2 miles. I know it'll get harder from here, and that's why I chose this level to work on.

So far I'm not too keen on the warm ups. I don't have the space in my apartment to do them! I can't swing my legs because my tiny little Japanese apartment is too narrow, and I kept hitting either my futon, end table, or my desk/table. Very frustrating.

Also

Get out check-list: [✔] [✔] [ ]

I went and explored the Yokohama Bay area today. I've been around it, but not actually through it. Think of it as shaped like a baseball diamond. I've been all along the first and third base lines, and I've checked out most of the infield, but today I went through what would be the outfield. There's an amusement park. A shitty, trendy mall. Some nice parks along the waterfront, and I saw the Yokohama Oktoberfest. I was very tempted to grab a giant beer and a pretzel, but decided against it, what with the weight loss goals and all. There wasn't much in the area I hadn't been that was very interesting. On the way back I stopped by some of the other shopping areas in Sakuragicho and bought a few sweaters. I don't know why, but I never wore sweaters before last winter, and now I want to wear them all the time. I lived in Michigan for like 10 years. How did I miss out on the greatness of sweaters?

I also started tracking what I eat and counting calories from this past Tuesday. I was wondering why my weight loss had plateaued. I was still working hard, but I stopped at 94kg. Now I find out I'm taking in waaaay too many calories. I need to cut out about 1000 calories a day. I can do it, probably pretty easily. I need to stop eating those damn walnuts. Who would have known they were so high in calories? Almost 800 calories a day in damn walnuts. I'd just started eating more nuts in the past month or so. I think that was it. Also, I've been drinking a lot of milk, which I can and probably should cut out.

[cacodaemonia]

Started doing the Rebel Running Guide today. I'm trying to start the level 3, Rebel level. The first run was much easier than what I'm used to, and it was hard to stop after only 2 miles. I know it'll get harder from here, and that's why I chose this level to work on.

So far I'm not too keen on the warm ups. I don't have the space in my apartment to do them! I can't swing my legs because my tiny little Japanese apartment is too narrow, and I kept hitting either my futon, end table, or my desk/table. Very frustrating.

LOL, I hear ya! I'm pretty small by American standards, but I definitely know what you mean about cramped spaces in Japan. Our toilet room was sooooo tiny.

I bought the Running Guide as well, though I haven't had a chance to check it out just yet. Since running is part of my 6 week challenge I'll probably start somewhere in the Rebel Guide after the challenge is up.

I'm amazed you could find sweaters that fit you! Aside from Uniclo, I never had any luck buying clothing or shoes when we lived in Sapporo.

Keep us updated on the calorie changes.

[Hannibal]

One was from Uniclo, the other two were from H&M, which I guess is an American store. It was hard finding the bigger sizes, but they had them. Funny, they had loads of XS but very few XL. Shoes are even harder for me. I can find the size, but they're SO uncomfortable.

[Hannibal]

Book check-list: [✔] [✔] [ ]

Finished off One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn, a novel based on the authors experiences in the Soviet gulag. Great read. I'm really interested in the Soviet Union, especially the whole gulag system. I've had this book on my shelf for a couple years after I read The Gulag Archipelago and I'm glad I finally read it. Very fascinating. What a sad, bleak existence.

And sure, the book is only 139 pages. So what? I took the zek approach to this book; do as little work as possible to still meet your quotas. With a mindset like that, I might have had a chance in the gulag!

Also, found out I run about a 24 minute 5k.

And since I dropped all the milk and walnuts from my diet I've cut about 1000 calories.

[BarefootDawsy]

Good choice with Solzhenitsyn, he's an amaizing writer...very insightful into a particularly dark part of Russian history. I'd recommend Cance Ward too if you liked his other writings. If you're enjoying the Russian literature, I'd also recommend Mikhail Bulgakov's 'The Master and Margherita'. It's hard to describe, but one of my favourite Russian books of all time.

[cacodaemonia]

This is what I have to say about your most recent post: HOO-AH!

Seriously though, great job tackling all these goals. Your 5K time seems really good! One of my housemates, who is a pretty hardcore distance runner, does a 5K in just under 20, I think.

[Hannibal]

Thanks. I feel like I'm doing well now that I've finished two of the three books and two of the three "get out" goals. Sure, the Japanese goal is a wash, but I think I can manage As in the others now.

And as for the run, I'm surprised I ran it as quickly as I did. I hope I can have a better time in December, when I wrap up the 10 week Running Guide workout plan.

I like Russian literature. The Master And Margarita sounds good. I just book marked it on Amazon, and hope to go back & get it for my Kindle after I get through some of the other ones I've already bought.

[Hannibal]

Get out check-list: [✔] [✔] [✔]

Today ended up being a half-day. All the teachers went to other schools to watch demo lessons, and I, not being a full-fledged teacher and under no obligation to attend said demos, I had the afternoon free. Being as far from fluent in Japanese as I am, I was completely unaware of this until about an hour before I left work. Even though I am a little disappointed I couldn't catch that earlier, I was still very happy and found it a pleasant surprise.

My first instinct was to just head to Kannai, sit in Starbucks and read until my Japanese lesson at 6:00. I'd be working toward a goal, and I'd downtown for my lesson. However, I didn't know if I could read for four hours then deal with learning Japanese for an hour and a half. My second instinct was to head home and surf the net. Pretty much what I always do and damn boring. But as I was coming back from the bathroom to the teachers' room I saw a poster put up by the art teacher promoting the Yokohama Triennale. I missed the Kobe Biennale back in '09, and decided checking out what Yokohama Museum had to offer would be time better spent. I'd have four hours to make my way through the museum, and I'd be able to knock off that last "get out" goal I have. Plus, I'd be right downtown for my lesson.

The museum itself was very impressive. I've walked by it dozens of times, and from the street it looks small, but it's actually quite big. And the works they have on display were fantastic. I've been to enough museums and I've seen enough "classic" works of art to be completely bored with most works pre-1900. Especially since all those rich Japanese businessmen bought up so many Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings back in the 80's bubble. If I ever see another pastel color waterlily I just might throw up on it. Luckily for me just about everything on display was contemporary. The only exceptions being a couple surrealist paintings from the '40s, notably Max Ernst and René Magritte both of whom I'm already quite fond of, and some old ghost/monster themed pieces from pre-1900 Japan and some old Japanese monster movie posters. Some other good works by Tiger Tateishi, Ataru Sato, Mike Kelley, Tetsuya Ishida, and Lyota Yagi, who did some awesome stuff with records. Yagi would use a playing record in lieu of a potter's wheel, sculpting small pots and bowls, record it and re-play it on a flat screen TV. As he'd put pressure on the clay, it'd slow the record down causing the sound to distort, making a kind of minimalist piece of music. The finished product was okay, but the video of the process was beautiful. And Tiger Tateishi's paintings were so colorful and stunning. Mesmerizing. If you have a couple minutes, go back up to the link I put up in the last paragraph, go to the "artist" section, and scroll down to Tateishi's profile pic. It's a small picture, but it kind of gives a sense of what the piece was like.

Ah, I'd like to keep writing, but I need to get to bed and get some sleep. Bottom line, I'm so glad I decided to do something today instead of sit on my ass. This was the point of this goal, and definitely the best of the three thing I did.

***

Edit: Duh, I'll just post a pic and save anyone interested the trouble. Here's one of the Tateishi paintings they had:

The colors are so amazingly vibrant in person.

[cacodaemonia]

If I ever see another pastel color waterlily I just might throw up on it.

Haha, word! That and lighthouses (I lived in Rhode Island for four years). Barf.

Congrats on getting that last outing in. It sounds like it was a blast, and Tateishi's painting is blowing my mind. The other artists featured on the site look really cool, too. I love the wooden sculpture by Jeon Joonho and the dragon by Mori Osamu... Whoa, and Sato Ataru's drawing and Sugimoto Hiroshi's... not sure what that is. But it's awesome.

[Hannibal]

Final report for six week challenge, September 5th to October 17

It's the evening of October 16th and since I started on the 5th of September, today is the last day of the challenge for me. So here's my final report card. Let's see how I did.

Fitness

1. Keep running 3 times a week.

Done and done. This one was no sweat at all, and I am constantly amazed by the fact that I enjoy running as much as I do. An easy A, no doubt.

Running: A

2. Continue doing body weight exercises three times a week.

This one wasn't as good as the first goal, or even the first challenge. I got off to a good start, but really fizzled out in the last weeks. Instead of three times a week I only did it once or twice. Like I've said elsewhere, I don't seem to be enjoying these so much. They're kind of boring and hard. Meh. I know I should be doing them so I'm not going to quit or anything, but lately I've been doing really shitty here. Not a total failure, but not a success either.

Body weight: CB

3. Further refine my diet.

Let's see, I've upped the chicken and cut down on fatty red meats, but no more fish. I've been eating smaller portions. I only broke my diet a couple times, and when I did eat carb-heavy foods it was because I was served them, not because I bought them and cooked them myself. From day one on this diet, I've said that I'll still eat carb-heavy foods when I'm served them, so that's not a problem. I cut out the milk and the load of nuts I was eating, cutting out about 1000 calories a day. I've been taking leftovers to work four days a week. I don't have time to cook on Wednesdays, so there's no leftovers on Thursday to be eaten. Not perfect, but pretty damn good.

Diet: BA

4. I will not buy anymore alcohol.

I bought a bottle of Marsala wine, and I've actually ended up using most of it for cooking. I'm shocked at myself on that one. I thought for sure I'd end up drinking all of it.

Alcohol: BA

Non-fitness

1. Get out

[✔] [✔] [✔]

Just to recap, I went to Akihabara on the 17th, I walked around the Minato Mirai area of Yokohama on the 2nd, and on 12th I went to two art museums here in Yokohama. The third one was definitely the best of the lot. I really enjoyed it. The first two were only okay. Akiba wasn't that interesting for me and turns out I'd already been to most of Minato Mirai. The best part of those two was buying the sweaters. Yes, that's how lame they were. The art was great, though. Loved that.

Get out: A

2. Study Japanese.

Well, this was pretty much a bust. I think I managed to maintain that D I gave myself mid-term. I did just enough to not completely fail, but not enough to bring up my grade. I won't be repeating this course next term.

Japanese: D

3. Japanese conversation

This one went a little better than the studying, but not perfectly. I've been more talkative in the past six weeks, but still pretty far off the "one a day" ideal I had at the start.

Japanese conversation: C

4. Reading

[✔] [✔] [✔]

Did it! I had to cheat a little bit by blasting through a couple smaller books (The Death of WCW and One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich), and just this evening, about an hour ago, I finally finished The Christian Delusion: Why Faith Fails. Some interesting articles, and an enjoyable read. I'm really happy I got all three done. A challenge for sure, and one I think I might do again for the next six weeks.

Reading: A

Overall GPA: 3.06, or a B.

This was pretty much the exact same grade I earned last time, which is a little disappointing, although a B is a good grade. One good thing is, I did manage to bring it up in the second half. Nice to see I finished slightly stronger than I started, but not enough to earn me the Nerd Fitness t-shirt I had set as my reward. The fitness side of things was a little better than the non-fitness, just like last time, although not as strong. It's a shame I fizzled out on the body weight exercises the last few weeks.

Now I get to start planning out the next six week challenge. Picking new goals is fun, and I've got a few decent ideas in mind.

[cacodaemonia]

Hey, your B is pretty impressive considering all the goals you've had! Seriously, you've accomplished a lot in the past six weeks, and exercised a lot of restraint. And for what it's worth, reading your running posts has really helped motivate me for my runs.

[Hannibal]

I'm pretty satisfied with it. I could have done better, but I'm happy with my results.

And I'm glad to hear what I'm doing is motivating you. I never would have thought that would happen.