My first challenge..

[Knurdle]

I've been doing a mix of the basic and advanced bodyweight circuit that Steve posted for almost a month now and it's been working great.

Plus I've changed my diet quite a bit. Not quite paleo but I've cut out a lot of carbs for me and it's made a big difference.

I just bought the Rebel Strength Guide last night so I still need to read through it and figure out what I can get out of it.

My fitness goals. I'm doing all bodyweight/dumbbell stuff at home.

1) 10 pullups (5 currently)

2) Workout 4x a week. I'm currently only doing it 3x a week.

3) Start jumping rope, at least once a week.

My end goal is to be able to do handstand pushups but I know that's a long ways off.

Diet Goals

1) Drink less beer. I work at a startup with friends and it happens way too often that'll we go out for lunch and get a beer. I need to skip those beers. Totally empty calories and I do it more out of being with the crowd. Totally unnecessary.

2) Try intermittent fasting once. I'm going to try skipping breakfast/lunch once this challenge and reassess how I feel. Might do it more if I find it useful.

Life Goals

1) Work on my linkedin profile. I have no plans for looking for a job anytime soon but when I want a new job, I don't want to have to scramble. I want the job to come to me, not to have to hunt for the job.

2) Sleep more. Get to bed before 12 as much as possible especially if I'm at home and just putzing around on the computer.

These are my basic goals. I think I'll probably refine and add to them more as I read the RSG more. Would love to hear suggestions on it.

Updating this with starting stats.

Neck 15

Chest 37

Bicep 11.5

Waist 34

Weight 160lbs

[Aejaxe]

Hey, my first challenge too!

For fasting and general weight lost inspiration [i'm assuming you're losing and not gaining if you're fasting... correct?] check out Be Ninja's thread. Besides transforming into a ninja, he seems to be a bit of an advocate of fasting. There's a couple good links about it on his blog.

Thread:

http://nerdfitness.com/community/showthread.php?4198-Be-Ninja-Reporting-for-Duty!-And-personal-30-day-get-ripped-challenge

His blog:

www.bemyninja.com

[Knurdle]

Hey, my first challenge too!

For fasting and general weight lost inspiration [i'm assuming you're losing and not gaining if you're fasting... correct?] check out Be Ninja's thread. Besides transforming into a ninja, he seems to be a bit of an advocate of fasting. There's a couple good links about it on his blog.

Thread:

http://nerdfitness.com/community/showthread.php?4198-Be-Ninja-Reporting-for-Duty!-And-personal-30-day-get-ripped-challenge

His blog:

www.bemyninja.com

Thanks for the links.

I already have his blog in my reader. It's really inspirational.

I'm really more maintaining, not really gaining or losing. I'm happy with my weight, just would like to gain muscle and lose the flub from my midsection.

I'm 5'10", 160lbs.

[aLuko]

Hey Knurdle! This is my first challenge as well and one of my goals is to do 10 pull ups too. What kind of exercises are you doing for them?

[Knurdle]

I'm just doing pull ups. I do as many as I can and then I do a couple more negatives. I did 6 chinups today but those are always easier than pullups for me.

Hey Knurdle! This is my first challenge as well and one of my goals is to do 10 pull ups too. What kind of exercises are you doing for them?

[OldBacon]

Knurdle! My first challenge too! I also just got Steve's strength program. I am finally doing Paleo fairly well, but, like you, beer was one of the toughest things to drop. Love me some beer!

Do this! Get some sleep. Best too you.

[Knurdle]

Posting my workouts in here to keep me accountable.

Did these in a circuit.

pullups(declines) 5(2),4(2),3(2)

squat/lunge combo 14,12,10

close hand pushups 7,2.5,4

one and one plank 20,14,10

Man, those squat lunge combos are harder than they sound.

I think I'm doing the close hand pushups wrong. I keep hearing my elbows popping. I need to watch some videos on those.

The one and one planks are killer. I could not get my balance. When people do them in videos, it looks way easier. hah! Silly me for under estimating them.

[Knurdle]

Workout for today.

chinups 6.5(2),4(2),3(2)

prisoner squats 40,35,26

close hand pushups 5,3,3

plank 80,65,60

I think I need to go back to basics. I'm a little embarrassed that I can do so few close hand pushups.

I guess I just need to keep doing more and more of them.

Diet has been all over the place but it's still better than before. No beers at all this week though I've been drinking some wine.

[Knurdle]

Been really busy with life in general. Work, stuff at home, friends visiting.

I've been just trying to workout when I can so that means 11pm sometimes and I'm breaking up the workouts to be shorter.

Diet has also been all over the place but it's still in check.

I've noticed that I make bad food choices when I'm hungry so the key is to not get hungry and just eat constantly.

I got some almonds and I've been munching on those all the time.

Also been going back to basics with the workouts and really watching my form and doing them slowly.

9/15/11 (Morning)

squats 20,20,20,20

9/14/11 (Night)

knee tucks 25,20,20,15

9/13/11(Night)

chinups 6(2),4(2),2(2),2(2)

pushups 10,9,6,5

2 minute between sets

Tired, late night last night and then my daughter kept waking up so didn't get a lot of sleep.

9/11/11

pullups 6,3.5(3),2.5(2),1(2)

knee tucks 20,15,13,13

pushups 14,9,8,5

squats 25,20,20,15

Really worked on doing everything with proper form. Pushups were done shoulder width apart and hands at chest level.

2 minute between sets.

[Knurdle]

New PR on chinups yesterday. 7.5, almost got to 8. I'm a little bit sore this morning but it feels good.

I've had a little bit of a sinus infection or something all last week and it's been kicking my butt.

Finally got a good night sleep last night after I took some decongestion meds that knocked me out.

9/18/11 (Morning)

chinups 7.5,4(2),2(2),1(2)

pushups 12,8,9,7

knee tucks 20,15,15,15

9/17/11

No workout but we had a block party in the neighborhood and I was carrying my daughter around for a good couple of hours. On top of that, took her for a long walk in her stroller.

So I was carrying around ~28lbs all day. Not a traditional workout but my left arm was sore by the end of the day and I was pooped.

[Knurdle]

Just here to update my workouts and progress.

I've been doing really well with eating well and not overeating. Making good food choices when I eat out.

I weighed myself yesterday and I was my lightest I've been in maybe 2.5 years which isn't important in itself but still surprising.

I hit 158.4lbs. I need to take measurements as well but the pictures I've been taking have been showing progress.

I attempted to try intermittent fasting but I was so hungry, I couldn't concentrate at work. I'm not sure if I can do it.

It's also been a total failure in terms of jump rope. I swear I had a jump rope but I haven't been able to find it in the garage. It's one of those things I kept seeing around but then I can't find when I want it.

9/25/11(Evening)

chinups 6.5,5,4,3

pushups 17,13,10,7

9/22/11 (Night)

knee tucks 30,30,22,15

9/21/11 (Night)

pushups 13,11,9,7

pullups 4(2),3(2),2.5(2),1.5(2)

9/20/11 (Morning)

squats 25,20,20,20

[Knurdle]

Been lazy about updating this thread but I'm still going.

Still losing weight. Down to 157lbs this morning and getting stronger.

I hit a PR of 9 chinups a few days ago. My goal was 10 pullups but those have been slower to come along.

I've been getting bored with my routine so I'm trying new things. Did a circuit thing yesterday to try something new.

Also, I've been trying to read more. I feel like for most of the exercises, I'm adding endurance but not getting stronger.

So I think I need to step it up to the next level.

10/7/11 (Morning)

(1 pullup, 2 pushups, 3 squats) = 1 round.

Did 16 rounds in 10 mins.

10/5/11 (Morning)

chinups 9,6

squats 40,30

pushups 15,13

lunges 20,20

3 mins between circuits.

10/3/11 (Night)

Knee tucks 35,35,25

10/1/11 (Afternoon)

pullups 6,6,3

squats 40,25,20

pushups 19,14,12

lunges 20,15,10

Did a circuit, 3 mins between circuits.

9/29/11 (Night)

Pushups 11,11,13,11,13

Trying to put my hands closer and closer together.

9/28/11 (Night)

Knee tucks 35,30,25,20

9/27/11 (Night)

chinups 8(4),4(4),3(4),1(2)

3mins between sets of chinups. New chinup PR.

9/26/11 (Night)

squats 40,40,40,30

Practiced frogstands. Holding it for maybe 5 seconds.

[Knurdle]

10/18/11 (Morning)

9 pullups - New PR!

10/17/11 (Morning)

pushups 15,12,15

close squats 25,20,20

knee tucks 20,20,15

planks 60,60,60

10/16/11 (Morning)

7 pullups

10/15/11 (Afternoon)

10 chinups - New PR!

10/14/11 (Morning)

8 chinups

10/13/11 (Night)

pullups 7

knee tucks 25

flat bent leg raises 20x3

10/13/11 (Morning)

chinups 9.5

close squats 30,25,20

pushups 15,12,12

10/12/11 (Evening)

pullups 8

close pushups throughout the day 6-8 at a time.

10/9/11 (Evening)

pullups 8,7,4

close squats 25,25,21

close pushups 9,7,5

lunges 10,10,10

knee tucks 20,20,15

3 mins between circuit