IronGlider's Bodyware & OS - Challenge 5 Alive!

[IronGlider]

 

Introduction
Welcome to my 5th challenge! To recap, I'm 23, from the UK finishing up on University and preparing for big change in my life. Before 03/10/2013, I've always been overweight/obese for my age for as long as I can recall. This isn't my first time I've attempted for change, as in prior years I've struggled from balance, pressure, eating the right things (I'm vegetarian btw!) etc.

 

...but I've been trying to make this third strike count!

 

So, as of my last 9ish months in my post-NF life I have been documenting my progress + successfully completed four challenges and have currently lost 65.8lbs (over 3 quarters!) and I hope to keep that up in order to fulfil my current main quest, reach my BMI-intended weight range (175lbs - 165lbs)

 

I kid you not when I say that discovering NerdFitness has been the best thing for my health and wellbeing, it's transformed my perspective, my approach... and me! This is well and truly the furthest I've ever gone, and (so far) I already feel great! I just need to slay this dragon and then move to the next!

Picture Progress: (Instead of posting every single month here, I'll just put the starting and current/challenge picture progress here:)
 

Starting (v1.0): http://imageshack.co...4/3571/hjp7.jpg

 

Month 8 (v1.8): http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o607/FlagshipFighter/m8i_zps1aa0876d.jpg

 

Weight Progress:

 

A Nimble Thought...
03/10/2013 264.5lbs

 

The Quarter of Hope:
13/10/2013 260.5lbs (-4.0)
20/10/2013 258.8lbs (-1.7)
27/10/2013 257.2lbs (-1.8)
03/11/2013 254.0lbs (-3.2) (Total=10.7lbs)

 

10/11/2013 251.8lbs (-2.2)
17/11/2013 249.0lbs (-2.8)
24/11/2013 247.2lbs (-1.8)
01/12/2013 244.2lbs (-3) (Total=9.8lbs)

 

08/12/2013 241.8lbs (-2.4) F: 35.9% W: 44.8%
15/12/2013 239.0lbs (-2.8)
22/12/2013 239.0lbs (0) F: 34.6%
29/12/2013 237.4lbs (-1.6) (Total=6.8lbs)

 

The Quarter vs. The Empire:
05/01/2014 234.2lbs (-3.2) F: 33.5%
12/01/2014 231.4lbs (-2.8) F: 32.6%
19/01/2014 228.0lbs (-3.4) F: 31.7%
28/01/2014 228.0lbs (0) F: 31.8% (Total=9.4lbs)

 

02/02/2014 225.6lbs (-2.4) F: 31.0%
09/02/2014 223.2lbs (-2.4) F: 30.7%
16/02/2014 220.2lbs (-3.0) F: 29.7% M: 35.6%
22/02/2014 221.4lbs (+1.2) F: 29.9% M: 35.5% (Total=6.6lbs)

 

02/03/2014 219.4lbs (-2.0) F: 29.3% M: 35.6%
*Halfway Checkpoint*
09/03/2014 217.8lbs (-1.6) F: 29.1% M: 35.7%
16/03/2014 215.8lbs (-2.0) F: 28.6% M: 36.0%
23/03/2014 214.8lbs (-1.0) F: 28.6% M: 35.9% (Total=6.6lbs)

 

The Quarter and Discovering Neutrality:

 

30/03/2014 214.8lbs (0) F: 28.9% M: 35.8%
06/04/2014 210.4lbs (-4.4) F: 27.2% M: 36.5%
12/04/2014 210lbs (-0.4) F: 26.7% M: 36.7%
20/04/2014 208.8lbs (-1.2) F: 26.5% M: 36.8%
27/04/2014 210.8lbs (+2.0) F:27.2% M: 36.5% (Total=4lbs)

 

04/05/2014 207.8lbs (-3.0) F: 26.4% M: 36.9%
*Over-weight status achieved*
11/05/2014 205lbs (-2.8) F: 25.7% M: 37.1%
18/05/2014 205lbs (0) F: 25.7% M: 37.1%
25/05/2014 202.2lbs (-2.8) F: 24.8% M: 37.5% (Total=8.6lbs)

 

01/06/2014 199.0lbs (-3.2) F: 24.0% M: 38.0%
08/06/2014 198.8lbs (-0.2) F: 24.2% 37.7%

 

Current Spec:

 

Starting Weight (as of 12/04/2014): 198.8lbs
Current Conditions: Asthma (Vastly Improved)

 

Main Quest:

Reach the following Desired Spec:
Desired Weight: 175lbs - 165lbs (considered healthy BMI range)
Desired Health: No/Controlled Asthma, Fit, In Routine

Missions:

1. Keeping up with my current routine that I've built/expanded upon here from the very start, which includes:

*New* Weekly Food Routine:

- 2x 17hr Lite Fasts

- 2x 19hr Standard Fasts

 

 

- Implementing 24hr fasts once or twice a week (if necessary)
- Eating Healthily by having Fruits+Nuts when breaking my fast and balanced dinners 

- Drinking herbal teas
- Keeping up with Exercises
- Measuring progress on Sundays
- Picture progress every month

- Restrict Internet Usage with StayFocusd Chrome Extension

 

(the above rules are backed by the 'Never 2 a in row' rule, and are followed every Mon - Sat)

 

2. Adding the following things to current routine and post daily: (I attempted to this as part of my first goal in the last challenge, but less attention and focus is applied to them within the grand scheme of the first goal. The way I'm seeing it, the first goal is the core, and the second and add-ons that hopefully in time will be second-nature.

 

*New* Early Morning Startup Routine (Making bed, Jumping jacks, light clean, getting ready and packed, all within 20mins)

*New* Meditation for 5mins morning/evening (Alt)
*New* Note down something to be thankful for that day, everyday!

*New* Late Night Shutdown Routine (Getting ready, prep for next day, set/lower lighting, read/NF-catchup, sleep)

 

3. Exercising @Level 4 Renegade Workouts for 3 Days a weeks + 3 additional days of Interval Jogging with Cardio

 

Yep, I'll be advancing to the 2nd Level 4 workout, hope it doesn't kill me! xD

Life Quest:
 

Incorporate 20mins of 'guilt-free play' during the day.

This quest was inspired by the book I've recently read, called "Play It Away: A Workaholic's Cure for Anxiety" by Charlie Hoehn.

 

This challenge went incredibly well, and I've continued to implement it post challenge too. I've also decided that this part of the challenge can be used to trial things, 'cause why not?

 

What counts?

 

- Digital or hand drawings/writing/creative observations of anything which interests/strikes.

- Something spontaneous and/fun! (e.g. Bollywood belly-dancing *troll face*) 

- Practising/trying something new

- 'Quality' social time 

- Doing something voluntarily

- Entertainment time.

- Brain training exercises

 

I've also decided to cap each activity on the http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o607/FlagshipFighter/IMG_20140514_225440_zps4529543b.jpg'>spin-wheel to 2x max a week, to allow more variety, unless I've planned an activity in advance.

 

...Basically, anything that will get me mentally and/or physically stimulated and/or feeling creative. 

My Motivation:

Wellbeing. Rid myself of potential illnesses and asthma. Feel great and a better sense of control. Reaching neutral status.

Additional Challenge Information: 

 

- If possible, I should try and add a picture for the 'play it away' side quest... 

- I'm not going to forget grading every week in my Sunday Diagnostics (for realz this time!) I might have to track things via a post it note during the week to keep on-topic.

FYI: I'll be continuing to update my daily battle log in conjunction to this as well.

 

Also I want to update my work productivity hear and there, I'm getting closer then ever to cracking it. Right now it's been an extremely busy period for me for my primary bits of work, but hopefully they'll be time for me to get back to self-directed and improvement work too! 

 

Thank you so much for all your support, co-op makes everything more fun! In every challenge I always try upping the ante, but this time I've decided to refine on some of the things in my routine, and it ain't easy!

 

But hey, just 23.8lbs to go! We can do this! I'm ecstatic to see how much further more I can potentially cut that number down. And with the challenge officially starting, http://youtu.be/Lp5ekMlQvi4?t=20s'>IT HAS BEGUN my friends, lets go and rock this challenge! :-D

[T2sarahconnor]

Woot Woot he is back! You should be so proud of yourself and all you have accomplished! I am subbed to support you!

Great goals this time around. Look forward to hearing about your success! Love the "Early Morning Start Up Routine"!

[Swampling]

IGGY!!!!!!11111oneoneeleven

 

Sub'd, of course!

[xanjra]

Ooo let me know how the 24 hour fasts go.  It is something I am thinking of trying in the future.

 

M x

[AshPS]

I saw belly dancing!!! :triumphant:

 

Sounds awesome!

 

Sub'd of course!

[Teros]

Hey!  Nice to see ya back.  Good luck and have fun

[GingaNinja]

Woot woot, welcome back Glider looking forward to your challenge!

[deftona]

Yay! I thought you hadn't posted one yet but I found you! 

 

Naturally subbed. Lets do this!

[Lara]

Hei! You are finally here!

Wish you the best for the new challenge!!

[Kailer]

Iggy, here you are!! I am so excited to see what you can do this challenge ... you are sooooo close to that goal weight.

 

Anywho, you're the best. That's all. Just  the best.

[Guzzi]

Oh I'm definitely in for this one mate! No getting rid of me!

[Hazard]

Sub'd

[IronGlider]

9-12/06/2014:

 

OMG Guys! I've missed you all so much! (and it's been less then a week!)

 

If I haven't already told most of ya, my home wifi has gone really funky for the past week and a half. What made matters worse, I lent my phone to a friend briefly as I was doing something else only to come back and find he was watching a 45min youtube video WITHOUT wifi on! I was so annoyed, and by the next day all my data went for the month and now I'll have to wait till next week for it to get back to normal.

 

Otherwise, I've only had the chance to read via hotspots here and there and make the rounds to all of you (and general NF) today. Thankfully I had some time today to run tests on my home wifi router, and for now, all's well. It's been on and off these past few days, and it's really annoyed me because I've lost posts that I've either tried to post here or to other challenge logs. :-/

 

And man, it feels such a luxury to have internet again! And I've missed being able to keep up with all your updates in real-time, rather then catching-up all in one session a couple of days after. I just feel like posting...

 

 

Anyways, this is how things have progressed:

 

Current Routines: Great!

 

Fasting:

Mon: Lite 17hr

Tue: Standard 19hr

Wed: Warrior 24hr

Thu: Lite 17hr

 

Healthy Eating: Yep, same usual food on all days. 

Mon: Protein shake and salad. Chickpeas with saag, mixed vegetables and quorn pieces.

Tue and Thu: Protein shake and salad. Egg noodles with lentils, mixed evgetables and quorn pieces.

Wed: Protein shake. Buckwheat and Quinoa hybrid with saag and lentils, mixed vegetables and quorn pieces. In addition to a spicy light omelette. 

 

New routines: Mon-Thu

Startup: Yep!

Meditation: Yep!

Shutdown: Yep! (except for Tuesday, had some difficulty sleeping)

 

Things to be thankful for: (inspired by skinnylara! ;-)

 

Mon: When my internet went bonkers, a friend allowed me to join and stream their internet to watch E3! (@Deftona D'oh! Shenmue wasn't there this year! We're back in the vicious cycle of waiting, lol!... :-(

Tue: I WON A COMPETITION!!!1 (and I never usually do competitions, it was just something on my twitter feed and I knew the answer to already, low and behold, I won it! It's basically a bag full of swag and a t-shirt, I hope it fits!)

Wed: Dinner tasted great! 

Thu: Wifi was working so I could finally catch up to y'all! And it was very sunny!

 

EXErcise: (Weights @17kg) As you can see, I'll be continuing over my high scores from prior exercise routines in a PLP-esqe fashion, just like before! 

 

Mon: Interval Jogging

 

Tue:

Box Jump 4x17

Straight Leg Deadlift 4x40

Overhead Dumbbell Press 4x20

Lat Pulldown: 2x50 Front, 2x35 Back

Side Plank: (seconds) 1x40, 1x45, 2x50 (As you can see, I struggled getting consistent results on this)

Pull Ups: 4 (no in a row)

 

Wed: Nothing... why? Because I was aching so badly from Tuesday's workout, I can't believe I thought I'd get away from moving to a harder/new routine without feeling the initial aches at first. If I were smart, I would've started this last week and a practice run so that I'd be past it once this challenge started. Oh well, this is the first darn challenge, and I'm gonna make sure every workout is done one way or another!

 

Thu:

 

Overhead Squats 3x16

One-legged Push Up 3x16

Step Ups w/ kickbacks and Weights 3x16

Bent Over DB Row 3x29

DB Lateral Raises 3x10 (This is a new routine, and WOW this is harder then it looks...)

Reverse Crunches 3x37

Jumping Jacks 4x47

 

+ Interval Jogging (Yep, and my legs were still aching that day. Seriously, I wonder how I still managed to keep up!)

 

EXPlay:

Mon: Social! 

Tue: - (Leaving out for Sunday)

Wed: Creativity! After years, I've decided to decorate my wall up a bit whilst I was thinking on something, fun task! Here it is:

Thu: Voluntarily did some helping out today!

 

Additional:

 

Just wanted to say that the workout routine was really hard for me to motivate and start on Tuesday. I'm not sure why, but for some reason, I wanted to just go to the gym again (but the local gym equipment sucks!) and I was going to, until I realised that it was just running away from the problem and deterring away from my goals. it was difficult, but I faced it. It was definitely weird dealing with that mindset, I went a single week without using weights and all of a sudden it becomes an anxiety ridden task in my head. It was all completely just blown out of proportion of course, and I only figured that out in the end. But man, those remnants of bad associations still linger...

 

p.s. Worth noting that this Sunday is my birthday, and I'm so darn scared! I try not to think about it atm, and if I do, I try to mentally think positively, it's just that I physically feel some anxiety about it coming *sigh* this is just what people go through around this time and age, right? I know in a way once it passes I'll be full of relief, but I'm trying to listen to the part that says "STFU! This is your best year yet!".

 

I suppose it's the event itself, when people are all around/calling/texting that you might not have seen, and all the weird superficial/serious career/life talking that comes with that, especially from people who say it for the primary purpose of being egotistical/condescending/superiority. Seriously, guys out there who do it, stop it! :-p I might have to visit the annoting comments thread by the end of the week xD.

 

Positive note: I'm so glad to have finally had the chance to catch up, I'm going to copy/paste all this before sending so I don't lose it! :-p

 

P.P.S. lmao, look what i found!

 

[Kailer]

Replace "WIFI" with "IGGY" in that image and you'll know how NF feels

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

[Guzzi]

^^^^Seconded! We missed ya Bro!

[Sarah Barr]

Subbing! Good luck! And I might steal your workout. But dear GOD I hate lateral raises. 

[Sarah Barr]

(Which means, of course, I have to immediately do some lateral raises. Have a good day!)

[GingaNinja]

Awww, glad to hear you are back online and that you won that competition! You are great.

Also Guzzi there you are, couldn't spot your thread as I am probably blind.

[deftona]

I played that song through as I read your post and it was a lovely soundtrack. I think you should always post a theme song for each post But indeed, welcome home! Being without the internet sucks hard, it's easy to underestimate how much we use it isn't it? 

 

Boo hiss for no Shenmue. We're never going to finish the saga are we? 

 

 

 

 

I suppose it's the event itself, when people are all around/calling/texting that you might not have seen, and all the weird superficial/serious career/life talking that comes with that, especially from people who say it for the primary purpose of being egotistical/condescending/superiority. Seriously, guys out there who do it, stop it! :-p I might have to visit the annoting comments thread by the end of the week xD.

 

 

What can I say, Iggie. Haters gonna hate. The more excellent you are, the more hate. Your bedroom wall looks awesome though, I love the maps! 

[Lara]

Welcome back!

[IronGlider]

Hi guys! :-) Need to catch up with Friday and Saturday here, but right now I'm too tired to go through and write it all down, but know that everything's dandy and I've ticked off all the things I've needed to do! I've just had such a busy couple of days in order to make some room for tomorrow's event!

Looking forward to catching up with you guys tomorrow + sharing you my Sunday Diagnostics. Let's hope we can kick this challenge off with a great 1st week in!

For now though, Zzzzzzzz...

Sent from my Z10 using Tapatalk

[IronGlider]

13-14/06/2014: 

 

Current Routines: Great, all done!

Fasting:
Fri: Standard 19hr

Sat: Extended 24hr

Healthy Eating: Yep, same usual food on all days.
Fri: Protein shake and salad. Egg noodles with saag and chickpeas with mixed vegetables and quorn freaking pieces.

Sat: Buckwheat with chickpeas and lentils, mixed vegetables and quorn pieces.

New routines: Mon-Thu
Startup: Yep!
Meditation: Kinda (I missed out on one of the evenings, but I was tired so I probably didn't need to meditate, lol!)
Shutdown: Yep!

Things to be thankful for:

Fri: Making a kick-ass, well received cake for the first time!

Sat: Spending quality social time with family

EXErcise: 
 

Fri: Walking for many, MANY hours looking for specific ingredients and a little bit of running, but no interval jogging session. And really, it would of been overkill, I spent the whole day moving around and my knees were still sore from prior. I then spent the evening preparing, cleaning and cooking :-/

 

Sat: (Weights @17kg)

 

Side Lunges 3x20

Dips 3x16

Plank 3x80sec

Step Up with Knee 3x20

Lat Pulldown 2x50 (Front), 1x37 (Back)

Exercise Ball Knee Tuck 3x31

Dumbbell Curl 3x16

Overhead Tripceps Extention 3x16

 

EXPlay:

 

Fri: Making a cake!

 

So... like every one of my birthdays, I didn't want a cake (I actually don't like cakes, and yes I am crazy xD) but the family usually makes it for themselves to enjoy, and I could see the same was happening this year. What to do? Since my birthday was the same day as fathers day, I suggested we should celebrate both together and since everyone was busy/not attending for Sunday, that i would make the cake earlier. Everyone was sceptical "Pfft, you've never made a cake!" and when I mentioned carrot/healthy cakes, everyone sighed.

 

Then I found an awesome recipe in my book and thought "Okay, we're all having chocolate cake, just like you want it, but we're still doing it my way!".

 

What does that entail? By making 'Moist Quinoa Chocolate Cake. After much tranversing to get all the ingredients, and many nerd-hours, I finally made it! These are the results!

 

http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o607/FlagshipFighter/IMG_20140613_170731_zpsa1a33dfb.jpg

 

http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o607/FlagshipFighter/IMG_20140613_185202_zpse75331cc.jpg

 

I haven't had any, I decided to wait for Sunday, but everyone else has had it, and have said that it's delicious, tastes like normal chocolate cake, and that they felt as happy as that boy in the assembly hall in Matilda! xD

 

Sat: Social, catching up with family and members who I haven't seen in a long while.

 

Final note: Okay, the event is happening soon! I've already got some great presents on Sat. I'll be thinking of you awesome guys and gals at the rebellion, you're the best!!! :-) Hopefully later tonight I can post my Sunday Diagnostics + how the day has gone. 

[deftona]

Excellent! it sounds like you're having a great day. That cake looks great, I felt a bit like the Matilda boy just looking at it! Have a lovely rest-of-birthday Iggie

[Swampling]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Iggy!

 

The cake looks great!

If you'd like to share the recipe, please...? Pretty please?

[Lara]

Happy birthday!

 

And why not a nerdy cake?

 

 

Wish you the best on your day!