Teddie tests the warrior waters.

[teddie.bare]

For my last few challenges, I have been hanging my hat in the Assassins guild. While checking out the new Women's Academy, I decided that a Warrior class was a better choice for me quest-wise, so I figured I'd try this challenge in your area for something different.

 

I'm having a hard time deciding what I'd like to do with this challenge. I know that it ends two weeks before Camp Nerd Fitness, so I'd really like to buckle down and focus between now and then. I've been having a great time with more fun challenges with the Assassins, focusing on hula hooping and decluttering. It's been wonderful, but in the process I kind of lost focus on my gym stuff, and my diet has slipped a little bit. I have 5 lbs to lose in the next 8 weeks to meet my goal before Camp, and if I lose just 2 more pounds than that, I'll be at 75 pounds lost total. THAT would be amazing.

 

WARRIOR WOMAN

• My main goal for the last 3 years has been to become strong. Strong enough to handle life. Strong enough to overcome chronic pain. Strong enough to be confident. I need to refocus on my strong, lifting 3x a week. If I have to miss a day at my work gym, I have to do a comparable bodyweight workout at home that night. No more excessive rest periods. I have to have the last 13 workouts of my new superset routine done before camp.
• Track food every day. Only exception will be any days without cell range when camping. My life is not a free for all. Keep carbs <50g a day, except for one meal for glycogen refill. I can be a little looser when camping for after dinner treats, but the rest of my food must be on point.
• Continue to focus on general decluttering, reorganization, and redecorating. One thing a day at least.

SIDE QUESTS

• Diet Side Quest: W A T E R. Drink more of it! Seriously been bad in this area lately. I bring two jugs of water to work every day. I MUST drink them! Every day! DO IT!
• Fitness Side Quest: Cardio. Oh how I hate thee. I've been slacking. I want to up my daily step average to 8,000 a day, with bonus points for any 10,000 step days, or days I actively do cardio on purpose.

MOTIVATION

 

 

PROGRESS

3 Points a week for Lifting.

13 points total for superset routine workouts

7 points a week for decluttering

7 points a week for eating (either tracking, or eating appropriately when I can't track)

Bonus Points for water and cardio

17 Points a week Total + specific workouts + side quest (1 for getting all my water, 1ea for cardio).

 

Week 1: 22/17 Points

Week 2: 23/17 Points

Week 3: 22/17 Points

Week 4: 22/17 Points - all 13 superset points achieved

Week 5: 18/17 Points

Week 6: 19/17 Points

 

TOTAL: 126/127 WOOT

[VTSPE772]

Welcome to the Warriors!  Congrats on your initial weight loss, and I am looking forward to your progress/camping pics.

[wildross]

Welcome to the warriors!  Are you doing a specific lifting program or bodyweight program?

[teddie.bare]

So a little background:

 

I had my daughter 3 years ago, and lost 42 pounds the first year by watching what I ate and walking more. After a year, I found NF right before the first Level Up Club, and immediately joined. I spent the first 9 months getting the habit of the gym going, and doing mostly bodyweight workouts outlined in Steve's curriculum. I have a back injury, and after 9 months my disc bulged again, and my doctor told me I'd never lift more than 25 lbs. I didn't like that answer, so I read the New Rules of Lifting for Women, and followed that program until the Women's Academy opened. I joined there, and did the Academy's workouts for a few months. I found myself running out of time and modifying the workouts, so after a while of doing modified Academy routines, I started making my own. I have done ones based on Stronglifts, German Volume Training, and right now I'm doing supersets.

 

I like full body movements, but I don't want to get bored. Over the last year I also did couch to 5k and ran two 5ks. I don't love cardio, so I've backed off to mostly lifting. But even then I've missed a week here and there the last few months, and I need to knock that off. In addition to the bad back, I also was diagnosed with PCOS in January, and I'm working with a specialist with medication and diet to control my insulin resistance. I am now down a total of 68-69 lbs. I'm not sure how much more I want to lose, 20 lbs max, I imagine.

 

So progress photos:

This is the first day of the Level Up Club, and my two-year NF anniversary last month.

 

 

This is the first day of NROLFW and Now (roughly, 1.5 years).

 

 

And here's my back progression the last 2 years - the bottom two are both the newest.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Waait? What? Where am I? This is not the assassins guild... 

[katastrophenkatzchen]

*hands over lotion for your sunburn*

You made great progression!

[Schmonk]

Welcome to the warriors!

Great progress so far!

[teddie.bare]

Waait? What? Where am I? This is not the assassins guild... 

 

hehe, I know, right?! Just mixing it up a bit for this challenge. Don't worry, though. Hooping is still my main form of Cardio

 

*hands over lotion for your sunburn*

You made great progression!

 

The funny thing is, I'm militant with sunscreen. I take SUCH good care of my skin. This was a total accident. I was checking out the damage and went, "what the... there are LATS there!!" I had to snap a photo. Much like stage tanning, the burn made them pop more. They aren't always this noticeable  - yet.

 

Welcome to the warriors!

Great progress so far!

 

Thank you! I've lost a little strength, and I've been stuck around the same maxes for a long time now. I need to get my hiney back in gear. I've lifted 2x this week, and I'll go for a 3rd session today. Because of my PCOS, I ALWAYS get really bad DOMS. Every. Time. After a while I get burned out and tired of hurting all the time. In fact, my triceps still hurt from Tuesday, ugh. It never gets better, so I just have to get better at coping with it. I took a little time away from it, and I'm ready to head back in. My clothes are fitting great, I can see muscles in places I've never seen muscles before, and I like the way lifting makes me feel, in all aspects of my life. Those pesky DOMS can't stop me for long

[mgage]

Looks like you've made really awesome progress so far. Have you tried working out through the DOMS? For me, the DOMS disappears after I start lifting. It also gets better over time. The only time I really have much DOSM these days is if I do a new exercise or have a sharp increase in volume.

[teddie.bare]

Looks like you've made really awesome progress so far. Have you tried working out through the DOMS? For me, the DOMS disappears after I start lifting. It also gets better over time. The only time I really have much DOSM these days is if I do a new exercise or have a sharp increase in volume.

 

I've tried EVERYTHING with the DOMS over the last 25 months. I usually work out through them, like I will today. That generally helps. It never gets better for me, ever. I have some pretty severe hormone imbalances, and while getting on the right meds and changing my diet has helped, it can't really totally eliminate some of my problems. It's stupid bad when I change my routine every 6-weeks. I spend the entire first week pretty much unable to walk or pick anything up. It dulls down to a more-tolerable level after that, fortunately. I also get electrolyte imbalances super easy, so I spend a lot of time working out charlie horses, muscles spasms, and headaches.

 

So my gym situation is weird. I work around military folk, and they have a handy gym right in the basement. If I don't do it at lunch, it doesn't get done. It's harder for me to make excuses if I just go get work done, and have it over with. However: they mostly do cardio around here. There are treadmills, bikes, ellipticals, rowers, one big cable monstrosity, one rack of dumbbells and one rack of kettlebells. The kettlebells only go up to 50lbs, and the dumbbells only go up to 70. There is NO barbell, which makes things interesting. On top of that, the dumbbells all go up in 5lb increments. The difference between two 20s and two 25s is massive for me, so I'm having a really tough time going up in weight. I need to get myself some 1.25 wrist weights so I can do increments inbetween. That means that if I drop down a weight for whatever reason, it's by a huge amount. There's also a huge difference between 10 and 15 lbs when it comes to your little shoulder muscles.

 

So I'm somewhat limited in my resources, but I make due. I go to a real gym every once in a while just to see what my deadlifts and squats are at. I can do a 130lb squat with a barbell, but there's no physical way for me to do that with dumbbells - my arm/grip strength just isn't there. So mostly I'm forced to do lower weights and just watch my form.

 

Today is my favorite upper body day. I'll do bicep curls into arnold press, front and side shoulder raises, and then one-arm bent over rows followed with triceps extensions. A good sweaty half hour should be had.

[teddie.bare]

So this happened yesterday

[Raev]

WARRIOR WOMAN

• My main goal for the last 3 years has been to become strong. Strong enough to handle life. Strong enough to overcome chronic pain. Strong enough to be confident. I need to refocus on my strong, lifting 3x a week. If I have to miss a day at my work gym, I have to do a comparable bodyweight workout at home that night. No more excessive rest periods. I have to have the last 13 workouts of my new superset routine done before camp.

 

Welcome!

Sounds like a warrior to me!

[teddie.bare]

Welcome!

Sounds like a warrior to me!

 

Yeah I'm a warrior with assassin tendencies Or maybe I'm just a warrior who WANTS to be an assassin. And that's ok. I've just been having way too much fun playing, and not focusing enough on my core priorities. Working out had become such an ingrained habit that I thought I didn't need to focus on it so much. And then it became less of a priority, and I found myself slipping. It was getting too easy to take a week off and then excuse it with 'but I'll hoop more' or 'I will do handstand practice.'

 

But fundamentally, diet and lifting are what got me here. So I need to focus on getting back to that.

[teddie.bare]

This was a good week. I'm so glad I've decided to refocus and get my act together. I lost 3.2 lbs this first week, just paying attention to what I'm eating, and making sure I get my hiney into the gym. That's some good motivation to build on!

 

I made it to the gym 3x, and did my superset workouts. I hula hooped yesterday. I cleaned out all of my shoes in the living room and my daughter's toy box, and donated two huge boxes. I got rid of extra hair accessories, seriously old lotion, and went through some of the stuff in the kitchen (the kitchen is one of my bad hot spots). I went through one of my old boxes of jewelry with my mom and got rid of a bunch of makeup from the 90s. Yikes.

 

My eating was also really good. I didn't eat ENOUGH yesterday, but I did make good choices with what I did have. Saturday was the 3rd anniversary of my grandmother's death - I was diagnosed with the start of the same heart condition in January. That kept my on the straight and narrow all weekend. I hit my Camp milestone today - woot! 5 days before my birthday, which is pretty great. I think I can be down 75 by Camp for sure!

 

3 points for Lifting.

3 points for doing superset workouts

7 points for decluttering

7 points for eating

1 point for a good water week

1 point for cardio session

22 Points Total

[Mad Hatter]

Nice one!

[AMURA]

 

Wow! Check out that figure! You've made some serious progress and it sounds like mostly with strength training. As an aspiring warrior, you've definitely inspired me to see it through (you really must be a warrior at heart ). 

 

You mentioned that you do hoops for cardio… tell me more! (Or please direct me to the appropriate thread in the Assassins guild, don't wanna confuse anybody why you're here.)

[teddie.bare]

Wow! Check out that figure! You've made some serious progress and it sounds like mostly with strength training. As an aspiring warrior, you've definitely inspired me to see it through (you really must be a warrior at heart ). 

 

You mentioned that you do hoops for cardio… tell me more! (Or please direct me to the appropriate thread in the Assassins guild, don't wanna confuse anybody why you're here.)

 

Thank you It has mostly been with strength training, I certainly won't deny that! I just have a lot of sparkly-eyed aspirations in the performance area. Maybe one day I could compete at lifting, that might scratch my performance itch. While I lift heavy, it's heavy for me - not necessarily heavy overall. I haven't been able to break 50lbs on my bench, and that's pretty damn light to some people. We'll see.

 

So hooping. I love it. It burns around 100 calories every 10 minutes. It's very graceful and meditative, even if I'm not awesome at it. I don't know if there are any hooping threads going on right now, I don't see any in my tags. Anyhow, my basic recommendations are: get an adult sized hoop, watch some tutorials, give it a try. There are ways to make your own pretty cheap from material you can get at Lowe's. LPT: buy two sticks of pre-cut stuff instead of an entire roll to start with, and use 2 connectors. There are TONS of tutorials on YouTube. Like, an overwhelming amount. Start with waist hooping, fall in love, learn tricks. I'd love to talk to you about it more, so let me know what questions you have

 

Here is an old hoop group you can poke around in:

http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/46919-dance-off/

 

Yesterday wasn't so hot for me. I did fine with the eating. I did get over 8k steps in. I did not get to the gym. I had to leave work early for what turned out to be a very long and sad veterinary appointment. I ended up having to put my oldest dog down, and my eyes are still gritty and swollen from the whole ordeal. I'm not going to beat myself up for not exercising. I'm going to lift today at lunch here in a while, and I should get down there again tomorrow because I can't make it on Friday. I have my pre-packaged food packed in my lunchbox, and I"m starting to feel a little bit better.

[Mad Hatter]

So sorry about your dog teddie. *Hugs*

 

Amura, that thread was mostly for random dance gifs. While entertaining it's not particularly active anymore. But feel free to stalk Lilith and Nymeria in the assassin guild for inspiration. There's also this thread that comes alive on a regular basis. 

[teddie.bare]

So sorry about your dog teddie. *Hugs*

 

Amura, that thread was mostly for random dance gifs. While entertaining it's not particularly active anymore. But feel free to stalk Lilith and Nymeria in the assassin guild for inspiration. There's also this thread that comes alive on a regular basis. 

 

This one! that's the link I was looking for!! whoopsie thank you, darling.

 

and thanks for the huggles. It was a hard night for sure. I couldn't fall asleep and had to get up early on top of all the crying, so my eyes are super swollen and hurting today. But that's ok, life is hard sometimes. I'll go talk to some iron about it at lunch

[RandomMotivationalBomber]

I am sorry to hear about your pup, sending hugs your way,

 

I also wanted to let you know that I think your transformation is phenomenal, congrats on achieving all you have so far!  Can't wait to see where you go from here. 

[teddie.bare]

Ok so awesome week, overall. Got my three weight workouts in, did great with my water, got in several extra hikes with my dogs, decluttered both my house and some at my cabin, and overall did great.

 

My birthday was on Saturday, so I indulged in some cake my husband made me, but that was planned. My eating was good overall.

 

I've already gotten two workouts in this week. I lifted yesterday, and ran today. It was nice because I haven't ran in a while, and I thought it would be harder than it was. I'm probably 30 lbs lighter than I was when I was doing C25K, and I have months of regular lifting in since my last 5K. It was great to see that I hadn't lost it. I'm only doing it, really, so that I won't suffer too badly at the fun run during Camp NF. I decided I'm not really running material on a normal basis, but it's fun to do every once in a while.

 

3 points for Lifting.

3 points for doing superset workouts

7 points for decluttering

7 points for eating

1 point for a good water week

2 point for cardio sessions

23 Points Total

[Mad Hatter]

Happy birthday!

[teddie.bare]

This week has been good so far. Two weight sessions and one cardio, so far. I took today off, but I have some vague plans to hoop tonight and maybe take the dogs for a walk if it isn't raining. I'm pretty bleh this week and don't want to burn out. My eating has been good, and I'm staying active overall. I just have a lot on my mind.  I should be able to make it to the gym tomorrow, but we'll see. I got some pretty major life stuff going on that I'm mostly not ready to talk about yet, and work stuff which doesn't help any. Anyhow, just checking in here, if I don't keep up with it I won't do it at all.

[AMURA]

Sorry to hear life is a bit chaotic for you right now. Despite it all, it sounds like you've stayed on track and are making steady progress — serious kudos! I tend to let everything go to hell when my mind isn't in order, so I'm glad to hear you're sticking with it. (: 

 

I could have sworn I posted in your thread earlier, but I wanted to tell you I made my first (er… second) hula hoop! I bought tubing that was too light the first time so I made those into minis, but now that I've got the real-deal I can start learning tricks! I'm excited to hear you might hoop tonight – got any favorite tricks to share? I've been non-stop watching lovely ladies twirl on YouTube and have been absolutely mesmerized by their flow, but I guess that just comes naturally like dancing, right? Thanks for getting me hooked!

 

Hope everything works out and you feel as good as the progress you've made. 

[teddie.bare]

Sorry to hear life is a bit chaotic for you right now. Despite it all, it sounds like you've stayed on track and are making steady progress — serious kudos! I tend to let everything go to hell when my mind isn't in order, so I'm glad to hear you're sticking with it. (: 

 

I could have sworn I posted in your thread earlier, but I wanted to tell you I made my first (er… second) hula hoop! I bought tubing that was too light the first time so I made those into minis, but now that I've got the real-deal I can start learning tricks! I'm excited to hear you might hoop tonight – got any favorite tricks to share? I've been non-stop watching lovely ladies twirl on YouTube and have been absolutely mesmerized by their flow, but I guess that just comes naturally like dancing, right? Thanks for getting me hooked!

 

Hope everything works out and you feel as good as the progress you've made. 

 

I'm so excited about your hoop(s)!! that is awesome news That makes my heart very happy.

 

so my absolute favorite trick that I show everyone is a mandala. Even some advanced hoopers haven't seen it, and are fascinated by it when I pull it out. Here's an adorable little flow that I found with the mandala in it. I think I'm gonna give this one a try tonight:

 

 

There's something magical about spinning it behind your back that just looks impressive. It makes you feel very accomplished as well, it's a kind of fast move, so it can be really energizing.