Ornata - Loosen Up!

[Ornata]

Pike push-ups are great! I'm following a program that includes them in earlier parts of the handstand push-up progression. And since I figured out today that my wall bent-waist handstand push-ups suck, I went back to decline pike push-ups to really make sure I have good form.

 

Challenge Update: End of Week 5

 

One more week! Eeeeee!

 

I'm really happy with how I'm doing in all my quests, even my life quest. If I can keep up a strong last week I'll be able to take home all of my challenge loot!! That's crazy!

 

Quest 1: Become flexy-bendy

 

Oh yeah!

 

2 days missed so far.

 

Quest 2: Keep momentum going

 

Thank goodness my knee pain is gone. Dunno what happened there.

 

I'm still doing my workouts, but I've changed my approach for the push-up progression to be more in line with Steve Kamb's advice while still fitting with my programming. I'm doing 3 sets, each time doing as many push-ups as I can. The instant I do one rep of not-good form, that set is done. When I can do 3 sets of 8+, I progress. Honestly I should've been doing this a long time ago instead of trying to push through.

 

I'm also spreading out my inverted rows throughout the day, every day, so I can support my ship for the CutLass mini this week. Those counts I just add to that spreadsheet.

 

30s arm and leg lift plank (balanced properly the whole time, too!)

3x5 balance-assisted one-legged squats

3x5 decline pike push-ups done veeery slooowly (I realized my wall handstand push-ups are crap so I'm stepping back a bit)

3x8 straight leg raises

8, 6, 3 push-ups

 

1 day missed so far.

 

Quest 3: Have fun with it

 

I finally started measuring my progress on crow and handstand training. Today I held crow for 7 seconds and reached a comfortable wall handstand distance of 2 feet from the wall. Once I can become comfortable with my hands 1 foot away from the wall, I'll be ready to start practicing kicking up against the wall. I've also been showing my boyfriend basic parkour exercises like broad jumps and quadrupedal movement and we get a good laugh out of watching each other try that stuff.

 

Tomorrow I'm climbing the mountain ridge I've been dying to tackle: a punishing 7-mile hike with 2,000+ feet elevation change. So excited! I went up there last week and did a less difficult trail and the whole time I was huffing and puffing and watching the little hikers up on the top of the ridge and I was like I WANT THAT TO BE ME ASKDFLJSKLD. My boyfriend thinks I'm getting addicted to climbing mountains. (Though keep in mind these aren't huge mountains like the Colorado Rockies, they're only like 4,000-10,000 feet so they're generally hike-able).

 

2 days missed so far.

 

Life Quest: Stop being an Internet hermit

 

I'm settling into the habit of keeping up with my subscriptions! So I still have a chance of getting dat loot at the end.

[alienjenn]

Where you gonna hike? I love me some mountains

[Ornata]

The Frary Peak trail on Antelope Island near Salt Lake City. It's rated as "moderate/difficult," but I'm sure it'll kick our sorry asses ROFL

[starsapart]

I hope you enjoy the hike!  It sounds fun.

 

You're doing awesome in general!  Fantastic on the handstand progression.

 

Go out there and DOMINATE week 6!!!!!!!!!

[alienjenn]

There's a trail near me that sorta fits that definition. .... I was hoping you were taking about that one then I'd be all WHOA we could hike together!

[Ornata]

Challenge Update: 10/18 - 10/19

 

At this point I feel like I've been mildly injuring myself once every few days (cutting my finger, banging up my knees, etc). It's starting to drive me crazy. For injuries that cut into my ability to do my quests, I get really frustrated and I'm losing motivation to do even my bodyweight exercises. I keep telling myself more injuries must mean I'm trying more stuff. Eh. Technically I'm still doing stuff, just disheartened.

 

Quest 1: Become flexy-bendy

 

Yep.

 

2 days missed so far.

 

Quest 2: Keep momentum going

 

Just as I was getting over my last knee issue, I came down really hard on my knee (rather than landing on my feet) when I was finishing handstand practice yesterday. Today I had to cut out or modify any exercise that required knees. This was the first time in at least 2 months that I absolutely did not want to work out at all. I was just so angry at myself and frustrated because I can never seem to get out of some kind of endless injury loop that's been seriously holding me back and I can't really do anything about it. Somehow that anger killed my motivation.

 

Literally the only thing that made me get off my ass and work out today was for my boyfriend. I knew he wouldn't work out at all if I wasn't doing it with him; this is only his third day so it's way not a habit yet for him.

 

On the bright side, I'm making good progress in push-up practice.

 

30s arm and leg lift plank

3x6 decline pike push-ups

3x8 straight leg raises

2x5,4 inverted rows

11, 7, 7 push-ups

 

1 day missed so far.

 

Quest 3: Have fun with it

 

Climbed a mountain ridge yesterday (before the handstand accident). So that was pretty fun. Before I banged up my knee yet again, I managed to do a wall handstand with my hands ~1.5 ft from the wall.

 

There's nothing fun I can really do today. I'd prefer not to even walk that much. I guess I can practice double elbow levers still, but I probably wouldn't be having fun doing it. I'll count today as a skip. 1 more miss after this and I get a B on this quest.

 

3 days missed so far.

 

Life Quest: Stop being an Internet hermit

 

I'm still keeping up on all my subscribed topics. Cool.

[Anaticula]

Hope your knees and hand start to feel better soon so that you can get back to trying new things!

[alienjenn]

That's super frustrating. .. I hope your knee is better soon!

[Ghi102]

Nice, I really like your pushup exercises and those arm and left leg planks . I hope your knee will get better. It's the last week of the challenge, you can do this!

[dsavage]

Sorry to hear about the injuries, stay motivated!

[JazzyM]

Don't let the injuries discourage you! You are better than the injuries! 

[starsapart]

You're doing great, Ornata!!!!

 

Random bruises and cuts and various other things happen when you get out of your comfort zone, for sure.  Power to you for working around them.

 

Do your best to keep your spirits up - we are all cheering for you!  Looking forward to having you in the guild next go around, so onward and finish strong!

[Ornata]

Ornata, Loosen Up!

End of Challenge Review

 

I'm doing this a day early because I'll be busy tomorrow.

 

Well, I made it! Despite the frustrating injuries at the end, I finished my very first 6-week challenge. I had a lot of fun and feel like I improved in a lot of aspects. Overall I think my life is better having done it.

 

Here are my final completion stats:

 

Quest 1: Become flexy-bendy - 2 days missed = A (barely)

Quest 2: Keep momentum going - 1 day missed = A

Quest 3: Have fun with it - 3 days missed = A (barely)

Life Quest: Stop being an Internet hermit = A (barely)

 

So basically I just barely scraped through all but one of my quests to get that coveted A-grade loot. Normally I'd feel bad about that. However, I set down those arbitrary grading criteria so that if I succeeded, it'd be very likely that I established a habit in the process. Since I've laid down habits in every quest, I feel like I've succeeded in what I set out to do in this challenge.

 

Here's the loot I earned:

• Epic Transformation! My character is no longer a clumsy stone golem, but a rough Mountain Elf. Was originally planning to change it to Wood Elf, but I don't actually live or work in a forest. Now that I've solidified my "race," I think I'm going to start putting my challenges or at least my Battle Log in a little bit of a narrative format. I love it when people do that in their own challenges so I thought I might take a stab at it too!
• Trekker's Boots: Thank goodness I got this loot. The soles of my boots are literally peeling off, and now that it's a little below freezing in the early mornings in the mountains I kind of need new boots just to not freeze my toes off.
• Jump Rope of +1 Warming Up: Right in the nick of time!
• CutLass Knife: Very useful.
• Shiny New Video Game: Can't decide which, still. Someone recommended Age of Wonders 3 to me (I love 4X games) and Child of Light (I love RPGs). And my Steam recommendations are overwhelming. So many choices
• Key to the Extra Restaurant Trip: SUSHI YES

 

Before and After

 

Quest 1

 

At the beginning, I couldn't touch my toes in a forward bend. 6 weeks later, I can put my palms on the ground in a forward bend. More qualitatively, I'm much more flexible -- especially in the legs, hips and back -- and feel fewer aches and pains on a day-to-day basis. In the beginning I had to force myself to do flexibility work, but now I willingly seek it out because it makes me feel good both mentally and physically.

 

Quest 2

 

I started off my challenge with fast strength gains and exercise progressions, but plateaued near the end. I'm still stuck in a plateau, but I'll work on breaking that in my Battle Log.

 

Squats

Beginning: Bulgarian split squats

End: Balance-assisted one-legged squats

 

Handstand Push-Ups

Beginning: Pike push-ups

End: Wall bent waist handstand push-ups/decline pike push-ups

 

Leg Raises

Beginning: Flat straight leg raises

End: Weighted flat straight leg raises (lack the equipment to progress properly)

 

Push-Ups

Beginning: Incline push-ups

End: Push-ups

 

Pulls

Beginning: None (lacked equipment)

End: Inverted rows, legs straight

 

Planks

Beginning: Side plank

End: Arm and leg lift plank

Quest 3

 

While hiking, I've noticed a significant increase in my overall agility just from exposing myself to those opportunities more. I can power down steep scree-covered slopes; walk along huge, fallen dead trees; climb up and down boulderfalls; jump across creeks; climb trees; etc.

 

Crow Practice

Beginning: Incapable

End: 17 seconds

 

Handstand Practice

Beginning: Body freaked out whenever it was even remotely upside-down

End: Wall handstand with hands 1.5 feet away from the wall (almost ready to start kicking up)

 

Double Elbow Lever Practice

Beginning: Incapable

End: Slightly less incapable -- can hold it for a moment or two without flopping

 

Room for Improvement

 

Some things I'd like to work on or continue to work on in the future, either in my Battle Log or in future 6-Week Challenges:

 

• Upper body strength - it's been really difficult improving my push-ups and inverted rows. I want to start pull-up training.
• Grip strength
• Find more cool balances to work on
• Reach 30-second crow
• Lose body fat (start changing diet habits)
• More handstand practice

 

 

So that's that. Thank you, everyone who subscribed or poked their head in to offer encouragement and advice! It meant a lot to me. I really like this community and plan to continue doing 6-Week Challenges.

[JazzyM]

I am so proud of you! There are so many people who don't make it through their first challenge. I dropped out my very first one a few years ago. You not only made it through, but you owned it. Looking forward to seeing your progress next challenge!

[Amdhiel]

Congratz on the awesome progress and powering through all the minor challenges along the way! I really like how you qualified the improvements you saw in the various things that you worked on, I'll have to work on doing this more in the next challenge. Let me know if you have any crow pointers since I'll be working on that next challenge.

[alienjenn]

AWESOME!!!

 

so what are you thinking about for next challenge?

[Anaticula]

You've done Great!

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Congrats!  You've made a LOT of progress this challenge.