Princess Wants to Hold Her Own with the Knights :)

[pokemaniacemily]

Introduction:

My name is Emily and I am a 21 year old university student. This is my first challenge and I’m excited! I spent a lot of time as a teenager being self conscious about my body (although I wasn’t that overweight) but it’s stuck with me, even though I’ve arguably gotten in much better shape/shaped out since. I joined the rebellion because I finally found a fitness path that I enjoy and I want to make a permanent change in my lifestyle.

Main Quest: Do 50 pushups in a row, do 1 unassisted chin-up, and run 5k in a row

 

Quest 1: Do at least 30 pushups every day (10x3), as well as test how many I can do in a row every day (currently up to 20-25). When I can do 30-35 pushups, change to 40 pushups every day (10x4).

A: Complete pushups 7 days a week
B: Complete pushups 5 days a week

C: Complete pushups 3 days a week

Quest 2: Use the chin-up assist machine every time I go to the gym and do 3 sets of my minimum weight each time. Continue to decrease weight as necessary until I can do them unassisted.

A: Go to the gym 3 days a week
B: Go to the gym 2 days a week
C: Go to the gym 1 day a week

Quest 3: Run/walk 5k at least twice a week. Even if I have to walk part of it, I’ll be able to run a little farther each time until I can run the whole way through. I just want to boost my cardio a bit.

A: Run twice a week
B: Run once a week
C: Use the elliptical for 20 minutes instead

Life Quest:

Spend less time on Reddit and more time doing my university readings. I’ll start reading Brave New World and 1984 on my phone ebook reader so I won’t open my Reddit app. Will update post if any additional books are read (or if I decide to actually read my textbooks instead).

 

Motivation:

I want to be a supergirl! I want to be ridiculously strong and make my boyfriend proud of my strength. I want to look more toned and fit rather than flabby. I also want to spend more of my time being a productive person rather than a person who procrastinates. I just want to be more proud of myself and heal the relationship between me and the body I’ve spent too much energy being self conscious about.

If anyone wants to make excessive Game of Thrones references at me or discuss GoT conspiracy theories, feel free My boyfriend is sick of hearing it, haha

[puddletheduck]

Hi Emily - I think you have a great set of goals there with some good progression built in. I was aiming for 50 push-ups in a row last year and got as far as 40 before life got in the way... don't let that happen to you! It'll feel so good when you reach that FIVE-ZERO!

 

It sounds like you're studying literature at uni - I did too and I'm now a professional editor of academic books, so I'll be interested to see what else you progress to reading during the challenge

 

Your motivation paragraph strongly echoes with me. Yay for productivity and a healthy relationship with your body! I've also spent too long letting my brain and body vegetate.

 

Good luck

[Blaidd]

welcome supergirl!

 

You might notice that i've added an Assassins' tag to your thread.  This isn't to pigeonhole you into particular guild, but rather to bring one of their ambassadors here to offer you encouragement, support or advice.  Your goals this challenge fit well with the overall spirit of their guild and you are more than welcome to pop into their Den and introduce yourself to them.  You are also more than welcome to pop me a message anytime. 

 

Good Luck

AB xx

[redimagination]

Hi Emily!

 

I understand where you are coming from with the teenage weight issues; I had plenty of those. But it is easier to work through as time goes on.

 

I can relate to all your quests as they are similar to what I want to do though not in my current quest. I'm still trying to build up to 5k though it isn't part of my challenge this time. Are you using a programme to help you? I use the Zombies, Run! 5k trainer which I highly recommend.

 

Good luck with the challenge and your uni course!

[pokemaniacemily]

Hi Emily - I think you have a great set of goals there with some good progression built in. I was aiming for 50 push-ups in a row last year and got as far as 40 before life got in the way... don't let that happen to you! It'll feel so good when you reach that FIVE-ZERO!

 

It sounds like you're studying literature at uni - I did too and I'm now a professional editor of academic books, so I'll be interested to see what else you progress to reading during the challenge

 

Your motivation paragraph strongly echoes with me. Yay for productivity and a healthy relationship with your body! I've also spent too long letting my brain and body vegetate.

 

Good luck

Hopefully I can get to 50! I think I can, I think I can, I think I can! 

I'm not actually a literature student, I just feel as if those are two books I must read or else I'll be culturally ignorant Everyone else read them in high school but I was taking slightly different courses and read different books so I missed them!

 

I'm actually a biological anthropology student, someone who likes studying bones and human evolution. The Paleo Diet is pretty much entirely based off of principles from the field of evolutionary medicine! 

Indeed, it is time for action. I've spent too long waiting for the "right time". The right time is today!

[pokemaniacemily]

Hi Emily!

 

I understand where you are coming from with the teenage weight issues; I had plenty of those. But it is easier to work through as time goes on.

 

I can relate to all your quests as they are similar to what I want to do though not in my current quest. I'm still trying to build up to 5k though it isn't part of my challenge this time. Are you using a programme to help you? I use the Zombies, Run! 5k trainer which I highly recommend.

 

Good luck with the challenge and your uni course!

I had a bit of a hormonal imbalance when I started puberty so I put on a lot of weight. They thought I might have had polycystic ovarian syndrome which would affect my weight/hairiness, but I don't have any cysts and my hormones are now more in balance. I thought that having a slight edge of it would be an excuse for having the extra 15 pounds of weight but now I realize that my hormones are not a good enough excuse to let myself stay vegetative. 

I'm not using any running program, but maybe I should? I just run at the gym and track my progress with laps on the track  

But yes, it sounds like a good program! My inspiration for running is the fact that if I was ever in an apocalypse I would die so fast haha... I should be able to run at least a little bit (or at least so I can catch my trains when I'm late). 

[pokemaniacemily]

(WELP, I wrote this whole thing and previewed it before submitting, then accidentally pressed "back" and so the whole thing got deleted. I got Lazarus for chrome to stop that from happening again. This will be my second draft, which is a lot more direct).

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 15TH

I did my running, and was able to do 2k right off the bat (although very slowly). I interspersed the rest of my 5k with some walking, but overall I ran 4k and walked 1k. Not too bad! Although I was very slow, and it took 40 minutes, and people kept lapping me, I didn't give up. I think wanting my workout to be done faster helped me spend more of my laps running than walking. 

I went to the weights room and used the chin-up machine, but it was very different from the one I used during the summer and so I had to add a lot more weight to be able to complete my workout. Made me a bit sad, but if I could reduce my weight on that machine, maybe I could do an unassisted one on the other. Either way, I felt the burn! Good (thought short) workout. 3x8 at 130lbs (70lbs on the machine I'm used to using). 

Later on I did the 3x10 pushups. 

OVERALL RATING: A

Extra: I also found an intro to free weights lifting class. I'm signed up with our university weightlifting club but they don't actually teach you how to weightlift (just have meets and seminars and stuff). But I'm on my way! My next challenge will probably be more weightlifting oriented but for now I'm just learning. Stay tuned. 
 

[Teros]

Looks solid.  You know, there's a simple program you might be interested in called P/L/P, which is Pushups/Lunges/Pullups. It's progressive load, meaning you do it every single day, and you increase by 1 rep each time. 30 of each monday, 31 tuesday, etc. 

 

I'm running an accountability group..  Perhaps you'd be interested?

http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/54293-level-1-zombie-apocalypse/

 

Also, swing by the Tavern and make yourself welcome and ask any questions you may have.

Tavern - http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/53532-tavern-ask-questionschat/

 

If you'd prefer, you can always send me a private message asking about stuff. (Some people are shy and prefer that.)

 

How to private message: http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/forum/285-helpfaqwhere-to-begin/

 

Good luck and have fun this challenge

If anyone wants to make excessive Game of Thrones references at me or discuss GoT conspiracy theories, feel free My boyfriend is sick of hearing it, haha

I'll just say that Jon and the Imp might....might be related to Khaleesi.

[lullaby88]

You might notice that i've added an Assassins' tag to your thread.

Thanks Blaidd!

Welcome Emily!! I'm Lullaby, one of the Assassins' Ambassadors.

Here's a link to more information about the Assassins' Guild. We also have a Q&A chat thread for Level 1's where you can stop by and ask any questions you might have. We also have an Assassin Phonebook that lists the skills of our Assassin so be sure to check it out.

There's also a chat thread called the Assassins' Den where we hang out and chat. If you have any questions, I as well as the other Assassins are happy to help you out. You can reach me by using the private messenger system (click the envelope at the top right of the screen) or you can post on my thread.

If anyone wants to make excessive Game of Thrones references at me or discuss GoT conspiracy theories, feel free My boyfriend is sick of hearing it, haha

I'm still reading the books but I am interested in this!

I'll just say that Jon and the Imp might....might be related to Khaleesi.

I haven't heard this yet. But I also haven't gone looking to far into theories.

[lullaby88]

I haven't heard this yet. But I also haven't gone looking to far into theories.

I retract this statement. Just read it on Buzzfeed. I'm willing to believe the Jon part but not the Tyrion part. Just have to wait and see.

Sent from a magical handheld box

[pokemaniacemily]

Looks solid.  You know, there's a simple program you might be interested in called P/L/P, which is Pushups/Lunges/Pullups. It's progressive load, meaning you do it every single day, and you increase by 1 rep each time. 30 of each monday, 31 tuesday, etc. 

 

I'm running an accountability group..  Perhaps you'd be interested?

http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/54293-level-1-zombie-apocalypse/

 

Also, swing by the Tavern and make yourself welcome and ask any questions you may have.

Tavern - http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/53532-tavern-ask-questionschat/

 

If you'd prefer, you can always send me a private message asking about stuff. (Some people are shy and prefer that.)

 

How to private message: http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/forum/285-helpfaqwhere-to-begin/

 

Good luck and have fun this challenge

I'll just say that Jon and the Imp might....might be related to Khaleesi.

 

Thanks for the luck! I think for now I'll stick to the goals I've set myself, but my pushup challenge seems like something similar so maybe I'll look at it again later. Coming back to this thread this morning, it seems like there's a lot going on! Assassins, adventurers, warrior tags... I guess what I want to be and what my goals look like have conflicting messages. But that's ok, it's nice to say hi to everyone and check things out

~GoT spoilers up to ADwD and the end of season 4~

As for Jon, I think you're right (R+L=J), but I'm not sold on the Tyrion thing. In the books, apparently the Mad King had a crush on Tywin's wife and took certain "liberties" as the bedding. Tywin's sister later tells Jaime that "Tyrion was Tywin's son, not you." Jaime and Cersei are also pretty incestuous (like Targaryans) and Cersei gets pretty excited by burning the tower of the hand. Tyrion is also cold and calculating like his father, and it would also be very ironic if Tywin pushed away his own son while raising the child of the man he hated. It would also mean that both Jaime and Tyrion killed their fathers. There's just too many things going on!!

[pokemaniacemily]

Welcome Emily!! I'm Lullaby, one of the Assassins' Ambassadors.

Here's a link to more information about the Assassins' Guild. We also have a Q&A chat thread for Level 1's where you can stop by and ask any questions you might have. We also have an Assassin Phonebook that lists the skills of our Assassin so be sure to check it out.

There's also a chat thread called the Assassins' Den where we hang out and chat. If you have any questions, I as well as the other Assassins are happy to help you out. You can reach me by using the private messenger system (click the envelope at the top right of the screen) or you can post on my thread.

I'm still reading the books but I am interested in this!

Thanks for stopping by! Yes, I saw that Blaidd tagged my post so you could check it out. I think my goals for this challenge line up with Assassin goals so I might be able to find people talking about the same kinds of exercises.

What book are you on?  

[lullaby88]

What book are you on?

 

A Storm of Swords.

[Hulk In Nerds Clothing]

Well great, now the same thing with "back" happened to me -.-

---

 

Just saw the warrior tag on the thread above mine and thought I'd say hi
No GoT spoilers from me but I frequently use "it is known" to annoy all my friends...so I'm there with you...

 

Wish you good look on your goal. 6 weeks to the first chin-up sounds like a steep plan depending on how far along you are, but I'm sure you'll make it

[pokemaniacemily]

Well great, now the same thing with "back" happened to me -.-

---

 

Just saw the warrior tag on the thread above mine and thought I'd say hi

No GoT spoilers from me but I frequently use "it is known" to annoy all my friends...so I'm there with you...

 

Wish you good look on your goal. 6 weeks to the first chin-up sounds like a steep plan depending on how far along you are, but I'm sure you'll make it

"It is known" is banned on the subreddit for the series because of the spam it caused

I've been working out this summer to try and do a chin-up and I've been steadily reducing the assistance I've needed. I didn't work out for a while though so I might have felt like it was a bad goal, but I happened to be near some trees two weeks ago and found I was able to pull myself on a branch to at least a 90 degree angle at the elbows. I was pleasantly surprised! My core has been a lot stronger since I started doing pushups. I'm hoping that with my pushup routine and practicing chin-ups I'll have worked out enough to build more muscle. We'll see though. 

[pokemaniacemily]

A Storm of Swords.

Cool. The books get really great if you read the 4th and 5th book at the same time (because they cover the same timelines with different characters). Have to watch out for spoilers though! I think there are custom reading orders designed to reorganize the books whilst also revealing the secrets in the proper order though. A Feast for Crows isn't as good as A Dance with Dragons (in my opinion) but the custom reading order really helps break it up. 

[lullaby88]

Cool. The books get really great if you read the 4th and 5th book at the same time (because they cover the same timelines with different characters). Have to watch out for spoilers though! I think there are custom reading orders designed to reorganize the books whilst also revealing the secrets in the proper order though. A Feast for Crows isn't as good as A Dance with Dragons (in my opinion) but the custom reading order really helps break it up.

Hmm...I'm going to look into that. I read them on my Kindle so hopefully it won't be too complicated to use that method. Thanks.

Sent from a magical handheld box

[pokemaniacemily]

Hmm...I'm going to look into that. I read them on my Kindle so hopefully it won't be too complicated to use that method. Thanks.

I read it on a tablet, it's actually more convenient to switch books on one device instead of carrying two massive books around  

[Odango]

Yay! WELCOME!

I love your Quest and your goals! I'm really impressed, the 10 push-ups from the beginner bodyweight workout are already really hard for me (and I do then on the knees not the toes).

Cannot wait to see you improve throughout the next 6 weeks, post often please

Cheering you on!

[redimagination]

I had a bit of a hormonal imbalance when I started puberty so I put on a lot of weight. They thought I might have had polycystic ovarian syndrome which would affect my weight/hairiness, but I don't have any cysts and my hormones are now more in balance. I thought that having a slight edge of it would be an excuse for having the extra 15 pounds of weight but now I realize that my hormones are not a good enough excuse to let myself stay vegetative. 

I'm not using any running program, but maybe I should? I just run at the gym and track my progress with laps on the track  

But yes, it sounds like a good program! My inspiration for running is the fact that if I was ever in an apocalypse I would die so fast haha... I should be able to run at least a little bit (or at least so I can catch my trains when I'm late). 

 

If you think it is something that would work for you. When I started running a few years ago (I stopped for a couple of years) I didn't have a programme but then started using one as I wasn't happy with my results. I did feel like I made better progress with one (even though I was above the level of the starting weeks of the c25k). The zombies!run one trains you like you are in the middle of the apocalypse and I have really enjoyed it. They have another app as well that is more about running from zombies and doing intervals as far as I can tell. I'm not getting it until I have finished the 5k one. They cost money (but not much) but they are definitely worth it. Even if you don't get the training one I'd recommend the 'normal' one.

 

And I have the same motivation for running! I want to at least try and survive an apocalypse. The same goes for all kinds of exercises really

 

Well done on a good start to your challenge

[Carly Rae Jepsens Warlock]

Introduction:

My name is Emily and I am a 21 year old university student. This is my first challenge and I’m excited! I spent a lot of time as a teenager being self conscious about my body (although I wasn’t that overweight) but it’s stuck with me, even though I’ve arguably gotten in much better shape/shaped out since. I joined the rebellion because I finally found a fitness path that I enjoy and I want to make a permanent change in my lifestyle.

Main Quest: Do 50 pushups in a row, do 1 unassisted chin-up, and run 5k in a row

Quest 1: Do at least 30 pushups every day (10x3), as well as test how many I can do in a row every day (currently up to 20-25). When I can do 30-35 pushups, change to 40 pushups every day (10x4).

A: Complete pushups 7 days a week

B: Complete pushups 5 days a week

C: Complete pushups 3 days a week

Quest 2: Use the chin-up assist machine every time I go to the gym and do 3 sets of my minimum weight each time. Continue to decrease weight as necessary until I can do them unassisted.

A: Go to the gym 3 days a week

B: Go to the gym 2 days a week

C: Go to the gym 1 day a week

Quest 3: Run/walk 5k at least twice a week. Even if I have to walk part of it, I’ll be able to run a little farther each time until I can run the whole way through. I just want to boost my cardio a bit.

A: Run twice a week

B: Run once a week

C: Use the elliptical for 20 minutes instead

Life Quest:

Spend less time on Reddit and more time doing my university readings. I’ll start reading Brave New World and 1984 on my phone ebook reader so I won’t open my Reddit app. Will update post if any additional books are read (or if I decide to actually read my textbooks instead).

Motivation:

I want to be a supergirl! I want to be ridiculously strong and make my boyfriend proud of my strength. I want to look more toned and fit rather than flabby. I also want to spend more of my time being a productive person rather than a person who procrastinates. I just want to be more proud of myself and heal the relationship between me and the body I’ve spent too much energy being self conscious about.

If anyone wants to make excessive Game of Thrones references at me or discuss GoT conspiracy theories, feel free My boyfriend is sick of hearing it, haha

Wow! Simple yet bold~ I love it! GOOD LUCK! DADDY-O

You shall remain in my radar, yo!

By your goals, you look like a ranger or warrior (more ranger) but hey! Your choice is your choice, yes? Holler if you need anything!

Again! Good luck, mate! Be brave, be bold and be straight forward!

This message was brought to you by "my five fingers and co."backed up by, "the jolt of electrical signals from my brain speeding through a network of nerves and ganglia".

[Carly Rae Jepsens Warlock]

May I recommend the Nike training app? Free exercises and no gym! WOOP

This message was brought to you by "my five fingers and co."backed up by, "the jolt of electrical signals from my brain speeding through a network of nerves and ganglia".

[Odango]

But yes, it sounds like a good program! My inspiration for running is the fact that if I was ever in an apocalypse I would die so fast haha... I should be able to run at least a little bit (or at least so I can catch my trains when I'm late). 

 

 

And I have the same motivation for running! I want to at least try and survive an apocalypse. The same goes for all kinds of exercises really

 

Yes, same here! I always think that in a post-apocalyptic world, I want to be the kick ass fighter

 

[pokemaniacemily]

Yay! WELCOME!

I love your Quest and your goals! I'm really impressed, the 10 push-ups from the beginner bodyweight workout are already really hard for me (and I do then on the knees not the toes).

Cannot wait to see you improve throughout the next 6 weeks, post often please

Cheering you on!

Thank you!

For the last couple of months I've been working on my pushups. I had to work myself up to knee pushups at first by doing stair pushups for about a month (pushups on an angle). Then from the knee pushups I was able to work myself up to real pushups. What a journey I gained a lot of musculature in the pectoral region just because I had so little beforehand. 

I checked out your challenge as well, looks good! 

[pokemaniacemily]

Wow! Simple yet bold~ I love it! GOOD LUCK! DADDY-O

You shall remain in my radar, yo!

By your goals, you look like a ranger or warrior (more ranger) but hey! Your choice is your choice, yes? Holler if you need anything!

Again! Good luck, mate! Be brave, be bold and be straight forward!

I'm not entirely sure what's happening with my guild, I have many ambassadors and people coming in and telling me different things My first choice was a warrior but then I was tagged with the assassins (due to the bodyweight goals in my challenge) and I had adventurers and now a scout ambassador in my thread as well! Wowza! 

In the future I know I will be focusing more on weightlifting so I'm sure I'll stay in the warrior guild, it's just that this particular challenge is kind of a startup for me (need to learn how to lift properly before I can lift, but in the meantime I'm doing bodyweight).