KISHI DECLARES WAR ON CHRISTMAS

[Kishi]

So, I figured at first that I'd do the Spartan and die valiantly and not have to worry about the rest of the challenge, until I started reading about places doing up their Christmas decorations and their Praline Spice Pumpkin Mocha Frappucinos (that's what Starbucks does, right? I'm bad at coffee) and radio stations starting to hit the Christmas music already, all in the name of that all important Q4.
 
And I thought about how fortunate I was to work for a sane, decent company that doesn't indulge in those shenanigans, that takes its mission seriously and lets the product speak for itself-
 
Until today. When I went looking for coffee cups to restock with. And found them. Colored red. With PEPPERMINT. SWIRL. PATTERN.
 
I think we all know what this means. RIGHTEOUS SANTA JUSTICE

 

Clearly the opening track of the anime that they will make of this war. Yes.

 

I can't die at the Spartan knowing that this bloated, commercialized claptrap of a holiday will survive me. I can't stand it. I won't stand it. Bunch of bloody, soulless companies trying to latch on to our feelings of good will and cheer to trade those things for petty material possessions!

 

FFS! We haven't even had Thanksgiving yet, you bastards!

 

INTO THE TRENCHES

 

 

*

 

All right. The work is before us. NaNoWriMo is trying to knock me off my dietary track at every turn, and if it's not that, it's the delicious things we're making at Panera. They're rolling out a new cinnamon roll that makes the old one look... well, really bad. Which isn't even getting into the part where they're bustin' out with the Holiday Bread, which is like a cinnamon roll if cinnamon rolls came in loaves.

 

 

Stop that! We got work to do!

 

Goal 1: Ab Training 5 Days/Week

 

Yeah, I know what you're thinking. This is fairly unnecessary. Why would I ever want to do that? Don't I know that teh abz can only show with teh P4L30?

 

Hah! Let me explain.

• The core is an incredibly difficult set of muscles to overwork. It's the stabilizer. Everything you do, every challenge that requires you to hold steady has to be won here, and it can do the work.
• With the absence of weights, the core is able to quickly regenerate itself and be ready to work again in no time at all.
• The horror story of making your stomach bigger is... exaggerated. Rectus abdominis and the surrounding pieces just don't have enough tissue to expand that way, to that kind of size.
• Meanwhile, there is a long and celebrated history of boxers working their abs to death. When was the last time you saw a genuinely fat boxer?

Goal 2: Finish NaNoWriMo Strong

 

I'm actually having some trouble with the novel this time. I'm going slower, having to struggle for my words. I think that's because I mean to publish this damn thing. So I can't just bumrush it like I used to... I mean, I could, but so much of it would just have to go.

 

So, I'm making it official: finish the month out. Come hell or hot chocolate.

 

Yeah, look at this bullcrap. This warm, chocolatey... maybe some marshmallows... NOOOOOO

 

Goal 3: Keep the Cheats Under Control

 

So, I seem to have found my magic number that gets me both satisfaction and results. That number is 2: two cheat meals per week. Not days. Meals. 'cuz one just isn't enough, but two somehow manages to get to me to that place where I'm satisfied and wanting to stop.

 

The thing is, though, lately I've been struggling to keep to that. With all the delicious things coming out and with all these occasions to get together with friends, it just seems like it's awful heavy all of a sudden. And if I can make them fit my macros for the day, then... well, surely it's not a cheat... right?

 

... right?

 

I don't know, man. I just don't know.

 

Goal 4: Put the money together for a car payment

 

So, long story short, my dad heard that I had the race coming up, and he was not happy. He thought I was trying to welch on the car payment and that if I could put money away for a silly race that I could do important things like take care of the car and such like that.

 

I get to figure that one out now too on top of everything else.

 

We'll get it, though. We'll get it.

 

Logs and such to follow. Let's end it strong, monks.

[QuothTheDragon]

I approve. And the challenge looks awesome (Minus the car payment part. Sorry to hear that)

 

Seriously though, any time before Thanksgiving (especially if it's Sept/Oct) and I see Christmas stuff, I make sure to declare somewhat loudly that it "makes me want to puke Christmas". Yeah, I'm an ass. My mom laughs every time though.

 

And I'll just leave this here...

[RisenPhoenix]

So how are you training dem abz?  I am curious....

 

And we gonna get NaNoWriMo snippets?!

 

Goal 4: Put the money together for a car payment

 

So, long story short, my dad heard that I had the race coming up, and he was not happy. He thought I was trying to welch on the car payment and that if I could put money away for a silly race that I could do important things like take care of the car and such like that.

 

I get to figure that one out now too on top of everything else.

 

We'll get it, though. We'll get it.

 

Logs and such to follow. Let's end it strong, monks.

 

Annnnd as the person who convinced you do come to do the race, I currently feel like the world's largest douche.

 

Sorry, Kishi.

 

[Mistr]

So how are you training dem abz?  I am curious....

 

And we gonna get NaNoWriMo snippets?!

^^^ I'm curious too.  Is your novel in the same background as the story chapters you have shared so far?

 

I agree that core strength is key for practically everything. How did you decide on abs for this challenge?

 

That sucks that your dad is being like that. I would be tempted to say "Okay, here is your car payment. I'm including a Christmas card. I don't have any money for travel or Christmas gifts this year". Not an adult way to communicate about feelings or finances. Neither is what he is doing.

[Kishi]

I approve. And the challenge looks awesome (Minus the car payment part. Sorry to hear that)

 

Seriously though, any time before Thanksgiving (especially if it's Sept/Oct) and I see Christmas stuff, I make sure to declare somewhat loudly that it "makes me want to puke Christmas". Yeah, I'm an ass. My mom laughs every time though.

 

And I'll just leave this here...

 

Eh. I don't feel bad about it. He and I had an agreement that he'd handle it until I got my feet back under me again, and they're mostly there now. Mostly. Tell you the truth, I probably was going to use that money on things like new clothes and such too, so I didn't have to look for all the world like someone who had given up on his life, but, eh. It is what it is.

 

Dude, if I could say that at the register, I would totally do it, but all the rich people would probably complain.

 

Grumpycat is wise.

 

So how are you training dem abz?  I am curious....

 

And we gonna get NaNoWriMo snippets?!

 

 

Annnnd as the person who convinced you do come to do the race, I currently feel like the world's largest douche.

 

Sorry, Kishi.

 

 

Well, I dunno if you remember me mentioning the Athlean Xero program, but it's huge on the use of core work in the absence of weights. So, what I'm doing is a mix of convict conditioning's hanging leg raise progressions, some other equipment-less stuff, and some banded work which it turns out I have the perfect set-up for. The guy who created the program basically structures his stuff as a dynamic move followed by a stability move, for lower, middle, and upper core. I'll dig up a video when I'm not at work to show you guys what he does.

 

Yes! As awful as they'll be, I'mma share them with you.

 

No. Not your fault. His actions aren't on you. I told him that it had taken me months to save up for it, and then decided to be the better man by negotiating how much I'd pay. Now I just have to be true to my word.

 

Please don't feel bad about this.

 

^^^ I'm curious too.  Is your novel in the same background as the story chapters you have shared so far?

 

I agree that core strength is key for practically everything. How did you decide on abs for this challenge?

 

That sucks that your dad is being like that. I would be tempted to say "Okay, here is your car payment. I'm including a Christmas card. I don't have any money for travel or Christmas gifts this year". Not an adult way to communicate about feelings or finances. Neither is what he is doing.

 

Yes! Although it's changing up some. Some of the magic-as-tech that I wanted to do I think I'm going to have to shift around to make it be the thing I want, but yes!

 

I decided on abs because I'm gaining the ability to see them. It's vain, but it slides in to strength work and sprint work really well as a supplement, and they regenerate like hella fast.

 

I'd do that to him, but he and mom are coming to visit me and my brother this year, so that's out. XD He knows how bad things are. He values my being responsible over gifts anyway, so it kinda works out to a wash. Besides, the real reason he's doing this is because he's over 70 and forcibly retired and working at a grocery store and he's scared that my brother and I aren't going to be able to take care of mom, who is significantly younger. This is a thing I have to do for his peace of mind. I'm willing. And in the end, that's what matters. His dickishness will not preclude my loving him or my being a man of my word.

[joedog]

I approve. And the challenge looks awesome (Minus the car payment part. Sorry to hear that)

Seriously though, any time before Thanksgiving (especially if it's Sept/Oct) and I see Christmas stuff, I make sure to declare somewhat loudly that it "makes me want to puke Christmas". Yeah, I'm an ass. My mom laughs every time though.

And I'll just leave this here...

A couple of years ago, I made Amy an Advent calendar that was all Grumpy Cat.

Good luck with the car payment kerfluffle.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Kishi]

A couple of years ago, I made Amy an Advent calendar that was all Grumpy Cat.

Good luck with the car payment kerfluffle.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

That sounds like an awesome Advent calendar. We would've loved it around here.

[Cheechoe]

DEWD.

 

 

You is awesome.

 

 

 

 

I like how you found this magic number. And also how you leaked out a weakness of yours. Now, every time you go over your cheat days or miss an Abz workout, you get a wonderfully festive anti-true-meaning Christmas filled meme or gif.

Complements of yours truly.

 

 

Luuurve yoooooooouuuuuuu. xD

 

[Kishi]

DEWD.

 

 

You is awesome.

 

 

 

 

I like how you found this magic number. And also how you leaked out a weakness of yours. Now, every time you go over your cheat days or miss an Abz workout, you get a wonderfully festive anti-true-meaning Christmas filled meme or gif.

Complements of yours truly.

 

 

Luuurve yoooooooouuuuuuu. xD

 

 

 

Ah, but weaknesses, tho. Dang. Well. Better not mess up then.

 

So much the lurve! But seriously, Christmas has to be stopped.

 

 

*

 

Did some core training today, then some jumping squats, wall push ups, and banded pull aparts to open up the muscle cells for glycogen.

 

Also, because I said I would:

 

 

Looks gimmicky, yeah, but the challenge is legit, I promise. Anyway, it inspired me, so.

[Yuen]

Good luck on your challenge master monk!

 

I especially hope you can solve your financial woes

[karinajean]

In for abs!

No really, dude, the way you described core muscles and their capacity really made me think. Nice.

Sent from my iPhone while riding a unicorn through the cosmos.

[Styx]

Good luck to your challenge! 

[Kishi]

Good luck on your challenge master monk!

 

I especially hope you can solve your financial woes

 

You and me both, man.

 

In for abs!

No really, dude, the way you described core muscles and their capacity really made me think. Nice.

Sent from my iPhone while riding a unicorn through the cosmos.

 

I'm glad that my acquaintance with the subject is useful. Hope I have some useful, exciting things to show come the end of the challenge.

 

Good luck to your challenge! 

 

Thanks!

[Blaidd]

your challenge sounded so ominous when I saw it that I just had to pop in and say hi.  I love Christmas for two reasons: 1.  People are actually genuinely nice to each other (unless it's 2 days before christmas and they haven't done their shopping) and 2.  I get to spend time making nice, special things for the people i love without them being weird about it (I'm making all the ladies recipe books this year, cos everyone raves about my food and baking - Jax is in charge of the guys).  But other than that, I totes agree with the Claptrap

 

Good luck with your challenge and I hope you bring Santa down!!

[Lou_be_Lou]

Ow!  That video, just ow!

 

Good luck with the challenge - looks good.

[ladylydia]

Subbing either way, but shouldn't be war on holiday commercialization instead of war on Christmas? Christmas itself is lovely.

[Shotokan]

Your challenge looks awesome, especially the Abs part!  Can't have too  much core is my motto! 

[Taijibum]

Kishi, I have a super deadly anti-Christmas Tai Chi move for you. Here study closely....

 

[WildColonialGrrl]

mmm... cinnamon and cold weather. All the best for your challenge Kishi!

[SugarRay]

Awesome challenge! Especially the core part. Core training is always bloody difficult, but you've got this! 

For the life of me I will never understand how you guys write a novel in a month. I would be mentally exhausted writing but a few pages!

 

Good luck. This is a real challenge, but I'm sure you'll annihilate it.

...with an axe kick.

 

 

---

Off topic:

 

Funnily enough, one of my favorite boxers of all time happens to be quite fat.

 

 

Eric "Butterbean" Ersch.

I think he's super cool, though. Really great character, he's fought 91 times and won over 70 of his bouts.

[Teirin]

I hope if it comes down to Hell or Hot Chocolate, that you go with hot chocolate.  So delicious.

 

Must watch ab workout video.  You have the best resources. 

 

Love how you talk about your parents.  You're a good person *hugs*

[Kishi]

your challenge sounded so ominous when I saw it that I just had to pop in and say hi.  I love Christmas for two reasons: 1.  People are actually genuinely nice to each other (unless it's 2 days before christmas and they haven't done their shopping) and 2.  I get to spend time making nice, special things for the people i love without them being weird about it (I'm making all the ladies recipe books this year, cos everyone raves about my food and baking - Jax is in charge of the guys).  But other than that, I totes agree with the Claptrap

 

Good luck with your challenge and I hope you bring Santa down!!

 

I love Christmas too. I get to see my family, and the music we get to hear in Church is really a lot of fun. And general good cheer and stuff like that. So, yeah, there's good to it, for sure. I just can't stand the ways in which the holiday is being manipulated for a profit.

 

Thanks!

 

Ow!  That video, just ow!

 

Good luck with the challenge - looks good.

 

Thank you! And yes, that video is very ow.

 

Subbing either way, but shouldn't be war on holiday commercialization instead of war on Christmas? Christmas itself is lovely.

 

Christmas is flipping amazing, but declaring war on holiday commercialization and the evils of capitalist exploitation of a sacred human rite just doesn't roll off the tongue so well.

 

Your challenge looks awesome, especially the Abs part!  Can't have too  much core is my motto! 

 

Dude, right? It reminds me of the old days of formal training.

 

Kishi, I have a super deadly anti-Christmas Tai Chi move for you. Here study closely....

 

 

Dude, I'm not sure, but I think I just felt the universe explode a little. I'll definitely have to give this a shot!

 

mmm... cinnamon and cold weather. All the best for your challenge Kishi!

 

Thanks! One week until the Race! EEEEEEEEEEEE~

 

 

Awesome challenge! Especially the core part. Core training is always bloody difficult, but you've got this! 

For the life of me I will never understand how you guys write a novel in a month. I would be mentally exhausted writing but a few pages!

 

Good luck. This is a real challenge, but I'm sure you'll annihilate it.

...with an axe kick.

 

 

---

Off topic:

 

Funnily enough, one of my favorite boxers of all time happens to be quite fat.

 

 

Eric "Butterbean" Ersch.

I think he's super cool, though. Really great character, he's fought 91 times and won over 70 of his bouts.

 

The novel's a lot simpler than it sounds, actually. The trick, at least for me, is to block it out and plan it out, but not too much. You want to leave a little room for improv to let your creativity go... so I guess it's like you plant a bunch of trees on the road of your story, and as you get to each you get to climb them different? I dunno.

 

Yes, I shall totally do it that way... though to tell you the truth, I'm more of a roundhouse kind of guy myself.

 

 

*

 

Huh. That's the first time I've ever seen anything like that. Boxing's always referred to as a great conditioner, a tightener/destroyer of men. Fascinating. I'll have to research him.

 

I hope if it comes down to Hell or Hot Chocolate, that you go with hot chocolate.  So delicious.

 

Must watch ab workout video.  You have the best resources. 

 

Love how you talk about your parents.  You're a good person *hugs*

 

I probably will cave on hot chocolate if it's offered. It's been a long time since I've had any and I wait specifically for this time of year. Hrm. Decisions decisions.

 

I try to share the best I can. It's not always possible for me to share the very best, but I try to give what I can when I can.

 

*hugs* I love my parents. They frustrate me sometimes, but at the end of the day, I love them, and they love me too. We're all on the same side, here.

 

*

 

Abz: 1/5

 

Wordz: 13734/16666

 

Cheatz: 0/2

 

$$$: 0/160

 

So, we have started the thing. Took it a little easy today: between job, no sleep, novel, and hard training, I seem to have come down with a minor case of the sniffles. Much scratchy. Very stuff.

 

Fortunately, ten hours of sleep, an orange, and some nice, gentle strength work seem to have taken me a long way toward being better. Another good night's sleep and we should be good.

 

Warmed up

 

Wall Push Ups: 3x50

 

Shoulderstand Squats: 3x50

 

Double Bent Leg Calf Raises: 4x30

 

Really took my time on this one. Longer rest periods and such. No finisher. I'll be dedicating the rest of the week to conditioning work, since I don't want those gains to just slip away.

 

Need to get those words sorted.

 

[Cheechoe]

 

 

 

Noiiiice! That had to have broken a clavicle!!

 

 

Also..... KISHI!!

 

 

 

*poke with a 10 foot pole*

 

 

hey.

 

 

 

 

kishi.

 

 

 

 

*poke*

 

 

 

 

NO SNIFFLES!!!

 

 

 

 

 

I DON'T WANT YOUR CAROLINA CRAP COMING TO BOSTON!

 

 

I got races and shit to do.

 

 

 

Thank you kindly.

 

 

 

(That last part was me preparing to be able to communicate with SevenFoot)

 

 

 

kbai

[Kishi]

Noiiiice! That had to have broken a clavicle!!

 

 

Also..... KISHI!!

 

 

 

*poke with a 10 foot pole*

 

 

hey.

 

 

 

 

kishi.

 

 

 

 

*poke*

 

 

 

 

NO SNIFFLES!!!

 

 

 

 

 

I DON'T WANT YOUR CAROLINA CRAP COMING TO BOSTON!

 

 

I got races and shit to do.

 

 

 

Thank you kindly.

 

 

 

(That last part was me preparing to be able to communicate with SevenFoot)

 

 

 

kbai

 

*SNERK*

 

It'll be fine. F'real. Don't worry about it none.

 

*HAAAAH-CHOO!*

 

Carolina crap, yeah, well, you got... a... faceOOHBURN

 

[Teirin]

Lots of sleep and OJ *hugs*  Get better so you can go play with Nerds and be awesome.