The Swampling #10: Plan B

[Swampling]

So here I thought I'd start a regular kettlebell routine again, looking into the Simple & Sinister program. I did some initial benchmarks to figure out where to start and how to progress eventually.

Enter not the kettlebell, but the possibility of Patellar Tendonitis. Exit my challenge-plan-to-date.

Now I'll need to figure out what all I can or can't do in order to fix the buggy knee. Since it's been buggy for the past 11 months and didn't even hint at getting better despite all the physical therapy and strength training I threw at it, it seems like I need to do something different.  
Meaning I need to talk to various people who know more about this than I do.

In the meantime, I'll use the time slot in the morning I had reserved for the S&S practice for GMB's Movement MultiVitamin. Which is all about the exploration of movements, not learning any specific exercises. I hope this will be easier on the knee as well as help me un-klutz a bit.

Goal #1: Movement MultiVitamin
It would be great if I managed to do the practice every day for the next four weeks, but being realistic, I'll be happy with an average 5 out of 7 days a week. The program runs for 4 weeks, after that I'll either ease into a modified Simple & Sinister routine (knee permitting), or I will repeat parts of the Movement MV program until the end of the challenge.

Goal #2: Wussy conditioning + handstand practice
Again, it would be awesome if I did it every day, but I'll aim again for 5 out of 7 days a week. Wrist prep is a MUST on all of those days, actual handstand practice will depend on the current state of the wussies.

Goal #3: Be prepared for the attack of the Holiday Sugar Monsters
It's that time of year again when the Sugar Monsters turn up in droves (or insert appropriate term for a group of Sugar Monsters). I'm keeping my usual goal of staying sugar free at least 21 out of 42 challenge days.

Life Goal: Set up Git and possibly a Virtual Machine at work
I've been meaning to do this ever since we started our current project earlier this year. As usual, life got in the way, and I'm still sans Git and a sensible development set-up. I need to:

• Set up (or download) an Ubuntu VM and have it accessible via LAN. Would be nice to have for VMWare player, but any VM environment running on Windows 7 and 8 would work.  
• Set up Apache + same PHP version as current dev machine on said Ubuntu VM.
• Figure out which DB* to use (DB on current dev server? local DB on VM?).
• Install Git on VM, clone project data and set up repo so that we all can work with it.
• Git happily ever after.

At least that's my theory so far.

 

Aside from that, I'll keep doing the usual (if the medicos don't nix that): kettlebell class 1 - 2 x / week, yoga class 1 x / week, doing fun stuff with Rosie 1 - 2 x / week.

Grades and stat points tbd later.

 

*DB as in DataBase. Not DumbBell. I think trying to store client data in dumbbells might be more of a challenge than I can handle...
 

[AshPS]

WOOT WOOT for staying in the game my friend! :triumphant:

 

When thrown a curve ball, you didn't give up but redirected your plans! I am super proud and inspired.

 

Sounds like fun with the handstand practice! When you do one I expect pics.

 

And we'll fight those sugar monsters together my friend! I've got your back!

 

Love you!

[Carly Rae Jepsens Warlock]

Sugar monster thing! Definitely we will team up there! Don't forget to give yourself some rest days~

This message was convincingly brought to you by,"my imaginative brain", co-produced by "my nimble but bulbous fingers".

[GingaNinja]

LETS KILL THE SUGAR DEMON

[Sygil]

Goal #3: Be prepared for the attack of the Holiday Sugar Monsters

It's that time of year again when the Sugar Monsters turn up in droves (or insert appropriate term for a group of Sugar Monsters). I'm keeping my usual goal of staying sugar free at least 21 out of 42 challenge days.

Oh wow, it IS that time of the year already. I really hope you find a way to slay those monsters for good!

 

Life Goal: Set up Git and possibly a Virtual Machine at work

I've been meaning to do this ever since we started our current project earlier this year. As usual, life got in the way, and I'm still sans Git and a sensible development set-up. I need to:

• Set up (or download) an Ubuntu VM and have it accessible via LAN. Would be nice to have for VMWare player, but any VM environment running on Windows 7 and 8 would work.  
• Set up Apache + same PHP version as current dev machine on said Ubuntu VM.
• Figure out which DB to use (DB on current dev server? local DB on VM?).
• Install Git on VM, clone project data and set up repo so that we all can work with it.
• Git happily ever after.

 

 

Sometimes I forget we're all nerds Git is awesome. I use it for my projects at home and should probably start using it at work as a second layer on top of our VCS. Good luck with that!

[Ensi]

Today we face the sugar monsters that are on our door and bring the fight to them! Today we are cancelling the sugarpocalypse!! D8<

 

Ahem. Lovely to see you, Swampling! Oooh, kettlebells! I've been thinking of getting back to them myself, as well. Also, your life goal sounds super cool. What's your profession?

[jaex]

Sorry about the knee problemo, but glad to see that you are not using it as an excuse to give up!  Good luck on the challenge.  I know how hard goal 3 is going to be...so many delicious foods in fall that aren't nutritious.  

[Swampling]

Sorry about the knee problemo, but glad to see that you are not using it as an excuse to give up!  Good luck on the challenge.  I know how hard goal 3 is going to be...so many delicious foods in fall that aren't nutritious.  

 

Thank you, jaex!

 

I talked to the Drill Master today (my physical therapist) about any possibly "verboten" exercises, and after his inital "NO SQUATS AND LUNGES FOR NOW" from last week, today he amended that to: "From a medical point of view you can keep doing whatever you feel comfortable with."

 

I can work with that! So I'll do squats, as longs as the knee doesn't complain, lunges ditto, although I think I need to be a bit more careful with those, especially the one-legged variety (aka "airborne lunges"). *whew*

 

And as to those less than nutritious foods: In our neck of the woods, we got ginger bread and all sorts of Christmas candy in the stores since the beginning of September. *facepalm*

So far I have given in once and had one gingerbread thingy about a week ago (I traded some leftover Halloween candy for it ), but I intend to lay off the Christmas goodies until the Christmas markets start to sprout at the end of November.

[jaex]

Thank you, jaex!

 

I talked to the Drill Master today (my physical therapist) about any possibly "verboten" exercises, and after his inital "NO SQUATS AND LUNGES FOR NOW" from last week, today he amended that to: "From a medical point of view you can keep doing whatever you feel comfortable with."

 

I can work with that! So I'll do squats, as longs as the knee doesn't complain, lunges ditto, although I think I need to be a bit more careful with those, especially the one-legged variety (aka "airborne lunges"). *whew*

 

And as to those less than nutritious foods: In our neck of the woods, we got ginger bread and all sorts of Christmas candy in the stores since the beginning of September. *facepalm*

So far I have given in once and had one gingerbread thingy about a week ago (I traded some leftover Halloween candy for it ), but I intend to lay off the Christmas goodies until the Christmas markets start to sprout at the end of November.

 

Yay for medical clearance!

 

And ginger bread and candy don't bother me.  It is the pies I have to worry about.  My favorite dessert and you just have to eat them as quickly as possible as they go bad and you cannot let any go to waste because they are a treat and think of the starving children in India and woah hey I have belly and doublechin again.

[Swampling]

Today we face the sugar monsters that are on our door and bring the fight to them! Today we are cancelling the sugarpocalypse!! D8<

 

Ahem. Lovely to see you, Swampling! Oooh, kettlebells! I've been thinking of getting back to them myself, as well. Also, your life goal sounds super cool. What's your profession?

 

Cancelling the sugarpocalypse sounds like a great plan!

 

And I'd absolutely encourage the idea of getting back to kettlebells! So much fun!

 

re profession: I'm a web developer, working for a very small company.

[Sygil]

I can work with that! So I'll do squats, as longs as the knee doesn't complain, lunges ditto, although I think I need to be a bit more careful with those, especially the one-legged variety (aka "airborne lunges"). *whew*

Are you doing front squats or back squats? Both Starting Strength and Stronglifts 5x5 provide arguments for front squats being worse for the knees, since you have to push them out further. Maybe that's not an issue though?

[Ensi]

Cancelling the sugarpocalypse sounds like a great plan!

 

And I'd absolutely encourage the idea of getting back to kettlebells! So much fun!

 

re profession: I'm a web developer, working for a very small company.

 

We will! >8D

 

Oooo yes, I did a short kettlebell workout today. So much fun, indeed! And for your profession: being a web developer is something I've started to see as a possibility for myself since I started studying information tech this autumn. There's a lot to learn, but hey, there's a lot of time to learn, as well!

 

It's wonderful to hear that you can keep doing lunges and such for now!  And for the Christmas sweets... They've hit the shelves here, too. So much chocolate o__o We just need to get our momentum going, eat healthy food and focus. Yeah.

[lullaby88]

Let's go Swampling!!

 

We'll help you fight those sugar monsters!

[Swampling]

Are you doing front squats or back squats? Both Starting Strength and Stronglifts 5x5 provide arguments for front squats being worse for the knees, since you have to push them out further. Maybe that's not an issue though?

 

Bodyweight, front or goblet squats (the latter two with kettlebell(s)). 

 

Since I have no experience with back squats - what exactly do they mean with "having to push them out further"? Could you please explain a bit more?

[Sygil]

With front squats, the weight is further forward, so you have to keep your back more vertical and push out your knees further to compensate and keep the weight over your midfoot. Otherwise the weight will not go up and down in a vertical line, which is bad for balance (especially with a lot of weight) and making sure your muscle recruitment doesn't shift all over the place (which I imagine could cause injury). I am however no expert

 

It may not be as big of a deal using kettlebells, since you might be able to hold the weight a little further back. This diagram should help though:

 

The amount of weight you're using will play a part as well, of course. I suppose the equivalent to the back versions might be holding the weights by your sides instead, but I again have no idea. This requires further research

[Swampling]

Let's go Swampling!!

 

We'll help you fight those sugar monsters!

 

 

LETS KILL THE SUGAR DEMON

 

 

Sugar monster thing! Definitely we will team up there! Don't forget to give yourself some rest days~

This message was convincingly brought to you by,"my imaginative brain", co-produced by "my nimble but bulbous fingers".

 

 

WOOT WOOT for staying in the game my friend! :triumphant:

 

When thrown a curve ball, you didn't give up but redirected your plans! I am super proud and inspired.

 

Sounds like fun with the handstand practice! When you do one I expect pics.

 

And we'll fight those sugar monsters together my friend! I've got your back!

 

Love you!

 

The Holiday Sugar Monsters won't stand a chance against so many rebels united! RAWR!

[Swampling]

Double post...

[Swampling]

Wow, thank you Cinalyc! Great illustration!

 

I guess I'll have to try and take pics squatting, so I can see what my knees, hips and shoulders are doing exactly.

Maybe I can get the FC to help with that...

[jdkc4d]

The sugar monster is an evil evil...uh...monster thing. Good luck with your quest!

[BiancaBlack]

Signing up to fight the sugar monsters alongside you. We will END. THEM.

 

(Always wanted to use that phrase. Am now concerned revealing that makes the phrase less awesome and intimidating sounding)

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Hum ..... we have an accountability group aimed at outrunning the darned sugar (and other holiday demon) monsters .....

[Swampling]

Hum ..... we have an accountability group aimed at outrunning the darned sugar (and other holiday demon) monsters .....

 

Yes, and it looks like a lot of fun - though I didn't want to take on more this challenge than I can sensibly handle.

If it's okay, though, I might join you in a couple of days, when I have a better grip on how I'm doing with my daily work- / life- and challenge-load. ?

[Swampling]

Quick update for Mon - Wed:

 

I'm doing astonishingly well on the Sugar Monster front - not having any temptations around the office is a big help, especially today with zombie brains after not getting enough sleep and with a kind of project meh-ness at work.

3 / 42 days sans Sugar Monster. HUZZAH!

 

Getting up at 5:15 and trying to wrap my knees around my ears in a shoulder stand takes some getting used to. But so far I have done all three of the Movement MultiVitamin tutorials. I always need to remind myself that this is about learning and exploration, not about perfection. Must. Not. Freak. Out.

 

Handstand practice is usually happening right after the MMV in the morning, so I'm at 3 / 30. I usually do at least the wussy prep exercises, and if I feel like being upside down, I add a couple of kick-up handstands (with wall support). Yesterday I managed to kick up to a free standing handstand for about 2 seconds. PROGRESS! w00000t!

 

As for the life goal: I have downloaded and installed an Ubuntu VM so far, but haven't done anything with it, yet.

[jaex]

Good job fighting the sugar monster!  And on the exercise progress as well!

[BiancaBlack]

Quick update for Mon - Wed:

 

I'm doing astonishingly well on the Sugar Monster front - not having any temptations around the office is a big help, especially today with zombie brains after not getting enough sleep and with a kind of project meh-ness at work.

3 / 42 days sans Sugar Monster. HUZZAH!

 

Well look at you kicking butt! I always feel like so much of success in the no sugar department is just making sure you don't have it around you so you can't immediately inhale it when you have a weak moment, so good for you for keeping your office temptation free.