Kishi Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Nice on the bench press! You get to play around with 45 lbs on either side of the bar. Good work. Work like a farmer, train like an athlete, fight like a soldier. 2 Tim. 2:3-6 BATTLE! Link to comment
Martinpanduh Posted October 30, 2011 Report Share Posted October 30, 2011 Nice to hear you got your PR so early on, keep it up! My workout log: http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/15357-martinpanduhs-workout-log/ Link to comment
Ang0488 Posted October 31, 2011 Report Share Posted October 31, 2011 I tried a sleep goal last challenge and failed so miserably! It's great that you are already doing so well with it It really does make all the difference in the world. I'm pretty jealous of your chin-up/pull-up goal. I thought I was a fairly strong girl and I can't even do one unassisted lol. You are doing great! Keep it up Angela's Abs or Bust Challenge Link to comment
Mama T Posted October 31, 2011 Report Share Posted October 31, 2011 hey scottilicious! nicely done on the bench press PB, sir! how's the sleep goal coming along? ...we, each of us, are responsible for our own fulfillment. Nobody else can provide it for us, and to believe otherwise is to delude ourselves dangerously and to program for eventual failure every relationship we enter. - Tom Robbins Current Challenge: Life, man. Link to comment
This is Seth Posted November 1, 2011 Report Share Posted November 1, 2011 Oh, it's a beautiful feeling finally getting that first set of plates onto the bar for BP, isn't it? Grats brother! You ever see those guys who look like they totally used to be in shape? I'm working to get back to that... Link to comment
scotticus Posted November 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 Man I want to go to bed just reading this. It's funny how thats a challenge eh? It's getting easier for me I find. When I first started working full time I couldn't get to bed before midnight. Every now and again if I was super tired I would try to get to sleep at 10, but just ended up tossing and turning. I don't know if it's because I'm older now, or work my ass off (where 5 years ago I didn't do a thing), but now once 10 o'clock hits I usually finish up whatever I'm doing then I'm out. I rarely see past 11. and usually once a week even seeing 10 o'clock is a challenge. My wife teases me for it, but I just can't stay up anymore. It boils down to about 7 hours of sleep for me, but I could use more. Lately I've been waking up in the night again and that's draining me.I have the same problem - frequent wake-ups. It seems to be getting better though, with health improvements. Smoking a lot less is having a huge impact. I think that 7 hours is in a reasonable range, no? Once I get to a better rested state in general, I expect that I'll hover somewhere in this range Link to comment
scotticus Posted November 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 @ Kishi, Martinpanduh & Seth: It's a pretty solid feeling! Definitely reduced the wimp factor in our house big time. I'm working with 25s @ home, so it's still multiple plates Nonetheless, this led to a new PB today - 140lbs for my top set. I'm lucky that I didn't crush myself, but I'm glad I accidentally loaded a few lbs to many on the bar! I thought I was just losing strength, 'cuz I was really struggling. No wonder. @Ang0488 & Matilda117: The sleep is tough, and staying up is a hard habit to break. I'm only a week in, so things could still go horribly (but they won't, right). Thanks so much for the encouragement! In other news, I've officially conquered my chin-up challenge of 3x5 @ bodyweight! Boom! I have to do some thinking on an extended challenge, because this success came as a huge surprise and very early in the challenge (I thought it would be another las week squeaker for sure). My last session looked kind of like this: 4xbodyweight (bdw) + 1 negative (neg), 3 x bdw + 2 neg, 2.5 x bdw + 3 neg. Today was just straight sets of 5, and although there's no way I could have added a sixth to any of those sets I still felt stronger or more in control. I honestly think that I owe this victory to Greasing the Groove! Le WOOT! Link to comment
Kishi Posted November 2, 2011 Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 Well, regarding sleep: it's a transition. It's something you have to get used to over time. You've got a good approach on this, really, and I think it's going to turn out well for you. Work like a farmer, train like an athlete, fight like a soldier. 2 Tim. 2:3-6 BATTLE! Link to comment
Hermione Gainser Posted November 2, 2011 Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 In other news, I've officially conquered my chin-up challenge of 3x5 @ bodyweight! Boom! I have to do some thinking on an extended challenge, because this success came as a huge surprise and very early in the challenge (I thought it would be another las week squeaker for sure). My last session looked kind of like this: 4xbodyweight (bdw) + 1 negative (neg), 3 x bdw + 2 neg, 2.5 x bdw + 3 neg. Today was just straight sets of 5, and although there's no way I could have added a sixth to any of those sets I still felt stronger or more in control. I honestly think that I owe this victory to Greasing the Groove!Le WOOT! Way to go!!!! "I'm just going to remember to not eat like an asshole most of the time" - MoC three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: one must squat.- Brobert Frost Half-Elf Warrior | Current Challenge New Battle Log | Old Battle Log Special thanks to AkLulu for drawing my awesome avatar! Link to comment
concretecavewoman Posted November 2, 2011 Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 In other news, I've officially conquered my chin-up challenge of 3x5 @ bodyweight! Boom! I have to do some thinking on an extended challenge, because this success came as a huge surprise and very early in the challenge (I thought it would be another las week squeaker for sure). My last session looked kind of like this: 4xbodyweight (bdw) + 1 negative (neg), 3 x bdw + 2 neg, 2.5 x bdw + 3 neg. Today was just straight sets of 5, and although there's no way I could have added a sixth to any of those sets I still felt stronger or more in control. I honestly think that I owe this victory to Greasing the Groove!Le WOOT!Party! That's fabulous! Also on the frequent wakeups issue, I used to have that problem all the time, but two things have made my sleep scads better: blackout curtains and melatonin (the former especially) My Current Challenge Link to comment
This is Seth Posted November 2, 2011 Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 two things have made my sleep scads better: blackout curtains and melatonin (the former especially) You don't get weird side effects from the melatonin? I have trouble staying asleep through the night, so I tried it a few times and ended up having lucid dreams. Now, I'm not saying that's a bad thing... they're just something awfully strange to get used to. You ever see those guys who look like they totally used to be in shape? I'm working to get back to that... Link to comment
Crooked Posted November 2, 2011 Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 In other news, I've officially conquered my chin-up challenge of 3x5 @ bodyweight! Boom! I have to do some thinking on an extended challenge, because this success came as a huge surprise and very early in the challenge (I thought it would be another las week squeaker for sure). My last session looked kind of like this: 4xbodyweight (bdw) + 1 negative (neg), 3 x bdw + 2 neg, 2.5 x bdw + 3 neg. Today was just straight sets of 5, and although there's no way I could have added a sixth to any of those sets I still felt stronger or more in control. I honestly think that I owe this victory to Greasing the Groove!Le WOOT! Awesome awesome awesome! Congrats! Now set a new goal Comeback Challenge Link to comment
concretecavewoman Posted November 2, 2011 Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 You don't get weird side effects from the melatonin? I have trouble staying asleep through the night, so I tried it a few times and ended up having lucid dreams. Now, I'm not saying that's a bad thing... they're just something awfully strange to get used to. Oddly (I say oddly because I'm usually super sensitive to side effects, even with supplements) I've had zero side effects with melatonin. I have a 1mg chewable and an hour later or so I'm nice and sleepy, which is great since getting to sleep was what usually troubled me. I have heard others complain of brain fog after taking it, though, and also the lucid dreams you mention. My Current Challenge Link to comment
scotticus Posted November 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 Oddly (I say oddly because I'm usually super sensitive to side effects, even with supplements) I've had zero side effects with melatonin. I have a 1mg chewable and an hour later or so I'm nice and sleepy, which is great since getting to sleep was what usually troubled me. I have heard others complain of brain fog after taking it, though, and also the lucid dreams you mention. I love lucid dreaming! If not for the fact that I generally try to limit the amount of chemical manipulation that I do, I would be all over this stuff! Link to comment
cacodaemonia Posted November 3, 2011 Report Share Posted November 3, 2011 WOO, congrats on the pullups! I'm so jealous! Maybe for an extended challenge you could try for 3 sets of 10?? [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] Human-Dryad Ranger Fitocracy Shelter Sketches If you want to live an interesting life, you're going to spend half of it being terrified. -Mary Hollinshead Link to comment
scotticus Posted November 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Time for another weekly check-in! Health & Fitness 1. Sleep. Still going strong. Overall I'm still running a significant sleep surplus, and even though I didn't quite make 8 hours last night it was the best sleep I've had in a long time. It was uninterrupted, which is rare, so I'm feeling pretty good today. 2. Take measurements and track all workouts. Still 100% on this, and noticing very gradual improvements in both strenght and body composition. Weight seems to have stabilized @ 180lbs, bf is now @ ~11% (just under according to measurements taken three times for accuracy), the weight on the bar is gradually going up. 3. Chins. CRUSHED 3x5 bodyweight last week. Now pushing for the 3x6, after which I'll start adding weight. Life 1. Journal everyday. 3/7 for the last week. Disappointing. I find that journaling is most useful at the end of the day, but I've either been spending family time or straight up passing out before I get a chance to write. I will have to try finding a slightly earlier time to write - perhaps the last few minutes of the workday, or right after dinner. Otherwise, I've been buried (literally) in yard work - cutting down rows of dead cedars, pruing trees, cleaning gutters, etc. So that means lots of low-level activity on the off hours. Link to comment
Kishi Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Man, sleep surpluses are the best. It's always better to have too much energy rather than not enough. Work like a farmer, train like an athlete, fight like a soldier. 2 Tim. 2:3-6 BATTLE! Link to comment
scotticus Posted November 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Quick update, for posterity: - With more discipline in the sleep department, I'm finding that instead of doing evening workouts, I prefer to get up and be under the bar by 6am on workout days. AMAZING. I have NEVER, EVER been able to get out of bed until the last moment possible. This is nothing short of a revelation. Added bonus? Distraction free time to spend with the family after work. - Chins are progressing. Starting to work sets of six into the program. Once I hit a solid 3 x 6 with bodyweight, I'll start adding some lbs in a backpack. - Progress in other areas has slowed down markedly, but it's still there. Each workout I'm adding at least a rep of my working weight in each of the key movements. As per RPT, when I reach six reps at a given weight, I add five lbs and start again. - I think I'm getting over the beginner bubble to a certain extent. I no longer feel continuously "worked over" or "tight" all the time (that was nice), but I look leaner and can move more weight with less effort than before. I take this as a positive. - I had to have my suit pants taken in, and purchased a couple of pairs of new casusal pants. I've lost four inches around the belly button, and a little over two inches around the hips since the start of the September challenge. - I'm less scared of carbs in moderation, especially on workout days. This seems to be a more functional approach for me, all things considered. Still avoiding sweets and grains for the most part (90% of the time or more), but indulge in a slice or eight of pizza every couple of weeks. Link to comment
This is Seth Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 If there is one person more pleased with my weight loss than myself, it is my tailor. I'm actually scared to bring stuff in now because I still have room to lose. Grats on 4" off the waist line, that's huge. You ever see those guys who look like they totally used to be in shape? I'm working to get back to that... Link to comment
Hermione Gainser Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Sounds like you're doing really well, Scotticus! Congrats on the sleep revelation and the lost inches! Great, great things they are! "I'm just going to remember to not eat like an asshole most of the time" - MoC three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: one must squat.- Brobert Frost Half-Elf Warrior | Current Challenge New Battle Log | Old Battle Log Special thanks to AkLulu for drawing my awesome avatar! Link to comment
Kishi Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Dude, that's awesome that you're seeing so much benefit from the choices you're making. Keep it up! It gets better. Work like a farmer, train like an athlete, fight like a soldier. 2 Tim. 2:3-6 BATTLE! Link to comment
Mama T Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 scotticus - your progress is amazing. honestly, your last update is so badass, it sounds like you've leveled up so much over the past two challenges. give yourself a pat on the back, mon frere, cause you're rocking it. also, working out in the morning = awesome. that extra time after work not spent working out is like a gift. ...we, each of us, are responsible for our own fulfillment. Nobody else can provide it for us, and to believe otherwise is to delude ourselves dangerously and to program for eventual failure every relationship we enter. - Tom Robbins Current Challenge: Life, man. Link to comment
scotticus Posted November 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 If there is one person more pleased with my weight loss than myself, it is my tailor. I'm actually scared to bring stuff in now because I still have room to lose. Grats on 4" off the waist line, that's huge. I hear that. I was super p*ssed because I had a couple of suits made, only to drop a bunch of weight immediately afterwards... I'm generally pretty good about altering my clothes, but when you get into taking in the waist + moving suspender buttons + removing a beltloop, things get pricey FAST! Thankfully, muscle gains in the shoulders and chest make up for fat loss in the same areas so my shirt size remains the same.I decided to wait until I had stabilized somewhat before taking the latest batch in.Still, I'm not complaining Link to comment
scotticus Posted November 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Woah, I just figured out the multiquote function. Cool stuff. Anyhow.Sounds like you're doing really well, Scotticus! Congrats on the sleep revelation and the lost inches! Great, great things they are!I'm loving the touch of Yoda at the end of this!Dude, that's awesome that you're seeing so much benefit from the choices you're making. Keep it up! It gets better.I think I'm well on the path - it's more of a habit or routine now than something I actually have to expend a lot of mental energy on. Thanks for the encouragement.scotticus - your progress is amazing. honestly, your last update is so badass, it sounds like you've leveled up so much over the past two challenges. give yourself a pat on the back, mon frere, cause you're rocking it. also, working out in the morning = awesome. that extra time after work not spent working out is like a gift.Thanks Mama-T! I'm amazed at how well things are going on the chin-up bar, especially seeing as I started at zero. I see it as a solid lesson in not giving up too easily. I got really frustrated over that first six week challenge, but now I'm talking about adding weight. Like, wtf. Maybe it's the energy arms and back kicking in!Thanks for the encouragement all! Link to comment
Robzilla1983 Posted November 10, 2011 Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 I like your chinup plan. I do pull ups twice weekly, but different number of sets. I think on those nights I will add some weights. How much are you going to add? I'm thinking 10 pounds Link to comment
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