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Hey nerds! I'm using your (positive) peer pressure to keep myself on track for this fitness journey. I've never tried a fitness community before, but you seem like my kind of people, so here it goes: 

 

I'm 24 and just graduated college (summa cum laude!). Of course I spent my spare time eating Ramen and drinking frequently. Now I'm back home, saving money for a car/apartment until summer, and I'm bored out of my mind. I got a job working from home, so it's all too easy to be sedentary after a polar winter hibernation. My friends in the area all moved to the city and the isolation sucks. Even dating is hopeless; there are *literally* no gay bars in South Jersey. So, I've decided to use this time to focus on self-improvement to kickstart post-grad adulthood and, hopefully, good habits for life. 

I have always been physically average, never overweight (maxed out at 140 when I was 14) or underweight (bottomed out at 112 thanks to an eating disorder at 15). My body very much has a "default" setting - I am 5'4" (average height of American women) and my weight naturally hovers around 128 lb. (the "healthy" range is about 110-145). When I was a teenage lass I didn't realize that weight was not nearly as important as composition (body fat vs. lean muscle), but seeing photos on Nerd Fitness and athletic people in real life, I finally get it now! Thanks Superhero Staci!

 

My goal is to not be merely average. I've never accepted mediocrity in academics, nor have I ever been "normal" (proud of it!), so why should I let my body be basic? This is the first time where I'm not going to be measuring progress with an arbitrary number on a scale, but rather how I look without clothes, and feel in them. The numbers I'll be focusing on are how much I can lift, reps, and muscle measurements. I want to level up! 

I'm leaning toward Ranger-class. Today my goal, other than that 10 minute walk quest ;) is to find my dad's free weights. They're hidden somewhere in the house, a nice little scavenger hunt. I'm posting my workout plan for the week and starting stats tomorrow. My focus will be on strength training at first, and I will add hiking/swimming for cardio as the weather improves.

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~Violet Menace|Level 3 Dhampir Assassin

Rebel History | Challenge #3: Spring Melt

[STR 6 | DEX 4 | STA 6 | CON 3 | WIS 6 | CHA 5]

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." ~Confucius 

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Challenge #2, Synopsis


 


I've been really busy with my summer job, but it's still been pretty productive. Goal assessment/trait reward breakdown: 


 


1. Stretch daily (+2 CON, +1 DEX) I skipped several days, but my flexibility has definitely improved. I can touch my toes! +1 CON, +1 DEX!


2. Lose 1 lb/week [starting@129] (+1 DEX, +1 STA, +2 CHA) Starting from 129, I've lost 4 lb (2 kg) and not lost strength nor slipped into poor eating habits: I made sure to get at least 50 g protein daily. +1 DEX, +1 STA, +1 CHA, +1 STR!


3. Work out as per below schedule (+2 STR, +2 STA, +1 DEX) I cut out a lot of my lift days because of Repetitive Strain Injury I experienced in my wrists working overtime, but now the job is over! +1 STR, +2 STA!


Side Quest: I got the car/title, insurance, and registration; +1 WIS, +1 CHA! All I need now is an inspection and oil/fuel filter change (+1 WIS)


 


Total attribute points: +1 CON, +2 DEX, +3 STA, +2 STR, +2 CHA, +2 WIS, or 12/15 (B -). And as for the new baseline...


 


Even days...


  • Australian pull-ups (5x5), neg x2
  • 25 lb [11 kg] shoulder press (4x4) 
  • 50 lb [23 kg] leg curls (5x4)
  • 20 lb [9 kg] hammer curls (4x5) 
  • 25 lb overhead pullovers (5x4)
  • Sprints: 1 min. max speed, 2 min. jog, 1 min. rest (x5); 20 min. bike to/from track (warm up/cool down cardio)*

Odd days...


  • 65 s bicycle crunches
  • push-ups, knuckle (wide)/∆ (knee) (17/17) 
  • 50/60 lb [16 kg] squats (7x2/4x2)
  • 65 s plank, side/front 
  • 76 lb [35 kg] bench press/incline (3x5)
  • 30-60 min hiking/biking/walking*

 


New life quest: lights off at 1:00, computer off at 2:00; no black tea after 20:00. 


~Violet Menace|Level 3 Dhampir Assassin

Rebel History | Challenge #3: Spring Melt

[STR 6 | DEX 4 | STA 6 | CON 3 | WIS 6 | CHA 5]

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." ~Confucius 

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Sleepless in Seattle: When the Struggle is Real

 

My third challenge was a failure, largely due to me underestimating the stress of moving to the opposite side of the country. Between finding a place to sleep/cook and then desperately looking for work, I found myself eating cheap junk and abandoning deliberate exercise altogether. Although that's not to say I haven't been constantly active, I feel like I've lost strength in the past 6 weeks.

 

Now that I have a place to live, a job, and a kitchen, I can go back. Here is where I left off last challenge:

 

1. Exercise 6x/week & stretch daily (+2 DEX, +2 STR, +1 STA and +1 CON)

2. Eat <1400 calories & at least 50 g protein (+2 CON, +2 CHA per kg lost)

3. Take extra skin care steps (+2 CON)

Side Quest: (+3 WIS) read 1 book per week from my list

 

6x/week:

  • 25 lb overhead pullover (5x4)
  • chinup, neg. pullup (2+2)
  • 25 lb shoulder press (5x4)
  • 22.5 lb hammer curls (4x4)
  • 20 lb dumbbell flys (3x4), push ups (14)
  • bicycle crunches, hanging knee curls
  • 60 lb squats (8x3), back extensions

I love my new city, and I can't wait to show them the best me there's ever been.

I'm back, baby.
cotd_email_1418597787_00006.jpg

 

 

VM

~Violet Menace|Level 3 Dhampir Assassin

Rebel History | Challenge #3: Spring Melt

[STR 6 | DEX 4 | STA 6 | CON 3 | WIS 6 | CHA 5]

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." ~Confucius 

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1. Exercise 3x/week per routine & stretch daily (+3 STR, +3 CON): 1/24
2. Eat 1200-1400 calories & at least 50 g protein (+1 DEX, +1 CHA per lb. lost): 0/28
3. Biweekly hike for at least 30 minutes (+4 STA): 0/8

*Side Quest (+2 WIS): read!

 

Top Routine: chest, arms, back:

 

  • bw/10 lb [4.5 kg] push-ups (10x2/5x2)
  • 27 lb [12 kg] shoulder press (4x4) 25
  • 20 lb [9 kg] bicep curl (4x4)
  • 20 lb dumbbell fly (4x4)
  • 29 lb [13 kg] overhead pullover (4x4) 25

 

Bottom Routine: legs, abs, back:

  • 24 lb hanging knee curl (4x4)
  • 60 lb [29 kg] squat (8x3)
  • chin ups/neg. pull-ups (2)
  • 30 lb [14 kg] good morning (5x4) 25
  • bicycle crunches (30)

 

VM

~Violet Menace|Level 3 Dhampir Assassin

Rebel History | Challenge #3: Spring Melt

[STR 6 | DEX 4 | STA 6 | CON 3 | WIS 6 | CHA 5]

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." ~Confucius 

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Today:

7 push ups

25 lb pullover (4x4), ouch

will alternate regular/hammer curls

sticking with Arnold presses

figured out a way to do the hanging knee curl despite my pull up bar being against a wall

will drop chest flys for horizontal lateral fly.

 

BBS...

~Violet Menace|Level 3 Dhampir Assassin

Rebel History | Challenge #3: Spring Melt

[STR 6 | DEX 4 | STA 6 | CON 3 | WIS 6 | CHA 5]

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." ~Confucius 

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Tomorrow/today

 

push-up (2x10)
25 lb pullover (4x4)

22.5 lb arnold press (4x4)

17.5 lb bicep curl (4x4)

10 lb lying lateral raise (4x4)

 

5 lb hanging knee raise (4x4)

neg pull up/chin up (2x2)

50 lb good morning (4x4)

bicycle crunch (11/s-44s)

? lb squat

~Violet Menace|Level 3 Dhampir Assassin

Rebel History | Challenge #3: Spring Melt

[STR 6 | DEX 4 | STA 6 | CON 3 | WIS 6 | CHA 5]

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." ~Confucius 

Link to comment

neg pull up/chin up (2/2)

50 lb/23 kg good morning (4x4)

bicycle crunch (13/side, 52 s)
20 lb/9 kg bicep curl (4x4)
25 lb/11 kg bent over rows (4x4) 


Updated muscle map/plan. 

 

musclemuse.jpg

~Violet Menace|Level 3 Dhampir Assassin

Rebel History | Challenge #3: Spring Melt

[STR 6 | DEX 4 | STA 6 | CON 3 | WIS 6 | CHA 5]

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." ~Confucius 

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