Jcsimmons returns

[Raze]

It has been some time this will be the third time I have started up again. In the past I complete one to two challenges, but then fall off the wagon. Third times a charm right?

 

Lets slay Jörmungandr

 

 

Or not... Maybe one day I will be worthy to hoist the hammer.

 

 

Time for some history! I am a former Marine who has always been a bit on the larger side of the scale. When I got out of the corps I stopped running because I could and I hated it anyway. I went to Afghanistan for two years and did nothing but lift and circuit training. Other than not being able to run I was in the best shape since boot camp and was actually comfortable in my own skin (which was a first). So there I was getting ready to leave Afghanistan and stopped working out as I shipped everything home a few weeks before I left. I got back to the states and everything fell apart. I ate all the things!!! I also drank all the beer which I had very little of over the past two years.

 

                   

 

 

 

Not working out and eating and drinking all the things led to my downfall. It has now been just over a year since I have returned and have gained close to 75 pounds.

 

 

Onwards to the challenges!

 

Main quest: My main quest has two parts which play off of each other. First I want to be able to wear my wardrobe again. In the past year I have gained quite a bit of weight and have thus needed to buy new clothes that fit I want to get rid of my "fat clothes" and wear normal ones again! Secondly the wife and I have started hiking and other activities which require long distances and/or lots of time spent on our feet (9+ hours). I have been holding her back due to my being out of shape requiring her to slow down or wait for me as I rest.

 

Quest 1 Back to the Afghan rules: I will not have any alcohol for this challenge! In the past I have tried to set limits such as I can drink once a week or twice during a challenge. This did not work for me as I always found an excuse to drink alcohol if it was in the house (provided most of the time it was one or two beers after work once or twice a week). I have noticed in the past I have do things like this as all or nothing. This was the case when I quit smoking I couldn't slowly reduce it to stop I just had to stop!

 

Stat: 2 CON, 2 CHA

 

Grading: Pass/fail

 

Shucks, but since I failed this so early I am actually doing good with the whole moderation thing. Since I have failed I have allowed myself one day a week to drink and one drink if we go out for food.

 

Quest 2 back to basics: Time to relearn how to eat. There has been far too much eating out and processed foods in my life during the past year! This quest will focus on sitting down with the wife to come up with a weekly menu, buying the food for that week and only for that week (other than some frozen veggies and fruits for smoothies/ quick "lazy" veggie sides). I have been dragging my feet on this one for quite some time now. I have been doing better in the past month or so than when I first came back state side, but I need to continue to make progress. I plan on making at least 3 meals a week (that are not standard seared chicken on a salad or with a side of veggies)

 

Stat: 2 CON

 

Grading: A - 20 - 23 (2 pts)

               B - 16 - 20 (1.5 pts)

               C - 12 - 16 (1 pts)

               D - 08 - 12 (0.5 pts)

               F - 04 - 08 (0 pts)

 

WEEK 4 GRADE 7/12 yay for just over half.... not really, but i have made lots of healthy choices, but a lot of them have been either salads or easy made foods.

 

Quest 3 continue moving: I have been slowly getting back into running (I am starting to like it now that I'm not forced to do it). I am thinking about doing a color run with the wife in SEP (down in Richmond, VA) and would like to get to a point where I can "run" a 5K without stopping. Bonus if I can do it in under 30 mins. To continue this I will run/walk at least 25 minutes twice a week.

 

Stat: 2 STA, 2 DEX

 

Grading: A - 15 - 18 (2 pts)

               B - 12 - 14 (1.5 pts)

               C - 09 - 11 (1 pts)

               D - 06 - 08 (0.5 pts)

               F - 00 - 05 (0 pts)

 

WEEK 4 GRADE: 6/8

 

Quest 4 find a gym/start strength training: This is a two parter because the first one might happen just as the challenge starts. ultimately if I do not find a gym in the first two weeks I will start BW/KB training twice a week. There are four or 5 gyms in my area (one of which I just left will get there in a minute). When I first moved to the area and I was looking for a gym that was not golds (have bad history took several months to fully cancel my membership and was still getting charged) so I was looking for a new gym and one that was budget conscious. I ended up at Planet Fitness.... I know I sold my soul, but for 10 bucks why not give it a shot. went there a few times and hated it. Not only did they not have any staples of a gym not a single barbell not attached to a smith machine was seen it was kind of out of my way. A new gym just opened up about half a mile from my apartment I am going there this SAT to see what it is all about. I found a twelve week program which has peaked my interest to get me back into strength training. I am planning on working out 4 times a week it is a two day body split twice a week. (I work each body area upper/lower twice a week)

 

Stat: 2 STR

 

Grading: A - 21 - 24 (2 pts)

                B - 16 - 20 (1.5 pts)

                C - 12 - 16 (1 pts)

                D - 08 - 12 (0.5 pts)

                F - 04 - 08 (0 pts)

 

WEEK 4 GRADE: 11/16

 

Life Quest Edumacation and reading: I am currently working towards my AAIT and have three weeks left in my current class. My goal is to complete this course with an A and start my next class. This will require me to follow my budget in order to pay for the class. Secondly reading I am currently reading about six different books right now. I am going to finish four of these books (as one of the books is about 85% complete). Books currently reading: Lord of Chaos (Robert Jordan), Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (Philip K. Dick), One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (Aleksandr, Solzhenitsyn), Prelude to Foundation (Isaac Asimov), Mister B. Gone (Clive Barker), Insurgent (Veronica Roth), and finally Our Troth: living the Troth (Kvendulf Gundarsson).

 

Stat: 2 WIS

 

Grading: School: DONE GOT AN A +1 WIS for me!

               Books: 1 WIS for 4+ books complete .5 WIS for 1-3 books complete

               two books down 170 pages of book 3 left

 

 

Beginning stats: I will update these at a minimum of 3 times (every other week). For BF% I will use two methods 1) I just replaced my scale with a fitbit Aria and will use that 2) use the USMC body composition manual for BF% this way I will have two different matrices to go off of.

 

Ht: 72" (5' 11")

weight: 263.7

BF%  Aria: 40%  USMC: 32% Wow was not expecting such a disparity... lets see if there is a constant 8% difference. 

Neck:16.5

Waist: 45.5

bicep: 16

Thigh: 27.5

Calf:16.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 2 3 stats:

 

Ht: 72" (5' 11")

weight: 265.7 up 2 pounds

BF%  Aria: 36.7% down 2.3 percent   USMC: 31% down 1 percent. less of a disparity this time, but both moving in the same direction.

Neck:16.5 no change

Waist: 43.5 down two inches which is good

bicep: 16 no change

Thigh: 28.5 up one inch not so good.

Calf: 16.5 no change

 

overall after two good weeks (week one and week 3) it could be worse, but most of the important numbers are moving down if a bit slower than I would like. 

 

Week 6/final stats:

 

Ht: 72" (5' 11")

weight: 263.8 up by .1 pound over six weeks, but loosing inches around the area that needs it so I'm not too worried about this number. 

BF%  Aria: 42.7%  USMC: 30% average between the two is 36.3 I think I will just continue with the taping from now on. it is more consistant and there are less variables in the measurement and I think it is more accurate overall. 

Neck:16 down half an inch. this is good when i was in shape I had a neck size between 15 and 15.5 so that isnt too far off. 

Waist:43 down 2.5 inches which isn't what I wanted to see I wanted to see more, but slow and steady wins I a still happy I have lost this much despite several hicups during the past 6 weeks.

bicep:16.5 up half an inch

Thigh:27.5 no cahange overall

Calf:16.5 no change

[T2sarahconnor]

Great solid challenge! Glad that you came back and are ready to kick some butt.

FYI you should be at level 2 if you completed any of your previous challenges. So level up! You also get 15 stat points per challenge. At the end of the challenge depending on how you do you may or may not assign all 15. There are 15 up for grabs so adjust and ACHIEVE.

Just in case you need some,help assigning http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/33334-real-life-role-playing-stat-points-and-levelling-up/

I am subbing to keep my eye on you to make sure you don't quit this time!

[Einar]

Get some Devil Dog, subbing cause us gunslingers need some to watch our 6.

[T2sarahconnor]

Oorah!

[Raze]

YUT!

[Teros]

Looks pretty solid.

[Fonzico]

Great looking goals! Good luck with finding a gym - always a challenge. 

 

I definitely can relate to the all or nothing approach with vices - moderation is difficult for me to. I usually do 30 days of no alcohol 2-3 times a year, just to reset. Although I failed my most recent one, and made it 3 weeks, Oh well, better than nothing! 

 

I look forward to seeing what you cook up- Take pics!

[Raze]

Looks pretty solid.

 

Thanks my goals are all usually pretty solid it's just a matter of sticking to them that has gotten me in the past!

 

Great looking goals! Good luck with finding a gym - always a challenge. 

 

I definitely can relate to the all or nothing approach with vices - moderation is difficult for me to. I usually do 30 days of no alcohol 2-3 times a year, just to reset. Although I failed my most recent one, and made it 3 weeks, Oh well, better than nothing! 

 

I look forward to seeing what you cook up- Take pics!

 

Thanks! yea the gym I'm looking at is doing a special which is $400 for the first year (they just opened up about a month ago) then goes to $119 a month after the first year which is quite pricey, but it is veteran owned which I like and if I like the gym I'll stick with them. Until i buy a house and build a gym in my basement. In the past I have gone months without alcohol, and at one point nearly two years which is the state of mind I am trying to get back to although during those two years it was unavailable and I was not allowed to partake if it was available.

 

I will have to work on my plating skills then! I usually make good food, but dont take the time to make it look good on the plate lol.

[T2sarahconnor]

Hope the gym works out! We are all here to help you stick to your goals. One of key things to success here is to post often even if the results are not what you wanted. Your accountability to us will help.

Food porn is good!

[Raze]

I usually do good in the first two weeks in regards of posting then they get short one line posts and then multiple days start in one post then i just stop posting all together. I WILL work on that this time!

 

Also Food Porn is great! I will also try to post the recipe with it as well.

[Raze]

Week 0 day 1

 

Woke up at 0530 for work for the first time in I cant remember how long. My wife's schedule changes to the opening shift and I have enough flexibility in my schedule that i can shift to work nearly the same hours she does. After nearly a month I finally found out what I will be doing at my new job (read focus area). I still dont have any of my main accounts active yet, but these can take up to two months to get working. 

 

went to the gym to do an initial health assessment (they do one for free each month). I then did a short workout with one of the trainers. 

 

(1630) Workout: dynamic warm up/stretch I havent done any dynamic stretching in years and it showed my body was very tight and by the end i was already starting to get sore. 

 

2x15 superset cable bench and cable rows. 

 

2x15 bw squats and russian twists with 10 lbs. I only did one set as i was starting to cramp and felt sick.

 

This lack of workout and feeling sick was largely due to no food prior to the work out. 

 

I have another free 1-1 workout on WED and a free week. I think i will sign up because it is $400.00 for the entire first year which is a great price for an actual gym!

 

Food: post workout 2 eggs, one slice of ham, two pieces of toast.

 

Dinner: the wife made a potato, kale, onion soup (with a veggie stock base and some heavy cream) I added some hot Italian sausage. this was quite yummy (no food porn this time ill save those for the actual challenge) I can post the recipe if anyone is interested.

 

I need to stop by Planet Fitness tomorrow on my way home from work in order to cancel my membership.

 

making slow progress on my readings. my main book is on my nook which I will no longer read prior to bed I will read a printed book from my list. I dont have issues going to sleep usually, but i know the blue light from phones and screens are typically the cause for the nights which I do have issues sleeping.

 

Planning a run/walk tomorrow! I WILL BE TAKING LUNCH TO WORK TOMORROW!!!! I will also eat something for breakfast (even if it is a protein shake).

 

I saw a friends post today which dealt a lot with self motivation and I saw my self in a lot of what they were saying. I know what I need to do and I have known for years what I need to do, but i can never follow through with the lifestyle changes I need to make. I will jump head first into it and love it for the first few weeks to few months, but then lose interest in that activity. Recently small mistakes or lack of visible progress gets into my head and sabotages myself and then I spiral down into deeper holes. I need to remember that this is a long game not a short one I need to play for the viking raids across the ocean not those across the river!
 

 

As far as measurements go I will not take any until this weekend so they are the most accurate when the challenge starts. 

[T2sarahconnor]

Outstanding day yesterday and great job prepping for today! You are showing signs,of being in it for the long haul!

[Raze]

Week 0 day 2

 

Since I am pretty sure I will be joining the gym i went to yesterday I have been looking up some workout plans and may make some modifications to my goals since one of the workout plans i'm looking at is mainly focused on circuit training I will likely change my goals to 2 days running and 4 days weight training. This is a 12 week program so this will only cover half of the program, but will extend into my next challenge as well. 

 

 

FOOD STUFFS TIME!!

 

breakfast 2 scoops protein powder mixed with 24 Oz of almond milk

 

Lunch: left over soup from last night

 

Dinner: split a pizza and cheese sticks with the wife.  I got a free pizza and figured I would cash that in before the challenge actually begins.

 

 

 

what a great segue pizza speaking of fitness.

 

I spent the whole day mildly gimping around at work and then went for a walk to loosen my legs up today after work. I did a 28 minute walk today as fast as a could gimp.

 

At the end of the walk I was feeling good, but by the time I got out of the shower and relaxed a bit I am even more sore then I was earlier. I am a terrible viking right now I am not in raiding shape. 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow is a new day!

 

I WILL HAVE BREAKFAST AGAIN!

 

Lunch: Wodensday my boss takes everyone out to lunch for wings. I will get wings and chilli vice wings and fries like normal and only water, tea or diet coke. (likely only water)

 

Dinner: I has some chicken I need to eat and will has some rice with it as well.

 

I have my last free 1 on 1 training session at the gym tomorrow which is going to be painful.  I need to get some Creatine to help with this soreness which I know will go away a bit as I improve my health.

 

At the end of my posts I will continue to post any thoughts ramblings or insights I have that day.

 

my workout yesterday has become quite the humbling experience. I knew I was starting from square one, but I did not quite realize where square one moved to. This is a tad discouraging since I know where I was a year ago. This has been my pitfall this past year comparing my current self to my past self and allowing it to get into my head. This challenge I WILL NOT LET it get into my head. I will continue to remind myself to buckle down and focus on the here and now and where I am going not where I have been and what I once was. 

 

As I write this the wife brought me a small piece of chocolate nom nom nom! 

[Einar]

It's always hard reconciling yourself to where you are now as opposed to where you were. The voice in your head will get quieter until it finally stops when you get back to your old weights. Unfortunately, in my experience, it's only replaced by a voice whispering about where you could be if you hadn't stopped. I use that voice to push me not to stop again.

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[Einar]

Week 0 day 2

Since I am pretty sure I will be joining the gym i went to yesterday I have been looking up some workout plans and may make some modifications to my goals since one of the workout plans i'm looking at is mainly focused on circuit training I will likely change my goals to 2 days running and 4 days weight training. This is a 12 week program so this will only cover half of the program, but will extend into my next challenge as well.

FOOD STUFFS TIME!!

breakfast 2 scoops protein powder mixed with 24 Oz of almond milk

Lunch: left over soup from last night

Dinner: split a pizza and cheese sticks with the wife. I got a free pizza and figured I would cash that in before the challenge actually begins.

what a great segue pizza speaking of fitness.

I spent the whole day mildly gimping around at work and then went for a walk to loosen my legs up today after work. I did a 28 minute walk today as fast as a could gimp.

At the end of the walk I was feeling good, but by the time I got out of the shower and relaxed a bit I am even more sore then I was earlier. I am a terrible viking right now I am not in raiding shape.

Tomorrow is a new day!

I WILL HAVE BREAKFAST AGAIN!

Lunch: Wodensday my boss takes everyone out to lunch for wings. I will get wings and chilli vice wings and fries like normal and only water, tea or diet coke. (likely only water)

Dinner: I has some chicken I need to eat and will has some rice with it as well.

I have my last free 1 on 1 training session at the gym tomorrow which is going to be painful. I need to get some Creatine to help with this soreness which I know will go away a bit as I improve my health.

At the end of my posts I will continue to post any thoughts ramblings or insights I have that day.

my workout yesterday has become quite the humbling experience. I knew I was starting from square one, but I did not quite realize where square one moved to. This is a tad discouraging since I know where I was a year ago. This has been my pitfall this past year comparing my current self to my past self and allowing it to get into my head. This challenge I WILL NOT LET it get into my head. I will continue to remind myself to buckle down and focus on the here and now and where I am going not where I have been and what I once was.

As I write this the wife brought me a small piece of chocolate nom nom nom!

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[Raze]

LOVE IT!

 

I try not to talk to the voices in my head it makes me look a tad crazy. My inner voice tends to yell at me for a bit. I agree that eventually one voice goes away only to be replaced by another. When i get that second voice I try to yell at it to shut up and try to keep pushing myself!

[Raze]

Week 0 Day 3

 

I signed up for the gym, so I now have a full year to use the gym before I need to make another gym payment. which at that point provided I have bought a house I will be starting my home gym and cancel my membership. Those DOMS though... I forgot the pain of gimping around especially after sitting for an extended amount of time. 

 

FOOD TIME!!!!

 

Breakfast: not so great today. had a package of teriyaki jerky. 

 

Lunch: 10 boneless hot wings with a side of waffle fries. I completely forgot i was going to choose chili, well I will hopefully remember next WED. 

 

Dinner: Penne pasta with chunky tomato sauce with kale and 1 chicken breast. This was quite delicious and will be made again during the challenge. 

 

I did have a sip of beer (well it was a cider) this evening (the wife had one and it was one we never had thus i tried it).

 

 

WORKOUT TIME!!!

 

 

 

8 min warm up eliptical (light pace)

 

super set 12xTRX rows with 180m light jog x3

 

super ser 12x TRX push ups and squats x3

 

machine squat (working on form) 12x3

 

wide grip lat pull downs 3x12

 

crunches 3x12

 

russian twists 3x12

 

supermans (lay on stomach and lift arms and legs as high as you can hold then release) 3x12

 

stretch

 

Tomorrow's plan.

 

Will eat something for breakfast again! I might even cook something this time. 

 

Lunch some chicken biryani which I'm sure the office will love me after I heat it up.

 

Dinner more Biryani or one of my frozen meals or a canned soup.

 

workout probably another walk I will throw in some jogging no matter how sore I am tomorrow.

 

Woe is me... I still only have one working account at work. The team I am on is working on getting information for organizations in their area. Where as everyone else has one to three organizations to look at I have 13 and am the only one who is working this area which is compounded because most of the information i need for this is on the networks in which I dont have accounts for yet... Finally I have never looked at this area before and am trying to play catch up while wrapping my head around these organizations. /Woe is me

[Fonzico]

Mmm Biryani!

Sorry about the work woes... Hopefully it is resolved soon!

What EXACTLY are you going to have for breakfast tomorrow? Fail to plan and you plan to eat jerky for breakfast [emoji14]

[Raze]

I ended up not planning on anything and had a protein shake with almond milk.

 

Thanks. It's nothing I can control and I have to understand that fact and move on while doing what I can with my limited access.

[T2sarahconnor]

The 5 p's .....proper, planning prevents, poor performance.

DOMS will get better. Drink plenty of water! Have you ever used a foam roller?

[Einar]

The 5 p's .....proper, planning prevents, poor performance.

DOMS will get better. Drink plenty of water! Have you ever used a foam roller?

Beat me to it T2SC

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[Raze]

The 5 p's .....proper, planning prevents, poor performance.

DOMS will get better. Drink plenty of water! Have you ever used a foam roller?

 

funny you mention that I just said the same thing the other day to someone!

 

As far as a foam roller I have a nobby one i bought a while back and is super stiff and just hurts. I might get a smooth one here in the future. 

[Einar]

That would be me, and if T2SC hadn't said it first I would have punted back to you

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[Raze]

Week one Day one. 

 

 

I will consider this a 90% success for a day. 

 

Quest 1 Back to the Afghan rules: I drank or just got rid of all the alcohol in the house yesterday. I am on track none today!

 

Quest 2 back to basics: Nothing fancy today. I am going to work on tracking food. Today's total 2377 calories, and the break down of those Daily Calorie Composition: 38% from carbs, 26% from fat and 36% from protein

 

Breakfast: 1/2 cup of vanilla greek yogurt with 1/4 cup of maple quinoa clusters with chia seeds. with coffee (french vanilla creamer and truvia)

 

Snack: Kind dark chocolate chunk bar

 

Lunch: 2 ham, turkey, and cheese sandwiches (where half my carbs came from today) 

 

Dinner: .5 lb chicken breast, 3 eggs, and broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots in a cheese sauce.

 

evening snack: 2 scoops whey protein

 

need to cut back on carbs 229g today..... I was pretty good on protein 217g

 

Quest 3 continue moving: no cardio today, thats tomorrow.

 

Quest 4 start strength training: Did my first day of lifting today.

 

10 minute warm up on the elliptical @ lvl 10

 

Did 3/5 circuits today. My form started to go down hill and I was resting mid set. Since this is a benchmark week for me I dont want to push too hard and burn out on week one.

 

all exercises are 10 reps with a 2-3 minute rest between sets.

 

Barbell incline bench 95#

dumbbell lateral raise 10#

Dumbbell bent over row 30#

Barbell curl 45#

Cable tricep extension 50#

 

Although I didnt get through all 5 sets today this plan is a 2 day body split twice a week so I have another upperbody workout this week. Overall I felt pretty good about my workout excited to continue!

 

Life Quest Edumacation and reading: For school I still have a 97.3 after 7 weeks of class once last week's work is graded I should still be right around a 96/97 I know I lost some points, just not sure how many. For reading I havent done any today I might get a few pages of one of my books done, I did however buy three new ones the other day

 

Reflection time. 

 

My Japan crate came in today so i has japan candies which will be my sweets for the month. I dont have any earth shattering revelations or woe is me stories today. so here is Thor prancing.

 

[Einar]

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