Doc returns to his Viking roots

[Einar]

Consistency is key, whether it is in training or nutrition, that's what I learned last challenge.  Or rather reaffirmed.  It was also my downfall last challenge.

When I was younger I didn't have a problem with consistency because I was always working towards something whether it was the sport I was doing that season or my overall goal of enlisting in the military.  Since my enlistment ended and I stepped away from the military and competing in sports I have lost my way.  This challenge is about finding my way back to the mindset I used to take for granted.

 

Goal 1:  Find something to work towards.

I haven't decided if I want to get back to competition or if I just want to set a personal mark to work towards but I'm going to do some soul searching and research and narrow down an overall goal to work towards starting this challenge.

 

Goal 2:  Consistency.

This is pretty self explanatory, I will shoot for a minimum of 3x per week of strength training and have the other four open for goal specific training for whatever I decide to work towards in goal 1.

 

Goal 3:  Balance and self improvement.

Since I moved nearly a year ago my life has pretty much revolved around work.  I've finally got a schedule that I can plan my days around because it is set.  For this goal I am going to work on something daily to improve my mind throughout the week whether it be reading or working on something in Khan Academy.  On the weekends I am going to spend time outdoors which is my preferred setting.  I am aiming to be either camping, hiking, heading to the range, or at least using my bike every weekend.  This should go a long way to improving my focus and state of mind which is something I've lost along the way.

 

This challenge currently has a lot of vagaries and generalities at the moment but it is more about finding myself that a specific goal right now.  I reserve the right to update and hone my goals along the way as I zero in on what I want to do.  All we get is one life to live and I want to start living a life worth remembering.

 

[Terah]

Hi Doodlie,

Very interesting challenge. I wonder where it will lead to.

[Einar]

Hopefully a new "mission" because that's what I've been lacking these past few years. I've made loads of goals but find myself lacking in motivation when I don't have a reason for what I'm working towards. It's easy to say I want to lose 40# or 20% body fat, but without an overall reason to do so it becomes easy to say screw it I'll work on it later then next I know another year has passed.

Since I got out of the Army I've found myself feeling adrift with no real sense of direction for the first time in my life and I'm struggling with that, it's been 3 years. Every time I think of something it's more wishful thinking than a true aim.

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[wildross]

Since this is the Warriors forum...have you looked at local Powerlifting or Strongman or Highland Games type of competitions/meetups?  Maybe a local "power" gym?>

[spezzy]

 

Goal 1:  Find something to work towards.

I haven't decided if I want to get back to competition or if I just want to set a personal mark to work towards but I'm going to do some soul searching and research and narrow down an overall goal to work towards starting this challenge.

 

 

 

 

Have you tried thinking about where you want to be in a year? And then setting smaller goals based on that? That's what I have been doing and it helps.

[Einar]

Since this is the Warriors forum...have you looked at local Powerlifting or Strongman or Highland Games type of competitions/meetups?  Maybe a local "power" gym?>

I've looked around.  There is a local powerlifting group that a former coworker is involved in but I haven't found anything for highland games or strongman and the uniqueness of those events appeal to me more than powerlifting.  I need to look into highland games more because there are a lot of local festivals that have them plus they just seem badass and fun.  I hadn't thought of highland games until my lady friend was talking about an Irish festival she wants to go to and mentioned they have them.

 

Have you tried thinking about where you want to be in a year? And then setting smaller goals based on that? That's what I have been doing and it helps.

That's what I'm trying to do.  Unfortunately I'm split between wanting to get back into combat sports and getting back into the military, depends on the day or what is going on in my life.  Whatever I decide to do my favorite type of training is weights which is why I'm here.

[Raze]

... getting back into the military...

 

 

This is me at the moment. I am looking at possibly going into the National Guard or go into the Navy reserves. although the shit talking would never end I'd like to go Air National Guard, but there isn't anything around me.

[Einar]

This is me at the moment. I am looking at possibly going into the National Guard or go into the Navy reserves. although the shit talking would never end I'd like to go Air National Guard, but there isn't anything around me.

If you go Air Guard you'll never hear the end of it.  Plus it'll be an entirely different world from Marine life.

[Raze]

If you go Air Guard you'll never hear the end of it.  Plus it'll be an entirely different world from Marine life.

 

I know ESPECIALLY since in my real job I am surrounded by Marines. That's the thinking behind going either National Guard (either of them) or navy reserves. It's a different experience I've done the Marine thing and continue to support them, but would like the different outlooks another service would bring.

[ninjakitten]

Back to stalk follow you, too. Having a goal to work towards is quite rewarding indeed, I hope you'll find something. I change my mind all the time, though. So I know it can be hard. 

[Einar]

I know ESPECIALLY since in my real job I am surrounded by Marines. That's the thinking behind going either National Guard (either of them) or navy reserves. It's a different experience I've done the Marine thing and continue to support them, but would like the different outlooks another service would bring.

My experience in the NG is that it really depends on the unit.  Some of them never grew out of the "good ol' boys" mentality from pre-9/11, and those units have a rough time in combat (I'm looking at you guys that replaced me in Afghanistan), but after almost a decade and a half of combat most of the units are pretty top notch and I've seen them regularly out perform AD.  I never worked with any NG units from your area so I can't say anything about them specifically.

[Einar]

Back to stalk follow you, too. Having a goal to work towards is quite rewarding indeed, I hope you'll find something. I change my mind all the time, though. So I know it can be hard. 

Welcome back, hopefully I'll do something worth following this time around.

[Raze]

My experience in the NG is that it really depends on the unit.  Some of them never grew out of the "good ol' boys" mentality from pre-9/11, and those units have a rough time in combat (I'm looking at you guys that replaced me in Afghanistan), but after almost a decade and a half of combat most of the units are pretty top notch and I've seen them regularly out perform AD.  I never worked with any NG units from your area so I can't say anything about them specifically.

 

I had some experience with some of the NG units out of Ft. Stewart down in GA some good guys some not so good. In my field I'm not worried about combat, I have a desk job even in war (0231 in the MC or 35F for you Army guys). from my experience even with AD units it depends on the unit. hell I've been with one unit that was great and loved it, then by the time i left I hated it. there is a NG "post" about 20 mins away from my house. I'll need to talk to them once I get back into shape and can pass the height weight and PT standards again.

[ninjakitten]

Welcome back, hopefully I'll do something worth following this time around.

 

Oh, don't pretend that last time wasn't interesting, too! You got a new job and all!

[Einar]

So middle of last week I decided I should start tracking my food, I set up an account with MFP and started logging my food.  This weekend I didn't log because working OT messed up my schedule and I ate like a jackass.  I need more time to feel comfortable interpreting a trend but preliminary logging shows that I regularly eat 1800-2000 calories a day.  MFP estimates I should eat 2390 to lose 2#/wk.  According to the breakdown on MFP my protein is good, fat is a little over (been eating brats or bacon most days I've tracked), but I really need to bring my carbs up.  Last time I bought groceries I bought a bunch of the steamfresh veggie bags which are great, when I go shopping later this week I really need pick up some fresh veggies.  Since I've started trying not to eat like an asshole I've found that I enjoy more green leafy things than I had previously.  Hopefully being more aware of my eating habits will force me to make better decisions and stop bingeing on pizza on weekends because that's all my roommate eats/feeds his kids and I use that as an excuse to be lazy.  This should help me be more consistent with cutting my fat.

[fearlesscreek]

Since I've started trying not to eat like an asshole I've found that I enjoy more green leafy things than I had previously.  Hopefully being more aware of my eating habits will force me to make better decisions and stop bingeing on pizza on weekends because that's all my roommate eats/feeds his kids and I use that as an excuse to be lazy.  This should help me be more consistent with cutting my fat.

&1

[Raze]

Last time I bought groceries I bought a bunch of the steamfresh veggie bags which are great, when I go shopping later this week I really need pick up some fresh veggies.  Since I've started trying not to eat like an asshole I've found that I enjoy more green leafy things than I had previously.  Hopefully being more aware of my eating habits will force me to make better decisions and stop bingeing on pizza on weekends because that's all my roommate eats/feeds his kids and I use that as an excuse to be lazy.  This should help me be more consistent with cutting my fat.

 

I love the steamfresh style veggie things just throw them in the microwave and ding veggies! OOO Green leafy things I as well have started to really enjoy these types of rabit food, but I need to focus more on eating them before they go bad weekends kick my ass as well. to much binge eating and pizza every other weekend or so...but ITS SOOOOO GOOOD!

 

[Terah]

If you make pizza yourself you'll have way less kcal, more fun making it, top it off with a lot of veggies and it will taste so much better than the store bought or the fast food thing. 

No one should life without pizza

[Einar]

I have no intention of completely cutting out pizza, but if I didn't make my roommate go shopping with me it would be pizza daily for him.  Even when he goes you can easily tell who is buying what in that I have a bunch of fresh stuff that actually needs cooking, and his is all microwaveable stuff... and beer.  It's harder to cut beer out of my life because he's an alcoholic and is always trying to give me beer if I'm up when he gets home.  I try to limit my beer drinking to when I'm standing in front of the grill on weekends.

[matty_mcfly]

Yeah, I have the biggest issue with weight loss/body recomp when I don't have an actual goal besides "I just want to".

Strongman is awesome and was generally easier for me to find a comp than a PL meet.

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[Einar]

My long term body comp goal is 14%, that's about 20-23 from where I'm starting (I haven't checked recently).  Like I mentioned in my opening post consistency is my biggest issue right now, both in training and nutrition.  Nutrition is usually pretty good when I'm working a set schedule like now but when a lot of OT or changing hours is happening like it has been for nearly the last year then nutrition goes to shit.  Hopefully now that things have settled down I'll be able to start making progress again.

[ninjakitten]

You're awesome, you'll manage anyway.

 

(I'm bad at this, but it's the sentiment that counts right? )

 

I love beer and wine... and all those other things as well though and it can be tough to restrict that at times. Counting calories always helps me there, though. Having to enter it in my app always is a horrific moment.

[our.lady.of.ashes]

Looks like you're well on the path to seeing so,etching happen, Doodlie. Looking forward to progress.

[Einar]

I realized it might help if I actually said what I was proposing to do as far as strength training.  I'm going off a Greyskull template.

Odd Weeks:

Day 1/3: Bench, Pull Ups (band assisted for now), and Squat

Day 2: OHP, Barbell Row, Deadlift

Even Weeks will switch OHP/Row and Bench/Pull Ups

 

As I progress I want to work in some light weight Snatch and Clean work so I can become more comfortable with them and eventually work them into my lifting program.  I will also work in some accessory lifts as time permits focusing on where my weaknesses are.

Right now I'm leaning towards doing some of the Greyskull conditioning routines or other HIIT work either on my off days or in the evenings after work.  If I do those in the evenings I will probably work in some running on T/Th and then rucking on the weekend to work myself towards a semblance of "combat" fit.

But, at least for this challenge and likely the next few, lifting will be my main focus.

[Br0din]

So middle of last week I decided I should start tracking my food, I set up an account with MFP and started logging my food.  This weekend I didn't log because working OT messed up my schedule and I ate like a jackass.  I need more time to feel comfortable interpreting a trend but preliminary logging shows that I regularly eat 1800-2000 calories a day.  MFP estimates I should eat 2390 to lose 2#/wk.  According to the breakdown on MFP my protein is good, fat is a little over (been eating brats or bacon most days I've tracked), but I really need to bring my carbs up.  Last time I bought groceries I bought a bunch of the steamfresh veggie bags which are great, when I go shopping later this week I really need pick up some fresh veggies.  Since I've started trying not to eat like an asshole I've found that I enjoy more green leafy things than I had previously.  Hopefully being more aware of my eating habits will force me to make better decisions and stop bingeing on pizza on weekends because that's all my roommate eats/feeds his kids and I use that as an excuse to be lazy.  This should help me be more consistent with cutting my fat.

 

I'm on MFP and pretty supportive,  tell me your name and I'll add you, or send me an invite.

 

...and getting back into the military...

 

there are a lot of war vets hanging around here.