blkhole24601 Posted March 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2016 I want my embedded videos and Instagram pics back.... Trying to see if there's a way to fix that, sigh..... Other than that (the weird apostrophe thing I can go back and adjust manually; annoying but nbd), I don't have many complaints of the new forum; it's just something to get used to. Seems I was spared the email spamming at least! 1 Quote Vicki | Sheikah Bard | Level 13 STR 32.5 | DEX 51.1 | STA 25.5 | CON 37.1 | WIS 26.0 | CHA 31.3 blkhoe24601 Gains the Power to Revolutionize the World Past Challenges: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 2016 Battle Log Link to comment
blkhole24601 Posted March 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2016 DAY 19 My feelings re: the completion of Trespasser and thus DA:I... QUEST ONE: THE ENDGAME - 80% Not for yesterday, though I did earn myself $5 towards Poe Dameron's X-Wing by working on some handstands. I think I nailed down exactly what my issue is: keeping my legs up. I feel like the balance is there, the strength definitely is, but I'm not locking my legs into position, which means I'm not engaging my abs enough. So, definitely an area of improvement! And I know I have the core strength, it's just a matter of using them. I also took some time to work on crow and feathered peacock, though my shoulders were so much not feeling feathered peacock yesterday. Crow went well, though. QUEST TWO: THE SPECIAL - 60% Spent another 37 minutes on flexibility. Most of it was to go through the list of all the yoga poses I hadn't attempted yet to see if I could do them, and I was surprised at both the ones that I could do and the ones I couldn't, because the ones I could do looked harder than they were and the ones I couldn't do looked easier than they were. Still, I can safely say that I contributed literally all that I could to that particular mini, and I'm proud of the number I put up. QUEST THREE: PREPARE FOR PLAYTIME - 100% Worked through tango, samba, and salsa basics, each style worked through in between my inversion/balance exercises. I think I'm figuring out how to shake my hips! LIFE QUEST: LET'S GET ORGANIZED - 71% Did the thing! Update budget Declutter Nightly routine Plan tomorrow's workout Start putting together grocery list, be sure to include laundry detergent, cat food, cat litter... Check mail Finish laundry Make a decision between Wednesday and Saturday fencing classes Begin going through donation pile to separate things out Meditate Clean out email inbox Decide on theme for next challenge Easy day, and I finished Trespasser, and now I feel empty and sad. I'm going to miss Lavellan. My heart goes out to him in so many ways by the end of the DLC and while I don't agree with all of his choices (especially re: Solas, but also his decision to become a Red Jenny -- Az, seriously, sometimes..........) because he follows too much of the Nakama trope (warning: link is to TV Tropes, click at your own discretion, I will not be held responsible for you losing your entire day ), but also because he follows that trope I just feel so sad for how everything works out for him, with everyone, including his boyfriend, going their separate ways away from him. I mean, my Warden and Hawke love(d) (past tense required for Certain Someones) their followers too, but they were not so much into following the Nakama trope like Lavellan was, sheesh. I blame it on him being Dalish, tbh. His Inner Circle became his second clan. My Warden and Hawke just saw their closest friends as just that: friends. So when they all go their separate ways, they're okay with it. Lavellan is far less okay with it. ;;;; Idk, I think I always put a lot of thought into the specific character traits of my canon PCs for Bioware games that I always have a hard time letting go when their stories wind to a close, even if Trespasser gave me a satisfying conclusion to DA:I while getting me excited for the next game (Tevinter! I get to cause havoc in Tevinter! And I swear they're setting up Dorian to be a key player in that game which makes me uber excited!!!). The only reason I can let go of my Warden so easily is because she actually gets a happy ending, though I like to think that my Hawke eventually does too, given what the epilogue for Trespasser gave me. I was worried after the epilogue of the main game, tbh, that I was going to have to deal with a very upset Isabela! Now I'm also in the position of....... now what? Maybe I'll go back to DA2. I've been missing Sarcastic Hawke and Izzy like something fierce. As much fun and heartwarming as Lavellan and Dorian are, I need my lesbian pirates again. SIDE QUEST: PICK UP THE DAMN BLOCKS - Part 1: 47% | Part 2: 100% Nope. Time Spent: 28/60 minutes Today's Plan Either lifting or a Zumba + flex day. Tyro is intent on having today be a date day before he has to go to his show, so I may not have the chance to get to the gym until later tonight (and a part of me wants to wait until tomorrow because tomorrow is pastry day, and deadlifts before pastries is a fantastic idea, y/y?????) Update budget Declutter Nightly routine Plan tomorrow's workout Start putting together grocery list, be sure to include laundry detergent, cat food, cat litter... Check mail Finish laundry Sign up for Saturday fencing classes Go through donation pile to separate things out Meditate Clean out email inbox Find images for next challenge thread Get passport photos taken Get oil changed 2 Quote Vicki | Sheikah Bard | Level 13 STR 32.5 | DEX 51.1 | STA 25.5 | CON 37.1 | WIS 26.0 | CHA 31.3 blkhoe24601 Gains the Power to Revolutionize the World Past Challenges: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 2016 Battle Log Link to comment
blkhole24601 Posted March 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 DAY 20 Finally got around to seeing Deadpool on Saturday! Woo! QUEST ONE: THE ENDGAME - 80% Did not wind up doing this on Saturday. It became a rest day instead. QUEST TWO: THE SPECIAL - 60% Impromptu rest day. QUEST THREE: PREPARE FOR PLAYTIME - 100% Completed for the week. LIFE QUEST: LET'S GET ORGANIZED - 86% I....... got more done than I thought I would. That surprised me. Update budget Declutter Nightly routine Plan tomorrow's workout Start putting together grocery list, be sure to include laundry detergent, cat food, cat litter... Check mail Finish laundry Sign up for Saturday fencing classes Go through donation pile to separate things out Meditate Clean out email inbox Find images for next challenge thread Get passport photos taken Get oil changed Basically, after waking up and making my Friday update post, I let myself fall into TV Tropes until Tyro woke up, and then we went out for brunch, found a theater still showing "Deadpool," and ran a couple of errands. After the movie, I was hangry to the point of weakness, which was a point I hadn't gotten myself to in a LONG time, so there was that. Then Tyro was off to his show, I spent some time decluttering and meditating, before I booted up DA2 to cure the emptiness I was feeling after the completion of Trespasser, because Sarcastic Hawke and Isabela always makes life that much better. (Also, lmao, Cassandra, you really did luck out with Lavellan leading the Inquisition. You thought Varric was bad? Sarcastic Hawke is sooooo much worse, you'd have wanted to murder her.) But Saturday was a good day, in the end! SIDE QUEST: PICK UP THE DAMN BLOCKS - Part 1: 63% | Part 2: 100% A little bit of tidying up. Nothing big. Just realized that my car needs to count as part of the decluttering thing as I have so much CRAP in there, and some of that stuff can get themselves to a donation center! Time Spent: 38/60 minutes Today's Plan Deadlift day. Also to-do list: Update budget Declutter Nightly routine Plan tomorrow's workout Workout, gdi Pick up breakfast and lunch items for the week ahead Check mail Finish laundry Sign up for Saturday fencing classes Go through donation pile to separate things out Clean out email inbox Find images for next challenge thread Start putting together the passport application so it can get sent out already Get oil changed Quote Vicki | Sheikah Bard | Level 13 STR 32.5 | DEX 51.1 | STA 25.5 | CON 37.1 | WIS 26.0 | CHA 31.3 blkhoe24601 Gains the Power to Revolutionize the World Past Challenges: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 2016 Battle Log Link to comment
blkhole24601 Posted March 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 DAY 21 Yay pizza! And eating like an asshole, in general... QUEST ONE: THE ENDGAME - 100% Finally completed the thing! After eating like an asshole all afternoon, natch....... Warm-Up: 5-minute elliptical Squats: 1x5x60lb (warmup), 5x5x120lb (PR!!!!!!!!!!!!) Eccentric Pull-ups: 2x3, 1x2 Overhead Press: 1x1x45lb, 1x5x20lb, 1x5x30lb, 1x2x45lb, 1x5x40lb, 1x1x45lb, 1x5x40lb Deadlifts: 1x5x65lb (warmup), 1x5x125lb, 1x3x130lb, 1x1x135lb Cooldown: 15-minute flexibility Having the gym completely to myself was pretty awesome, actually, and I was able to set up my phone to take video of my deadlifting which I'll get to a form check thread at some point later. Here is a screencap of me getting ready to deadlift my bodyweight, though: (Yay, we have embedded Instagram back! And I'm guessing embedded YouTube too. Honestly, the only real complaint I had about the new forum format, and so now I'm just going to be in my adjustment period over it.) I didn't think about trying to nab video until after I had completed the other two lifts, alas, otherwise I'd have them, too. QUEST TWO: THE SPECIAL - 80% 15-minutes of my standard stretches. Got triangle and revolved triangle into the routine, since they were two of the moves from the mini-challenge I wanted to try to incorporate. Wasn't up to trying to work in the others I want to be part of my normal routine, but I'll get there. QUEST THREE: PREPARE FOR PLAYTIME - 100% Completed for the week. LIFE QUEST: LET'S GET ORGANIZED - 86% Just freakin' missed it, argh. 4 of 5. That's better than how I normally do, at least? Update budget Declutter Nightly routine Plan tomorrow's workout Workout, gdi Pick up breakfast and lunch items for the week ahead Check mail Finish laundry Sign up for Saturday fencing classes Go through donation pile to separate things out Clean out email inbox Find images for next challenge thread Start putting together the passport application so it can get sent out already Get oil changed It was another lazy, lazy morning, though some decluttering happened before I left for pastries with Kagetsukai, starsapart, stillskies, BlackTezca, Archaedia, and A. And then it was an afternoon of eating like assholes (though I feel like none of us regret anything) and shopping, in which I managed to buy two skirts from Nordstrom Rack (after struggling with not picking up every cute top I came across, because I have waaaaaaaay too many shirts and not a lot in the way of pants -- though after these purchases, it looks like 2016 will be the year of the skirts and dresses. THERE ARE WORSE THINGS) and a shirt off the clearance rack at New York & Company that Kagetsukai begged me to try on, and then it got rave reviews by everyone present, so I bought it. Good thing it was only $16, otherwise my whole "but I have too many shirts" thing may have taken over. Also, it's an XS and kind of loose on me??? I mean, I think the fit is supposed to be loose, but it's still bizarre to me. ;;;;;;;; Wearing that shirt today! Then we went to get pizza because stillskies was hangry, and I still hadn't done my workout for the day yet, but I figured, eh, I'm deadlifting later, so whatever, I'm not going to be fussed about the food I'm putting into my mouth. After pizza, we went our separate ways: I went to the gym, did the workout as outlined above, and then went home and had dinner with Tyro and then played more DA2. Seriously, a part of me wants a recording of Varric telling Fenris, "Oh btw, I'm really good friends with a Tevinter magister now. Don't worry though, he's cool!" Because I'm clearly evil or something...... SIDE QUEST: PICK UP THE DAMN BLOCKS - Part 1: 97% | Part 2: 100% Some of this happened not only on my end but Tyro's as well, since he attacked the crate full of papers to recycle. Which of course led to this happening: Because #cats Time Spent: 58/60 minutes Weekly Report Coming Soon! 4 Quote Vicki | Sheikah Bard | Level 13 STR 32.5 | DEX 51.1 | STA 25.5 | CON 37.1 | WIS 26.0 | CHA 31.3 blkhoe24601 Gains the Power to Revolutionize the World Past Challenges: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 2016 Battle Log Link to comment
blkhole24601 Posted March 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 WEEK 3 SUMMARY QUEST ONE: THE ENDGAME - A+ Lifting 2/2 Squats: MY NEXT WORKING WEIGHT IS MY GOAL FOR THE YEAR?!?!?! 125lb is up next for my next squat day. I... may need to change my 2016 goal. This is not a bad thing. Bench Press: Completed 62lb, debating on whether or not I want to do it one more time since it was a little bit wobbly in the last couple of reps or if I want to go ahead and attempt 63lb or 64lb. We'll see how I feel tomorrow, I guess! Rows: Inverted bodyweight rows are a good alternative for the time-being, so I think I'll keep at it! That does mean this is no longer going to count in the "lifting" section of my workouts though, but they will be a part of my Stronglifts A days, for sure! Overhead Press: Did random sets of whatever because I decided to try 45lb and while it wasn't terrible it also wasn't great. I may keep at 40lb for the time being. Deadlifts: Kept at 125lb (my bodyweight), got video of myself doing the thing to be submitted to the form check forums at some point this week, and I think it may be time to work in fractionals for the deadlifts. Unless I'm having a stressful day. Then my rage will be enough that I won't need the fractionals, based on past experience. So this week I'll give 130lb a try, but more than likely I'll have to do 127lb or 128lb as my working weight. Pull-Ups 2/2: I think I might have to keep at assisted pull-ups for the time being. I tried the eccentric pull-ups and while the first couple of sets were better than they've ever been, the final set was not great. So we'll see how it goes. Pistol Squats 2/2: Accomplished 3x7 on both legs this week! Hopefully I can pull of 3x8. What fun it will be to end the challenge getting prepared for the next progression! Leg Raises 2/2: Completed 3x8 hanging bent leg V-raises! Which means I can attempt toes-to-bar this week. We'll see how that works out for me. ;;;;;;;; Handstands 3/2: Must. Engage. Core. Better. Other than that, it was a great week for handstands! These are getting more and more solid, and I'm getting more and more knowledgeable enough to figure out what areas I need to work on. Plus, I think spending time with Crow and Feathered Peacock has helped me, too! QUEST TWO: THE SPECIAL - B Missed a day of flexibility, but I'm still calling it a win for the week with the help of the yoga mini-challenge, because trying out all the new poses, seeing where I'm amazingly flexible and seeing where I still need work was fun and rewarding all around. QUEST THREE: PREPARE FOR PLAYTIME - A Finally figuring out how to work my hips as appropriate. For me, that's seriously like. 75% of the battle to get ready for Evita rehearsals. Learning the steps is less problematic for me. So yay! LIFE QUEST: LET'S GET ORGANIZED - B+ ALMOST DID IT. Very, very almost. Still, weekends are a bit problematic, but with my finishing Trespasser it's getting easier to get through the lists. Today's To Do List, just so that it's here: Update budget Declutter Nightly routine Plan tomorrow's workout Pick up breakfast and lunch items for the week ahead Check mail Finish laundry Sign up for Saturday fencing classes Go through donation pile to separate things out Clean out email inbox Find images for next challenge thread Start putting together the passport application so it can get sent out already Get oil changed Revamp my workout playlists Practice monologue Practice singing Make specialist appointment already Work on clearing out DSLR memory cards Buy photo frame for puzzle SIDE QUEST: PICK UP THE DAMN BLOCKS - A- Very, very close to my decluttering minutes, but oh well. Need to attack my car at some point throughout the week since that's full of junk, too. And I absolutely need to get everything in the donation pile to a donation center by the end of the week, too! WEEK 3 GRADE: A- WEEK 4 LOOK AHEAD: Yay, we get our interim week back, which means I'm going to go ahead and using the entire challenge week instead of cutting it off on Friday. With that in mind! Monday: Zumba + flex Tuesday: Stronglifts A + flex Wednesday: Yoga Thursday: Bodyweight Strength + flex Friday: Rest or Yoga Saturday: Stronglifts B + flex Sunday: Rest 3 Quote Vicki | Sheikah Bard | Level 13 STR 32.5 | DEX 51.1 | STA 25.5 | CON 37.1 | WIS 26.0 | CHA 31.3 blkhoe24601 Gains the Power to Revolutionize the World Past Challenges: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 2016 Battle Log Link to comment
blkhole24601 Posted March 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Oh hey, work gym fitness challenge gives me additional goals for the week. Well then! Reach 10,000 steps/day for 3 days this week 75 flights of stairs this week Wear pedometer every day, increase steps each day Complete midpoint measurement (need to make this appointment) Well then. This means a slight adjustment on my workout plans for the week, but not by much. I'm pretty sure I get 75 flights of stairs fairly easily in a week, it's just making sure I get those 10,000 steps that will be a challenge. Good thing is, if I don't do my midpoint assessment this week, I've got next week to do it, too! Quote Vicki | Sheikah Bard | Level 13 STR 32.5 | DEX 51.1 | STA 25.5 | CON 37.1 | WIS 26.0 | CHA 31.3 blkhoe24601 Gains the Power to Revolutionize the World Past Challenges: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 2016 Battle Log Link to comment
starsapart Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Niiiiiiiiiiiiice lifts! Way to go on those squats!!!!!!!!!!!11 Isn't hitting your year goal somewhere in the early part of the year bizarre-yet-awesome? Yesterday was fantastic, I'm already looking forward to doing it again! Eat like an asshole and hang with the girls day - nothing could be better. 1 Quote 🎪current challenge🎪 challenge archive: 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 instagram | goodreads "Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world." - Voltaire Link to comment
blkhole24601 Posted March 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 1 hour ago, starsapart said: Niiiiiiiiiiiiice lifts! Way to go on those squats!!!!!!!!!!!11 Isn't hitting your year goal somewhere in the early part of the year bizarre-yet-awesome? Yesterday was fantastic, I'm already looking forward to doing it again! Eat like an asshole and hang with the girls day - nothing could be better. Thanks! It's a bit bizarre, since back in November/December I was using fractionals once I got in the 110 range, but now I'm just blowing past it like it's nbd. I have a feeling that once I hit bodyweight, I'll have to start considering fractionals again, but I mean. Hitting my 2016 goal in quite possibly March, if not April? I'll take it!!!!!!! And yesssssssssssssss cannot wait to do the things again. Eat like assholes, shop, hang with the girls........... it was an awesome way to spend a Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Vicki | Sheikah Bard | Level 13 STR 32.5 | DEX 51.1 | STA 25.5 | CON 37.1 | WIS 26.0 | CHA 31.3 blkhoe24601 Gains the Power to Revolutionize the World Past Challenges: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 2016 Battle Log Link to comment
Suzaqu Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Looks like an awesome week! Congrats on the awesome lifts! Hitting goal before the year is even 25% done is stellar. And yay for surprise yoga skilzzzzz! 1 Quote Current Challenge 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 Link to comment
Briniel Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 Wow, awesome work!! I'm seriously in awe of all the things you're rocking right now (mostly the xs shirt ) 1 Quote "The way you spend your days is the way you live your life" Challenges: Current | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 Link to comment
blkhole24601 Posted March 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 15 hours ago, Suzaqu said: Looks like an awesome week! Congrats on the awesome lifts! Hitting goal before the year is even 25% done is stellar. And yay for surprise yoga skilzzzzz! Thanks!! Today's the day in which I see if I hit my goal, or if I'm just only a little bit away from getting to it. Either way, my working weight will be my goal weight as of today, and that's super exciting! And yay yoga! 5 hours ago, Briniel said: Wow, awesome work!! I'm seriously in awe of all the things you're rocking right now (mostly the xs shirt ) Thanks! I've actually been in American sizes S and XS (I'm solidly a Japanese size M in shirts, ahahahaha oh Japan) for a while now, but to have XS be loose on me is a little weird. And kind of nice, since the last time I tried on clothes in the US, it was at H&M, and I couldn't find anything that could fit me right because I apparently have broad shoulders now (to get a shirt or dress that fit me in the shoulders meant it was Frump Central everywhere else). Thanks, bench presses. So it was kind of a nice confidence boost! Quote Vicki | Sheikah Bard | Level 13 STR 32.5 | DEX 51.1 | STA 25.5 | CON 37.1 | WIS 26.0 | CHA 31.3 blkhoe24601 Gains the Power to Revolutionize the World Past Challenges: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 2016 Battle Log Link to comment
blkhole24601 Posted March 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 DAY 22 Just another Monday... QUEST ONE: THE ENDGAME - 0% Not for yesterday. QUEST TWO: THE SPECIAL - 20% 15-minutes of my standard stretches. QUEST THREE: PREPARE FOR PLAYTIME - 100% Done! Worked on tango and samba primarily, in which I learned how to do the front and back ocho for tango, and I discovered that when it comes to the basic samba step, I need to really work at being able to get it up to tempo. Slow, piece of cake. Fast, and I lose all sense of coordination. ;;; But I'm still getting better at learning how to work my hips, at least! LIFE QUEST: LET'S GET ORGANIZED - 14% Did a bunch of the things! Update budget Declutter Nightly routine Plan tomorrow's workout Pick up breakfast and lunch items for the week ahead Check mail Finish laundry Sign up for Saturday fencing classes (at least, I TRIED, but the website doesn't seem to want to let me register for the April classes yet; I'll maybe give them a call or shoot them an email today) Go through donation pile to separate things out Clean out email inbox Find images for next challenge thread (this is surprisingly more difficult than I thought it was going to be ;;;;; my theme is seriously not obscure, gaiz) Start putting together the passport application so it can get sent out already Get oil changed Revamp my workout playlists Practice monologue Practice singing Make specialist appointment already Work on clearing out DSLR memory cards Buy photo frame for puzzle Ran out of things to do at work, so I was able to tackle a few of these while there. And then once I got home, I did more things in between waiting for the ads on the dance videos to finish playing. And then once I was finished working through most of the above, and only then, I turned on DA2, so go me. SIDE QUEST: PICK UP THE DAMN BLOCKS - Part 1: 25% | Part 2: 100% Honestly, the time I spent putting my laundry away I counted towards decluttering, since after Sunday's shopping adventures I decided to take the time to determine more clothes to toss in the donation pile. A sweater, a jacket, a pair of pajama pants, and a dress I bought for a friend's wedding a few years ago that I love but never really fit me right in the breast area (because this dress was apparently not made for less than C) were tossed into the pile, and considering I bought three items of clothing, I'd say I did well. Time Spent: 15/60 minutes Today's Plan Lifting day! Also my to-do list: Update budget Declutter Nightly routine Plan tomorrow's workout Check mail Practice monologue Practice singing Find images for next challenge thread Coupon clippings Send passport application Make specialist appointment Go through donation pile to separate things out Get oil changed Revamp my workout playlists Work on clearing out DSLR memory cards Buy photo frame for puzzle Do research for Things for next challenge Sign up for Saturday fencing classes (make the phone call/email) And because I was feeling silly this morning, I took a glamour shot of myself in one of the new skirts I bought from the Nordstrom Rack on Sunday. Because sometimes you just need to pretend you're a model. 4 Quote Vicki | Sheikah Bard | Level 13 STR 32.5 | DEX 51.1 | STA 25.5 | CON 37.1 | WIS 26.0 | CHA 31.3 blkhoe24601 Gains the Power to Revolutionize the World Past Challenges: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 2016 Battle Log Link to comment
ixaera Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 25 minutes ago, blkhole24601 said: Thanks! I've actually been in American sizes S and XS (I'm solidly a Japanese size M in shirts, ahahahaha oh Japan) for a while now, but to have XS be loose on me is a little weird. And kind of nice, since the last time I tried on clothes in the US, it was at H&M, and I couldn't find anything that could fit me right because I apparently have broad shoulders now (to get a shirt or dress that fit me in the shoulders meant it was Frump Central everywhere else). Thanks, bench presses. So it was kind of a nice confidence boost! Vanity sizing is why XXS and 00 even exist, IMO. Lots of brands (especially American) upsize their smalls and mediums to fit larger builds, because supposedly studies show that people are more likely to buy a brand that makes them feel like they are smaller than they are--not that sizes have every been particularly standard ANYway. Japan doesn't have as much of a rise in the overweight population, so lots less marketing pressure to vanity size over there. H&M is definitely not for muscular shoulders (I like their jeggings, though! Even if they are way too long and I have to tuck a lot of material over my feet into my boots...) It's unfortunate, because their smalls run closer to a European small, meaning it's more likely I'll actually find something that isn't ridiculously baggy, even at the smallest size. (But yeah, the shoulder thing is a problem, I don't even have particularly strong shoulders and I have trouble with their t-shirts at times) 2 Quote Link to comment
starsapart Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 1) You are adorable. 2) Sizing means pretty much nothing at this point, SIGH. That's why I cheer when I find jeans sized in inches...... 3) H&M woould be great but LOL SHOULDERS. I have massive shoulders for my frame. I can get the H&M 2 or 4 on when it comes to bottoms (which is a standard US 00 or 0 SIGH) but for tops there is no winning. It is meant for no shoulders and no boobs. I've given up on shopping there. 4) What I have found (and I hope you will as well) is a few go-to brands that for whatever reason have random sizing that works on my body specifically. As you saw on Sunday when we went shopping, brands that fit muscular shoulders while still tapering properly for smaller waists exist. But they are not cheap. TRADEOFF TIME. 2 Quote 🎪current challenge🎪 challenge archive: 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 instagram | goodreads "Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world." - Voltaire Link to comment
Urgan Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 18 minutes ago, starsapart said: 2) Sizing means pretty much nothing at this point, SIGH. That's why I cheer when I find jeans sized in inches...... WHERE?? TELL ME. I MUST KNOW. 19 minutes ago, starsapart said: 3) H&M woould be great but LOL SHOULDERS. I have massive shoulders for my frame. I can get the H&M 2 or 4 on when it comes to bottoms (which is a standard US 00 or 0 SIGH) but for tops there is no winning. It is meant for no shoulders and no boobs. I've given up on shopping there. I didn't know there was a standard anywhere in sight... 1 Quote Level 13 Shape-shifting Warrior Monk STR:45 | DEX:18 | STA:10 | CON:37 | WIS:37 | CHA:27 The stronger the body the more it obeys, the weaker the body the more it commands. -- Siegmund Klein Battle Log : MFP : Instagram : Challenges - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Link to comment
starsapart Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 5 minutes ago, Urgan said: WHERE?? TELL ME. I MUST KNOW. I didn't know there was a standard anywhere in sight... LOL!!!!! Designer brands size jeans in inches. And there's a vague sort of standard regarding how much room something gives in the waist and hips..... more or less.... that applies to like.... half of the mass market brands, which is already a standard in its way. A 2 from Target and a 2 from Kohls and a 2 from TJ Maxx will more or less have the same-ish dimensions in waist and hips. I say ish but it's close enough. An H&M 2 is ~2 inches smaller across the board. 1 Quote 🎪current challenge🎪 challenge archive: 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 instagram | goodreads "Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world." - Voltaire Link to comment
blkhole24601 Posted March 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 6 minutes ago, ixaera said: Vanity sizing is why XXS and 00 even exist, IMO. Lots of brands (especially American) upsize their smalls and mediums to fit larger builds, because supposedly studies show that people are more likely to buy a brand that makes them feel like they are smaller than they are--not that sizes have every been particularly standard ANYway. Japan doesn't have as much of a rise in the overweight population, so lots less marketing pressure to vanity size over there. H&M is definitely not for muscular shoulders (I like their jeggings, though! Even if they are way too long and I have to tuck a lot of material over my feet into my boots...) It's unfortunate, because their smalls run closer to a European small, meaning it's more likely I'll actually find something that isn't ridiculously baggy, even at the smallest size. (But yeah, the shoulder thing is a problem, I don't even have particularly strong shoulders and I have trouble with their t-shirts at times) Also in Japan, women are just.... TINY. I can buy shirts in Japan with no problem even if I have to go up one or two sizes from what I wear in the States, but I don't even bother trying to buy pants in Japan because my legs are thicker than the average Japanese woman's leg (I jokingly call my legs German-sized since my father's side of the family is primarily German-descent), and when I pick up the largest size off the rack in any Japanese clothing store, I can't get it past my thighs. ;;;;;;;;;;;; But that's fine, because that means I have meat in my legs, and my lower body strength is A+, so I'll take it. I can, at least, buy leggings in Japan though! No they are not. And I do love H&M styles but I think ever since I started lifting, it's become near impossible to shop there. I can at least still buy their jackets, since one of my favorite winter coats is from H&M and it fits me great, but anything else is a no-go, I feel like. Even the pants because while I call my legs German-sized, I mean that in width and girth, not length. 12 minutes ago, starsapart said: 1) You are adorable. 2) Sizing means pretty much nothing at this point, SIGH. That's why I cheer when I find jeans sized in inches...... 3) H&M woould be great but LOL SHOULDERS. I have massive shoulders for my frame. I can get the H&M 2 or 4 on when it comes to bottoms (which is a standard US 00 or 0 SIGH) but for tops there is no winning. It is meant for no shoulders and no boobs. I've given up on shopping there. 4) What I have found (and I hope you will as well) is a few go-to brands that for whatever reason have random sizing that works on my body specifically. As you saw on Sunday when we went shopping, brands that fit muscular shoulders while still tapering properly for smaller waists exist. But they are not cheap. TRADEOFF TIME. 1) Danke 2) Yeah, I wish they would just size pants in inches in general. I mean, it's not perfect since there are so many other factors in whether or not pants will actually fit you properly, but at least it's INFINITELY more helpful than size 2 or 4 or whatever. 3) The craziest thing about H&M and shoulders is that I didn't think my shoulders were that broad. I still don't think they're that broad. So what gives????? Who can actually fit into those clothes??????? Last summer when I was trying on dresses, I'd put on sizes 2-6, and they'd fit stupid loosely around my waist and torso (and the bigger sizes I tried on, the frumpier they got) but I felt like my shoulders were going to Hulk out of them. Getting out of those dresses required some serious contortionist acts so that I didn't accidentally rip anything. ;;;;;;;;;;;;; Oh H&M. I'll have one last ditch effort at shopping there when I start looking for summer clothes and then I may just quit and turn to them when I want stylish jackets and scarves and leggings or something. 4) Once Uni Qlo gets to Denver, I'll have my go-to place for shirts since Uni Qlo shirts fits me like a dream. (Which confuses me a little bit, since I'm pretty sure Europeans generally have broader shoulders than the Japanese but WHATEVER I WILL TAKE IT, even if it means I have to switch from size S and XS to size M) Pants will always be a headache for me to shop for, which is why I live off of jeggings or any leggings that can actually pass themselves off as pants because yay stretchy material, or as I joked on Sunday, 2016 will be the year of the skirts and dresses because pants are just too annoying to buy. Someday I'll find those go-to brands for pants where the petite sizes won't look frumpy on me (and dare I dream it, actually look flattering). SOMEDAY. 3 Quote Vicki | Sheikah Bard | Level 13 STR 32.5 | DEX 51.1 | STA 25.5 | CON 37.1 | WIS 26.0 | CHA 31.3 blkhoe24601 Gains the Power to Revolutionize the World Past Challenges: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 2016 Battle Log Link to comment
starsapart Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 8 minutes ago, blkhole24601 said: Someday I'll find those go-to brands for pants where the petite sizes won't look frumpy on me (and dare I dream it, actually look flattering). SOMEDAY. We should make a date to hit a major mall just to try on petite pants in ever brand imaginable. One is out there for you. 1 Quote 🎪current challenge🎪 challenge archive: 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 instagram | goodreads "Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world." - Voltaire Link to comment
Urgan Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 2 minutes ago, starsapart said: LOL!!!!! Designer brands size jeans in inches. That explains it, the price tag on those usually is like showing Dracula the cross. I haven't spent much time in Nordstrom Rack's pants department, because the last two times were shirt-specific missions. 3 minutes ago, starsapart said: And there's a vague sort of standard regarding how much room something gives in the waist and hips..... more or less.... that applies to like.... half of the mass market brands, which is already a standard in its way. A 2 from Target and a 2 from Kohls and a 2 from TJ Maxx will more or less have the same-ish dimensions in waist and hips. I say ish but it's close enough. An H&M 2 is ~2 inches smaller across the board. There's just so many ways for different brands to screw things up...I dunno. 8 minutes ago, blkhole24601 said: Also in Japan, women are just.... TINY. I can buy shirts in Japan with no problem even if I have to go up one or two sizes from what I wear in the States, but I don't even bother trying to buy pants in Japan because my legs are thicker than the average Japanese woman's leg (I jokingly call my legs German-sized since my father's side of the family is primarily German-descent), and when I pick up the largest size off the rack in any Japanese clothing store, I can't get it past my thighs. ;;;;;;;;;;;; But that's fine, because that means I have meat in my legs, and my lower body strength is A+, so I'll take it. I can, at least, buy leggings in Japan though! #bestofeastandwest It does make shopping a hassle, but can't trade a >BW squat or deadlift~ 4 minutes ago, blkhole24601 said: 3) The craziest thing about H&M and shoulders is that I didn't think my shoulders were that broad. I still don't think they're that broad. So what gives????? Who can actually fit into those clothes??????? Last summer when I was trying on dresses, I'd put on sizes 2-6, and they'd fit stupid loosely around my waist and torso (and the bigger sizes I tried on, the frumpier they got) but I felt like my shoulders were going to Hulk out of them. Getting out of those dresses required some serious contortionist acts so that I didn't accidentally rip anything. ;;;;;;;;;;;;; Oh H&M. I'll have one last ditch effort at shopping there when I start looking for summer clothes and then I may just quit and turn to them when I want stylish jackets and scarves and leggings or something. 4) Once Uni Qlo gets to Denver, I'll have my go-to place for shirts since Uni Qlo shirts fits me like a dream. (Which confuses me a little bit, since I'm pretty sure Europeans generally have broader shoulders than the Japanese but WHATEVER I WILL TAKE IT, even if it means I have to switch from size S and XS to size M) Pants will always be a headache for me to shop for, which is why I live off of jeggings or any leggings that can actually pass themselves off as pants because yay stretchy material, or as I joked on Sunday, 2016 will be the year of the skirts and dresses because pants are just too annoying to buy. Someday I'll find those go-to brands for pants where the petite sizes won't look frumpy on me (and dare I dream it, actually look flattering). SOMEDAY. Shoulders and legs are definitely real trouble--things I once fit into I couldn't like, grip a steering wheel while wearing them now, lulz. Three cheers for stretchy fabrics. 3 Quote Level 13 Shape-shifting Warrior Monk STR:45 | DEX:18 | STA:10 | CON:37 | WIS:37 | CHA:27 The stronger the body the more it obeys, the weaker the body the more it commands. -- Siegmund Klein Battle Log : MFP : Instagram : Challenges - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Link to comment
starsapart Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 Just now, Urgan said: That explains it, the price tag on those usually is like showing Dracula the cross. I haven't spent much time in Nordstrom Rack's pants department, because the last two times were shirt-specific missions. Recently I've given up and started investing in more expensive clothes. I got sick of everything fitting like crap. I buy WAY LESS CLOTHING now, but it's nice to get dressed in the morning and feel put together. 1 Quote 🎪current challenge🎪 challenge archive: 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 instagram | goodreads "Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world." - Voltaire Link to comment
Urgan Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 1 minute ago, starsapart said: Recently I've given up and started investing in more expensive clothes. I got sick of everything fitting like crap. I buy WAY LESS CLOTHING now, but it's nice to get dressed in the morning and feel put together. I have a problem with going in and picking up quantities of clothes up to the point of becoming difficult to carry. How much I can carry is a bad check on my spending, if you think about it, because #lifting, lol. I tend to go clothes-shopping seasonally with a list of thing(s) I need and tend to stick well to the list, I just overkill those things, lol (no patience for shopping meets clingy love affairs with everything in sight). Right now I'm just cruising along with large quantities of leggings and a few pairs of slacks, when I get a reliable income stream again, there will be investigations. 1 Quote Level 13 Shape-shifting Warrior Monk STR:45 | DEX:18 | STA:10 | CON:37 | WIS:37 | CHA:27 The stronger the body the more it obeys, the weaker the body the more it commands. -- Siegmund Klein Battle Log : MFP : Instagram : Challenges - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Link to comment
blkhole24601 Posted March 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 18 minutes ago, starsapart said: We should make a date to hit a major mall just to try on petite pants in ever brand imaginable. One is out there for you. I am so down for this. We'll need to have snack stops every couple of stores or so to keep me from grumping too much because that's what happens when I go pants shopping, but I feel like for you this would be a bonus rather than a hindrance? 28 minutes ago, starsapart said: And there's a vague sort of standard regarding how much room something gives in the waist and hips..... more or less.... that applies to like.... half of the mass market brands, which is already a standard in its way. A 2 from Target and a 2 from Kohls and a 2 from TJ Maxx will more or less have the same-ish dimensions in waist and hips. I say ish but it's close enough. An H&M 2 is ~2 inches smaller across the board. Which is why I have to grab three of the same pair of pants/dress when I try something on at a mass market store -- one in the size I tend to average at, and one size up and one size down, just in case. And doing that is one of the reasons I hate pants shopping so much. ;;; 18 minutes ago, Urgan said: #bestofeastandwest It does make shopping a hassle, but can't trade a >BW squat or deadlift~ Shoulders and legs are definitely real trouble--things I once fit into I couldn't like, grip a steering wheel while wearing them now, lulz. Three cheers for stretchy fabrics. Yup, exactly! I think that was one of the things that helped me get over the fact that my legs don't look like a super model's legs and never will -- because I'd rather be strong than not. One of the things I lament about the shoulders thing is that I used to be able to buy kid's size XL. The arms were a bit tight but nothing I couldn't live with. Now, there's just no way. No more junior's XL for me, sigh. (This was a benefit I usually only took advantage of when buying souvenir T-shirts or sweatshirts or something, since the kid's sizes are cheaper than the adult sizes. But now I have to pay that extra $5. Eh, I'm working towards a pull-up, that's much better than a souvenir shirt anyway!) 2 Quote Vicki | Sheikah Bard | Level 13 STR 32.5 | DEX 51.1 | STA 25.5 | CON 37.1 | WIS 26.0 | CHA 31.3 blkhoe24601 Gains the Power to Revolutionize the World Past Challenges: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 2016 Battle Log Link to comment
starsapart Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 8 minutes ago, blkhole24601 said: I am so down for this. We'll need to have snack stops every couple of stores or so to keep me from grumping too much because that's what happens when I go pants shopping, but I feel like for you this would be a bonus rather than a hindrance? Girl, you speak my language. 1 Quote 🎪current challenge🎪 challenge archive: 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 instagram | goodreads "Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world." - Voltaire Link to comment
blkhole24601 Posted March 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2016 DAY 23 Hulk SMASHing my squat goals!!! QUEST ONE: THE ENDGAME - 50% Did some lifts! Warm-up: TMNT Mobility + mountain climbers Squats: 1x5x60lb (warmup), 5x5x125lb (PR AND 2016 GOAL REACHED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Bench Press: 1x5x45lb (warmup), 5x5x63lb Assisted Pull-ups: 8 Assisted Pistol Squats: 9 on both legs Hanging Leg Raises: 1x2, 1x8 Push-ups: 12 Assisted Pistol Squats: 6 on the left, 5 on the right Hanging Leg Raises: 7 5-minute handstands Cooldwon: 12 minute flexibility LOOK AT THAT I SQUASHED MY 2016 SQUATS GOAL. It wasn't looking promising, admittedly, though it wasn't my legs that were unhappy with the weight, it was my lower back. I probably needed more warm-up, though, as the last set was the easiest of the lot as far as my back was concerned, so idk. I'll give it another go on Saturday and see how it feels. But I mean. I'm squatting my bodyweight. I'M SQUATTING MY BODYWEIGHT. This is nothing to sneeze at! Overall, though, I probably should have let more time pass after deadlifts day before attempting this workout. By the time I finished benching, my body was DONE. So of course I kept pushing it. It didn't lead to a lot of happy results. ;;; Good thing is, at least regarding the mini-challenge, is that Thursday is the day of bodyweight work, so I can make up for what I couldn't do yesterday, especially since I plan on taking a rest day today! QUEST TWO: THE SPECIAL - 40% Did the thing. Nothing really noteworthy tbh QUEST THREE: PREPARE FOR PLAYTIME - 100% Accomplished for the week. LIFE QUEST: LET'S GET ORGANIZED - 29% Barely made it. Depression kind of took over in the afternoon. Update budget Declutter Nightly routine Plan tomorrow's workout Check mail Practice monologue Practice singing Find images for next challenge thread Coupon clippings Send passport application Make specialist appointment Go through donation pile to separate things out Get oil changed Revamp my workout playlists Work on clearing out DSLR memory cards Buy photo frame for puzzle Do research for Things for next challenge Sign up for Saturday fencing classes (make the phone call/email) Yeah, so. You know that weird feeling when you feel like someone might be talking about you behind your back? I think that's part of what set me off on my depression spiral yesterday, sigh. So once I got home from work, I just did a couple more things off the list and decided to lose myself in Kirkwall. Sigh... SIDE QUEST: PICK UP THE DAMN BLOCKS - Part 1: 25% | Part 2: 100% Nope. Time Spent: 15/60 minutes Today's Plan Rest day today, which thankfully I planned for yesterday because Colorado is Colorado-ing today. It's spring, after all. So it has to be blizzarding. I'm working from home for a bit but I'm going to try to make it in for the meeting I run on Wednesdays, but if it's still awful by the time I need to be leaving I'll just call in from home. Update budget Declutter Nightly routine Plan tomorrow's workout Check mail Practice monologue Practice singing Send passport application Make specialist appointment Go through donation pile to separate things out Get oil changed Revamp my workout playlists Work on clearing out DSLR memory cards Buy photo frame for puzzle Start making grocery list Sign up for Saturday fencing classes (make the phone call/email) 1 Quote Vicki | Sheikah Bard | Level 13 STR 32.5 | DEX 51.1 | STA 25.5 | CON 37.1 | WIS 26.0 | CHA 31.3 blkhoe24601 Gains the Power to Revolutionize the World Past Challenges: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 2016 Battle Log Link to comment
blkhole24601 Posted March 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2016 Accurate depiction of the weather yesterday vs the weather today, and why: Quote Vicki | Sheikah Bard | Level 13 STR 32.5 | DEX 51.1 | STA 25.5 | CON 37.1 | WIS 26.0 | CHA 31.3 blkhoe24601 Gains the Power to Revolutionize the World Past Challenges: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 2016 Battle Log Link to comment
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