♫ starsapart is flying free ♫

[starsapart]

"Just like fire, burning out the way
If I can light the world up for just one day
Watch this madness, colorful charade
No one can be just like me anyway
Just like magic, I'll be flying free
I'mma disappear when they come for me
I kick that ceiling, what you gonna take?
No one can be just like me anyway..."

 

 

Time for an unthemed, haphazard challenge with starsapart again!  In other words, after my show, I'm sort of floating along... but considering just how ridiculously busy my life has become recently, I probably need a little structure.  OKAY.  Here are my very fluffy quests:

 

Quest 1: Don't Take the Easy Way (+1 STR, +1 DEX, +1 CHA)

Every open gym workout, I need to work on at least two of the following:

• Helicopter
• Tick-tock s-wrap entry
• ANY hip fold sequence
• Sequencing straight/straight straddles
• Any "old" trick from my archive

 

Quest 2: Flexibility, Take 3 (+2 DEX, +1 WIS)

I won't do it every day.  I already know that I'll skip rest days.  So instead: before or after EVERY WORKOUT (i.e. 5 times a week at least), I need to work the following:

• Splits
• Straddle
• Backbends

 

Quest 3: Get My Zen On (+2 DEX, +1 WIS)

I've been slacking on yoga, which is dumb, because I actually love it when I do it.  So, at least 4 classes over the course of the challenge.  Ideally on work-from-home-Wednesdays, but I can't work from home EVERY Wednesday so... I can fit these where they fit.

 

Life Quest: Curb Appeal (+1 CHA)

Hi my name is stars and I suck at yardwork.  Like a lot.  All I have to do to complete this quest:

• Destroy the weeds in the rocky portion of the backyard (weed killer is my friend)
• Put something in the planters by the garage (hopefully something that doesn't need much maintenance)
• Cut back the branches of the bush that is blocking the sprinkler path

[RogueLibrarian]

Following! Yardwork is my bane too. One of my banes. I have a lot of banes.

[Myrik]

Following.  I will feel your pain come June when I move into my first home.

[starsapart]

I'm just starting and I'm already late.  LATELY THIS IS THE STORY OF MY LIFE.

 

A recap of the weekend:

• Aerial on Saturday.  Wow, ow:
  • Skin the cats
  • Meathooks
  • Straddles
  • Tick-tock s-wrap entry (two in a rowwwwww) into triple star
  • Hip fold sequence into teardrop-esque-thing (still a mess)
  • Hip fold sequence into knee hang wrap (still not working the drop)
• Worst ever Saturday traffic due to much rain, very flood
• Portuguese food adventures with Kagetsukai, moderately successful
• Laundry
• Slept like crap!
• Sunday morning work, all the singing, all the sight reading, all the sniffling......
• Lifting!
  • Quick elliptical warm-up due to stiffness
  • Squat: 1x5x45, 1x5x65, 1x3x95, 5x4x110
  • Bench: 1x5x45, 1x5x65, 5x4x85 (OOOOOOF)
  • Deadlift: 2x3x135, 2x3x155, 1x3x175, 1x1x185, 1x1x200 (YAY IT IS BACK)
  • Flexy-bendy cooldown
• Mother's day lunch thing with my parents.... two hours later than they said they were coming, sigh
  • Kind of did not eat like an asshole amazingly
• Sprinklers turned back on, THANK YOU FATHER
• Captain America: Civil War
• Finally, decent sleep

 

OKAY I AM CAUGHT UP.

 

Here's a video of that triple star with the tick-tock entry:

 

 

In case you think it looks like I mummified myself with the fabric: it feels like I mummified myself, too.

 

OKAY LET'S GET THIS CHALLENGE PARTY STARTED.

[starsapart]

9 minutes ago, RogueLibrarian said:

Following! Yardwork is my bane too. One of my banes. I have a lot of banes.

 

5 minutes ago, Myrik said:

Following.  I will feel your pain come June when I move into my first home.

 

Welcome!!!!

 

It doesn't help that I'm stupid allergic to grass.

[Finisterre]

Following ^-^

Also that is a nice entry into that drop!

[starsapart]

1 minute ago, Finisterre said:

Following ^-^

Also that is a nice entry into that drop!

 

Welcome!!!!

 

Would probably be nicer without the microbend in the knees lolololol I will work on that...

[Finisterre]

2 minutes ago, starsapart said:

 

Welcome!!!!

 

Would probably be nicer without the microbend in the knees lolololol I will work on that...

 

Tbh I'm so jealous of the straight leg straddle up I don't think I noticed the knees in the rest...

[starsapart]

6 minutes ago, Finisterre said:

 

Tbh I'm so jealous of the straight leg straddle up I don't think I noticed the knees in the rest...

 

Oh man, that I have a bend of any sort in my legs when I do this from bent arms is kind of shameful, I do straight/straight these days (though still occasionally struggle bus through this........)  But apparently, this is the s-wrap entry most people learn INSTEAD of flamenco, which confounds me because flamenco is sooooooooooo much easier.

 

There's also this one, though, it's totally weird since it comes from having the fabric BETWEEN your legs, which is that cardinal rule you're not supposed to break:

 

 

Incidentally that made the tick-tock entry that much more complicated because in one you pike towards your hooked knee and in the other you pike away....... WHY IS FABRIC SO COMPLICATED SOMETIMES.

[Sam Ashen]

Checking in and saying hi!

[raptron]

Supppp. 

[starsapart]

39 minutes ago, Sam Ashen said:

Checking in and saying hi!

 

Hey, welcome!

 

Question for you, actually!  Weight belt recommendations at a reasonable price?  How different are they between men and women (I'm hoping not a lot)?  I need to get one with my deadlift finally back where it needs to be....

 

35 minutes ago, raptron said:

Supppp. 

 

WELCOME MY FRIEND!

 

I am pouty-faced that we are not on the same team this time I will have you know!

[Finisterre]

15 minutes ago, starsapart said:

 

Oh man, that I have a bend of any sort in my legs when I do this from bent arms is kind of shameful, I do straight/straight these days (though still occasionally struggle bus through this........)  But apparently, this is the s-wrap entry most people learn INSTEAD of flamenco, which confounds me because flamenco is sooooooooooo much easier.

 

 

I seem to have regressed to struggling with bent/bent these days  Trying to learn hoop has broken me.  I'm guessing you mean flamenco grip?  I stopped silks before I got anywhere near where you are, but I always loved flamenco grip (still do for certain trap moves).

 

17 minutes ago, starsapart said:

There's also this one, though, it's totally weird since it comes from having the fabric BETWEEN your legs, which is that cardinal rule you're not supposed to break:

 

 

Incidentally that made the tick-tock entry that much more complicated because in one you pike towards your hooked knee and in the other you pike away....... WHY IS FABRIC SO COMPLICATED SOMETIMES.

 

Pfffft, who needs rules  Also what do you mean sometimes?  Everything about silks is complicated!  

[Sam Ashen]

15 minutes ago, starsapart said:

Hey, welcome!

 

Question for you, actually!  Weight belt recommendations at a reasonabl;e price?  How different are they between men and women (I'm hoping not a lot)?  I need to get one with my deadlift finally back where it needs to be....

 

The one I got is 4 inches all around and half inch thick and Miss Broki hates it because I can only tighten it in one inch increments.  She recommends a velcro belt for some reason.  Now I am trying to get tags to work and they take *forever* to look up.

 

@Urgan

@miss_marissa

[starsapart]

30 minutes ago, Finisterre said:

 

I seem to have regressed to struggling with bent/bent these days  Trying to learn hoop has broken me.  I'm guessing you mean flamenco grip?  I stopped silks before I got anywhere near where you are, but I always loved flamenco grip (still do for certain trap moves).

 

 

Pfffft, who needs rules  Also what do you mean sometimes?  Everything about silks is complicated!  

 

I should do more hoop..... WHY DON'T I GET MORE AIR TIME.

 

I mean the flamenco grip into the s-wrap.  So peg feet, flamenco same side arm, come around the fabric in front, straddle up into s-wrap.....

 

RULES ARE FOR WUSSES.

 

Sometimes fabric feels so natural and sensible.  And then sometimes I feel like I'm putting on a diaper...... remind me to show you this new wrap/drop sequence I am learning once I get it actually worthy of being caught on video haha.  I think I just like vertical apparatus, at the end of the day.  It's a good place for brute strength, and that I've got.......

 

19 minutes ago, Sam Ashen said:

 

The one I got is 4 inches all around and half inch thick and Miss Broki hates it because I can only tighten it in one inch increments.  She recommends a velcro belt for some reason.  Now I am trying to get tags to work and they take *forever* to look up.

 

@Urgan

@miss_marissa

 

@miss_marissa????

 

The tags system is awesome - I like this upgrade - but still buggy, alas.

 

By the way, I have DOMS today like wow.

[blkhole24601]

You know I'm here as always.

 

I'm also curious about the weight belt. My mother, though admittedly not knowing much about lifting, suggested that because of my back injury that I look into getting one. I feel silly about it since I'm not lifting THAT heavy yet (my deadlifts are barely above my bodyweight), but still, worth looking into at the very least even if not for the near future!

[starsapart]

1 minute ago, blkhole24601 said:

You know I'm here as always.

 

I'm also curious about the weight belt. My mother, though admittedly not knowing much about lifting, suggested that because of my back injury that I look into getting one. I feel silly about it since I'm not lifting THAT heavy yet (my deadlifts are barely above my bodyweight), but still, worth looking into at the very least even if not for the near future!

 

You're squatting at or near bodyweight, right?  It might be helpful to keeop your back from misbehaving..............................

[miss_marissa]

42 minutes ago, starsapart said:

 

Hey, welcome!

 

Question for you, actually!  Weight belt recommendations at a reasonable price?  How different are they between men and women (I'm hoping not a lot)?  I need to get one with my deadlift finally back where it needs to be....

 

 

WELCOME MY FRIEND!

 

I am pouty-faced that we are not on the same team this time I will have you know!

 

24 minutes ago, Sam Ashen said:

 

The one I got is 4 inches all around and half inch thick and Miss Broki hates it because I can only tighten it in one inch increments.  She recommends a velcro belt for some reason.  Now I am trying to get tags to work and they take *forever* to look up.

 

@Urgan

@miss_marissa

 

Hi! I just gave my old velcro belt to @elvenengineer so she can chime in with how she likes it so far.

If you're not looking at competing anytime soon, a velcro belt is cheaper and would probably suffice for a bit of support in where you are looking for.

Once I started looking at competing I got a leather belt. Mine is 4", 10mm thickness and lever. I like the lever, but I know some people prefer single prong because of different belt placement during squats and deadlifts, having a prong is easier to adjust. However, leather belts are notably more expensive than velcro, even if they aren't competition approved.

I prefer the leather though, gives me more stability and helps with the breathing. When I broke my lever back in the fall I used the velcro for a bit and it sucked lol

[starsapart]

1 minute ago, miss_marissa said:

 

 

Hi! I just gave my old velcro belt to @elvenengineer so she can chime in with how she likes it so far.

If you're not looking at competing anytime soon, a velcro belt is cheaper and would probably suffice for a bit of support in where you are looking for.

Once I started looking at competing I got a leather belt. Mine is 4", 10mm thickness and lever. I like the lever, but I know some people prefer single prong because of different belt placement during squats and deadlifts, having a prong is easier to adjust. However, leather belts are notably more expensive than velcro, even if they aren't competition approved.

I prefer the leather though, gives me more stability and helps with the breathing. When I broke my lever back in the fall I used the velcro for a bit and it sucked lol

 

Brands?  Online outlets?

 

I'd be more likely to buy something of good quality that's more expensive, even though I'm too cheap to fork up the competition fees anytime soon (that money could be used for aerial etc etc).

[miss_marissa]

One I gave EE, size XS

 

Good selection for leather belts.
More

Morex2

 

I don't know what brand mine is (Sorry), but I know SpecialSundae uses an Inzer and likes it.... A few men around here (I think wovercast and gainsdalf) have bought from best belts and love them.

[Sam Ashen]

I got mine (Titan) from LiftingLarge.

[starsapart]

So something like this in XS (my waist is 26 inches) would be decent for me?  I don't want one of the REALLY expensive ones but I also prefer leather so...

[elvenengineer]

34 minutes ago, miss_marissa said:

 

 

Hi! I just gave my old velcro belt to @elvenengineer so she can chime in with how she likes it so far.

If you're not looking at competing anytime soon, a velcro belt is cheaper and would probably suffice for a bit of support in where you are looking for.

Once I started looking at competing I got a leather belt. Mine is 4", 10mm thickness and lever. I like the lever, but I know some people prefer single prong because of different belt placement during squats and deadlifts, having a prong is easier to adjust. However, leather belts are notably more expensive than velcro, even if they aren't competition approved.

I prefer the leather though, gives me more stability and helps with the breathing. When I broke my lever back in the fall I used the velcro for a bit and it sucked lol

I like the velcro belt, though I'm just starting to use it more (it took a couple times to adjust to for squats - haven't used it for deadlifts yet)

I can let you know, but it seems like you'd prefer leather so I don't want to get into a super crazy analysis lol

 

5 minutes ago, starsapart said:

So something like this in XS (my waist is 26 inches) would be decent for me?  I don't want one of the REALLY expensive ones but I also prefer leather so...

I know next to nothing about belts, but I LOVE the color options for that belt  

 

[starsapart]

2 minutes ago, elvenengineer said:

I like the velcro belt, though I'm just starting to use it more (it took a couple times to adjust to for squats - haven't used it for deadlifts yet)

I can let you know, but it seems like you'd prefer leather so I don't want to get into a super crazy analysis lol

 

I know next to nothing about belts, but I LOVE the color options for that belt  

 

 

I remember Staci singing the praises of leather at CNF last year and oftentimes more expensive = higher quality/more durable, so I'm looking to strike a good balance by buying a leather belt on the lower end of the leather-belt-cost spectrum.......

 

Plus everything velcro I've ever owned, the velro grip does fade with repeated use.

[Sam Ashen]

3 minutes ago, starsapart said:

 

I remember Staci singing the praises of leather at CNF last year and oftentimes more expensive = higher quality/more durable, so I'm looking to strike a good balance by buying a leather belt on the lower end of the leather-belt-cost spectrum.......

 

Well - I don't know if I broke my thick leather belt it, but it sure broke me!

 

I was feeling my ribs for a long time!