New Challenger Approaching!

[Nell]

Hello!

 

My name is Nell. Pleasure to meet you all. 

 

I joined this forum to stay motivated, keep track, and hopefully motivate others as well. My weight loss journey began approximately a year ago after I graduated from college. I was an emotional wreck and my body was suffering. During college, I had to get a CPAP machine to help me sleep. When I got out of college, I was miserable, obese, and even mentally unstable. I began going to weekly therapy and started reading on what curbs depression. The most common answer I saw is exercise. That's how I got started. 

 

My heaviest was 250 pounds. That is a lot of weight for someone of my stature. I am a 26 year old asian woman who is 4'11". Now, I am 195.2 pounds with the help of weight watchers. I have also been using the LifeSum app recently to keep track of my carbs, protein, and fat. My ultimate goal is get between 120-134 pounds since my body frame is large. I just want to be healthier and stronger for myself and for my family, especially for my autistic little bro who needs me. I want to get off the CPAP Machine as well. I also want to be cosplay fit, especially to cosplay as the Major from Ghost in the Shell.

 

Currently, I work out 4 times a week at the gym, attend sword class on Thursdays, and sword practice on Tuesdays. I am new to sword fighting. For the past 3 months, I have been learning Italian Side Sword and German Long Sword while I am learning Rapier for about a month. I want to get better. The problem I have is that I am not aggressive. That's what some of my classmates and teacher have been saying. 

 

I have read all the guilds descriptions and I don't know where I want to be. I just want to lose weight and be fit. I want to be able to hold out on my own and be able to protect my brother. 

 

 

 

 

[Jonesy]

 

 

Hello Nell! 

Congrats on your current weight loss, it sounds like you have been pretty successful already!

 

6 minutes ago, Nell said:

I just want to be healthier and stronger for myself and for my family

What do you consider healthier and stronger?

 

8 minutes ago, Nell said:

I have read all the guilds descriptions and I don't know where I want to be. I just want to lose weight and be fit.

 

I think your answer to my question above might help you figure out what guild you want to be in. If you are having a hard time deciding though, pick one this challenge and try it out. If you feel like it's not a fit for you, move on to the next one but try to be active and involved in other's threads to get the best experience.  I think you can find enjoyment in them all but I'm biased towards the assassins myself.  

 

If you have questions, need some help or not sure what to do, don't hesitate to ask! 

 

 

Again welcome to the rebellion.  

[Nell]

Well, what I consider healthier and stronger is someone like Lara Croft, Prince from Prince of Persia or Motoko Kusanagi. I also want to be strong mentally and physically and I admit I still feel like I have a long way to go. 

[Jonesy]

This isn't a race and it's ok to take your time.  You're trying to build healthy habits here.  

 

Those are great examples! From those you mentioned, which traits would you like to develop?

 

Do you want to be able to hike for hours and explore unknown terrain, maybe go geocaching?  Do you want to be able to run for miles without stopping? Do you want to be able to leap from one object to another or pull yourself up or support your own bodyweight?

 

As for mental strength you can create SMART goals, re-frame negative thoughts, try to balance out emotion and logic responses to stress, work and life, and start with small attainable goals and build on them. 

 

There is also the 10 minute rule. I use this when I get home from work mainly because I have a tendency to be lazy right after work. Instead of sitting on the couch when I get home I do something active for 10 mins. I'm less likely to just plop down and watch Netflix if I do my 10 mins of activity right when I get home. 

 

Also don't feel like you have to pick a guild. If you feel like you are not there yet or don't want to join one you don't have to. There is also the Rebels guild which is a great place to start or stay if you want to do it all! 

[Nell]

29 minutes ago, Jonesy said:

Do you want to be able to hike for hours and explore unknown terrain, maybe go geocaching?  Do you want to be able to run for miles without stopping? Do you want to be able to leap from one object to another or pull yourself up or support your own bodyweight?

 

I actually want to do all of those things. What's more fun to me is to be able to leap from one object to another and also able to pull myself up. I still can't support my own body weight. I can't even do a pull up yet. 

 

I

30 minutes ago, Jonesy said:

 

There is also the 10 minute rule. I use this when I get home from work mainly because I have a tendency to be lazy right after work. Instead of sitting on the couch when I get home I do something active for 10 mins. I'm less likely to just plop down and watch Netflix if I do my 10 mins of activity right when I get home. 

 

Wow, that is a good rule! I do need that for my rest days. 

[Jonesy]

2 minutes ago, Nell said:

 

I actually want to do all of those things. What's more fun to me is to be able to leap from one object to another and also able to pull myself up. I still can't support my own body weight. I can't even do a pull up yet. 

 

I think you would enjoy the Assassins guild then.  Take a look at some of the challenges and see if you feel it's a good match for you. 

 

We all have those days were we just don't want to do anything, the 10 min rule is sometimes the only active time I make time for.  

[Nell]

Alright. Just, I am still heavy to do all of these thing such as leaping or what not. Doing a Burpee is something I am considering on adding to my workout. My current workout is a bit stale at the gym. Been looking spicing things up somehow. 

[Jonesy]

Try not to let your weight keep you from trying new things. I'm currently heavy and have started working on dead hangs. I really want to be able to do a pull up but know that I have a lot of work in order to get there and in the meantime I can work on losing weight, doing assisted versions of the exercise and building up grip strength. 

 

One of my favorite sites for bodyweight exercises is Startbodyweight.com . This site gave me a better idea for progressions and I can see where I am going to end up. Mentally that's helped me. 

 

What are you currently doing at the gym?

[Nell]

1 hour ago, Jonesy said:

What are you currently doing at the gym?

I do the 2 consecutive days workouts. This is how my week is.

 

Monday -

Rest Day

 

Tuesday -

Upper A

* Chest Press 35 lbs 4 sets 10 reps

* Hammer Curls 15 lbs 3 sets 12 reps

* Tricep Pulldown - 25 lbs 3 set 12 rep

* Lat Down - 60 lbs 4 sets 10 reps

* Seated Cable Row - 60 lbs 4 sets 10 reps

30 min HIIT cardio on Ellipitical

Sword Practice for 2 and a half hours

 

Wednesday

Lower A

* Hindu Squats 4 sets 12 reps added 5 lbs

* Deadlift Kettlebell 25 lbs 4 sets 12 reps

* Leg Curl 50 lbs 4 sets 12 reps

* Seated Calf Raise 85 lbs 3 sets 12 reps

* Oblique Kettlebell 25 lbs 4 sets 12 reps

* Abs Crunch Machine 25 lbs 3 sets 10 reps

30 min HIIT cardio on Ellipitical

 

Thursday

Sword Class for 3-4 hours

 

Friday

Rest Day

 

Saturday 

Upper B

* Chest Press Machine 30 lbs 4 sets 12 reps

* Seated Bench Press 15 lbs 3 sets 8 reps

* Front Raise Dumbbells 12.5 lbs 3 sets 12 reps

* Tricep Dumbbell 7.5 lbs 3 sets 10 reps 

* Lat Down - 60 lbs 4 sets 10 reps

* Seated Cable Row - 60 lbs 4 sets 10 reps

30 min HIIT cardio on Ellipitical

 

Sunday

Lower B

* Seated Leg Press 95lbs 4 sets 12 reps

* Seated Calf Extension 85 lbs 3 sets 12 reps

* Seated Leg Curl 50 lbs 4 sets 8 sets

* Hindu Squats 5lbs 4 sets 12 reps 

* Deadlift Kettlebell 25 lbs 4 sets 12 reps

* Cable Rotation 30 lbs 4 sets 12 reps

30 min HIIT cardio on Ellipitical

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jonesy]

It looks like a good workout routine and I totally get how workouts can turn stale. If you say you want to learn to jump from building to building why not try to build a foundation for that sort of workout? 

 

Have you read this blog post yet, The Beginner's Guide to Parkour?

[Nell]

6 hours ago, Jonesy said:

It looks like a good workout routine and I totally get how workouts can turn stale. If you say you want to learn to jump from building to building why not try to build a foundation for that sort of workout? 

 

Have you read this blog post yet, The Beginner's Guide to Parkour?

 

Oh thanks! 

 

I look up new exercises to replace old ones I have been doing. I have been only doing the basic ones and been hesitant to do more intermediate exercises. 

 

And I haven't. The only thing about Parkour is that I don't want any serious injuries nor I have a teacher to show me.