yeeha's Journal

Aight.

Jan 19 2009 17:43

Welp, gained some weight like I planned. Now some girls at school are doing a 'Biggest Loser' competition and I've decided to join to get the weight back off. They all have at least 60-100 pounds on me, and the max I figure I can drop is about 14% so we'll see. The pot is 50 bucks so that's exciting. My advantage, I suppose, is that I know how to train, eat right, and lose weight efficiently. One of them is going to come to the gym 3 times a week with me and let me train her. We had one 'session' and I loved it, and so did she.

Had a little downward spiral there, but I'm back. Hope all is well with anyone reading this.

nice workout and some psych stuff

Nov 05 2008 17:39

Well, today was supposed to be the start of Phase III of New Rules but I forgot the dang workout sheets. I didn't feel like doing another workout of the Phase II A or B workouts, so I just did whatever I wanted. So,

some squats, 4 x 10 [bar, bar +10, bar +30, bar +40]

some (inverted?) incline pushups, 2 x 10 [man, inclines (head angled down, not up) really make things harder!]

some lunges where you lunge up onto a box and switch feet in mid-air, 2 x 20

a pull-up [but I have to admit I jumped and used some momentum]

and...

I did remember that the first exercise in Phase III was a single-arm clean, so I decided to try and find what the appropriate weight range will be for 3 x 6's when I start on Friday. So, I kept doing 5 reps per arm for 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, and 25 (2 sets of these) lbs. I couldn't find a 30, but that's just as well, since I probably would have hurt myself. This exercise is super duper fun and I really like making the weight just glide up there. I'll watch some videos to double check the form. So I guess that was 70 cleans total (?!). Oops. Well, now I know where to start on Friday, at least.

In other news...

Every now and then I mention having some mental issues. I finally went and saw a shrink today, and as it turns out I have "obsessive" tendencies (as in, obsessive-compulsive disorder obsessive). I'm not OCD, per se, but I'm one of those people who apparently only get the O part, while others get the C part, and others get both. So it's all repetitive intrusive thoughts, no hand-washing or lock flipping, so to speak. It's never been a big problem or anything, but it can, as it turns out, be brought on by some intense stress and anxiety that I've been working with since about July, and then it can really cramp my style, since it's hard to work/function when you're thinking about sucky things for 15 hours a day. It was even starting to negatively effect my digestion and giving me some really sick heartburn, brought on by the increase in acid due to the increase in adrenaline in response to the anxiety. Phew. So, instead of going on something prozac-esque, he recommended I try some Rhodiola Rosea to help with stress, which should calm down the Os. Also going to up the fish oil to 4 caps a day, and take a lot more Vitamin D (and eat more walnuts). Hopefully it'll go well - I'm not too interested in the chemical stuff, and would rather keep it natural as long as possible.

So anyways, that's what's been wrong with me! I guess it's just good to know so I can deal with it.

this oatmeal is weird

Oct 30 2008 11:22

Back in the gym today after a brief hiatus (about a week). Been dealing with lots of psychological stuff (reverberations from my previous stint) - not sure I really believed in the power of the unconscious until this week. Anyhoo:

-Almost finished with phase II on New Rules (last workout on Saturday). Would have been done with phase III by now, except for the back injury (though I'm all healed up from that)

-Lifted heavier today, got a really good workout in weight-wise.

-Did Cosgrove's metabolic circuit - made it further this time, though when it got to the "explosive step ups, I weenied out and...

-Did some negatives instead. Sheesh, I used to be able to do some actual pullups (chinups) and now, well, I'm a weakling. Oh well, back on the pullup wagon.

-Now I'm eating oatmeal wth protein powder, natural peanut butter, cinnamon and brown sugar. Needs a little getting used to, but it's not bad for a post-workout meal, methinks.

Tomorrow's Halloween and I was going to wear this, well, pretty skimpy thing from last year, but this time it would be in front of my colleagues and, despite my back looking awesome and worthy of showing off, I guess it's just not that professional. Now I'm just going to dress normally and wear some rabbit ears.

metabolic insanity

Oct 13 2008 12:19

Well, New Rules workout was fine today, then I tried Rachel Cosgrove's Metabolic Circuit . The plan was to go through it twice, but I only made it halfway through once, because I thought I was going to throw up. Goodness gracious. Things were tough, but then I did the mountain climbers and it was all downhill (hah!) from there. I ate some eggs and gimme lean sausage, waited half and hour, then did weights then started doing the circuit so I don't think it was a full stomach or anything. Either way, I didn't want to embarass myself so thought I'd better quit. At least this gives me a good place to start building up. If I can work up to doing the whole thing twice, I will have really accomplished something. So for now it's:

Monday, Friday: New rules/Metabolic Circuit

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: off

Wednesday, New rules/jump rope

That and cycling my calories should give me some results, it'll just be interesting to see what they are.

perfect protein shake

Oct 10 2008 15:37

When you make it right, it's just awesome. Somehow this is one of the best protein shakes I've ever made, though it's composed of ingredients I normally use. Must be the ratio of powder to milk to berries, or perhaps b/c I'm using 1% milk.

Workout today was good - it's amazing how much of a difference having access to the proper equipment makes. I'll have to remember Fridays at 2:30 as a good time to go. Little back twinges today - I guess I sort of imagine it as a scar on my muscle, though that may not make a lot of sense. My weight is holding steady at 131, but today finally FINALLY the body fat percentage went down.

I discovered my gym has boxes now, which are convenient for step-ups and will allow me to do this tomorrow. Not that I couldn't have improvised, but having them will make it more interesting (and probably safer).

Tomorrow I'm going pumpkin picking with a new group. I'm getting involved outside of the department, which will be good for my social life and my sanity. I wonder if pumpkin picking burns a lot of calories? Maybe if I pick a huge pumpkin and do walking lunges/presses down the patch.

ah, sedentary

Oct 09 2008 20:28

Yep, sat on my butt and worked on class plans. That's it. Earned each of the 1,308 calories today. Now I'm going to sit on my butt and read Oxygen and watch the Office. Sweet.

back in the gym day 2

Oct 08 2008 17:06

Well, I guess my back is healed. I'm still not going to jump in with both feet and am going to work up slowly, but for the most part, any time I feel a twinge, it's less of a pain and more of a knot-feeling, if that makes sense. Like there's something there but it's not really hindering me. I only really felt a problem with jumprope.

As I was doing (very light weight) deadlifts, I noticed that my butt was curling under (hard to describe) and realized that it definitely wasn't supposed to be doing that. I watched a video today and discovered that yes, my form has been way way way off. That + 100 lbs = back injury. So, I'm going to recalibrate, even if it means holding a broomstick and practicing in the mirror 100 times. What I've been doing is some kind of mutant squat - my knees have been bending far too much which causes me to engage my lower back too much getting back up. Now I know what I'm doing wrong. Huzzah!

I don't get the difference between a raised leg lunge and a bulgarian squat. It's in NRules and the only difference I see is that the height of the platform and the position of the weights. Oh well. I do find the Bsquats more challenging.

Not much to report from the gym today - my big success has been finding out where I've gone wrong on the DL. Today is big calorie day, though I'm doing my best not to let this article justify my purchasing a can of Coke. [I'll drink some black tea instead]. At this point, I still have a ways to go before I need something like caffeine to shave off the last few fat cells.

good day and good cals

Oct 07 2008 19:44

Class was great today. I had a plan but then let the students take it where they wanted. This meant that we didn't talk about everything I wanted to, but it was okay. I've been fortunate to get a great class. Next semester I'm teaching "Gender and Literature" which will be challenging, as I know very little about teaching gender and the topic is a bit boring to me anyways.

Met with a professor today who really helped me understand some of this stuff I've been reading. Now I know Benjamin's distinction between historicism and historical materialism (and, while initially this seems not to matter in the real world, it totally does). It all means more to me when I see some sort of application outside of the "ivory tower," so that was a real bonus today.

No workout today, but the calories are working like this:

On Days: between 1700 and 1900 calories

Off Days: I'm going to keep the "sedentary" level of 1300 and see how it goes. Technically, I suppose, I'm not sedentary (I biked to and from school, walked around a lot, climbed up and down 13 flights of stairs total, stood in front of my classroom for an hour and a half, and fidgetd in my chair). I'm going to see how cycling like this goes and if I'm too hungry or start getting headaches, I'll up it to between 1450 and 1650 cals.

I did a bunch of calculations from Christian Thibaudeau's Nutrition for Newbies I and II . Discovered, finally, that the way to calculate macros is by doing protein first and then dividing the remaining calories in half between carbs and fat (using 4 and 9 to calculate grams, respectively). He recommends fat loss calories to be between 10% and 20% below BMR, which is what the 1700-1900 and 1450-1650 is.

So, that's the plan. Now I'm going to watch the Biggest Loser and do SMR for two hours. Or until I cry. Over and out.

back to the gym

Oct 06 2008 16:32

I went back to the gym today and just took it slow. I'm starting on Phase II of New Rules and I did really light weights:

(2 sets/10 reps - so should be doing way heavier stuff)

Front squat/push press: 20 lbs.

Step-up: 20 lbs

DB one-point row 10 lb DB

Static Lunge 10 lb DB

Push-up (reg)

Plank (60 sec)

Cable horizontal wood chop (35 lbs)

I felt really puny since I'm used to doing a lot more, but sitting here I realize that's just my ego. I don't care what other people think of what I'm doing in the gym, just something I'm conscious of. My back didn't hurt, but now my knee does - hah! Maybe I'm getting old? I'm going to have a nice slab of salmon tonight and hope that the good fats go and grease up my joints (not sure that it works that way, of course). And some asparagus and squash. And some bulgar. Yummy.

why not?

Sep 30 2008 22:09

Saw this on a buddy's journal so I thought I'd share. After doing this, I realize how much healthy food I actually like, which encourages me to eat it:

1. Favorite red vegetable/fruit: bell pepper / strawberries and watermelon

2. Favorite orange vegetable/fruit: carrots / clementines

3. Favorite yellow vegetable/fruit: squash / bananas

4. Favorite green vegetable/fruit: broccoli / avocado

5. Favorite blue vegetable/fruit: blueberries

6. Favorite purple vegetable/fruit: eggplant's okay / grapes!!!

7. Favorite white vegetable/fruit: cauliflower / I tried some dragon eye fruit, it's white inside

8. Favorite nut: walnuts, cashews, almonds

9. Favorite seed: flax seed

10. Favorite meat type (poultry, game, seafood, etc.): seafood

11. Favorite food within that meat type: salmon / shrimp

12. Favorite type of bread: I guess I like that 12-grain organic stuff

13. Favorite type of cereal: kashi 7-grain nuggets!!

14. Favorite type of noodle: fettuccine

15. Favorite grain in general: brown rice

16. Favorite source of dairy: milk

17. Favorite type of milk (2%, skim, etc.): skim

18. Favorite cheese: i should say 'cottage' but it's fresh parmesan or feta

19. Favorite ice cream flavor: vanilla

20. Favorite type of oil: evoo

21. Favorite fried food: oh man, stuffed jalapenos

22. Favorite condiment: ketchup

23. Favorite diet drink: jasmine green tea (well, and diet pepsi. and coke zero)

24. Favorite non-diet drink: a really really good beer