June 1 marked the end of my attempt at the List 13 challenge and had some mixed results overall. I didn't accomplish 13 things but had some success along the way.
List 13
1. 13 week cut (end goal weight 124)
2. 10 week weight training peak cycle
3. Study for PTCE (I also passed the PTCE)
4. Read 1-2 books
5. Write first draft for List 13 (I managed 13,000 words)
6. Get hair cut much shorter/change hair
7. Create new intro for youtube channel
8. Find location to run outside safely (Looked online but haven't gone to any)
9. Make 3 items pinned on pinterest
10. Sew one item
11. buy swimsuit but.... Did get new clothes that I needed
12. adult stuff that needs done - did an HIV test so that's pretty adult right there
13. new tattoo
14. paint on one canvas
15. go bowling or something (went to burlesque show)
I didn't buy a swimsuit but I did get clothing I needed and a pair of shoes when parents were in town, so that's sufficient. Swimsuit will be part of next cut, near the end as vacation requires one. Can't afford 13 and didn't go bowling or to movie but did go out with roommate mid-cut to a burlesque show. I'm counting HIV test as doing something cause I used to volunteer and a place let our group use their building that did the testing and I never got it done. It was always on my list of should one day just because list and I got to do it on the clock at work. So, managed about half of the 13 crossed off-ish.
And the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znuGgPnxnDA
Showing posts with label youtube. Show all posts
Showing posts with label youtube. Show all posts
Saturday, June 3, 2017
Monday, February 27, 2017
The Food Challenge Plan
While I'm still new to youtube and the main focus of my channel is similar to this blog (fiction and fitness) at times I want to also focus on food. I have fun with eating different foods and enjoy a good splurge every now and then.
First, I will admit that I don't really consider any meals or days to be "cheats". Or foods for that matter. However, might end up using the term at times since it might not be my method but I know other people do use them and search for them, so the goal is in part to get traffic and be able to communicate with people who read the blogs or watch the videos.
While it seems a bit un-fitness or fiction related, I do have an idea in order to combine everything together and still keep the channel/blog/platform focused. Take it as my spin on the food challenge, if you will.
The Plan:
Every food challenge I will also do something writing related to post here on the blog.
Option one is to write a story using elements of the particular challenge. That means I will write a flash fiction piece or scene that include something from what I was eating. For example, the 3x3 king size Reese's challenge is for getting 9 followers. The writing plan is a flash fiction story that uses PB, sticks, fastbreak and something from the king size cups with the pieces on the inside and not as the actual food in the story. I'm thinking of a character whose name/ranking is PB9 but haven't quite decided yet.
Option two is for some of the number based challenges, more like the 10k calorie challenge, where the goal would be to write that many words in the same day or a separate day. I would probably put the item in my portfolio on writing.com and post a link in the blog post for those that are interested, though have to decide on the access limitations since the whole "free online equates to published" aspect.
That is the plan and hoping it helps get me more active in posting on here too. Plus want to have fun videos for youtube though will also have some on writing topics as well. Hopefully I can even get over 20 followers on the channel some day. To see the videos, don't forget to check out and subscribe: my youtube channel.
Upcoming challenges and their stories are:
3x3 king size Reese's
Dozen Dunkin Donuts
Burger King Dollar Menu
Then a break for my 13 week cut, which hopefully will go well and I can do some fun food challenges over summer. Plus, more writing. In fact, I should do that. And study, I definitely need to study.
First, I will admit that I don't really consider any meals or days to be "cheats". Or foods for that matter. However, might end up using the term at times since it might not be my method but I know other people do use them and search for them, so the goal is in part to get traffic and be able to communicate with people who read the blogs or watch the videos.
While it seems a bit un-fitness or fiction related, I do have an idea in order to combine everything together and still keep the channel/blog/platform focused. Take it as my spin on the food challenge, if you will.
The Plan:
Every food challenge I will also do something writing related to post here on the blog.
Option one is to write a story using elements of the particular challenge. That means I will write a flash fiction piece or scene that include something from what I was eating. For example, the 3x3 king size Reese's challenge is for getting 9 followers. The writing plan is a flash fiction story that uses PB, sticks, fastbreak and something from the king size cups with the pieces on the inside and not as the actual food in the story. I'm thinking of a character whose name/ranking is PB9 but haven't quite decided yet.
Option two is for some of the number based challenges, more like the 10k calorie challenge, where the goal would be to write that many words in the same day or a separate day. I would probably put the item in my portfolio on writing.com and post a link in the blog post for those that are interested, though have to decide on the access limitations since the whole "free online equates to published" aspect.
That is the plan and hoping it helps get me more active in posting on here too. Plus want to have fun videos for youtube though will also have some on writing topics as well. Hopefully I can even get over 20 followers on the channel some day. To see the videos, don't forget to check out and subscribe: my youtube channel.
Upcoming challenges and their stories are:
3x3 king size Reese's
Dozen Dunkin Donuts
Burger King Dollar Menu
Then a break for my 13 week cut, which hopefully will go well and I can do some fun food challenges over summer. Plus, more writing. In fact, I should do that. And study, I definitely need to study.
Saturday, December 17, 2016
The Push Press
That is right, we're talking upper body and an overhead lift known as the push press. When it comes to some of the basic lifts, the press is often a difficult one to increase on and the form is definitely important. Even when I was doing the 5x5 of Stronglifts, which uses the strict/military press, both males and females would often question how to get stronger on that lift in particular because many stall on the press. With the push press, using the legs is an added bonus allowing for a little more weight to get lifted.
The Lift
A weight training exercise for the anterior head of the deltoid (shoulder). The push press is similar to the military press; however, the movement is started by a 'push' from the legs. This begins the momentum of the movement, the weight is then slowly lowered back to the shoulders.
Equipment: (options vary)
Barbell
Dumbell
Barrel (maybe, lol)
Essentially you need something that can be held and put overhead. On occasion at work I have to almost push press totes full of products to stack as I'm short and most get stacked taller than me.
To see and learn how to do the lift, check out the links posted below. While some might refer to this lift as a "cheat" there are plenty who can list the reasons for the lift beyond just trying to get up a little more weight.
Some links:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/detail/view/name/push-press
https://www.t-nation.com/training/the-push-press
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFY7CGKjGNM
http://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/leg-exercises/videos/barbell-push-press
For fun, I took part in a push press challenge over on the forums at Bodybuilding.com. It was fun and I even placed 2nd out of the females in the 132 weight class. And this time it wasn't 2nd out of 2 like the bench press challenge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPac1_IQdKI
That is all for this lift. While it's not quite as fun as say, the deadlift, it's still one I enjoy even if it's one I can lift the least amount overall. One day I'll get 100 lb overhead, one day.
What do you think of the push press?
How much can you lift overhead?
The Lift
A weight training exercise for the anterior head of the deltoid (shoulder). The push press is similar to the military press; however, the movement is started by a 'push' from the legs. This begins the momentum of the movement, the weight is then slowly lowered back to the shoulders.
Equipment: (options vary)
Barbell
Dumbell
Barrel (maybe, lol)
Essentially you need something that can be held and put overhead. On occasion at work I have to almost push press totes full of products to stack as I'm short and most get stacked taller than me.
To see and learn how to do the lift, check out the links posted below. While some might refer to this lift as a "cheat" there are plenty who can list the reasons for the lift beyond just trying to get up a little more weight.
Some links:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/detail/view/name/push-press
https://www.t-nation.com/training/the-push-press
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFY7CGKjGNM
http://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/leg-exercises/videos/barbell-push-press
For fun, I took part in a push press challenge over on the forums at Bodybuilding.com. It was fun and I even placed 2nd out of the females in the 132 weight class. And this time it wasn't 2nd out of 2 like the bench press challenge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPac1_IQdKI
That is all for this lift. While it's not quite as fun as say, the deadlift, it's still one I enjoy even if it's one I can lift the least amount overall. One day I'll get 100 lb overhead, one day.
What do you think of the push press?
How much can you lift overhead?
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Motivation and Priorities Q&A from WDC part 1
I posted an item on writing.com in order to get questions for a Q&A Youtube video with a focus in particular on writing. I'm also posting here in the blog to put those answers down in longhand form along with my video rambles. Granted, the questions were a while ago but hoping to play catch up and hey, this means I need to post more often. This first post deals more with motivation and connecting fitness with writing.
Question posted by jiminicritic: Keeping physically fit is obviously important, but at what point does it interfere with one's writing? How do you stop from overdoing it?
Answer: This will depend on the individual, like many other things in life. Honestly, it can interfere with writing in that one can't always do everything at the same time. When it comes to getting things done, some will get priority over others. At times, writing had more of a priority. I will admit that the year of focusing on weight loss and starting to lift did meant that I wrote much less. For NaNoWriMo 2015, I only got about 30,000 words. I finished the first draft recently, which is a plus considering sometimes it takes me years to finally get the draft done even if I hit the magic 50k number during NaNo. Plus, the novel was YA contemporary so the first draft wasn't going to get to any crazy numbers, unlike the fantasy one I have.
As for what point is it an interference? That I can't pinpoint. One of the good parts of being unpublished is it's not like I'm missing deadlines or anything. And to be honest, I feel in some ways the thing that interferes both my writing and fitness goals both is the thing I have to do: work. Having to make money to pay bills unfortunately takes priority over writing and lifting because those can't quite help with rent or student loans at this point in time.
Overdoing it can be a challenge for some people in any given venue. For me it's often a one thing gets big focus and others lay awaiting for a little then the tides shift. It's the same with novels. NaNoWriMo gives me a chance to focus on one single novel (or two) for a month and that is a big main focus in November, so a couple of other things go to the side. It can feel like overdoing it when doing things like writing over 100,000 in a month but then things shift again. Fitness was a big focus and I still have my cycles where it's more of a forefront and other times where it's on the side.
Though have to be careful not to go overdo it to the point of injury. Have to be cautious when doing things like training for powerlifting. I've done it mostly when trying to lose weight, which means a calorie deficit and that can sap some of the energy as food does equal energy.
Question posted by Octobersun: How do you motivate yourself to train regularly?
Answer: The main method of staying motivated to train on a regular basis was that I found something I enjoyed. If I tried to force myself to do something I'm not as fond of, like say I decided to do spinning as I didn't enjoy that when I tried it, then I'd struggle to keep going. Even with running where it's a challenge and not what I thought I'd like, it gives me the chance to create music playlists and was a good time for thinking of novels and other things. Weightlifting, I had enjoyed in the past. My first time was with bench press and a few machines back in high school when I competed in track where I was doing throwing, which involved lifting as part of the training. While I hadn't done deadlifts, it was interesting to try the other lifts and I quickly found I liked the challenge. And it gave me something to focus on besides the scale while trying to lose weight. Plus, I also have goals which helps with the focus. Getting ready for a meet or a long distance run, that helps push me to keep going even on the days when I might want to just stay home.
Question by Ruwth: How has your weightlifting experience impacted your writing?
Answer: I don't think that weightlifting has impacted my writing much except maybe it distracted me from writing. Now, when I'm not at work, a few hours a week are spent in the gym instead of at the computer. Health wise, it's probably for the better though. However, it does help at time with ideas and doing physical activities can help when writing more action type elements in a story. Granted I can't do magic or anything but I know how some things feel and can expand from there when I'm writing what a character is going through in certain scenes. I also have a romance story that is between a long distance runner and a body builder, which is inspired a little by the anti-cardio weightlifters and the runners who don't do weight training. So, it has both helped and hindered my writing a little but for the most part is a separate entity in my life.
Youtube link: https://youtu.be/zHONFtGbDP4
Question posted by jiminicritic: Keeping physically fit is obviously important, but at what point does it interfere with one's writing? How do you stop from overdoing it?
Answer: This will depend on the individual, like many other things in life. Honestly, it can interfere with writing in that one can't always do everything at the same time. When it comes to getting things done, some will get priority over others. At times, writing had more of a priority. I will admit that the year of focusing on weight loss and starting to lift did meant that I wrote much less. For NaNoWriMo 2015, I only got about 30,000 words. I finished the first draft recently, which is a plus considering sometimes it takes me years to finally get the draft done even if I hit the magic 50k number during NaNo. Plus, the novel was YA contemporary so the first draft wasn't going to get to any crazy numbers, unlike the fantasy one I have.
As for what point is it an interference? That I can't pinpoint. One of the good parts of being unpublished is it's not like I'm missing deadlines or anything. And to be honest, I feel in some ways the thing that interferes both my writing and fitness goals both is the thing I have to do: work. Having to make money to pay bills unfortunately takes priority over writing and lifting because those can't quite help with rent or student loans at this point in time.
Overdoing it can be a challenge for some people in any given venue. For me it's often a one thing gets big focus and others lay awaiting for a little then the tides shift. It's the same with novels. NaNoWriMo gives me a chance to focus on one single novel (or two) for a month and that is a big main focus in November, so a couple of other things go to the side. It can feel like overdoing it when doing things like writing over 100,000 in a month but then things shift again. Fitness was a big focus and I still have my cycles where it's more of a forefront and other times where it's on the side.
Though have to be careful not to go overdo it to the point of injury. Have to be cautious when doing things like training for powerlifting. I've done it mostly when trying to lose weight, which means a calorie deficit and that can sap some of the energy as food does equal energy.
Question posted by Octobersun: How do you motivate yourself to train regularly?
Answer: The main method of staying motivated to train on a regular basis was that I found something I enjoyed. If I tried to force myself to do something I'm not as fond of, like say I decided to do spinning as I didn't enjoy that when I tried it, then I'd struggle to keep going. Even with running where it's a challenge and not what I thought I'd like, it gives me the chance to create music playlists and was a good time for thinking of novels and other things. Weightlifting, I had enjoyed in the past. My first time was with bench press and a few machines back in high school when I competed in track where I was doing throwing, which involved lifting as part of the training. While I hadn't done deadlifts, it was interesting to try the other lifts and I quickly found I liked the challenge. And it gave me something to focus on besides the scale while trying to lose weight. Plus, I also have goals which helps with the focus. Getting ready for a meet or a long distance run, that helps push me to keep going even on the days when I might want to just stay home.
Question by Ruwth: How has your weightlifting experience impacted your writing?
Answer: I don't think that weightlifting has impacted my writing much except maybe it distracted me from writing. Now, when I'm not at work, a few hours a week are spent in the gym instead of at the computer. Health wise, it's probably for the better though. However, it does help at time with ideas and doing physical activities can help when writing more action type elements in a story. Granted I can't do magic or anything but I know how some things feel and can expand from there when I'm writing what a character is going through in certain scenes. I also have a romance story that is between a long distance runner and a body builder, which is inspired a little by the anti-cardio weightlifters and the runners who don't do weight training. So, it has both helped and hindered my writing a little but for the most part is a separate entity in my life.
Youtube link: https://youtu.be/zHONFtGbDP4
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
First Powerlifting Meet and Youtube
At long last, the blog post about the experience I had at my first powerlifting meet. I took part in Elite Spring Challenge within the APA-WPA federation. It was held in Oregon and was a qualifier competition for another meet that will be held in October. Here is the video I put together with the lifts someone was nice enough to film for me along with the details of my experience at my very first and definitely not last powerlifting meet.
Had a great first meet experience. Another lifter offer to have her friend film me too and email it to me, so that was super nice because I had no one (friends or family) there with me. I didn't get all 3 attempts on all of the lifts but overall am pleased with how it went. Considering making notes on kg during training instead of just lbs to practice cause that conversion was a little rough at times when making decisions on my next attempts, maybe.
Squat - 3 white lights on the first two but failed on near 210, started to lean forward when trying to grind it out but that's okay. Got 198 on second attempt and all of my attempts were kinda slow, so things to work on.
Bench - First attempt 3 white lights, 1 red on second (not sure reason but eh, still counted) and failed the attempt at close to 125 (pesky conversions). That pause is just too long for me at that weight for now. 115 was my second attempt so that's still my max for good reps though I've done 125 touch and go.
Deadlift - Got all three attempts with just 1 red light on one attempt. I ended up going for a little more than planned on the third attempt as the second went well and trying to pick a decent weight with the conversion. Managed around 248. Not quite at goal of 2 times body weight but getting closer.
For a half minute or so, held a total record, which was kind of fun in the moment as he announced when your attempt was for a record before the lift.
Results, I don't remember the exact kg total but around 560ish lbs. Ended up placing second in the open division for the 132 weight class. This meet was also a qualifier for a "world" meet that is held in the same location in October. So, I'm qualified to compete in that one and can focus my training in preparation for APA-WPA World. Maybe I can get my total to above 600 if I get those last attempts worked out in bench, squat (okay, increase a little on both) and get over 2xbw deadlift. #goals
Really enjoyed the meet. Everyone is nice and encouraging. I had a good time, lots of nerves and energy and can't wait to compete again.
My Youtube Channel
Aside from the video of my lift and a couple lifts I'd put up for a little competition on bodybuilding.com, there are other videos along with future plans. I decided to start my own youtube channel in connection with the topics of this blog.
Fiction & Fitness Youtube Channel
The channel will have similar topics as the blog with a little more emphasis on the fitness than writing as it's a little easier to show video of lifting and food compared to the writing side. There will be writing ones too though, I can guarantee that. I have many plans in how to use topics for the video along with the longer worded stuff for here on the blog. It is a little weird filming myself and hearing my voice on the videos because you sound so very different in your head compared to recordings. Taking time to get used to it but should be more consistent with content as I learn programs, editing and get to posting different videos and blogs.
Coming soon: LA, Music Festival and Novel Updates.
Had a great first meet experience. Another lifter offer to have her friend film me too and email it to me, so that was super nice because I had no one (friends or family) there with me. I didn't get all 3 attempts on all of the lifts but overall am pleased with how it went. Considering making notes on kg during training instead of just lbs to practice cause that conversion was a little rough at times when making decisions on my next attempts, maybe.
Squat - 3 white lights on the first two but failed on near 210, started to lean forward when trying to grind it out but that's okay. Got 198 on second attempt and all of my attempts were kinda slow, so things to work on.
Bench - First attempt 3 white lights, 1 red on second (not sure reason but eh, still counted) and failed the attempt at close to 125 (pesky conversions). That pause is just too long for me at that weight for now. 115 was my second attempt so that's still my max for good reps though I've done 125 touch and go.
Deadlift - Got all three attempts with just 1 red light on one attempt. I ended up going for a little more than planned on the third attempt as the second went well and trying to pick a decent weight with the conversion. Managed around 248. Not quite at goal of 2 times body weight but getting closer.
For a half minute or so, held a total record, which was kind of fun in the moment as he announced when your attempt was for a record before the lift.
Results, I don't remember the exact kg total but around 560ish lbs. Ended up placing second in the open division for the 132 weight class. This meet was also a qualifier for a "world" meet that is held in the same location in October. So, I'm qualified to compete in that one and can focus my training in preparation for APA-WPA World. Maybe I can get my total to above 600 if I get those last attempts worked out in bench, squat (okay, increase a little on both) and get over 2xbw deadlift. #goals
Really enjoyed the meet. Everyone is nice and encouraging. I had a good time, lots of nerves and energy and can't wait to compete again.
My Youtube Channel
Aside from the video of my lift and a couple lifts I'd put up for a little competition on bodybuilding.com, there are other videos along with future plans. I decided to start my own youtube channel in connection with the topics of this blog.
Fiction & Fitness Youtube Channel
The channel will have similar topics as the blog with a little more emphasis on the fitness than writing as it's a little easier to show video of lifting and food compared to the writing side. There will be writing ones too though, I can guarantee that. I have many plans in how to use topics for the video along with the longer worded stuff for here on the blog. It is a little weird filming myself and hearing my voice on the videos because you sound so very different in your head compared to recordings. Taking time to get used to it but should be more consistent with content as I learn programs, editing and get to posting different videos and blogs.
Coming soon: LA, Music Festival and Novel Updates.
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