Making Fitness Fun - Angry Birds Workout

Today I started Nerd Fitness' Angry Birds Workout Plan.  I love the design of this plan because it plays off of some of the addicting qualities of the app. game.  The article I linked explains it well, so if you want to know more - go read it.

So I'm out of shape.  I've only done workouts sporadically of late and that needs to change.  I've modified some of the plan to fit where I am at and what I need to do to get to where I want to be.

So here are my starting levels:
Squats - tutorial level 1 - 30 chair squats - I need to do the squat with a chair currently to help get my form correct.
Push Ups - I'm terrible at push ups.  So I completed tutorial level 1 (40 wall push ups)  today - wall push-ups.  I will work my way through the following tutorial levels: T Lvl 2 (45 wall), T Lvl 3 (50 wall), T Lvl 4 (80 wall), T Lvl 5 (100 wall).  Once I complete the tutorial, I will proceed to incline push ups (following the guide to a proper push up).
Back Exercise - Lvl 1.0 (30 one arm rows [OAR] with 5 lb. weight), Lvl. 1.1 (30 OAR with 7.5 lb. weight), Lvl. 1.2 (30 OAR with 10 lb. weight), Lvl. 1.3 (30 OAR with 12.5 lb. weight), Lvl. 1.4 (40 OAR with 5 lb. weight), Lvl. 1.5 (40 OAR with 7.5 lb. weight), Lvl. 1.6 (40 OAR with 10 lb. weight), Lvl. 1.7 (40 OAR with 12.5 lb. weight), Lvl. 1.8 (50 OAR with 7.5 lb weight), Lvl. 1.9 (50 OAR with 12.5 lb. weight).  I will split up level 2 in a similar way, working through the bent over rows with my weights before doing Lvl. 2.9 (20 inverted rows).  This process will build up my strength so that I can eventually do pull ups.
Planks - Level 1 - planks kick my butt, but I don't need to modify the plan.  It just may be a while before I have the strength to progress through the levels.  I should hit level 2 before the week is over.

I warmed up with 40 jumping jacks and got right to it.  I started out with planks and then hit the other three in order.  I had to remind myself to breathe while holding the plank.  I made it through everything.  I got through the arm rows on the first set.  So Thursday it's on to level 1.1.  I made it through wall push ups on the second set - so onto T Lvl 2 on Thursday.  Planks and squats took three sets to accomplish - so they will stay at their levels and I will go for three stars on Thursday.  I finished with a stretching routine that I like.  So day one = complete - earning 10 of 12 stars for the day!

As a way to stay accountable, I will be tracking my progress on my Nerdy Workout page.  I'm competitive by nature, so if you want to join me in this workout, let me know how you are progressing - we can get a friendly competition going and keep each other motivated.

Today's stats:

Key:
S - Squats
P U - Push Ups
B E - Back Exercises
P - Planks

3/26	Goal #	Total #	Grade	Level	Stars
S	30	34	**	T-1	10 of 12
P U	40	41	***	T-1	Time
B E	30	L 33 /R 33	***	1	22:56.0
P	60	66	**	1

Hobbies

I feel lucky to be able to enjoy so many fun hobbies.

What do you do for fun?

Earrings and Learning a New Technique

 One of my friends at church loved the butterfly earrings I made my sister in law so much - that she requested I make a pair for her in brown.  This was my first tatting sale.

 

I loved the blue earrings I made for my mum-in-law so much that I decided to make a pair for myself with some silver seed beads.

At Saturday's Shuttlebirds Tatting Guild meeting, I learned how to make flowers branch up off a chain.  The chain pictured starts with playing around a bit with pearl encapsulation.  Then it moves into the flowers and a branching encapsulation technique.  I love this technique and look forward to using it in many future pieces.

The pattern we worked from during the meeting is "Thicket of Flowers" and can be found in Sherry Pence's Branching Encapsulation book.  The pattern is very well written.  She clearly explained each step.

I went away from the meeting knowing the following:

* how to work with three shuttles

* how to spiral tat

* how to encapsulate the stem of a flower so that I ended up back down at the chain

I will be tatting this afternoon with my mom.  She is working on making a flower and getting the closing join down.  I plan on trying some branched off elements on the flowers (following the part of the pattern I didn't get to on Saturday).

February's Completed Items and a Look at March

February:

Finish up the Tetris bookshelves [still to do]

Finish at least 3 more rows on Bevan’s Roxas blanket [looks like I have some catching up to do in March]

Complete one Amigurumi [didn't crochet at all this month - I need to make my little brother's Angry Bird]

Make 5 things to list on Craftsalot [done-ish - I need to tuck tails and finish up the necklaces for the tatted hearts]

Learn a new song on one of my instruments [done]

Finish Tauntaun frame

Tat at least 2 things [done]

Workout three times a week every week [Week 1-2 - missed, Bevan found the missing pieces to put the elliptical back together! So weeks 3-4 - done]

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story [1375/5000]

Host a “Try a New Recipe Potluck” [Done - It was a blast!]
Fix the bathroom leak [Done - Thank You Joey and Bevan!]
Find an ecommerce cart with better security [Done]
Register a new domain name [Done]
Design logo for new store name [Done]
Learn php [In progress]
Introduced 4 people to tatting basics [Done]
Try at least 2 pins [done - the spiral earrings and black lace earring images were from my pinterest pins]

I like making this list.  It helps me see where my time is spent during the month (outside of work).  I feel like it was another accomplished month and that there is always room for improvement.  There is a lot I wanted to get done that I didn't, but I'll keep working on those things.

March:
Finish carving the Tauntaun skull and horns
Finish Tauntaun frame

Start sewing Tauntaun musculature

Finish at least 9 more rows on Bevan’s Roxas blanket (3 for this month and 3 for each previous month)

Complete one Amigurumi (priority - I need to make the bomb bird for my little bro)

Tat at least 2 things

Make five things to list on Craftsalot
Get the Craftsalot web store running

Learn a new song on one of my instruments

Workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story

Host a “Try a New Recipe Potluck”
Work on Tetris bookshelves
Try at least 2 pins

It looks like March will be a busy month.  I'm excited for it!  I hope you have a wonderful day!