Topic: Laurie Jennifer's Log

[Laurie Jennifer]

Thanks, Muse and Raptor, for your kind words of encouragement.  And thanks to everyone else who may have read this and thought "man, that sucks..."  I know it sounds emo, but it does suck.  I hate death.

(If you want to feel really sappy, you can check out the memorial video I made of my dog here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKvKD8aIZgw)

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EXERCISE:
More Nature Parkour over the last couple of days.  A different group of kids is camping up in the dunes each night, plus we had our "superhero challenge" in the dunes the second night of camp.  Phew.  I'm beat.  LOTS of running around.

Messed around on the bouldering wall a bit.  Did a few pull-ups.  Some vaulting.  Some catleaps.  Some pathetic climb-ups (altered to fit my build and lack of upper body strength).


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DIET/WATER:
I don't really want to talk about my diet or water choices over the last few days.  Let's just say that in my grief I turned to donuts... 

[ursasmaller]

I'm also sorry to hear about the rough time.  I especially relate about the dog.  Also the donuts.

[Poet (Jesse) Clark]

Man that video made me sad...

Makes me wonder my 13 year old dog is going to leave us.
I grew up with him...

[Laurie Jennifer]

Again, thank you to everyone for your encouragement and empathy.

Now, as for training....

I'm going to try to re-format how I post these a little bit, so that it's a bit more organized.  I've also revamped my goals, as they have evolved with my mentality and increased self-awareness (in other words, knowing what I'm capable of).  These, of course, are only goals that apply specifically to Parkour.  I don't have listed things like "pay off my credit card" or "spend time with Jesus."  Anyways, here goes:


GOALS

Physical Goals:

• 50 push-ups (yeah, that's gonna take a while, but I know I can)
• 10 pull-ups (also going to take a long time...)
• 30-second handstand (well, if a spotter holds my feet, I'm already there  )
• 8-minute mile (haven't done that since jr. high...)
• 1 muscle up (this one I'm most doubtful of)
• Be able to stand still on a railing with good balance for a minimum of 60 seconds (10 or 15 is my current best, so balance needs work)
• Same as above, but walking back and forth
• 60-second wall-sit (I can do 2 reps of 30-seconds each back to back, but not one full minute)
• Condition landings and rolls; Be able to land silently from head height (don't worry; slow progression is the key here, just like all the other goals)
• (Core strength isn't listed, because that's already my [only] strength)

Mental Goals:

• Get over my fear of going headfirst over an object (not because of the "Kong," but just for getting over obstacles in general.  This fear severely limits my movement)
• Gain a keen awareness of what I'm capable of and what I'm not (in a safe environment and through repetition and training)
• Form a weekly exercise plan and STICK TO IT!

Health Goals:

• 8 glasses of water a day
• Fruits! Veggies! Everyday!
• REALLY cut back on refined sugar (for real this time... )
• Take care to get enough sleep

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TODAY (FRIDAY, AUGUST 17th, 2007)

PHYSICAL:

• Had to run the tag line for the zipline trolley up the dune stairs a couple times this afternoon.  My quads and calves weren't burning; they were shaking!  Man, that might help with my wall-sits, or with the mile.
• Worked for 12 hours straight, taking only short (15-20 minute) breaks for meals, and one 20-minute break in the afternoon.  Everything from kitchen duty to cleaning cabins, to harnessing kids at the zipline... I'm pooped.
• Climbed the tree again.  Biceps and core, mostly.  Also messed around on the small "playground."
• Tried a tuck front lever.  Found it easy on the abs, but hard on the arms, as I was having to pull myself funny using tension in my arms/shoulders to be able to lean back far enough and I just don't have the upper body strength for that yet.  My knees were all the way to my chest and my abs were engaged (for sure), but I kept tipping forward.  I didn't try it long enough to figure what I was doing wrong.  It was an ADD moment.  Any advice?

Mental:

• Was going to attempt a gap, but second-guessed myself.  Drew lines in the sand (literally) and attempted the same distance.  I did it easily and could, in fact, far overshoot the distance.  Went back to the gap, and still chickened out (Concrete is intimidating!).  I may be physically ready for it, but I'm not mentally, so I'm still not sure it's safe to try it.  Hesitation can be just as dangerous as inability.

Health:

• My diet was not...good today, starting with Crunch Berries for breakfast and ending with pot roast and mashed potatoes for dinner (and Italian ice for dessert! Yum!).  As for everything in between... I am ashamed.  I again turned to sugar for comfort.
• Water intake was... average.  Barely half of what it should have been, but better than nothing.
• Couldn't sleep through the night last night.  Maybe because it was the third night in a row I had slept in a different bed in a different state in a different time zone.  (Ah, the joys of short trips to see family and go to a wedding)

So, do Crunch Berries count as a fruit for today?   



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[Muse_of_Fire]

Laurie, your new motivation is inspiring! I'm behind you all the way. I know what you mean about hesitation/intimidation often being the worst obstacle. I have no advice for that except maybe "the only way out is through," as that's a big area of challenge for me too. Your body knows what to do; eventually your mind will catch up. I guess I just wanted to say I'm here being a cheerleader, whether you want me to or not.

You can dooo it!




Oh, PS: Don't beat yourself up for diet slip-ups. There are no bad foods, only bad habits. Crunch Berries once in a while, no big deal. Crunch berries every day=bad habit. You'll get it. One day at a time.

[Laurie Jennifer]

TODAY (SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2007)

PHYSICAL:

• None.  Saturday is one of my rest days.  Also, my quads are slightly sore from yesterday's sprints up the dune.  Man, running up those large, uneven stairs is a lot harder than it looks... (And I just hadn't done it in a while)

MENTAL:

• I have been working hard on nailing down a solid training routine!  I'm almost done!

HEALTH:

• Breakfast was pancakes with syrup... But I put blueberries on top, too!  Also "low-fat" yogurt (I hate "low-fat" items, for future reference), and a slice of orange.  I grabbed two orange slices, but the second one had mold on it, so I decided not to eat it.
• Lunch was a cheeseburger (with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and mustard) and "smiley fries."  Smiley fries are french fries in the shapes of little stars and moons with (you guessed it) smiley faces in them.  It's fun to mash one into a puddle of ketchup and watch the ketchup ooze out its eyes and mouth.  Ah, the simple pleasures of summer camp cafeteria food...   Oh, and I also tried an apple, but that, like the orange, had plenty of bad spots and I gave up.  At least I tried, right?  (Also ate one baby carrot.  That was purely out of guilt, and it was a pathetic attempt at eating healthy)
• Dinner is set to be spaghetti with meat sauce, but I may opt out because...
• My IBS randomly freaked out on me this afternoon and I have made several trips to the bathroom.  Rather than take Pepto or Immodium (I don't trust that stuff), I've relied on chamomile tea and mint tea.  No, it's nothing in particular that I've eaten.  This is usually triggered by A) stress, or B) uh... a sort of... monthly... female... "issue."     In this case, it's both.  Actually, I think I'm going to go lie down now...
• Water intake has been good today.

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GOALS


PHYSICAL GOALS:

• 50 push-ups
• 10 pull-ups
• 30-second handstand
• 8-minute mile
• 1 muscle up
• Be able to stand still on a railing with good balance for a minimum of 60 seconds
• Same as above, but walking back and forth
• 60-second wall-sit
• Condition landings and rolls; Be able to land silently from head height

MENTAL GOALS:

• Get over my fear of going headfirst over an object
• Gain a keen awareness of what I'm capable of and what I'm not
• Form a weekly exercise plan and STICK TO IT!

HEALTH GOALS:

• 8 glasses of water a day
• Fruits! Veggies! Everyday!
• REALLY cut back on refined sugar
• Take care to get enough sleep

[Laurie Jennifer]

Today ended up being another rest day, but I have completed making a weekly routine!  That was one of my goals.  Well, that's half of one of my goals.  The other half will be sticking to it.  Now, here's what I came up with.  Feedback is appreciated.

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WARM-UP:

2 Sets of following circuit:
5 pushups
5 squats
5 sit-ups
1 pull-up
6 lunge steps (3 each leg)
5 jumping jacks

Then-
Stretching

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SUNDAY-- BALANCE/AGILITY (GENERAL ENDURANCE)
WARMUP
10 minutes stretching
10 minutes handstand practice
10 rolls each shoulder
20 reps jumping and landing silently (from ground level)
25 pushups
25 sit-ups
5 pull-ups
20 squats
5 minute jog


MONDAY– BALANCE/AGILITY (LEG/CARDIO ENDURANCE)
WARMUP
5 minutes handstand practice
25 reps of balancing on a rail to failure (aka, “until I fall”)
10 reps of walking on a rail to failure
1 rep QM on a broad rail (length of small basketball court)
1 uphill QM (in sand)
1 downhill QM (in sand)
5 reps of short sprints (walking in between)
5 minute jog


TUESDAY-REST


WEDNESDAY-ARM/CORE (STRENGTH)
WARMUP
10 minutes Bouldering/Tree Climbing/”Climb ups” (whatever I can find to monkey around on)

3 sets of following reps:
1 Front tuck lever (for time and form)
5 steep incline pushups (or less... stop before failure)
5 “Spiderman” sit-ups (hanging upside down)
5 “lower back ‘crunches;” (when you hang off something face down and lift up, like a backwards sit-up)
2 pull-ups (rest between each if needed)
3 dip/leg raise combos (one, then the other)
5 minute jog


THURSDAY-REST


FRIDAY-LANDING/ROLLING (STRENGTH/ENDURANCE)
WARMUP
Landing/Rolling Conditioning:
10 rolls each shoulder (20 total).  Go slow and focus on form.
20 reps of jumping up and landing silently (from ground level)

Isometrics:
2 reps of 30-second wall-sits

3 Sets of following reps:
25 x “heel raisers” each leg
50 paces with toes raised
20 lunge steps

Then:
3 sprints up dune stairs (5 minute rest between each)

No jogging today...


SATURDAY-REST

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I don't know the "real" names of a lot of the exercises above, so I did my best to describe them.  If anything else is unclear or if you have any suggestions or feedback, don't hesitate...

[Laurie Jennifer]

Everything's on hold for a week!  This is my last week of camp and I'm SUPER busy!  I have to have 6 DVDs edited and burned/ready for production by the end of the day THURSDAY.  Then I have to pack and find a way back to Chicago (Amtrak?  Bum a ride?  Don't know yet...)

No time for exercise.  I sometimes even forget to eat (like I did at breakfast this morning).  One week of insanity and long hours and then... Freedom.  No more paychecks, sure, but no more 7:30AM meetings, either...


My body never handles transitions very well.  Extra stress=

I finished the first DVD for "Family Camp."  Now just Junior Camp, Primary Camp, Senior High Camp, Junior 2 Camp, Junior High Camp... And then a compilation DVD of all our program weeks... *sigh*

I may sound frazzled, but I actually love this.  I love photography, cinematography, and post-production.  If only I had a Mac, then I'd REALLY be in the zone...

[Laurie Jennifer]

Yesterday was a jam day, though I didn't do a whole lot.  Although I owe much thanks to Cloud, Ando, Frosti, and the gang for pulling a turn vault out of me.  That darn thing has been my nemesis for months.  Unfortunately, I never did try that gap.  I was too much of a sissy/pansy (or, as Frosti so delicately put it, I was "being a bitch about it" and needed to "just do it."  He was very right, but I was still a wimp.  Ah, next time...)

And there was that wall run.  Oh, the wall run.  I was *so close*    Yeah, it was a little frustrating.  I mean, I was *right there*, but then I would slip.  Hey, at least I tried it.

And for comic relief, there was the time I was so focused on getting up the wall (I was staring at that darned ledge) that I sprinted at it, but sort of forgot the jumping part... So I just ran into the wall and bounced off.  Who the heck does that??


Good times getting to meet people.  A lot of the guys were super helpful (and patient!).  And it was great to celebrate afterwards with a tuna melt, a strawberry shake, and great company.

To Muse and the Cap'n:  Hope you guys had a safe and pleasant journey the rest of the way!  (And thanks for saving me the train ride!)

[Laurie Jennifer]

TODAY (SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2007)

PHYSICAL:

• Started with my standard warm-up*  Then...
• Attempted a couple handstands, but relied on the wall the whole time.  Focused mostly on posture and technique.
• About 5-6 rolls each shoulder.  Again, focusing mostly on technique and "troubleshooting."
• 10 reps of jumping from the ground and landing silently.  I had planned to do 20, but was flirting with failure by 10, so I stopped there.  It was much more exhausting than I thought it was going to be!
• 14 pushups. 10, then 4.  I was trying to make it to 25, but (again) I pooped out way before that.
• 25 situps, no pause.  I did it, but as soon as I was done, I sort of just laid on my side curled up in the fetal position for a few moments.  Whew.  I'm gonna feel *that* one tomorrow...
• 3.5 pullups.  I'd like to dedicate the .5 to M2.  I did 2 in a row (the second one being lame).  Then one more.  And then started a fourth and quickly gave up.
• I was supposed to do squats today, too, but the jumping/landing practice made my legs too shaky and tired for that.
• I was also supposed to take a 5 minute jog, but was too pooped and dehydrated for that, either.  So, I took a 20-30 minute (I didn't keep track of time) BM instead.  And that BM is dedicated to my friends at MadPK.**  Halfway through my walk, I stopped at the town bar for a glass of water.

MENTAL:

• Not only did I make an exercise plan, but today I stuck to it!  That's a good feeling.
• Learned some more of my limits today, specifically in regards to strength and endurance.

HEALTH:

• Breakfast:  grain-y, crunchy, vanilla-flavored cereal of some sort.
• Lunch: The other half of yesterday's tuna melt.
• Dinner: Lamb roast, white rice, and corn.
• After workout:  lots of water and a banana.
• Definitely didn't have enough water today.  But, the night is still young...
• I didn't have any processed sugar [yet] today! ... Except for whatever was in that supposedly "healthy" cereal.  At least I didn't intentionally have any junk food.  That's the first time in a LOOONGG time!  Man, that feels good!  Now, if only I can be good tonight at Bible study and resist all the snacks I know are going to be there...

Appendix:
*WARM UP = 2 sets of 5 pushups, 5 squats, 5 situps, 6 lunge steps, 5 jumping jacks.  Then, 2 pullups.  Then stretching.  Although, I just realized I forgot the jumping jack today.  Oh, well.  Not the end of the world.
**This was Chad's idea.  If a "quadrupedal movement" is a QM, then a "bipedal movement" must be a BM.  Think about that next time you go for a long walk with some friends...

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GOALS


PHYSICAL GOALS:

• 50 push-ups--currently at 10.
• 10 pull-ups--currently at 2.
• 30-second handstand--currently at zero (maybe 1 or 2 seconds)
• 8-minute mile--hahahahaha!
• 1 muscle up--I can do a dip and I can do a pull-up; it's the transition that eludes me.
• Be able to stand still on a railing with good balance for a minimum of 60 seconds--haven't timed where I'm at with this yet.
• Same as above, but walking back and forth.--again, not yet timed.
• 60-second wall-sit--currently at 30 seconds.
• Condition landings and rolls; Be able to land silently from head height--can land close to silently from a foot or so.

MENTAL GOALS:

• Get over my fear of going headfirst over an object--not there yet.  I'm still afraid I'm gonna clip my feet and bail again.
• Gain a keen awareness of what I'm capable of and what I'm not--I learned more about my limits today for strength, endurance, and how much I can and can't trust my rolls at this point.
• Form a weekly exercise plan and STICK TO IT!--Well, I stuck to it today...

HEALTH GOALS:

• 8 glasses of water a day--Not today... Not yet.  Only at about half that.
• Fruits! Veggies! Everyday!--I had a banana.  Corn doesn't count.
• REALLY cut back on refined sugar--For the first time on this log, I can beam proudly about this one.  So, I'm going to: 
• Take care to get enough sleep--Well, I slept in a bit today, and that felt good.  Still, I'd rather force myself to go to bed earlier and get up a little earlier...

[Muse_of_Fire]

Go Laurie, go!

You know, one thing that may help you with the water thing is to carry around a 1/2-liter water bottle. That makes it easy to track. 1/2 liter is a little over 16 oz, so if you're trying to get eight 8 oz glasses of water, carrying around a 1/2 liter water bottle makes it easy because you just commit to drinking 4 of those. I've been trying to get more water too and that helps me.

Also, flavored waters may help. I've been drinking Aquafina Flavorsplash. It's just water with raspberry flavor molecules and Splenda in it. Not the most natural thing in the world but it's getting me to drink water! It makes it easier to drink more when it's kind of sweet and fruity tasting. No calories or caffeine; just water with some flavo-cules in it. Granted, the 1/2 liter bottles aren't the most environmentally-friendly things around. I wish they would make little flavor packets that you could mix in with your own water in a re-usable water bottle, but... can't have everything.

Anyhow, that's helped me.

Good luck on your other goals! I believe you can do it!

[ursasmaller]

On the topic of water, I've found the flavoured stuff to be a little too sweet and dry tasting for me.... so I keep a bottle of lime juice in the fridge and squirt some in every glass of water.  Not only does it give the water a little flavour, but it provides something good.... I can't remember what exactly.... supposed to  help your body absorb the water better.... electrolytes maybe.  Lemon juice also works.  This way you avoid sugar and sugar substitutes.

[Laurie Jennifer]

another brief cellphone update.

took a couple days off. baby sitting cousins, reorganizing life possessions, and preparing for garage sale. (and reading and sleeping and watching "ellen"-very busy )


so, here's todays workout:

2 sets of 10 incline push ups
5 or 6 pull ups (not at once)
2 sets of roughly 5 dips
2 sets of 5 "spiderman sit ups"
some handstand practice
rail balancing
QMs


this is all out of order and i mixed it up and rested between.  it was an ADD training day that ended with a very short Parkour run.  just jumped a couple bushes and ran around a building. wee.

overdid the arm training.  it's been a half hour and still my water glass weighs 10 lbs, i swear.

[Muse_of_Fire]

Hee! Use a straw.

Speaking of, how's the water consumption coming, hmm?

And what's a spiderman situp?

[Laurie Jennifer]

water was good at the end of the day, but not enough to make up for all that coffee i have a water bottle; i just need to use it...

a spiderman sit up is what i call it when you hang upside down by your knees and sit all the way up and bring your head to your knees and go back. i don't know what they're really called.

today i leave to go camping for the weekend.  i'm not bringing my cellphone.  only books, journal, and my guitar.  ah, a real vacation, but off from the world (and with fishing and nature Parkour!!)  so, until tuesday, goodbye cruel world

[Laurie Jennifer]

Over the Weekend:

Camping was fabulous!  Saturday I did absolutely nothing except hang out by the fire, hang out in the trailer, hang out by the pond...

Sunday I went for a two hour hike with my 12-year-old cousin.  That was fun.  We climbed the cliff by "Levi's Cave."  Okay, I climbed the cliff.  The 12-year-old was smarter than that.  He took the path.  (It was only about 20 feet up)

Monday (that's today)... I did my first successful kong!      Okay, I had done one or two once before, but that was literally just before my injury (the third time is when I hurt myself).  This vault has terrified me ever since.  But today I did it!  And it felt... good!  VERY, VERY good, in fact.  It was a log waist high and about 2 & 1/2 feet wide.  So, it wasn't terribly impressive, but I did it!  I started slow, at the much smaller end of the log, and then tried at the "big" end.  The first few times I landed on top of it.  Then I just *barely* made it over a few times (and it was a good thing there was nice, thick grass on the other side one of those times!).  And then I nailed it.  And I nailed it again.  And again, and again!  I owned it, man!  My cousin was cheering me on, which helped a lot.  I know it's not much, but it felt like a monumental achievement.  Progress is progress.


Okay, now to go shower.  I feel (and smell...) like camping.

[Muse_of_Fire]

BRAVO!!!

Congratulations, Laurie! That is sooooo wonderful! I am so proud of you for that kong. *hugs*

Good for you! 

Your camping trip sounds wonderful. Glad you had a good time. And so proud of you for getting your kong!

[Laurie Jennifer]

Thanks, Muse!  It sounds like you're right there yourself!  You'll nail it yourself, soon!


Tuesdays are one of my rest days.  So, except for getting more stuff ready for the garage sale and walking into town to buy a hotdog and fries, I did absolutely nothing.  Well, I played lots of internet backgammon... *sheepish grin*


Since it's a rest day, I thought I'd review my goals, since I haven't done that over a week...

GOALS

PHYSICAL GOALS:

• 50 consecutive push-ups--currently at 10.
• 10 consecutive pull-ups--currently at 2.
• 30-second handstand--currently at zero (maybe 1 or 2 seconds)
• 8-minute mile--I used to get winded after just a 100 yards or so.  There is a huge improvement in this area, but I haven't tried
  • a full mile yet.[/i]
  • 1 muscle up--I can do a dip and I can do a pull-up; it's the transition that eludes me.  However, my climb-ups are getting better, so the muscles are getting stronger...
  • Be able to stand still on a railing with good balance for a minimum of 60 seconds--haven't timed where I'm at with this yet.
  • Same as above, but walking back and forth.--again, not yet timed.
  • 60-second wall-sit--currently at 30 seconds.
  • Condition landings and rolls; Be able to land silently from head height--can land silently from a foot or so.
  • NEW GOAL: Increase vertical jump--I need to measure where I'm at now before I can make a specific goal in this regard.
  
  
  
  MENTAL GOALS:
  
  
  • Get over my fear of going headfirst over an object--COMPLETE! (Well, mostly)  I did my first solid kong!  I did it several times.  So, I have come up with a new goal, a physical one (but related to the kong): increase vertical jump.
  • Gain a keen awareness of what I'm capable of and what I'm not--This is an ongoing goal.
  • Form a weekly exercise plan and STICK TO IT!--This, also, is ongoing.
  • NEW GOAL: Get up early (6am) every day and get a good start to my day--In other words, take some time for quiet, prayer, reflection, etc.
  
  
  
  HEALTH GOALS:
  
  • 8 glasses of water a day--
  • Fruits! Veggies! Everyday!--
  • REALLY cut back on refined sugar--
  • Take care to get enough sleep--
  Who am I kidding?  This is definitely the section I need the most help on.  It's the area I lack the most self-control in...  I am going to have to make a serious effort.  This thus far has been the area I've allowed myself the most room to fail.  I think I need to have some sort of actual plan, and maybe a reward system.  I also need to offer myself an alternative.  Geez, this is like quitting smoking...  I swear, I must be addicted to sugar.  Maybe... Maybe I can make myself drink a glass of water every time I get a craving for dessert...  Two birds with one stone?  Lack of money is a huge obstacle, as is lack of access to my own kitchen.  Any ideas?

[Laurie Jennifer]

arg!  I can't edit that!  Sorry the list layout is funny.

[ursasmaller]

congratulations on the Kong.  I think that's my favorite vault.