RealCdn - NROL4W Training Log

[realcdn]

Originally Posted by Evie

Been meaning to ask-- how are you finding Power Training? It's one of the programs on my short list as a follow up to NROLFW.

I really enjoy it. I like the idea of putting the basic movements together, but you pick the exercises. I think it would lead to eventually putting my own stuff together as I go on. I do watch that I pick exercises I like as well as ones I don't like so much. (ie. the ones that challenge me more)

[realcdn]

This morning's workout - the usual warm-up, then did:

Snatch Pull: 75t/5, 75t/5, 75t/5, 80t/5
Romanian Deadlift: 120t/6, 120t/6, 120t/6, 125t/6
Dumbbell Bent Over 2-pt Row: 30e/6, 30e/6, 30e/6, 30e/6
Pull-ups (assisted): 6, 6, 6, 6
Cable Woodchop: 10, 10, 10, 10
Core Row: w/10lb dumbbells 45s, 45s, 45s, 45s

50 mins, 302 cals, Max HR: 155 (88%), Avg HR: 127 (72%)

I think next week I'm going to do Sun-Wed without any break. I have a rough time doing these workouts before school, and I've got enough time on Tuesday afternoons to do a workout instead.

[realcdn]

#$%&@# power supply crapped out on the desktop again tonight. I looked back - that's the one I replaced in September. I'll make time tomorrow and go to Tiger Direct and upgrade it. Last time I ended up going back to the guys that originally sold me the computer and stayed with the same power rating. I'd kind of wanted to go up slightly, but they didn't have anything (reasonably priced), although I beat them down in price as it was literally just outside of the warranty date. I might also go back to them and insist they replace the 'replacement' (but keep it only as a back-up).

So no tracking for tonight. I'd entered everything in, and it was good, just hadn't got around to posting it. I'm off to bed though as it's an early morning tomorrow.

[beesknees]

Just catching up....that sucks about the computer. I had troubles with the A/C port on an HP laptop a few years ago, I didn't know the same could happen to desktops. Computers! It's a love/hate thing.

Your workouts are looking really good too by the way

[realcdn]

Thanks. I spent some time bitching and whining at the original store, pointing out that I was right and he was wrong in September. At the time he replaced it with some at the same rating and convinced me that the surge protector might be an issue. Now, since it was probably more than a dozen years old I decided he might be right and added a new surge protector as well. I decided to stay away from a slightly higher (ie 10%) power supply of the same rating and kept arguing the point where they agreed to refund my money.

I then trucked off to Tiger Direct (they have a store locally) and purchased one with 30% more power... and a 5 year warranty. Once I'm not so financially strapped I might consider upgrading the system entirely so I might as well purchase a power supply that I can port over. The graphics card is good (fairly new) and although the drives could be bigger, they're not bad, and I'd likely just add another or put something on the network instead. The new power supply is whisper quiet. At times I can barely tell that the machine is on. Of course the video card has a fan on it as well, so at some point they'll both be on and I bet it will be louder.

On the workouts, I'm enjoying the 4-day push/pull workouts. Partly because of the time, but maybe just because I'm getting back into it. Hopefully I'll stay ahead of the school work over the next 4 weeks that it won't get interrupted. Looks like my Calculus final might be the last one on Friday December 11th, but I don't have the schedule yet.

Oh, and speaking of Calculus, I was right, she gave me full marks for the question that was wrong. We had actually looked at the question again today before class and figured out how the question should have been written (ie. her mid-stream change wasn't right either, which I already knew). Sadly, I missed a couple of marks on other questions (silly things) and ended up with 44/46 which will boil down to 24/25 - so I'm sitting 49/50 - and will end up with 15/15 for the assignments. So, going into the final exam (worth 35%) I'll be at 64/65.

[kfisherx]

Yay for quiet power supplies and for a fair mark in Calculus. I was curious how the teacher was going to handle that one.

[Bytsi]

Glad everything turned out ok with that test - I would hope that a teacher would at least admit their own mistake!

[NYC_Native]

Stopping by to say hello. I can't believe how quickly time is going - your school semester should be wrapping up very, very soon! Funny how when I was an undergrad, they seemed to take forever. But once I was in grad school, I realized that 3-4 months is a very compact amount of time to squeeze in so much work!

[dillytl]

I'm sooooo far behind in here, so I'll just say and try to do a better job of keeping up!!

[realcdn]

Originally Posted by kfisherx

Yay for quiet power supplies and for a fair mark in Calculus. I was curious how the teacher was going to handle that one.

She's pretty fair, although some people think that she's a tough marker. I can see that, as she'll take off a full mark for a mistake that someone else might have taken a half mark.

The power supply is so quiet that sometimes I don't even think the machine is still on.

Originally Posted by Bytsi

Glad everything turned out ok with that test - I would hope that a teacher would at least admit their own mistake!

As someone else said, with so many errors in the school provided material you would think that she would have checked the test. Oh well, I'm probably expecting too much.

Originally Posted by NYC_Native

Stopping by to say hello. I can't believe how quickly time is going - your school semester should be wrapping up very, very soon! Funny how when I was an undergrad, they seemed to take forever. But once I was in grad school, I realized that 3-4 months is a very compact amount of time to squeeze in so much work!

I can't believe how behind I feel all of a sudden. Once again I seem to think I perhaps didn't keep up as well as I should have. So, the start to cramming has started.

Originally Posted by dillytl

I'm sooooo far behind in here, so I'll just say and try to do a better job of keeping up!!

Hey there. I'm horribly behind myself, so I'll just say 'hi' back.

- - - - -


So, I should admit that I blew off my Sunday/Monday workouts. I actually arranged to stay later at school tonight to work on the 3D project for CAD (long story but he's canceled our Friday morning class because of an audit).

I've completely stopped tracking what I'm eating... however, this is okay. It was a good idea that I'd had when I started my kind of 'plan' with set breakfasts/lunches/snacks and then just going with a known dinner. Even though I haven't tracked anything I know I'm eating within the calorie levels that I set. So, this is good. It's like dieting without dieting. I'd like to say that I'll be back a little more in a day or so, but I suspect that I'll be hit and miss than perhaps mid-December.

I might ramble on a bit here and there, and I'll do a Dec 1st update (and I'll be around to keep the challenge thread going). Now, back to work I must go.

[Etana]

Originally Posted by realcdn

I've completely stopped tracking what I'm eating... however, this is okay. It was a good idea that I'd had when I started my kind of 'plan' with set breakfasts/lunches/snacks and then just going with a known dinner. Even though I haven't tracked anything I know I'm eating within the calorie levels that I set. So, this is good. It's like dieting without dieting.

Wow! this is a real achievement for any dieter!!! Congratulations on "intuitive eating!!!"

[NYC_Native]

It sounds like you're at a comfortable place with your eating, always a great thing. Hang in there with school stuff, but you're doing really well with everything (even if you do have to cram a bit, LOL).

[realcdn]

Originally Posted by Etana

Wow! this is a real achievement for any dieter!!! Congratulations on "intuitive eating!!!"

Thanks, although I wouldn't call it intuitive. It's basically following a plan that I've used with counting. I'm still weighing out stuff, just not recording it. I've just been at it long enough that I know the weighing is necessary to keep myself honest.

Originally Posted by NYC_Native

It sounds like you're at a comfortable place with your eating, always a great thing. Hang in there with school stuff, but you're doing really well with everything (even if you do have to cram a bit, LOL).

I think I'm sitting well enough in most of my classes. The two that I'm the worst in I can likely do little to address that in the next two weeks. From memory:

Calculus: going into exam 64/65 - exam out of 35
no issues

Statics: going into exam 45.5/50 - exam out of 50
no issues, and this section seems easier

CAD: 49.81/50, project worth 20 to finish, exam out of 30
the project will be okay (not perfect), need to serious study for theory exam

Measurement Systems Lecture: 42.5/50 - exam out of 50, minor attendance bonus
definitely need to study for this one, may not end with 85+

Metrology Systems Lab: Seriously confused about the marking for this one, think I'm sitting 80/87.5
the studying for this will be the same as the lecture

Active Citizenship: 17.375/20
I've got a letter to hand in Thursday (20%), a group project due a week from Thursday (20%) and a group presentation the same day (25%). The final is worth 15% and it will be two weeks tomorrow (before our normal exam week I think). I'm not even entirely sure what it's about - maybe the history of democracy (so lots of studying for a test that's not worth that much). Sigh.... the overall grade looks good, but that's from a 90% initial assignment and an 83.75% test.

I think I'll be okay for dean's list this semester (85%+ average) but there are a couple that worry me. We have a weird rating system as well. They take course hours and multiply it by your grade (so they're weighted).

Calculus x 3 (should end 95+)
Statics x 4 (should end 90+)
CAD x 4 (should end 90+, but not as confident)
MS Lab x 2 (should end 90+)
MS Lecture x 2 (let's say 80+)
Active Cit x 2 (let's say 75+)

I should have stayed in Quality (saw the midterm yesterday, it was a joke). However, I might have just ended up pissed if he didn't give me a hundred percent, so it was probably a good thing that I exempted out of it. If I hit the low number on all of those I should end with 90% overall. Dropping the CAD to 85, and the MS Lecture to 75 still gives me 86% overall. However, I still need to put a fair bit in to make sure none of the lower ones go lower. I'm probably most concerned about Active Cit because the teacher is unpredictable, he's marked very little so far, and the three things due in the next two weeks are worth 65% of our grade.

Oh well, I should go do some work!

[beesknees]

Wow - your grades are so impressive. Good luck with the end of semester tasks.

And I agree about the tracking thing. It's a great place to be in!

If I eat the same foods and know that they work out for the day, sometimes I think its redundant. I still do it though. It's nice to have the knowledge of the servings/ounces/grams of things to just be able to weigh and know you will be on track.

[realcdn]

To some extent that's why I like to track. So I know at the end of the month what I've eaten (to base next month's intake on). For now I can live without it though. A lot of stuff I eat is already divided (ie. the roast chicken I had at lunch) so I could probably make a few customs and still track. I might do that on the weekend.

The grades are pretty good, aren't they? I just know that I'm avoiding working on the ones I need to work on. ie. I love playing around with SolidWorks (the 3D software) but not studying about cams and gears as much. I spent 3 hours helping the guy that I tutor start to draw his components today and work on his assembly. I saw a couple of things I need to change in mine though so I'll do that now, check my Active Cit assignment for tomorrow and then maybe work on the CAD theory.

[Bytsi]

Nice grades! I never got great grades in hs (luckily I still got into a decent college), then about halfway through college I suddenly had an "ah ha" moment (I was sitting with friends in the dorm and they were discussing the Kreb cycle and I didn't understand it, and I realized that just because it wasn't directly relevant didn't mean I didn't want to understand things), and I literally pulled straight A's from that moment on.

In grad school I always had very good grades and cared a lot (too much?) about them... but it took me a while to get to that point. I wonder if older students tend to do better than the younger ones...?

[beesknees]

I know I would be a better student today. I was very distracted by parties, boys, friend drama, and the whole social life and fun part of college. I still wonder how I did as decent as I did considering. It doesn't surprise me that so many kids coming right out of high school at age 18 drop out of college or switch majors 9 times.

[Camazama]

Just dropping by to catch up on the happenings. It's also getting to the end of the semester for me as well. Trying to work 40+ hours, go to the gym 5x a week, and complete 2 classes is quickly killing me. I have completely neglected reading and posting to the forums. Not a good thing.

Congrats on the grades, btw. I am holding 'A's in both my classes, but that's before the huge final projects. I need to buckle down and make a plan.

[realcdn]

Originally Posted by Bytsi

Nice grades! I never got great grades in hs (luckily I still got into a decent college), then about halfway through college I suddenly had an "ah ha" moment (I was sitting with friends in the dorm and they were discussing the Kreb cycle and I didn't understand it, and I realized that just because it wasn't directly relevant didn't mean I didn't want to understand things), and I literally pulled straight A's from that moment on.

In grad school I always had very good grades and cared a lot (too much?) about them... but it took me a while to get to that point. I wonder if older students tend to do better than the younger ones...?

I remember talking to one of the teachers in first semester. He was of the opinion that you either get students with a good aptitude, or ones without. He felt that mature students tended to do better no matter which group that they fell into, partly because they were willing to work harder. The younger ones who had an aptitude were likely the ones that would stay, if they didn't they would likely go. I'm not sure that he's right, but he could be. I think that it's too easy to group all the younger students into the 'party and don't work hard', but they're not all that way.

Originally Posted by beesknees

I know I would be a better student today. I was very distracted by parties, boys, friend drama, and the whole social life and fun part of college. I still wonder how I did as decent as I did considering. It doesn't surprise me that so many kids coming right out of high school at age 18 drop out of college or switch majors 9 times.

I'm amazed my first time in college that I got past first year. I definitely only did so because I was gifted on the math / logic / programming side of it. However, as you return to college you have other things that take priority (family, housing, etc.).

Originally Posted by Camazama

Just dropping by to catch up on the happenings. It's also getting to the end of the semester for me as well. Trying to work 40+ hours, go to the gym 5x a week, and complete 2 classes is quickly killing me. I have completely neglected reading and posting to the forums. Not a good thing.

Congrats on the grades, btw. I am holding 'A's in both my classes, but that's before the huge final projects. I need to buckle down and make a plan.

I went through a period at work where I would work 7-4, drive to school two nights a week, and stop at the plant on the way home. When I'm finished with this course I will likely continue to take night courses at the university level. I'm just insane that way.

- - - - - - - -

Okay, so my mother got more information on the two issues she's been dealing with. The neck pain they've decided is chronic (MRI didn't show anything obvious) so now he's talking about pain management. He's a little concerned because she admits that she's less active than she has been in the past. Her cholesterol numbers are up slightly (not major, but usually they're pretty stable). He's suggested that she make a point in the winter of keeping the exercise levels up (so treadmill here she comes). I'm also pushing her a little to stop using the 2.5lb weights, but I'm mindful of her neck pain.

The other diagnosis is one of myelodysplastic syndrome. He hasn't suggested any treatment at the moment. She'll go back to the doctor who has run all the tests (and I should point out the one who noticed issues with routine tests she's been doing for a bone density study). That will happen in early December. The GP has downplayed it a great deal so it may not be something to worry about. I'll be interested in what the other doctor has to say in December (believe her specialty is hematologist-oncologist).

[Karen411]

Nice work in school. My son always thought everyone was smarter than him if he didn't understand something the first time he heard it. Then he got 6 A's and one B last year and realized that everyone isn't smarter than him. We're still waiting for my daughter's ah ha moment when she realizes part of the problem is in her head.

[dillytl]

Nice job on the grades!!!

[realcdn]

Originally Posted by Karen411

Nice work in school. My son always thought everyone was smarter than him if he didn't understand something the first time he heard it. Then he got 6 A's and one B last year and realized that everyone isn't smarter than him. We're still waiting for my daughter's ah ha moment when she realizes part of the problem is in her head.

I admit that I tended to be bored in high school. I sometimes find that in college, but I've learned to deal with it better. As much as I do tutor and help some people, I know that I'm not as patient as I should be. I'm also not really a good teacher. I sometimes just get things, and can't understand why others don't. So I guess I had my 'ah ha' moment pretty early in life.

Originally Posted by dillytl

Nice job on the grades!!!

Thanks, although they are only interim ones. The schedules for finals went up today and I'll have mine Tues(Dec 8th) - Fri(Dec 11th). The class I'm exempt from is on the Monday (figures).

[nutbar]

Glad to hear your mom's docs are trying to help. (I had to google MDS.)

Grades are overrated. I got straight A's all ten years of college and I still can't tie my effing shoes.

[realcdn]

I should probably have put a link in (as I had to look it up as well):
http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_page?item_id=55442

At the moment, from the GPs comments, I'm assuming that she's low-risk MDS.

And I agree that mostly the concept of grades are overrated. I've never had an employer ask me how I did in school. The only time they might count is if I want to go on to university (the specific program I'm interested in is paired with the course I'm in - and they will look at your year 2 & 3 grades for acceptance). For whatever reason, maybe to prove to myself that I'm not insane for going back to school, I want them though.

[beesknees]

I hope things get figured out for your Mom and she is able to manage. Hope everything else is going well for you, I am sure you are busy.

[NYC_Native]

I wanted to add that I'm glad it sounds as if your mom doesn't have a too-serious condition (that is awkwardly-worded, but I don't know what else to say ).

Count me in as another person who wasn't really engaged by schoolwork, not until much later. I almost always got A's, prolly because I'm pretty good at tests. But I've forgotten most of the stuff I (supposedly) learned in grammar and high school because it just never really registered... Goes to show ya National Honors Society means diddly-squat 10, 20 years down the road.

[realcdn]

Originally Posted by beesknees

I hope things get figured out for your Mom and she is able to manage. Hope everything else is going well for you, I am sure you are busy.

I hope so too. She's usually such a bundle of energy that it's hard to see her struggle with it. Having said that, she's still got more energy than most people.

- - - - -

Busy doesn't really cover it, but it will all be over in a little under three weeks. I wasn't happy with the 'no tracking' so I spent some time tonight while watching TV and simplified it. I basically eat one of 3 different breakfasts, 6 different lunches, and pulled 19 different dinners over the last couple of months. So with some custom 'meals' in Fitday and a text file I think I can do some really fast 'after the fact' tracking. Just to keep myself honest.

Meals for today:

Totals: 1564 cals (32% protein, 21% fat, 47% carbs)

Breakfast: egg/egg white, salsa, roll & jam, grapefruit (287)
AM Snack: none
Lunch: multi-grain tortilla, mustard, lettuce, smoked turkey, apple (424)
PM Snack: hummus, flatbread (164)
Dinner: pork tenderloin w/pear chutney, mixed veg, butter, salad w/dressing (515)
Evening Snack: fruit salad, chocolate zucchini cake (174)

Obviously this is a day on the lower side. Tomorrow and Wed will be higher days.

[realcdn]

Originally Posted by NYC_Native

I wanted to add that I'm glad it sounds as if your mom doesn't have a too-serious condition (that is awkwardly-worded, but I don't know what else to say ).

Count me in as another person who wasn't really engaged by schoolwork, not until much later. I almost always got A's, prolly because I'm pretty good at tests. But I've forgotten most of the stuff I (supposedly) learned in grammar and high school because it just never really registered... Goes to show ya National Honors Society means diddly-squat 10, 20 years down the road.

You snuck in there while I was posting.

I admit that neither of us really know how to deal with it. It is a cancer diagnosis, but perhaps not a serious one for her. More later I suppose as we both find out more. Thanks for your best wishes. I never know what to say to people either.

I'm thinking by next semester (or the 5th one) I'll be more worried about passing and less about dean's list. Well, not entirely true, but I know it will be really quite hard to maintain. I know in our 'group' that I can think of (8 of us) who made it first semester only 3 of us have managed to maintain it for all three semesters. I'd guess there are a few of the younger guys who have done it as well, and the woman who has joined us in this semester will also likely be able to hit it.

[Camazama]

Glad to hear they are making progress with your mother's condition. Oftentimes diagnosing the problem is the biggest battle, especially if it isn't something they don't see everyday. All I can say is keep pushing for answers and don't settle. Do some research on your own and bring up any and all questions. It took years for me to get a diagnosis and even longer to figure out how to treat my condition. Don't settle for just treating the symptoms.

[realcdn]

I'm actually happy with the progress so far. Also, the fact that the doctor she's seeing in early December is the one that started this inquiry. She's the one who didn't like the original routine blood tests, and my mother talking about the sudden changes in energy level. It would be far too easy for everyone to tell her that she's just getting old.