The 30 days Project Mayhem experiment

[Uplift]

Originally Posted by Scipio

I'm doing something somewhat like this. I am in Thailand training muay thai (kickboxing with elbows, knees and clinch) 2x per day, 6 days per week at a muay thai camp, taking Thai language lessons, and still hitting the weights. The difference is that I spent months ramping up my work capacity before leaving. I also was in excellent physical shape before my preparation started too. I've been here 1.5 months and have 2.5 left.

Inspirational Scipio, way to go...having a ball...imagine you in two and half months!

[ken nubo]

PM experiment, Day 23

I went to the gym twice today, once in the morning and later in the afternoon. Did bench press, vertical butterfly, push up, sit ups, bicep curls, stretched some more, pull ups, and stretched some more.

And I hate running on the tread mill, it's really lame. Running outdoor is much better, especially on the grass or sand.

But then again, I hate doing cardio. But I ran on the tread mill anyways, for 45 minutes, clocking it at 7-8 KM.

Right after the gym session I pass out from exhaustion and wake up 30 minutes later.

Still learning the Japanese Hiraganas, I should be able to get the symbols patted down by the end of the week.

Six more days until this is over!

[ken nubo]

I don't care if you guys are disappointed from the "hypes", I'm personally satisfied since I hardly went to the gym in my LIFE and I weight 90 pounds :O

It's personal satisfaction, if you want something REAL hardcore, go read a Navy SEALs training book or something.

In retrospect, the goals were unrealistic in a way that I'm not physically prep for it, but WHO CARES? I can always do PM project 2.0 and strive for it again.

I can always lie and go, hay guyz, look at me! I'll post fake exercise stories that make me look hardcore so I'll get more e-friends!

But honesty is the best policy. *shrugs*

[silicon toad2000]

my reaction to reading your journey is my own problem and more of a reflection on me than you.
Perfectly correct about the honesty and making up BS workout stories.
I'd like to see you grow from this and I'd love to see you do it again with some input from a nutrionist and a personal trainer.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by ken nubo

I don't care if you guys are disappointed from the "hypes", I'm personally satisfied since I hardly went to the gym in my LIFE and I weight 90 pounds :O

It is "your" quest and "your" experiment... so the only thing that does matter is how "you" feel about it and what "you" get out of it...

And, as silicon toad2000 so aptly said, our opinion is purely biographical and does not really matter...

I wish you the very best of luck...

.

[ken nubo]

PM experiment, Day 24

Today was intense. I ran. And I ran some more, clocking 23 KM at 3 hours. I ran from one end of town to another, then back again. I run but I don't see the point of running, I wanted some excuse to quit, but then I realized I need the resolve to finish this trial, something to be proud of.

At one point I almost fainted from the dehyradation, but a 2 bottles of sport drinks fixed me right up

Spent another hour at the gym just for the hell of it, doing mostly stretches and push ups and sit ups. Stayed away from the weights.

Oh dear, this is going to be painful tommorow.

[Dan.Linehan]

Originally Posted by Shamou

Before you embark on a quest like that... at least one month of mental preparation is necessary... first, you have to determine exactly what you are going to do... next, you have to program yourself mentally for the ordeal that you will be going through... and, finally you must crystallize that commitment into every fibers of your being... so that the only possible outcome is the realization of your quest...

I think thats great advice Shamou. I'll have to remember that.

[ken nubo]

PM experiment, Day 25

I tried to run today, I really did, but my ankles hurt

Went to the gym for 2 hours, pump weights and the usual stuff. I feel like I'm stuck in a rut, still learning the Hiraganas. It's like learning the alphabet in kindergarden all over again V_V

[ken nubo]

PM experiment, Day 28

I'm not dead yet, I lost internet connection so I couldn't post my progress in the last couple of days. Exercise and learning Japanese as usual. One thing I gotta mention is to be careful when doing bench press, because my elbow is wreck from doing it improper/too fast.

2 more days to go

[ken nubo]

PM experiment, Day 29

Hey all, one more day to go! Today I went to the gym later in the evening and did bench press, then did various dumbbell exercises on the elbows, shoulders, biceps, forearms and such.

silicon toad2000 on the other topic noticed how I got a lot of free time on my hand. That's because I eliminate like 99 percent of trivial activities from my life. I find that a lot of readers found this post of mine to be helpful:

How to free up more time | Ken Nubo: Ranting of a J-rocker

I feel good so far for sticking to the 30 days trial which showed some good results, which I'll post on the 30th day conclusion post.

[ken nubo]

PM experiment, Day 30! Plus conclusion

30 days ago I made a goal for myself to exercise (run and weight lift), learn Japanese and meditate for 30 days. And of course, this being the 30th day I tested my will power by running 10 KM at 6 in the morning and finished it an hour later.

At the 5 KM mark of the run I was struggled, because I'm not much of a long distant runner. . My head was throbbing and my legs feel like they're going to fall off, but I keep slugging on.

Near the 8 KM mark I was shuffling, can't take this damn thing anymore. But then I start alternating between sprinting and shuffle in the final 3 KM. I sing random songs out loud to give myself an adrenaline boost (yeah it sure does look weird when you're running down the streets, but who cares? I was singing falsetto like no tomorrow)

Yes! I finished the run. Then I ate muffin with butter and almost puked.

Conclusion

It was an interesting experiment. Looking back at the original post on what I wanted to accomplish in the past 30 days, it was hardcore, like the goals were set really really high. I purposely set unrealistic goals because if I set mediocre ones, I'll just blaze through it or try to do the status quo, while unrealistic goals would motivate me to work harder each day.

As for exercise, I can bench press about 20 more pounds then I originally did 30 days ago. My advice is just to take it easy, warm up by doing 10 pounds bench press and work your way up. I didn't get any serious injury for the past 25+ days of exercising because I stretched and warmed up before hand.

Also gained 10 pounds of muscle after 30 days, not bad at all. I literally ate two to three times the amount I usually eat, so I bulked up a bit. Didn't just munched down the meat, but rather I had a bit of everything – pasta, fruits, meat, sandwiches, soup, etc.

What goes in must come out right? I think I filled the toilet once with the voluminous poop. I call it the Rhino Poop. Eh, luckily it's an industrial strength toilet, or else it would've clogged.

As for the Japanese learning, my reading skills is almost non-existence, but my comprehension level gone up a bit. Now I can get the gist of what they're saying when I watch Japanese game shows. Same for speaking, I can carry a conversation for 5 minutes or so. But it's still very limited. I don't know now to measure my progress in this area.

Meditation wise, I did do it during the first week or so, then I dropped it afterwards. But I still meditate occasionally, not just the formal sitting way but rather laying around my bed and just relax ;D

So yeah, 30 days trial. It's awesome, I recommend it to anyone for whatever endeavor. 30 days isn't that big of a deal, so you can always drop it afterwards if you don't like it, but I recommend sticking to your 30 days plan. I know I'll still weight lift, albeit 3 times a week for the happy medium and learn Japanese.

Thanks for reading, and have a great summer!

Now if you excuse me, I have to take a Rhino Poop.

[silicon toad2000]

strong finish Ken. good one.
I checked your blog on the time management thing.
My problem is that the time the gym is open is also the time i am at work and the time kids are awake and available to play with.
I want to thank you for inspiring me for my own 30 day trial.
If I can rise earlier i can go to the gym before anyone in my family is awake so i don't loose any contact time with them.

[ken nubo]

Hey Toad,

If you're trying to lose weight, you can just do cardio by running 6 in the morning, or 6 in the afternoon. You can always do push ups, sit ups and other body weight exercise at home, gym equipments aren't necessary.

That's cool that I inspired other people to do their 30 trial stuff ;D

[silicon toad2000]

Thanks Ken,

I'm increasing my muscle mass as well as loosing weight, well hopefully.
You're right though cardio is the key to loosing weight and I can do that anytime the footpath is open.

[alsy]

Originally Posted by Shamou

That us what I thought... that is probably why you are having problems sticking to your original plan...

Before you embark on a quest like that... at least one month of mental preparation is necessary... first, you have to determine exactly what you are going to do... next, you have to program yourself mentally for the ordeal that you will be going through... and, finally you must crystallize that commitment into every fibers of your being... so that the only possible outcome is the realization of your quest...

When you do it that way... the experience marks you for the rest of your life... you see yourself as an iron man that can surmount the very worst of situation... a very good boost for your self-esteem...

.

Shamou, what did you mean by "next, you have to program yourself mentally for the ordeal that you will be going through"
Could you please elaborate.

I am actually asking from the perspective of myself having a general poor track record with self discipline & achieving most of my goals, rather than in reference to the 30 day experiment shared here. Okay, I know there is tons of stuff in Steve’s Blogs, but I just get lost in it, and after reading your response, I somehow connected this as relating to setting up intention within oneself. (sort of)

Thanks for whatever information or explanations you could provide.