Katawa Shoujo Forums

This isn't "Emi inspired" but I thought I'd share a little milestone.

Today I walked home from work, a distance of 6.6km, in an hour. If you consider it is the depths of winter so there's ice and snow everywhere, I'm carrying a backpack and wearing a big coat, even better. Give me some credit for traffic lights and getting past idiots shuffling slowly along, and it's less than an hour.

I'm in decent shape (34 y/o, 6'2", 185lbs) but when I started doing this a year ago, it would take an hour and twenty to an hour and thirty, and I would be ready to die when I got home. My back was a little stiff and my legs too but I wasn't tired or out of breath otherwise. Doing this started as a dare to myself as well as a means of getting some privacy to sort through the mountain of misery that is my life and explore the city and now I do it at least once if not twice a week, whatever the weather (last week, it was -30 with windchill so the moisture from my breath froze my face mask to my collar)

I'm really proud of myself! Now to soak in the bath with some bathsalts and drink a glass of red wine.

I already run, but Emi reminded me why I'm so passionate about it.

It's been really raining here for the past few days, but I went for a run today anyway. First time running in the rain, and it's definitely a different beast!

Decided to start the Emi running thing tomorrow, as it's just gone 11:00 at night here and I'm in my pyjamas (though it MIGHT help the old insomnia out... maybe?). However, also found the Rin's push-up thing - I'm reasonably strong, so started off on the week 5 thing and... OH MY GOD MY ARMS. Hoping to get the 100 push ups and the 30 min run both achieved by the end of May. It's something to work towards.

AaronIsCrunchy wrote:Decided to start the Emi running thing tomorrow, as it's just gone 11:00 at night here and I'm in my pyjamas (though it MIGHT help the old insomnia out... maybe?).

Status report, private? It's been a few days, and you've included no follow-up to this statement.

Gamera Ramen wrote:

AaronIsCrunchy wrote:Decided to start the Emi running thing tomorrow, as it's just gone 11:00 at night here and I'm in my pyjamas (though it MIGHT help the old insomnia out... maybe?).

Status report, private? It's been a few days, and you've included no follow-up to this statement.

Well, as it turns out I can do the first week with ease, moving on to second week tomorrow which should be a little bit more of a challenge. More rest time I guess though, so it's just a matter of discipline.

And for the record, it doesn't appear to be helping the insomnia

AaronIsCrunchy wrote:And for the record, it doesn't appear to be helping the insomnia

Try to:
Stop consuming sweets / drinks for at least 4 hours before bed
Stop using any electronic device for at least two hours before bed
Have a solid dinner and refrain from all snacks before bed

If all else fails, or if you think that PC / smartphone before bed is more important than your sleep, use Melatonin, take a pill before you go to sleep, don't do more than 1,5 grams per day (it's sold in 3-5 grams per capsule - split them) and no more than 7 days straight. It can help you reset your body internal clock once in a while, but don't overdo it - it's a naturally produced hormone, and eating lots of it can hinder natural melatonin production.

Also, for the record, when I was running I never ever had insomnia, even ignoring some of those rules. Waiting anxiously for the snow to melt - me and my wife will finally start running again, this time together.

Well, the only one of those that I do anyway is the electronic device, so that might have to be something I look at changing, thanks for the pointer. I'd rather not take any supplements if I can help it, and I guess I can live without my computer for a couple of hours

AaronIsCrunchy wrote: Well, as it turns out I can do the first week with ease, moving on to second week tomorrow which should be a little bit more of a challenge. More rest time I guess though, so it's just a matter of discipline.

And for the record, it doesn't appear to be helping the insomnia

Good to hear you're already making progress!
And for the insomnia, I second the "put your screens down for a while before bed" thing. It helped me back when I had trouble getting to sleep.

Yesterday I got up at the normal running time, turned off my alarm, and noped right back to bed. Actually went for a run today. Upgraded from 8/5/8 to 5/3/8/3/5. Not really a challenge; I'll have to bump it up again next time.
Makes me laugh a bit when I remember the days when I struggled to do a single 5-min stretch. How far I've come!

AaronIsCrunchy wrote:I'd rather not take any supplements if I can help it

I just want to point out (for others, I guess) that Melatonin is safe (if you don't do more than 1.5 grams per day), and can be taken on a regular basis. I just posted a warning for it to be there. Taking it for longer than week can work if one's a lazy asshole playing DotA till 1 AM, but a week-long usage once a month or two should have no effect on natural Melatonin production. Some people do take whole pills / capsules, but it has absolutely no use (unless recreational, you can't get high from it, but you can get dizzy and trippy, according to Reddit posts - it's still not worth a fuckle to joke with your body).
Some people say that even half gram is enough, but I've yet to find a person who will willingly split each 5mg capsule into 10 portions. Right, there aren't any. And 1,5mg is easy - just split 3mg into two equal piles and 5mg into three.

wazuzu wrote: playing DotA till 1 AM

You too? I thought I was the only one. some day i shall figure out how the hell to play meepo.
OT, I've completed the workout and am looking for something more, as it's not really pushing me anymore, is there some advanced section some where in the thread?

wazuzu wrote:

AaronIsCrunchy wrote:I'd rather not take any supplements if I can help it

I just want to point out (for others, I guess) that Melatonin is safe (if you don't do more than 1.5 grams per day), and can be taken on a regular basis. I just posted a warning for it to be there. Taking it for longer than week can work if one's a lazy asshole playing DotA till 1 AM, but a week-long usage once a month or two should have no effect on natural Melatonin production. Some people do take whole pills / capsules, but it has absolutely no use (unless recreational, you can't get high from it, but you can get dizzy and trippy, according to Reddit posts - it's still not worth a fuckle to joke with your body).
Some people say that even half gram is enough, but I've yet to find a person who will willingly split each 5mg capsule into 10 portions. Right, there aren't any. And 1,5mg is easy - just split 3mg into two equal piles and 5mg into three.

Hmm, well then maybe it's worth a look at then Though I did get diagnosed with clinical depression today after a good 11 months of me putting off going to the doctors (deluding myself it'll get better), so perhaps that has something to do with it.

On topic, I managed to do the 1.5/2 *6 today with ease as well. I started doing it as a couch to 5k, but if I can do something easily is it worth sticking with the strict routine or should I up it to something which I find a challenge?

Sea wrote: OT, I've completed the workout and am looking for something more, as it's not really pushing me anymore, is there some advanced section some where in the thread?

Have you seen the Bridge to 10k?

AaronIsCrunchy wrote: On topic, I managed to do the 1.5/2 *6 today with ease as well. I started doing it as a couch to 5k, but if I can do something easily is it worth sticking with the strict routine or should I up it to something which I find a challenge?

The guide is intended as just that--a guide. If it's too easy, feel free to up to something more. Doing something well within your ability isn't going to help nearly as much as something that makes you push yourself!

Sea wrote:You too? I thought I was the only one. some day i shall figure out how the hell to play meepo.

No, I'm not, it's just the most common case in here today (on par with World of Tanks).
As for the second part of your post:
Do pull-ups, until you manage to do 8-12 in a row with both basic and reverse grip.
Do 100 push-ups challenge.
Do Bridge to 10k challenge.
FInally, you can go to gym and do some sit downs, bench presses and deadlifts (I'm confused with translation of that one, I mean a complex of exercises where you 1) sit down with barbell on your shoulders 2) push it up lying on the bench 3) lift it from the floor keeping your back straight). Doing this part you should be extremely careful and you must consult some person more experienced than me before you even start (you may even want to get a coach for this one, because someone should explain you the basics of safety, avoiding injuries and be by your side safeguarding you, best if it's an experienced buddy of yours). These are the most basic strength exercises, they won't help you getting beefed-up, but they will give you much needed base for any strength exercise.

And, I don't know if it's worth mentioning, but there's a theory if you have very intense and confusing dreams on Melatonin - you're taking too much (once at a time, that is). 1,5 milligrams should cause some interesting dreams, but not THAT intense. This appears to be the case of your brain simply remembering the bigger part of your common dreams for longer.

Quick sit-rep: the jump from Week 3 to Week 4 is huge: my legs felt like they were gonna fall off today! (Though it didn't help it was blowing a gale, but excuses excuses ) The sense of achievement you get out of it is larger though, think I'm really starting to get into this.