Joi

Mercenary from Poland
Pronouns: she/her/any
Posts: 17

Cavalier Fit Log

It's been a while since I had a proper consistency streak, used to juggle running and strength training. Recently stress at work and over hours took over, but I'm determined to get back on track. Fiction motivates me best and so the thread title is a tribute to the Locked Tomb series, which never fails to make me want to move my bottom. Other inspo is Persephone Station with badass mercenaries, The Unbroken with unshakable colonial soldiers and rebels, Renegade with a corrupt cop turned just sheriff... a tip of the iceberg. I'll definitely be looking to books to help me stay on track, in the meantime I started my own sci-fi adventure with Carbon&Dust.

So here's me on my way to get back in shape
Hunter Warrior GIF by Xbox
 
***** FITNESS LOG - Saturday 13/12/2025 *****

Warm up

  • 2min basic warmup
Workout
  • Carbon&Dust Chapter 1
  • 5 rounds of 20 x Squat + Side Kick for the Christmas Ornament
Post Workout
  • 12 minutes stretching and mobility

***** FITNESS LOG - Sunday 14/12/2025 *****

I've been thoroughly avoiding adding extra core work to my training days because of "they're boring", but oh my I really need to bring all of that back in rotation. I'm honestly surprised all the core work of the carbon&dust today went pretty well and I didn't just die, plus I'm especially proud of managing the circle push-ups.

Warm up
  • 2min basic warmup
Workout
  • Carbon&Dust Chapter 2
  • 20s elbow plank for 5min plank challenge (1/30)
  • 5 rounds for the Christmas Ornament:
    • 20 Squat + Side Kick
    • 10 Front Kick

I'm giving myself extra 'well done' points for proper cooking and eating this weekend :teatime:
 
***** General Weekly Update *****

Weeks 51-52 of December '25

General rating::sadness:
  • Ok-ish time workout-wise, I finished a few more Chapters of Carbon&Dust, did some mobility routines and walks, I'm not fond of how the year ended though.
Weeks 1-2 of January '26
General rating::giveup:
  • I didn't manage to sleep too much, insomnia how fun
  • Too much work
  • I went on walks a couple of times when I wasn't sick or feeling like trash
  • Cooking? I don't know her

Weeks 3-4 of January '26
General rating: :ragdoll:
  • I started craving more demanding movement, prolonged lack of it started making me go crazy a bit. I could go for it since I was no longer sick. I decided to go back in a groove with something fun that would allow for elevated HR, rowing machine. I also didn't want to add a pressure of following any program, just something easy to start with (and not at home, I did not trust myself to do anything with a couch nearby)
  • 3rd week - 5km rowing and some longer walks (in -10 to -15 Celsius to and from work, courtesy of my car breaking down :tears:)
  • 4th week - 10km rowing and some shorter walks; I earned calluses that are settling in nicely
  • I ate normal food, mostly
  • Feels really good to move more, now I'd like some more sleep

Goals for weeks 5-6:
:gstar:Make time for more aerobic-based training 3x a week (ideally that includes 8km rowing / week + some running)
:gstar:More mindful eating - making proper lunches to work at least 3 times (and eating them) + proper meals during the weekend
:gstar:Continue with https://darebee.com/challenges/five-minute-plank-challenge.html

I'll think of a strength training plan after that since one of my main goals for the year is getting more jacked, but I'll have to define what that means exactly and plan accordingly. Hopping on a rower or a treadmill costs me way less brain- and prep-power and is good enough for now.
I also just noticed there's a battle of flavours going on. I would go to war for chocolate but I might join the light side to even the battlefield :plot:
 
***** Daily Update *****

26.01.26 Mon CW05

  • 4km easy run - 30:30min
  • 2,5km rowing - 13:12min
The single ergometer I have at my gym wasn't available, but I was ready for this - I had running shoes on, so instead of doing a full rowing session + some walking I did a running session + some extra rowing at the end. I haven't ran in a long time and it felt really good, no issue with keeping a steady pace the whole 30min. The time was dragging only because I wanted to get to rowing faster xD and I started slow just in case some part of my body decided it's not up to running and it'll break down, but now a day after everything's still good. I'll probably do a few more easy runs and then sprinkle in more fun with intervals. I also only wanted to have like 3-5min of chill rowing as cooldown, turned into more. Whoops. It was fun though.

Weekly Goals tracking:
:gstar: 1/3 sessions done; (optional) 2,5/8km rowing [Make time for more aerobic-based training 3x a week (ideally that includes 8km rowing / week + some running)]
:gstar: I took lunch to work, ate it after coming home. Busy busy no time to eat, no points for me. [More mindful eating - making proper lunches to work at least 3 times (and eating them) + proper meals during the weekend]
:gstar: Nope. Applicable since 27.01, I was too busted at the time I came up with this plan [Continue with https://darebee.com/challenges/five-minute-plank-challenge.html]
 
***** Daily Update *****

27.01.26 Tue CW05


No extra training, but I can make a note that I definitely ate too little the day before. I woke up in the middle of the night completely ravenous as well as stressed out, so I had some noodles and started working at 3am. I did have regular and proper meals throughout the day though.

28.01.26 Wed CW05

  • Tempo run - 10min warmup : 12min @ average heart rate 178bpm : 10min cooldown - total 32min and 4,5km (i love round numbers so much)
  • 1km rowing - 5:47min, more cooldown after the run
  • Moving heavy boxes for HR department xD
I wanted to row, but the rower was occupied so I opted for a treadmill run instead. I think if I want to have a longer session on it I have to figure out some other time or day, so far I've been running into one guy that also likes doing longer workouts on the ergometer and we just keep colliding schedule wise.

I bailed the tempo interval part of the run. The interval was meant to be 15min long but I shaved off the last 3. I also kinda failed cause I should've averaged closer to 185bpm, still better workout done than not. It really did take me by surprise how fast I had to (and could) go to get my heart rate that high and keep it at this level. I thought my fitness deteriorated more than that. Still I didn't have the stomach to constantly check if my heart rate's high enough and get to the 15min mark. The rowing was just a continuation of the cooldown after the run, very chill. I kinda wanted to do more, but I was pretty tired and was getting hungry.

From fun facts my HR department was moving between buildings and were searching for men to help them carry some heavier boxes through corridors and staircases. There weren't really any volunteers so I went ahead to help them, even though they doubted I could do that. Well, that's of the main reasons why I've been strength training, so that I would have the ability to help out with tasks like these. Even though I would't say it was enormous weight, it was still nice to be able to be a knight in shining armour when it was needed. A step closer to becoming the cavalier from the title of the log, I guess.

Weekly Goals tracking:
:gstar: 2/3 sessions done; (optional) 3,5/8km rowing [Make time for more aerobic-based training 3x a week (ideally that includes 8km rowing / week + some running)]
:gstar: 2/3 proper lunches - on the right track. Gotta stick with it [More mindful eating - making proper lunches to work at least 3 times (and eating them) + proper meals during the weekend]
:gstar: I keep forgetting about it :( [Continue with https://darebee.com/challenges/five-minute-plank-challenge.html]