Meet Xade Sorrel, an Unlikely Hero

[Xade Sorrel]

Hello everyone. My name is Jacob, but I go by Xade, and my story starts about 2 years ago with a trip to the Experience Music Project and Sci Fi Museum in Seattle.

In the museum, the Fantasy exhibit was set up for its last day, so I and six of my closest friends all got together and spent the day in Seattle to see the exhibit. At one table, there was a quiz that acted like a tarot from a fortune teller that would divine your character archetype from around 25 different options displayed throughout the exhibit. Taking the quiz, my friends were told they were magical prodigies and tricksters and such, but my tarot divined my destiny as an "Unlikely Hero," with company such as Bilbo Baggins and Wesley from The Princess Bride. (The girl I had liked for a long while got the Hero's Muse, but that's a different story )

Fast forward to the present, and I'm still just as unlikely a hero as ever. I stand as an elf at just a hair under six feet tall and weigh in at a whopping 140 pounds on the average day. I am pretty shaky from a combination of muscular weakness and a lack of energy due to my horrendous diet... and while much of who I am exemplifies potential heroism, most of my associates just laugh at the idea of me being any more than the scrawny nerd I've always been. They compare me often to Neville Longbottom and Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III... Actually, Hiccup and I could pretty much be one person. XD

I happened upon Nerd Fitness a while back, and read through the articles that pertained most to me. I fell in love with the entire site, because it is as if it was built just for me. I wasn't ready at that time to fully commit, though, so I kept the ideas in the back of my mind and worked through life applying some aspects of the Nerd Fitness philosophy to little things in order to begin improving my diet and my lifestyle. Now, though, is the time for me to begin my training, because I'm finally getting a grip on everything else and everything is falling into place. In the end, my goal is to become the "Likely Hero" and finally reach the next chapter of my story. What does that mean to me? Well, let's look at Peter Parker before and after he was bitten, or Hiccup between the first and second movie. The archetypal nerd who cannot stand up for himself becomes the hero everyone loves, and gains confidence in his own abilities. He can suddenly defend himself and apply his previous talents to entirely new situations because he is faster, stronger, and in more control of his body to match the control of his mind. I want to join them in that growth, and for that purpose, I'm working toward what I've dubbed the "Dread Pirate," essentially a Ranger/Assassin with some Monk abilities.
 
Though this 6-week challenge has already begun, I have joined it a week late to motivate myself. I've been following a routine that includes the Playground circuit and the Basic Bodyweight workout, using walks and short runs in between to improve my endurance. By the end, I want to have gained about 5 pounds or more, and to be able to work up to the next level of upper body exercises (because bodyweight rows and modified push ups are a little difficult to do where I am.) Come the next challenge, I'll officially join you for the full 6 weeks and begin my greatest journey to date. <Edited>

I'll see you all on the other side! Thanks for reading.

[Raincloak]

Welcome! I remember that EMP exhibit. Since I write fiction, I kind of wished the archetypes were for sale as a card deck; would have been useful as a story generator.

Dread Pirate Hiccup is an awesome goal. Just hang on to your corporal extremities

You can jump into a current challenge if you want, you're less than a week late.

[Xade Sorrel]

And that's just what I did ^.^ And they would've made a great deck of cards! I had a friend take a picture of them all, so I have the list hiding around somewhere that I used as reference occasionally when writing adventures for DnD with them. If I find it, I'd be glad to let you know.

[Elastigirl]

Unlikely heroes are the best kind! Congratulations on your great start.

 

I loved that exhibit. Can't wait to go to the new exhibit-Star Wars costumes.

 

 

Edit: we are only a week into the challenge. I think it is ok to go ahead and join up with the recruits.

[Noname123]

Welcome unlikely Hero  

 

For bulking I found that protein shakes are my bffls (I can easily make a delicious shake that has 50g of protein at 500ish cals, which is right about my bulk surplus). Do you have any food goals to help you gain the weight? 

[thruhikemaine]

Bulking was tricky for me. When I was in high school I was 145 pounds and decided to try weightlifting. I got up to 190 thanks to a lot of protein shakes, but I also had some chubb that I never had before since I wasn't really doing a good job of monitoring how much protein I took in. I like the sounds of the archetypes in cards, would be perfect for me to use with the kids I work with!

[Xade Sorrel]

I drink protein shakes off and on already, but my major dietary issue is that I generally don't eat. A few weeks back, when supplies were at a low, my daily food consisted of a couple milks and likely a pop tart (or jerky if I was lucky) for lunch followed by a double-decker pb&j for dinner. I'm a very picky eater (likely the pickiest) so my overall dietary goals are, first of all, to eat a truly substantial amount of food daily, to eat more vegetables rather than empty carbs to keep my energy up, and to expand my tastes a little more if possible.