NinjaManMat

Of course! I'm nothing if not happy to check and see how you're doing. It's excellent to hear you're working hard and pushing yourself. Wow! A full half mile without stopping? That's awesome. How fast do you think you were going? Going to bed is a goal everyone seems to be working on. Just keep at it, that's the point of these challenges: We're turning goals into habits! Good luck finding more strangers to talk to, I really think it's really going to give you a nice postive lift. Good luck and remember Ranger - never let them catch you off guard!

Wow! Cryptomacy, so much awesomeness in your thread! Opera, fencing and working out? What more does someone really need? You've been doing a lot of preperation in preparing yourself for this challenge: that is so cool. It looks like it's working for you since your day 1 seemed to go well. How have you been feeling since then? Glad to hear you're cutting back on the sugar drinks. How are things looking for tomorrows challenge? Keep up the good work and congratulations on bounching back and even more for pushing on to acheive what you have. The best part is that in 6 weeks you'll have one more thing to add to your accomplishments: FINISHING YOUR FIRST CHALLENGE! God speed and may the force be with you.

@ crytomancy I totally agree with you in regerds to, "just taking the time to write down what I am eating for each meal helps immensely." I myself have been keeping a food diary and I have really been watching what I eat and how much of it I'm eating.

Hey Ranger13_ How are the workouts going? Are we going to be seeing an update to your status soon? I hope this challenge is going well for you.

Thanks Sea Level! I made sure to start slow but hard. I don't want to overlcock myself and burn out but I don't want to take it easy either. The work outs have been great actually! Don't get me wrong, i'm tired and worn but feeling full of energy at the same time. I'm pumped and look forward to my work out days. I have been following my regiment to the letter. I'm very proud of myself and am determind to keep this pace throughout the challenge. I've spent too much time making myself feel bad about my past failures, I intend not to waste any more time on such thoughts. From here on it's postive determination!

Good evening Sea Level, I'm sorry to hear you've had a rough go of the last few challenges but looking at the goals and exercises you've set up for youself I have a very good feeling this next 6 weeks will be your "beach." (excuse my french but I couin't resist seeing as you have an awesome ocean theme!) I cannot wait to see the videos of you dancing and playing your new and old instruments. If you are good at video editing maybe you could find the time to make a collaberation of you dancing to your own instrumentals! That would be quite fun to watch. Good luck to you sir. I hope good sleep finds you this night to prepare you for another day of greatness!

Day - 3 (it's quiet...too quiet) Hey everyone, this is going to be short since it's quite late and I need to get to bed to keep up my sleep task. I have thus far succeeded with great marks in all of my tasks. (even going a little bit further, but only a little, I don't wanna burn out) I have successfully been keeping my food diary and it's REALLY helping to keep me from not only snacking at random but making take a hard look at the choices I make. In regards to the Paleo diet I have been reducing the amount of none-caveman food intake since about 2 weeks before this challenge and now I'm closer than ever at attaining it. Tomorrow is the day I promised myself I'd be full Paleo (for a month) and will be going to the grocery store and purchasing ONLY food stuffs that fit in with a Paleo way of life. (except greek yogurt, i'm going to be partaking of that to ensure my weak digestive track stays in top form) The only thing I've been faltering at is my Life Quest:To draw. Drawing is a passion of mine (as previously stated) and so I have been letting that one slid to ensure I get everything relating to my fitness goals accomplished. After all I am in no danger of not drawing again (especially since I'm going back to school for it at the end of August) but there is a fear I could slip up on my workouts and task and that is out of the question. I will be redoubling my efforts towards all things challenge related to ensure I get it all done in the manner I have thus far dictated. Good luck everyone!

Hey robinhoodie! Just dropped by to see your Quest. I like the way your topic is laid out: very easy to follow and understand. You've got some pretty straight forward and (while difficult) doable missions. I like how they're all very focused on getting you to those handstands. Question, will you be attempting hand stands through out the challenge? Or will you wait til closer to the end to try? (You should document your success and failures, how close you were to doing them, ect.) Can't wait to see your update! Also, I'd like to add it's great to hear you're moving into your first apartment! That's always a thrill, I remember when I moved out. Stick to your guns missy, don't beat yourself up if things don't go as planned and remember to "Proudly Push your Perseverence Periliously Past the Point of Previous Persistance as Perfectly as can be Perceived" or X-P! (X as in the roman numeral for 10) Good luck in your days to come!

Kicking butt mate! You're doing an excellent job of sticking to your schedule and posting on time. Good job on not giving up on your lifts even though they're giving you touble: It will get easier! Also, keep working on that sleep. I know you know but that's super important. FORTH EORLINGAAAAAAS!

First of all, thank you very much robinhoodie! I seriously appreciate the feedback. I have been keeping lots of documentation in terms of my eating habits (which have improved GREATLY by the way ((go me!)) ) and sticking unfailingly to my Tasks set before me. In regards to my Life mission I have been falling a bit short on drawing but there is yet more time in the week to make up for my missed opporunities. I am really putting all my effort into sticking with the workout and eating goals as I feel that to be the most important bit of this whole challenge. I will however make a point not to let my artistic pursuits fall to the way side. I will be updating my thread more regularily to reflect how closely I'm sticking to my plans...also, I absolutely LOVE the spreadsheet idea. I'm going to sit down when I get home tomorrow and set all that up. Also, thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed my little rant of the P's there! haha XD

Awesome Quest first of all! We're all looking for a little adventure arn't we? Your missions are totally attainable as long as you keep the faith and work at it with all your heart, mind and body. As Dr. kate said, "Awesome life quest. I make my kids talk to strangers (the checkout person, ask someone for the time, etc.) so they can do this later when I'm no longer around to supervise them. You *will* choose the right people to speak with," and I completely aggree. Charisma is not a dump stat. Get out there, work out, meet some new people and get messy!

Keep it up! Like Angie said, "Every successful day is one day closer!" Truer words...

This is my first challenge. That being said I welcome all comments and suggestions from my brothers and sisters to aid me on my quest to a better, healthier, stronger me. I have been on again off again working out over the last year or so and I have recently joined a group of friends in working out together to further ourselves. Doing almost anything is easier with a team and having 2 forms of support will be a great way in keeping me motivated to reach my goals. My body type yields best results from weight lifting as I seem to bulk up easily. While the life of a Warrior seems to be my calling my true desire is more akin to that of a Ranger. I want highly responsive, fast reaction muscles that are toned and flexiable, able to easily react to any situation: I want to be fast and strong. I would like to one day advance into Assassin/Monk but that will take time and I must first start here with what I know I can attain through hard work and dedication. That being said here is what I have chosen as the quest to my story... Main Quest Build Muscle, Lose Weight For the majority of my adult life I have looked back and lamented the years wasted when I could have workout out to fulfill what I think should be my image. I have slid by being what I thought was "only a little overweight" for a long time. No more. With help from my brothers and sisters I will lament and look back never again in regards to my fitness goals. I shall proudly push my perseverence periliously past the point of previous persistance as perfectly as can be perceived. Tasks Workout 3 times a week for 1 hour a day. Workout includes five "8-Minute" videos (stretch, abs, arms, legs, gluts), 10 minutes of sprint/walking, 10 minutes of weight lifting. I will be increasing this to 4 days a week after I gain my first level, 3 weeks into this challenge. Walk briskly every day for 10 minutes on my lunch at work. Do 15 push ups/sit ups in the morning and at night. (This is to ensure that even on days I'm not workong out I will still be giving my body some exercise) I will be increasing this to 30 after I gain my first level, 3 weeks into this challenge. Get at least 7 hours of sleep every night. I will be increasing this to 8 hours after I gain my first level, 3 weeks into this challenge.Life Quest DrawDrawing (among other aspects and persuits) is a passion of mine. I'm going to be going back to school dedicating myself to it at the end of August; I'm very excited but also terrified. I will be devoting time to drawing 3 times a week for 1 hour a day. I will not being increasing the amount of set time to draw as the challenge continues for I do not want to put too much pressure to do something that isn't working out. I need to focus my willpower. Side Quest(s) Paleo DietI have been pushing myself towards this form of eating ever since I read about it on Nerd Fitnress 2 weeks ago. I promised myself that by August 1st I would be completely Paleo for 1 month. This is a great way hold myself accountable for that. I have been pushing myself to it over the last couple of weeks and I have noticed very real boosts in energy and just feeling great. I'm assuming this is also responsible for the working out I've been doing but I'm still very excited to be doing this. I have high hopes for success as the food for Paelo is delicious but it is time consuming. Food DiaryI have been keeping a food Diary since the start of this challenge and it's really helping me from just wandering off and snacking when I'm bored. Keeping it near me while at home serves as a good reminder of what I'm trying to accomplish. The way before me is a long a difficult journey, but with my brothers and sisters at my side, my goal before me, and the dreams of physical prowess fast becoming dream no more I look forward to the path before me with much hope and zealous determination. Allons Y!