Shukar

That's a heck of a haul. Both the trash and the meat.

Last day posting here before the new challenge starts, and my last day in the Scout challenges. 2.2 miles running this morning, followed by 3.8 miles of walking. For dinner we ordered Thai food in. For strength I did some pushups and squats. For reading I did some long-form nonfiction and some work through Power to the People. Short and sweet, and it's been good. Onward to the next challenge and new goals.

Having a home that you feel comfortable having people over to is a good goal, spent some time today working on that very thing here. Now if only we had people and space to hold people. Good luck with the shoulder rehab.

Well here I am, Shukar the dwarf (really tall dwarf), making my debut as a Ranger. Let's do this thing and see how it goes. Stats: STR:9.25 DEX:8.75 STA:8.75 CON:8.5 WIS:10 CHA:8 Fresh off my last challenge in the Scouts I'm here to implement the lessons I've learned and the readings I've done to level up my life yet again. Goal the 1st, Running: Finish the Disneyland Half Marathon in under 2:30. It's slower than my previous half marathon, a 2:10:17. I've been doing a lot less long running to help my wife train for her first 5K, and changing up my diet so right now I'm gonna push myself to what I feel is a reasonable finish time and just hope to do it in good form. This one is going to be graded with an A being under time and with good form, a B being good form but over time, and past that provided I keep good form I'll grade it as it happens. Labor Day Weekend, keep your eyes open. Prize: +3 Sta, +1 Con Goal the 2nd, Mobility: This challenge I'm going to spend a lot more time than I previously have working on my mobility. As a result I'm making it a goal to do an MWoD at least 3 times a week, straight from the blog, plus work on my ankles (a problem area) and my neck every day. If I make all 3 WoDs each week that'll get me an A, 2 a B, 1 a C; though all of those assume I still manage the daily work which is another letter grade in itself. Prize: +2 Dex, +1 Str, +1 Wis Goal the 3rd, Strength: This goal is all about Strength, properly named isn't it?, and Kettlebells are how I'm planning to get there. Having read Pavel's Enter the Kettlebell and some other works of his during the last challenge I've decided I'm going to work on the Program Minimum this challenge. As a result workouts will be as follows: twice a week 12 minutes of swings with the minimum rest between sets, twice a week 5 minutes of alternating Turkish Get-ups. Both of those will also include a warmup with halos and face the wall squats (killer on their own). Two of the other days will include my skill work, pushups, squats, pullups, handstands(?), if it's a strength based bodyweight skill this is where it's going. The remaining day will include some small amount of strength work just to keep doing something daily. Or at least that's the plan. If I stick to it I'll have earned my A hardstyle. If I miss 1-2 days a week it's a B, 3 is a C, 4 a D. Prize: +3 Str, +1 Sta, +2 Cha Goal the 4th, Senses: This last goal is one that I've not taken care of for quite a while and that I really should have, but we will have to see how much work it actually takes. For the longest time that I can recall I was basically unable to smell. No real idea why just couldn't. By the end of the challenge, whether it be through experiment with diet, some novel method of clearing it out, or a visit to the doctor to get it checked out, I'm going to get an answer. Solved is an A, progress is a B or a C depending on effort compared to possible effort. Prize: +1 Wis So there you have it, my goals. Let me know what you think.

No soda is a tough one, but well worth it. Look forward to watching this one.

I agree, that meetup is gonna be way unpaleo, but tons of fun. Nice to see the goals have simplified nicely compared to last challenge. Keep up the great work, as always.

Earl, Kick this challenges posterior.

Look like good goals. The Whole30 is a pretty awesome experience so far, on day 20 here, and good for you dedicating to the reintroduction too. Good luck with the resume and job hunting.

Rather than get 3 different screwdrivers I'd suggest an 11-in-1, Klein makes them and you can find them at Home Depot. One of the best investments I've made on a single tool.

Good luck man, that is a good list of goals. You'll do well.

Took it really easy today. No morning activity, only 2.9 miles throughout the day. Resistance was scaled back as well to only a set of 5 pushups and 5 close squats. Went to dinner with the in-laws and made wise food choices where I found myself, mexican restaurant. Had a great deal of success with reading though reading through the entirety of Bulletproof Abs and some of the start of Power to the People. Will do better tomorrow.

This day went pretty well also, though I'm starting to feel the volume I've been keeping this week is around my limit at this stage of my fitness, so some reorganization may be in order. Walk of 1.4 miles this morning and another 3.25 today at work. Dinner was sausages, roast spaghetti squash, steamed broccoli, and fried eggplant. Awesome dinner. For reading today it was 2 chapters of Naked Warrior, which I'm nearly finished with. For workouts it was the same as yesterday except I did 50 swings instead of 40. Training is starting to hit a really good groove that I'll need for upcoming weeks.

I'd give myself an A-, I got a B on one of my goals because I missed my 5k goal by 18 seconds, but for my other goals I made really great progress. What started as "make dinner at home 3 nights a week" turned into not just that but also a Whole30 and making nearly all my meals at home by the end of the challenge. Reading at least 3 days per week quickly became read every day, and an extended set of resistance training 3/week became me trying to see how many days in a week I could do the extended set (turns out all of them if I put my mind to it) and unlocking the new skills, pull-up, full bridge, and push-up to the floor to my skill list. I'm super happy with how this challenge turned out, despite my having missed the 5k goal. Feeling great with my results and where I'm taking this in the next challenge.

Another banner day today. Started out with a 2.1 mile run this morning, and an additional 4.8 miles of walking today. Dinner was chicken thighs with broccoli and kale chips. Delicious and quick. For workouts I did the same set as the previous night, with the exception that 40 swings, and only 3 pull-ups. For reading I put in a couple chapters of Naked Warrior. Training is moving right along. I think I'm gonna be ready for next weeks new workout program.

Also, wear a nerdy shirt. Or look for people in Vibrams, that's a good give away.

Today has been a good day so far, 1.45 mile walk this morning and another 5.4 the rest of today. For dinner I made curried tilapia and shrimp with spinach and stir-fry veggies in a thai coconut curry sauce served over browned roasted spaghetti squash. For resistance work I did 10 each side KB floor presses, a Turkish Get-Up on each side, 30 swings, 10 face-the-wall squats, 5 pushups, 5 close squats, 4 pull-ups, 3 leg raises and a 30 second bridge hold. A good selection of strength training work. For reading I did a chapter of Naked Warrior, some long form fiction, and some extra work through Naked Warrior, in addition to listening through 3/5 of Hitchikers Guide and a couple chapters of Dune Messiah. So keeping up the good work to improve my condition for the next challenge.

2.25 mile run this morning, and 6.3 miles of walking. Dinner was a wonderful beef roast in the crockpot with mushrooms, salsa, and chicken stock. For workouts I did basically the same set as yesterday, Kettlebell practice (including a full rep of the Get-Up) with floor presses, picking up the bell, and swings, face the wall squats, pushups from the deck, close squats, pullups (a set of 4 today), leg raises, and a bridge hold (longer than yesterday). Reading consisted of some random articles and more from Naked Warrior, and also the completion of Dune on Audiobook. Tomorrow we're starting Dune Messiah on the commutes, and I'll be starting Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy on my runs and work driving.

We could arrange to still be there at 8 I'm sure. There's a movie theater right there we could patron.

Looks good to me!

Since there's no challenge ongoing my daily postings will go in here for now. No run this morning but there was a relaxed 1.5 mile walk and another 4.5 miles of walking during work. Made an awesome breakfast style hash for dinner, sweet potato hash browns, broccoli, peppers, ground beef and pork, tomatoes, spices, all cooked together in cast iron and then baked with eggs over the top. For reading there was a lot of random reading and some work on Naked Warrior. The workout was the thing that saw the biggest change and most progress. 5 Pushups to the floor with my arms in better angle, 5 close squats, 3 pullups, 3 flat straight leg raises, and a bridge hold were accompanied by some practice picking up and putting down the kettlebell from the floor, the floor press with said kettlebell, face the wall squats to help work on the balance and body position of the swing, and the swing itself for some reps to round things out. Good workout that will help set the stage for next weeks new workouts. Until next time.

Alright wrap up post here we go! Started the morning off with my final attempt at my 5k goal. Finished just short at 28:48, missing my ultimate goal for the challenge by 18 seconds and netting me a B+ on this goal and the associated points. .75 each to Con, Dex, Sta Today for resistance training I did 5 full pushups, nose to the floor, 5 close stance squats (working toward better pistol options), 3 consecutive pull-ups, a 60s bridge hold, and 3 flat straight leg raises. Decided that I'd rather focus on fewer reps of harder movements than more reps of easier movements because it'll help me toward my goals better. That makes 4 times on the extended routine this week, meaning I've beat 3/week all 6 weeks this challenge netting me my A and the 3 Str, 1 Cha, and 1 Wis that went with it. (That Cha was a wise choice, I do look better for this one.) For dinner tonight I'm eating with a friend at IHOP in a little bit (supposedly), but still managed to cook dinner this week 3 times, making the 6th week I hit that goal. So another A and it's 2 Cha and 2 Con. For the reading goal today I reread some of 4 Hour Body to help with some training changes (I do that often when I change training up), some of Naked Warrior, reread some of Enter the Kettlebell for some plan design reasons, and went through a lot of Nerd Fitness. That makes 7 days this week and every single day during the challenge. That's a freaking A+ right there, and 3 points of Wisdom. In addition due to Scout Challenges I earned +1 Dex from the first challenge, +1 Cha from the 2nd, +1 Dex from the 3rd, +1 Wis from the 4th, +1 Str from the 5th, and may yet tie up a wildcard from the 6th (while I achieved a PR with my effort it wasn't the PR I was hoping for so I'm leaving that to arbitration of the Dawsy) As to non-tracked goals I ran with my wife 3 times a week all challenge and she's now running (albeit what I'd call slowly) 25 minutes at a time without stopping, something she'd have found nearly impossible before. I'm 2 weeks in to a Whole30 challenge which has been going really smoothly so far and seems to be improving my lacking sense of smell in the process. Not only did I managed to read and strength train every day, but I read all of Viking Warrior Conditioning, Russian Kettlebell Challenge, and Enter the Kettlebell in addition to plenty of other varied material. I also managed to progress from hopping above the bar to do negatives to a set of 5 half pull-ups or 3 full pull-ups; from incline push-ups to 5 touching my nose to the ground; from mediocre attempts at bridging to 5 reps of a full bridge or a 60s hold. I'm really happy with my progress through this challenge, and the fact I managed to keep up daily updates on this thread in addition to all the progress I made. So final stats: STR:9.25 DEX:8.75 STA:8.75 CON:8.5 WIS:10 CHA:8 Plus possibly a wildcard, which I'd throw into my Con due to the progress I've made on my overall health this challenge through my varied efforts to surpass myself. So there's that, I'll update this with results after the week 6 challenge finishes up and then I'll be done with this challenge on to my between challenge work. Which will be working on form and technique for my kettlebell work (starting the EtK Program Minimum workouts for the next challenge, working on increasing tension in my bodyweight exercises to help with progress on leveling up my various skills (another project for next challenge), and keeping after the running like a boss. Not to mention continuing this Whole30.

Despite my previous allegiance with the Scouts, and my enjoyment of said time, I think Ranger is where I'll be for the next while. Crossfit isn't yes something for me but mixing more strength training and mobility work in with my running to make myself more well rounded sounds like Ranger to me. So time to pick up some levels in a second base class, the better to PrC later .

Managed to beat my previous PB by nearly a minute, but didn't quite reach my goal for the 6-week challenge, missed it my 18 seconds. So, PR is a PR, but not quite what I'd been hoping to accomplish. This challenge has been awesome for all 6 weeks, and somehow the weekly challenges are always what I need in any given week, no idea how you do that Dawsy.

@Ergolad: Feels good man. I'm feeling my groove right now and excited for the mornings 5K attempt.

Another fairly simple day. Ran 2.16 miles with the wife in the morning, followed by another 3 miles of walking. Resistance for the day was filled by pushups and squats. Dinner was chipotle. For reading I finished Enter the Kettlebell and started in on The Naked Warrior, really on a Pavel kick right now that I'm hoping I can translate into some good results.