Igi

I worry about the discontinuity of my life - my tendency to plunge headfirst into everything that's new, which is good at the beginning, but awful when you actually want something to last. I worry that I won't be able to focus my attention on training because I'll find a million other things I would rather do, and go for them. I worry that I'm not progressing fast enough. I worry that I won't find the strength to be consistent enough, patient enough, precise enough. I worry that I took up the name of an Assassin and in fact I am anything but. What I plan to do about it? Try to be patient... try to be precise... try to be thorough- GAAAAAAAAAAH it's already killing me. xD but the best way to fight it is to actually find the fun in exercising. So I plan to do just that.

Hullo =) I admit, reading something from a fellow novice is quite refreshing after I've gone through some challenges of fit badasses... Not that you're not a badass, of course. Because you obviously are, judging by the look of your challenge. You've clearly put some thought into it, I root for you this plank it going to give you hell, man. But it's definitely achievable.

Great challenge, and I love how neat everything looks with specific colouring =) hope you keep up this kind of order till the very end! Fingers crossed =)

Love the challenge! It looks like you've put much effort and thought in it. And the superhero style, me loves it. You're already pretty far in the fitness business and you're going further still. Please accept my respect here. also for the interpretor licence... as a linguist, I thoroughly approve. What languages do you learn? Also, Duolingo is awesome. It even teaches you how to flirt. No kidding.

You're really determined, I can see that easily =) I hope you'll keep it up until the end of the challenge and then longer! Is your shitty knee's weakness a result of some injury, or something like that? If so, maybe you could visit a physician to ask about some exercises to strengthen the specific set of muscles that is weakened. Also, congratulations on adopting a dog! you know, when you get a dog, it's a beginning of a beautiful friendship. Now you got one more being on this planet that loves you unconditionally and believes that you're invincible hope that motivates you even more!

9.06.2014 Although I did complete my first challenge, I never finished its thread. This time, I want to make it. I couldn't participate in the last challenge in April - there was too much real life struggle to be focused on - but I never broke the correspondence with my Mentor and the regular training under his tutelage. What I did break was the continuity of my challenge thread - and my daily battle log... Now I know that I had set myself too high a standard - I shouldn't have promised myself to write every day, because my life is very changeable and unpredictable, and there aren't many stable routines that I keep. Especially now that I've finally graduated and am free to do anything I please (at least for the next four months). I shouldn't have said that I'd be writing daily, because when I wasn't, I felt guilt for actively doing something instead of spending time on the internet - and this is obviously wrong. So this time I don't want to leave any pressure on myself. The main goal is to be fit, and take every possibility to be active that life offers, even if it means I'll be out of the realm of internet for some time (and I already know that's going to happen). I plan to update the challenge as frequently as I can, the lowest standard being once a week. I would also love to spend some time on the forum, engaging in the challenge threads of my fellow Assassins and all other Rebels, but that even if I won't be able to do that, rest assured that I support you completely <3

9.06.2014 The Main Epic Quest of Anna Laurentina da Mazovia, also known as Igi, chapter 2: Stamina Training The main objective of this challenge is to simply stay fit and physically active suring my vacation time. Therefore, I'll grab every opportunity to become a true Assassin - I plan to sail, run, continue my parkour-ing tendencies, swim, ride a bike and basically jump headfirst into every opportunity my life will offer, all for the sake of developing the neccessary strength and flexibility to really see the world as my playground. And I plan to have lots and lots of fun with it. It is, after all, the time of my grand four months vacations. However, not to get lost with an objective that is too vague and blurry, I've decided to focus on stamina. So, there are my goals for this challenge: Run at least every three days (if the weather doesn't allow it, then do rope-skipping) and increase the distance (or the skips) every time. Starting point: 0,5km.Do the Sun Salutation (yoga sequence) every morning.Learn at least three new firedancing moves.If at the end of these six weeks I will be able to run at least 2km, I will consider the challenge successfully completed and the goal fulfilled. Life Quest: Keep learning Italian on a daily basis and use Duolingo learning software every day. Health Quest: Replace all the regular oil in the house with olive oil. Additional objectives that I would like to fulfil over the course of these six weeks (not necessarily): - ride a bike for 30km, - go swimming at least five times, - buy a graphic tablet, - achieve a pullup. (When my arm heals.) I'm doing it, because: I finally have the time!Exercising makes me happy in a way that still feels completely foreign for me. I want to get to know it better.I don't want to waste a single day of my longest summer in life.I want to be worthy of the name Assassin.And the motivation from the previous challenge, because this is the same and I still feel this deep shiver of joy when I read this: I want to be a well-rounded, well-educated, fit woman full of life.I want to feel the freedom coming from running free and looking at the world as if it was mine to get and climb onto.I want to feel the joy of pushing my boundaries and achieving something I never have done before.I want to experience new things and enjoy life in its every colour and taste.I want to be a part of the Brotherhood, feel strong, happy and understood in my hopes and dreams.I want to make my Mentor proud.I want to look at myself and say, “This is the woman who has achieved something in her chase to freedom. This is a happy woman.†I am Igi and I will be an Assassin. I WILL be an Assassin.

I know it's WAY too late and I neglected this topic - and the forum - incredibly during the last couple o' months (life stuff... long story), but I'm back aboard and I just wanted some closure here before beginning my new challenge. So I just wanted to say that: The Main Epic Quest Succeeded. Partly. I did Beginner’s Bodyweight Workout 3-4 times a week.I did not go to the climbing site at least three times.I did limit the sweets and take my pills every day.At the end of these six weeks I was able to do at least one full pushup, therefore I deem the challenge successfully completed and the goal fulfilled. Life Quest (go to the ophthalmologist, order contact lenses and try them) not fulfilled. Health Quest (stop biting my nails and fingertips.) not fulfilled. Additional objectives: - spar with my friend at least once - FULFILLED, - go to the park to start climbing trees - FULFILLED, - buy a pair of fitness shoes - FULFILLED. I also mantained continuous correspondence with my Mentor and stayed hooked on fitness issues, which I consider the greatest success of all Now, onwards to the next challenge!

Thanks, Nuala! =) I'm probably the busiest I've ever been in my life, hence the delays in my updates, but once my exams are finally over, I'll be able to focus on NerdFitness more steadily no, I haven't started thinking about my next challenge, but it'll be probably something in the lines of the last one. I need to switch workouts though, the Beginners' Bodyweight one starts to seriously bore me. 3.04.2014 I have hip pains from my roll progression, nothing bad, but it effectively prevents me from going at full speed. But I did work on my rolls, and can do it now more or less correctly. Today I skipped BBWW (as I said, it starts to really bore me after more than two months) and focused on my stomach and arms instead. I don't feel satisfied with what I've done, but my hip's starting to hurt really bad and I think I shouldn't push too far. I'm still not sure whether this shallow excuse of a pushup counts as a fulfillment of my challenge... because it seems I won't be able to present anything better when the last week is over. Sigh.

Thanks, Kzacher! Though we're not doing anything that would make us dentally challenged, no worries xD it's not that level of skill yet. Well, maybe my partner is, but he's chivalrous enough to refrain from hurting me. 26.03.2014 Thanks to my sorella Assassina, I've decided to try assisted handstand for the first time. This is going to be tough, but I'm going to try it - along with my usual workout - as soon as I'm done typing that. Because I haven't done it for five days now (first there was the convention and then I decided to take a rest day, because I needed to regenerate a bit), I'm a little worried how it's going to be, but this is true that you never complain about a workout after you've done it =) off to work am I, then.

24.03.2014 Still on course! Went to the convention for the weekend and did all kinds of crazy stuff again. Very exhausting, both physically and mentally, but I enjoyed every second of it. Running through the halls full of weirdly dressed people that laugh and cheer is way more exciting than just exercising in my room. Back to normal life though... and to my BBW workout.

17.03.2014 I'm back on course - frustrated, slightly demotivated and a little ill, but determined nevertheless. Today I've decided to let go of all the BBWW updates and just fulfill it in the shortest time possible. Managed to do it in 18min! I also tried out my first roll progression from here (thanks, Mentore =)) - seems to be working, but I'm still subconsciously scared of hard surfaces. It'll pass though... now the most important thing is getting rid of that stupid weakness my body stubbornly keeps showing.

17.03.2014 Okay, so there was a fortnight of not writing here. There was also a setback in the training. But I'm back on course! The Envoy of Mr Cogito by Zbigniew Herbert Go where those others went to the dark boundary for the golden fleece of nothingness your last prize go upright among those who are on their knees among those with their backs turned and those toppled in the dust you were saved not in order to live you have little time you must give testimony be courageous when the mind deceives you be courageous in the final account only this is important and let your helpless Anger be like the sea whenever your hear the voice of the insulted and beaten let you sister Scorn not leave you for the informers executioners cowards - they will win they will go to your funeral with relief will throw a lump of earth the woodborer will write your smoothed-over biography and do not forgive truly it is not in your power to forgive in the name of those betrayed at dawn beware however of unnecessary pride keep looking at your clown's face in the mirror repeat: I was called - weren't there better ones than I beware of dryness of heart love the morning spring the bird with an unknown name the winter oak light on a wall the splendour of the sky they don't need your warm breath they are there to say: no one will console you be vigilant - when the light on the mountains gives the sign- arise and go as long as blood turns in the breast your dark star repeat old incantations of humanity fables and legends because this is how you will attain the good you will not attain repeat great words repeat them stubbornly like those crossing the desert who perished in the sand and they will reward you with what they have at hand with the whip of laughter with murder on a garbage heap go because only in this way you will be admitted to the company of cold skulls to the company of your ancestors: Gilgamesh Hector Roland the defenders of the kingdom without limit and the city of ashes Be faithful Go Warmup 3x (20 body weight squats 10 shallow push ups 20 walking lunges 20 2kg horizontal lifts 20 2kg vertical lifts 30 second plank 30 Jumping Jacks) (18 min) Stretching.

Thanks, Mentore =) and Raptron, I will be there from 10th to 13th of April, any suggestions? ;3 15.03.2014 This. Was. A. DISASTER. I thought this moment would come, after all, this is the third week of the challenge - supposedly the hardest. But... Dammit, I haven't had such a letdown since I started my training :< I tried really hard to make it work, but after the warmup and the first full set of Beginner's Bodyweight Workout I got up and just felt... dizzy. My head was spinning and I was feeling horrible - tired, worn out, breathless and sick. AFTER ONE SET. :< I gave up, not really wanting to collapse on the floor, and thought that if this isn't working, I can at least try the Advanced Stretching Routine for the first time. I completed it, but I still feel terrible about myself. Tomorrow I'm trying BBWW once again, and so help me God, I WILL do it.

Thank you, StuffedInABox =) 14.03.2014 Booked a flight to Rome. Just like I bought the red ribbon. Who's in Italy in April? =) My training is going through some hard time now... but I'm going to hit it hard tomorrow. Promise!