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Thanks for the recommendations of GM. It turns out I had forgot I had read Happy(!) and I loved it too. If you like the Scotts have you ever read any Mark Millar? I still think his Red Son is one of the best superman stories I have ever read! I will definitely start listening to the Kevin Smith podcast as well. I must admit I am a sucker for KS. I even have a few of his TPBs (Guardian Devil,Quiver, Batman Cacophony & The Widening Gyre). I must admit I don't know much about Hellblazer story and John Constantine as a character but in the Keanu, but I have to agree with you that Peter Stormare's performance was awesome. He stole the film for me to be honest. I have got high hopes for both Preacher and Sandman and crossing all extremities about them being made. I did just read yesterday that they are making a TV series of Lucifer from the Sandman world. Interesting concept with Lucifer leaving hell to come to earth to open a piano bar. Knowing Gaiman's style of story telling I imagine it will have interesting twists and turns. Always fun to chat about comics related news.

Hi Kaji, MA is a very personal thing. There is no right or wrong answer to which is the best. Each art has it's strengths and it's weaknesses. If you have a idea of what you want out of your art and you have the clubs available around you then you are very lucky. Everything mentioned above I'd agree with. I appreciate you have started Tae Kwon Do and if you find after a few sessions it's not for you, move on. If you have a lot of clubs in your area, research all of them. There maybe something that is a bit more obscure like Pankration (Greek martial art) that you may not have heard of but ticks all your boxes. If your inspiration is Bruce Lee, then Jeet Kune Do is a great art for you obviously. If there isn't a club nearby that does JKD, then Wing Chun. Bruce studied this under Ip Mann if I remember correctly and it is a very fast art. The one thing I'd say, same as everyone else is try not to learn five different arts at once. There is an old saying that explains this perfectly and probably quite aptly for this topic "Jack of all trades, master of none".

Hi Gar, Welcome Back! Good choices with Morrison and Ennis by the way. How do you feel about the possibility of a TV series of Preacher? Saying that what about the possibility of a Sandman film? I must admit I am looking forward to the Constantine TV show coming out in October. The trailers for it have been looking amazing. Going back to the comics I have only read a little Morrison (We3, Arkham Asylum & Batman R.I.P) but loved them all and with Ennis I have read all of Preacher and the first three TPB of The Boys which were also good. Anyway good luck with the power lifting and kicking that second chinup in to oblivion!

Welcome to the forum, Martial arts are so much fun, I imagine you are going for the monk guild then? I have done a couple of types in the past from Karate to Tai Chi (I love Tai Chi, it is such a dirty martial arts). I am currently learning a self defence system in the UK called ABC Combat System. It matches the moves of the system to letters of the alphabet, it sounds odd and a bit silly I know, but works really well. It uses techniques from everything from kung fu to Victorian era bare knuckle boxing. Are you a fan of just the grappling arts or do you like the striking arts too aka Mauy Thai, Wing Chun, etc? Once again, nice to meet you and good luck your path.

Thanks Guys, I really appreciate the support and kind words you're sending I must admit I did read Staci's story. She is truly inspirational, she proved how with determination, the right attitude, a good source of knowledge and great support, you can go a long way. I must admit it is one of the reasons I joined the forum. The community just sounded so friendly and positive that I thought I'd give it a go. I must admit I really psyched about the challenges as well, I didn't even know they existed when I signed up (I'm pretty oblivious all in all). I have my induction to my gym tonight and once I know what equipment to start using, I am going to start laying down my first challenge and the battle plans to beat it! Regarding the healthy eating, I have started scouring the internet of late for healthy recipes to try and I have even been considered giving the Paelo diet a go. I have a couple of work colleagues who have been using the Paelo diet as part of their cross fit training and some of the lunches they have prepared have been delicious and healthy at the same time. Those are two things I did not think were even possible to achieve in cooking! I noticed the forum had a recipe section as well, so I'll dive in there for inspiration when I have a free moment. If anyone knows any great recipes I'll definitely be willing to give them a go! Thank you again for the warm welcomes, I do appreciate them.

Hey Marla, Just wanted to wish you good luck with your new path to becoming an assassin and also kudos for the game choices! 7 wonders and Dominion are fantastic games. If you like deck builders can I recommend you check out Arctic Scavengers by Rio Grande games. It's a deck builder in a frozen post apocalyptic world. You hire people to your tribe (buying cards as in dominion) but the thing I like about the game which is a little different is that at the beginning of each round the 1st player gets to look at contested resource deck and then at the end of the round everyone puts in a bid for that resources using what is left in your hand from any purchases. It's nice to see a deck builder that let's you interact with other players for once. Anyway this isn't a board game forum so I'll stop there . Once again good luck on your road to the forbidden skills of the Assassin and I hope you have a awesome time in Hawaii!

Hey Merrisa, Herniated discs are certainly no fun, I myself have one from an from falling over while being drunk of all things (stupid I know!). It took me a while to get over the fear of doing anything activities due to it but as Minna said there will come a point where you won't even think about them any more. You'll get there though and we will all be rooting for you on the way .

Hi Lucky, Good luck on your challenge. I am sure that not only will you succeed in your quests, you'll destroy them!!! I have a few friends who have been following the Paleo diet with their cross fit gyms and I have to say with way their lunches have tasted, you'd think they contained all the naughty stuff you are not allowed.

Thanks Lucky, I hope so to! As you cay calorie counting became more of an obsession and I really want to move away from it. I know to start with it will be handy to keep track of what I am eating but it's not where I want to be down the line. Regarding energy through the day I think because it was such a gradual change I haven't really noticed too much of a difference. I must admit I hope getting fitter and eating healthier will give me much more get up and go though.

Toxophilite is 100% correct. If you go for too much of a heavy poundage to start with you will not only damage your technique but probably yourself. If you speak to your club/range they will more than likely have the equipment to determine what your draw length and poundage should be. Also with a recurve bow you can adjust the limbs to get more poundage out of them, for example if you get a set of 28lbs limbs, when wound up to the highest level, you could get probably get 30lbs out of them. This also works the other way round when they are wound down. When it boils down to it though technique is the key. There is a phrase my instructor told me when I started which is 'archery is the art of repetition'. Doing the same actions in the same position/stance, hitting the same reference point, will get you the same results. Unfortunately that is always easier said than done .

Hi fellow Rebels, Well where to start. I know in the sign up process it said the site doesn't care where your from, but as it is a huge part of me now and my decisions to sign up, I may as well start there (i'll try not to bore you). About 10 years ago, I did not care about my health, so much so that I weighed in at 371 pounds. I then injured my back, and was told by my doctor, the only way not to suffer for the rest of my life with back issues was to lose weight. Skip ahead three years later and I had got my weight down to 224 pounds, through strict dieting. It was the hardest thing I have done. I decided to have a couple of years off and enjoying myself again (the occasional takeaway, alcohol, etc). I then hit the dieting again and started a gym. After another year or two, I got down to 196 pounds. I then found my final end game, if I lost another 14 pounds I'd weigh less than all the weight I had lost! I achieved this two years a go, but probably by the incorrect way, I calorie counted. Don't get me wrong it did it's job but we come to where I am now. So, I have recently put on another 14 pounds and as I have barely been exercising so it must be all fat. I don't eat properly any more (an average days meals are breakfast: A banana, Lunch: Salad, regulalry don't have dinner) due to my calorie counting and the fear of putting on more weight! Alternatively when the snacks come out rounds friends, because I don't eat them regularly, my will power goes and I hit them like a ten ton truck, hence the putting on 14 pounds this last few months. So, why am I here? I am about to join a local gym as I want to get stronger, fitter and actually have some core muscles so I don't slouche any more, but I am petrified about eating to go with it. I have tried exercising at home doing bodyweight exercises but when I get home from work my motivation goes out the window. I also know if my diet is wrong, I'm already losing the battle. I also hoped to pick up as many tips and pieces of advice as I can and I am already very grateful for any that will head my way. So to cut a long story short, I guess I am here to be moulded into a hero, with good STR, DEX & HP.. All the best guys.