hybrid756

Oh what? I wasn't sure about doing the mini this time round because of my terrible performance last time, but... I'm all about the workouts for this challenge and have thoughts forming about how this could complement my main challenge... Plus I need to add a pull to my routine, so... Once I'm on a PC I'll have the form submitted I'm sure

Oh I have been where you're at too... the dreaded paralysis by analysis. I nth the idea of going for something you enjoy, or think you might enjoy! If you think doing weights could cause you problems right out the gate, leave that for now. You can always add strength training later once you get a better feel for how your body responds to different types of exercise. If it makes you feel any better, I've been on NF for 6-7 months now and am only just starting to add in exercise, it's been all tweaking of the diet so far! A few things I think are relevant for you right now are: When you're starting out building a routine, the content of the routine is probably less important than building the habit. You need to judge results based on your own experiences, not anyone else's. That requires a bit of time and analysis from YOUR perspective.Why not sign up for the next 6 week challenge? The links are at the top of the page. You're in at just the right time. Pick the most appealing mode of exercise. (not "highest calorie burn" or whatever, something you think you could start to enjoy! Intensity can be added later - leave yourself room for improvement, because you WILL improve!) Start a 6 week challenge and commit to doing it, say, 3x per week. Give it 6 weeks, show up every day and do the thing you said you'd do. After 6 weeks, evaluate your results. Adjust, make a new 6 week plan, repeat. Over time you'll carve out a routine that's perfect for you. Ideas could be a morning mile walk (I'm putting this in my challenge this time round as a habit building exercise), a C25K program for running, a 30 day yoga challenge (I'm about to start this one as I've heard good reports about it around the forums - 5 days a week over the 6 weeks), sign up for a block of dance classes, gyms in my area do 6 week pilates and kettlebells classes, maybe your area has something similar? The best workout routine is always the one you'll do, so have some fun with it and experiment!

w00t! Cooking of the things And now I want to try mustard cod too... The parsnips really are delicious even if they're a bit of a faff to make. I like your new challenge, and think that's a great idea giving yourself the option to switch halfway. Think I was just a bit miffed that I got on better last time with the fat loss before I restricted the diet so tightly, but hey, it's all info I can use. Here's to more calories and more workouts!

WEEK 6 SUMMARY Summary 1. ATTACK Summary ATTACKS EXECUTED: 0%FF3300; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">0% 2. CURE Summary CURE SPELLS CAST: 0%0000FF; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">0% 3. VIGILANCE Summary VIGILANCE BUFFS CAST: 0%0%

WEEK 5 SUMMARY Summary 1. ATTACK Summary ATTACKS EXECUTED: 0%FF3300; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">0% 2. CURE Summary CURE SPELLS CAST: 0%0000FF; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">0% 3. VIGILANCE Summary VIGILANCE BUFFS CAST: 0%0%

WEEK 4 SUMMARY Summary 1. ATTACK Summary ATTACKS EXECUTED: 0%FF3300; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">0% 2. CURE Summary CURE SPELLS CAST: 0%0000FF; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">0% 3. VIGILANCE Summary VIGILANCE BUFFS CAST: 0%0%

WEEK 3 SUMMARY Summary 1. ATTACK Summary ATTACKS EXECUTED: 0%FF3300; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">0% 2. CURE Summary CURE SPELLS CAST: 0%0000FF; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">0% 3. VIGILANCE Summary VIGILANCE BUFFS CAST: 0%0%

WEEK 2 SUMMARY Summary 1. ATTACK Summary ATTACKS EXECUTED: 0%FF3300; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">0% 2. CURE Summary CURE SPELLS CAST: 0%0000FF; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">0% 3. VIGILANCE Summary VIGILANCE BUFFS CAST: 0%0%

WEEK 1 SUMMARY Summary 1. ATTACK Summary ATTACKS EXECUTED: 0%FF3300; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">0% 2. CURE Summary CURE SPELLS CAST: 0%0000FF; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">0% 3. VIGILANCE Summary VIGILANCE BUFFS CAST: 0%0%

ASSASSINS CHALLENGE #4 This time round, it's a boss fight. It's time for me to put to use the progress I've made so far, and show my strength! The time for practice is over! There are a million things I want to get done, and I could wander Cocoon forever picking off one Cie'th at a time, but I fought through a whole squad of them last challenge round to get to this point. I came this far for a reason, now it's time to get the job done. Here's what I learned over my last few challenges: If I split my goals, I do great on the first, good on the second, and fail the third. I need a single aim! There are other things in life I need to do, and I'll do them just the same without making them part of the challenge. My university boss fight is over a week before this begins, and I have 4-5 months to concentrate before that starts again, and I want my new habits in place when it does! I am in this for 100% completion. One thing only. Last time round, it was the calories and cooking thing. Before that, it was the not being weird around food thing. I have all these potions stocked up for: BATTLE!!! Time to get strong!!! All that work on the "diet is 80% of your success" was leading up to something. This challenge is 100% exercise. I've been considering the idea of upping my calories from 1,450 because I was feeling the side effects, but now I know how to track with no effort. When I started lifting last year and promptly quit because I couldn't cook or not binge, I quit (temporarily) because I wanted those things in place first. Last challenge I learned to cook. I'm confident about the food. All aspects of the food. I'm ready, I'll start my calories at 2,000 per day (necessitating a higher everyday activity level). If I start gaining fat, I'll drop it 50-100 per week. Call this charging the ATB gauge. Call it casting haste at the start of battle. Call it what you will, but I NEED TO FEED MYSELF. Now I'm starting to work out, I don't want to start in an aggressive deficit and bail out exhausted halfway through. This is a long term thing, and if the numbers go a bit screwy over the initial adjustment period, I'll just have to wait it out. This is only the first 6 weeks of a lifetime of being fit and awesome. Changes are to be expected. Grades are tighter because I care a lot less about doing these workouts than forming the habit of doing them. Consistency is everything! Speaking of which, I don't care how fast I progress here, just that I show up and do the things. 1. ATTACK This portion of the challenge is the strength part. For the break week I upped my calories to 2,200 and started on heavy dumbbell training (circuits - 5 x squat, 5 x deadlift, 5 x OHP, 5 x chest press, 5 x push up, 5 x bent over row basically with dumbbells where the barbell would be. 3 sets of one after the other with minimal rest). This is all the equipment I have at the moment, but there's a good chance I might head back to the gym part way through the challenge and start Stronglifts all over again. Bodyweight progressions also count, if it's equally challenging. I'm not being too prescriptive about HOW I strength train, or where, or whether I change the routine. I have zero excuses. Whatever I do, it has to challenge me, and I have to do it 3x per week (no schedule, probably M/W/F as that's what I'm doing now, but not on consecutive days). I want a pullup bar, because that needs to go into the routine as well. I will find a way of finding the cash to do this. Stats over 6 weeks: 16-18 strength workouts - A - +4 STR13 - 15 strength workouts - B - +3 STR10 - 12 strength workouts - C - +2 STR< 10 strength workouts - FAILObtain functioning pullup bar (even without working it into routine yet) - +1 STRATTACKS EXECUTED: 0%FF3300; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">0% 2. CURE This part is recovery mode. I don't care if it's yoga, basic stretching, whatever. In the gym, at home, at work, I don't care. Anywhere. On the day after each strength workout, I do some kind of beneficial stretchy workout to counterbalance Attack mode. I'll update again with plans once I've had a good look at what's available. 16-18 stretchy workouts - A - +5 DEX13-15 stretchy workouts - B - +4 DEX10-12 stretchy workouts - C - +3 DEX< 10 stretch workouts - FAILCURE SPELLS CAST: 0%0000FF; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">0% 3. VIGILANCE This is a buff to make it less likely that I will recoil upon taking damage and be unable to attack. I saw the concept of a morning mile walk on the NF blog, and thought I'd try it out this morning. I even left my phone in the house. I didn't even have a coffee, just got up and DID IT. It really helped me focus my mind on what I wanted to do during the day, sift through thoughts that were still falling out of my head on waking up (I often have intense waking anxiety, like being woken up by a panic attack, and it sucks). If I want each day to go right, I must meditate this tendency out of myself asap when I wake up. Walking around in nature is one of the best ideas I have heard of to achieve this, and today it worked really well. Plus, since this is exercise related, of course, walking is exercise. It's not hugely calorie burning, but who cares? It's hormonally beneficial, and this is what I want. I failed a walking task before, but it was too time intensive. This is half an hour a day, at most. Vigilance isn't a direct attack, it's a supporting presence that makes all your other attacks more effective. I can see this graduating to become a morning run, a morning swing on the monkey bars, a morning walk up a hill and back, but I don't NEED IT to become any of those things, I'm quite happy with it as it is, and it needs to become a part of my life! 36-42 morning walks - A - +2 STA / +2 WIS30-35 morning walks - B - +1 STA / +1 WIS24-29 morning walks - C - +0.5 STA / + 0.5 WIS< 24 morning walks - FAILVIGILANCE BUFFS CAST: 0%0% Starting measurements from 8 June 2015 Weight: Scale Bf%: DoD Bf%: Scale H2O%: Lean mass: Chest (upper): Chest (lower): Waist: Hips: Neck: Right upper arm: Left upper arm: Right lower arm: Left lower arm: Right thigh: Left thigh: Right calf: Left calf:

Commiserations on exam season from a fellow maths student! I bet you can't wait to get started on this challenge. Loads of fun physical work after all the heavy going mental exertion, brilliant idea!

I love how you're building on your last challenge! A couple of challenges in and you'll have all the foundations in place, that is THE most important bit!

I agree with the sleep thing, and the dominoes! That is completely true. What a solid challenge!

I LOVE THAT BOOK!!! There's a documentary on Netflix I watched around a month ago about them trying to pull the E.T. games out of the desert... Ernest Cline heads along to the dig as pretty much The Supernerd Of The Nerdiest Archaeological Event EVER. Definitely worth a watch if you haven't seen it already, I forget the title (doh!) It's called Atari: Game Over. Plus, I want to adopt #3... that's a good goal, one I need to work on too. Good luck with your challenge!

So this is how you do a lot of the things all at once and manage to be realistic about it! I love #7, might need to adopt that.

Clear goals! I like it Solidarity paradigm FTW!

You are looking very fit!! Ready to batter some Cie'th! Happy belated birthday! Yours is the day after mine, I wasn't around much. I hope you had an absolutely wonderful day Enjoy your new swimsuit, you should revel in the fact you're living so healthily and being balanced by not trying to be perfect... because you look and sound pretty good and happy to me and perfection doesn't even exist anyway.

What an amazing job!! You are getting SO strong, and so relaxed. I hope you're having a wonderful time in Greece! What a perfect end to an un-challenge

End of Challenge! 1. SCORE 1450 HIT POINTS PER CIE'TH - GRADE A!! A = +5 CONAimed for 1,450 cals per day (as I haven't added workouts yet while I learn to both cook and eat without being all weird about it). Averaged over each week. Stuck steadfastly to this for the first 4 weeks, my average went way up in week 5 but I continued to track excluding 3 days, and I'm not worrying about that, because I came back to it. Average came back down in week 6, to about 1,550 per day. This is still a work in progress but as for achieving what I set out to achieve with this part of the challenge - complete success. CIE'TH DESTROYED: 100%0000FF; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">100% 2. COOK ALL THE FOODS - GRADE B!!! B = +4 CHAI cooked 14 of the foods from a list of 18 I set up at the start of the challenge. Over the course of the 6 weeks I've found all the cooking much easier (and until a few months ago I wouldn't go near anything in the supermarket that didn't come in a box) and I can easily throw together a meal with next to nothing, or make my way round a grocery shop successfully. I can honestly now say I am more than passable enough at cooking to be able to eat well when I start lifting again (started for just under 2 months towards the end of last year but quit to focus on this part of the process first - always with the intention with starting back asap). So, grade B because I got bored and broke towards the last 3 weeks and didn't complete the list, but I'm happy because once again I set out to achieve the cooking of healthy and awesome foods, and I did just that. I posted the whole lot in the scullery in case anyone's interested in taking a look (with pics!) WEAPONS CRAFTED: 77.8%FF3300; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">77.8% 3. READ THE DATALOG - BOSS BATTLE PREP! - GRADE F!!! F = +0 WISNope. I guess I should have been doing more revision as I went along, but too late now to change that. I focused entirely (I see a theme developing here...) on getting the distinction marks for my coursework, which I think I've achieved (still waiting for 1 result but the rest I've achieved). So, back to my normal strategy of cramming in the final week. To do anything about this, I need to start at the beginning of the semester and follow the study planner better. That'll be a big focus come September/October, but for now, eh... I've worked hard over the year (albeit on an on-off basis with the usual cramming towards the hand in dates) so revision isn't too painful, I do remember a lot. But it's not the way I want to do things in the future, and I needed to be thinking about goals like this way before even 2 months before the exam. Like, start of the semester early. DATALOGS STUDIED: 6%6% Measurements! Weight: 189.0 --->183.4 (-5.6lbs)Scale Bf%: 45.2 ---> 44.3 (-0.9)DoD Bf%: 38.3 ---> 37.1 (-1.2)Scale H2O%: 39.7 ---> 40.2 (+0.5)Lean mass: 102 ---> 102.2 (+0.2)Chest (upper): 40 ---> 40 Chest (lower): 34 ---> 34Waist: 35.5 ---> 35 (-0.5)Hips: 41.5 ---> 41 (-0.5)Neck: 14.5 ---> 14.5Right upper arm: 13.5 ---> 13.5Left upper arm: 13 --->13.5 (+0.5)Right lower arm: 10.5 --- 10 (-0.5)Left lower arm: 10.5 ---> 10 (-0.5)Right thigh: 28.5 ---> 28 (-0.5)Left thigh: 28.5 ---> 28 (-0.5)Right calf: 17.5 ---> 17.5Left calf: 18 ---> 17.5 (-0.5)Much more slow-going than I'd like, and even slower than how I got on in my last challenge when I wasn't even tracking my food for the majority of the time. Still, it's the starting point of an experiment, and I have some options I want to take into the next challenge. I'm not gutted with my results, but I'm not thrilled either. However, all information is useful! Maybe now I can eat more of that lovely food I've learned to make tl;dr version I no longer have any weirdness around tracking food, seems I've finally beaten the binge eating! 2.5 years of work Hence getting 100% on the first part of the challenge. I might need to up my calories (I've done so already for the break). I want to add workouts (have also done so already for the break). I seem to have the food thing sorted, and I love cooking, and can do so without a recipe if I have to. It was always the plan to get that figured out first, so is it time to move on to lifting again? I sure hope so. I only did 6 hours of exam prep outwith all the assignments I had to hand in for the end of the year, so I'll be spending a week cramming, again. This will be a major focus once I start back at uni after the summer break, but for now it is what it is. Overall I'm really happy with how this all went! Swithering over what my next challenge is going to entail, but I suspect more food and picking up the heavy things. I have so many things I want to add like yoga and running and completing codecadamy over the summer and painting the house and swimming and sleeping properly and meditating and skating and getting a new job and ALL THE THINGS and everything and everything else... but I seem to be falling into a pattern of blitzing my first challenge, doing reasonably well on my second, completely failing the third, then starting the minis and dropping out after a week (I did this again this time round and I'm not best pleased, because it was really awesome, but maybe my focus is narrower than I'd like to believe). Time to have a long think about what I'm doing.

*pokes head out from kitchen* Hi! I finished my cooking-heavy challenge, thought I may as well post the whole damn thing here! 14 recipes, some paleo, some not. Links included, with pictures For today: Smoky king prawn stir fry Stir fried some peppers in coconut oil until browned (high heat for 4ish mins then turn right down before next step)Threw in a packet of defrosted king prawns (cooked) for a few mins (defrosted under cold running water for 5mins)Added some smoked paprika, Szechuan pepper, garlic salt (or powder, or real garlic), a few dashes of liquid smoke (had to buy online from the US as we don't have it here! Well worth it!)Cooked for 2 minsDrained off liquid in sieve (the prawns sweat a little)Returned food to frying panThrew in a tablespoon of dark soy sauceMixed for 10 secondsTransferred to bowlSprinkled on some salt flakes, and... tasty food!10 mins including prep and washing up. Based on 140g king prawns and 2 peppers, that's 211 cals, 24g protein, 5 fat, and 17 carbs (14 if you go paleo and leave out the soy sauce). Based on 140g king prawns. More foods:

End of Challenge! 1. SCORE 1450 HIT POINTS PER CIE'TH - GRADE A!! Week 1 - 70 points Week 2 - 70 points Week 3 - 70 points Week 4 - 70 points Week 5 - 14 points Week 6 - 42 points Grading: 301 - 420 points = A201 - 300 points = B101 - 200 points = C51 - 100 points = D1 - 50 points = E0 points = FTotal 336/420 points!! I'm still a bit surprised by this. For years I've been trying to track what I'm eating with plenty of adverse effects. I have a strong feeling that what I did in the last challenge (the eat what you love, love what you eat part) set me up some really great habits, in that I'm not afraid of food and it has no hold over me any more. Also, coupled with the cooking I've been doing, I'm finding it easier to produce a healthy and awesome meal from something other than a plastic box. Is 1,450 calories enough? Yeah, probably not. I was starting to feel colder, tired-er, irritable, my skin went flaky and I couldn't figure out why, I wasn't always sleeping as well as I'd like, and the brain fog wasn't fun. I did up my calories in the last week (it was my birthday that week, I wanted to do something a bit different, I had points to spare and I wanted to see the efffects) and I felt a whole lot better for it. I've been investigating IIFYM as I'm trying to up the protein, and recommendations point me towards eating MOAR FOOD and doing MOAR WORKOUTS. This is a change of direction I'd like to look at. I was happy to go for the 1,450 calories this challenge though as my lack of workouts (due to all my energy going on the food missions) would make a difference. I really do feel like tracking my food isn't any effort any more. There's something I never thought I'd say. Success! The Pulse Vestige has been cleared of Cie'th!! *** VICTORY MODE!!! *** CIE'TH DESTROYED: 100%0000FF; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">100% 2. COOK ALL THE FOODS - GRADE B!!! 16 - 18 recipes = A13 - 15 recipes = B10-12 recipes = C7 - 9 recipes = D4 - 6 recipes = E0 - 3 recipes = FHahahahaa I got SO BORED of this towards the end. Plus lack of money meant I wasn't able to make a whole bunch of new recipes, but I was falling back on ones I'd made before given what I had. I am more than happy to say that despite not getting top marks here, I can now cook, and I'm thoroughly happy with what I achieved. It was worth the effort! I will probably come back to the 4 recipes I missed at some point because, well... they look delicious. Some of the foods were awesome, some not so much, and I got a good feel for what it is that I like, and I'm finding food shopping easier (and somewhat cheaper!) because I can find my way round a supermarket buying things which aren't prepackaged. I have quite a respectable cupboard of ingredients stocked up so that if all I can do is obtain a bit of meat, I can make it into a meal with what I have at home. Success! Here are the 14 things I put together from the list! Spicy grilled lamb skewers! These were amazing, and I made them again! And I WILL make them again, again! Spice-crusted chicken with Asian slaw! This was awesome, really filling with all the coleslaw and lovely protein Chicken skewers with satay dip! These were really good, the sauce might have been a bit rich to eat all of it, but I'd definitely make them again. Mustard-stuffed chicken! This was gorgeous! I made it more than once. Hardly needs any ingredients and tastes delicious! Made it the second time with maple bacon. WIN. Balsamic green bean salad! I'd eat this every day. Already made it a bunch of times already. Substituted in spring onions once when I was out of red onion, and it was just as good. Easy paleo chicken pepper stir fry! Surprisingly awesome for something so simple. It seemed to taste different with the chicken being shredded, not a clue why that is, but once again, AWESOME FOOD. (And yes it really is EASY to cook - though I roasted the chicken first in the oven then shredded it and threw it in the stir fry for a few minutes at the end.) Teriyaki glazed chicken kebabs! Awesome awesome awesome. Bring me a bucket of these. Paleo maple salmon fillets! Yes, it looks like it's been burned to a crisp. But not really!! I think the sauce was a bit overcooked though, this always seems to happen when I use soy sauce, it turns everything BLACK. It was a bit too sticky as well, I think perhaps I put too much of the seasoning on which *cough* "browned" the outside a little too much, so I'll go easy on that next time. Very delicious nonetheless. Avocado stuffed burgers! Crisp honey mustard parsnips! These burgers were an absolute nightmare to make. Really, REALLY tasty, but it was a whole lot of faffing about to get the avocado inside the burger, and I had a good hour's washing up workout afterwards. Just as well they were really filling!! I would happily make this again if I could figure out a less intricate way of doing it. I put too much lemon in them but I'm ok with that ;-) The parsnips were absolutely gorgeous and I'll do those again, I've bought honey parsnips frozen before but these were so much better. Again, a lot of flapping about to make a small amount of food, but worth it. Not on a regular basis though! And my timing with them was all off, they had to stay in the oven a good half hour longer than the burgers, soooooo... Ah I don't care that much, they tasted great Coconut ginger shrimp! Or, coconut ginger king prawns. These came out really well, and I used frozen king prawns that I'd bought cheap (on use by date) about a month before. Defrosted the prawns under cold running water, then threw them in. I didn't bother with the whole skewers thing from the recipe, just threw them in with the ginger and coconut and ate the lot. The coconut was a massive pain in the arse to shred (I couldn't find any unsweetened and shredded, only stuff for cakes, and I tried this twice with coconut bits and a real whole coconut, which took me a good hour to negotiate into something cookable... so I'll be going on an ingredient hunt to find easy to use coconut flakes, because I want to make this again!!) Coconut chicken strips! These were brilliant! Basically, I ate a huge plate of chicken. Used real flour because I don't mind that, and it works just as well. Will make again. Once I find that damned shredded coconut. Ginger chicken! This was a monumental pain in the neck, and tasted just ok. I was expecting a curry, but got some kind of stew. And I HATE stew. Nevertheless, I ate it anyway in the interest of reporting back how it went, and because it took 2 hours to reduce down to some kind of sauce, I was so damn hungry I didn't care. I wouldn't make this again, but go for it if you like stews, but you might need more spiciness and ginger than the recipe dictates, it just tasted bland. On the plus side, the chicken was cooked really well, so I can clearly take care of that method of cooking meat. I might look at the recipe to see if I can fashion some kind of marinade out of the idea, and make something I prefer. Easy Thai prawn curry! Easy enough, but really not nice. Unless you like tomatoes, which I don't. I'm happy with tomato based sauces etc, but the tomatoeyness (that's right) was just overpowering. I might try to find a different base then add the paste and the spices and the coconut milk/cream and see if I can come up with something better. But really, I couldn't taste any thai red curry in this at all, just tomatoes. Recipe is easy, result not so good. WEAPONS CRAFTED: 77.8%FF3300; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">77.8% 3. READ THE DATALOG - BOSS BATTLE PREP! Grading:71+ hours = A57 - 70 hours = B43 - 56 hours = C29 - 42 hours = D15 - 28 hours = E0 - 14 hours = FYeah, I didn't do this. My last assignments took up all of my time (which I'm fine with), and now all my revision is in the break week (which I'm not fine with). So be it, I should have known better than to choose a goal that was completely different than my first two. That is EXACTLY what tripped me up the last time round. DATALOGS STUDIED: 6%6% POINTS! MEASUREMENTS! ALL THAT STUFF! 1. SCORE 1450 HIT POINTS PER CIE'TH A = +5 CON2. COOK ALL THE FOODS B = +4 CHA3. READ THE DATALOG - BOSS BATTLE PREP! F = +0 WISMeasurements! Weight: 189.0 --->183.4 (-5.6lbs)Scale Bf%: 45.2 ---> 44.3 (-0.9)DoD Bf%: 38.3 ---> 37.1 (-1.2)Scale H2O%: 39.7 ---> 40.2 (+0.5)Lean mass: 102 ---> 102.2 (+0.2)Chest (upper): 40 ---> 40 Chest (lower): 34 ---> 34Waist: 35.5 ---> 35 (-0.5)Hips: 41.5 ---> 41 (-0.5)Neck: 14.5 ---> 14.5Right upper arm: 13.5 ---> 13.5Left upper arm: 13 --->13.5 (+0.5)Right lower arm: 10.5 --- 10 (-0.5)Left lower arm: 10.5 ---> 10 (-0.5)Right thigh: 28.5 ---> 28 (-0.5)Left thigh: 28.5 ---> 28 (-0.5)Right calf: 17.5 ---> 17.5Left calf: 18 ---> 17.5 (-0.5)So... that's not great. A few random half inches gone, one half inch reappeared, slight decrease in bf%, lean mass the same, a bit of overall weight loss. I didn't think this would go so slowly, to be honest. I'm hardly working on the last 5% body fat here, I don't feel it should be so slow at this stage of the game. Seems like I was getting on better in the last challenge, and I only started tracking about 4 weeks into that, so I was doing IE before that and definitely eating more and not trying too hard. What I'm over the moon about is that I can track my food without any emotional response, or any food related weirdness. I can definitely cook a whole lot better than I could at the start of the year. Ok, I couldn't cook at all at the start of the year... So while I managed just fine on 1,450 cals even without any direct exercise, this has just made me think I need to tweak something. Now, I don't know if I believe in 'starvation mode', but I can see how your body downregulates some things if you drop your intake too far. Perhaps this is "too far". I went through about 2,400 calories yesterday (deliberately!) and immediately felt better. Moving around was easier, I didn't wake up sore, I was tired when I should have been tired and slept really well last night. I never noticed it before but the difference was incredible when I really paid attention. Having looked at a few IIFYM calculators and reading up on that way of eating, I could be eating 1,800 on sedentary days and 2,200 on workout days (numbers from the top of my head so not totally accurate, but more than what I'm eating now!). Besides, I MISS LIFTING. Enormously. Have I got the food thing nailed down enough to shift my focus elsewhere? I never stopped lifting because I didn't enjoy it, but I could't cook a damn thing so there was no way I could have given myself the right nutrition to support myself. I'm not sure if I'm ready to CHANGE THE THINGS yet, but I started picking up heavy dumbbells again on Monday anyway, and went for a mile morning walk today (without even taking my phone! bliss!!) and feel a change of direction coming on. Or maybe I'm just so awesome at cooking that I want to eat more of my own creations and need to add workouts to support an increased intake of food You know, I have graphs and everything for this but I just can't be bothered right now. I've been over this challenge for about 4 weeks now but have stuck at (most of) it because I thought the persistence would be worth it, and it was. Time for something different!!

1. SCORE 1450 HIT POINTS PER CIE'TH Day 32 - 1,449HP Day 33 - 1,308HP Day 34 - 1,452HP Day 35 - 1,114HP (Week 5 9,370HP - 1,338 average - 70 points - 294 points total) (Last 2 days, 181.8lbs - under 13 stone for the first time in about 6 years! W00T). CIE'TH DESTROYED: 85.7%0000FF; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">85.7% 2. COOK ALL THE FOODS Spicy grilled lamb skewers! [COMPLETED 14/4/15 - DAY 2]Spice-crusted chicken with Asian slaw! [COMPLETED]Chicken skewers with satay dip! [COMPLETED 22/4/15 - DAY 10]Mustard-stuffed chicken! [COMPLETED 15/4/15 - DAY 3]Balsamic green bean salad! [COMPLETED 19/4/15 - DAY 7]Easy paleo chicken pepper stir fry! [COMPLETED]Teriyaki glazed chicken kebabs! [COMPLETED]Paleo maple salmon fillets! [COMPLETED]Avocado stuffed burgers! [COMPLETED 19/4/15 - DAY 7]Coconut ginger shrimp! [COMPLETED]Coconut chicken strips! [COMPLETED]Ginger chicken! [COMPLETED]Crisp honey mustard parsnips! [COMPLETED 19/4/15 - DAY 7]Easy Thai prawn curry! [COMPLETED] WEAPONS CRAFTED: 77.8%FF3300; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">77.8% 3. READ THE DATALOG - BOSS BATTLE PREP! DATALOGS STUDIED: 6%6%

Thankyou!! I love this... 3. READ THE DATALOG - BOSS BATTLE PREP! DATALOGS STUDIED: 6.0%6.0%

Maths news: I got one of my last 2 assignments back that I submitted a few weeks ago, 96%. I need 41 or above in the one that's left to get a distinction on the coursework (statistically very likely to happen) *crossing fingers* That's focused my mind a bit better, look forward to that green progress bar going up quickly from here onwards

I think it's really just because I've got no idea if I'm even going to be able to eat from one day to the next... although that's been helping me with the first part of the challenge, I guess I fully intend to start improvising a bit after this challenge, I just have to get over the finish line with the challenge I set for myself. Now I have a better idea of what I like and what I don't, what's easier to cook than I expected and what's harder. Pork with cream cumin sauce sounds beautiful Oh what a PvP on updating, I would fail miserably!! I did one week of the mini (I think I'll have to sit it out next time round) and have barely posted anything outside my own thread, I find it difficult enough to even update this at all right now! You would win that BY A BAZILLION MILES lol The job thing is really getting me down, I admit it. (because that wasn't clearly obvious). Once I can get something stable and head away from complete financial ruin I'm sure I'll be back to my normal self