Reformer

Since I have very limited access at the moment, I'll do a quick wrap-up, much to my chagrin at rather posting a much longer analysis and RP. Weeks 5 and six resulted in the following: Goal 1: BGoal 2: AGoal 3: CGoal 4: A This results in the following Attribute Increases (Mini-Quest and 1-per-attribute for completing the 6-week quest): STR: 3DEX: 2.63STA: 2.94CON: 3.94WIS: 3.75CHA: 2.88Signature update coming and while I would love to come back to this and clean it up once I get better access, I'm being realistic in saying that it will be a long time coming, if at all. Thank you all very much for your following and support and I look forward to joining you in the next 6 weeks!

Now that I managed to squeak out a few bytes of data coverage, I'll be joining the Rangers. See you on the trail, fellow Rebels!

No, I haven't disappeared. Yes, I've been keeping up with the challenges though my travels have led to much less than stellar cellular/data reception. I should be able to post Friday or so in more detail but until then...Death, or Glory!

Hmm...maybe it's me who has it wrong. Either that, or there's more than one way to skin this "character" cat...

And scars. Lots of little scars...

Also, this might be petty, but how was Week 4 a challenge when there is no reward? Carrot, stick, and all that. Speaking of carrots...

Week Five Day Four Goal 1: Complete. Goal 2: Complete. Goal 3: Complete. Goal 4: Complete. A very, very full day that nearly didn't involve sweating. I barely managed at least some physical activity at the end by weedeating the garden pathways in 95 degree heat. As an aside, wear pants (not shorts), especially if it's gravel.

Fayrn, nice job catching up on all the mini-quests and great progress on your challenge. Keep it up! As to the Week 5 mini-challenge, I'm a huge fan of Cooks Illustrated (America's Test Kitchen) though unfortunately all of their recipes are behind a pay wall. A close second would be Pioneer Woman (especially for breakfast) and being a Southerner at heart, here's a great one for sausage biscuits and gravy: Sausage gravy and Drop Biscuits

So...with all the excitement of a forest fire less than two miles from the house and wondering if we'll need to evacuate at any time, I've gotten a bit behind in my posting. No excuses! Week Five Day OneGoal 1: NF Post Failure. Goal 2: CompleteGoal 3: Dry Fire failure.Goal 4: Complete.Oddly enough, I didn't look closely at the workout plan and it's 4 weeks long with one week of rest between it and the next plan. That wouldn't be a hug problem, but I'm leaving for training Saturday and won't be back until August and availability of an olympic-weight equipped gym during that period is questionable. I'm still trying to determine what I'm going to do during the drive and after I get there but until then, I'll be repeating Week 4. Week Five Day TwoGoal 1: NF Post Failure. Goal 2: CompleteGoal 3: Dry Fire failure.Goal 4: Complete.Week Five Day ThreeGoal 1: Complete.Goal 2: CompleteGoal 3: Complete.Goal 4: Complete.

It's a "slow burn" kind of game in that there is a fair amount of reading /story vs. action but the visuals and atmosphere are excellent. Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk

I'm glad to hear that you're seeing/feeling progress and I understand the issue of wavering. Please keep us updated on what Swift says tomorrow!

Congrats on 305lbs a few days ago and I'm still getting over a 12 hour play. I'm a huge fan of ancient history but you show a dedication to the Hellenistic period that I, at this time, do not have!

Week 4 Mini-challenge complete...just in the nick of time!

I hate to be "that guy" but I'm counting 11 attribute points. Did I miss something? I'm saying this in an assistance mode, not because I'm OCD.

I know, I know, waiting until the buzzer to get the mini-challenge done but I had to re-read Blaidd's post and then go back to Spezzy and back again before I realized that I had mis-read the attribute allocation for my quests (I assigned 15 points total rather than 10 at 3-weeks with a follow-up of 1 per attribute after the 6 weeks). So, with a bit of editing, my original post has been updated as has my signature. Overall, I feel that I have been doing very well in most of my categories, though getting into the garden and dry firing have been problematic for me. If I had to be honest concerning the quality vs the quantity of my quiet times/Bible reading/prayer life, I would be lower than the numbers might indicate and I think I'll try to take into consideration at the end. Regardless, I've been pleased with my progress and hope know that I'll be able to carry it through to the end. Thanks for all the silent supporters out there and here's to two more weeks! All individual activities are weekly assessed with the following breakdown (with the "no/not" items inverted) and then averaged for the overall goal progression: 6-7 times a week: A (100%)4-5 times a week: B (75%)2-3 times a week: C (50%)0-1 times a week: F (0%)For weekday-only items items (indicated with an *), the grading is as follows: 5 times a week: A (100%)3-4 times a week: B (75%)2-3 times a week: C (50%)0-1 times a week: F (0%)Goal 1 (Spiritual/Mental): (+2 Wis / +1 Cha) Quiet Time/PrayerScripture ReadingNot Snoozing the alarm clockTo read 3 booksPosting my results on the NF forumGoal 2 (Physical): (+1 Str / +1 Sta / +1 Con) Gym / Running *Goal 3 (Skills/Chores): (+2 Dex) Visiting the garden for weeding/harvesting/oversightDry Fire (rifle and/or sidearm)Goal 4 (Nutrition): (+1 Con / +1 Sta) No lunch desserts *No drinking during the week *So, the breakdown is as follows (with allocation): Goal 1: 87.5% (+1.75 Wis/ +0.88 Cha)Goal 2: 100% (+2 Str / +1 Sta)Goal 3: 81.25% (+1.63 Dex)Goal 4: 93.75% (+0.94 Con / +0.94 Sta)

Week Four Day Seven Goal 1: Complete. Goal 2: Weekdays only. Goal 3: Complete. Goal 4: Weekdays only. A great, great day with good preaching at church, some family-fun time and quality time with the grill cooking for a friend's birthday dinner. Of course, I grilled far too many racks of ribs (is this really a problem?) and now I have the meat sweats but it was worth it.

Week Four Day SixGoal 1: NF Posting Failure. Goal 2: Weekdays only.Goal 3: Complete.Goal 4: Weekdays only.Late night after gorging on 4th food and staying up late with children well past their bed-time means no posting for the night. Most everything went quite well, though, and I even managed to get my Sunless Sea crew back to port without resorting to cannibalism.

Week Four Day Five Goal 1: NF Posting Failure. Goal 2: Complete. Goal 3: Complete. Goal 4: Complete. SESSION 20 Obj: Strength/Endurance Warm-up: 3 Rounds 5x Hand Release Push-ups 10x Sit-ups 5x Burpees 10x Air Squats Instep Stretch Training: (1) 5 Rounds Full Leg Blaster 30 Seconds Rest (3) Run 5 Miles, Moderate Pace (4) 2 Rounds Hip Flexor Stretch Instep Stretch Pigeon Stretch Lat + Pec Stretch So it's 95 degrees outside, I have two ~9% grade hills and the leg blasters help oh-so-much. Not really. Overall, though, I did well, though the ZombiesRun app had me at a 8:05 pace for the run and I calculated a 7:55. Regardless, it was about what I was expecting though would have preferred to have run a little faster but the legs wouldn't cooperate. Had a nice picnic with the family and some friends which was an enjoyable distraction and finished up with some Sunless Sea on Steam. I had to quit before I made it back to port but with less than half my crew (allowing me to travel only at half speed), 3 supplies and 8 fuel with more than half the map to go, I'm not crossing my fingers. Who knows; I may still make it though the scars might be permanent.

Week Four Day Four Goal 1: Snooze Failure. Goal 2: Complete. Goal 3: Complete. Goal 4: Complete. SESSION 19 Obj: Work Capacity/Core Warm up: 4 Rounds Run 100m 5x Push ups 5x Situps 10x Squats Instep Stretch Training: (1) 6 Rounds for Time 10x Squat Thrusts Run 400m (2) 5 Rounds 3/4x Pull ups, Every 30 seconds, then immediately .... (3) 5 Rounds 2/3x Pull ups every 30 Seconds (4) 4 Rounds 12x Ankles to Bar 30/5/30 Sean Special 20x Hamstring Hell Pigeon Stretch 3x Shoulder Teacups The odd thing about the 400m run and squat thrusts (burpees without the pushup) was that I didn't have a time to compare it to. Regardless, 6 rounds took me just over 15 minutes to complete and I (or rather, my legs) were done. The pullups went well until set 4 or the 4x and then the remainder required at least one break in between pullups. Ankles to bar were a no-go today given that my pullup bar was right against a support so I went with leg lifts instead. Overall, a good workout and a good day despite the 103-degree heat!

Week Four Day Three Goal 1: Complete. Goal 2: Complete Goal 3: Dry Fire failure. Goal 4: Complete SESSION 18 Obj: Strength/Core Warm up: 5 Rounds 3x DOT Drill 5x Push ups 10x Situps 10x Air Squats Instep Stretch Training: (1) 5 Rounds Full Leg Blaster 30 Seconds Rest (2) 5 Rounds 30 Sec Push ups 30 Seconds rest, then ..... Max Push ups in 60 Seconds (3) 4 Rounds 20/20 Standing Founder 20/20 Low Back Lunge 20/20 Kneeling Founder 10x Face Down Back Extension This was the most full leg blasters that I've had to do thus far and I felt it. The pushups went well (at least 20 per 30 second interval and 30 per 60 second interval). I was sweating like a stuck pig, though, so luckily I didn't need to impress between the gym and work. The day went well enough though I must admit that it was very hard to deny a glass of wine tonight but deny I did.

Week Four Day Two Goal 1: Complete. Goal 2: Complete Goal 3: Dry Fire failure. Goal 4: Weekday dessert failure. SESSION 17 Obj: Work Cap/Strength Warm up: 5 Rounds 10x Air Squats 2x Pull ups 10x Toes to Sky Instep Stretch Training: (1) 5 Rounds 4x Pull ups, Every 30 seconds, then immediately .... (2) 5 Rounds 3x Pull ups every 30 Seconds (2) 4 Rounds 300m Shuttle every 2:00 (cones 82' apart and 6 down-and-back laps for 1 round; start again when the 2:00 is up) (3) 4 Rounds 12x EO’s 12x Butt Bridges 3x Floor Slide 3rd World Stretch Ugh. I managed to get to 4 sets of 4 before having to touch the ground between pullups and the following sets of three I got two sets before needing to touch. I try to console myself that it was 45 pullups total but I know that many others do many, many more. Man up. The shuttle runs were a mental check in that they had been previously done every 2:15 and I had about 15 seconds between sets so I was genuinely concerned that I wouldn't be able to complete each set before having to start on the next one. Perhaps my measurements were off but I was able to complete each set with approximately 9 seconds remaining which was just enough for a deep breath, a calm of the heart and starting again. I was surprised (and mostly gasping for breath) but happy that I was able to complete this when I didn't think that I would initially. There were two ceremonies today, both of which had delectable desserts that I couldn't resist. Mental willpower, it seems, only applies to pushing my body, not in resisting yummy cupcakes and chocolate cake with a raspberry jam filling layer.

Week Four Day One Goal 1: NF Posting failure. Goal 2: Complete Goal 3: Garden and Dry Fire N/A. Goal 4: Complete SESSION 16 Obj: Strength/Work Cap Warm up: 5 Rounds 4-Square Drill 5x Push ups 10x Situps 10x Air Squats Instep Stretch Training: (1) 4 Rounds Full Leg Blaster 30 Seconds Rest Then immediately .... (2) 2 Rounds Mini Leg Blaster 30 Seconds Rest (2) 5 Rounds 30 Sec Push ups 30 Seconds rest, then ..... Max Push ups in 60 Seconds (3) 20 Rounds Suicide Sprint every 30 seconds (cones at 20' and 40', run to each then back for 1 rep) (4) 4 Rounds 30x Situps 75 Second Front Bridge 20x Hamstring Hell Lat + Pec Stretch Hip Flexor + Pigeon Stretch I feel like I did well with the leg blasters though there was an ever-so-slight incline which made the lunges and later situps a bit more challenging. The suicide sprints were winding but I was able to complete each in no slower than 16 seconds, allowing for a slight rest between sets. I only did 2 of the 4 rounds for the 4th section due to time constraints. I also brought my protein powder/shaker along with me on the trip and am I'm glad I did! I still seem to have trouble hitting either my calorie or protein goal and I wonder where I would be without it (starvation mode, for sure).

The strange surroundings engulfed his mate and youngest whelp, the cooler air and sea-salt wafting by their noses continually reminding them that they were far from home. They had traveled long to hear from men and their mates (who had escaped and been given their freedom from slavery, like them) about leadership, family and how to better provide. It was enlightening and encouraging but they were ready to return to their humble surroundings; their other whelps needed them and Reformer was sure that his mate's elders would appreciate the reprieve from the continual energy provided by the two youngest that were left, despite their older siblings attempting to keep them in check. He chuckled as he mindlessly tossed a pebble into the crashing surf, the tiny waves it made upon contacting the water instantly engulfed by the continual breaking of the tide at his feet. Upon reflection, it had been difficult to maintain a regular reading of the holy writ but personal prayer had become more easy, a morning ritual that extended into various pockets of time between the boulders of scheduled activities. He hoped that his eldest continued the study that they had begun not long before his trip and while it was likely that he had not, it would be just as easy to pick up again. While the thought of failure crossed the gnoll's mind, Reformer growled and buried his claws into the sand. Failure was not the opposite of success...quitting was. Failure was simply the building blocks upon which success would be built and it was this principle that he would teach his son. The garden had begun growing weeds in the pathway between beds and several varieties were ready for harvesting so he wished that he were home to take care of these critical tasks. While the elders were helpful with the children, they were not the young gnolls that they once were and as such much of the physical demands of hovel/garden maintenance fell to him. Reformer hoped that the intense heat that had swept into the region on their departure had not seriously damaged the plants or caused them to bolt into seed before being harvested. Squeezing his right hand in the sand, he retrieved a fistful of the fine granuals, watching them stream between his fingers like water through a rocky stream. He had managed to keep his workout routine during the trip (the fact that it fell on a weekend was helpful in that two of the five days had no scheduled activity) and he was proud that he had woken up early both on their departure day, the day following, and the return journey to fulfill his regime's demands. Discipline was something worked towards, not given and it was a goal to which he would never truly achieve though always get closer to. Reformer opened his hand and tipped it sideways, allowing the last of the sand to fall back to the beach, hundreds of particles joining...was there even a word for the number there on that beach, let alone all of them in this state, region, country, continent and world? Yet every one had molecules, atoms and sub-atomic particles which were lovingly ordered, arranged and contained by the power of his God. Looking to the now empty hand reminded him that his current location was of much more...fearful populace and he was unable to bring his weapon with him. While he had other methods to maintain his safety, the fact that the most effective and efficient means was unavailable to him caused no small amount of contempt for the place. They would not be there when brigands attempted to ransack the room, highwaymen extort him or perverts accost his mate. The days he could return to at least semi-normalcy were not small enough. Week Three Another good week that though there were some stumbles here-and-there, was an enjoyable one as well. The trip went very well and I really did surprise myself in getting the workouts in that I did. The conference held brutal hours (0930-1400 then 1900-1200) which then also required a commute and feeding of the little one. The misses and he did very, very well given what was expected of them and I love them both dearly for doing so well. Hopefully the workout postings have been helpful in giving at least a small window into what it is that I try to accomplish during the week. I'll be moving from bodyweight this six weeks to strength training next followed by rucking and then more variety later. It's no joke, though, as I've been winded/sweating more often than not and finding that it takes some serious mental fortitude to continue or to get that last rep in. Again, I really enjoy Strong Swift Durable/Military Athlete as it has never been boring and training for performance outside of the gym is my highest priority. · Goal 1: A (1x NF Posting Failure) · Goal 2: A+ (No failures!) · Goal 3: B (Garden/Dry Fire N/A for 4x) · Goal 4: B (2x Weekday Drinking Failure)

I posted Day 7 with my cell phone but I guess the NSA intercepted it and prevented it from sticking. Frustrating, to say the least. Week Three Day SevenGoal 1: Complete. Goal 2: Weekday only.Goal 3: Garden and Dry Fire N/A.Goal 4: Weekday only.

I'm now in reduced communications via data busy (aka cellular phone) and will make this report brief. Week Three Day Six Goal one : compete Goal two : weekday only Goal three: dry fire/garden n/a Goal four: weekday only A good day and great seminar speakers. All not meeting calorie goals even with eating out (guess I'm a cheapskate) so I'm glad I brought my shake supplies. Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk