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I am so glad that this challenge is starting early! The COUNTDOWN: 25 days before the Tough Mudder. On the 26th day I run it. I will have a theme again this challenge because they tickle me pink. But nothing I'm admitting to just yet You'll see in a bit. Right now I just wanted to get this posted so I had it up and running.

Hello Assassins! Even though I am a monk at heart, I've decided to do a whole lot of body weight training this time around, thus putting me with you crazy lot I'm really excited, I'm not going to lie. Without further ado, here's what I have in store for the next round of badassery: Coulson is my spirit animal. Shut up. Falling off the cliff is not an option. [+3 STR +3 STA] I want to be able to do a pull up and I want to learn how to do so before end of the year. At the beginning of the challenge I can lift myself only an inch or two, so I want to build up strength to do a real pull up. I am not expecting myself to be able to do it in 6 weeks, though, just improve a lot Acceptable forms of training: negative pull ups at homeassisted pull ups at the gymTRX (or a playground) body weight rows4 sets of 10 per session on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday A - 3 days +3 STR +3 STA B - 2 days +2 STR +2 STA C - 1 day +1 STR +1 STA F - 0 days +ZERO Look at my arms. They are firm and shapely-like. [+3 STR] I need to increase my strength, period, and push ups are a fantastic way of doing so. 50 push ups on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday A - 3 days +3 STR B - 2 days +2 STR C - 1 day +1 STR F - 0 days +NONE FOR YOU! Hold on! It's going to be a ride! [+2 DEX] Grip is one of those skills that gets under-rated constantly. It's necessary in pull ups/chin ups. It will come in handy when I participate in Spartan next May. So, here comes my grip training! There's a whole bunch of different grip exercises but after some talking and researching, I decided to start 'easy' Do grip training for a total of at least a minute each time, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Acceptable exercises: Dead hangPlate pinches (let's see what actual weight I can get my hands on) Fingertip planksHex holdsA - 3x week - +2 DEX C - 1-2x week - +1 DEX F - 0x week - +DO YOU EVEN TRY? Please ignore the leg I'm wrapping around your trachea. I promise it won't kill you. [+2 DEX] And I wonder why people at work are afraid of me... With all this strength training and muscle building I need to remember to keep my flexibility going as well. I already stretch after each workout, but I need to amp up my yoga game. Here comes Youtube to the rescue! I will do one yoga video per week [PASS/FAIL] It won't really matter how long the video is, but I'll try to do something longer. I want to increase my flexibility after all Hablas español? [+2 WIS] Well, I sure don't speak Spanish, but it's about time I changed that. I have access to Rosetta's Stone for Spanish so I will give it a try and see if it'll help me learn the language. I've heard mixed reviews of the software, but it's still better than nothing. Two lessons of Spanish per week (roughly an hour) [PASS/FAIL] Do or do not, there is no try. I really do like living dangerously ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ REWARD: - Belgian waffles from International Pancake House - Carmel Macchiato from Starbucks: it's a bit of a weakness of mine, but I should be fine if I only do it once every 6-8 weeks, right? - Make mini Nutella cheesecakes and eat them (duh!)

Just hit level 7 and I think it is time to incorporate some Titansgrave and Critical Role into a challenge so let's do this! Titansgrave is Wil Wheaton's RPG show on Geek & Sundry, and Critical Role is a D&D game run and played by voice actors (also on Geek &Sundry). I enjoy them both as they tell cool stories and entertain me ... plus make me want to play/run more games! Quest 1 - Umm ... I just rolled a 1. Seems I've still got some hip/knee issues going on ... to fight this I'm going to incorporate more stretching into my daily activities. So 3 time a week I'm going to spend 15+ minutes stretching 3 / week = A 2 / week = B 1 / week = C 0 / week = F Quest 2 - I am the storm's fury! This is all about speed work. Once a week I'm going to do do a fartlek - aka speed work. A sample of a fartlek is something like this sprint all out from one light pole to the next, jog to the corner, give a medium effort for a couple blocks, jog between four light poles and sprint to a stop sign, and so on, for a set total time or distance. For me I'll try to add these sort of variables into a 4-5 mile run on Monday I'm looking to do 6 (aka 1 per week) so scoring is easy enough 6 = A 5 = B 4 = C 3-0 = F Quest 3 - I Encourage Violence No literally! Geez guys! Feels like I'm losing some of my muscle gains so I'm going to incorporate a work day workout. Whenever I go to the bathroom I'll do 1 set of 10 of a body weight exercise. Exercises will rotate between bathroom visits so muscles not to get overly fatigued and allow for variety. Thinking Pushup / Squat / Dips / 30 second plank Life Quest - Five Gold and a party I've been itching to write a RPG adventure so I'm going to use this challenge to do just that! Not sure what the setting or system will be but that'll be part of the process and what I have to figure out! This is all or nothing ... so yeah good times! I'll be doing this in a google doc which I'll link once I've started and occasionally post snippets here for those who don't want to look at the doc.

Boot Camp was rough, but doable. I made it through the physical challenges, completed the weekly quests assigned by our Headmistress (Blaid), and developed strong relationships with my fellow recruits. I learned a lot during that first six weeks. I learned new strengths, and identified weaknesses. I learned that a good support team is crucial to success, and that supporting others is a lot of fun and helps me clean up my own issues. I also learned that I really, really want to be an Assassin. A bit about me. Last May (2014) I was an obese man, not just overweight but pretty fat. I was also pretty sick. I had an incurable lung disease called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), and it was killing me. I was on oxygen 24/7, and high flow oxygen whenever I exerted myself. My disease was progressing rapidly and my only real hope at life was a lung transplant. Only problem was I was too fat to get on the transplant list. So on May 5th of last year I started following the Primal Blueprint. By October I had lost enough weight to be evaluated by the transplant team, and I was listed in November. On December 31st we received the call to come into the hospital, and early January 1st I received a bilateral lung transplant. I am still following the Primal Blueprint, am at a healthy weight, and am recovering from the procedure very nicely. The transplant team is very impressed with my progress. I do still have some physical limitations to what exercises I can do. It takes a while for the chest to fully heal from the procedure. They split the chest and open you up like a clam shell. I have just recently been released to start working on pull ups, but have to wait to try fly boarding until next Summer (future quest in the making J ) During my first Six Week Challenge I discovered bodyweight exercises and the kettlebell. Oh my… exercises I might actually enjoy. I am a raw beginner with the kettlebell. I purchased the book ‘Kettlebell Simple and Sinister’ and am working on perfecting the warm up exercises and form. Main Quest for 2015: Do a pull up all the way to my transplant scar. Main Quest for This Six Week Challenge: Be able to complete the Simple and Sinister kettlebell program minimum training session. This includes three sets of the warm up exercises, 5 reps of 10 kettlebell swings with a 24kg kettlebell and 5 sets of 1 (per arm) Turkish Get Ups with a 16kg kettlebell. SMART Quests: 1. NF Body Weight Workout: Perform this workout once every third day using the dumbbell rows portion of the workout to develop a pull up. I also need to move the pushups from the fireplace mantle to the floor, and add weight to the squats.(+1 Str, +1 Sta, +1 Con) Grading my success by the end of the six weeks. A = Complete 3 full, and in good form, sets of the workout doing pushups from the floor and using a 35lb kettle bell for the dumbbell rows, or doing bodyweight rows. C = Complete 2 full, and in good form, sets of the workout as above. F = Completing less than 2 full sets. 2. Simple & Sinister Kettlebell Workout: Perform this workout once every third day. Complete the Program Minimum training session. This includes three sets of the warm up exercises, 5 reps of 10 kettlebell swings with a 24kg kettlebell and 5 sets of 1 (per arm) Turkish Get Ups with a 16kg kettlebell, and the final streatching exercises. (+1 Str, +1 Dex, +1 Sta, +1 Cha) Grading my success by the end of the six weeks. A = Complete the Program Minimum with listed weights. B = Complete the Program Minimum with lighter weights. C = 90% participation with 100% effort (100% participation = once every 3 days) while not being able to complete the PM. F= less than 90% participation and not being able to complete the PM. 3. Aikido Breathing and Meditation: Study Aikido breathing and meditation exercises to improve breathing and focus. (+1 Sta, +2 Wis) Grading my success by the end of the six weeks. A = Perform breathing and meditation exercises an average of 5 times/week. B = Perform breathing and meditation exercises an average of 4 times/week. C = Perform breathing and meditation exercises an average of 3 times/week. F= Anything less. Life Quest: I would really like to develop a body worthy of a "Vanity Pic". That would be pretty awesome. I also want to help people with IPF learn about how nutrition and exercise can improve their symptoms and help them to prepare for transplant. Reward for Successful Completion of This Challenge: A pair of Nerd Fitness Sweatpants and a Tee Shirt. Motivation: I have to honor the family that gave me the gift of these lungs. On what is most likely the worst day of their lives they made the decision to help others. Words cannot express just how much my family and I appreciate this gift. They gave us a future. I need to take care of these lungs and this body to the very best of my ability.

Round Four begins. Mark it, dude. Time for a look in the mirror. Three challenges ago, I was an assassin. I worked on handstands, threw my kettlebells around, and worked on running with moar speed. Gains were made, and Pav saw that it was good, said that it was good, and it was good. Two challenges ago, I sat out. Life got the better of me. I didn't stop working out but I couldn't bring myself to do another challenge, for reasons even I don't understand. But I itched, and I burned, and not in that bad way that makes you rethink your life choices, but in that good way that makes you rethink your life choices. Last challenge, I threw in with the scouts. I worked on my barefoot running to improve my form and heal a heel injury. Heel a heal, I know, right? I worked on burpees to build up strength and explosive power. And I tried to set a goal on my writing, but it turns out that my days are quite full enough with full-time dadding and writing about 2,000 words a day on novels and blogs and working out five times a week. It was my first challenge fail, but one that taught me about goal setting. This challenge, I'm an assassin again, because I just can't get enough of bouncing off the walls and running around wearing black. And this challenge, there's a theme, because I love movies and I love The Big Lebowski, and why not? So -- Goals! 1: Cartwheelin'. I've never been able to do one. I tried once, when I was 13, and I promptly fell right on my head. But since I taught myself to handstand, I figure a cartwheel can't be that much tougher, right? Right. I have no idea how to teach myself to cartwheel, and I'm sure I will only look like a fool learning, but I'm gonna get it. Strict pass/fail on this one, but I have only confidence. +3 dex and +2 wis on the line (but only if I don't fall on my head). Cartwheels: Sorta kinda not actually falling on my head anymore%Sorta kinda not actually falling on my head anymore% 2: Just Hanging Around. My favorite piece of fitness equipment (and one of my only ones, in fact) is my gymnastic rings. They are challenging and humbling and oh so much fun. But I need to do more work on them. So the goal this time is twofold: Improve my dead-hang pull-ups from 3 to 8. Might be too ambitious; I reserve the right to move the target. Improve my dips from 10 to 15. Might be too conservative; I reserve the right to move the target. Just for fun, find some more movements to practice with them. No goal here, just more movement because rings are fun.+3 Str, +1 dex, +1 sta on the line. ***GOAL EDITED*** Seeing as I'm having such a good time with the reddit bodyweight workout, I'm amending this goal to simply completing that workout 3x weekly for the 6 week period. My particular track on the workout is rings-heavy (pull-ups, dips, bodyweight rows, and some support work) so I'm hitting the same areas and putting in the time with the gear, but my arms are so toasted I think it might be silly to reach for a gain like the one I'd imagined at the same time. Workouts: 18 / 18 100%100% 3: Diet. Yeah, that picture pretty much sums up my diet over the summer, and the Dude's face shows you how I feel about it. I'm a teacher, and being home and off my routine has made it too easy to make bad choices. I've shied away from doing dietary challenges in the past, but I need to face facts and accept that while my fitness has gotten better, my diet is holding me back, especially in terms of my weight-loss goal. Now, I'm not one for tracking my every meal or counting every calorie. But what I can do is give myself some benchmarks to keep it simple. And I'll do it in three rules of 3: 3 prepped-from-home salads for lunch every week. No more than 3 alcoholic beverages every week. No more than 3 dessert items every week.Salads: 17 / 18 94%94% Booze: 19 / 18 106%106% Dessert: 17 / 18 94%94% +3 cha, +2 con because a better diet can only make me into a more cheerful dude, right? So, that's a fairly ambitious but also totally achievable set of goals for this challenge. All fires under asses are now officially lit. And we know what happens if the Dude comes up short... So, we'll see if I'm still standing at the end of 6 weeks... Week 6 is in the bag, final totals are in!

"Dude, I'm too old for this crap." The last challenge cycle kind of sucked. I started out okay, but man, did things take a bad turn in July. I'm not quitting, I'm refocusing; therefore the title - Return of the Jedi. This challenge cycle will put me back on track so that I do not lose sight of my main goal... Main Quest I have a four-year goal for where I want to be that I am breaking down into six-month increments. In short: Old Man, I am coming for you. When Jon Stewart beat the Warped Wall on ANW last summer, he was the oldest man ever to complete a City Qualifier course. I was 47. He was 52. I told myself last year that I had until I was 52 to become him, and that's what's going to happen, because I am done settling for less than I can be. He may compete until he's 60, but I'm going to be 52 and standing for two weeks in the walk-on line. Unless I get there sooner. While I prepare to become a Ninja, I am becoming a badass Spartan. This year I have completed one Spartan Trifecta, will be one Beast away from completing my second two weeks into this challenge, and am trying to decide between two Supers in October that will allow me to complete my third when I complete two Beast races in November two weeks apart. My current six-month goal is to complete my second Trifecta and find a way to bring home that third. One down, two to go. My problem is that I become distracted and unfocused and lose sight of my ultimate goal. Life as a single parent with plenty of outside commitments tends to fill up quickly and the sad fact is that when this happens, the first thing that I do is let my fitness be the thing that suffers. Since June, I have been pretty poor about sticking to my workout and nutrition regimen and it is showing right now. Also, I have been dealing with shoulder tendinitis since about February, which did nothing but get worse between April and May because I wasn't willing to back off my weight training in preparation for my first Spartan Trifecta during those times. It's significant enough that it wakes me up multiple times every night. I am working with a rehabilitation medicine specialist on it, but the most effective remedy is rest and that sucks when what you really want to do is be lifting heavy things and climbing over tall things. Goal One: Come, eat. Good food. "Ooh, chocolate chip cookie dough Quest bar! Score!" Over the past six to eight weeks, I have become pretty lazy about food prep and have been eating out A LOT. For example, I ate lunch at Chipotle three times in one week early in July. First off, that's ridiculously expensive and secondly, it's partially responsible for the extreme jump in my sodium intake. Finally, I pretty much stopped logging my food intake and my belt is telling me this is a bad plan. Quit making that face, you whiny little douche, and eat what you're given. This isn't a restaurant. I spent two years learning what a good nutrition plan is for me to maintain my health, to properly fuel me for the active life I am leading, and to continue transforming my body from what I have come to understand is called "Dad body" into my goal of "Damn". I know what I have to do; it's time to stop making excuses and get back to it. My daily targets: 1800-2250 calories 180+ grams protein 100-140 grams carbohydrates 35-50 grams fiber For this challenge, I can allow for eating out twice per week, I have to log everything, and I will post here daily to keep myself accountable. Goal: Eat clean, stick to my macros, log and be accountable. Goal Two: Yes, run! Awesome and slightly creepy alien puppet backpack optional. Every challenge I include a running goal because I have not always been a runner. Four years ago, I could not run to the end of my driveway without doubling over, gasping for breath, and I wish I were exaggerating when I say this. It was a big deal for me when I committed to walking a couple times per week. Now I'm running - slowly, but running - for miles. It's not where I want to be, but it's getting better. I wish I could take a time machine and go back and bitch slap teenage me and say, "Idiot! Get up off the couch and run! Do you know how much easier this will be for me in 35 years if you just get off your butt?" and then visit me each decade in between and do the same thing. In lieu of time travel, I need to commit to running multiple times per week until this is just What I Do. I'm not there yet. Goal: Run three times per week, including once with HILLS and one long trail run. Goal Three: A Jedi's strength flows from the Force. Intermediate-level Jedi OHP. I was quite a bit stronger last spring when I was lifting weights consistently, but shoulder tendinitis has made some moves outright painful. Overhead press, for instance, makes me want to cry and bench press is damn near impossible. But there's plenty that I can do instead. Kettlebell swings and cleans cause no pain. Barbell back squats and deadlifts do not hurt my shoulder. Simple dumbbell stuff - especially with a neutral grip - is fine at certain weights, and I have plenty of those in my garage. Body weight exercises also are just fine, and as Steve has blogged more than once, moving 200 pounds is moving 200 pounds. Push-ups are still fine as long as I constantly vary my hand position after a few reps. Inverted rows, pull-ups and chin-ups are not just fine, they actually help my recovery, and my home door bar allows for three different grips. Bench dips are okay if I am mindful of form, but I have to be careful to listen to my body when it starts to hurt. Also, nothing keeps me from doing tire flips, bucket carries, heavy farmer carries and sandbag training. There's no excuse for me not doing things that will keep me strong during my rehab. From April of 2013 until May of this year, I had been doing some sort of strength training - body weight, Boot Camp or other classes at the gym, weight training on my own - five to seven times per week. I need to get back on this horse. It was the happiest I have been. Goal: Strength training - body weight or weighted exercises - five times per week, logged here for accountability. Goal Four: You will know... when you are calm, at peace, passive. "Let go of everything you fear to lose, or whack you in the back of the skull with this aluminum rod, I will." I'm an over-committed mess. I work a full-time job that requires me to work an on-call rotation two out of every eight weeks. I am a single parent with joint custody and have my kids half-time. I have three older kids in their twenties who are still figuring things out. I am a youth group leader and mentor. I have a girlfriend. I travel to do obstacle races. And when I am on point, I am working out five to eight times per week. I need a nap just to catch up from all the things I don't have time to do. And that's the point. I need to carve out 20 minutes per day to meditate. To pray. To center myself, and restore some freaking balance to my own personal force. This can't be an optional thing and I'm not worried about having an extra goal here. Goal: Meditate 20 minutes per day. No life quest this time around. I've got fall Youth Group programming to start planning, 2016 Mission Trip to start organizing, three different personal projects that I need to get going in the garage, and so much other stuff that trying to pick one for here is a little useless. So I think I'm good. Grading: I abandoned stat points a couple challenges ago but will be grading each of these pass/fail during the week and each grade will be moderately subjective. For instance, if the goal is to run three times per week but I go for one 10-mile trail run on Saturday and The Hill with my OCR group on Wednesday, that's a "Pass" and I am not going to stress on it. I'll need to collect 4/6 passing grades in for each goal in order to level up. This makes THAT part, at least, not subjective, and it's an attainable goal. May the Force be with you.

For those of you who do't know me. I have been a shrimp all my life. I thought that's just was I was stuck with until Steve told me that wasn't true, so I'm trying to gain some weight and build some strength. Both times after having my last two babies, I got into big trouble. I was very underweight and weak. With #4 on the way I am determined to not let that happen again. Mini Main Quest: Gain as much as possible (muscle and body fat) so I will have reserves when little one arrives probably around late Dec/ early Jan Main Quest: Be able to do things. No more too weak or winded to even play with my kids. I really enjoy outdoor activities too and I'd love to be able to participate in those again. Next year at the zoo, I want to do all the fitness things they have set up throughout the exhibits (weird I know, but they're there) push-ups, pull ups, sit ups. I want to be able to pass a basic fitness test. I want to have flexibility, agility, control, endurance, and strength. Goals EAT, EAT, EAT: Last challenge went fairly well with tracking food group servings so I will stick with that. It's roughly the nutrition part of the 21 day fix on the highest calorie level. Workouts: I've built up a collection of body weight exercises and categorized them by muscle group. I plan on doing workouts 5x a week. Life Goal: I haven't done one of these in a while. I'd like to do one this time around, I'm just not sure what. I'll try to think of something these next few days. Also, if anyone uses Teamspeak, my hubby and I have a server. You are welcome to join and hang out. ts.megathirio.com

Hey guys! I'm returning for my third challenge. I have progressed a little in each challenge and I aim to see this one through to the end. No (illegitimate) excuses or life situations are going to keep me down and out. My goals are basically the same as the last challenge, but I am better prepared and equipped to take them on now. I'm also more determined! Goal #1 Level up my diet Go from Level 4 of nutrition to level 6 (based off of the Academy descriptions.) This means to go to level 5: "I consume a vegetable with every lunch or every dinner, replacing a normal carbohydrate or starch, for 10 total days in a 2 week period, and I go one week without eating pasta. Instead of french fries, I order broccoli. Instead of white bread, I’m eating asparagus." and then to go to level 6: "I have gone 12 out of 14 days without eating bread OR pasta, and 12 out of 14 days with a vegetable in every meal I eat." Goal #2 Do bodyweight workouts 3x a week This one is pretty self-explanatory. I just want to start a good routine before school kicks in. Goal #3 Drink 3 liters of water a day and go to bed BY 11. Also self-explanatory. Needless to say the times I have felt the best were when I drank enough water and consistently had a good bed time. In other words: NO MORE BINGING NETFLIX TO 1AM. Loot: Vape Mod If I get an "A" in all of my goal categories (and the budget allows it) I'm finally buying my own (zero nicotine) Vape pen/mod and ejuice. Yay no more borrowing a few hits off of my friend's! Time to kill this challenge. Let's do this!

Hello friends! About halfway through last challenge I had an unexpected visit from the Shadows. I stopped everything. I have since told them to move on and I am ready to continue my journey to healthy weight gain and being in better shape than ever. Food I'm taking a bit of a different approach this time. I have decided to try keeping track of servings of different food groups. I will probably still calorie count the first week or so to make sure I'm still getting what I need and adjust servings as necessary. I'll probably come up with some kind of point system for this. Fit Body weight workouts 5x a week, different muscle groups each day. I actually like my workouts and I feel much better when I do them. ReFresh Water- why is it so hard to drink water? I'm going to try some infused concoctions and eating more spicy food, goal is 1/2 to 3/4 gallon a day. Life Get my house in order--I would like to be able to have friends over and find things when I need them, but right now...yikes.

The Padawans lazed quietly about the common room; the younger lay askew the divan, with one of her legs propped over its arm. The older, a boy, reclined in an overstuffed chair nearby. Both were giving their undivided attention to the media pads each held in their lap, listening through earpieces to the endless stream of thoughtless entertainment as it flooded their brains. Both straightened their posture as I entered the chamber, drawing their attention away. I am Eric, and I am a Jedi Knight. The Order of the Jedi was established long ago in a galaxy, far, far away, but as their own domain aged, it collapsed under its own weight until the entire galaxy itself died. Members of my Order managed to escape through wormholes, following each to its own end. Some came here, to what we know as the Milky Way, beginning to populate the systems throughout. Once established in this galaxy, the Jedi, once known for their reclusive ways, began to form family clans to re-establish their lines. Now, ages later, it has become tradition for each clan to exist as its own Order within the larger Order. Each clan nurtures and teaches its own in the ways of the Order as they progress through the ranks: first as Younglings, learning the nature of the Force; then as Padawans, learning to use the Force and harness its power; then as Jedi Knights, sworn to uphold the ways of the Force as protectors of the Galaxy, and finally as a Jedi Master, who will teach and guide the members of their Clan as each proceeds on their own journey. As a member of the larger Order, each Clan designates one or more Masters to serve on the Order's Councils, dealing in matters of knowledge, diplomacy, and oversight. Typically, it is the elder Masters who serve on the Councils. Seats on the lower Councils may be taken by Jedi Masters of lesser stature, but the High Council is reserved for the Grand Masters of each clan. My Grandfathers - both wise and strong in completely different ways - held seats of honor on the High Council for the better part of a generation, but their each passed many years ago. In their absence, my Clan was directionless. For years, we languished, and to many, we were forgotten. I am about to resurrect those memories. I have trained for decades in the Ways of my Order. I have sought knowledge, and learned to discern the difference between Knowledge and Wisdom. I have worked to raise my own children in the Ways of the Force. Unfortunately, in those years of learning and discerning, I became soft, physically and mentally weak, and though I had a gift to reach others, to teach, to impart knowledge and compassion and wisdom, I was nearly sick. I was unable to be the Master I was born to be. I have spent the past handful of years remaking my body, and no longer see it as a liability. Now, as my beard becomes more and more gray, my body has become more able to do the physical feats that are required as a Grand Master. After nearly a generation empty, I am ready to ascend to my place of honor as Grand Master of my Clan and take my seat on the High Council. Main Quest I have a four-year goal for where I want to be that I am breaking down into six-month increments. It hasn't taken shape as an Epic Quest yet, but it will get there. In the meantime, suffice to say that I want to be this guy: That's right, Jon Stewart, I am coming for you. Jon Stewart was the oldest man to ever beat the Warped Wall on ANW last summer. I was 47. He was 52. I decided that I had until I was 52 to become him. That's what's going to happen. In the meantime - before I become a Ninja - I am going to be the most badass Spartan Jedi Knight that you will ever meet. This year I am going to complete at least two Spartan Trifectas and have my sights set on a third. Right now I have one down. My first six-month goal is to complete my second Trifecta. And possibly that third. This one's all mine. Goal One: Raise the X-Wing I'm functionally stronger than I was a year ago, but after cutting weight for about three months, I'm really feeling puny lately. I haven't been doing a lot of weight training and it has been painfully obvious lately. I need to get back to some consistency with this - lifting twice per week is my happy spot when I'm busy doing other stuff. I can count my CrossFit class for one of two of these if it is deadlift and OHP-heavy, but then I have to keep it heavy enough to matter for the duration. Goal: Lift weights twice per week. Goal Two: Outrun the Destroyers I'm faster than I was a year ago, but I'm not as fast as I want to be. The only way to get faster is to run, and the more consistently I get those runs in - especially longer runs, in the 4-8 mile range - the faster my shorter runs get. Plus, I enjoy just getting out and zoning out while I run. This needs to be a habit and I will put it in my challenges until it's just What I Do. Goal: Go for a 4-8 mile run twice per week. Goal Three: Unlock the Jedi Holocron I am going to be doing this all without the safety net of my Small Groups at my gym. I have been training with Jon since his first Boot Camp class in January of 2013 and I have been doing either his Focus Group or more recently the Men's Group with him ever since. That's nearly two and a half years of having him assign my workouts and ask "Where are your food journals?" But he's suspending the Men's Group for the summer due to him having time constraints and also the group shrinking to about six or seven, and while I could go back to Focus Group... I have a plan. One of Jon's goals has been to teach us how to do this stuff on our own. Also, one of my long-term goals is to become a Certified Personal Trainer myself. So, for this challenge, I will be creating my own program and then sticking to it without the added influence of a personal trainer. This will allow me to program specifically for my own goals - both short- and long-term - and train appropriately. This is both exciting and terrifying. I'll be posting my weekly plans so that they're trackable here, because the added accountability will really help. Goal: Write my own training program and post it here once per week. Life Quest: Teach my Padawan During the final week of this challenge I will disappear. Every summer I take my Youth Group on a Mission Trip. We do basic home repair stuff for mostly elderly or handicapped or other folks who can't afford to do the repairs themselves. It's mostly painting, although there are some small construction projects like wheelchair ramps. I've been doing this since 2004. This will be the first time since 2007 that I have done one of these trips with a member of my own family, as my school-aged son is now old enough to go on the trip. He also has high-functioning autism. The week will be its own challenge all by itself. Goal: Enjoy myself and don't stress out about the trip while making sure the boy does too. Grading: I abandoned stat points at the end of the last challenge but will be grading each of these pass/fail during the week and each grade will probably be moderately subjective. For instance, if the goal is to run twice per week but I go for one 10-mile trail run and only run a couple miles one other day, I'm still going to call it a "Pass" and not feel bad. Or like this week, if instead of lifting at CrossFit we do a Murphy Challenge, and I lift one other day during the week, I'm calling that a pass because a Murphy is a Holy Hell. May the Force be with you.

This will be my seventh challenge and in honor of that I'm looking back over my past six and pulling inspiration from them. Its a time traveling theme ... just go with it My six previous challenge have an interesting theme when you look them over. I'll leave the list under the . The theme is fairly simple ... I run, I bike, I do bootcamp/TRX, I try to limit booze, I do photography. This MIGHT have to do with my Scout philosophy. I mean really I keep doing the same ole same ole and expect to get different results ... I might be insane Well not really ... when I was marathon training - which was far more intense than any challenge I've done here - I got down to 210lbs though my muscles weren't what I wanted. So I'm hoping to land somewhere between where I am now (~235) and where I was (210) I think 220 or so would look good on me. I'm not looking to do another marathon but do want to hit that sub-2 hour half goal I was robbed of last year. Overall QUEST! Get to 220lbs with the muscles I want! You know while training for my fall half and being awesome for camp NF! Quest 1 I need to start getting miles under my feet. I'm going to shoot for 20 miles this time around. I'll allow bike miles to count though I doubt I'll do any as I just prefer running to biking. A - 20+ miles (+2 Sta, +2 Dex) B - 15 miles (+1 Sta, +2 Dex) C - 10 miles (+1 Sta, +1 Dex) F - under 10 miles Quest 2 I need to keep logging my food and adjust my intake to keep up with my activity. I'm going to borrow from shaarawy and focus on my protein intake. I'll be logging via MyFitnessPal and keep my fingers crossed. A - 90+ grams (+3 Str +1 Con) B - 80+ grams (+2 Str +1 Con) C - 70+ grams (+1 Str +1 Con) F - 69- grams Quest 3 Limit the boozing ... I keep trying and failing at this but dang if I'm not going to give it another go. Seriously booze is my enemy as I enjoy it and in a social situation I tend to have a drink or three too many. Time to summon the willpower! A - 5 drinks (+2 Sta, +2 Wis) B - 6 drinks (+2 Sta, +1 Wis) C - 7 drinks (+1 Sta, +1 Wis) F - 8+ drinks Life Quest Keep up with friends ... I'm failing at this as I'm being a bum. A - I hang out with 4 friends (+2 Wis, +2 Chr) B - I hang out with 3 friends (+1 Wis, +1 Chr) F - I hang out with less than 3 peoples

So on the heels of last challenge being mostly a success, I have decided to tackle my one weak spot from the last challenge, running... As it is getting closer and closer to the 13.1 mile Tough Mudder, I really need to run longer distances. I have done a couple of 2 mile runs but that is not going to cut it for this next race. So here is the plan. Goal 1: Muscle Retention (+2 STR) I plan on doing the "You are Your Own Gym" workouts still in the morning because my wife is doing her version as well. For the Tough Mudder, I will need some more upper body strength for the race also so I am going to continue this exercise program. Goal 2: Running (Because it is fun for everyone) (+3 STA +2 DEX) I am getting some new running shoes. My goal is to use them at least 2x per week. Ideally, I want to run 3x per week. My goal by the end of the challenge is to run over 50 miles by the end of the challenge. As a separate but related challenge, today starts the walking challenge at work. The goal is 10,000 steps a day. We have teams of 5 to compete against other people from our facility but I think my focus will be on beating my teammates. Right now I am in 2nd place and the guy in first is going to be hard to catch, but adding in more running might make it possible. Goal 3: PvP Weighted Pull-ups (+2 STR +1 CHA) This started as just a couple of us doing weighted pull-ups last challenge and turned into a PvP now. At the end of last challenge my best was 3 reps of 35 lbs. My goal for this challenge is to get up to 20 body weight reps. Last time I measured, I was at 12 body weight reps in 1 set (not touching the ground). Goal 4: Lose It! (+3 CON +2 WIS) So I got back on the scale and noticed that my weight has gone up dramatically in the last week or so. I was holding at 184 for a while but the last few readings on the scale were 189, 188 and 188.5 so clearly I am doing something wrong. So the goal here is 2 part. First is tracking what I eat again. I had been not following it as closely recently because I thought I was doing better with what I ate. The second part is no more snacks before bed. I have noticed that I have been a lot hungrier lately and snacking more. So no eating after 7pm unless it is a special occasion.

Fellow Recruits - I received this mission file via a thumb drive placed in the drivers seat of my vehicle at 0700 hours. I had previously been a member of an agency that was corrupted and rightfully dismantled (you can access my previous mission logs below) and was working on re-legitimizing our work when certain life events forced me to drop out of active duty. I have not made contact with anyone from that life until now. I have no choice but to accept the mission below and would appreciate any support or intel you can afford me. Wish me luck - I have been working at an office job during my forced time off and have allowed my skills to stagnate. MISSION REBOUND: Infiltrate the bad guys, gather intelligence, don't blow your cover. Main Objective: Infiltrate the elite group known as "The Fits." Goals: 1) Familiarize yourself with the home base of "The Fits" henceforth known as "The Gym." Spend at least 3 times a week becoming familiar with the tools of their trade. Utilize whatever resources you have available to become one of them. (3x a week = 3pts, 2x = 2 pts, 1x = 1pt, 0x = 0pts) 2) Retain your true identity. Remember to center yourself and remain conscious of your objective. Complete a 30 day yoga challenge. Use this time to reflect on your objectives and your cover. (1 day of yoga = 1/7pt. Miss a day - lose all previous points and begin again.) 3) Train your willpower to match that of those you are infiltrating. Record everything (you eat and any activity you take part in). (< v = 1 = 1/7 pt.) Secondary Objective: Gather Intelligence Goals: 1) Maintain your commitment to intelligence gathering. Spend AT LEAST 1 hour per day studying. This includes language and LSAT preparation. (1 hr/day = 1/7pt) CRITICAL: MAINTAIN COVER BY ALL MEANS NECESSARY 1) DO NOT SHOW FEAR 2) DO NOT ABANDON MISSION 3) GAIN CONFIDENCE IN COVER - The more you spend time among those you are infiltrating, the more you will become comfortable being among them. Use this to your advantage. NOTE: Agent Pond - if you successfully complete this mission within the time-frame of 6 weeks, you will be welcomed back in the agency. You had ambition and talent prior to your unfortunate situation - we want you back. Good Luck. - PC WELCOME TO ASA POND'S MISSION REBOUND LOG [Follow my goal tracker HERE.]

Hi everyone!! This is my first quest with the assassins and I’m really excited to be here!! From the beginning I've really waffled between the Rangers and the Assassins, and I think that lack of focus will kind of show in my goals for the challenge. I ultimately chose assassins thanks to the helpful advice of our assassin ambassadors -- mostly because bodyweight workouts are part of my long term goals, and while I am working on weight loss, quite of my few personal/long-term goals for the next year land me squarely in this category over the more cross-fitty training of the Rangers. I'm spending the next ten weeks working in lovely Ireland and am going to have access to gyms, which I want to take advantage of. So even though I’m training with you lovely assassins, I’m have some freeweight & running related goals this challenge! Current Main Quest: Lose 15 pounds (drop from 150 to 135) before I move to London in September 2015. Build enough core & upper body strength through regular body weight or free weight exercise that I no longer have back pain when sitting for prolonged periods of time. Enroll in dance lessons sometime in the next year. Maintain a regular running schedule and begin training for my first half-marathon in fall of 2015, hopefully run the big 26.2 in April of 2016. Some goals for future challenges will include: Swing Dance Lessons & Practice Run A Half Marathon Pushup Challenge -- 20, 30, and beyond Tai Chi Classes NOW. I want to post my progress pics from the last quest to help inspire myself when the going gets tough. Possibly NSFW as I am wearing a sports bra/pants: Challenge 1 start: 148 lbs One, Two Challenge 1 finish: 142 lbs One, Two Challenge 2 start: 140 lbs Challenge 2 finish: To give you an idea of my trajectory, observe my high weight (192 lbs) almost eight years ago.... I have fluctuated back and forth a bit, but for the most part I have been steadily losing in small increments. I went gluten-free six years ago and cut all sodas/most sugar etc in the last three years. I'm hoping that by the end of this challenge I'll be just that much closer to a solid healthy weight (not to mention healthy cholesterol levels!!)! In short, I want to complete my SUPERHERO TRANSFORMATION! In addition to fitness, I love to travel, I crochet, I am addicted to Harvest Moon on my DS and I'm moving to London in September. I'm hoping to make some friends amongst the assassins this challenge!! Please feel free to follow or comment if you have similar goals or think we'd get along & be able to support one another! GOAL ONE: Running Wild Last challenge I focused on working out 5x weekly, and I want to continue that goal.... with that in mind, I rewarded myself for a job well done in my first challenge with a fancy new hydration belt! Ohhhhh, ahhhhh! SO. I am beginning to train for my first half-marathon this summer, intending to run in October. I’m using the Galloway Method for run/walk training and I need to get serious about my longer runs in particular. This isn't about speed or times, just about STAMINA! I am varying between 1/1 minute run/walks and 2/1 minute run/walks. I intend to run at 2/1 or 3/1 in October, depending on how my training goes. Cardio 3x weekly: Run/walk according to the half-marathon training schedule here, slightly modified as I am aiming to race in October: Short runs Monday and Saturday, long run on Wednesday afternoon/evenings. WEEK ONE: 30 minute run 2X weekly, 4 mile run 1X weekly. (30 x 2 complete, 4 mile complete) \o/ WEEK TWO: 30 minute run 2X weekly, 5 mile run 1X weekly. (30 x 2 complete, 5 mile complete) \o/ WEEK THREE: 30 minute run 2X weekly, 2.5 mile run 1X weekly. (30 x 2 complete, 2.5 mile complete) \o/ WEEK FOUR: 30 minute run 2X weekly, 6.5 mile run 1X weekly. (30 x 1 complete, 6.5 x 1 complete) WEEK FIVE: 30 minute run 2X weekly, 3 mile run 1X weekly. WEEK SIX: 30 minute run 2X weekly, 8 mile run 1X weekly. Earning +3 STA +2 DEX upon completion. Full point docked for non-attempts each week, partial points docked for non-completion of attempted runs. GOAL TWO: Weighty Goals For my second goal I'm hoping to roll free weights into my workout routine this summer. Weights 2x - 3x weekly 3x weekly is an option IF and only if I can double up on a short run day. I want to give myself two off days for recovery, work and my life quest each week. My routine: 3x sets of 12 barbell rows 3x sets of 10 military presses 3x sets of 12 curls 3x sets of 12 lateral pull-downs (where possible) In addition I want to practice my four Assassin mini body-weight moves plus the 20 squats and lunges from my body weight workout. I will try to raise my AMRAP on these on each weight day: Bent knee inverted rows Pushups Wall sit Lying leg raises I also want to work towards doing reps of full pushups rather than kneeling pushups as a continuation of my pushup-related goal in my last challenge. WEEK ONE: 2/2 WEEK TWO: 2/2 WEEK THREE: 2/2 WEEK FOUR: 0/2 WEEK FIVE: 0/2 WEEK SIX: 0/2 Completion guarantees +3 STR + 2 CHA GOAL THREE - Victory Over Vices: Last challenge I cut down on alcohol consumption, and just like with goal 1 I want to continue that goal and add a second. My goal is to drink only at work related functions and drink no more than two glasses of wine per night, maxing at six per week. I have no days off this challenge, so I’m not adding any caveats – though on the one day I may be meeting friends in early July I will waive this rule. Part B, though. Part b is going to be killer, because I freaking LOVE salt/salty foods/bitter/vinegary foods, ugh. I tend to add salt even before I taste food, which is a ridiculously stupid habit to maintain. Part A -- Drink only at work related functions and drink no more than two glasses of wine per night -- or the caloric equivalent (250 cal) in other booze! Part B -- NO ADDED SALT TO MEALS. Earning +2 CON +2 WIS upon completion. Dock .25 points per daily failure. Week 3 -- -.25 for added salt Week 4 -- -.25 for extra booze Bonus! Life Quest: I completely failed this my first challenge, so I am going to repeat the goal with actual time-management requirements built in. Read 2 self-improvement books on interpersonal communications - for this challenge I've selected "Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well" and "How to Speak, How To Listen". Earn .5 charisma points per book! During my second challenge I will read from 30 – 45 minutes on each rest-day during the week. If I manage to finish both books I will add a third (my Galloway method marathon training guide) with no points bonus.

Okay I have been working on the program a while. Mind you I never really stretch with my workouts which I have been told can lead to issues, so yeah. 30 squats 15 push ups 15 knee-push ups 15 full crunches/lifting my legs instead/with my upper body 30 lunges 15 diamond push ups 15 d-p on knees 15 sit ups 15 side kettel rows each side 25 second plank 45 jumping jacks repeat once more I do that every second day 3 times a week. every day I don't do that I do M-100's because I am still to blubbery to run without getting really winded. I warm up by running up and down a flight of stairs six times. <- M-100I was going to move up to three sets soon and might just amalgamate the knee push ups with the normal push ups. I don't know if I was going to start move in skipping for my cardio conditioning because I heard running is really hard on the knees. So yeah, any opinion's are greatly appreciated as well as resources.

So a big part of why I only get in one bodyweight a week is the fact that I get DOMS not the day after, but the day after that. It then hangs on for four days or so. I'm not sure what this means. I can complete my reps well, sometimes so well that I feel like I should go up to the next level on the progression, but I am completely laid out from doing anything more intense with my arms than using the salad spinner for almost a week. In the fall, when I did 3x/week bodyweight, this was not a problem. I was doing a shorter program, and easier progressions/forms, but still. I am warming up. I am staying hydrated. I am eating enough, I'm pretty sure. I am sleeping enough, definitely. Easily 8 hours a night, almost every night.. I am stretching. So I can't figure out what to do about this. I want to do more than one BW per week, but sometimes, after a BW on Sunday or Monday, I can barely get my arms up for Taiko practice Wednesday. This last week, I finally felt better FRIDAY NIGHT. From my Monday evening workout. Any advice? What does ridiculously long recovery time mean? Do I need to dial it back, alternating half-and-half days, instead of doing the entire program at once? Or pull back to easier versions of each progression, and do those until they're so easy I'm bored out of my skull? I'm using this: http://www.startbody...ic-routine.html And to specify, my worst DOMS is in my inner elbows and my armpits. Tight and sore, and weak, so I feel noodle-armed.

Okay so I have had this challenge in mind for a while but it's taken me forever to get around to posting it. I've already been working on these so here 'tis: My main quest is still anti-fragility with the additional goal of dropping my BF% down to 20. Sadly, as I haven't been doing much the two weeks between challenges, I feel as though I lost a some ground so it's not starting over but definitely backtracking a bit. This is not good since I've got two mud runs during this challenge. Time to step it up. So in harmony with this I will: 1) Keep record of everything I eat AND post it. I don't have limitations so far as to what it is (I usually eat AIP with the occasional addition of corn tortillas and rice), just that ANYTHING eaten must be written down. I admit I'm a little afraid of this one since I can't stand recording what I view as failure so this will keep my in line, I guarantee it. I will write it all down in a notebook on days I don't have internet access. 2 END 3 CON 2) Run/walk a min of 15-20 miles a week. I would like to run at least 8 miles/week and increase to 15 by the end of the challenge. I have no idea if the last part is realistic but we'll see. The priority is to at least get them in at first and then work on ratio. 3 END 2 STR Last, but certainly not least: 3) Continue my quest for world domination by honing push-up skills (since everyone knows this is key). In practice this means I start with 2 sets of 25 full perfect form push-ups every other day and increase every week (either in number or difficulty) as a part of my strength training for those days. Ultimately I'd like to be doing handstand push-ups but that's probably quite a ways off for now. 4 STR Cause right now, for one hadned push-ups, this is me: Life Quest: Draw something every day with my left hand. Post one of these possible atrocities once a week. 1 CHA

Main Quest Week long back country Elk hunt (September 2015) Followed by a warrior dash in October Motivation 2 kids and a wife that needs me long term. An Elk hunt with my father before he is unable. Fleet of foot Last challenge, I was walking about one hour 3 times per week and I started to transition to Jogging. I’m going to continue with this goal and by the end of the challenge I will be doing 5 min walking/5 min jogging splits. My goal is to jog 30 min total within one hour. Points as follows: >30 min = 3 stam, 1 con >22.5 min = 1 stam, 1 con >15 min = 1 stam Push the earth: Instead of a boring goal like work out x times per week, I’m going to shoot for something I can be proud of. I’m going to gun for 100 pushups in one set. This will be a tough one. But I think I can pull it off. I’ll use one of the 100 push up challenges as a guide. If you have one that you have been success full with let me know. My last set of push-ups was 30/20/15. Points will be +4 str. All or nothing Let the arrows fly: In order to achieve my goal, I must start practicing now. So my goal will be to start sending shafts of wood (or aluminum) down range at a high rate of speed. I plan on practicing at least twice a week for the duration of this challenge and compete in a field tourney by the end of the challenge. Points as follows: 12 + practices = 2 dex 6 + practices = 1 dex Compete in tourney = 2 dex Writing I’m going to start a blog. I’ve wanted to do this for a while. So I’m going to commit to it. The blog is started, but it needs some polishing. My goal is to get it polished, hopefully before the challenge starts and consistently write. Points as follows 6 post over challenge = + wis/+1 Chr 3 post over challenge = +1 wis Some one subscribes = +1 Chr This is my draft and I may edit before we start. If you have suggestions please let me know. Edited to get to 15 stat points.

Hey Guys! So, I'm back and ready to start this challenge. I would definetely call my last challenge a success, but I was not so great at updating my thread. I hope that by incorporating that into one my mini-quests, I can be more successful on that front. I'm finding that I am least successful when my quests include home workouts. I'd like to change that. So, I'm looking for lots of accountability on that front and in order to get that accountability, I kinda need to update. So yeah . . . .without further ado . . . Main Quest: 1 Unassisted Pull-up Mini-Quest 1: Long story short - I have a severe anxiety disorder which I only recently got back under control. In order to help with that, I had to make a med change. The med change means that I'm on a high dose of a med which is a known weight-loss inhibitor and weight-gainer. Not. Cool. The only thing that "may" counteract this (according to my doc) is high-intensity endurance training, so I am working on a couch to 10K program. While I am certainly not new to running, having completed a half-marathon less than 18 months ago, I figured this would be a great way to kickstart everything. I will award myself 3 Stamina points if I can finish the zero-10K program (i.e. run 60 minutes non-stop) by the end of this challenge. Mini-Quest 2: Accountability! I started using HabitRPG and have fell in love with it! So, I added updating NF to my dailies as an every-other-day task. While this will give me an immediate consequence if I don't update (i.e. lost health), I'm hoping that it will eventually lead me to update all the time here and get more support for those at-home workouts which seem so difficult for me! I've decided that if I can post 32 times during this challenge, (after this), I will consider it a success and award myself 3 Charisma points. Mini-Quest 3: Dove-tailing with at-home workout difficulty, I plan on doing either band-assisted pull-ups or push-ups every day throughout the challenge. 3 Strength points. Mind-Body Quest: Stretch and/or meditate at least 3 x's a week. 1.5 points each dexterity & wisdom. I'm hoping to increase flexibility and calm my mind. Life (i.e. stay-sane) Quest: Read (or listen) to at least 1 book that is not a presidential biography for 3 Charisma points. ***** Well, I must say I am a little worried about fitting everything in during the beginning of the Challenge as my wife is away at grad school for the first 9 days of the challenge. . . Solo parenting! As long as the kids get healthy (and stay healthy) I think I can do it!

Goodness, how did it get to be Wednesday already? I'm still sticking with a fairly simple challenge this time. I had some success with the last one and that was very encouraging. I just need to focus on doing it, not if I think it's working or not. For those of you who don't know me, I'm a shrimp trying to gain some healthy weight and take better care of myself in general. #1 Paint the Fence No less than 1,800 calories a day. With three little ones, I sometimes struggle with getting enough to eat. When I pass this, I'll bump it up a bit. #2 Wax on Wax Off Body weight workouts 5x a week. I was pretty consistent with these last time. I really like doing them and I definitely have more energy when I stick with it. I've done the first two so far. #3 Sand the Floor Drink 6-8 cups of water a day. Again, Monday and Tuesday are done. #4... Not a clue here. If I think of something later, I'll add it.

A quick summary: Last challenge I set workout, food, and soda-free life goals. I managed to kick soda, started off okay with both food and workout, but quickly went back to being a french fry loving couch potato. Okay, that's not totally accurate, but in the grand scheme of things I'd say my grading for workout was a C at best, cooking for myself was a C, and soda-free was a B+. Now, even though I was on the struggle bus the entire time, I did make progress. First, I joined a gym full of the most awesome people ever. Second, I managed to lose five pounds! Third, I kicked the soda habit. I had a couple, but I don't crave one every day now. So it wasn't a total wash, and I realized that I was probably over-ambitious in setting my goals last time (damn Slytherin tendencies). So now I've "woken up" and know how to keep going. On to the Quests! Mission: Lose 40 pounds by sister's graduation (May 28). 5/40 down. Quest 1: (Active Body) Full workouts at least 2x a week. Walk or run at least 2x a week. Quest 2: (Healthy Body) Drink at least a liter of water each day. Quest 3: (Conscious Body) Keep a proper written journal of prayers/thankfulness/positivity. Life Quest: Revise the hell out of my novel/don't take rejections personally. Let's do this!

So, hi. I'm nervous as, but really excited. I made an effort 5 years ago to get in shape, but it didn't work out. I didn't have a solid plan, or much support. I can tackle part 1. I'm hoping the forums help with part 2. I've been around a size 10/12 for the last few years, ever since having a full-time desk job. I used to enjoy dressing up, but my nice shirts and dress pants stopped fitting and I didn't want to buy new ones. I hide in loose sweaters and hoodies and jeans. I don't like it, and I want to change. My inspiration for my first quest is Sailor Moon. (I'll do some silly theme some time.) I've loved it since I was small, and SMC has only brought back the nostalgia. Makoto/Jupiter has always been a personal role model for me: a bit shy, a bit intimidating, a love of food and sewing. She came to the game with natural strength, but the Scouts helped her learn how to hone it, and how to value herself. Starting my first thread is the beginning of my character arc. It's definitely like transferring to a new school. Main Quest: Lose 1-2 pants size. I may also try to reflect this with inches/pounds lost. Subquest #1: Bodyweight! I've tried it a few times and the beginner level has been a great challenge so far. Aiming for 4x/week. I do have to modify the pushups into dips, due to a bum shoulder. A: 20x, +2STR. B: 18x, +1 STR. C: 16x, +.5STR. Week 5: 11/18 Subquest #2: Stay Active! I need something to keep me stretched and limber between bw circuits. I'm only aiming for 2x/week on this, with options for club nights or Ingress adventures on other days. A: 12x, +2STA. B: 11x, +1 STA. C: 10x, +.5 STA. Week 5: 9/10 Subquest #3: LowCarb/ModPaleo. I know how my body needs to be fueled, and straight paleo cannot sustain me. However, I overdo carbs a lot (every meal, plus snacks.) I'm aiming for LC/MP meals twice a day, INCLUDING my weekends. On my days off, I don't eat well....at all. It's bad. Just so bad. Each good meal is 1 point. {42 days=9 points handicap.} I am also trying to minimize sugar as much as possible, aiming for 30g/45g/60g per day. Each day that I do so is 2 pts, 1 pt for the next goal, and .5 for the lowest. { 12 A days, 22 B days, 8 C days.) A: 75 points, +1CON, +1STA. B: 70 points, +.75CON,+.75STA. C: 65 points, +.5 CON, +.5STA. A: 50 points, +1CON, +1CHA. B: 40 points, +.75CON,+.75CHA. C: 30 points, +.5 CON,+.5CHA. I'm aware my points system looks slightly insane, but I like numbers and a range of goals. Week 5: 66/34 LifeQuest! UPDATED as 3/23. Stick to weekly paycheck budget. Keep up with incremental savings. A: Budget and savings both accomplished, +2WIS. B: Budget accomplished, +1WIS. Motivation: I want to feel more confident in my cosplay. I want to fit into my nicer clothes again. I want to be stronger than I already am. =D

For those that are interested in following along on the Heros Jouney with me, I am going to go ahead a post the different workouts each day. Day 1 comes tomorrow!

Check out my current challenge here! And start reading about progress for that challenge here on my log! This is just a place for me to log my progress and for you all to come chat with me and keep me accountable! Also, I will post neat crossplay, cosplay, and fitness things I find or generate here. So, this is the start! Hi. I'm Dandy. I crossplay, I'm trying to get more fit, and I'm trying to get my degree in library science! I'm pretty friendly. I cycle a lot, I like doing strength training too! My idol is Erwin Smith from Attack on Titan and he is my fitness inspiration! Let's talk and keep tabs of my battle record here!

Hi all, my name is Phytomancer, and I am back. Last week, I have a very embarrassing but neccessary surgical procedure. The mark is small, but the doctor told me not to exert heavy physical exercise until further notice. But as everybody knows, superheroes (and super villains, like me) only get stronger after every defeat. So do I! Disclaimer: This image is only representative. You may find the real me slightly more physically alluring, that is, if you are a dwarf like me. This guy's just too elvish dontcha thang? The winter holidays is almost over, and Santa has done his job, and it started to spoiled Phytomancer's mood. Because he's taken a liking to Grinch, and even when Grinch got his heart melted (,sentimentals only fail,) Phytomancer would take up to do the Grinch's job. He will steal New Year Resolutions! Whatever popular resolutions people wish to do and didn't, Phytomancer will take it and make it better. 1. "I'll lift, like, everyday at the gym." - Walk 30 min/ day - Lift/ bodyweight workout 3 times a week 2. "I'll eat better" - Eat greens 7 days a week - Only eat between 7-5 (10 hours) 3. "I will study hard" - 2 hours in the morning in writing creatively for the first week - 2 hours working on dissertation everyday (or 14 hours/ week) - Sleep 8 hours/ day for brain capacity. And that's it. Time for minion to start his first set of evil tasks. Good luck, everybody !! I--I meant-- MUAHHAHAHAAAHAA