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This is going to be my most ambitious challenge yet. I am probably doomed to fail, but as long as we learn from our failures they aren't really failures are they? First, I am rolling my exercise quests from last challenge into one: Exercise 4x per week, ideally 3 lift, 1 sprint. But because I am going into my busy season at work I might have to sacrifice my normal workout time and will be forced to improvise. So any workout counts. Second, stepping up my diet goal again, 2500 cal max, 180g protein min, every day, with the exception of June 2-5, my birthday weekend. I am still going to try but I am not going to score it. Third, My Etsy shop, The Tower of Or and Sable has been stagnant for too long. I am going to attempt to breath new life into it. Mini goals in this quest include getting my books in order, promoting the shop on social media at least once a week (this doesn't count), reviewing/updating my existing listings, and creating 2 new listings or products. Fourth, I need to start getting my finances in order starting with a will and college funds for my kids. Side Quest: Yep, still the Doll House. This time I am going to include posting a picture in the quest. Maybe then I will actually do it.

Greetings, Rangers! I am Thalianost, Knight Banaret of the Order of the Gules Oak. I have been training and feasting with the warriors for most of the winter but now that spring is just around the corner, as is swordplay season, it is time I start getting more active and putting my strength to use. This challenge my plan is to ease out of weight training mode and into combat mode. The Plan: Main Quest: Increase mobility while maintaining strength. Q1: Workouts Since I don't want to loose all my hard earned strength between now and next fall, I am going to keep lifting but only 2 days a week, rather than 4. The other two days I will be doing The Biggest Loser Boot Camp DVD to try to get my endurance and mobility back. Also, as I have been neglecting my core, I will be adding a shorter Core workout on Friday's (the day I have the least amount of workout time). So It will look like this: Monday: Lift, chest and shoulders Tuesday: DVD workout Wednesday: Lift, arms and legs Thursday: DVD workout Friday: Core Q2: Diet I decided toward the end of the previous challenge not to get too caught up in the numbers on the scale for a while. I am planning to just put in the work and trust that the numbers will take care of themselves. On that note, even though I am flabbier than I would like to be (currently 29%BF). I am not going to be shooting for a caloric deficit this challenge, I am going to aim to maintain. My last challenge was a cut challenge in which I was aiming for less than 2700 calories and a minimum of 260g protein, not an easy task. I have noticed that this help teach me to eat leaner proteins and cut out a lot of carbs and junk, so I feel I might end up eating well under my goals anyway. This challenge I am shooting for less than 3500 calories a day while consuming a minimum of 255g protein. Q3: Stretching I have developed, over the past few years, a bad habit of not stretching after my workouts. This must stop. My goal will be to stretch after every work out. SQ1: Chainmaile In my spare time I am an amateur craftsman, making stuff out of chainmaile. I am considering doing a craft fair this summer and need to build up my stock. My goal for this challenge is to complete 20 bracelets and 5 Head Bands. SQ2: Swordsmanship This is more of a trial run for future challenges. As a knight I need to cultivate and maintain good swordsmanship. I don't have a good indoor practice space so training in the harsh northern Illinois winter is a bit of a challenge especially with a baby running around my feet. My goal for this challenge is to spend 5 minutes 5 days a week "shadow sparring" using either my sword or my waster. So for those of you who didn't want to read all that: Q1: Lift 2x per week, DVD 2x per week, Core 1X per week Q2: <3500 cal per day, >255g protein per day Q3: Stretch after every workout SQ1: Complete 20 bracelets and 5 headbands Complete 5 bracelets and 2 neck ties (Edited 3/16/15) SQ2: Sword training 5 min/day, 5 day/week Though I don't identify myself as a ranger, I am still very excited to be working with you all. Happy challenge everyone!

I was tossed as to if I wanted to start another challenge. My last one fell apart in the last week, and the efforts I made towards the goals seemed non-committal. I'm trying to change too much at the same time and I'm failing. And I hate failing in front of others. I'm perfectly cool failing on my own, learning from my own secret mistakes and determining to do it right/get better/learn... but all under the cover of secrecy. Having the world see my struggle is very difficult for me. I want to be strong. I need to be strong... and when I end up showing weakness and failure, I feel vulnerable and exposed. I understand this community is the single most supportive group of people I've ever encountered, but it's still unnerving... and uncomfortable and scary. So here's to taking the advice that I asked for. Time to get uncomfortable. Metal_Weaver's Quest to do a Pull-Up, take 2 1st Mission: Breaking Free from the Barista - No more coffee drinks. I feel hyper but sick after them, and it's not worth it. Stop beating up my innards and quit the coffee drinks. - If I'm going to consume coffee, it will henceforth be black (*shudder* yuck). 2nd Mission: Back to Basic (Training, that is!) - 2-3 body weight workouts per week. I'm aiming for 3, but I will accept 2 as a success. - I will be following the Playground workout, as I will be doing my two mid-week trainings at the playground by the soccer field while my kids are at practice. (clever, I know and it makes for no excuses) 3rd Mission: In the Light - I will only eat around other people, where they can see me. This includes my kids (who are GREAT for reminding me "Mommy, I thought you weren't supposed to eat that?"), my co-workers, etc. I will NOT hide when and what I eat. - I will keep a log of what I eat: every thing that goes into my mouth (with the exception of the occasional pen cap or fingernail). Life Mission #1: Get Your Weave On - I will complete several projects that have been sitting unfinished. -- Sue's chainmail bra -- Sue's chainmail dance belt (that goes with said bra) -- the dis-assembly of the refuse jewelry I purchased for parts -- the un-owned chain vest (this one may not be complete by the end of the challenge: I accept this, but I still need to make progress on it!) Motivation: I want to be feel as awesome as people seem to think I am. (edited)

Tough, not hard. That's my motto for this challenge. OKAY!! Word play out of the way... I'm on a mission! Here are my objectives: 1) There's ALWAYS room for-- "NO" (or: Metal_Weaver vs. the Sugar Demon, round 2 - FIGHT!) Cut processed sugar-foods COMPLETELY out of my life. This includes cookies, cake, candy, chocolate, and any other "food" that is primarily sugar. Graded weekly. A = 6 or 7 days out of the week B = 4 or 5 days out of the week C = 2 or 3 days out of the week Changed March 11 (2013) -- Revised Goal 1) for the remaining 4 weeks of the Challenge: Eat strict Paleo from waking through 5:30pm and from 6:30pm till bedtime. Meat, veggies and fruit. I'm going to reserve nuts for a treat since I have a tendency to binge on those. The content of dinner will be mostly out of my control, but my goal between 5:30 and 6:30pm will be to be mindful and try to achieve as close to Paleo eating as possible. No bread, small portions of pasta & potatoes, etc. I'm aiming to not eat anything from 6:30 till bedtime, but if I DO eat, I want it to be Paleo. -- I've done the first portion of the day Paleo before, so I know I can do it again... the real challenge will be from 5:30 on. A = 6 or 7 days out of the week B = 4 or 5 days out of the week C = 2 or 3 days out of the week At Challenge recap, I'll be counting the total # of days spent sugar-food-free/Paleo.Epic Win = 42 days = A+ (+1 Sta, +2 Con, +1 Wis, +1 Cha) & a Trinket of Awesomesauce failed on the 2nd day 36-41 days = A (+1 Sta, +2 Con, +1 Wis)24-35 days = B (+1 Sta, +1 Con)12-23 days = C (+1 Wis)<12 = F2) The road goes ever on and on (Start the long journey to becoming an Assassin) I want the world to be my playground. I want to move freely about my surroundings without feeling awkward or limited. I want to traverse (almost) any obstacle this urban jungle-gym can throw at me. Watch as an assassin is born! Work out for at least 30 minutes using body-weight exercises 3 times per week. It's as simple as that. I will track the particular exercises I do (ex: planks, squats, push-ups, inv rows, etc) on a spreadsheet (yay Google docs!) for accountability. I'm going to allow myself some creative room. Our fearless leader has put LOTS of great body-weight circuits together to keep us from getting bored, so I plan on exploring those in this challenge. 18 body-weight workouts over the next 6 weeks will result in +2 Str, +2 Sta, +1 ChaLess than 18 will scale down accordingly.3) Bellydance, Zumba, DDR, Gangham Style... doesn't matter. Stop being shy about getting down with the groove and GET MOVING! 3.1) Watch, participate, and complete the Belly Dance how-to instructional/fitness DVD my sister got me. 3.2) Watch, participate, and complete at least the Basic Steps of the Zumba DVDs I have. 3.2.1) BONUS FOR ZUMBA: go to at least one class at K Sabrosa (local Zumba classes that are easily affordable) 3.3) Hook up the DDR pad and get my step on at least twice during the challenge. 3.4) Watch, participate, and attempt at least twice to dance Gangham Style. Just because it makes me giggle. 3.5) Watch & participate in at least two self-teaching YouTube vids on either hip-hop or tribal fusion bellydance moves to aid in the grooving to my fave dubstep songs. Completing all 5 objectives will result in +2 Dex, +1 Str, +1 ChaCompleting all 5 obj AND the Bonus will result in an additional +1 Wis (for learning how to do it right)Partial completions will be evaluated at Challenge Recap4) Do or do not. There is no try. Check at least 6 points worth of things off my to-do list. No stat attributes since the list varies in necessary skills. This is my "level-up my life" goal though. I NEED to achieve this goal (along with the other goals set out w/in this challenge) to successfully level up 2. --- Here's to a great challenge! --- ... Wait a second Joy... how does ANY of that have to do with being tough, not hard?! Oooh, so glad you asked! I often make things hard on myself by trying to restrict my crazy thought processes into a mold, pattern, or theme. Well, I decided that instead of making this challenge hard and restricting myself on what I wanted to prove myself capable of... I was going to allow the creativity to flow and prove just how tough I can be. To me, "hard" = unmoving, "tough" = untearing. There's a HUGE difference. Like the proverbial young sapling that bends in the gale versus the brick wall that falls and crumbles... I want to be flexible and tough enough to take what life gives me without breaking. And plus, my dad used to complimented my purple-dyed hair (in my teenage rebellion) with a "you look so tough!" Still makes me smile. Props: BlamedCat's Grumpy Cat post, , Yoda

No, I don't have an amazingly awesome introduction like some of the kick-ass ones I've read already, and I can't zoom out enough to make this like a game quite yet (I'll get there... my background story for my half-orcishness is already written ;D)... but I'm really getting serious about this... and for me, getting serious is something to take note of. > SO LISTEN UP FOLKS! < Goals: Fitness: Perform the Beginner Body Weight Workout (BBWW) 2-3 times per week. a. Complete 3 BBWWs per week for all 6 weeks (total of 18 workouts) and gain the achievement “Fitness Achiever (Rank 1)†(yup, just like in WoW! They motivate me in-game, so I'm going to steal it for my life!). Awards +1 STR, +1 DEX, +1 CON, +1 CHA (for being that awesome) and earn an A. b. 17 to 12 workouts will award +1 STR, +1 DEX, +1 CON and earn a B c. Anything less than 12 will earn an F. Fitness: Hold a plank for 20 seconds (may be modified if 20 seconds is too easy) a. How? I will work my way up in my BBWWs from the recommended 15s to 20s by gradually adding a second per week. b. Wait, is this really going to be challenging? YES! :’( c. Holding a plank for 20 sec in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd circuits of the BBWW will award +1 STR, +2 STA and earn an A. d. Holding a plank for 20 sec in the 1st and 2nd circuits (but not the 3rd) will award +1 STR, +1 STA and earn a B. e. Holding it for 20 sec in just the 1st circuit will award +1 STR and earn a C. f. Anything else will be an F. Diet/Fitness: Avoid dairy (including cheese), grains and commercially processed foods from waking through at least 5pm (normal dinner time). Goal: 100% Paleo when I’m eating on my own. a. How? I will eat only veggies, fruit, lean meat and nuts at work (brought from home - if I forgot to bring anything, then I will make it a fasting day at work). b. At home I will make a conscious decision about everything I put in my mouth with a focus on staying as Paleo as possible. If I can possibly avoid it, don’t eat it! c. I will also document my diet on my thread to stay accountable. d. Awards: A/B/C for 2/3/4 meals non-Paleo at dinner. Automatic C if I eat non-Paleo at work (exclusion: Jan 21st for my b-day). Life Goal: To get back to my metal weaving roots and complete an average of 1 project per week (6 projects in total). I shall post pictures of the final products as proof (location of pictures to be determined [FB,Etsy,here,etc]). Here are the projects in random order: * Make something substantial out of the stainless square rings. (bracerlet, necklace focal, earrings, etc). * Complete an adult sized chainmail necktie (and have someone who isn't my husband model it) * Make something awesome from the purple Wal-Mart beads I’ve been avoiding using. * Make something for Lindsey. (SS2018 bracer? stretchy colorful bracelet?) * Complete at least 3 more ring size swatches (with label-tags). * Finish photographing my jewelry and complete the set-up of my Etsy store! (I know it’s not making anything, but this is chainmail-related enough to count.) a) Either I do this or I don't. Failure of any sort (except in the event of injury) will result in an F.And there you have it! Thanks for looking and have a nice day.