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My injuries are healing, but now I must regain my power, my speed and endurance. I have journeyed far across the land to my new home and now I much be ready to not just survive, but to thrive. I have settled into my new home and my new job. I have started a routine that I need to improve to accomplish the challenging goals ahead of me. Like most cats I like short periods of activity followed by rest. I must be wary that in my nights off I am still seeking that activity, not just resting. My endurance is lacking so I just bought a new pair or running shoes so it’s time to break them in. I currently walk 2.7 miles 5 nights a week to work. For the active part of this challenge I want to start walking home after work. Week 1 = Walk home 2 days Week 2 = Walk home 3 days Week 3 = Walk home 4 days Week 4 = Walk home all 5 days On my off days I want to walk a minimum of 10k steps. This means I must be diligent in tracking my steps. *This goal may be amended to reflect the start of my 5k training if I am able to walk home from work all five mornings before the 4 week challenge has been completed. I have gained much weight over the course of my injury, I want to lose it. My diet must reflect that of a Rakasta, healthy and natural, not that of a goat who will eat anything it comes across. I have 2 nutrition goals. First I need to increase my hydration. Toward this end I will make this a two pronged attack. First I will increase my water intake gradually over the next 4 weeks to 8 cups a day. (I can have up to 2 cups of tea a day)Second, I will limit any calories I drink (soda, juice, milk, etc.) except a protein shake ONLY if it’s a meal replacement. Week 1 = 5 cups of water a day Week 2 = 6 cups of water a day Week 3 = 7 cups of water a day Week 4 = 8 cups of water a day For my second health goal I want to eat 1 real (not potatoes, dried fruit, juice) serving of fruits or vegetables every day. I will set specific goal increases after my first week to determine where I’m at. Week 1 = Week 2 = Week 3 = Week 4 = 5 Bonus points will be awarded for each new fruit or veggie I try and finish! I seek to bring my mind, my body and my spirit into alignment. I know for me, an uncluttered space leads to a more peaceful mind. Towards this end, my goal will be to vacuum my room once a week and to maintain it every day for the next 4 weeks. Week 1 = 4 days a week Week 2 = 5 days a week Week 3 = 6 days a week Week 4 = 7 days a week Like most felines, I am nocturnal so a day’s end is marked by my going to sleep, even though that is in the morning.

Breaking from my DragonAge Challenges to refocus and find a little of what I’ve lost. I used to have a nice foundation and starting point but those have scurried away from me. I also want to find some way to incorporate some of the NF Academy quests into a challenge. I’m sure I can add in some of the mindful stuff in. I contemplated joining the druids this go around but I love the assassins. Going back to basics with quests revolving around the 5 senses. Using some of the information from www.chopra.com/. Plan is to focus on the 5 senses and use them to help me refocus. I have no real idea what I’m doing, so this will be a whole new experience for me. I will make a list of the things I want to accomplish and throughout the challenge I want to complete at least 3 from each sense category. I’ll most likely add more items to the list as the challenge goes on. Wish me Luck! Sight - Remodel HQ Touch - Body Hearing - Music Taste - Balanced Nutrition Smell - Aromatherapy

HI ALL!! Life has calmed down and I finally feel recharged! I actually have the luxury of free time to reel in some things I haven’t had some time to expressly focus on lately, namely FOOD. I did not have time to cook for the majority of the past few months and I miss 1) having a firmer grasp on my food intake and 2) I JUST MISS COOKING. My diet is actually pretty decent, but I’d like to take the time while I have it to zoom in on my macros a bit more and also track what I am eating. I am really really determined to dial in ways to get more veggies AND to increase protein intake significantly w/out going nuts with fats! -----GOALS----- GOAL 1: Track food intake daily for a snapshot of general overall calorie intake and macros. I am playing around with what exactly I am shooting for. Running some basic TDEE calculators over at IIFYM, maintenance would be 2039 calories or so and ideally I’d like to aim for slightly under that and do a slight cut (I’m thinking 1900-ish calories per day, except deadlift days & deadlift recovery because GIVE ME ALL THE FOOD DAMMIT.) Also, my Vegas birthday-cation I am eating as much as I please!!! I really need to get my actual body fat percentage tested some day, but by looking at articles comparing the way different fat percentages look my body looks close to the pictures for 25%, or maybe even slightly less fluffy than 25% but estimate is OK with me as I am just starting in this figuring out Macros game! Estimating out 1g of protein per lb of lean mass leaves me at 108.8 g of protein, which I am going to round up to 109 g. calculator on IIFYM for maintenance (2042 calories per day)= 116G protein (1g protein = 4 calories) 464 calories 22.7% 51 G fat (1g fat = 9 calories) 459 calories 22.5% 280 G carb (1g carb = 4 calories) 1120 calories 54.8 using same percentages, shooting for 1900 calories = protein = 431.4 calories = 107 g fat = 427.5 calories = 47.5 g carbs = 1041.2 calories = 260.3 g Tweaking slightly to adjust for my lean mass calculation — my goal macros: protein - 109g per day, 436 calories fat - 48g per day, 432 calories carbohydrates - 259g per day, 1036 calories Total = 1904 calories GOAL 2: Meal prep! Prep meals at least once per week for your lunches and breakfasts at work. I will also add as part of this goal — making more veggie related snacks to up my veggie intake -- that would be most excellent! To have a more specific quantifiable thing - bring or make at least one veggie related snack from home to bring to work per week. Goal 3: Maintain current training schedule (or even add a bit!) Strength train 3 times per week including once per week with trainer & at least one cardio work out per week (ideally a run or hike, but a lunch walk is better than nothing!) And do some GTG type training every day! (this could mean frequently throughout the day, or it could mean just a few sets here and there when I have time!) Goal 4/ Life Goal - DECLUTTER & CLEAN I am currently dealing with the result of 6 months+ of not having enough extra energy to put into cleaning and decluttering. The clutter in my room especially is SO BAD YOU GUYS I HATE IT. On days when I have at least 2 hours of free time spend at least 5 minutes cleaning! (Once I get started I usually go for more like 10-20+ minutes, but it’s the getting STARTED and doing something I struggle with.)

Last challenge was my most successful so far, and I noticed how quickly I went from super productive to hardly productive when I let things go a little last week. Maybe I'll be a little more adventurous next time, but because it worked so well last time - and because I'm going to have a week of chaos (checking out Poland!) in the middle of this challenge that would normally throw me for a loop if I tried to be more ambitious - I'm going to follow the same method (with almost the same goals) this time around! That is, I have some framework goals: Open my planner, check it, and plan my day every morning. Every night, check my planner again, write down any tasks or other things I forgot to note down during the day, and think about my plan for the next day. Stop using the computer at 10 p.m. at the latest on weeknights (Sunday to Thursday nights). No bread or added sugar (honey and fruit are okay) until after work on weekdays. (This one won't apply while I'm in Poland.) The idea is that these framework goals will help me accomplish some/many/all of my bullet point goals. I'm mostly not being strict with myself about "do X activity Y times a week" or anything here - instead, being a little more deliberate about how I spend my time overall should naturally lead to accomplishing things. Here are my current bullet point goals (pretty much all of them repeats/continuations from last challenge): Complete another 30-day pushup challenge (currently primarily knee pushups). This challenge build-up is a little more intense than the previous one, so at some point I might have to either do some windowsill pushups as well or switch back to the previous challenge's structure. For now, though, let's see how this one goes! Currently on day 8. Continue running at least three miles three times a week (except for Poland) and start going to the more serious running group again. I tried the group out a couple months ago but couldn't keep up with them. Over the last several weeks I've been working on my stamina by increasing the distance until my first/only walking break and I'm currently up to 2.5 miles. Shortly after coming back from the trip, I'd like to do the whole three miles without any breaks, at which point I should feel comfortable trying that group again. Finish at least one book. Recently started a David Sedaris book - a quick, easy, fun read that shouldn't be too hard to finish over the next few weeks. Also started listening to the audiobook of The Goldfinch without knowing what it was about or how long it was. Turns out it's super long (34 hours!), so I can't promise I'll finish that one by the end of this challenge, but I'll do my best! Be reasonable about food. The fourth framework goal will help with this, and I'd like to continue making vegetable soup at least once a week. Already made broccoli soup this week! Finish a translation project for a friend. This is one of the goals I didn't make much progress on last time. Keep the house in a reasonably clean state. I'd like to get it pretty clean before we go on our trip so my boyfriend's mom doesn't feel like she needs to clean the place when she comes to take care of the cat. And then...ideally...keep it pretty clean when we're back! Be better about bureaucracy. Organize paperwork and stay on top of recurring and one-time deadlines. Organize a big event for my running group. Sigh. This one's not going to be easy - a lot of relying on other people and fidgeting nervously while I wait for them to get back to me. Let's go!

Starting Measurements: Weight: 135.4 lbs Fat %: 30 Bust: Waist: Hips: Squat: 66 lbs OHP: 31 lbs Bench: 30 lbs Deadlift: 110 lbs ---- Quest #1: Trains to face the Red Bull Being brave enough to face the Red Bull will require an extraordinary measure of strength. Continue SS Programming 3x per week +3 STR Quest #2: Escapes from Mommy Fortuna Escaping from the Midnight Carnival requires dexterity of movement to sneak away from Fortuna and the Harpy. Foam Rolling 3x per week (training off days) +2 DEX Quest #3: Eats a taco Gaining strength and dexterity requires getting enough fuel in the tank. I am not looking to hit numbers for this challenge, because I think that would set me up to fail. Just to get in the habit of tracking. Once I have data for the month, I will look at adjusting my diet to hit the numbers. Track protein & calorie intakes 6x per week +2 CON LUYL #1: Travels on and on It’s a long journey to find the other unicorns, and that requires a plan. This quest is aimed at getting me to consistently plan out my days, so I’m not just floating through my days without know what I’m supposed to be doing. Bullet Journal 5x per week +1 WIS LUYL #2: Sparkles and shines A small habit to get shiny. Shine Your Sink 7x per week +1 STA LUYL #3: Talks to the butterfly I need to actually practice the lessons my coach is giving me. This is a target to build space into my schedule for that. Vocal Practice 3x per week (training off days) +1 CHA

The Introduction Hello, dearies! If you can't tell from the above gif, I have been watching a lot of Once Upon a Time lately. At first I thought of it as a guilty pleasure, but then I started to realize that this show is actually quite good. Modern takes on fairy tales, not only having kick-ass strong female characters but the entire cast essentially being strong female characters, having Disney characters being gay, amazingly creative costuming and makeup, and overall incredibly imaginative plots that totally switch everything up that you thought you knew about fairy tales is completely inspiring from all angles. I love how they address a lot of the issues with fairy tales and make fun of themselves too. (At one point, in reference to Beauty and the Beast someone says "not that I'm saying you should love someone who is keeping you prisoner, what kind of message would that send to girls everywhere?"). So refreshing. And don't even get me started on the villains. The characters and backstories they create are so imaginative I have a lot of respect for the writers who take something so old and used and turn it into something so fresh and exciting. Also, Snow White's character is SUCH A FRAKKIN RANGER IT'S RIDONKULOUS. So anyway, the more I thought about this the more I realized that in all honesty, fairy tales are quite nerdy. In fact, fairy tales were possibly one of the first things that were ever nerded out about. I started looking into the origins of modern fairy tales and discovered that the Brothers Grimm were some of the first fantasy nerds to really make a name for themselves. They didn’t *write* fairy tales. This would have made them authors, not necessarily nerds. But they were obsessed with the fantasy stories of German folklore, they not only wanted the story, but they became cultural explorers, researching at a collegic level the cultural affects and representations of folklore. They developed a methodology for collecting, recording, validating, and researching folklore. They not only were nerds, but they opened up a whole new area of study for others to nerd out about in the future. And at its core, they were fantasy stories! If that’s not nerdy, I don’t know what is. Also, for a lot of us fairy tales were the first kind of fantasy we were exposed to. Think back to the first time you heard a story that took you away to another place. When you were a tiny child, whether it be a movie, a radio broadcast, a TV show, a book. Chances are it was some sort of fairy tale (Disney-version or otherwise). As you grow up, you transition to stories that fit your likes, dislikes, and age. But at its core, fantasy and science fiction stories are really all their own kind of fairy tale. So here I present to you without further ado, a throwback from a way old school nerdom themed challenge with a modern twist – Once Upon A Time in Raxie’s Enchanted Forest.

As many of you know, I'm in the middle of a mindset shift, and my last challenges have been all about changing my perspective. This work has had great rewards, and I think there's yet more to be done, so this challenge I will focus on developing more self-awareness and self-acceptance. MINDSET SHIFT GOAL Weeks 0 and 1 These weeks will be entirely focused on the "my why" goal. I've been trying to work on this these last 2 challenges but somehow it didn't work. I'll retake some affirmations I wrote in my willpower thread, and, maybe after re-writing them or polishing them a bit, will take the effort of copying them everyday. It sounds silly but I know it works. I will copy them, by hand, and I will repeat them to myself in loud voice to help ingrain them. Weeks 2 to 4 Self-awareness. I have a meditation routine now, and I would like to go up from 10 to 15 then 20 minutes a day. To help with physical awareness, will also work with Feldenkrais exercises which work pretty well for me. Self-acceptance: inner acceptance leads to outer control of our actions. I'll focus on describing what I need, or feel I need, instead of criticizing myself; I'll examine and accept my feelings, thoughts, emotions and wishes; I'll keep my exercises for anxious thoughts and cravings. WELCOME SPRING GOAL Look at those sunny days! Swifts will come soon, and cold nights will be over: it's time to get out of the house. So, big YES to outside activities: do you want to read? Go to the park and read on a bench. Do you want to do some push-ups? Do them in the country while you're on a walk. Are you going to do an IS workout? Try it in the patio! SIDE MINI-GOALS · Willpower developing activity: 15 minutes of cleaning/decluttering everyday. · Track what I eat. Something is happening with my diet and I'd like to fix it before it is too late. Extra points if I manage to prepare a fermented vegetable each week. · I'll try to "forget" my wallet at home when going to work to avoid temptations in the evening. Points Mindset shift goal WIS 3 points (my why 1, self-awareness 1, acceptance 1) Welcome spring goal STR 2 point DEX 1 point STA 2 point Side goals CON 1 point (track eating) CHA 1 point (cleaning)

It's the Godwin's Law of Anime...at some point, somebody's gotta break out this reference. Three, two, one--LET'S JAM! Now with NO food-related quests and NO measurement tracking requirements throughout the challenge. How will we cope?!?! Spike (STR+3) Let's keep this short and sweet, shall we? Spike takes many jobs as a bounty hunter throughout the story, but his one drive is chasing after Julia and Vicious. He has great perception and fighting chops to help him get the job done. My one job is to help my 3RM chase after my 1RM lifts while I work on building up my squats and figure out what's going on with my deadlifts. I'm probably very close to being forced onto Texas Method on yet another lift, we shall see! My lifts look like the below, the number on the left is my current 3RM for the respective lift while the number on the right is my 1RM. I'm only going to aim for closing the gap by 15lbs, pretty sure I can do that and then some: Squat: 157.5 > 169.5 BP: 81 > 85 OHP: 60.5 > 65 DL: 205 > 207.5 The plan: 3RM Gains: 0/15 The grading: 11-15+lbs = A, 8-10lbs = B, 5-7lbs = C, else F Faye (DEX+4) Talk about someone who takes setbacks and hard knocks, Faye is an amnesiac in space. That is the worst place to be with no real memory, methinks. She had to take care of herself while on the run before growing attached to the crew of the Bebop and eventually confronting her past. Not to quote a Chumbawamba song, but this quest is all about getting knocked down and getting up again. Put it another way: Every Day Is Ukemi Day. That's right, I'm falling down (reeeeeally gently) every day that isn't an already scheduled day at the dojo, where presumably I'll be doing a bit of that there, too. Hence the quest title. Also, to compliment the falling down, there's that nagging need for full body mobility sessions. That time is now. I'm breaking this daunting task in half--on lifting days, I roll my hips to ankles. On non-lifting days, it's all about hips to scalp. Simple as that. The plan: Every Day is Ukemi Day - 0/20 Full Body Mobility: Upper - 0/16, Lower - 0/12 The grading: Every Day is Ukemi Day - 18-20 days = A, 15-17 days = B, 12-14 = C, else F Full Body Mobility: Upper - 14-16 = A, 11-13 = B, else F, Lower - 10 - 12 = A, 7 - 9 = B, else F Jet (WIS+1, CON+1, CHA+1) Ah, the responsible one. He cooks, he minds the money, he adopts a child and dog. Pity about the fridge... Ah well, I won't be making that mistake. Because I'm going to Clean Something around the house five days a week. Dish-washing and laundry don't count, because I already do these things and they're basically mandatory. Anything that adds up to >10 minutes counts. The curfews make a return as well, because #recycling. I'm tweaking the drink curfew to be defaulted to 8:30 OR two hours' space between my last drink and lights-out. The plan: Clean Something - 0/20 Drink Curfew - 0/20 Anti-Curfew - 0/24 The grading: Clean Something - 18 - 20 = A, 15 - 17 = B, else F Drink Curfew - 18 - 20 = A, 15 - 17 = B, else F Anti-Curfew - 21 - 24 = A, 18 - 20 = B, else F

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES In keeping with tradition, when Jothra arrived at his hut back on Lodbrok, one of the Old Men of the Rebellion was already waiting for him. The novelty of their sudden visits had long since worn off, so Jothra hung his jacket on the Old Man's pointy-hatted head, and started installing the coffee maker he'd found in a cave, guarded by a gnome or a hobbit or something. After a few moments of flailing his way out from under the jacket, the Old Man spoke. "I hope you've had fun wasting your time on some ocean island, vacationing instead of seriously training--" "I've been training." "--but now you have some serious work to do. If you are going to defeat Ogrod, you must continue to train here, in the forest, with the Slurpasaurs and dromeosaurs and bird people and fish people and what-have-you, instead of gallivanting around wherever and whenever you choose." "Fine," Jothra mumbled. "But I've been doing just as well without you lately. Feel free to check up, but don't do a bunch of interfering." "No promises." The Old Man threw a small capsule on the ground, which exploded in a puff of smoke. When the smoke had cleared, Jothra furrowed his brow. "You're still here," pointed out. In the special, subtle way of all non-subtle people, the Old Man shuffled sideways to the door, shouted "Yoink!", and took off at a dead run. Jothra looked out the door after the Old Man. So, spend some time here, in a world eerily reminiscent of old cheesy science fiction serials? Okay. He'd done it before; he could do it again. They misuse the words "conquers" and "universe," and probably "the" for good measure, but I love it anyway. My entire "Jothra Conquers..." shtick is a reference to Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe, and its predecessor Rocketship. I don't mind telling you that these are some cheesy serial motion picture atrocities, which is exactly why I love the awful things. They are both public domain these days, so finding them should be a breeze, if you have a few hours you don't want back. Incidentally, recognize this? It's okay. George Lucas was legitimately paying homage when he borrowed this. So, Ming the Merciless, who is totally not a white guy dressed up as an intergalactic not-Asian-no-really-I-swear despot, is trying to conquer the universe, which is apparently comprised entirely of Earth and the planet Mongo. There are flying people with fake looking wings. There are giant lizards played by regular lizards. There are rockets made of what I can only assume are cardboard tubes. It is glorious. Oh, and starring this guy: Oh, Buster Crabbe. You should have stuck to being an Olympian. I mean, honestly. 1.) Main Fitness Quest My three goal-achieving-type-little-goals-that-add-up-to-a-bigger-goal-goals. i.) Fly a cardboard tube spaceship! except on S Days (Saturdays, Sundays, and Special Days — unless I want to). Ride a bicycle daily for half an hour. It doesn't matter which bicycle: road, MTB, or stationary. It is of note that my vivid imagination means I can totally imagine my stationary bike is a cardboard tube spaceship. Yipes. __/20. [+2 STA | +2 DEX | +1 CHA] ii.) Wave that sword like you don't know which end is which! Also excluding S Days. One of the charms of this goofy show is the mix of science fiction and fantasy elements. Laser guns? Sure! Swords? Also keen! I will continue with my Shovelglove routine, currently at 24.3 lbs. As of March 29th, I've been at it for six straight months, with very few missed weekdays. In celebration, I re-taped the handle, which was looking pretty ratty. This time I went with hard-to-scuff-up black. I'm Canadian. Stick tape flows like water here. __/20. [+2 STR | +1 STA] iii.) Eat like a Slurpasaur! I mean, of course, food. A "slurpasaur" is a dinosaur (or, in Flash Gordon's case, monster) played by a decidedly non-dinosaurian lizard, often with spikes or fins glued on. The best use of Slurpasaurs ever was in Disney's old Journey to the Center of the Earth, in which they rather convincingly played giant a pack of hungry dimetrodon (a sail-backed reptile far predating dinosaurs). Anyway, Slurpasaurs will eat damn near anything, and so shall I, albeit in reasonable quantities. Since it worked well last challenge, I will be eating at approximately 500-1000 calories under maintenance. Thanks, MFP! Thanks, Fitbit! ADDITION: It probably doesn't fit here, but I just started the 30-day squat challenge from Uncaged Man. The idea isn't to do squats; it is to squat, and stay squatting for at least 10 minutes a day. Don't ask me why, but it sounds like something I can get behind, for the same reason I do all my work teleconferences standing up. Again, I know this doesn't really fit with the food part of the challenge, but to be fair Slurpasaurs (being lizards) look like they're squatting 100% of the time. __/28. [+1 STA | +2 CON | +2 WIS] 2.) LIFE SIDE QUEST Keep enemy soldiers out of the base...with electro-laser murder beams! Or, well, clean up after myself, I guess. Last challenge, I planned a minor apartment clean-up, followed by maintenance. Instead, I started the process of seriously overhauling everything. I have made incredible headway in every area but my bedroom, so that's next. I will also maintain the rest of the place, which is actually turning out to be pretty easy as long as I keep on it. Also: yes, I've read Marie Kondo, and no, I do not agree with her position on books. In a tangentially related story, one time I saw a home decorating show about "living naked " (minimalism) on which the host decided to wrap all her books with blank white paper covers to make the bookshelf more sleek. Her guest host looked at her like he wasn't sure if he should run away or not. __/28. [+2 CHA] As per normal, I'm going to determine scores based on percentage ranges, more or less like on my childhood report cards. A = 86-100% | B = 73-85% | C = 66-72% | D = 51-65% | F = 0-50% 3) MOTIVATION I may poke fun, and Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe may be the cheesiest serial of all time, but there is something undeniably charming and naively exciting about it all the same. Besides, what posters!

This is my first 4 week Challenge and I'm excited to see how it goes. I have recently started referring to nearly everything I do in terms of Harry Potter. One because I'm listening to the books on my drive to work (1+ hour each way) and two I find that saying Scourgify! to clean the sink doesn't work, but it makes it more fun to get it empty and clean (I have no dishwasher)! That being said I have been tracking a lot of little tasks in my life that I would like to improve. I would like to focus on 4 for the purpose of this challenge. 1. Triwizard Training - running 10 miles a week. Any distance at one time counts toward weekly mileage. Running within another gym class that is not measured, unfortunately doesn't count! 4/4-4/10 -- 7 miles 4/11-4/17 -- 8 miles 4/18-4/24 -- 9 miles 4/25-5/1 -- 10 miles 2. Household Charms - perform the Scourgify charm at least five times a week, promote S.P.E.W. by doing a load of laundry six days a week and perform house hold charms list once a week. Goal: 12+ points a week. (extra points can only be earned if all 3 minimums are met) 3. Walk to Mordor - continue walking to Rivendell. Average 2.5 miles/day in April. 4/4-4/10 -- 2.4 miles, min. 5 days a week 4/11-4/17 -- 2.5 miles, min. 5 days a week 4/18-4/24 -- 2.6 miles, min. 5 days a week 4/25-5/1 -- 2.7 miles, min. 5 days a week 4. Caffeine Intake (Butter Beer) - reduce caffeine intake from ~558mg/day to ~511mg/day or less 4/4-4/10 -- 546mg or less average per day 4/11-4/17 -- 534mg or less average per day 4/18-4/24 -- 522mg or less average per day 4/25-5/1 -- 510mg or less average per day I have a LOOT reward system worked into the spreadsheet I track everything on, but I will earn the following loot related to these goals: - real running sunglasses once I increase to 10 miles a day - barefoot walking shoes that I can wear at work once I reach Rivendell (3/29 I'm at 83.2 miles) - ~300mg/day of caffeine I get more sustainable (read better for the world but way more expensive) coffee - I have no good reward yet for my Charms goals, I'm thinking cute kitchen gear, but my kitchen is tiny and I don't really need more stuff in there - ideas? Since this is my first challenge we will see how often I can give updates - goal: once a week minimum (hopefully more often!) Thanks for reading!!

Oh shit, the new challenge starts today! *Britt scrambles to get goals together* So, the last challenge started strong...and ended like a sad pile of mashed potatoes. Time to rededicate and get things going in the right direction! Quest One: I will eat at NF Level 7 at least 18 out of 21 meals a week. So yeah. The calorie counting thing was a pain in the butt, even when I stuck to the same basic foods every day, and sticking to the same foods every day made Britt a bored, bored, girl. We're gonna try something different. And hard, but (I think) doable. I'm picking level seven as a goal because in most ways it doesn't represent a stretch: I already eat a lot of veggies and protein, and bread is an unusual occurrence. Where this challenge WILL be a challenge is on the sugar. It crept back in last challenge in a big way, and it needs to get its happy little ass back out of my life. The way this challenge is structured gives me three meals a week to choose to be less than level 7. One of those shall be my Wednesday night knitting group, which will also be my one night of the week when I will drink alcohol. The rest of the time we're gonna be good! Quest Two: I will bring lunch and healthy snacks to lab at least 4 out of 5 days a week. I do a great job on breakfast, a decent job on lunch, and oftentimes a shitty job on dinner. Part of the dinner fail is not eating enough for lunch and returning home ready to gnaw my own arm off. This challenge I plan to bring my lunch to work EVERY day, and to bring a healthy, filling snack (yogurt, most likely), to eat in the afternoon to stave off the hangry. This should help me power through the evening in a good place. Quest Three: I will go to the gym at least 5 days a week. I want to get to the point where going to the gym just becomes automatic. I don't think about it, I don't juggle every day to find time, I just GO. The actual content is less important than the going, at least for this challenge. Life Quest: I will permanently remove at least 14 possessions a week from my apartment. I am a PhD student looking for finish up in December. I've lived in the same apartment for almost five years, and I've accumulated a ton of crap I don't need, or use, or even want anymore. Time to downsize, which in turn will make me calmer and happier and less stressed. The 14 items could be anything that doesn't usually get removed (i.e. I can't count taking out the recycling), but single objects count (i.e. one old textbook, not ALL the old textbooks). Quest #1: Lucky Level Seven! A: >=72 times - [+4 CON] B: >=66times - [+3 CON] C: >=60 times - [+2 CON] D: >=48 times - [+1 CON] F: < 48 times - [+0 CON] Quest #2: Be prepared! A: >= 20 times - [+4 WIS] B: >= 18 times - [+3 WIS] C: >= 16 times - [+2 WIS] D: >= 14 times - [+1 WIS] F: < 14 times - [+0 WIS] Quest #3: Gym Bunny! A: 20 times - [+4 STR] B: 17-19 times - [+3 STR] C: 14-16 times - [+2 STR] D: 10-13 times - [+1 STR] F: <10 times - [+0 STR] Life Quest: TIME FOR CULLING! A: 56 items - [+3 CHA] B: 48 items - [+2 CHA] C: 42 items - [+1 CHA] D: 36 items - [+0.5 CHA] F: <36 items - [+0 CHA]

It is really hard to find GIFs of this show. After yet another harrowing adventure, Jothra heard tell of a tropical island nearby. It sounded like vacation time to him! He used his ever-growing prowess on the bike path through time and space to check the place out... ...only to find it in a permanent state of 1930s-ness. It was like being stuck in a TV adventure series. No rest for him! Donald P. Bellisario first proposed Tales of the Gold Monkey in the 1970s, telling networks that a 1930s adventure show would delight and thrill audiences. He was repeatedly turned down. Then Raiders came out, and he gave them a big fat I told you so. Anyway, after a multiple-Emmy-nominated first season (it won for art design), the show was unceremoniously cancelled. Tragedy! Many, many years later, it would be spiritually succeeded by Disney's Talespin. Also great. Abridged from Wikipedia: In 1938 in the South Pacific, ace combat pilot Jake Cutter operates an air cargo delivery service based on Bora Gora. He flies a Grumman Goose called Cutter's Goose. Jake's best friends are his mechanic Corky, and a one-eyed Jack Russell terrier named Jack. Jake's love interest, Sarah Stickney White, sings in the Monkey Bar as cover for her real job as an American spy. The Reverend Willie Tenboom is actuality a Nazi spy who often finds he has more in common with the other people of Bora Gora than with his own government. "Bon Chance" Louie owns the Monkey Bar and is the French magistrate for Bora Gora. Jake's nemesis is the half-Japanese princess Koji, who has eyes for Jake. Koji's devoted bodyguard, Todo, is a fierce practitioner of Bushido and is unwaveringly loyal to the princess. Enough gab. Challenge time! 1.) Main Fitness Quest My three goal-achieving-type-little-goals-that-add-up-to-a-bigger-goal-goals. i.) Fly the Goose! except on S Days (Saturdays, Sundays, and Special Days — unless I wanna). Cutter's Goose is Jake Cutter's Grumman Goose cargo plane. In lieu of a Grumman, I'll ride a bicycle. I have three choices here: the Blue Meanie (roadie), The Triceraton (MTB), or the Modified Thunderbolt Grease-Slapper (stationary.) Naturally, any other bicycles are fair game, but I don't own any more. __/20. [+2 STA | +2 DEX | +1 CHA] ii.) Swing my samurai sword! Also excluding S Days. Todo is Princess Koji's right-hand man. He is a well-trained and very...well...angry modern-day (well, in the 1930s) samurai. In lieu of swinging an actual sword around (though I have a nice foam Minecraft one from a couple of challenges ago), I'll keep shugging away with my Shovelglove. Swing that sledgehammer, Jothra! SWING IT! __/20. [+2 STR | +2 STA] iii.) Don't overdo it, Corky! I mean, of course, food. At some point before the show takes place, Jake's best friend and mechanic Corky drank waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much and too often. These days, he can still drink a beer now and then, as long as he doesn't overdo it. I will apply the same rules to eating too damn much. I'm aiming for a 500 calorie deficit a day, or 1 lb. a week. Ish. I will be focusing on this goal much more carefully than I did last challenge. __/27. [+2 CON | +2 WIS] 2.) LIFE SIDE QUEST Keep the Monkey Bar clean. You know — clean. The Monkey Bar is the main hangout on the island. The characters who don't actually work in the bar spend a lot of time there anyway. Sometimes there are brawls — after which they are expected to clean up and pay for damages. I spend a lot of time in my apartment, and let the mess get away from me during theatre season. I'm finishing the marathon clean this weekend. The challenge goal is to get in the habit of keeping it that way by cleaning up new messes as they arise instead of letting them build up. I admit, this will probably be the hardest of my challenge goals. __/27. [+2 CHA] As per normal, I'm going to determine scores based on percentage ranges, more or less like on my childhood report cards. A = 86-100% | B = 73-85% | C = 66-72% | D = 51-65% | F = 0-50% 3) MOTIVATION Who wouldn't want to be in this?

Hi! I'm Ever, and I've been a Rebel for a little over one year. Being here has helped me accomplish a lot of things. I've been off soda for an entire year, thanks to a PvP. I'm not super competitive, but the encouragement of others was a big help in that regard. Several challenges have helped me lose and keep off 20 lbs. I discovered keto, and learned I'm too tall for aerial, but that walking is actually really nice, and lifting heavy stuff once in a while can be fun. For the last month, and the next two, there's been some divorce process that's taken up a lot of my emotional resources. It's probably the dumbest and most needlessly stressful thing I've done in quite some time. Beast has shown little interest in how this has been affecting me, arguing "You cast me in this role", so it's somehow now perfectly acceptable to act like a Disney villain to one's former partner. If I end up ranting about this, I'll use spoiler tags. Last year saw a lot of great things, too. March was getting my second tattoo. April was my first live show of Night Vale, and the first time I've traveled on my own since college. June, Ifrit got to see Titus for the first time, and I loved introducing him to the comedy of someone who really helped get me through some dark places. July was the trip to the Sand Dunes with Ifrit, someplace I'd been meaning to go for several years. I could go on, but it's easily one of the better years I've had in a while. Staying positive and keeping my health on track will help manage the stress, and ensure that I'm taking care of myself.

Part I of the challenge (last challenge) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTTTy0bQ6VI Like Lara Croft, parkour, climbing, combat, and outdoors exploration are all totally my jam. I even have a passing interest in ancient civilizations, and will be scrambling around some Mayan Ruins in March. Main Quest: Parkour all of the things!!! Climb all of the things!!! Balance in mind-bending ways! Play with weapons! Look like someone who could compete on ANW. 2016 goals This challenge, I'm going to really focus on the parkour and what I need to do to rank up in my school system as well as working toward full instructor certification. For the short term, I need to get more pop off of my hands on my Kong vault, figure out how to do a reverse vault without putting too much torque on my knees in the landing, learn a Kash vault, improve with rail walking and balance skills until it's second nature, make my rolls and rolling bails a fully dialed in reflex reaction, and schedule the damn test. I'm letting a few skills as well as some neurotic perfectionism hold me back, and it's time to stop. Goal 1: Collect all of the parkour skills! (fitness: parkour) -Practice rail walking skills (backward walking, pivoting, going from standing to QM and back, etc.) 5 times/week. -Practice rolling 5 times/week (my rolls are fine, but I still have to think a little bit. If I react reflexively, I do a martial arts roll rather than a parkour one). -At least 10 kongs whenever I have open gym time and my body can handle it. -Bug instructors for help with the reverse and kash vaults whenever I have an opportunity. Goal 2: Keep my body in prime condition for everything. (fitness: prehab) This means stretching, foam rolling, and mobility work. I need to at least do a quickie prehab session 5 times/week, the session including shoulder stretches, calf stretches, quad stretches, and foam rolling the ITB. Goal 3: Better food preparation - (diet: cooking) Each week, do at least one crock pot or batch cooked meal. Or, alternately, try one new non-trivial recipe. I'm not overly worried about my diet this challenge, but I've found that focusing on cooking tends to result in better eating habits. The sub-goal for this is to avoid eating like an asshole. My birthday (and Lara's. We share a birthday!) falls in the middle of the challenge, and I have to remember that while it's okay to indulge that day, I shouldn't have an entire week (or more) of overindulging. Goal 4: Don't attract the bears to my camp. (life: domestic rangering) Lara has to keep a clean camp in the wilderness, so she doesn't attract predators. I need to channel this while dealing with my own home. I've had success in the past with following Flylady or doing cleaning PVPs, but I've really managed to fall off the wagon. This challenge, I'm requiring routine daily cleaning + a Flylady mission or a challenge from Unfuck your habitat each day. Bonus #1: (life: art) Make those $#@ graphics for my app. This should be easy for me, as I'm at least an okay artist. But I just need to get off of my ass and do it. Bonus #2: Participate in the Ranger mini. Bonus #3: Roll with the punches. I normally expect to get 4 big workouts per week (from 2 parkour sessions, 2 climbing sessions, and one power yoga class), as well as a lot of extra filler skill work. But, it's winter, we could have blizzards, kids or I could get sick, or anything else might happen. Anytime my plans change, just go with it and do what I can. And this leads right into the grading... Bonus #4: I'll be in Mexico in less than 2 months, so it's time to brush up on some Spanish. There are no specific point goals for this, but I need to crack open the DuoLingo and see how much I remember from high school. I'm not going to be rigid or apply letter grades, since I hate penalizing myself for illness, acts of nature, or whatever. Instead, I'm going to evaluate whether each goal has been Totally Rangered (accomplished everything I reasonably would wish and gave it my best), Rangered (mostly accomplished everything), Somewhat Rangered (I feel like I slacked a bit), or Failed (I totally half assed it or forgot about it).

I am rebelling against the current class system by being an innkeeper. I'm also rebelling against having physical fitness goals in favor of having my environment be fit. (Hey, a decent couple hours of housework are about all I can handle right now.) A lot of my goals will seem familiar because they are, but I don't think it's too unreasonable to keep trying to make them stick. The points I'm assigning now might not correlate to the xp my character gets later. Tea Goal: make tea: 9 points drink tea: 1 point I'm not sure how to score this if I end up not drinking the tea until the next day. I have a little trouble with getting dehydrated and tea's about the healthiest thing I like. Cumulative Chore List: Dishwasher: ready to receive dirty dishes first thing in the morning: 10 points ready to receive dirty dishes by noon: 5 points ready to receive dirty dishes the previous night but forgot to check in the morning: 5 points Build the rest of the chore chart When I was doing Chore Wars, I was a bit better about working on the house. Things are a bit out of hand and chaotic so it's not going to be as easy as seeing a chore and doing the chore yet, but hopefully I'll be able to get one of those tasks into an easy category. The dishwasher thing is one thing that I've noticed that can keep the chaos down. If it's receiving dirty dishes, that means I have a place to put most of the dirty dishes, and the kitchen doesn't become a disaster area. Use the paper planner: No points because it's a soft goal. I printed out a month of the Passion Planner and now I have to figure out what to do with it. Probably not my long-running to-do list because I think a whiteboard would be better. Less procrastination on the computer: I tend to lose time while hanging out on the internet. It actually gave me anxiety when hubby half-suggested that he lock down the internet connection while he's at work. There is now a remote lamp-control module on the network switch, we just need to figure out how to program it. I'll still be able to use Netflix and look up stuff on my tablet, but I won't be hampster-wheeling on websites. Pay attention to the frogs: If you eat a live frog first thing in the morning, that's probably the worst thing that's going to happen to you that day. If you wait and leave it on your plate, it's going to be lurking there all day and distracting you from simpler tasks. http://play.simpletruths.com/movie/eat-that-frog/ I don't necessarily have to do the most unpleasant thing first, especially if freezing up about it keeps me from doing other stuff. I just can't let it bother me at all whether I do it or not.

So last challenge I (for whatever reason) rebelled against my own challenge plans and decided I didn't wanna do any of them. Great start to the new year, Stoney! I am now at T-23 days before Mr. Tea and I leave for our first overseas holiday and I'm stressing about all the things that I need to do before I leave, so that will be the priority this challenge. That and cross-training for roller derby, because that's alway necessary! Goal 1: Holiday Planning! - Do all the things before you have to leave (23rd of Feb!) Organise travel sickness fix 20/2/16 Prepaid debit card for spending money - bought, registered and loaded, ready to go. 12/2/2016 Travel Insurance completed 1/2/16 Organise travel documents - extra passport photos -15/2/16 - photocopy of passport - printed, 3/2/2016 - print flight tickets - printed ,3/2/2016 - print cruise tickets - printed, 3/2/2016 - print travel insurance pages - printed & filed 15/2/16 + put this somewhere safe! 17/2/16 Crochet project for flights - packed 15/2/16 Carry on bag for flights 15/2/16 Pack! 17/2/16 Travel Journal for interesting things & useful info for each country visited given to me as a present 19/2/16 Goal 2 - Cross Train... Like you're about to go on holiday with endless supplies of food! I planned to alternate my workout schedule throughout the year, so February is Aerobic and Recovery-focused Month. 0 / 3 yoga days 0 / 3 cardio days (training counts) M-skate/cycle T-yoga W-cycle/run/skate TH-yoga/meditation F-skate/cycle/run S-yoga/meditation S-meditation/rest Goal 3 - Go to Hogwarts!I'm going to chuck some of my quests from last challenge into the Ranger mini this time around, see if that makes it feel a bit more fun (cleaning goal, I'm looking at you!) The "Classes" I will be taking this challenge are;Charms: Make housework fun History of Magic: watch a doco on netflix about something interestingHerbology: 3 meat-free daysDefence Against the Dark Arts: meditate & journal feelingsSo when I am called on to do said quests I shall do them.

Happy New Year Nerds!!!! I am so excited about 2016. 2015 was an amazing year for me, I went to Camp Nerd Fitness and it really reshaped the way I view my life, my goals and fitness. I also was luckily enough to join an amazing team of Ranger Ambassador’s on the boards here and get more involved in NF which I am really enjoying. I finally started power lifting, something I’ve been working up to basically since I joined NF via body weights and dumbbells. Real world related, I went to Alaska and got a new cat. I got engaged. My fiancé and I got our own place when our roommates moved out. All in all, a great year. I am so ready for 2016 to be even more amazing! This year, I decided to set yearly goals, which I have never done before. I’ve admittedly been neglecting my epic quest, not because I haven’t been doing stuff on it (I have been ever so slowly crossing stuff off) but because I’m not sure how to use it. So I’m converting it into an overarching epic quest list AND using it to track my yearly goals as well! Then I can use those yearly goals to work out the details of my 4-week challenges. My epic quest/yearly goals link is in my signature but I’m also adding them here for reference: 2016 GOALS >>Read 30 books >>Squat my body weight >>Deadlift 200lb >>Apply to join Big Brother Big Sisters of America >>Climb Mt. Washington >>Climb Mt. Marcy >>Climb Mt. Katahdin >>Make Borderlands Cosplay >>Pay off Discover Card >>Create a will & a living will Now this may seem contradictory to everything I just wrote, but the majority of my specific missions this challenge are not going to be directly correlated with my 2016 goals. Winter break was tough for me, I had some personal headspace stuff to deal with in addition to redoing EVERYTHING in the apartment. This still isn’t quite done actually. So I am going to use January as a mental and physical cleanse month, so I can have a clean plate to start out on and really start building towards my goals in February. I need to clear my brain clutter as well as some physical clutter (which is directly contributing to my brain clutter) and I also need to detox my body of some of the holiday crap I just kept shoveling into my face (and I can only use “winter bulk†goals to excuse a very small portion of that). Seriously, this was me the last week of 2015: And I can feel my body being really sad about it. Time to get my energy back! I struggled with a while to decide on a theme for this challenge. I had about 5 different ones that I wrote up complex scoring systems for, utilizing variations on the boss system I did last challenge (which I LOVED), and one where it was really writing based since I had a ton of fun writing up my story last challenge as well, but decided that since my goal for this challenge is cleansing and simplicity… I am going to go with no theme. Just me, myself and my goals

I've read a lot about this book and it's teachings lately, but only from news type places. I was wondering if any rebels have used this method successfully? I'm thinking of buying it but I don't want to spend the $$ if it's garbage.

So….it’s that time again, guys and gals. Fall is in the air, the holiday season is just around the corner, a new challenge is up and ready to roll...oh, what’s this? I’m not in the Assassin’s Den anymore, I’m standing in a strange...courtyard thing. Huh. Well, there’s that. I feel introductions are in order, as this is my first foray into the mist-shrouded lands of martial arts-dom. I am a 28 year old tiny tank who lifts like it’s going out fashion whilst dwelling with the Assassins and living the dream of being a true Warrior by way of the Monastery. Can a tank be a Monk? We’ll surely find out. I come here humbly to ask for the assistance of those who know the spirit of martial arts and have lived this dream a long time before I even thought about pursuing it. * coughs * All that is to say this is a new thing, halp plz. Yoga is as close as it’s gotten as of a month ago and...lolnope. For first challenge with the Monks, I’m going for a simpler format while getting a feel for this new training that also cements what I already know are Things to Do. Those who’ve followed me in the past will be well familiar with the drill in that respect LOL. And with that, let’s get right to it! CYAN - SHINKENDO - (STR+1, DEX+2, WIS+1) If only I could have the sword skills of Cyan...I aspire to fight with such skill and honor as a man who knows loss and presses on to save the rest of the world from Ruin in spite of seemingly having nothing left to live for. Shinkendo is my art and I have a whole three classes under my belt, it is once a week each Saturday morning bright and early. I will be practicing at a minimum twice a week. Additionally, I will be posting my lifting exploits here, which includes the technique specific addition of grip-work to help bring my forearms/wrists/fingers up to snuff. Can’t be wielding the bokuto with wussy fingers. Shinkendo practice is defined as working weak links and reviewing material for 15 minutes as of Week 0 - time will increase as I adapt Grip work is defined as follows: - I will take the deload opportunity to start afresh with Double Overhand Deadlift grip for as long as I can manage it at 3x3 - Plate pinches for time, baseline as determined by Week 0 - Dead hangs for time, baseline as determined by Week 0 The grading: Shinkendo - 4/wk - 4 = A, 3 = B, 2 = C, else F Grip Work - 3/wk - 3 = A, 2 = B, else F - failure to complete one aspect of grip work is failure to complete any grip work EDGAR - MOBILITY - (DEX+2, CON+2) Ah, the King of Figaro. Figaro Castle is known for one big thing: Mobility. Its ruler is an engineer of remarkable skill in creating Tools that own the competition. Seriously. Just try going up against him. Yeah? Didn’t think so. This quest is all about the mobility. Here I will record daily adventures PVC and ball rolling, stretching, and all things rehab. This includes what I’m mobilizing, the custom patented Hit Parade (what’s sore, tired, hurt, cranky, broken on my person), with special focus on the Migraine Report to help me figure out what/when/where/why they are occurring. This is a serious mission to resolve a 3 year mystery! Don’t ask why I waited 3 years to fix this, I haven’t a clue, either. But this ends now! The beginning of each week, I will re-evaluate my situation re: systemic tightness and fatigue. I suspect I have worn something out or knotted sufficient muscle up that I'm fighting dysfunction under the bar and during regular life. If I still hyperextend after these issues are addressed, I will need to implement remedial work to correct this: - reset squats to empty bar (Cyan) - BW squats - Dead bugs http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/detail/view/name/dead-bug - Planks - Leg Raises No grading necessary for the aches/pains journaling, I have already committed it to routine. The grading: Daily Mobility - 7/wk - 7 = A, 5 = B, 3 = C, else F Hit parade/Migraine Report - NA Bookmarking this for http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/70717-urgan-storms-in-with-section-9/?p=1681892'>future reference. SABIN - DIET - (CON+1, WIS+1) You can’t expect to kick ass without serious dedication to the proper diet...EATING (almost) ALL THE THINGS. Sabin knows this all too well--even on a ghost train, one must take great care to consume the proper number of calories. Suplexing a train requires a lot of a person. I’m on a recomp roll, and I want to continue the trend of eating at maintenance to see how far I can carry it. For me, this looks like a target of 2500 calories on average (a minimum of 2250 calories daily will be necessary to make this happen). All other macros will be logged as follows: Calories/Carbs/Fat/Protein Running Avg of Calories Sugar can take a flying leap this challenge, I am not concerned with it this time. I want to try to get as close to 2500 I can average out to see if I gain at these levels. I may adjust the target mid-challenge, this is fine, the only thing I must do is log the macros. The grading: Maintenance - P/F - Either I log my macros or I do not. There is no partial credit. GOGO - MIMICRY - (CON+2, WIS+1) The master of mimicry: Gogo is a mystery by and large, but what isn’t a mystery is how useful he/she is on the battlefield simply with the ability to copy the previous action, no matter how esoteric the technique. Nothing esoteric here: I just want to repeat prior challenge goals of enforcing a workday curfew and weekly measurement scheme to track how well my Sabin goal is working. Bedtime is at 10:30PM Sunday - Thursday; Wednesday I take my weight, Sunday I take weight and measurements. The grading: Curfew - 5/wk - 5 = A, 4 = B, 3 = C, else F Measurements - 2/wk - 2 = A, else F TERRA - CLEANING - (WIS+1, CHA+1) Terra begins the game with all the questions in the world about herself, and few answers. As the story progresses, she fears and doubts herself, but searching deep within she discovers who and what she really is--a hero fit to save the world from Ruin and Kefka for both of her peoples. I am not wracked with doubt, but I am riddled with closets full of stuff that is poorly organized and junk that shouldn’t even be in my life if I’m really honest. This quest is all about clearing out all that is unnecessary from storage. Any recess with junk in it is fair game, but the main targets this challenge are the three closets attached to each bedroom in our house. Pretty simple, right? The grading: Cleaning - 3/challenge - 3 = A, 2 = B, 1 = C, else F Starting Stats: Weight: 111.0 lbs Waist: 23.1" Hips: 32.0" Biceps(L/R): 10.3"/10.1" Forearm(L/R): 9.3"/9.1" Thighs(L/R): 20.0"/20.0" Calves(L/R): 12.0"/11.9" Sounds good to you? Let's do this thing! Setzer, take us out!

Introduction: Day 0 There's nothing out here but a wasteland of misery and destruction- and a shit-tonne of dust. I am weak, and ill-prepared. If I am to survive, I will need to find shelter- recover my health, and build my strength. I shield my bleary eyes and look up to where the sun lays, giant and aggressive at the crest of a cliff, it's unending shower of painful rays strangling out the last shreds of moisture from the choking landscape. I gaze so long I begin to see dots- dark smudges against the backdrop of fierce, fiery orange. Strangely still for a trick of the eyes. that is when I notice it is not a trick of my vision at all, but an actual, physical object. A shack, standing strong in the nothingness that surrounds it. It is ramshackle, it will surely need a great many repairs to fortify it, but it is there, and it is real. Shelter at last. Ashtree's 6 Week Challenge! My name is Tree, and this is my first 6 Week Challenge, and my theme is Post-Apocalyptic Shelter Repair! i.e- I'm gonna clean my garage and turn it into a dance studio/gym! My long-term goals are fitness and recreation based- in my youth I was a member of a scout-like club called "Pathfinders" and I did so much outdoorsy-fitnessy-healthy stuff, but I have since gone way off the rail. The past 10 years have been a struggle of fighting mental illness and fixing myself emotionally- now that I have it under control (not cured, but controlled) I want to rebuild myself into a greater version of who I was before. Nerd Fitness is how I hope to attain that! So, without further adieu, my 6 Week Challenge Goals: Main Goal 1: Clean the garage, turn it into a great studio for fitness. A good survivalist has priorities: Shelter is one of the highest. This is something I HAD to do anyway (the cleaning part) so why not make it a goal, amirite? To achieve this, I need to do the following things: Sort and organise camping equipment.Find containers or storage for gardening stuff- especially the fuel.Sweep the entire garage.Debug. Despider (move them outside nicely)Purchase and lay-down foam flooring.Purchase and set up new "studio mirror" (it's an old dresser with a giant mirror...)Set up curtain dividing storage space from studio space.Attach power source (no power at the moment)Purchase and set up punching bag and frame.Set up lighting. This goal will be graded based on how many of the items I complete- 10% per item. Main Goal 2: Swimming, at least Once a Week! A good survivalist makes use of accessible resources! Both of my housemates go to aqua-aerobics, and also just plain old swimming, twice a week. I'm not in the financial-space to pay for sessions, but there's no reason I can't go to the pool with them and just swim. I also live near beautiful beaches, with ocean baths- that are free. It's hitting summer here, so I should really make use of those. Grading wise, I'll assign 10% to each session, which means I *won't* be able to make 100% just by attending. The extra points can only be made by swimming laps while there (I tend to just...float and splash). 5% per lap. Main Goal 3: See Doctor, Create Weightloss Plan: A good survivalist takes care of their health: I am a fats. I have always been a fats. What I have not always been is unfit. As a child, I was involved in everything- camping, hiking, sports, orienteering, canoeing, band camp- if it was an optional activity on a sign-up sheet, I was there. Since mental illness took over in my late teens, I have neglected myself in a big way. I am no longer able to hike 25km in 2 days with a 15kg pack like I could when I was a teenager. That was something I loved doing and something I miss greatly- as you can see in my "goal bars" below, I want to- however long it takes- get back into the rough scrambler mode I once was, and hike a cumulative 100km with a pack. To get there, I need to get myself in shape- my pack belt doesn't even clip around my waist anymore. I don't know how much I weigh but it's more than conventional scales can display, so my only step for this goal so far is to see a doctor about my weight, make some plans, find out what I actually weigh and go from there. 100% just for seeing the doc on this one, because I have been putting it off a long long time. And now- just for fun- Side-goal: Just be a little bit tidier in general, geez Tree... A good survivalist is neat, tidy- with a solid working knowledge of their inventory. This one is easy- over the next few weeks of this challenge, I just need to progressively tidy up, get rid of stuff I don't need and organise what I do need. I'm about to start a course online, so I need to make sure my work-space is workable. I have to share that room with my housemates, and it's also where I feed my cat- so it *really* needs to be organised. As well as my room. And the bathroom- the sinks have standing water in them that need to be fixed too- I basically need to make this a livable environment. Grading? 50% for initial clean of whole house next week, 5% per "upkeep" job thereafter. I think that's everything covered now- WOO! LET THE APOCALYPSE BEGIN! -Tree

Boss Battle: Tequatl the Sunless It's time for Achaedia to pack up and leave the oasis and continue on her journey. Resigned, she makes her way up the hill and over the first rise, when there, in the valley below, blocking her path, there it is: The fearsome Tequatl, minion of the undead dragon Zhaitan! Tequatl has hardened scales that can create a massive defense if someone doesn't work hard to keep them down. Achaedia takes her place at one of the turrets, hoping that she can blast them enough times to wear through their defenses and allow the fighters close to the dragon to take him down... The Battle: Weekly Benchmarks & Bonuses: Week One: 500 Points (+1 STR) Bonus: Cleaned Every Day (+1 CHA) Week Two: 500 Points (+1 STA) Bonus: Classroom Prepared (+1 WIS) Week Three: 400 Points (+1 STA) Bonus: Lesson Plans Prepared (+1 WIS) Week Four: 400 Points (+2 STR) Bonus: Worked Out Three Times (+1 STR) Week Five: 300 Points (+2 DEX) Bonus: Ate Breakfast Every Weekday (+1 CHA) Week Six: 300 Points (+2 STA) Bonus: Attended 3 Gymnastics Classes (+1 DEX) Standing Bonus (From My First Challenge): 1 unassisted chin-up or muscle-up = +5 STR Max Stat Totals: +4 STR, +3 DEX, +4 STA, +0 CON, +2 WIS, +2 CHA

Finally, a Dresden Files-themed challenge for me! And centered around my all-time favorite female character: Karrin Murphy! For my 11th challenge, I will strive to Master Murphy's Methods! Main Quest To live a healthy and balanced life by exercising and trying to eat healthy. My motivation I've successfully dropped weight by counting calories so my diet will mostly be staying the same with 1200 calories per day M-F and then blow meals on the weekends. I've managed to put on some muscle in an effort to become stronger by weightlifting and I’ve discovered that I love lifting heavy things! I have a few goals in mind, but weightlifting is the primary one, so I’m back with the Warrior Guild again. Smaller Quests 1. Fool Moon = Read While Murphy is not aware of the supernatural as such in the second book in the Dresden Files, she is aware that there are things out there she cannot explain and should be afraid of. That does not stop her from doing all she can to stand up to the darkness. Later in the series, Harry brings her up to speed on the supernatural, which greatly helps with her arsenal of fighting bad guys. But when faced with the loup-garou, even with limited knowledge of this particular monster, she stands fast and fights. Think of what she could have done had she known about the monsters! So I am going to read more this challenge because reading is good and makes me happy. Besides, it would be a real Fool Moon the day I dislike reading! In an effort to continue with my wisdom stat, I will read at least 3 new books starting week #1 of the next challenge. And they’ll probably continue with me re-reading the Dresden Files! Scoring: /3 books Reward: +2 to WIS 2. Dead Beat = Housework Murphy is generally a no-nonsense individual (completely opposite of me in that regard!). And her attention to detail and cleanliness is no more apparent than when Harry visits her home: it is neat and tidy and ‘cute’. I’m a real Dead Beat when it comes to cleaning: I’m bad at it and I don’t like it because I generally think it’s a waste of time. However, it sometimes needs to happen. And if I can better keep on top of it weekly, then doing full-house cleans won’t be nearly so bad when the time comes. I will clean something in the house once a week. Preferably lasting 20 minutes or more too. Loading/emptying the dishwasher, laundry, cleaning off the table, do NOT count. Serious things like cleaning a bathroom, vacuuming or scrubbing the kitchen counters only. EDIT: I changed this to 'housework' to include doing things outside like weeding. Scoring: /6 Reward: +3 to STA 3. Proven Guilty = Veggies With as much physical exercise as Murphy gets, she likely has a balanced diet to match. I’ve been doing pretty well with cutting down on sweet treats during the week. (I could do better, but I’m doing well enough.) But it’s been Proven Guilty that I greatly lack vegetables in my diet. So for this challenge, I want to try something healthy food related, but a bit different. I do not like my veggies. I can count on one hand the vegetables I will eat, and people tell me 2 of those don’t even count (green beans, carrots, red beets, corn and potatoes). I count them because liking only 5 veggies is pretty bad. I don’t eat things like salads or even tomatoes and I find broccoli particularly nauseating! I will be trying to eat a decent vegetable at least twice a week. (This does not include corn or potatoes!) Maybe even trying new ones? Trying new things food-wise is also hard for me since I am a picky eater. (Hence why being a vegetarian would never work for me!) Scoring: /12 Reward: +3 to CON & +2 to CHA 4. Changes = Weightlifting Murphy is well known for being physically fit because she practices aikido at Dough Joe’s Gym regularly. So while she is short and a girl, that has never stopped her from kicking someone’s ass who deserved it. Not only is she a master at aikido, but she’s strong as well. I really enjoy weight lifting, both in an effort to actually become stronger and to tone my body, so I want to get back into lifting heavy things regularly at the gym again so I can see some real Changes. I also want to continue working towards that elusive first pull-up and weight lifting helps with that a lot (or so I’ve been told). I will be striving to use the assisted pull-up machine, along with doing other weight exercises which I enjoy, 2-3 times per week. Specific weights to improve upon: a. chest press machine: 60lbs → 80lbs b. squat sled/machine: 180lbs → 275lbs (sled at work) c. assisted pull-ups: 35lbs assist → 25lbs assist d. bar bell curl: 25lbs → 30lbs e. deadlift: 80lbs → 100lbs Scoring: /12 days Reward: +5 to STR (+1 for each completed)

I skipped out on the last challenge. Perversely, I got a ton of stuff done. I installed a deadlift pad in my garage (the really glorifies the act of flopping down a horse stall mat), got enough free weights to deadlift, got all my radio stuff and activated my first summit (Mt. Herman out here in Colorado Springs). Been re-staining my back deck and doing other random household admin work. I also threw a shindig for some work related stuff and ended up with a house full of food and beer, with the predictable results. My goals get simpler every time through, as I realize that when you don't have the basics, the rest doesn't matter as much. Eating - gotta get that back under control. I have a tri-tip to get going, and then I have a few culinary experiments to attempt. Cooking more is better. Less fast food is better. Routine - walk the dog 2x a day, deadlift 2x a week, go to bed on time and get up on time. Summits On The Air - activate as often as possible - min of 2 times this challenge. Yes, there will be pictures. My side quest is clearing my garage. It has gotten chaotic. - Murphy's Roommate

MAIN QUEST:Enjoy Every Day of 2015 CURRENT QUESTS:Get strong!do 1x5 pull upsdo 1x5 pistol squatsdo 1x10 push ups 7/05/2015do 3x10 push ups 10/05/2015do 5x10 push upsdo a freestanding handstand for 5 secondsKeep up daily maintenance of house cleaning---------------------------------------------------------------------- MID-CHALLENGE MINI HABIT MINI CHALLENGE! Goals: Continue mobility daily Continue 3-day Bodyweight routine + Basic tidy up of the house - alternate surface cleaning and doing the dishes, add in something else on days off from work. + 30 minutes of yoga on the weekend sometime - single session + Do 2 hours of drawing in the week. (20ish minutes daily) TEAGARDEN'S TENTH REBEL CHALLENGE! Quest 1 - Continue bodyweight & mobility routine (M/W/F) I've created a workout that's almost working for me. xD Progress for my inverted rows was moving very slowly compared to improvements in the hollow body holds and push ups, and I was having trouble progressing forward with pistol squats, because I was having trouble finding a better progression to move to. Doing more reps of weaker exercises is working, but it is slow, and I don't feel like I'm pushing as hard anymore. So this challenge I'm going for 5 sets of reps to failure of a harder exercise then what I've been doing. 3x10 Incline Push Ups --> 5x(toFailure) standard push ups. Tried this this morning, I could do 4 real push ups in a set!3x(toFailure) horizontal inverted rows --> 5x(toFailure) Horizontal rows. Going for less reps, better ROM.3x10 Chair Pistol Squats --> 5x(toFailure) Pole-Assisted Pistol Squats. I need to get my body into the proper position, and use my legs more for this variation. 1 minute Hollow body holds, knees bent --> 1 minute Hollow Body hold, legs (almost) straight, arms up Quest 2 - One 30 minute Yoga & Meditation session on the weekend This is part of my life enjoyment mission. I shouldn't need permission, or to remind myself, to take some time to unwind my body and mind after a crazy week at work. No set plans for what I'm going to do, just going to do what my body wants. Any division of the half hour of yoga / meditation is acceptable here. xD Quest 3 - Daily cleaning Cleaning my house was probably the most turmoil-laced part of my challenge last time. It's just about building the habit. It was mostly me overthinking the difficulty of the task I was meant to be doing... and then putting it off and making it even more overwhelming. I still did it all though! This challenge I'm delving deeper into tidying up the darker corners of the house, and trying to maintain a steady level of cleanliness day-to-day. Alternating between doing the dishes and doing a surface clean of the flat surfaces every day, bathroom and the floors get attention once a week. I've also taken out the ideas relevant to my house from this checklist and am going to complete them. Quest 4 - Write 100 words or draw in sketchbook for 20 minutes every dayWords Written: 3150Minutes Spent drawing: 1570 (26.2 hours) I've been enjoying both writing and drawing as mental exercises and should do more.

Still the same things to work on, but I really want to keep it simple this time, so I get rid of the established good habit. I will still track them, since tracking is a good habit in itself, but not as part of the challenge. Again I am focusing on building habits, so what I list is to be done every day (unless otherwise noted). As usual, scoring will be based on the done vs missed ratio. For the challenge itself I'll do the following: Sleep: at least 6 hours each day and 50 hours/week STR +2, CON +2, WIS +1Monk's stuff: I am using the figther's codex as a template to work on my basics (plus some endurance and strength as side effects) DEX +2, STR +1, STA +1Assassin's stuff: the usual 15 minutes of balance&stretching work DEX +2, STR +1Clean table and counter. This is the thing that my wife does always, no matter what. I under estimated it in the previous challenges CHA +2, WIS +1Last August I started tracking my weight every day. I was hesitant in the beginning, but now I consider it a good habit that helps me in staying on track with my long term goal. From the beginning of the year I lost 2 Kg, which is nothing and easily lost in the noise. I know that some rice/potatoes at dinner makes me 0.6-0.8 Kg heavier the day after, for example, but as long as the long term trend is kept, the small gain is ok. All the rest just followed. A nice scattered plot keeps me motivated. So, out of the challenge, but still tracked: weightweekly house choresmeditationeating according to scheduledaily walkFinal note: on 9-16 May I will have some family time. On those days the goals will be: walk at least one hour every daydon't go for seconds (but no limits to veggies)Not part of the challenge, more a rule to survive a week of my mother feeding the "prodigal son who returned home"