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Like a Phoenix, I'm reborn from the ashes. Respawn I will rise above & succeed. Life will not conquer me. I...will conquer it.

I am happy to announce that I am now considered pre-hypertensive rather than having a high blood pressure diagnosis. Current blood pressure: 124/92. I have experienced a steady drop in blood pressure. This is due to cutting out a lot of processed foods in my life, exercising regularly & eating kosher meats.

Hello and welcome to my second challenge! I am a Slayer in training, looking to continue the momentum I gathered in my first challenge. Because I aim to be an assassin, my main goals this time are to continue moving, start bodyweight training, and keep working on my food. Main Quest: Right now, my main quest is to become anti-fragile by building up my STR, CON, and DEX. Quest 1: Walk 6 days per week, starting with 21 minutes and increasing by 1 minute each week. A = 35 days, 26 minutes in week 6 (+3 STA) B = 25 days, 23 minutes in week 6 (+2 STA) C = 19 days, 20 minutes in week 6 (No stats) Quest 2: Do a bodyweight workout 3 days per week. I am aiming to start with the Recruit workout from the NF Academy, preceded by the TMNT mobility warm-up (because it’s fun!), and followed by an as-yet-to-be-determined cool-down. A caveat: Due to some minor foot and Achilles tendon issues, I am currently limited to doing no squats, lunges, planks, downward dogs, or any such movements that put strain on my Achilles tendons or are otherwise high impact. The doctor says that should only be for a week or two and I am still allowed to walk as normal. So I will focus on the upper body exercises until released to do the full workout. A = 3x/week for 5 weeks (+3 STR) B = 3x/week for 4 weeks (+2 STR) C= 3x/week for 3 weeks (No stats) Quest 3: Practice some kind of mindfulness/flexibility workout 6 days a week. Mostly this will be yoga, but I hope to also try some Tai Chi this challenge, just for fun. I also practice (and facilitate) conscious dance and so I will sometimes do that instead of yoga. On the bodyweight workout days, this will mostly just be slow stretching and meditation, with more dynamic workouts on the other days. A = 6x/week for 5 weeks (+3 DEX, +2 WIS) B = 5x/week for 4 weeks (+2 DEX, +2 WIS) C = 4x/week for 3 weeks (No stats) Quest 4: Keep a daily food journal. A = Food logged 6x/week, 5 weeks (+2 CON, +1 CHA) B = Food logged 5x/week, 4 weeks (+1 CON, +1 CHA) C = Food logged 4x/week, 3 weeks (No stats) Life Quest: Get out of my house and do something active with actual, live people at least 3 times during the challenge – e.g. a yoga class, a conscious dance class, a Tai Chi class Pass/Fail, (+1 CHA) Motivation: I don’t want to be limited by my chronic illness or my physical fitness level. I want to become anti-fragile so that I can do the things I want. As a child, I used to love being active - running, jumping, climbing, pretending to be a superhero or a spy or a bionic woman. I want to regain that joy in moving my body, that ability to play.

CHALLENGE: FEB 23RD - APRIL 5TH Okay, so third times a charm people! This will be the third challenge I've started since joining NF. But as of yet I have never made it all the way to the end of the six weeks. Boooooo! But I am forever an optimist. And stubborn. Ridiculously stubborn. So here I am giving it another go. Because my main quest in life is to become a ninja. I want to be able to use the world as my playground, and I want my body to be my weapon. I just need to stop sabotaging myself!! With all that it would be silly of me not to realize that doing the same thing over and over and expecting different result is the sign of insanity. And I am not crazy *shifty eyes* So, looking back on previous attempts I have come to three conclusions: I over complicate things I don't plan well I tend to dive head first and ask questions later. I have always been an extreme person by nature. I either have to go all in or not at all. Each challenge I have made it a little further each time. So I know I can do this. I just have to be smart about how I go about it. Challenge 1 I made it two weeks Challenge 2 I made it four weeks Challenge 3 will see me complete the full 6 weeks!!! GOALS This challenge my goals are simple, and focus around weekly targets not daily so that I don't set myself up for failure. If I have one bad day I can still make it up. My all or nothing attitude makes it hard to accept failure. The goals are also all based around habit building techniques because my previous challenges have all been railroaded by old, crappy habits. Crappy habits that have seen me over the past few years put on almost an extra 20kgs from when I finished university. NOT ANYMORE! Time to get back to basics. Starting small this time. So, here are my goals: 1. Track my food 5 days a week [+3 CON] A: 30 Days (+3)B: >25 Days (+2.5)C: >20 Days (+2)D: >15 Days (+1.5)E: <10 Days (Seriously? Did you even try)2. 70,000 steps a week (+4 STA) A: 420,000 (+3)B: >350,000 (+2.5)C: >280,000 (+2)D: >210,000 (+1.5)E: <140,000 (Seriously?)3. Bikram Yoga x2 a week (+3 DEX) A: 12 Classes (+2)B: >10 Classes (+1.5)C: >8 Classes (+1)D: >6 Days (+.5)E: <4 Days (Go home) RECRUIT MINI CHALLENGES Recruit Goal Week One-Smart Goals: +1 WIS (CHECK) Make goals that are: S = Specific M = Measurable A = Attainable/Achievable R = Realistic/Reasonable T = Timeouts Week 2 Mini - Making Friends +1 CHA (CHECK) Part 1 - Updating your signature Part 2: Join an accountability group Part 3: Support your fellow L1's WEEK 3 Mini - The Library +1 CON (CHECK) Part 1: Pinpoint the quest in your journey that is giving you the most uphill (or one that you're struggling to achieve) Part 2: Search through NF (forums or articles) to find one that is able to offer some assistance Part 3: Apply it to your challenge (no collecting underpants here). I am starting back at the beginning and rebuilding new foundations. Brick by brick, little by little. Side note: My lovely hubby in all his supportive wisdom bought me a Fitbit over the weekend so if anyone wants to add me and follow my progress my username is Jezarean. PM Me if you want to be friends LET'S DO THIS!!

At the end of summer’s training, Lumbridge Boston awaits. As an aspiring Assassin, I want to be ready to face the parkour opportunities a city provides. Here are my starting stats: Height: 5’ 2†Weight: 110lbs* H2O Consumption: Usually 0 glasses. I know -.- Workout Frequency: … see above *Note: I’m into donating blood, and the minimum weight requirement is 110lbs. I used to be safely at 115. I started eating healthier a month ago (just for nutrients’ sake) but made the mistake of not strengh training [to add muscle mass]. Since I don’t know what effect all of this will have on my weight, I may have to modify the challenge rules to keep me eligible to donate if I drop below 110. C or higher awards skill points. A+ has a bonus. Alright, here we go: GOAL #1: Drink 5 Glasses of Water a Day [+1 STA] I’ve ignored this for way too long. Hopefully the habit will give me more energy. A+ 42 days A 37-41 days B 29-36 days C 22-28 days D 15-21 days F <15 days GOAL #2: a) Eliminate sodas Reduce frequency of dessert/unhealthy meal consumption. [+1 CON +1 WIS] The first part of this is easy for me, so I added a second part. I have a soft spot for creme brulee, ice cream, pudding, etc but only when they’re made available (they usually aren’t at home). Since I’m starting college this fall, I’m getting some discipline set up now so I don’t go nuts. I get six free days to distribute for part B. The grade assigned is for the part with the lowest grade. A+ 0 sodas/36 healthy days A 1-5 sodas/30-35 healthy days B 6-9 sodas/25-29 healthy days C 10-13 sodas/21-24 healthy days D 14-20 sodas/15-20 healthy days F 21+ sodas/<15 healthy days Note: b/c of the blood donation requirement, pastas and breads are allowed. GOAL #3: Do the NerdFitness Beginner Body Weight Workout 3-4 Times a Week [+2 STR +1 STA] A weeks start on Mondays A+ 6 perfect weeks A 5 perfect, 1 incomplete B 5 perfect, skipped 1 C 4 perfect weeks D 3 perfect weeks F 2 perfect or less GOAL #4: Start work on a quality website for my mom’s small business. [+1 CHA] I’m a Computer Science major and have been gathering HTML, CSS, Javascript, jQuery, and other skills with hopes that I will be able to do web development work on the side during college [to pay expenses]. This project may serve as an example I can use in the future, but even if I don’t end up doing that, I’ve been wanting to do this for my mom forever. A+ Start necessary scripting A Start CSS B Get HTML started or finished C Determine necessary/desired features. Plan out layout, navigation, etc. Do programming design on paper BEFORE starting. D Complete research: Gather all necessary info from mom (wants/needs/business info), analyze other websites, figure out what will bring in customers, etc. F Do nothing These grades may change depending on what the process is like after all of the planning. Upon completion of these goals, the Magic Instructor will teleport me to Lumbridge where I can prep for the next challenge. I think I’ll need more than one before I can join the Assassin’s guild. Buona Fortuna a Tutti! Good Luck to All! [i’m learning Italian guys. That’s probably going to factor into a future challenge.] https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AvBGSS3P8muPdE1nVnZZdDJKVFl6Z0ViQVNGZ2llN2c&usp=sharing

Hey everyone, my name is SleepingAssassin full username is thesleepingassassin. I know i have a bit of an odd username but it's sort of a representation. I am an adventurer now and have a long path ahead of me but deep down inside I just know there is an assassin with a bit of monk in me. So my ultimate goal is to one day be an assassin with some monk attributes. This will be my first challenge ever, I've been on here since about January however I just sort of lurked rather than do anything. I was procrastinating naturally. I've tried on and off to exercise and tried eating better but haven't really dedicated, but after much thought I have decided a 6 week challenge may be just what I need. So here I am. I've put a lot of thought into this challenge and have decided that my 3 challenges will be as follows: 1. Start by working out once a week for fifteen minutes and increase how many times you work out a week one each week. (therefore ending at 6 15 minute workouts each week by the end of this challenge). 2. Next challenge will be to get rid of one of my biggest addictions. Soda, for the next 6 weeks I will not drink any soda. 3. Lastly my next challenge will to be to refrain from eating any fastfood such as Mcdonalds, Taco Bell, Wendy's etc. I do need to lose weight as i weigh about 300 pounds right now which is REALLY bad. My height is about 5 feet 6 inches. Overall I am healthy with no medical problems, though I do weight a lot more than I should, but my goal is not to focus on weight loss but to focus on the bad habits i have created over the years that have led to my weight gain all the way up till now. I know it'll be a rough six weeks but i'm confident I can do it. or at least try. I have also made an incentive for myself. And that is at the end of the month if I meet my goals i'll go on a small shopping trip and buy some new shirts and maybe a pair of pants for myself. Wish me luck, and I wish you all luck in your challenges! -TSA