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This my new and improved, fiercely focused battle log, in which I stop dabbling, get tough, and pursue mastery. This challenge is a continuation of the Major Quest I started at the beginning of 2014 - "Becoming the Shadow Lion" - and I expect to deliver noticeable progress in several specific areas by May 30th. This is my seventh challenge, and the third (of at least seven) this quest cycle. My Commitment for 2014 is to participate in seven consecutive NF challenges with the following definite aim: To overcome my current limitations and (physical disability, bad habits, faulty beliefs and attitudes) attain a high level of fitness and a healthy body weight, through a strategic combination of healthy eating, targeted physical activity, and systems design. ~ My Aim is Driven by My Motivation ~ I resolve to not die with my best dreams and work still inside me For I can bring beauty, joy, and healing into the world through my art, music, and writing ~ To accomplish My Aim, I must pursue My Main Quest with drive, determination, and discipline ~ "I am as unstoppable as the Shadow Lion!" This is my new battle cry when tempted to skip training, indulge in sugary foods, or slack on my practicing... Day by day, I plan to gamify my challenge and draw inspiration from the best qualities of my hero and literary creation, Ariel ha' Cathach, the "Shadow Lion." Note: Major rewriting has been occurring and my protagonist has a new moniker. I plan to continue as ShadowLion for Nerd Fitness purposes, for simplicity's sake, and just because I like it. I will still be modeling my fitness, health and creative pursuits after my protagonist, as she's still a "ranger's ranger" who's kickass fit, doesn't take "No" or "You can't" for an answer, never gives up on her main objective, and always, always, always follows her heart. She is utterly committed to her friends and family, and believes in herself and her mission.

Five days after the end of this challenge is my first Nerdversary. While I have made progress in one year, I know I am capable of more. I am hungry, and I am going hunting - stalking myself, my excuses, my bad habits, my faulty beliefs and attitudes. It's time to get tough. That cute little cub laughing at burpees has grown and now it's time go after fresh meat on the hoof. Stalk it, kill it. Focus... But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy some adorable baby animals... Or hang out with my fellow Renaissance Rebels and the merry, marauding pirate queens, the CutLasses. (That last should actually be written as "The CutLasses!" Those ladies boarding your ship have not come to join you for tea and crumpets...) Aargh! Oh, yeah...focus. BECOMING THE SHADOW LION My motivations and commitment for my quest are detailed in my battle log. The premise of this whole year's worth of challenges is that I am attempting to emulate the rangerly heroine of my fantasy series, to understand my protagonist from the inside out as it were, and Become the Shadow Lion. It has been an interesting psychological exercise to see the ways in which one's literary creations mirror their creator - or not. And, it can be decidedly uncomfortable, and very instructive, to have some of the shadowy corners of one's own psyche reflected back at one's self. My overall goals from last challenge, and for this year's quest as a whole, remain essentially the same - more muscle, less fat; more skill, focus, and creativity. What will be changing this time, however, is that I will be going deeper and expecting much more from myself. Instead of focusing on establishing a variety of good habits, as I have up until now, I will instead zero in and stress test specific ones. I will use those select few to really go after my most persistent demons and the highest value targets. (Dr. Pepper, this means you!) I do plan to keep doing many of the established routines I have built up in the past year, but they will be clearly subordinate to the major goals listed below. Their intensity and frequency will be scaled to support the Big Four targets; if they interfere or take too much time, energy or focus from the highest priority items, they will be modified or even dropped. This will all be detailed in my battle log. This challenge will be a major test of my desire (my hunger) and my commitment (my will to endure and ability to stay on the trail of the beast and make the kill). Success resides inside and depends on intense focus, crystal clear priorities, mental toughness, trust in my abilities, and a belief that I am worth it. Each of the five factors listed above has doomed other, similar efforts in the past. The differences between then and now lie in my greater awareness, months of preparation, and my wonderful support network. Even so, I place my odds of total success at about 50-50. These are called "challenges" for a reason, right? Here goes... 1) ShadowLion Trains for the Hunt - STR-3 DEX-2 The Shadow Lion LAUGHS at Burpees! She LOVES all forms of bodyweight training. (_/3) ShadowLion's unofficial PvS Burpee Quest DEX -2 (_/1) 3 sets of 15 Burpees in less than 21 minutes. As many unmodified as possible, but knee pushups are acceptable. I'm getting into the PVP mindset and a Burpee challenge was discussed last time. This may become official... Armstrong Pullup PVP STR- 3 (_/2) Complete the Beginner Level of the PVP with 3 sets of 15 assisted pullups and 3 sets of 15 knee pushups OR 2 sets of 1 pullup and 2 sets of 2 full pushups. 5/12 - Revision for final two weeks of challenge and Week 0 of the next: I'm dropping the burpees, pullups, and pushups, and refocusing on my lower body (squats, lunges) and endurance training (exercise bike, walking) until my elbow really heals. I can get my weight down some more that way, too. I can still do planks and situps, plus standing "knees to elbows" for core work. Stamina Work - Walking and/or exercise biking, 5x per week STA-3 Strength Work - Squats and lunges, 2x per week - STR-2 2) ShadowLion Slays the Soda Demon - CON-5 Live 100% soda-free for all 47 days of the "The No Soda PVP Challenge" (_/47) This portion of my quest will extend 5 days past the normal end of the 6 week challenge. Ah, the warm fuzzies of last challenge's food quest are gone. This is "Battle!" and it is all or nothing. No partial points will be awarded. 3) ShadowLion Creates Her Plan of Attack - STR-2 DEX-1 (2/3) The end point of the original goal I created for this challenge was completed April 20, just 7 days into the challenge, which rendered much of the rest of the goal moot. The original goal is contained in the spoiler below for reference. For completion of that goal, I have awarded myself STR-1. The remaining STR-1 and DEX-1 points are rolled over to the revised goal, which I intend to complete by the end of the challenge. I have retitled my Life Quest goal "ShadowLion Creates Her Plan Attack" and reworked it as follows: Perform Initial Size Up, Determine Primary Objectives, Strategy, and Major Decision Points STR-1 (_/1) Since I have determined that I want to return to the Fire Service, I am going to approach this as if I were sitting in the officer's seat on the first arriving engine: What is the current situation? What are my primary objectives? What resources are at my disposal? What method of attack has the greatest likelihood of success in this situation? What needs to happen, in what time frame, and in what order? What are the critical decision points? What can go wrong and how can I mitigate the risks? The responses to these questions will be used to create my action plan. Create Action Plan DEX-1 (_/1) Create a written action plan, with checklists and timeline, that incorporates the above information. For Nerd Fitness purposes, portions of this action plan will be formatted and pulled over into my as yet unwritten Epic Quest and into my current Battle Log. To earn my point, all three items must be up-to-date by the end of the challenge. 4) ShadowLion Pursues Mastery - STA-2 (_/4) Quality over quantity, focus over variety. One-half point each. One main task for each area and all four tasks must be completed before adding any shiny new task to any area as a bonus/reward. Art - One finished drawing that goes with my writing Craft - Finish the shrug Guitar - Relearn "Recuerdos de la Alhambra" and memorize it Writing - Three installments/posts of "Shadow Lion" themed challenge The above will be graded with the standard A, B, C, D, or F system using the usual percentages. Note: I have gotten a bit more creative with how I allocate attribute points. Thus the STA points on my Creative Quest (#4) are for patience and perseverance. On my Life Quest (#3), STR points are for inner strength and self-honesty, and the DEX point is for willingness to question both my assumptions and conventional wisdom, and to imagine new possibilities.