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I am back!!! I know I said I would be taking a tour around the guilds but we all know that Assassins do it crazier Also, there’s that whole “do the thing, win all the points†that I am oh-so-keen on. Anyway, I am back, the kickboxing ass-kicking sorta-Assassin When I chose to focus on lifting this challenge, I couldn’t make it any other challenge than my beloved Xena the Warrior Princess. Watching this woman growing up really gave me the idea that women can be kick-ass and stand on their own. So good. One of these days I will make this costume and I will cosplay as Xena. I have goals, ya’ll Be a strong warrior like Xena! +5 STR POW! BOOM! I’ve been wanting to start weight lifting for some time now, but I’ve decided it would be best if I made it a challenge. Enter StrongLifts 5x5. I am a complete beginner AND I don’t have access to proper barbells, so this will be a trial and error with dumbbells. I will most likely substitute rows with a pull up training, mostly because they work on the same muscles and I’ll get more out of a pull up At this point in time, I can only do negative pull ups. I will see how far I can go with it. Challenge: I will lift 3 times a week: Monday, Wednesday, Friday as broken down below. Week A: Squat 5x5 Squat 5x5 Squat 5x5 Bench Press 5x5 Overhead Press 5x5 Bench Press 5x5 Barbell Row 5x5 Deadlift 1x5 Barbell Row 5x5 Week B: Squat 5x5 Squat 5x5 Squat 5x5 Overhead Press 5x5 Bench Press 5x5 Overhead Press 5x5 Deadlift 1x5 Barbell Row 5x5 Deadlift 1x5 I feel really positive about this part of the challenge because I found a workout buddy at work and we will be lifting together. We are both really excited for this. This will be on a PASS/FAIL system; I either lift heavy things or I don’t. I will give myself 2 instances where I can skip lifting due to unforeseen obstacles (sickness, etc.). This needs to happen. Be rested in the arms of Morpheus +2 CON *yawn* I have serious issues getting enough rest every night. My alarm clock is set for 5:30am every morning and it’s always a struggle to stay awake throughout the day. Logically speaking I understand I should be going to sleep at a certain time, but then I get distracted by things and I spiral out of control. With autumn and winter months ahead of us, I figured this would be a good time to start a change for the better. I really doubt I’ll form a habit in mere 6 weeks (I know myself, change comes slowly to me), but I am starting now. Normally, I work 4x10 hour days, so I need to sleep 7+ hours on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. It’s much easier for me to sleep in on the weekends Challenge: Be in bed by 10pm on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Be in bed by 11:30pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I will give myself four separate days to fail at this. I am trying to create a habit, which means that I cannot have too many passes. This challenge will be on PASS/FAIL system. Be tenacious like Callisto +2 CON Life changes ahead! (not so) Suddenly my car decided to give out. The expenditure will be large so I will be on a tight belt for a while. With that in mind, I also decided to put a hold on my gym membership until I can bounce back financially. I won't have access to Airdyne OR kickboxing for the duration of this challenge (I am heartbroken *sob*) That being said, I still want a good workout to happen. Cue FitnessBlender! Challenge: 1000-calorie workouts 2 times a week: Tuesday & Thursday I think they have 3 or 4 of them available so I might alternate which ones I do. I figure that if I interchange with lifting, I will have a decent workout schedule. Points: 2x week - +2 CON 1x week - +1 CON Challenge: Airdyne sessions 2 times a week: Tuesday & Thursday I will be using a routine I came up with myself: 2 x 3 minute sessions with 1 minute rest in between One session is alternating 30 seconds of over 75 rpms & over 30 rpms. Points: 2x week - +2 STA 1x week - +1 STA Edit: I am writing in an alternative to this quest because I have a feeling there might be issues getting to the gym to do Airdyne (again). Instead, if I can't do Airdyne, I will run a mile on a treadmill. I hate treadmill, but I need endurance work more. Let's hope Airdyne will be available Eat and drink well, but not like Bacchus +3 CON How the hell does she make eating pizza look sexy??? Since I am starting with weight-lifting, I need to make sure I eat properly. In my past challenges, I have mostly focused on keeping to Paleo, but I think this time around I need to go a different direction: more protein, less sugar. I have a terrible sweet tooth since I love chocolate and I eat a lot of fruit. This will be incredibly difficult for me, I am certain, but I am also convinced I need to get it done. Challenge: Eat less than 45g of sugar each day, with one day a week being a cheat day, if necessary. Eat more than 100g of protein on lifting days (3x week) Points: Eat 100g of protein 3x week - +2 CON Eat 100g of protein 1x week - +1 CON Eat less than 45g of sugar 6-7 days a week - +1 CON On top of proper nutrition, I need to make sure I drink enough water. After a previous challenge, I know I need at least 64oz of water a day, unless I’m working out (that usually adds another 30oz). I have a bottle that size so I will know exactly where I stand each day. Challenge: Drink a minimum of 64oz a day, pre-workout. Points: 5-7 days/week - +1 CON Be well-learned like Eli +2 WIS ...and I want to have more. It is time I finally learn Russian alphabet. That language is so close to Polish that it’s ridiculous I don’t know it yet. I firmly believe that the biggest hurdle would be learning the alphabet (cyrillic is a bit challenging, I suppose), so I will be focusing on that. I wish to be able to read and write this language, so let’s get down to basics. Challenge: Practice Russian alphabet twice a week, for up to an hour each time. Points: 2x week - +2 WIS 1x week - +1 WIS Be the voice of reason like Gabrielle +1 WIS Adult and reasonable, yo! Each week I will endeavor to do something that I really dread doing, or simply needs doing. It could mean cleaning the house, paying bills, organizing important paperwork, etc. Those things are always around and always need completing. Challenge: I will complete adult things once a week. Things to accomplish: Holiday presents shoppingClean out/organize the dresserOrganize the financial papers (sooooo behind)Plan/carry out the anniversary dinner (Bayou Bob’s)Pay off immediate debtPoints: This will be a PASS/FAIL. Measurements: [coming soon] Rewards: Texas de Brazil dinner. This will cost an arm and a leg but I am willing. I’ve heard so many good things about this place that I cannot wait to try it out. Also, all of the meat after all of the lifting!!!Carmel Macchiato from Starbucks. It’s my guilty pleasure and I only drink one in-between challenges This is me trying to be a good girl.