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...to defeat the huns bad habits and low self-esteem. While my quests aren't as epic as almost single-handedly defeating an invading army, I love me some Mulan gifs and memes so *shrug*. Main Quest: Reach low-normal BMI (about 90 more pounds) I've gotten weekly meal prep pretty much down (thank you, Instant Pot!), but actually consistently eating that meal prep without adding in side trips, meals out, snacks at work, etc. has been difficult. So for the next logical step: Goal: 6/7 days of eating meal prepped food and 5/7 days of eating under 1500 calorie goal I also want to do a bit of training to prepare for.... a vacation. No seriously! My husband and I are taking a trip to Vancouver at the end of this challenge and have a lot of hiking, biking, and walking planned. I'm comfortable walking and hiking, but it's been a looooong time since I've been on a bike, and I don't want to get left behind on biking tours or feel anxious about riding a bike in a city. Goal: 5 workouts per week, with at least 1 bike ride, and an additional active rest day of yoga. Side quest: Build Confidence I've had an increase in anxious and repetitive/vicious cycle thoughts in the last couple years, and had a hard time with low self esteem. CBT has been a huge help in changing the most intrusive thoughts, but I still have a hard time feeling confident and handling not being good at things. So for this challenge, I'm doing a bit of exposure therapy - purposefully putting myself in low-stakes situations where I'm going to have a hard time so I can get used to laughing it off and dealing with it rather than being upset at myself for not being perfect. Goal: practice either of my new hobbies (sewing clothes and painting) for 15 minutes a day. I'd like to finish making 2 undershirts by the end of this challenge, but I'm not fully sure how long that's actually going to take, so I'm focusing on the daily practice rather than the end product (so I also can't try to rush through and do it all in the last couple days of the challenge) I'll be tracking all of these in my bullet journal along with some of my past challenges (to make sure I keep up on them ) but I also want to post in the forums (either my own thread or others') at least every other day to stay encouraged and active. Now let's do it!

This challenge I will be channelling one of my favourite Disney women: Fa Mulan. While not technically a Princess, she is brave and strong and beautiful. She starts weak and works on herself to become a strong enough soldier to defend all of China. She’s pretty damn BadAss. As such I will be theming my regular goals around Mulan. Eat like a warrior (freggies, protein): In order to perform I need to maintain good eating habits. Continuing the 5-a-day freggie habit and bringing in the a-protein-with-every-meal habit. This could take many forms… meat, eggs, cheese, protein shake etc. Haven’t decided if we’re bringing back the Whole30, not likely seeing as we have a wedding to go to, my birthday, a concert which we’ll be staying with Mr’s Mum and sister… Actually thinking about it that’s going to be a ‘no’ on the Whole30, but good choices where possible. Marked x/5, x/3 daily. Training to defeat the Huns (gym): In 2.5 weeks will be my 25th birthday. I want to lift my bodyweight (70kg). I’ve been making steady increases in my weekly deadlift (46kg, 57.5kg, 65kg), and expect to continue this trend to at least 1RM my bodyweight. Only 5kgs to go, totally possible. Other than that, I will continue going to ROAR 3/week and BigLift+Boxing 1/week. Where possible I’ll tag along with Mr to any weekend sessions he goes to. Note: I will be aiming for 70kg even if my bodyweight goes down between now and then (I’ve lost 10kg since when I started at the gym in August down from 80kg, technically I should lose another 5-10 to fall in healthy for my height, but I want to start packing on some muscle, and we all know the scale lies about that). Marked running total x/4 per week. Birthday Deadlift PR is its own mark. Notes… in case I forget something (studying): As of Wednesday of zero week I will have completed the Business subject, but will have the second half of my Chinese Mandarin class to go (through to 5th June). I will continue to keep up with classes and homework too. I have two written tests upcoming and plenty more to learn, online quizzes and the such. Marking: All classes attended (3/week). Homework on 5days a week marked x/5. Side note: She's doing this with her left hand, which is hellah hard... you're almost better to just learn to write characters with your right because its so hard to follow the strokes and not get mega-smudged. Side-side note, I don't know all of these characters, but I see the depictions of woman, fire, people/person and sun. Huzzah for knowing some tiny things! Bonus goal~ Who is that girl I see? Skin-care erry day. I get topical eczema in one of my eyebrows and on one of my ears (lovely). It's not very noticeable, but goes away when I take proper care of my skin, so proper care I shall take. Daily cleanse and moisturizing cream to banish the eczema and the beginning of lines from living a quarter century. Mark daily Y/N.

Hey adventurers, I'm new here! My fitness and life goals are split down the middle between Assassins and Adventurers, and since this month I'll be going to China, I'll be shacking up here for the next four weeks. Main Quest: Travel like an Adult Traveling is not a new thing for me, but while going through airport security and customs isn't a big deal for me...everything else is. All my anxiety and stress comes from packing, getting the house ready, and taking my furry baby to the sitters. When I come back I don't unpack anything for MONTHS. I also am notorious for over packing or worse leaving something extremely important behind (like a cell phone charger). Also when I'm out adventuring I tend to stay in some sort of comfort zone, mainly with food, and have a bout of laziness if there's not already planned events. These 4 weeks I will work on NOT doing what I normally do when I travel. 1) Before and After During week one I have to prepare my home and prepare myself for the upcoming travels. During week three and four I have to unpack and put away things, and of course tell everyone on Facebook what happened. In total there are 11 things that I need to do in order for this side quest to be a success. 
 2) Explore China A simple quest in my opinion. Go out and explore! Eat new things! Take lots of pictures and write down the memories before bed. 3) Maintain Fitness Again super simple, just keep fit during these four weeks. I'll be doing ballet videos 3x a week and swimming whenever possible. During my week in China, I'll be doing yoga instead due to the strict Internet censorship preventing me access to my normal youtube videos. Side Quests With any good adventure, there's always side quests to complete. These little add-ons will not give me any attribute stats, but will instead contribute to my XP. These are things I need to work on often throughout the year. Quests are as follows: Linguistic Mastery II Review Vocab 2x a week Gold Keeping II Save $26 this month Knowledge Expansion II Read 2 books this month

2015 World 3: Mulan I have a lot in common with Mulan. I can be awkward and clumsy. I never really felt like I was playing the right part growing up. I was always told, “video games are for boys, go play with barbies.†Even as an adult, I’m made to feel like a failure because I’m not on my way to getting married and having kids. And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked in the mirror and thought, “this isn’t me. When will I look like -me-?†I even tried to join the military but it just wasn’t meant to be. What I don’t have in common with Mulan is that she totally kicks ass. It took a little work getting there, but with discipline, training and a little creativity, she made it happen. It all changed with an arrow. Mission: Retrieve the Arrow “I’ll get that arrow, pretty boy. And I’ll do it with my shirt on.†“This represents discipline. And this represents strength. You need both to reach the arrow.†World 3-1: Discipline Cook or prep dinner the day before. Improve in frequency over the 6 weeks. Cook and pack lunch the day before. Improve in frequency over the 6 weeks. If this doesn't work out, adjust the plan to find something that works. World 3-2: Strength Strength training at least 2x a weekEndurance training at least 1x a weekFlexibility and balance training at least 5x a week World 3-3: Creativity Incorporate olympic rings in all strength trainingA different 7 day mini-challenge each week (drink 8 cups of water a day, get 8 hours of sleep a night, etc.)Complete all assassin mini-challenges​ World 3-4 (Castle): Retrieve the Arrow 5 legit push ups, floor60 second perfect ring support 5 second ring support Complete 1 park workout Reward: My choice of (‘cause I’m so indecisive) 2 months worth of aerial silks classes and new workout pants or 2 months gym membership and personal trainer (for barbell). For each week I complete both mini-challenges: I get a $5 reward of my choosing, such as a candle or a new book. Coin Room: This seems to be a recurring theme, but my room could stand some serious cleaning. My goal here is to keep my room immaculate for 2 straight weeks during this challenge. Week 1 Summary

Let's Get Down to Business To Defeat the Huns! As swift as the coursing river With all the force of a great typhoon With all the strength of a raging fire Mysterious as the dark side of the moon Previous challenge. Because we might as well get the stereotypical theme out of the way next. Last time it was cats (ze arrrees-toe-cats), this time it's Mulan. Everyone loves Mulan! Or at least Mulan. But what's not to love?! (Aside from some cultural stereotyping and some mildly cringeworthy attempts to replicate the Genie ad nauseum) A classic bildungsroman (coming of age story) with familial devotion taking precedence over all other relationships, cross-dressing, defying gender expectations, that damn song, crushing physical/mental plateaus with style, using wit, agility and dexterity to compensate for pure physical strength . . . the scenes on the mountain, the climax, the scene under the cherry tree. And the artwork is so good. Mulan is not my favourite Disney film, but it's in my top five depending on what you count as a Disney film. Mulan was my first major crush, not my first - that was either Maleficent or Pocahontas - but Mulan was a constant source of admiration for me from the moment I first saw an advert for it on . . . I want to say telly, but it might have been on a VHS. It was spoileriffic mind, I mean the advert had the "You have saved us all," speech playing over the footage, but oh the moment I saw that I had to get it. And come Christmas 1999 I was a very happy eight-year-old. Mulan means a lot to me, let's see if I can do it, and her, justice. Well, I didn't do her justice last time for reasons that are mentioned in the previous iteration of this thread, so let's try again! Albeit with a different Life Quest because that's the only thing I kicked arse on and modulating a few things here and there. Who is that girl I see, staring straight, back at me? (Reflection) When will my reflection show Who I am inside? So sometimes I suffer massive hits of gender dysphoria, body dysphoria, and really just general dysphoria, anxiety and depression. My mind says one thing, my body another; familial/social/cultural pressures/ideas say one thing, my mind says another different thing, and then my body chimes in again. I've never really 'done' labels, they confuse me actually, and I've dabbled trying to see if something 'fits', nothing really does, and I'm fine with that; SuNoYo is SuNoYo, and there will never be another. But she would just like it very much if all parts of her could be in accord for once. Not agreeance per se, but accord. An understanding based on mutual feelings underpinned with a firm knowledge that no matter how Su, No and Yo may differ SuNoYo is herself. While eighty odd minutes and a montage song did it for Mulan, that won't work for me (alas), but I can definitely strive towards feeling completely confident and comfortable in myself. To this end I will: - meditate daily for at least half an hour in one sitting and do my sleep meditation. I've been slack on that recently, and I've been feeling more discomfitted in general since letting my sleep meditation slip. If one is done and not the other that counts as a half point for the day. To be graded out of 42. - I take part in the PvS HOoRAY and LYBaYF threads, they help. I still don't like looking in the mirror very much and I sometimes struggle to find things to mention that are good about myself. Even some of my posts contain enough self-deprecation that, looking back on it, I feel like I'm slyly insulting myself. So I will look in a mirror. I will say the things I post in HOoRAY and LYBaYF to myself. I will look myself in the eyes especially when wearing my glasses, I won't skim the area, I will look in my eyes and just remember everything good and positive in my life. I will then post a reflection (hahaha) of these little sessions in this thread. To be graded out of 42. - I feel like I have no practical worth as a person, be it as an employee, a family member, and sometimes as a friend. Sometimes it's all I can do to get out of bed because I feel so useless. But I went to a good uni, am told I am useful, have skills and things that others consider useful/helpful/good. So every day I will literally do a Skill Check. This is my skill, how can I use it to be and feel better in any capacity I could be needed in. To be graded out of 42 +2 CHA, +2 WIS Self-esteem challenge: this challenge is all about the self-esteem, so I'm not going to be awarding any points unless something exceptional pops up i.e. getting a job. With all the force a great typhoon, with all the strength of a raging fire Can't really fit the lyrics here I've written them twice before~ Just know that it's a quest of Awesome To improve~ my martial arts (hoo-ah!) God, bet that didn't fit at all. Family issues last challenge meant that I didn't attend T'ai Chi for much of the last challenge period and it''s only been in the last three weeks (including today) that I've even started going T'ai Chi again and I still feel out of sorts with it. Today I was barely able to attend class for half an hour and I have absolutely no idea why. It seems I have hit a plateau or two. Thus: - I honestly can't do the pull ups or chin ups in the ABBW because if I did the table would actually tip over - I tried. But I'm going to do three full circuits of the ABBW by the end of this challenge. And four times a week. To be graded out of 24. - Work on my Form, Dance and stances. Four times a week, including class. Call it general pattern and balance practice. To be graded out of 24. - Strength training. Once a week minimum. Why does this go here? Aside from fitting the montage song it ties in with something below . . . To be graded out of 6. - Yoga, I've missed it and it will help with my balance and such. Follow the DYWM Beginner's Course again. To be graded out of 18. +2 STR, +2 DEX, + 1STA Self-esteem challenges: - PISTOL SQUATS. Last challenge I could do nine single-leg squats per leg. By mid-challenge I was doing one pistol squat per leg, though barely above parallel. I want to get below parallel on my pistol squats with good form, and work up to doing . . . five per leg per set. I'll still be nicking some of the Assassin's six week skill work from the previous challenge for this. - I can has splits? Diet (I don't really have a Mulan reference that isn't mildly insulting when it comes to food) Food, glorious food Wonderful food Marvellous food Glorious food! I alluded to some problems above? So I'm probably a good twenty-five pounds overweight and that makes some exercises difficult. I recognise this has to do with core and balancing muscles as well, but that'll get mentioned too. The belly fat compresses and because of the position it also puts pressure-pain on my boobs. Also it puts me off balance meaning I compromise on other things. - Cut out all but two snacks a week unless said snacks happen to be nuts or fruit, in which case, only five snacks a week. Hopefully to be reduced to three a week by the end of the challenge. Say goodbye to your shop-bought smoothies and occasional chocolate milk (they were half price!) girl. - Go as gluten-free as possible when you're not the one buying the groceries. This will mean buying certain staples gluten-free and just not eating gluten-y things if they're not part of a main meal. MAIN MEAL meaning dinner. - One new recipe a week. I want to try lemon pepper chicken karaage. It sounds delicious. Maybe with caulirice. Extra points if it's a gluten-free or Paeleo recipe, but not obligatory. To be graded out of six. Self-esteem challenges: - make a little box or area of goodies, ingredients and cookery related things just for me. - cook a Sunday roast. - cook for more than just me. +2 CON, +1 WIS Life Quest: Crossdress! Maybe later. Life Quest: Creativity in Perseverance I love reading. I love writing. But I also like research. I don't need things to be one hundred percent accurate, but I like drawing from the real world to flesh out my work or make it more realistic. To quote TVTropes, I like to Show My Work. But the thing about getting sidetracked when reading about Guanshiyin is that the sidetrack is so interesting I eventually go off track and I stop work on my stories and things. Or when I'm trying to work out how a certain disability would affect someone's perception of things I can get distracted by varying forms of handling it etcetera, etcetera It's a kind of academic 'oooh shiny!' thing. This means I excel at creating little 'what if?' synopses and plot bunnies, I can write really interesting little shorts, but the longer things get bogged down. So when Mulan hit her wall she persevered and eventually her intellect and creativity allowed her to overcome her wall. What I'm going to do is a little different: I'm not going to stop my research. I'm not going to say I have to write x words a day/total. I am going to build a world - My research will help me build a world, because I know I'm going to research, so I might as well create a mostly cohesive backstory for my world. - I will write something creative every day set in my little world, but it doesn't need to be a coherent story. It can be fragments of history - sometimes from several viewpoints with the actual version of what happened written down if I ever need to pull unreliable narrator on an entire people/country/whatever. It can be language and culture quirks. It can be character vignettes and backstory as if I'm rolling up a character for a campaign. - I will do a little research every day for the express purpose of creating my little world. If I end up reading about non-binary genders throughout history then I must write a little note about what my little world thinks about it. - My little world doesn't need to be completely coherent or fully thought out, but I want a structure. More than that, I want little sketches, glimpses and entire scenes/whatever laid out, based entirely within that world/person/country's viewpoint with accompanying Author Notes in another document. In me creativity engenders research, therefore I also need to show myself that research, in turn, engenders creativity. Research is the world's foundation, but without a story research is nothing more than a series of 'did you know . . . ?'s So bring out the medieval literature, history and culture; bring out my language and linguistic skills; bring out my Google Fu; bring out my esoterica and vague annoyance with other people's work. I know stories, I love history and words, let's make a world. And post something about it. Ideally it'd be daily, but let's try twice a week instead. It can be maps, weather patterns, history, characters, politics, economy, whatever. But it has to prove that the world is being built alongside a story. Pass/fail +2 WIS, +1 CHA.

Let's Get Down to Business To Defeat the Huns! As swift as the coursing river With all the force of a great typhoon With all the strength of a raging fire Mysterious as the dark side of the moon Previous challenge. Because we might as well get the stereotypical theme out of the way next. Last time it was cats (ze arrrees-toe-cats), this time it's Mulan. Everyone loves Mulan! Or at least Mulan. But what's not to love?! (Aside from some cultural stereotyping and some mildly cringeworthy attempts to replicate the Genie ad nauseum) A classic bildungsroman (coming of age story) with familial devotion taking precedence over all other relationships, cross-dressing, defying gender expectations, that damn song, crushing physical/mental plateaus with style, using wit, agility and dexterity to compensate for pure physical strength . . . the scenes on the mountain, the climax, the scene under the cherry tree. And the artwork is so good. Mulan is not my favourite Disney film, but it's in my top five depending on what you count as a Disney film. Mulan was my first major crush, not my first - that was either Maleficent or Pocahontas - but Mulan was a constant source of admiration for me from the moment I first saw an advert for it on . . . I want to say telly, but it might have been on a VHS. It was spoileriffic mind, I mean the advert had the "You have saved us all," speech playing over the footage, but oh the moment I saw that I had to get it. And come Christmas 1999 I was a very happy eight-year-old. Mulan means a lot to me, let's see if I can do it, and her, justice. Who is that girl I see, staring straight, back at me? (Reflection) When will my reflection show Who I am inside? So sometimes I suffer massive hits of gender dysphoria, body dysphoria, and really just general dysphoria, anxiety and depression. My mind says one thing, my body another; familial/social/cultural pressures/ideas say one thing, my mind says another, and then my body chimes in too. I've never really 'done' labels, they confuse me actually, and I've dabbled trying to see if something 'fits', nothing really does, and I'm fine with that; SuNoYo is SuNoYo, and there will never be another. But she would just like it very much if all parts of her could be in accord for once. Not agreeance per se, but accord. An understanding based on mutual feelings underpinned with a firm knowledge that no matter how Su, No and Yo may differ SuNoYo is herself. While eighty odd minutes and a montage song did it for Mulan, that won't work for me (alas), but I can definitely strive towards feeling completely confident and comfortable in myself. To this end I will: - meditate daily for at least half an hour in one sitting and do my sleep meditation. I've been slack on that recently, and I've been feeling more discomfitted in general since letting my sleep meditation slip. If one is done and not the other that counts as a half point for the day. To be graded out of 42. - I take part in the PvS HOoRAY and LYBaYF threads, they help. I still don't like looking in the mirror very much and I sometimes struggle to find things to mention that are good about myself. Even some of my posts contain enough self-deprecation that, looking back on it, I feel like I'm slyly insulting myself. So I will look in a mirror. I will say the things I post in HOoRAY and LYBaYF to myself. I will look myself in the eyes especially when wearing my glasses, I won't skim the area, I will look in my eyes and just remember everything good and positive in my life. I will then post a reflection (hahaha) of these little sessions in this thread. To be graded out of 42. - I feel like I have no practical worth as a person, be it as an employee, a family member, and sometimes as a friend. Sometimes it's all I can do to get out of bed because I feel so useless. But I went to a good uni, am told I am useful, have skills and things that others consider useful/helpful/good. So every day I will literally do a Skill Check. This is my skill, how can I use it to be and feel better in any capacity I could be needed in. To be graded out of 42 +2 CHA, +2 WIS Self-esteem challenge: this challenge is all about the self-esteem, so I'm not going to be awarding any points unless something exceptional pops up i.e. getting a job. With all the force a great typhoon, with all the strength of a raging fire Can't really fit the lyrics here I've written them twice before~ Just know that it's a quest of Awesome To improve~ my martial arts (hoo-ah!) God, bet that didn't fit at all. I started Kung Fu two weeks after after having attended T'ai Chi (or taiji, whichever) since January, it's awesome. But I tripped over a few things, even in the warm up. The worst part is that I was feeling pretty awesome about my progress in T'ai Chi and touching people and things, but then last week the instructor wanted to take me down. Slowly. Onto the floor. From behind. I locked up to the point where she caused me knee pain and made her feel horribly guilty and it kind of ruined the rest of Kung Fu and my T'ai Chi after that. It seems I have hit a plateau or two. Thus: - I honestly can't do the pull ups or chin ups in the ABBW because if I did the table would actually tip over - I tried. But I'm going to do three full circuits of the ABBW by the end of this challenge. I would appreciate some suggestions for other ways to do the inverted bodyweight rows at home. And four times a week. To be graded out of 24. - Foot flows! Or patterns. Whatever you want to call them. They're a bit tricky and need to be practised. As do the kicks. Four times a week, including class. Call it general pattern and balance practice. To be graded out of 24. (And keep on practising T'ai Chi as well) - Strength training. What with my hand playing up I wasn't able to do it regularly. I did it twice. Once a week minimum. Why does this go here? Aside from fitting the montage song it ties in with something below . . . To be graded out of 6. - (but not this) Try to practice falling/lowering self to the floor at home. I want to find out why it made me outright regress last week, so that will take some introspection too. By the end of this challenge I want to be able to take a throw (slowly). +2 STR, +2 DEX, + 1STA Self-esteem challenges: - PISTOL SQUATS. You can already do a (wobbly) set of nine single-legged squats, let's get to pistol squats. And lookie lookie, Assassins are doing a six week skill challenge about pistol squats. - T'ai Chi day course is next week. GO. I've had this down for my last challenge, but I got the dates mixed up. I'm kind of freaking out about it and trying to back out now. This will doubley make me go. Unless I'm ill. Diet (I don't really have a Mulan reference that isn't mildly insulting when it comes to food) Food, glorious food Wonderful food Marvellous food Glorious food! I alluded to some problems above? So I'm probably a good twenty-five pounds overweight and that makes some of the warm up exercises in Kung Fu difficult.Specifically leg raise related things (scissor kicks? I think) and . . . bicycling is it? But 'up' to the ceiling. I recognise this has to do with core and balancing muscles as well, but that'll get mentioned too. The belly fat compresses and because of the position it also puts pressure-pain on my boobs. Also I lose my balance a lot. - Cut out all but two snacks a week unless said snacks happen to be nuts or fruit, in which case, only five snacks a week. Hopefully to be reduced to three a week by the end of the challenge. Say goodbye to your shop-bought smoothies and occasional chocolate milk (they were half price!) girl. - Go as gluten-free as possible when you're not the one buying the groceries. This will mean buying certain staples gluten-free and just not eating gluten-y things if they're not part of a main meal. MAIN MEAL meaning dinner. - One new recipe a week. I want to try lemon pepper chicken karaage. It sounds delicious. Maybe with caulirice. Extra points if it's a gluten-free or Paeleo recipe, but not obligatory. To be graded out of six. Self-esteem challenges: - make a little box or area of goodies, ingredients and cookery related things just for me. - cook a Sunday roast. - cook for more than just me. +2 CON, +1 WIS Life Quest: Defeat the Huns and save China with nothing but a cannon, a massive mountain, a fan and a mini-dragon and a horse Oh wait, no mountain. Curses. And I'd rather eat a horse than ride one. I know this from experience. Life Quest: Crossdress! Maybe later. Life Quest: "The greatest gift and honour is having you for a daughter" Sometimes it's like all they ever say is that I'm lazy or that I need a job or that I need to pull my weight and things like that. I know I was an accident. I know that if I hadn't been born my parents wouldn't have married. I know that TKD Brother is my mum's favourite. These are all facts. I've heard often enough that if it hadn't been for me and then the younger siblings Mum would have just run ages ago. Dad works two weeks at a time. I know that I'm not the best daughter, or the best sibling, that I could do more. My parents are the ones who confide in me, but I don't really have anyone to do that with. I didn't even want to post this, but aside from That Damn Song, this line is what kept coming back to me when I wanted to do a Mulan themed challenge. I shouldn't feel like this, but I know I do, I don't think I should even be writing this online for people to read, and that sometimes it feels like my parents haven't been proud of me since I was accepted into university. Once Mum even hinted that the only thing that would make her proud or happy would be for her to get grandchildren. I might adopt later, but childbirth and sex is disgusting. She doesn't understand that; 'it's just a phase' according to her. And yeah, it might actually be, I've never even kissed someone, and I don't really feel sexual urges and things, but maybe one day I will. Even then it's not a 'phase', but it's late and I can't be bothered thinking up terminology when it's me involved and no one else. - Do something to make the family proud of me; I don't know what yet. - Explain to them that they hurt me sometimes - Improve my relationships with people in general Pass/fail +1 WIS, +1 CHA, +1 ??? depending on how I make them proud. . . . Well, that was a depressing end to a challenge OP wasn't it?

I've been recently inspired by Disney's Mulan, particularly Captain Lee Shang's number "To Be a Man", so my challenge goals will center around the three virtues mentioned in the song: Swift as a Coursing River (2 DEX, 2 STA, 1 STR) - Warm-Up: 5 - 10 minute jog - Intervals: 60 seconds of hard burn (in honor of Rudyard Kipling's If), 60 seconds recovery. Repeat for 10 minutes - Burpees: 30 seconds of hard burn, 60 seconds recovery. Repeat for 10 minues - Cool-Down: 5 - 10 miniute jog, stretch All the Force of a Great Typhoon (2 STR, 1 STA) - Warm-Up: 5 minute jog, 3 sets 10 Burpees (60 seconds recovery) - Feet Elevated Push-Ups: 60 seconds - Walking Lunges: 30 yards out - Bear-Crawl Push-Ups: 30 yards back - Plyometric Box jumps (Starting on top of the box): 10 reps *with good form* - Drink lots of water, rinse, repeat. - Cool-Down: 5 - 10 miniute jog, stretch All the Strength of a Raging Fire (3 CON) - You need to feed a fire to keep it going, so this goal involves eating well: protien before and after the workout and carbs throughout the day, post-workout (I'm an Ectomorph, so I need extra carbs). Mysterious as the Dark Side of the Moon (2 WIS, 2 CHA) - Learn from the Greats. This is going to be an ongoing goal, extenting into and beyond current and future challenges. - Read The Illiad. Six weeks should be enough time, and I'm a fast reader. I'm working at a call center (Level One/Realpage in Greer, SC if you're wondering) so I have Sundays and Thursdays off. I'm going to make those my Typhoon (Strenghth/Plyo) workout days and I'll run the River (Interval) workout on Tuesdays since it's mid-week. On the 4th week of the challenge, I'll add another round to Typhoon, bringing it up to 3 full circuits for an epic finish. Recap: Grading: If I stay the course and make it to 3 full circuits of the Typhoon workout, I level up. Otherwise, Dishonor.

The Mulan Challenge I am so new to all of this, but I love the idea of a themed challenge, so here is mine. Because I grew up in the 90s, I am, of course, a huge fan of Mulan (Who isn't? If you aren't, you should probably just stop reading.) And, like all nerds, I am taking my love to the next level. Also, I will probably edit this later to include a more specific "grading" system, but for now, I want to get all of my goals on "paper" before I forget them or lose my nerve. Main Quest: Train for Battle Goal: Increase strength and agility. My main objective for this challenge is to get stronger, to become the powerful woman that lies in wait within myself. Fortunately, I do not have to pretend to be a man to do this. Although I will be wearing pants. I never really exercised consistently before this year, and I have done a little weight lifting, but I've never been consistent with it. I'm going to change that. I'm going to stick to full body moves, either with my own body weight, or with weights, and I am going to track my progress by, once a week, recording my abilities on this thread. I will use squats, deadlifts, and pushups to gauge my success. I will also track my weight and measurements, although I have not decided whether I will post those online. As a woman, strength can be a challenge, but having it makes it even more powerful, because it is unexpected. The Huns will never expect that underneath my feminine wiles (try not to laugh), a mighty warrior lies dormant, seeking a weak spot to attack. Goals: Perform strength-building workouts three times per week. Maintain a food journal. (I eat a fairly balanced vegetarian diet, but I'm hoping that writing it down will force me to really think about my choices and prevent me from eating the desserts, processed snacks, and sugary coffees I down between meals on occasion.) Do yoga at least two mornings a week. (A warrior must be both flexible and focused, or their strength is meaningless.) Life Quest: Find Shang Goal: Find a partner to aid in battle. Throughout the film, Mulan found herself growing closer and closer to those around her, united by common interest and experience. They watched each other's backs, participated in training together, and learned to trust one another even in life or death situations. So about four months ago, I moved to Massachusetts with my husband so he can go to law school. I got a job, and things seemed to be moving along in our lives. However, despite this, I have not really met many people. Sure, the people at work are nice, and yes, the husband brings home some pretty cool characters from school occasionally, but what I really want is some regular, voluntary social interaction, preferably including but not limited to fitness, with a fellow lover of the internet, pop culture, and the fantasy/scifi genre. What I'm basically saying is, I'm looking for a workout buddy and friend. Anyone in the Fall River, MA/South Coast region, feel free to speak up. I know it's hard to meet people on demand, and even harder to meet them consistently, but I know that if I make this a priority in my life, I will eventually succeed. Or not. Which is why this is a side quest, and not my main challenge. To make this goal a little more realistic, I will use various means to attempt to find aforementioned partner. Mulan made new friends by joining a group (well, ahem, an army), and so, I will go to social events in my area arranged through MeetUp, the Rebellion, even craigslist, if it is safe, of course. No meetings in stranger's homes or dark alleys or anything, and always having told someone where I am going. And through these meetups and hangouts, hopefully I will find someone interesting in an awesome friendship. Why not your husband? you ask. And well you might. While I openly and disgustingly adore my life's partner, anyone who is married can tell you that you need interaction outside of the home to prevent yourself from going insane. Especially when that person is totally absorbed in the nuances and technicalities of various branches of law. I know more about tortes than I ever wanted to. Side Quest: Dress for Battle Goal: To look my best every day. In Mulan, dress played an important role in defining Mulan as she progressed through her story. In the beginning, when she wore makeup and a confining ceremonial dress, and felt dishonest to herself. Later, she wore her father's armor, and while it was more close to her identity, it was still a lie that separated her from those around her. Finally, in the end, Mulan strikes a balance between honesty to herself and honesty to those around her. When I first started my job, I dressed up a great deal. I took pride in each outfit. But it didn't really suit my workplace. Now, I dress more to suit my workplace, but I feel less special, less proud. So now, bolstered by this article, I am seeking to find a wardrobe to strike the balance between appropriate to my workplace and appropriate to my style, as well as suited to my changing body. So, every night I will assemble my outfit with care. If it is not something I am proud of, I will change it. I will also, within the bounds of my income, focus on buying new (or thrifted) items that suit my needs. By the end of the six weeks, I should have a revived wardrobe full of ensembles that make my (hopefully stronger, leaner, buffer) body look and feel good. Side Quest: Bring Home the Sword of Shan Yu Goal: Bring home the bacon. And keep it at home. After all of her adventures, Mulan returns home to find that her family dearly missed her. Still, she kept her family at the center of her motivation throughout her journey, and still seeks her father's approval. Like Mulan, I want my home to be my central motivation, and there has been one big, gaping, financial hole in my home-life: eating out. We love to eat out, and while it is fine in moderation, we have been eating out several times a week. This has been causing us not only to make unhealthy choices occasionally, it has been incredibly expensive. Therefore, I resolve not to go out to eat for the duration of January, and after that, to limit myself to once or twice a week. Don't worry. My husband is on board. I would never force him into a personal goal without consulting him first. Side Quest: Achieve Destiny Goal: Take an active role in achieving my career goals. When Mulan realizes a life-changing opportunity sits before her, she resolves on her course of action and pursues it without looking back. While she isn't sure she will do well at soldiering, she knows that it is the course she must take. I've known for a long time that I want to be a writer. I've even written a novel before, although it needs heavy revision and rewriting. And so, I am taking action. Right now I have the good fortune to be a receptionist/administrative assistant, which affords me some freedom at work, and even more freedom at home. I do not bring work home, and the job is very low in stress and anxiety, so I have plenty of time to write. Even though I have had this job for almost three months, though, I have barely written anything outside of journal entries. Writing, like eating well and working out, is a habit that must be formed over time. And so, I hereby resolve to sit at my computer and write every day. I may not get much down. I may not have a complete novel at the end of it. But I WILL write. And that's it. Those are my goals for this challenge. If I messed up and forgot to include something from the challenge format, please tell me, and feel free to comment with encouragement, constructive criticism, tips and tricks, etc. TL;DR I'm gonna get strong, make a friend, dress well, stop eating out, and write. Also, if you live in MA, hit me up. Let's chat. The End