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Main Quest:Be strong and Fit K Main Quest Strength Goal 44 lb. Kettlebell swings 100 in 5 minutes/ 35 lb. Turkish Get-Ups 5 reps each side in 10 minutes :goal deadline June 15th Lift Stuff: Do the Simple and Sinister workout at least 4 days a week/ 5 is better/6 days a week of swings is ultimate Eat sugar only as a rare treat: The fine print: Use my calendar and mark smiles for successful days Little sugar during challenge: 1 free pass token that can be used for a dessert Paleo treats allowed :4 tokens Dark chocolate 80% or more, ¼ of a serving is free Can use stevia/ small bit of honey on occasion I will probably go out to eat, and it seems like there is sugar in everything- I’ll do the best I can;same when I am at eating at someone’s house; This is a something to help my life and stressing out over little things isn’t helpful Morning Routine This is a carryover from last challenge. Working to make it something I just do as a habit. Morning: Read Bible, walk, 15 minute kitchen chores. After that is complete I can set the timer and spend 20 minutes on the computer. Life goals (also carry over from last challenge) Paint the dining room chairs-no more procrastinating. We have our new dining room table so this is a must Continue the lessons in my drawing book: at least one lesson a week Side Quest: work on mobility squat in the evenings PVP's and accountabilibuddies: http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/60727-10000-swing-challenge/ (My goal 3,500 swings) http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/60673-starts-23-feb-2015-pvp-walkers/ (goal 93 miles) http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/61089-223-4515-game-of-thrones-bodyweight-pvp/ (goal total destruction of the other houses)

Welcome lurkers, old and new For those of you who don't know, I do gymnastics and bodyweight skills, and supplement that training with weightlifting and climbing. Last challenge I worked extensively on squats, deadlifts, flips and muscle-ups. I also broke the British record for calendar calculations, wrote a new piano composition, and started practising speaking in Spanish. I also realised that I'm missing some strength in some key areas... so that's what I want to work on now. I tend to work out with very high weights and low reps, which got me strong fast, but I'm now at a plateau where I feel I should change this somewhat... and need the motivation to do so... Challenge #1: the checklist! The aim this challenge is to complete as many items as possible from this checklist. Each one carries +0.25 of some stat point. I'm expecting to complete about 25 of the items. There are 8 stat points available, and therefore if I do particularly well and get more than 32 then I get to choose which of the stat points to claim If illness, injury, war or famine prevent me from working on these, I can claim +0.25 CON per day as long as I'm super good about recovery/rehabilitation that day. Fingers crossed that this doesn't need to happen! STA:(X) pull-ups: 12 [started at 10]( ) pull-ups: 15( ) pull-ups: 18( ) pull-ups: 20(X) ring push-ups: 20 [started at ~16](X) ring push-ups: 25( ) ring push-ups: 30(X) ring dips: 12 [started at 8]( ) ring dips: 15( ) ring dips: 18( ) ring dips: 20( ) overhead press @45kg x3 [started at 0]( ) overhead press @40kg x8 [started at 5] STR:( ) weighted pull-up with 10kg x 10 [started at 6]( ) weighted pull-up with 15kg x 6 [started at 4]( ) weighted pull-up with 20kg x 4 [started at 2]( ) weighted pull-up with 25kg x 3 [started at 1]( ) weighted pull-up with 30kg x 3( ) squat @105kg [started at 100kg]( ) squat @107.5kg( ) squat @110kg(X) squat x3 @92.5kg [started at 85kg x3](X) deadlift @130kg [started at 125kg](X) deadlift @137.5kg( ) deadlift @145kg( ) deadlift @150kg(X) deadlift x3 @112.5kg [started at 100kg x3](X) deadlift x3 @127.5kg DEX:( ) consistent low frontflips on crashmat [started with inconsistent flips]( ) regular high frontflips on crashmat( ) consistent frontflips on ground( ) consistent frontflips on ground - bonus point( ) upstart / glide kip [started completely unable]( ) upstart / glide kip: bonus point( ) upstart / glide kip: bonus point(X) archer ring rows: 5 [started at 3]( ) archer ring rows: 8(X) bar false grip pull-ups x3 [started at 1](X) bar false grip pull-ups x5( ) straight-leg straight-arm toes-to-bar with no swing [started able only with bent arms/legs CHA:(X) ring muscle-ups: 2 [started at 1 without negative](X) ring muscle-ups: 3(X) ring muscle-ups: 4(X) ring muscle-ups: 5( ) bar muscle-up [started completely unable]( ) bar muscle-up: bonus point( ) bar muscle-up: bonus point( ) cartwheels that look like cartwheels [started looking like a spider in a hurricane]( ) cartwheels that look like cartwheels: bonus point( ) backflip alone again on tumble track [haven't done this since the summer]( ) backflip alone on tumble track without spotters to warm up [never done]( ) backflip on tumble track, consistently landed I'm so looking forward to start crossing items off this list Challenge #2: core strengthening: lots of the advanced gymnastics skills on which I'd like to work involve being stronger in the core. In particular, in the summer I'd like to work on:frontflips (more!)backflips (more!)handstandsleversother bar/ring gymnastic workTherefore for the next 6-7 weeks I'm going to really work my core. I'm grading this subjectively based on intensity, regularity and quality, but a grade B would involve doing a serious core workout 3+ times per week. +3 CON is available for this challenge. Challenge #3: understanding Spanish: I've been learning Spanish on-and-off for the last 3-4 years and recently have been speaking weekly with Talvi. I want to take it more seriously this challenge, and I'm splitting it into three components, worth +1 WIS each: work: 2 hours of Spanish, including 1 hour of speaking (doesn't matter who with), roughly every weekstudy: create and maintain a notebook with useful phrases etc.train: be able to understand Spanish radio - judged by listening to EuroNews Radio (Spanish) and understanding most of itThe work component will be graded by counting how many times in the next 7 weeks I fail to meet the 2 hours target or the 1 hour speaking target: grade A: 0 or 1 failsgrade B: 2 or 3 failsgrade C: 4 or 5 failsgrade D: 6 - 8 failsgrade F: 9 - 14 failsThe study component will be graded subjectively. The train component will be graded by the proportion I can consistently understand: grade A: 85%+grade B: 75%+grade C: 65%+grade D: 55%+ Challenge #4: no pathetic days: sometimes on the weekend when I've got nothing planned, I don't leave the house and have a super lazy day.... while this sounds good, especially as my lifestyle is very active, it means I end up feeling anxious and lethargic by the evening, and the day afterwards... therefore I should do something vaguely active every weekend day (unless I'm ill or injured) even if it's just a few miles' cycling so my body can recover properly rather than grinding to a halt. +1 CHA is available for this... I lose +0.25 CHA for each pathetic weekend day. Okay, that's all! My challenge starts immediately. Good luck for your challenges, and I'll be hopefully reading some of your challenges in the next few days

A just-graduated recruit wanders into the warrior camp, looks around at all the swole bros and brahs, feeling a little outclassed. Then sits down by the campfire listening to the war stories for a while -- "protein, stronglifts, rippetoe, widowmakers, microloading, accessory exercises, compound lifts, cutting, bulking, recomp" -- and starts feeling right at home. "I've found my people," she thinks. Main goal: build the strength base needed for my Tough Mudder in October. Goal 1: Increase my lifts, especially squat and bench (which both lag) STR +4 Actions: Follow my lifting program (3 days a week). Substitute bodyweight work if travelling. Tracking my activity on Fitocracy Goal 2: Fuel my gainz CON +3 WIS +1 Actions: Hit macros within +/- 10 grams at least 5 days a week. Re-evaluate macros as needed based on lifts and recovery Macros calculated at IIFYM Tracking my intake on myfitnesspal Goal 3: Achieve 1 pull-up by end of challenge STR +2 DEX +1 Actions: Install pull-up bar in home by end of first week Follow Armstrong pull-up program, starting with 3x a week beginner program for first 3 weeks switching to 5x a week women's program for second half of challenge. Life Goal: Finish 1 chapter of book. WIS +1 CHA +1 Start 2nd chapter. WIS +1 CHA +1

I feel like I've found my people! This is my first post at NF and my first challenge - of hopefully many. Backstory I used to be a fit guy but for the last few years, I've struggled to find that fire. I'm plumper and softer than I've ever been. And depressed. So I signed up for a year-long coaching program to help motivate me. This coaching program has some great things to it, but I feel like I need an online community to keep me accountable or to just share my struggles and completed levels. My First Challenge 1. Lift weights at least 2 times a week. My coach has written up an awesome workout for me, but it's six days a week. I just don't have that much mojo yet, so I'm making a compromise. 2 days is a good start. 2. Outdoor endurance activity/HIIT workouts at least 2 times a week The weather is starting to get beautiful in Utah, so I'll be doing more hiking and biking. I'm also loving Insanity:Max 30 workouts, as well as George St. Pierre's Rushfit, so I'll do these workouts when I don't have time to get outside. 3. Follow the habits outlined by my coach This involves all sorts of things, but I have to check in every day on a web site and record if I followed my habit or not. The first few habits, I nailed 100%. This last habit, to eat lean protein with every meal, I'm at 50%. This will soon be near 100%. 4. Continue visiting Shaman to help boost WIS I'm late, but I can run! One Newbie Question: Is this there a difference between this and a Battle Log?

The Dead City of Aku'Mah Part I The black stone river port squatted solemly in a miasma of fog and entropic despair. No wind blew. The river laid still, its opaque water as lifeless as the metropolis through which it coiled. No star or moon was visible, yet the city was dimly illuminated by some unpreceptable light source. The slick hewn stone banks of the river and canals seemed to almost glisten in the unatural twilight. In one of the city's market squares stood a cowled man, dressed in worn, grime caked garmets . His hands were loosely wrapped in dirty bandages, stained by the same black grime found on his clothing and deep under his finger nails. His gaze tumbled across the breadth of the square. There were no carts, no merchants, and no sign that there had been in any recent amount of time. The lamps stood unlit, their glass sconces encrusted with a black film of filth and neglect. At the centre of the market lay a well, its shadow filled orifice emiting the stench of a foul bog. Each connecting street at the market's perimiter gaped at him, dusky paths that seemed to only lead deeper into the sprawl. As he took his first step, the sound of his bootheel fell flat on the wet cobblestones. Its sound was audible but hollow, devoid of all resonance. After a few more paces he stopped and abruptly yelled aloud. No echo. He didn't need to be a scholar to know that the physcs of this place were all wrong. Every building facade he examined, every grime coated window he eyed, like the intersecting streets, were all lifeless. Nothing to indicate the presence of another. Nothing to give hint at a path for... escape? Was he a prisoner here? Was he leaving, or just arriving? Did he choose to be here? He couldn't remember. ...to be continued. Challenge V Goals To improve my strength to bodyweight ratio. To improve my running speed and endurance. To improve my ability to enjoy life. To find more adventure. To be more patient. To be more content. To be less frustrated. To be less scared. To connect to my inner self and to discover who I am. Motivation Still unclear. Quest I - Improve my bodyweight to strength ratio Strength train 3/week focusing on push-ups, pull-ups, and bodyweight squats. Award: +4 STR Grading: 1 point per workout completed. 13 = C, 14 = B, 16 = A, 18 = S-Rank Routine A: Deadlift, Push-ups, Squats, Pull-ups/rows, Split Squats/Lunges, Dips, Planks/Leg Raises Routine B: Squats, Push-ups, Split Squats/Lunges, Pike Push-ups, Bridge Work Routine C: Squats, Push-ups, Romanian Deadlifts, Pull-ups/Rows, Split Squats/Lunges, Dips, Planks/Leg Raises Quest II - Improve my running endurance Increase my weekly long run each week. Award: +4 STA Grading: 1 point x number of the week. 15 = C, 17 = B, 19 = A, 21 = S-Rank Long run distance goals: W1: 11km, W2: 12km, W3: 13km, W4: 14km, W5: 15km, W6: 16km Quest III - Improve my flexibility Perform a simple yoga routine 3/week. Award: +3 DEX Grading: 1 point per yoga session completed. 13 = C, 14 = B, 16 = A, 18 = S-Rank Yoga routine: Will start by learning and performing sun salutations. Number of "rounds" to be determined but I am thinking of starting with 8. Bonus Quest - Find stillness and connection Meditate daily, starting at 10 minute sessions and increasing duration by 2 minutes each week. Award: +4 WIS Grading: 1 point per day that I meditate. 30 = C, 34 = B, 38 = A, 42 = S-Rank WEEKLY TALLIES WEEK 01: Bodyweight 2/3, Running 1/1, Yoga 3/3, Meditation 2/7 + Assassin Mini-Challenge (+1 STR)WEEK 02: Bodyweight 1/3, Running /2, Yoga /3, Meditation 1/7WEEK 03: Bodyweight /3, Running /3, Yoga /3, Meditation /7WEEK 04: Bodyweight /3, Running /4, Yoga /3, Meditation /7WEEK 05: Bodyweight /3, Running /5, Yoga /3, Meditation /7WEEK 06: Bodyweight /3, Running /6, Yoga /3, Meditation /7 TOTAL SCORE: Bodyweight 3/18, Running 1/21, Yoga 3/18, Meditation 3/42 UPDATE 01: Awards, grading, and routines added. UPDATE 02: Weekly tallies added.

***Note: This is a busy week at work and as such I will finish this entry as soon as I can*** Helloooooooooooooo! Hello If you haven't seen me for a while, there are some reasons. But now I'm back and getting ready for a wedding in less than eight months! Main Quest Basically my main goal is going for the reduction of fat in my bodyweight composition. Plain and simple. I really don't have an end percentage in mind, just going for the "look good naked" thing, especially with my wedding happening in October I really want to look sexy for the lady-friend. I'll be sexy and I know it Goals: Get up and go! Due to my now-insane evening schedule detailed in reasons, I need to get up in the mornings to do workouts. Meh. Now, this can be done in any combination possible, as long as I get five days in between Sunday and Saturday with adequate rest days thrown in. My preference is Monday through Friday, but sometimes variation is necessary. Currently I am doing Stronglifts 5x5 and I don't see myself switching before the challenge is over. I will post my daily workouts of 5x5 and the cardio days in between them each day. As a side bit to this, I'm trying to figure out how I can add pull-ups into my workout, but I won't exactly track that this challenge just yet. Total days - 30 Stat points awarded if completed: +2 Str, +1 Con, +1 Sta The Beard goes modeling... sorta... To gauge my weight loss, rather than step on a scale (though I will continue to do that), I will take a weekly picture to gauge my progress. Nothing much else to it, it's pretty straight forward. Weight will help, but the difference after six weeks should be apparent. Total days - 6 Stat points awarded if completed: +3 Cha Forget about the guy, look at that beard. Quite the specimen. Om nom nom This one figures to be the hardest of all, it requires me to very open and vulnerable with you all. My goal is to hover around the 1800 mark for daily caloric intake (though if enough people recommend otherwise for whatever reason, I will reconsider). To help show that I am adhering to this, I will try to figure out a way to link my My Fitness Pal page to this site. Putting up pictures of me is a proverbial cake walk compared to this. This really makes me feel vulnerable. Because this is an experiment on my part, I will aim for 25 days, just because I might take a week to figure out the whole linking profiles thing. I will consider any and all suggestions people have on recommended edits to my diet. Total days - 25+ Stat points awarded if completed: +2 Cha, +2 Con Normally, I would post a life goal, but with my life being virtually consumed by everything else, I think I'll just try to get through until may with everything as is. So no life goals other than managing every aspect of my life. Well, that's it. Getting back into my first full challenge in a while. Let's see how this vulnerability thing goes. Also.... You forgot about him, didn't you. It's okay. He still thinks you are awesome.

One of my goals for this upcoming 6-week challenge will have something to do with the "pulling-body-weight-up-while-hanging-from-a-bar" style of exercise. I could do these as PULL-UPS (with my hands facing away from me), CHIN-UPS (with my palms facing me), or NEUTRAL GRIP (with my palms facing each other, gripping sideways bars). Is there one that should be preferred over the others? Am I making things too easy or too hard by choosing a particular style? Or is it all just personal preference? I'll test myself when I get to the gym this evening, but I think as of today I could probably do 5 or 6 of any of those styles. Thanks for any pointers.

I tried to beat the sad pandas last challenge, but I didn't realize I was PLAYING INTO THEIR HANDS. See, you might not know this, but sad pandas are pedantic, points driven, and very metric based. They want you to try things that don't always make you feel better. they are not totally interested in letting you be a happy panda. so I ended up feeling more sadder, because playing the game by Sad Panda rules meant you are always going to be a sad panda. I don't want to be sad panda! I want to be a sparkly assassin! No more mopefests for me! (bonus halloween photo!) So I need to structure this challenge for LOGGING SUCCESS. my MAIN QUEST is to be a FLASHING NEON ARROW pointing to HOW AWESOME I'm DOING. like this: MY SUCCESS BECOMETHEARROW. First, let's talk about grades. I hate grades. So I'm going to use NOT SO HOT / GOOD / BETTER / BEST to rate myself. GOAL 1: MAKE A LIST / CHECK IT TWICE Every Monday I'll have a workout schedule and every week I'll check off my points. There. Simple. Things that go on the workout schedule may and will likely include: going to physical therapy. arm day at the gym. tae kwon do. extra bonus points (i.e., boost my non-grades up a scale) will be given for massive groups of sit-ups in one day, or similar bulk exercises. tl:dr - write up a weekly exercise calender, track it here, and check off the boxes. bonus bump! do a bunch of extra exercises in a day, like, 100 sit-ups or something torturous. GOAL 2: PLAY WITH ALL MY TOYS So far I've accumulated a bunch of toys. SWORDS. A SPARKLY HULA HOOP. NUNCHUCKS. I have to make time to play with them! I'm not 100% sure yet how this will work. but it'll go on the schedule, and be rated as a separate goal. I'm thinking 5 minutes a day for x days with the hoop or chucks. I don't know enough yet about swords, so that will involve going to weapons class to practice. tl:dr - make a special point to schedule in toy time and hit that goal. GOAL 3: USE MY OWN DATA TOOLS / TAKE THAT UGLY SAD PANDAS I have been doing really really well with tracking all my calories. even when I'm not doing great, I've been tracking for over a year. I know it's a huge part of my success. HOWEVER. better than that success is actually staying under my calories goal. When I look back over the last challenge, I didn't do that. so every week, that's what I'm going to do. (I'm giving myself one exception, for [American] thanksgiving week. I am in a blended family and I think I have to have 2 thanksgiving dinners. I do pretty good with these meals but I like to taste everything and that adds up. Last year running a 10k on thanksgiving saved my bacon, but I can't count on that this year with my wonky knee so I get a pass. tl:dr - Continue to track calories every day AND ALSO stay under my calories goal for the week.. bonus bump! for tracking caffeine too, using the jawbone coffee app. LIFE QUEST: NO REALLY BECOME THE NEON SIGN. I know, it's nuts to want to be stealth assassiny creature yet be a neon sign. but who wants to be a sparkly assassin anyway? ME, that's who. but it's hard to crow on your successes, and I need a little more of an explicit boost. I'm feeling a little slumpy. I had my first nerdiversary during the last quest and while I'm doing super good, and seeing good, long-term results, they're slow, and I'm bored and a sad cupcake, and I don't want to be a sad panda because their panda games are boring and their rules suck and everyone is totally emo and boring (did I say boring?). for my life quest I'm going to really focus on the best most awesome things I'm achieving. and I'm going to report them back. Some of them will be fitness related, some will be body size related, some will be skill related. Some might be totally random and related to things that I've finally completed in my regular life. This is where I'll be giving myself all the presents. I need them right now, yo. tl:dr - look forward to me posting lots of crowing posts. I need to highlight my accomplishments a little more and remind myself how awesome I'm doing. FIRST! | WK 1 | WK 2 | WK 3 | WK 4 | WK 5 | WK 6

So, I really don't have much to detail my challenges because I'm at work. BUT I wanted to add a quick bookmark thread to save my place and let you guys know I'm here! In a nut-shell my current Master Quest is to complete 1 unassisted pull-up. Challenge 1: Stay on pull-up program on phone doing band-assisted pull-ups. If I can stay on track this will garner me 3.0 Strength. Challenge 2: AMRAP dips every day. If I can stay on track, this will garner me 3.0 Stamina. Challenge 3: Sit-ups program on phone. I've decided I'm going to work on planks. Every day. Initially, I might just see how long I can hold it and then (hopefully) progress up to wall-planks! For this I have 3.0 dexterity points on the line. I will give myself whatever percentage of 3.0 points based on the percentage of days I did this. I'm really just getting back to basics with this challenge. Fitness Quest: Get back on track with protein & veggies! Keep protein over 100g/day and keep sugar under 30g/day. I will track this on the LoseIt! app (feel free to friend me, send me a PM). I will give myself 3.0 Constitution points. Again this will be a percentage of 3.0 based on the number days I kept my numbers between those lines. Life Quest: Finish the biography on Rutherford B. Hayes. (Part of epic quest that I really need a thread for!) I will give myself 3.0 Wisdom points for this one. I'm starting the challenge already on page 225 and I have 340 left! To keep track of my progress, I'm keeping a spreadsheet on Google Docs. I <heart> spreadsheets!

"too late for second-guessing, too late to go back to sleep. it's time to trust my instincts, close my eyes, and leap! it's time to try defying gravity..." INTRODUCTION: Oh look, I'm back again, finally injury-free (knock on wood) and ready for some hardcore assassining! Last time, our intrepid heroine relearned how to walk. This time, the moment has finally come to learn how to fly. In less grandiose terms, my dreams of taking aerial lessons are coming true at last - my first class is on 11/11! Additionally, I'm finally getting back into the flexibility work I had to abandon in favor of rehab and healing. My training has been looking a bit Ranger-esque lately, and while I intend to continue my commitment to the Stronglifts program, this challenge is all about the fun, assassin-like things I love most of all! Onward and upward! MAIN QUEST: Become the strongest, flexiest, most graceful version of me! Incorporate pieces of my training to the disciplines I love to grow my skill. Also, have fun with it. QUEST 1: YOU CAN'T TAKE THE SKY FROM ME (+4 STR) I had great progress with my pull-up quest last challenge. I am busting out assisted pull-ups and chin-ups like no one's business, but I've been neglecting my negatives. No more! I know they're good for me, I know they're the logical next step in the progression, and now, I am upping the ante and giving myself a goal of doing these 3 days a week. If by some miracle I can manage to do a real pull-up or chin-up, obviously these will count in place of negatives. A: 3 days, B: 2 days, C: 1 day QUEST 2: GETTING ALL BENDY (+3 DEX, +2 CHA) I've been swearing up and down that I will work on a straddle split progression someday. Someday is right now. I will spend a minimum of 5 minutes a day 6 days a week a minimum of 10 minutes 3 days a week working on stretches that will aid with straddle splits. I've got a ballet progression and a yoga progression to work from. I will measure how far off the floor I am at the start of the challenge and the finish as well, though it will not count towards my points (effort is the goal here, not perfect achievement). Points to you if you know why I used this particular gif. A: 6 days complete, B: 5 days complete, C: 4 days complete QUEST 3: LIKE A TRAINED APE - WITHOUT THE TRAINING (+3 DEX, +1 STR) Another thing I've sworn up and down - I will work my my handstands, someday. Time to give the handstand challenge a go! Starting from wall planks and working my way up, I will spend a minimum of 5 minutes a day 6 days a week working on my handstands. I know my shoulders are strong enough, I suspect my core is getting there... no way but up! Yes, I will probably fall on my face a lot. Whatever, it won't be the first time. A: 6 days complete, B: 5 days complete, C: 4 days complete LIFE QUEST: THIS AIN'T NO WOBBLY HEADED DOLL CAPER (+2 WIS) Ah, NaNoWriMo. This one is simple: I'm participating in this year's NaNo, and I am challenging myself, despite all distractions, to finish and win. Let's go! Simplest grading in the universe, with the caveat that this goal must be complete by November 30th.... A: reached 50,000 words, B: reached 40,000 words, C: reached 30,000 words LIFE QUEST: ALL RICH AND FANCIABLE (+2 WIS) Welp, as those of you who are following know, I decided to abandon the writing quest for my own sanity. I did get about halfway and it's not a real failure - I have a good story start to prod at once I'm no longer burned out - but right now, writing isn't what I really need to focus on. I'm going with the ever-elusive GET OUT OF DEBT, DON'T PASS GO, DON'T COLLECT $200. Right now, I have $8,881.88 in credit card debt (sigh). I've been over 10k in recent memory, so in fact this is an improvement, but lately emergencies have constantly pinged at my efforts to pay this off. I've decided to give myself a chance to earn all 2 of the WIS points as opposed to going for partial credit.... but with a stretch goal that will be reaaaaaaaally hard to reach, and then a more realistic goal to reach for 1 point. So, I declare: by the end of the challenge, I will get my credit card debt down. How much, do you ask? A: $6,999 or less remaining on credit card, B: $7,500 or less remaining, C: $7,999 or less remaining The points thus come out like this, assuming I mathed correctly: STR : 5 (A=5, B=4, C=3) DEX : 6 (A=6, B=5, C=4) WIS : 2 (A=2, B=1, C=.5) CHA : 2 (A=2, B=1, C=.5) I'll be keeping track of daily accomplishments in a gdoc, publicly available HERE. The spreadsheet does all the fancy math for me (I love technology). REWARDS: What would an epic quest be without treasure? If I succeed, I will reward myself with something nice (that isn't food). Rewards are stacking, meaning I get the A, B, and C rewards if I get to an A grade, the B and C rewards for B grade, and just the C reward for C grade. Rewards are as follows: A overall: Armor upgrade 1.0! Boots. Pretty new boots, just in time for snow. B overall: Armor upgrade 2.0! I'll pick out a fun workout shirt from Activate Apparel or Look Human. Maybe this one. C overall: Potion pack! I'll pick up some of my fave brews from Teavana. Before pictures: Measurements: Neck: 14.1" Chest: 38" Waist: 30" Hips: 40" Thigh: R: 24.5" L: 24" Calf: R: 16" L: 15.7" Bicep: R: 11.3" L: 11.7" Weight: 164.6 Dress/pants size: 8!!! I tried on about seven items, only one didn't fit, and it was designer (i.e. it would run small)

So, I just realized I have less than a month to my Spartan race. Holy crap, ya'll!!! Since that is coming up in just about 4 weeks I decided my Spartan training shall be the theme of this challenge!Luckily, my regular training for aerial already is good training for the Spartan race, but I really need to ramp up my running! I can hike and walk long distances easily so it's just a matter of doing run/walk couch to 5k (Zombie style, of course) to work on getting my legs used to impact again. Here are my specific goals: 1. Prepare for those burpees! (aka push up time!): I am pretty confident that I will own most of the obstacles, but who knows what may go down race day so I need to be ready for those 30 burpee penalties for any incomplete obstacle. To do this I plan to work on push ups every other day until race day. 2. Keep on hanging on! (aka climbing/aerial/"pull" related exercises): Along with my push ups I will also work on pull ups/ climbing/ aerial related skills every other day. I took an aerial conditioning class last week and realized how much I haven't been doing enough work in this area. 3. CHARGE!!! (aka running training): I need to get up my running distances. For this I will continue working on Zombies, Run! C25K training every other day (alternate days from my strength training days) 4. Let's turn the world upside down! (aka ab work to improve my aerial inversions): This isn't directly related to Spartan training, but strong abs will help in all of the other areas of my challenge. I plan on working that plough pose a ton + working on inversions in aerial class and on my pull up bar + a bunch of upper ab and oblique stuff in addition because muscle balance is good yay! I will work on this every other day (same day as my strength training days.) Life Goal: Declutter and streamline! I am leaving this semi open to interpretation. This can both be things like physically cleaning and streamlining my room/house as well as mental stuff. All part of building my batcave for continuing improvement and habit change!!

Hello, assassins! I am Kat, usually a Scout, but here to try a challenge on more of a strength note. I find my strength routines easier to fit in my schedule, and frankly more fun. But this challenge, they need an upgrade. Required challenge listening: (although the video is a little dumb, Freud would have something to say about everything in Bey's teeth) Main Goal: Pull up-grade Learn to do a pull up, work on general strength and badassery -Step 1: 3 times a week, work on nerd fitness progression http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/04/25/do-a-pull-up/-- starting at 3A EDIT: I'm starting solely with step 2 (below) and doing the pull up progression starting the last two weeks of the challenge. I can't do the workouts that are in the challenge AND pull up stuff or I'll be exhausted! But the workout challenge is already strengthening my back and arms so it still goes to the total goal. -Step 2: workout every day with the 30 day total body challenge http://www.pinterest.com/pin/58687601369478657/ -Step 3: switch out chair for medicine ball, starting at 2 hours a day, increasing one hour a week Total possible score: +10 STR Secondary Goal: Makeup-grade It's time to get serious with my skincare, particularly since winter is coming. A couple things to do: -Step 1: Put on face/hand lotion twice a day, body lotion once a day -Step 2: Put on makeup on weekdays -Step 3: Start oil pulling in the mornings, this is not really makeup related but doing it will be part of a routine so it sort of fits Total possible score: +3 CHA Final Goal: Skill Upgrade I'm getting married in August of 2015, and I want to do the calligraphy myself, so I need to be practicing before it's time to actually address them -Step 1: Practice Calligraphy once a week Total possible score: +2 CHA These will all be graded on a week by week basis. If I do 75% of each thing (except calligraphy, that's sort of a yes or no thing), then that week is a check in that category. So weeks with checks/total weeks will determine my grade.

Hey everyone! This is my first time posting here...couldn't find any help elsewhere and visit this site all the time already so I thought I'd make an account and see wassup. Anyway.... I bought this thingy a while ago: https://www.perfectonline.com/product/pullup And it's great! I can do pull-ups/chin-ups, then unlock it and lower it to superset with Australian pulls/chins. The problem is, one half of the bar has a smaller circumference (I think that's the first time I've used that word since highschool) than the other half. The reason for this is because the bar is expandable to fit various door widths, a smaller bar fits into, and can slide in or out, of the larger bar. In my particular situation, the only way to do shoulder-width pull-ups is to have one hand RIGHT where the too bars meet. So the little lip is right under my middle (palm side) knuckle (whats the inside knuckle called?). When doing pull-ups I haven't noticed any pain but for a few days now I've noticed that knuckle is really sensitive to the touch. It almost feels bruised, I THINK it's because of the weird bar size, so I've added some thicker foam grips for padding. Anyway, aside from the specific type of pull-up bar that I have, does that kind of pain sound normal? Or at least semi-common? It's definitely not from calluses or anything..

Who am I? It might be that some day soon I'll get the proper answer to that question. It might be that day is years away. I can't say I'm in much of a rush to get there. Pseudo-philosophical babble aside... At the time of writing this, I'm a twenty two year old student with a bit of a spare tyre and lungs that only seem to work at a fraction of what they should be working at. On this site I've adopted the name Yeti, though I'm not unusually tall nor overly hirsute. And I do not thrive in the cold. Hypothermia and I have become close acquaintances over the years. If anything, I'm more a dwarf, short, compact, and with a love of shiny things. At the moment I'm a student in my third year of an adventure tourism management BA, and through university I have learned, and become, so much more. Not an over-dramatic observation either. Rewind back a few years and you'll find a near-silent, greasy haired, chubby teenager with zero self-esteem or confidence, wrapped in the midst of clinical depression, crippling social and general anxiety, paranoia, anger issues, and a few other unsavoury things. Everything came to a climax during 2010, and in the last few months of that year began, ever so slowly, to get better. I spent a little over five months volunteering in a country park before moving on to a six month contract at a museum, yet in the September of 2011 I entered my first year of uni almost mute, scared all over again. Didn't speak more than three words in a row to my housemate for all of a month. Kept my hat on and my head down in lectures. Didn't really venture out along unless it was at night. And then I moved out of my little room and into a smaller room a few roads down with a guy and the girl who would become one of my closest friends. That was the catalyst. Since then I've gained enough confidence to first join the uni clubs (mountaineering, paddling, biking), then progress to being on the committee of the mountaineering club. From there I became a class rep, spent a short and disastrous term as student vice president, and now hold the role of secretary in the newly establish student association. I have a fairly active social life, I've almost completely beaten my general anxiety into the ground and the social one is almost there, I have far more confidence even if I still don't think highly of myself, and though I still have bad patches, I'm now able to manage my depression well enough to begin to build the life I want to have. The result is this: What do I do? Not doing something to fill the hours, but doing something to feel alive. I have a deep love of adventure sports, one of the reasons I picked that particular version of the video up there. Mountain biking, both cross country and downhill, is something I thrive on. There's something about taking your bike through the wilds and back country of an XC run or going all out and just shredding it on some of the crazy technical features on a DH track that just does it for me. Adrenaline junkie? Probably, but just look... I also climb, which will be the focus of a lot of my workouts. At the moment I'm climbing at around a UK 5b grade, though apparently my local climbing wall sets routes that are actually harder than advertised, so that's only a rough guess. Couldn't say what bouldering grade I'm at, though it isn't overly high. Not that I mind, I'm relatively new as far as these things go, and my climbing experience on actual rock is limited to maybe a couple of weeks' worth of days down the local glen and a week in France on some lovely limestone. Spread that over the three years I've actually been climbing... It's been mostly indoors for me. One of my favourite views, one of my most difficult first attempts completed first time around... Then there's paddling. Admittedly, I'm more a flat water paddler than anything else right now. I love the white water stuff, but I'm not much good at staying upright or facing downriver in anything beyond grade two water. While I may not be much good in the cold considering my tendency to become hypothermic easily no matter what I wear, I've enjoyed skiing since I was something like eight or nine, give or take, and I enjoy snowboarding when I actually get the chance to do it. The more sedate activities I enjoy are hiking, power kiting (and kite-boarding), and slack lining. Why? Why do this? Why change? Why go to so much effort? Well hey, why not use some of this shiny university training to actually make some sense of why I feel the need to change. Of why I need to change now. According to Maslow, if not all of the lower four sets of needs are met then it will cause psychological unrest within a person. I can testify that this is indeed the case. Going by this, not even all of my biological and physical needs are being met. Sure, I'm breathing, I'm eating and drinking as best I can, and I have a roof over my head. But my sleeping pattern is shot to hell, and we're not even going into the subject of sex... Therein lies my first and most basic of intrinsic motivations: Get my life in order to sort out my sleep pattern (and honestly, wouldn't rule out the other one either). Shifting on up to the next level, I know my need for stability isn't being met on either a physical or mental level. Again, the motivation here is intrinsic. And then we move on to the level that is, perhaps, one I will never be able to salvage. My relationship with my family is strained at best with the exception of my brother and gran. I've only ever held down one quite turbulent and short relationship and can honestly say I have no idea how to even approach the idea of another. If we switch work group for uni group, well, it does get a little better. I have some amazingly solid friendships inside and outside of that group. That makes this motivation both intrinsic and extrinsic, I'd like to sort my life out in order to feel better about myself, but I'd also like to be able to feel more secure in my current relationships and begin new ones, the latter of which isn't so much for my own good, but something I want. I can just take the whole other two levels and work them into tens of motivations. Those, while being some of the most desirable things to achieve, will almost certainly be in the long term. The thing is, I want not only to climb harder, paddle further, bike bigger, and hike longer, but I want to look better, feel better. I want to look at myself in the mirror without having a bombardment of negative thoughts. I want to be everything I know I can become. And there's nothing wrong with that. It took a while to convince myself of it, but it's ok to go after what I want. And I'm going to do what about it? ​Work my ass off, and while we're doing the cliché bit, I'm gonna have fun doing it. Stress is definitely of the bad here, and something I need to work on reducing in a major way. So I'm going to take some NF advice and construct myself some levels, do the RPG thing. I'm estimating that, all in all, I'm shooting for level three, and this will be the battlelog that takes me to that level. So what is my level three? Graduate from university with a BA Hons. degreeHave £100 in a dedicated savings accountHave a full time jobBe able to swim five lengths without stoppingBe able to do a pull-upClimb consistently at a 6a levelHave ridden the Fort William downhill track from start to end without crashingHave a photograph publishedBe able to do five full pistol squats on each legVisited one European country that I haven't been to beforeClimb Ben NevisBecome proficient with one film editing softwareStart my plant-life sleeveMeditate regularlyBe able to cook at least five authentic Chinese recipes properly It might not look like much, and it might look like a lot. Either way, I don't have a set time to do it, it just happens to be what I'm working towards just now. When I can check off everything on that list, I reach my level three, and I finally upgrade my bronze dagger and leathers for a pair of short swords and some chain mail, and who knows, there may even be some extra swag involved. This battlelog will keep a record of workouts, yes, and it will serve as somewhere I can vent and plan and get plans out and wax philosophical about motivation and deeper meanings... Anything. Life goes here.

Hi, I don't know where to ask this, but I've been stuck in my pull-up and my push-ups progression. I have been doing startbodyweight weight loss program for a while now, and I hit 6/6/6 on my half pull-ups and 8/7/7 on uneven push-ups. From there I can't seem to move on. My body just can't follow. Is there anything I can do? Here are possible factors that I considered: I've been eating less for a while nowI'm training boxing/kali in my off daysI'm not quite sure what to do from here. Thanks for helping me out.

"what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stand a little taller, doesn't mean i'm lonely when i'm alone. what doesn't kill you makes a fighter, footsteps even lighter..." INTRODUCTION: Hello, Assassins! I am thrilled to be joining you for my second challenge! I could babble on and on here (I'm verbose; apologies in advance) but in a nutshell: I had a parkour accident in August (oooooops) which led to a broken bone (double ooooooooops) which I am now in the process of rehabbing so that I can go back to doing cool, Assassin-y things. Which brings me to my... MAIN QUEST: Be in a condition to reasonably start aerial silks training in November! In order to do this, I need to rehab my ankle strength and mobility, regain my leg strength, and improve my upper body strength. I don't want to be hanging helplessly from the silks - I want to fly. QUEST 1: FOLLOW MY FEET (+2 DEX, +2 STA) Description: I have been out of a boot and in a brace for a couple of weeks, but I limp so pathetically right now! For the duration of the challenge, I will walk a bit further every single day. There are no daily time limits to meet here, because some days I still have fairly significant pain. I will allow my ankle to tell me when to stop. At first, this may mean taking a few extra walks to the break room for tea, or hobbling around the grocery store where ordinarily I might have sent my long-suffering spouse shopping. By the end, I hope to be choosing the stairs in favor of the elevator and going for walks at the nearby lake. Similarly, every single day, I will perform the ankle mobility exercises assigned by my physical therapist. Right now they're simple (point and flex, trace the ABCs) but I anticipate they will get more complex as the challenge goes on, seeing as I am scheduled to be fully rehabbed sometime in October. A: 7 days complete, B: 6 days complete, C: 5 days complete QUEST 2: WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU... (+3 STR, +2 DEX) Description: My leg muscles have atrophied dreadfully over the course of my injury, and my right leg is still significantly stronger (and larger, lol) than my left. Over the course of the challenge, I will do 3 days a week of leg strengthening exercises. Right now, this means various leg machines (such as hamstring curls and leg extensions), as I have not been cleared for squats or any other high-pressure lower-body movements. As the physical therapist clears me, I hope to add in squats, lunges, and ankle strengthening exercises with resistance bands. A: 3 days complete, B: 2 days complete, C: 1 days complete QUEST 3: SPREAD MY WINGS (+3 STR, +1 CHA) Description: The one good thing about my injury is that it forced me to spend the last month and change hyper-focused on my upper body. I've seen some great results, but the one mark of true calisthenic BAMF-ness still eludes me: the pull-up. The way I figure, having the capability to do even one of these will instantly make aerial training easier and more fun. Thus, over the course of my challenge, I will do 3 days a week of pull-up training. This can include reverse bodyweight rows, lateral pull-downs, or assisted pull-ups with a resistance band. The only way up is... well, up. Why that charisma point, you ask? Come on, pull-ups are crazy cool. A: 3 days complete, B: 2 days complete, C: 1 days complete LIFE QUEST: HOARD MY TREASURE (+2 WIS) Description: This one is particularly hard for me, but the bonus is, if I pass this quest, the silks class is paid for (actually, a couple months of silks classes are probably paid for...)! My wife and I have a bad habit of going out to eat on date night and buying too many pretty clothes to wear. I'm good at eating well/lightly in restaurants (I have a system), but my wallet doesn't thank me. Thus, over the course of weeks 2-6 of the challenge, I will not eat out more than 3 times, will not go clothes shopping more than once (once may be needed - it's getting cold and all of my pants are 2 sizes too big), and on that one shopping trip I will not spend more than $200. These are all significantly scaled down from our current habits, sadly. Week 1 of the challenge is not included because my best friend is in town from out of the country and we are taking her to Las Vegas, where we will not have access to a refrigerator, let alone a kitchen... needless to say, it's eat out or starve. A: met all 3 criteria, B: met 2 criteria, C: met 1 criterion The points thus come out like this, assuming I mathed correctly: STR : 6 (A=6, B=5, C=4) DEX : 4 (A=4, B=3, C=2) STA : 2 (A=2, B=1, C=1.5) WIS : 2 (A=2, B=1, C=1.5) CHA : 1 (A=1, B=.5, C=.25) I'll be keeping track of daily accomplishments in a gdoc, publicly available HERE. The spreadsheet does all the fancy math for me (I love technology). If you're interested in my full training program, see my battle log! REWARDS: What would an epic quest be without treasure? If I succeed, I will reward myself with something nice (that isn't food). Rewards are stacking, meaning I get the A, B, and C rewards if I get to an A grade, the B and C rewards for B grade, and just the C reward for C grade. Rewards are as follows: A overall: Unlock New Skill Tree! If I earn an A, I will sign up for aerial silks classes with Aerial Cirque Over Denver. B overall: Armor Upgrade! I need new dress slacks! That fit! After my shopping moratorium, if I earn at least a B, I will go and buy a couple pairs. C overall: Equipment Upgrade! I've been eyeing a heavier kettlebell.... MOTIVATION: If you get to know me, you will realize that I am really, really into Cirque du Soleil. I am also a dancer and a great lover of heights. The idea that I could do these things myself only occurred to me fairly recently, when I started getting back in shape, and since I am unlikely to grow wings overnight (pity), this is the closest I am going to get to flight right now. Basically, not only do I want to feel strong and stop hurting all the time (sigh, ankle, why), but the reward is so very worth the tedium of rehab. Before pictures: Measurements: Chest: 40" Waist: 32.2" Hips: 42.5" Thigh: R: 26.1" L: 25" Calf: R: 16" L: 15.5" Bicep: 12.5" Weight: 178 Dress/pants size: 10-12 depending on the brand In the grand tradition on me, there will be a lot of cute gifs and random videos and babble about every possible thing here. Stay tuned!

Main Quest To live a healthy and balanced life by exercising and trying to eat healthy. For my fifth challenge, I need to get back to going to the gym on a regular basis. I grew lazy during the warm summer months and slacked off going on a regular basis and I need the gym again. I had hoped to join the Warriors Guild for this challenge, but I don’t feel I’m worthy yet since I haven’t done any serious weight lifting all summer. So I’m going back to the basics by walking and doing easier weights to start with. Motivation I've successfully dropped weight by counting calories so my diet will be staying the same with 1200 calories per day M-F and then blow meals on the weekends. I managed to put on some muscle during my second challenge as a Warrior, but since that has lagged, I’m going back to the basics. One of my favorite (and earliest!) memories of my childhood is of watching the Wizard of Oz with my dad. It’s one of his all time favorite movies as well as mine; and it’s a classic! It teaches us, among many other things, that what we’re often looking for isn’t farther than our own backyards. Plus Dorothy does an awful lot of walking around Oz! Quests 1. Follow the Yellow Brick Road I want to walk more often. It’s an easy exercise that I can accomplish most anywhere. My easy/slightly sweaty pace seems to be about 3 miles per hour. L. Frank Baum didn’t specify how long the road of yellow brick was, so I’ll have to settle for walking a portion of it. Scoring: x/65 miles in 6 weeks (11 miles per week) as part of the Walk to Rivendell Accountabillibuddy group. Reward: +3 to STA & +3 to DEX 2. If I Only Had A Brain The Scarecrow wouldn’t have gotten anywhere if he hadn’t been smart enough to ask for help. I love reading, but I want to challenge myself to read even more. I’ve successfully read about two books per month this year so far but I want to read even more since there’s just so much out there I want to sink into my brain! I want to try reading 3 books in 6 weeks. Scoring: x/3 books Reward: +4 to WIS 3. If I Only Had A Heart I intend to continue to cut down on processed junk food by only having sugary snacks on the weekends with my blow means. I’ve done this for the past two challenges and I know it’s been good for my body, my cholesterol for certain. Since I want to keep a healthy heart like the Tin Man, I think I can do better this challenge. Scoring: x/30 days Reward: +2 to CON & +2 to CHA 4. King of the Forest (‘da nerve!) Like the Cowardly Lion, strength is sometimes hidden deep within. I need to dig deep for this one so I can finally be king (er, queen) by achieving my first pull-up. Continue working towards 1 pull-up or 1 chin up. Scoring: x/1 Reward: +1 to STR “There’s No Place Like Home.†-Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz Accountabillibuddy: Currently undecided

My life quest continues to be: become fit (i.e. not overweight and not skinny-but-weak), strong (with an emphasis on bodyweight exercises and functional fitness), and flexible. I finished my last challenge but I was so far behind in posting that I didn't post that. Given that I didn't tell anyone I was done, I also didn't adjust my stats, so we'll just pretend that one never happened. Looking back over my last several challenges, I realized that I had tried to do too much too soon in my last one. Once I realized I couldn't hit all of my goals I felt like a failure and stopped posting. Once I stopped posting, I lost my support system. I didn't quit, but I certainly didn't give it all I could after I realized I couldn't do it all. I need to be able to reach or come close to my goals or I lose my drive - this is a good thing to know about myself. I also realized/remembered that I very quickly become focused on scale number to the exclusion of all sorts of other important things. I would like to lose weight, but it won't be part of this challenge - possibly a byproduct, but not something I'm grading myself on. This challenge: 1. Eat "clean" 90% of the time (indulge 2 meals a week) (CHA = 2, WIS = 1) I've discovered that I feel better if I avoid most grain products so that won't be a problem. Staying away from social drinking will be the challenge. If I have a meal that would otherwise be clean but also have alcohol it isn't a clean meal. 0-1 extra meal = A 2-3 extra meal = B 3-4 extra meal = C 5-6 = D >6 = F 2. Exercise for at least 10 minutes 6 days a week (STR = 3, DEX = 1) This can be anything. 10 minutes of stretching or 10 minutes of burpees or anything in between. It has to be above baseline: e.g. 10 minutes of walking counts, but walking the kids to and from daycare doesn't count since I'd do that anyhow. Skip 3 or fewer days = A 4-6 = B 7-9 = C 10-12 = D >12 = F 3. Run at least 15 minutes OR do 3 sets of 10 pull-up practice at least 3 days a week (STA = 4, STR = 2) Yup. There's a lot of overlap with #2. That's ok. These are two skills I want to work on and this prevents me from sliding into 10 minutes of gentle stretching or casual moseying every day while not eliminating the probability of casual moseying being needed some days. Miss 0-2 = A 3-4 sessions = B 5-6 = C 7-9 = D 10+ = F Life Quest: To enjoy walking into my house Do the Flylady plan OR spend 15 minutes cleaning 6 days a week. (WIS = 1 CHA = 1) Skip 3 or fewer days = A 4-6 = B 7-9 = C 10-12 = D >12 = F

The 10th one wasn't perfect form, but I got my chin above the bar for 10 pullups in a row *cant believe that only 11 months ago, 1 pullup was a pipe dream*

I took a while off, but I think I could use a little extra motivation and focus for the next six weeks. Been keeping up the climbing/swimming/juggling regularly, eating what I want when I want it and discovering how awesomely that works for me. Came back today on a whim, only to discover it's the beginning of a new challenge - and it's my thirteenth. AWESOME. Goals: 1. Pull-up power. I've let this hang out at a maintenance level of 4 pull-ups while I've focused on actually climbing - time to build some more muscle, get some more reps. I also want to move my rings upstairs from the basement - having them more available should mean using them more. Ten pull-ups a day, every day for the first week. We'll see where it goes from there. 2. Core strength. While I'm hanging out doing pull-ups, might as well add some skin the cat/lever/toes to bar work in there. 3. Juggling math. I love club passing so much, my ball juggling skills have been atrophying. Now that I understand siteswap a little more, I'm going to work on at least one new pattern a week. Learned 531 on Saturday, so that's my first step. 4. Bonus points for handstand work, which I've entirely neglected for months. Looking forward to getting back on the challenge path!

The earliest parts of 2014 were some very trying months for me, where I had to deal with a knee blowout, surgery, and tons of physical therapy. But now I'm free and ready to take flight once more. And in honor of dealing with feeling crapped on by the world, but persevering, I'm going for a fun, Firefly theme. (and bonus geek points to anyone who can tell me who said each line and in what episode/context) Goal 1. "I am a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar" (physical) Now that I've been cleared for sports and such, I want to test myself with some new fancy flying tricks (well, hanging and balancing moves with my legs off of the ground). I plan to work on these moves at least 3 times per week, with the aim of mastering at least 3 5! new moves by the end of the challenge: yoga balances: firefly , dragonfly, 8 angle pose, shoulder press, leg forward crow variation, flying crow variation, forearm stand bar or misc stuff: tucked leg front lever, tucked leg back lever, tucked human flag, and/or dragon flag. Current status: can balance a forearm stand 10 seconds if I wall balance first (will need a solid, 20 second hold for challenge). Can hold tucked leg front lever 3-5 seconds (will need a solid 10 second hold for challenge). I can hold peacock/elbow lever, side crow with legs extended, flying crow, and scissor pose. I haven't really tried or succeeded at any of the rest of these. I would need a 10 second hold for the move to "count". Goal 2. "I aim to misbehave" or behave. (le sigh). (physical) Yeah, I still have to be a good girl with the PT stuff and the climbing rules. So, Leg day must be done 2 times per week (can be split into more days, depending). I must do squats, split squats, balances, knee ROM stretches, lunges, my jumping sets, the leg press machine, the hamstring curl machine, and 30+ minutes of some sort of leg endurance building cardio, like cycling, elliptical, jogging, or swimming. For climbing, I need to follow my rules, which are: -No letting my right leg get more than 3 feet off of the ground while bouldering. (basically, I can only do traverses and the bottoms of routes) -I'm not allowed to do drop knee or heel hook moves with the right leg. -If the knee hurts at all, stop. It's not worth it to push through the pain just to make it to the top of a route. -No knee brace = no climbing. No exceptions. -No whining. Just enjoy being able to climb again. Goal 3 - "The living legend needs eggs" (diet) -I've been doing a lot of strength building stuff. But, as a vegetarian, it's tough to be sure that I'm getting enough protein. So, I need to track my protein and reach 100g each day. I'm expecting to eat lots of eggs. Goal 4 - "What the hell's goin' on in the engine room? Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?" Life goal #1 Yeah.. That's how the home often looks, largely because I do have two terrifying space monkeys wreaking havoc on everything. I was pretty successful when I did Flylady a few challenges ago, but I don't find her chores especially relevant for my house. Instead, I made my own chore list and randomizer (yay, iOS programming). The goal is to do 6 of these cleaning chores each week. Goal 5 - "Also, I can kill you with my brain." Life goal #2 This is kind of an extension of my time management goal, but I'm going to improve my brain by learning iOS development. My goal by the end of the challenge is to completely go through my tutorial book. Also, I need to paint at least 4 images for some apps I'm planning on making, as well as record at least 3 piano songs to use for background music in said apps. I've already started one of the apps, which is my cleaning chore manager and randomizer. I'm hoping to add a lot more front end features and make it a professional looking app by the end of the challenge. Bonus "flying" goal (maybe I'll turn this into a PVP): Pull ups in odd places: Yeah, there's a poses in unusual places PVP, but I want to try doing pull-ups in random places or on random things. I already kind of look for odd things to pull up on, but this time, I want to take videos and make a montage of weird pull-ups. Anything other than a standard horizontal bar or rings would "count". Hey, I'm a climber, so I always have to work on my grip. I'll still be hooping. I'm just planning on putting on music and just going with it, rather than specifically learning new moves. And I'll still go swimming with the kids or do it as part of my endurance-building physical therapy. And I'll still be cooking. i'm just not planning on specifically focusing on any of these.

Light. So bright. Why is it so damn bright with my eyes closed? Wait, my eyes won't open! Where am I? Think, think, think... A female form lay on a clean white hospital bed, dark hair splashed across sterile pillows. One finger moved, slowly, then another. Her hand clenched and relaxed, testing a movement it hadn't made in quite some time. "It's OK, Clementine. You're safe." What the hell? Who is that?? Where am I, why can't I talk? "Don't fret, the sedatives are wearing off. You should be able to open your eyes shortly." Clementine's eyes opened slowly, squinting at the brightness of the fluorescents on her long-covered retinas. She looked towards the source of the voice. A stern-looking young woman stood at her bedside, dressed professionally and sporting a seriously sharp bob haircut. Well at least I haven't lost my clearly razor sharp fashion sense, Clem thought to herself wryly. The woman looked at a tablet in her hand, before regarding Clementine. Her look wasn't without compassion, though it was barely visible under the layers of serious business on top of it. "Clementine Dana Bowden." Clem tried to speak, and had to cough several times before she could manage to croak out her words in a harsh voice. "Uh, yeah, whoever you are. I remember my own name. Where I am, not so much. Mind filling me in?" "Clearly your experience here hasn't affected your wit," the woman said, pulling an inscrutable face. She paused to give Clem a drink from a bag of liquid sitting on the dresser. "I'm Dr. Wynn. This is the Fall View Facility, a hospital and research lab for the Dawn Hunters." Wait, what? "Dawn...what the heck am I doing in a hospital for the freaking Dawn Hunters? I can barely pass the New Earth Corps standard fitness test..." Dr Wynn paused, that unreadable look still on her face, as if she was struggling to decide whether to laugh or scold Clem for her attitude. "Yes, I am aware of your previous capacities. Rather a lot has changed in the past two months, and I am hesitant to risk overwhelming you with all the details." "I'm not going anywhere fast. What, was I in some kind of accident? Dawn Hunter run me over with an offworld roller and now you guys have to foot the bill?" "You were in an accident, yes, but not of the kind you posit. The accident was very serious, you've blocked it from your memory and rightly so, for now. I don't want to put your psyche at risk by presenting any possible triggers just yet, suffice to say that your injuries were extensive. Based on your history and application to New Earth Corps, you were selected to be put in my care. Clementine, you are not exactly the woman you used to be - I have no other way to tell you this but to show you." Dr Wynn tapped briefly on her tablet before holding it in Clem's view. It took her a moment for her eyes to adjust, and figure out what she was seeing. Is..is that ME? It was a picture of her lying much as she was now, clothed in undergarments. Her arms and legs...they were metal. They had Made her, rebuilt her into a cyborg. Of all the craziest things... Cyborgs weren't uncommon, of course, especially now with the level of technology available to New Earth Corps. It was, Clem knew, an exceedingly expensive set of dangerous procedures to undertake, and was never done lightly - or even voluntarily. She must have not only been in terrible shape, but the Dawn Hunters must have really wanted her. Why? What could they want with me? "You have a face that can be read like a book, Ms. Bowden. Don't worry, we can train that out of you. Once you gain full control of your new limbs you'll be moved to the Dawn Hunter's training grounds to learn the basics. After that, we'll introduce you to your new team and you'll start off-world tasks within six weeks." As Dr. Wynn talked, Clem concentrated on the hand she moved earlier - her right hand. With some effort, she bent her arm at the elbow and brought her "new limb" into view. Unlike the picture, it wasn't metal at all. It was pale skin, perfect in it's detail right down to the barely visible blue veins and short fingernails. More weirdly, it was flawless. All her old scars and freckles, her misshapen knuckle from when she broke her finger, all gone. So weird. "I hope it won't take you overly long to adjust to this. We're undermanned as it is, and the faster you can integrate the better. You'll have all the support you require, both physical and mental, so don't hesitate to call on the resources available to you. A final formality, we don't use real names in the Dawn Hunters for many reasons. Your new codename is Cledbo - I hope that's easy enough for you to remember." "Shouldn't be a problem, Doc." Cledbo, yeah thanks Doc. Real original. THEME MUSIC Cledbo Joins the Dawn Hunters A newly Made cyborg, Cledbo is selected to join the Dawn Hunters, an elite unit who search for new habitable planets for Humanity to colonise. She will train body and mind under specialist instructors before joining a team and going on her first off-world mission. Main Quest Build a resilient, flexible, and strong body that can do a few neat tricks as well as weather the hardships of Army work, pregnancy and motherhood. (And become a Dawn Hunter, obviously ) Goal 1 - Training This job is highly specialised and dangerous - she needs her wits and knowledge, but also strength, balance, flexibility, stamina and a strong constitution. She needs to be able to move quickly in many directions, stretching and flexing at odd angles, and be able to lift herself up, over and through things. Sprinting short distances is also a key skill. Complete 3 workouts per week Bonus points for doing extra mini workouts during the day, getting more than 10,000 steps, doing handstand training etc - these aren't part of the base goal, but can help mitigate missing one workout per week maximum if I do enough. What's the Plan? I'm learning that I won't exercise if I wait until I get home - I have to do it before then at ANY time of the day except between getting home and cooking dinner. I need to find good balance between spontaneity and preparedness - doesn't matter WHAT exercise gets done, as long as it is done! 16+min app workouts, Xtend Barre, TRX, Krav Maga, playground, HIIT and bodyweight circuits all count. Also do Assassin's guild mini challenges if they fit with goals and time. Building Stamina, Strength, Dexterity and Wisdom. Tracking Track all workouts and activities in Battle Log and post to challenge thread regularly with BL as Spoiler (like Hazard does). Measure progress for specific activities against goals in Battle Log at end of challenge. Revise goals at end as well. May track other result-related measures to help gauge progress, such as perceived difficulty of a challenging class like Barre or TRX, sleep quality and time to fall asleep, waist size, handstand time, new tricks (one handed cartwheels, layovers, etc) Goal 2 - Nutrition One of the skills she must learn is to survive on purely natural food - landing in a potential colony location she needs to be able to identify and prepare food as part of her mission to determine viability. Takeaway meals/bought lunch maximum of once a week, home cook from scratch rest of the time. Sub-goals: Follow histamine-lowering food plan from naturopath, and take all my supplements every day as prescribed. What's the Plan? No takeaway shops, little to no packages, loads of variety in veg and fruit. Cook/prep weekly to prepare for missions (i.e. work, and weekday life!) Have slow cooker meat and veg batches ready for busy/lazy evenings. Follow histamine-lowering plan provided by my naturopath, to try and get my skin reactions under control (this will take some time and tinkering, which is why it's a sub-goal at this time - avoiding takeaway will be required though!) Building Constitution. Tracking Take body fat using electronic analyser 3 x week (Sun, Wed, Fri) and adjust activity and food levels accordingly (maintain % only, not decrease). I am at an ideal body fat % now (22.6%) and have no desire to become leaner, so this is about food quality and making a strong habit of cooking for us (especially before kids come along and throw a spanner in the works!) Use Chris-Tien Jinn's method of colouring her foods each day (good, meh and bad) to help track nutrition cheats and histamine-raising food consumption. Goal 3 - Sleep Reboot and recharge, 'power cycle' - no one and no thing can be 'on' forever. She needs to learn how to look after her new body properly and part of that is a solid 'maintenance' routine - sleep time and wake time, plus all the 'little things' which add up to a good routine (washing, moisturiser, teeth, vitamins, checking her systems etc) Get up before 8:30am every day, and try to get ready for bed around 10:15pm. What's the Plan? See below re: self-hypnosis script. Also, just do it! I get enough sleep, I'm perfectly capable of doing this. This goal has been revised upwards from 7am after discussion with my naturopath, who said in order to maintain my sleep cycles on weekends it's better if I have an achievable goal to start with - considering I often sleep until 11am on a Saturday, I am inclined to agree. Building Constitution. Tracking I record my sleep patterns and quality in a Symptoms Log on Google Docs, which I started when I first met with my naturopath and has really come in handy for trips to my psychologist as well. I'll keep tracking like that, and put 'Yes/No' scores up weekly on my challenge thread as well. Life Quest Being the first to step onto a potentially hostile planet is a stressful and exciting thing. It takes courage, confidence, sureness of self and resilience. Mental training is necessary to ensure she has what it takes between her ears to deal with this job, not just what her body can do. Make and record self hypnosis script prior to challenge starting, listen daily. Aim is to support sleep goal and also improve stress levels, coping skills, attitude etc. (Building Constitution and Charisma) Side Quests 1) Commit to subscribing to at least 20 others' challenge threads to support them (Charisma) 2) Floss every day without fail! (Constitution) Motivation I want to: Make a strong habit of working out at home before pregnancy/childbirth/being at home a lot.Get into habit of healthy COOKING and eating prior to the big time.Develop cool skills that also have functionality, therefore having a resilient body. Become less fragile, more graceful.Build good sleep habits, no more weekends playing catch up - get circadian rhythm and deep sleep cycles sorted.Increase energy and mental acuity, decrease depression symptoms, mood swings and general bitchiness.Decrease the sensitivity of my skin to environmental factors, by following my naturopath's advice. Scoring 1) Habit formation - did I do what I said I would, the number of times I said I would do it? - for STA, CON and CHA. 2) Increases in strength, skill & flexibility for STR, DEX and WIS (don't have hard and fast scoring for these, they'll be judgement calls based on comparison of start and end of challenge 'abilities') I'll decide how to allocate my points when I finish, as I'm not sure how I'll go across the board. The majority of my goals are in the Constitution arena, but if I'm diligent with my workouts I may see great increases in STR, DEX and/or WIS so we'll see how I feel when I'm done!

Goal: Squatting! How to? Squat twice a week!!! Current working weight (gone back down after getting advice on form) 50 kgs. 3 x 10 1: 3 x 10 @ 52.5 2: 1 x 10 @ 52.5, 2 x 5 @ 52.5 3: 1 x 10 @ 55, 2 x 10 @ 52.5 4: 3 x 10 @ 55 kgs 5: 3 x 10 @ 55 kgs 6: 3 x 10 @ 55 kgs 7: 3 x 10 @ 57.5 kgs 8: 3 x 10 @ 57.5 kgs 8/12 Goal: Pull-ups! (Ok, one - hopefully) How to? Deadhangs on pull-up bar at home, negatives as slowly as possible (other ideas? Let me know!) Work on this at least 3 days/week. Currently? I can manage 40-50 seconds of hanging around and I can do 3 sloooooow negatives. 12/18 Week 1: Monday & Tuesday (hanging around, having my husband assist me in one meagre assisted chin-up, hanging around and pulling myself up for... ehh, 2-3 centimetres , some negatives). Friday: active hanging around 30 seconds max. Did some negatives and a few assisted chin and pull-ups. Week 2: Did some proper work this week! Early in the week I just hang around holding on to the stairs at my parents' place, later I did some assisted and negative chin-ups at home and on Friday I did 5 negative chin-ups at the gym. It already feels a lot better and more possible Week 3: Monday practice at home, Tuesday in the gym. 4 + 5 x negatives. Sunday, at home: 5 negatives & 2 assisted chin-ups. Week 4: Tuesday practice at the gym: 5 negatives (of which 4 pull-up and 1 chin-up) Thursday: At home, partial chin-ups!!! Sunday: parents' place, 2 x 5 partial pull-ups Goal: No-internet days! How to? At least once every two weeks, a whole day without using the internet* I did this yesterday, it was lovely. I did *use 'the internet' for switching on the radio, watching a show on Crunchyroll (no TV connection, or rather, no receiver ) and to quickly check what the weather would be like. But definitely NO FB, NF or e-mail or other sometimes-interesting-sometimes-fun-but-always-time-wasting-things. 3*/3 Week 1: During holiday, so doesn't realllly count. Week 2: Wednesday, long difficult day to go internetless (/internet free) but I made it! Week 4: Thursday. Finished reading a book, did stuff in the garden, good day. Sidequest... ? I had another '2' goal (2 times/week squatting, once every two weeks a day without internet) but it slipped my mind. If I remember soon I'll add it If not, I'll leave it at this, for now. (I love coffee. Actually don't even really like pretzels... Hmmm... What's in a username?) Time for coffee...

Hello All, Time to rock and roll again! This time... This time, things will be easier on me cuz I'm not gonna go with a specific workout program. It's just not in the cards for me. Having to worry about a specific program has been an extra stress that I don't need, ha ha. I get my workouts in every week. And I get stronger in the process, so as long as I keep that up, I will be fine. I do have one requirement for my workouts though and that be apart of my goals: Split workouts with an upper body day and lower body day. Baby #3 is gonna be here in a little over a month and I'm so excited to meet him!!! His name is Orin. He is named after Aquaman...yet his name means "pale-skinned" which will probably fit cuz I'm a pale, freckly, strawberry blonded dude and both my kids have fair skin. I cannot wait to meet the little guy! Heather and I are doing better every day and our love for each other and God grow with it. We go to church every Wednesday for our marriage class and than go every Sunday to get filled with the spirit of Christ. This all, in total, has made our marriage stronger and stronger and I couldn't be happier!! I'm changing things up a little and going with my new obsession at the moment. Star-Lord. After researching him at the beginning of the year and reading old comics about him and the Guardians of the Galaxy, I have grown to view him as one of my favorite heroe's. All the way up there with Flash, Animal Man, and Batman. There are certain aspects of his character that I see in myself like that he's funny, witty, unpredictable, brilliant, rebellious, wildly entertaining and one bad mamma-jamma! Plus we shair a similar build according to the Marvel Database. Peter Quill aka Star-Lord is 6'2 175lbs. I'm 6'2 180lbs. Granted he's half alien with a spaceship, an element gun and a team of badasses including a sexy, green assassin, a half-psychotic, talking racoon, a brute force maniac and a humanoid tree who only says three words. Other than that, we are a the same person! LOL..ok maybe not, but close enough. He does have my hair color though.... I am SOOOOOOO STOKED FOR THE MOVIE! Heather and I and a couple friends are going to see it Thursday in 3-D so I'm counting the days, ha ha! I'm glad to be back for another go-round this 6WC, so lets move onto the goals! Goal #1: "The galaxy is gonna need absolute badasses!" Go in guns' a' blazin! Upper/Lower body split. No true curriculum. Just get it done and be beastly about it.When you hit upper body look to add in HSPU, pull-ups, KB press, rope climbs and blast it out the sky! When you hit lower body look to work on front squats, deadlifts (heavy and single leg), pistols, box jumps, and sprints. Make em feel like jello! Also, work core EVERY time you train. A strong core= a strong back. Since I have more time to use the gym now, I will go back to my 4-day a week training. Possible points: +3 STR, +2 STA Goal #2: Fight the sleep alien called, Lacktherof! I've been having issues with getting my "lucky-8" as I like to refer to the 8-hrs of sleep I SHOULD be getting. It's time to battle my sleep deprivation like an ugly alien! I will continue to have this goal so long as I fail it..but this time, I got a cool helmet, element guns and jacket to help me battle it! Possible points: CON +4 Goal #3: Be a charmer, love a little more and keep up the laughter! Instead of 3 fitness goals this go round, I wanna include another life goal. Make my wife and kids laugh more! I have to have a combined 6 15 laughs a day or more (obviously I want more) from being silly and doing goofy things. This can include my sense of humor, tickling the boys, or making silly faces to get my laughs. Possible points: +4 CHA Goal #4: PREPARE for baby #3, Mr. Orin Bell! This 6WC will end right around when Orin gets here so I need to use my time wisely and get stuff prepared for the little guy. I will be working AS MUCH OT as I can over the next 6-weeks so we can have stuff paid off early since I'm taking time off upon his arrival. And since my job doesn't give me paternity leave...I wont get paid for it!! Bastards... ANY WHO! Pay stuff off, get some more cloth diapers, be there for Heather however she needs me to be, and rock and roll as my families Guardian of the Galaxy! Possible Points: +2 WIS And there you have it folks! I can't wait to embark on this journey through the galaxy fighting bad guys and taking name tags! Please join me if you dare to be entertained! Wolf

Main Quest To live a healthy and balanced life by exercising and trying to eat healthy. For my fourth challenge, I want to focus more on movement. While I still intend to do weightlifting at the gym during the week (yay warriors!), I want to try focusing on my mobility and toning this go 'round so I'm giving the Assassins Guild a try. Motivation I've successfully dropped weight by counting calories so my diet will 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 weight lifting and that will continue this challenge along with my other quests. After learning about Animal Flow and movement I am really excited to give that sort of workout a try! I think it's something I'll really enjoy. Quests 1. Become stronger by doing one of these: a. bar squat 115lbs b. barbell curl 25lbs each arm Scoring: x/2 Reward: +4 to STR (+2 to each) 2. Practice Animal Flow/Workout: this is the new thing I’m trying for this challenge. I’ve never done bodyweight workouts before but moving like an animal is something I am very interested in so I think starting with exercises from the Animal Workout book would really benefit me. I'm going to try for at least once a week. Scoring: x/6 weeks Reward: +6 to DEX 3. Cut down on processed junk food by only having sugary snacks on the weekends with my blow means. I did this last challenge but I think I can do better this time. Scoring: x/25 days Reward: +2 to CON & +2 to CHA 4. Continue working towards 1 pull-up or 1 chin up. Scoring: x/1 Reward: +1 to STA Stats Age: 32 Gender: female Height: 5'3" Weight: 137lbs “Come, hunt with me, the invitation whispers in my heart. Leave the pain behind and let your life be your own again. There is a place where all time is now, and the choices are simple and always your own. Wolves have no kings.†-Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb Accountabillibuddy: Currently undecided