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Name: Andrew Williams Callsign: Artinum Race: Asparagus My last challenge went rather well. Exercise suffered a little from a shift in routine, but I lost seven pounds in five weeks and my belly is looking a little slimmer than it was. All good! And yet... I am not happy. I feel I've got stuck. I'm running every Monday evening, but it's the same run. I'm maintaining my blog, but I'm not sure how to increase my readership. I'm just about keeping up my bodyweight workouts, but they haven't changed in a long time. So I'm pushing for change. Running is easy - I've joined a running group at work, which is pushing me in new and interesting ways and adds a vital social dimension to an otherwise lonely hobby. And I've now started reading though the Rebel Running Guide, which I'm hoping will provide new ideas and inspiration to take it further. THE QUEST - break out of my comfort zone. I've settled into a routine, and I need to change that. I need to grow and improve, not just maintain. I am going to give the Rebel Running Guide a good go and see what happens. OBJECTIVE 1 - Work out a new workout (1 DEX, 1 STA, 2 STR) The bodyweight circuits have lasted me a long time, but are they enough? My pull-ups have stopped recently, too. How can I push harder on these workouts to make them tougher and make me stronger? It may be time to change. I've had a look at the Rebel Running Guide, and some of these exercises I have never heard of. Aim - adopt a new strength training workout routine from the Rebel Running Guide. It may take me a while to get it all figured out, but I hope to have made it stick by the end of the challenge! OBJECTIVE 2 - Cool runnings (2 STA, 2 CON) I've got a little stuck on how to improve. It's time I took on a new running plan! I'm not sure where I fit on the scale and I think the only way I'll find out is by trying it. I am unfamiliar with many elements of the plan and need to see how I get on. I can go up a level if needed. Aim - follow the Rebel Running Guide's level 2 workout plan (Recruit). Aim is to do the first six weeks, but I'll need to assess my level as I go along and this goal may change. I'm also going to be limited somewhat by Thursday's running fitness sessions at work and will need to factor those in. OBJECTIVE 3 - Diet another day (4 CON) The diet went well. My abs are still not visible, but I'm well on the way. Now it's time to do something about my eating habits - maintain what I have, but eat cleaner and get stronger. I don't plan to go full paleo, as this is likely to be at least expensive and most probably impossible. But I do intend to eat better. Aim - At least four days a week I hope to eat well. Conditions for eating well are: 1. Diet consisting of 80% fruit, vegetables, meat and other paleo items (though I will also allow milk and cheese). 2. Net calories to be between 1800-2000 (after workouts/etc). 3. Protein to be at least 120g. LIFE GOAL - Promotion (1 WIS, 2 CHA) My blog needs more eyes looking at it. To this end, I need to start promoting it more - by getting myself out there more, attracting more attention. I also need to up my game. I'm writing good posts, but they need to be better. Again, I've fallen into comfortable. I need to push harder. But that's outside the scope of this challenge (how would I measure it, anyway?). Aim - promote blog by networking with other bloggers. Seek out and comment on five new blogs every week, preferably related in some way to self improvement. (Not begging for attention, but an attempt to interact with them!)