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I just started watching Vikings, and...wow. Does anyone else watch it? No spoilers since I'm only on the third episode, but please comment below.

Hey everyone its Leviathan (AKA Miska23) and I am back for my 5th challenge This challenge I am using the viking awesomeness as my inspiration. (ps I have been to these viking swords in Norway, They are awesome!) I will be focusing on 3 aspects of Viking Noble Virtues: Industriousness: I need to build strength in order to fight and pillage to my hearts content! all of that loot can be heavy! Last challenge I noticed that I need a workout routine that I can scale as my body gets used to moving the weight. Also I need some variety in my routines to help with not burning out and getting bored. So for this challenge I will be working on a sandbag routine. I realized that with a sandbag I can add weight if necessary further on in the challenge if need be. I will be following this program: https://www.fitnessblender.com/videos/advanced-sandbag-workout-total-body-sandbag-training-burnout the exercises are: Body Rip One Arm Shouldering (repeat a set on each side of the body) Shouldered Squat (repeat a set on each side of the body) Sandbag Snatch Swing Rotational Deadlift Around the World Clean and Press Upright Row Overhead Alternating Lunge Get Up (repeat a set on each side of the body) For practice wielding an Axe, shield and sword I need to build up my upper body. I will be knocking out a dumbbell routine at least once a week. DB Bench Press - 2 sets 6-8 reps DB Flyes - 2 sets 6-8 reps DB (Military) Press - 10-12 reps DB Side Laterals - 2 sets 6-8 reps DB Front Laterals - 2 sets 6-8 reps Arnold dumbbell press - 2 sets 6-8 reps DB Shrugs - one set to failure Lying DB Tricep Extension - 2 sets 8-10 reps Seated Triceps Press- 8-10 reps Tricep (close hand) Push-ups - 2 sets 10-12 reps, 1 set failure Tricep DB Kickback - 2 sets 6-8 reps (can sub for sandbag exercises) Self-Reliance: Swimming is an essential skill for any viking who ventures toward the west across an open ocean. I will be following the swim exercises on this website at least once a week: http://100swimmingworkouts.com/#beginner Walking while carrying heavy gear and possible loot across open country toward the ships is another necessary skill for any viking. I will walk at least one mile a week with my rock-bag\sandbag backpack that I made currently it weights 50lbs I will use a pedometer to keep track of the distance Discipline: I will be learning from Floki how to build ships. I have a whittling set that I never used more than a handful of times. I decided that I will finish at least one carving by the end of the 6WC and post a picture of it here. I have a couple 3inX2in blocks that I will using. Aaaannnndddd thats it Starting stats: Height: 6ft Weight: 195lbs Waist: 36in Right bicep: 14in Left bicep: 14in Right thigh: 22in Left thigh: 22in Just curious to see if there are any changes in the stats at the end of the challenge.

So it's been a while since I really got on here. I've tried getting back into the swing of things several times this year and bullshit keeps dragging my back down into depression. Ultimately, these have been situations that are incredibly overwhelming, so I don't blame myself entirely, but it's time to kick my own ass once again. Normally my challenge threads have a theme, but this time around I'm going simple. So without further ado: Ravnos' quest for redemption Quest 1 - Be Strong - Hit the gym 3 days a week. No exceptions. No changes. No complaints. Quest 2 - Be Flexible - Yoga every morning, plus an extra session at the end of each workout. Stretch and loosen the muscles. Quest 3 - Be Mindful - Meditate 5 days a week, every morning after waking up, for at least 5 minutes. Five minutes of mindful meditation every morning will help me start my day off better and stay focused to remain on task. Quest 4 - Be Clean - Eat clean, 100% Paleo 6 days a week, allow for one cheat day. No drinking (alcohol) except on cheat day for the duration of the challenge. Furthermore, some friends are moving (sad) and giving us a bunch of really nice furniture they don't want to take with them (cool). I need to clean, get rid of some old furniture and get the house organized to fit all the new, really nice stuff, in. Quest 5 - Be a Tracker - Track food and workouts, budget weekly, plan my week every Sunday and maintain my schedule in order to reform positive habits and routine. That's it. Simple, SMART goals. Time to get to work...

I was always told about such tales. About how our order was widespread and ready to face challenges all around the world. I never truly believed such tales.I was on my own, I thought, such as everyone. I had my tutor, my friends and that was my Order. Until the order came. My tutor came by to my side as I was ending my meditation. "Tell me, did you ever had the feeling of being trapped?". I gazed him, wondering if it was somekind of test. Sure I felt trapped, never once did I left my hometown nor felt the awe of setting foot on a different place. "Of course master. How about you?" I asked, never to found out my answer, for he just gazed at the horizon through my window. "And how do you feel about the cold, northern parts of our world?" he asked after ten minutes of pure silence and observation. "I don't know." I answered truly. I always read and imagined those strong vikings and their way of life. "I suppose they used to be more fun when the Vikings were still around". After my comment I looked up to my master and saw him smiling. "Just because you don't hear about something it does not mean it does not exist! Throughout the next 6 weeks you will teach and learn about the forgotten Vikings, their way of life and culture. And I trust you to pass down our teachings to them." I was shocked. And still in shock I was when I placed my foot on those land I looked at the person who was there to welcome me. No horned helmets. No shield, no sword. Only a man smiling through and imense beard and long hair and although I expected to see both of them ungly and unkept, I found them to be perfectly well groomed. He must had guessed what I was thinking for the smile broadened while he said "Quite not as the outer world pictured me right? Come first we will drink, then talk, then eat and drink and tomorow we will start our mission!" They were a rowdy but friendly bunch. Welcomed me with horns of mead to the point when I had to ask them to offer me no more or else the remains of my food would be part of the wall decoration. "To train and be trained was why you were sent here. You will recieve training as a Viking assassin would, and you will learn that not everyone is a Berserker. Some of us are quite the strategy thinkers. Afterwards, we hope that if we have a contract here that needs to be fulfilled by an outsider, you will offer yourself to be that outsider." And so it began, my 6 weeks as an Viking Assassin. Main Quest: Discipline is your friend. Time to get some! These are my 2 themed workouts found in www.neilarey.com I'll do 3 workouts per week, The assassin, the vikings, and a circuit for abs, simplified and after every 2 weeks I'll advance the levels. Quest One: "The true assassin is ready and capable. Thus, train like us, become like us and be ready" altair-workout.pdf vikings-workout.pdf Reach level 3 in all workouts. First two weeks = LVL 1 Next two = LVL 2 Last 2 = LVL 3 I'll time my workouts to give you someting to compare to also. Reward: +1 STR and +1 DEX Quest Two: "What we eat, my pupil, is what gives us strenght. Nature is here, we evolved from it and it never failed us. We eat energy!" Although not on a strict diet, I've been reading a lot about ectomorphs, and therefore I'll be eating a lot more pasta and rice, trying to go to more carbs and fats. I'm a bit clueless on dieting, so, any help here is good. I'll try and aproximate the amout of calories I eat. Reward: +1 CON Quest 3: "calm your mind, for no one in the world deserves your rage, not even your enemies. Trhough calmness of the mind you'll feel faster thinking and more control" Meditate up do 30~45 minutes. First week meditate for 10 minutes everyday. Second week 15. Third 20 Fourth 25 Fith 30 and Last either maintain 30 or try to go for 35. Reward: +1 Wis Motivation: "Want that body and that strenght? Better work for it young one!" "After Thinking about the journey I would face, I glanced at my leaving ship and thought about my friends and family. And I understood that the Order was wide and everyone was my family and friend. I laughed and thought to myself looking at my Viking family: I will not fail you brothers. Not this time. Not ever"