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Improve general fitness, strength and health. When an Amazon realises she needs to get back up, get her ooeeemmmpphhh! back, she heads back to the bush. This is my first challenge as a Ranger... coming from the Assassin group. If I have to tick things in the "Rangers gonna Ranger" list, then there will be a couple done, tried, got the t-shirt, never going to do again... must be my (South-) African heritage. Like braai (BBQ) on a Sunday - it is in the blood. We have two little boys (6yrs and 9yrs respectively) whom I home school, and boy I have to keep up with them! Thus the reason for getting strong, fit and healthy again. I've managed to loose about 10kg weight this last year, and I am stronger than I was before, slacked down the last two challenges, and couldn't quite get my oemf! back. I'm hoping to change that this challenge. My last challenge as an Assassin was spent diy-ing our house: back room prepared, painted, and now a book, sewing, sports equipment storage room; passage prepared, painted and new photos hung on the wall. Helped hubby and gardener build the outside storage room, figured out the best Banting "way of food" for us (finally!). Food and water is good to go, although tracking carbs and water daily does help. Like any normal Jill-of-all-trades, running a small business from home, teaching her kids, looking after the home, keeping track of the household finances, etc. etc. I fail in the sleeping department. Dexterity: This challenge, inspired by various people, That Ranger List, and my long forgotten foray into self defence in high school, I decided to try my hand/feet/body at Aikido. I'm not a "go-to-gym/group" kinda girl, so I'll be using Aikido books of my hubby's, as well as roping him in for hand-to-hand training sessions. We still have to figure out how we'll go about it. He has Tai-Kwon-Do under his belt, and practised Aikido by himself for a while, so I know he has the know-how and experience. Because I basically depend on him, and he also goes to gym in the mornings, we'll have to fit this in around 5am. So if I practise at least 3x a week with him, that's a win for the week [1/2DEX per week x 6 weeks = 3DEX for the challenge]Strength: I'll focus on core strength on Monday afternoons with a simple routine of:Bridges (3x10),Core Wheel (3x10), andDead-lifts (2x10 starting at 7kg).I will fit in some bear walks, and seal position Aikido wrists warmup/strengthening exercises. [1/2STR per week x 6 weeks = 3STR for the challenge]Stamina (and strength): I built (diy/re-purposed jungle gym) a small obstacle course in our back garden for the boys and I. We were using it frequently before Murphy interfered with life. We want to get back on the course. I say we, because the boys have been playing around anyway, but asked me to run it with them again. At some stage I'll have to make it a bit more difficult, but for now it's ok. Do at least once a week, twice is better.Dbl. feet stump-to-stump jump,Knees push up on platform (1x10 - to increase),Inverted bent-knees chin ups (1x10 - to increase),Climb over - crawl under - A-frame (2x - to increase),Balance beam (2x - later put it higher),MovNat vertical swing/hang on stoep (1x10sec - to increase),MovNat step under horizontal bar (1x10 - to increase),MovNat horizontal swing/hang on stoep (1x10sec - to increase)[1/2STA per week x 6 weeks = 3STA for the challenge]Constitution: Sleep... sleep at least 7hrs per night! I sometimes barely manage this because boys and dogs... either or both wake me up in the night for various reasons... Go to bed at 10pm latest, to get up at 5am. 9h30pm would be ideal, because then I have to get up just before 5am, wake up properly, before tackling hubby (figuratively for now ) [1/2CON per week x 6 weeks = 3CON for the challenge]Wisdom (Life): It has to be done, and unfortunately I'm the one who has to do it... Yes, the dreaded finances. Have to get the last four months' finances on the spreadsheet for the bookkeeper/accountant (which is my mil).July, August, September, October. 1/2 Score for each month completed, and an extra score for doing it, because I can! Otherwise I have to revert to eating chocolate to inspire me.[1/2WIS per month completed + 1WIS = 3WIS for the challenge]On a side note: while re-doing the back room I discovered hubby's small crossbow with bolts! I'm going to try and shoot with this thing! I just need to get a couple of cardboard boxes, paint some imaginary target on it (where did I put those boxes with goblins and orcs from the boys' birthday party?) Similar to this one in the picture: So, here I am, ready to jump in and give it a go!