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Greetings, Assassins! After 3 successful challenges as a visiting Ranger, I have decided to officially jump guilds and join you all here! I figured that if I want to fit in, have everyone like me, and always be happy, I'd better to turn to Lego for some instructions. As I said, my last 3 challenges have been pretty successful, so I want to keep the momentum going. I've built some good habits and found a workout routine that works for me, so I want to stick with those. For this challenge, I'll be adding some goals to accentuate what I've already accomplished as well as build some more assassin-y skills. Goal 1: Strike a balance There are a variety of bodyweight skills I'd like to learn, and while striking the pose pictured here would be awesome, my immediate goal is a bit humbler. I really want to master the pistol squat. I found this tutorial on Rowan's thread this past summer and will be following the progressions. I can currently perform 20 good form narrow squats with my arms in front. My next step will be 20 narrow squats with my hands behind my head. I tried these this week and found my balance to be severely lacking, so I don't anticipate mastering the pistol during this six weeks, but I want to continue to progress. Edited to write out the progression so I don't have to keep referring to the external link: 30 second Grok Squat50 bodyweight squats20 Narrow squats20 clean deep narrow squats with hands behind my head10 Seated Pistols10-15 Assisted Pistols Goal 2: Sculpt some muscle My last few challenges have focused on getting lean and building strength, which I will continue to do, but I also want to address some of my lagging body parts. My current workout routine includes 2 "work" days and 1 "play" day, based on Anthony Mychal's 242 method. So on my "work" days, I'll focus on my 6 main lifts and I'll use my "play" day to give some extra attention to areas like my calves and triceps. For this particular goal, I'm actually going to try this calf raise workout every day. The goal will be 6 weeks of single-leg calf raises, 3 times a day. Goal 3: Use the right building blocks I was very happy with the results of my goal last challenge to lose 5 pounds in an effort to take an inch off my midsection. I'm going to continue to follow Kinobody's intermittent fasting scheme in hopes of losing another inch. However, if I do lose another 5 pounds, I'll be down to about 150 and the last time I was that light, I lost a lot of muscle, too. So, in an effort to keep muscle and just lose fat, I'm going to focus this goal on THE muscle building block - protein. Greg from Kinobody recommends 0.82 grams of protein per pound of body fat. I'll be shooting for about 120 g/day and then balance out fats and carbs depending on my training vs rest schedule. This goal will be graded based on number of days I hit my protein number. Goal 4: Be buddies! My last goal is a social one. I've been super busy at work for a while now and unfortunately it looks like it will not slow down for at least the duration of this challenge, so I'm setting a goal of having at least 2 date nights with my wife and 2 guys' nights over the next 6 weeks. It will take some effort and planning to pull off, but I think it's do-able and very necessary for my sanity and IRL relationships. Double decker couch optional. There you have it! I'm anticipating another successful 6 weeks with the Assassins. Thanks to all who stop by and I look forward to all the impending awesomeness I'll see on your threads!

Hello Adventurers! I'm posting this topic early because I was late the last two challenges. Alright, here we go! 1) Get down to a healthy weight and finish school by summer. I'm hoping for 130 lbs. by June 1st. and I'm keeping track through MyFitnessPal. A friend of mine and I are both trying to lose weight together and I've lost a pound already, though it could have just been water weight. As for school, I want to complete the culinary program this year and decide whether I want to continue into the baking and pastry class. 2) Keep up with exercise. At least 30 minutes of DDR and a few minutes of weight lifting five days a week. I want to be strong for my dream job. I also want to get a really good pedometer or activity monitor and make sure I'm doing well. Maybe I'll walk to Mordor 3) Keep in touch with friends. I tend to lose track of time and friends when they and I get busy. I'm also not that social by nature. I do care about my friends, though, and want to keep them and keep in touch with them. 4) Try a challenge. I'm going to look at the Adventurer challenges and take one to try. Wish me good luck in starting the year off right!

Hello! There is a tough mudder coming up (well, eventually) just outside Toronto (Mount St. Louis Moonstone, 24 Mount St. Louis Road, Coldwater, Ontario L0K 1E0) on August 16th & 17th 2014! Is anyone heading out to it? It's my first one and I'm determined to complete it! "This year’s new Tough Mudder Toronto venue is epic. Be sure to check out lodging options here – we’ve got a bunch of rooming plans at Mudder special rates. Book a room now so you, your teammates and your spectators can all stay just steps away from the action." " Travel TimeToronto: 1 hour, 35 minutes Buffalo, NY: 2 hours, 45 minutes Ottawa: 5 hours, 15 minutes" http://toughmudder.com/events/toronto-2014/

Hi there! I live in Maryland and I was reading the latest NF email and I saw the cutest thing: accountabilibuddies. That's exactly what I need! I'm starting to get a lot of things in my life together, including my budget, and my health. It's been mainly sparked by the massive pain in my lower back that is annoying the sin out of me. Could be my couch. Could be extra weight. Either way, I want it gone! So is there anyone in the state at least that would like to be my accountabilibuddy? If we live close, awesome! If not, oh well. Let's email, connect, and GET WORK DONE! Thanks!

Only just figured out where this forum is (link in the spreadsheet didn't work) so I didn't create a thread for us 'til now. Right, I'm Sandy,a nd I'm a mucksavage because most of my hobbies involve mud. Next?!