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Hello, Warriors! After 20 challenges of Adventuring, I thought it was time to finally join you like I meant to about 15 challenges ago. (Brief blurb: I'm one of that lot from Scotland. My main goal is, as usual, to lose weight, so I'm not expecting my calorie target to result in much progress regarding the lifting, although I am still progressing slowly. Target weight is 65kg. Target weight is such because I'm 5ft 3, and therefore if I were 65kg I'd be the right weight and height for the wetsuit I want. Then, I buy the wetsuit. Then, I learn how to scuba dive. Then, I become a badass field marine ecologist, which is a step up from That One That Posts About Sharks All The Time. You'll notice a lot of marine biology in this thread, since I like to post something fishy I'm finding interesting every time I update. I'm also a Doodlie, and we generally don't bother with Week 0 because it can kill the rhythm a bit too much, so this challenge started as of this morning for me.) CHALLENGE 21: NOT WEARING A HORRENDOUS LEOTARD IN FRONT OF OTHER HUMAN BEINGS I'm using the Idiot Jar again this challenge. I love the Idiot Jar. Simply: every time I miss a goal, I stick £1.00 in a jar and say, out loud, “I am an Idiot.” (Exceptions granted for goals missed due to injury or illness, of course.) If the total in the Idiot Jar hits £5.00, I have to spend that on a hideous leotard I've bookmarked on eBay, and work out in that and some leggings in the gym, in front of real, living people, because that is my idea of Hell. (Although I suppose real, dead people would be worse.) THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN. Every bullet point below has a £1 failure fine attached to it, for every relevant day. Last challenge, the Idiot Jar claimed £6.00, hence the £5 target. Goal 1: Etcetera Etcetera (I do like soup.) Same as usual, because it's working. Daily: 1600kcal, adjusted if necessary with subsequent weight loss. Bonus 200kcal on lifting days, to be spent on protein shake/ball straight after workout. 5 freggies 2 litres water NEW: Food prep at least one dish every weekend. Doesn't need to be an extravaganza, a vat of carrot soup counts fine. I usually do this, but this time it counts, because not doing this really does mess up my week. NEW: Last challenge I cut caffeine out completely to wean myself off the energy drink habit. Now I no longer need four cans a day to function, I can go back to having one (one) cup of regular tea per day. Rest is decaf. One mug of coffee (equivalent to 2 shots espresso) permitted on late nights, no more than one of those per week. And absolutely no energy drinks. +5 CON Goal 2: Lifting, etcetera (I've lived here 8 years and I've never been up Arthur's Seat.) Same as before, although the last two exercises on Wed and Sat are new for me. I'm doing okay with back squats and deadlifts on the same day so far, but I'm considering swapping the squats with something the previous day if it starts to cause problems. (Warm ups and cool downs include bird-dogs, planks, and misc. yoga poses that I find challenging.) Once I'm sure I'm doing the new stuff with correct form at a fairly challenging weight, I'm going to start the Danger Method. So, soon, hopefully. Monday: Rest Tuesday: DB Row, DB Bench, Farmer Carries, Leg Press, Bicep Curls, Shoulder Shrugs Wednesday: OH Press, Back Squats, Deadlifts, Lat Pull Downs, Pendlay Rows, Good Mornings Thursday: Rest Friday: As Tuesday Saturday: As Wednesday Sunday: Rest BONUS: Not counted against The Jar because of a dodgy ankle, but the Edinburgh Nerds got challenged by Steve to have climbed Arthur's Seat (see pic above) by... Nov...em...ber, I think? And I want to get it done before Autumn happens too much. +4 STR, +1 DEX (+1 STA if I make it up Arthur's Seat) Goal 3: Self Care Foam rolling and massage, once a week. Bubble bath with book, after foam rolling Skincare routine, as follows: Every morning: Wash face with water, apply SPF 30 day cream Every evening: Remove makeup with micellar* water, apply night cream to cheeks, neck and forehead, apply eye cream. Mondays and Thursdays: Use a face scrub. Sundays: Use a face mask. *I have no idea what that is either. +2 CHA Life Goal: Adult Movies (Yes, Scotty.) Watch one film from your “movies I've not seen but really should have by now” list, every week. These are mostly fancy dramas. Last one I checked off the list was Cinema Paradiso. Others include Anne of the Thousand Days, It's a Wonderful Life, Brooklyn, and, er, Jaws 2. Goal is to feel less bad about not having saved up to go see any of the wonderful theatre performances at the international festival. BONUS (not jar-related because even the free ones are expected to cost a little donation money): GO SEE A FREE FRINGE SHOW. GO. +2 WIS Tracking: I got MyFitnessPal last challenge and I love it. I'll record daily there, and ideally daily on my thread. Weigh-ins are on Monday mornings. Reward: If I make it to the end of the challenge with under £5 in the Idiot Jar, I can reset the total to £0 and spend the >£4 on something that will be useful the next challenge, like interesting cooking supplies or about 1/5th of a sports bra. If I make it to the end of the challenge with no money at all in the Idiot Jar, Weekend 0 can include a full Scottish breakfast. I love breakfast so much.