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"Focusing on many things" is an oxymoron. Time to focus. Hardstyle. THE QUEST: 300 Kettlebell Swings every day, for 28 days. SIDE QUEST: Track the macros 6 days a week. Roughly 184 grams of protein daily.

Goal 1 Continue bodyweight workout 3x weekly. Last challenge I put the L-sit as a goal, which I still want. Most of the workouts I did last challenge involved push-ups, pull/chin-ups and dips. I gained reps on all of them, and was very pleased with the way things turned out, especially with the dips. I want to continue my success by doing BW workout three times a week, with a goal of an L-sit someday. Goal 2 Learn Jitterbug Stroll I went swing dancing several weeks ago, as I am wont to do. I saw a group dance I don't know. I know Tranky Doo and two types of Shim Shams. This was the Jitterbug Stroll, and now I gotta learn it. I learned the Tranky Doo on a previous challenge, so this seems appropriate to continue the swing-dance-learning process! This goal will be a success if I accomplish the Jitterbug Stroll by the end of the challenge. Video will be posted. This is Jitterbug Stroll.... Goal 3 Paleo (!) Woah. I've been toying with Paleo for many challenges now. Couldn't seem to give up the dairy. But my aunt has been Paleo for many years due to digestive issues, and she recommended it for me since I have psoriatic arthritis - both inflammation and skin issues. My aunt swears by it, and she's talked me into it. The goal will be to go Paleo for 30 days. I began full Paleo, with no dairy, no grains, etc. about 10 days ago. I've already lost some weight. I don't really want to lose too much, though. Maintaining where I am would be great. So If I can keep with the Paleo foodstuffs for another 20 days, we'll be good. I'm looking forward to making cauliflower "potatoes" and "rice" and other goodies. Goal 4 (Life Goal) Routine, continued Last challenge I wanted to keep a routine. Particularly, I wanted to get up early, and do prayer time in the evenings at 9 pm. It went pretty well, and I want to keep it going. I've had an alarm set for a while at 5:30 am and 9:00 pm to get these done. I won't follow this routine on weekends, but work days, yes. This goal will be a success if I follow the routine on my week days. Let's punch it.

I love swing dancing. I've been doing the lindy hop for just under 4 years at a local club, just as a hobby. But during the last 3 or 4 months, I've started to really get into it and I'm very jazzed (get it?) to take my dancing to the next level. My ultimate goal is that I want to be able to do some swing aerials. Right now, I am too overweight for this, and (more importantly) not strong enough to hold my own bodyweight during aerials. I probably have between 30-35 lbs to lose. But more than weight loss, I really want to focus on my strength and endurance. My first challenge was all about kick-starting good habits and changing my behaviours around food and fitness. My second challenge was al about increasing the intensity of my workouts and keeping better track of my macros. This challenge is about becoming stronger. Let's get ready to rock ... step, triple step... Main Quest My ultimate goal is to lose about 30 lbs and be able to hold my own bodyweight for swing aerials. Specific goals 1) Be a dancing fiend - I'll be working on some more advanced dance techniques and I'm also hoping to learn how to lead (I have been a follow for the last 4 years). 2 hours per week = 12 hours total. +2 STA, +2 DEX, +1 WIS 2) Be She-hulk - I will do some strength (e.g. BBWW) or circuit workouts. 2 times per week = 12 strength training sessions +4 STR 3) Be a smart eater - I will plan my meals 6 days per week, for a total of 36 days with a mealplan. +4 WIS Life Side Quest Be handy My husband and I have lived in our condo for almost 7 years now and all we have done is paint the living room. We have a long list of things we've been meaning to do for a couple of years. These range from major renovations (replacing flooring) to simple tasks (hang pictures, organize kitchen cabinets). I aim to do 8 home projects (renos, organizing) during this challenge. +1 WIS, +1 CHA Declaration of Motivation "I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself." - Baryshnikov Starting Stats Weight: 192 lbs Chest: 42" Waist 34.5" Hips 41" Grading Scheme Main Quest 1) Dance 2 hours per week A = Danced at least 12 hours during challenge B = 9 hours + C = 6 hours + D = 3 hours + F = Did not practice dance 2) Strength train twice per week A = Strength trained 12 times during challenge B = 9 times C = 6 times D = 3 times F = Did not do any strength training 3) Meal plan 6 days per week A = Stuck to meal plan 36 days B = 27 days C = 18 days D = 9 days F = Never stuck to a meal plan Side Quest - Complete 8 home projects A = Completed 8 home projects B = Completed 6 projects C = 4 projects D = 2 projects F = Did not complete any home projects --- "I want her to be a flapper, because flappers are brave and gay and beautiful." - Zelda Fitzgerald

Hi all. I've been watching the start of another challenge, and I've been debating whether I should join in. My last several challenges have been disappointing: start for a couple of weeks, then quit the next four weeks. Part of me had been thinking about sitting one out so I could take a break from the challenge frenzy. But of course, I've been starting challenges and "taking a break" for the last four weeks. Very disappointing. I'm not going to give up. Since my last several challenges have been abandoned before their mid-way point, I'm not really bringing anything new from the past ones. I just have to do something. I've been going crazy not doing anything. Let's go. PRIMARY QUEST: Move. Consistency. Dance minimum 3x weekly for 10 minutes each. I'm going to a swing dance convention in Los Angeles around Labor Day (early September), and I'm pumped! I expect to learn a lot, so I want to keep myself active and practice what I already know. Get up early on work days Getting up early will help me get stuff done. Out of bed at 5:00 am. Bodyweight work 3x weekly* *This is a very general goal that can include hand balancing, Prasara yoga, and traditional body weight exercises. Some activity in this realm will happen 3x weekly. Practice musical muscles 4x weekly minimum 30 minutes Music is really in my head. I'm dancing all the time, but I also own musical instruments, some of which I've neglected. I played the saxophone in high school and college, and I need to get back at it. I haven't played in a long time, so I'll need to do some embouchure exercises as well. I've also recently inherited an electric organ, which I want to work at as well. So a musical instrument will be practiced 4x weekly. I got inspired by this video: Here goes.

What's up ma nerds! On April 30, I passed my one-year anniversary of activity on the NF boards. My recent challenges have been pretty disappointing, having abandoning them half-way through (or earlier!). This time around, I’m basically doing a maintenance challenge, keeping activities that I’ve worked on in previous challenges. This is to just retain my routine. Consistency. 1. Pose, Push and Prasara 3x weekly Refresh things I learned in previous challenges: -Poses: Crow, Half-crow, headstand, side crow, scissors. -Prasara: I have the Prasara Primer, and – copying from Wolverine – will work on learning flows. -Push-ups: Last week I did a mini-challenge of one day’s push-ups with a coworker and got 120 GTG push-ups in a day. Good work for me, which was the most in a while. I wanna keep that going. Points will be measured by number of workouts per week: 3x weekly will earn +2STA +2DEX +2STR 2. Morning work I’ve moved to a new house (Now at sea level!), requiring a new, hour-long commute. After a nine-hour day, I will not want to workout in the afternoon. It must happen in the morning. My alarm is set early enough to make it happen, but I have to get out of bed to do it. Ideally, I will get out of bed early every day, whether I’m working or not. Getting out of bed early ninety percent of the time will earn +2CON +2WIS. 3. D-ance NF veterans will know I'm a big fan of swing dancing. My latest trips for swing dancing have been really productive. I've practiced new moves, danced with more partners, and generally felt more comfortable. It’s been good, and I want to keep things going. I’ll continue with the 10 minutes of random motion. Practicing 10 minutes of dance daily will earn +1STA, +2CHA. Songs will be posted. 4. Budget My new residence will also cost me more money, so I need to get on a budget. I’m going to use YNAB to write – and stick to – a budget! If I can stick to the budget over the six week period, I’ll get +2WIS. Also at my new residence, is a lack of high-speed internet service. Back to dial-up! (Welcome, You’ve got Mail!) … so my updates may be a bit more infrequent than they once were. Let’s punch it.

Hello everyone! I was curious, how many of you like to dance? Social dance in particular? Now as far as I go, I can only really do variations of a two step. But I took a social dance class and loved it. Swing, waltz, salsa, and tango are awesome. Do any of you guys do any social dance? Care to share any advice on where to take lessons/how to practice/how to get your shy partner to do it with you? Ha ha ha. Also, this scene in Harry Potter made me happy ^-^