Kishi Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 2 hours ago, Rurik Harrgath said: [HATRED]: ☑☑☑☐☐ barely deserves the title of ‘workout’ but I did the thing even when I didn’t wanna! I mean, that's the Simple and Sinister way, innit? Show up and practice and slay the thing when possible. That's probably the best thing I learned from it. 3 Quote Work like a farmer, train like an athlete, fight like a soldier. 2 Tim. 2:3-6 BATTLE! Link to comment
Rurik Harrgath Posted January 19 Author Report Share Posted January 19 17 hours ago, Kishi said: I mean, that's the Simple and Sinister way, innit? Show up and practice and slay the thing when possible. That's probably the best thing I learned from it. Sinister really is the key to the idea more than the simple. I mean, sure it’s simple - but at an appropriate weight and intensity, it’s truly more savage than most things ought to be in an equivalent time frame 😂 1 Quote [Level ??] Rurik, Templar-Marshal Class: Paladin of the Order of the Sacred Flame (Conquest Paladin/Champion) BRUTALITY 11 | FINESSE 10 | VIGOR 11 | INSIGHT 14 | WILL 13 Equipment: Leather armor, questing longsword, and adventurer's pack with alchemist's kit. "Rangers have to at least give up on pants. It's a special rule we enacted after Rurik became a Guild Leader.” – DarK_RaideR "Did I just get my ass kicked by a member of Metallica meets History Channel's Vikings?" - Wild Wolf "By the Well-Oiled-and-Meticulously-Groomed Beard of Rurik!" - Tanktimus the Encourager Link to comment
Rurik Harrgath Posted January 19 Author Report Share Posted January 19 17 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said: This is the stuff from which VICTORY is formed! /cdn-cgi/mirage/feb3b7619a427d4c5bc53d9e6bf01df0d5381a69e0d13605c55cec05b0742c46/1280/cdn-cgi/mirage/feb3b7619a427d4c5bc53d9e6bf01df0d5381a69e0d13605c55cec05b0742c46/1280/https://thatsnormal.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/paris.gif We don’t like no weak ass hollow victories either. We go BOMBASTIC or we call it a day. If it ain’t worth toasting about, you didn’t go hard enough haha 1 1 Quote [Level ??] Rurik, Templar-Marshal Class: Paladin of the Order of the Sacred Flame (Conquest Paladin/Champion) BRUTALITY 11 | FINESSE 10 | VIGOR 11 | INSIGHT 14 | WILL 13 Equipment: Leather armor, questing longsword, and adventurer's pack with alchemist's kit. "Rangers have to at least give up on pants. It's a special rule we enacted after Rurik became a Guild Leader.” – DarK_RaideR "Did I just get my ass kicked by a member of Metallica meets History Channel's Vikings?" - Wild Wolf "By the Well-Oiled-and-Meticulously-Groomed Beard of Rurik!" - Tanktimus the Encourager Link to comment
Tanktimus the Encourager Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 1 hour ago, Rurik Harrgath said: We don’t like no weak ass hollow victories either. We go BOMBASTIC or we call it a day. If it ain’t worth toasting about, you didn’t go hard enough haha Rangers gonna Ranger 1 Quote Current Challenge "By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath Link to comment
Rurik Harrgath Posted January 21 Author Report Share Posted January 21 [Rise, Tarnished Quest Log] Challenge Journal: The 20th day of January, in the year 2023. Weight: 235.4lbs We survived to Friday! New England got a huge dump of snow so today was nearly an hour of shoveling snow just to get the car out so we could head into town for a few essentials. And it was wet and heavy AF. So I’m calling that my workout for the day, doubly so given my abs are still throbbing from Monday's leg raises, and basically everything north of my waistline is DOMS-destroyed like any respawner who thinks they’re half so strong as they used to be 😂 Maybe I’ll try to do some Legs or something this weekend. Or Oly! Could definitely manage another Simple & Sinister if I feel like it. It’s the weekend… time to party. And remember, kids; you can’t look stupid so long as you do it with confidence 😎 MAIN QUESTS: [HATRED]: ☑☑☑☑☐ today’s workout featured… all the snow shoveling! [VIGOR]: ☑☑☑☑☐ I guess I still owe the Powers That Be a row. [DISCIPLINE]: ☑☑☑☐ right on track! [BLOOD ALCHEMY]: ☑☑☑☑☑☐☐ I’ve been eating a tiny bit more this week but definitely needing some recovery calories. On 1/19/2023 at 3:48 PM, Tanktimus the Encourager said: Rangers gonna Ranger 2 2 Quote [Level ??] Rurik, Templar-Marshal Class: Paladin of the Order of the Sacred Flame (Conquest Paladin/Champion) BRUTALITY 11 | FINESSE 10 | VIGOR 11 | INSIGHT 14 | WILL 13 Equipment: Leather armor, questing longsword, and adventurer's pack with alchemist's kit. "Rangers have to at least give up on pants. It's a special rule we enacted after Rurik became a Guild Leader.” – DarK_RaideR "Did I just get my ass kicked by a member of Metallica meets History Channel's Vikings?" - Wild Wolf "By the Well-Oiled-and-Meticulously-Groomed Beard of Rurik!" - Tanktimus the Encourager Link to comment
Rurik Harrgath Posted January 23 Author Report Share Posted January 23 [Rise, Tarnished Quest Log] Challenge Journal: The 20th day of January, in the year 2023. Weight: 235.0lbs Scale still trending downward but we haven't full embraced the sub-235lb weight class yet! We've both come down with the flu the past few days so this weekend was survival mode. I consciously took the day off from the gym today since the morning walk/breakfast ended with stunning digestive pyrotechnics of the porcelain variety, so I've been browsing some YouTube and doing some character things. An order arrived from Amazon this weekend which I'm particularly excited about, but that's a tale for another day when my Little Side Project™ is ready for its unveiling! That's all I've got for today; back to the couch for resting. Getting back to the gym tomorrow is going to feel like: We interrupt your regularly scheduled #MomoaMonday for a dose of #ElessarEveryday! LAST WEEK'S MAIN QUESTS: [HATRED]: ☑☑☑☑☑ Worked all the outs. [VIGOR]: ☑☑☑☑☐ Missed one row. [DISCIPLINE]: ☑☑☑☑ Posting back on track! [BLOOD ALCHEMY]: ☑☑☑☑☑☑☑ Last week was a bit of a refeeder that had my calories around maintenance rather that weight loss. Still tracked, still a victory, but something I want to tighten up this week. Score: 95.24% 3 Quote [Level ??] Rurik, Templar-Marshal Class: Paladin of the Order of the Sacred Flame (Conquest Paladin/Champion) BRUTALITY 11 | FINESSE 10 | VIGOR 11 | INSIGHT 14 | WILL 13 Equipment: Leather armor, questing longsword, and adventurer's pack with alchemist's kit. "Rangers have to at least give up on pants. It's a special rule we enacted after Rurik became a Guild Leader.” – DarK_RaideR "Did I just get my ass kicked by a member of Metallica meets History Channel's Vikings?" - Wild Wolf "By the Well-Oiled-and-Meticulously-Groomed Beard of Rurik!" - Tanktimus the Encourager Link to comment
Tanktimus the Encourager Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 I hope you feel better soon. The Flu is not fun. 1 Quote Current Challenge "By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath Link to comment
Rurik Harrgath Posted January 23 Author Report Share Posted January 23 39 minutes ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said: I hope you feel better soon. The Flu is not fun. Me too! Until then, I'm finally reading Fellowship to keep me company. Also have the Extended editions on hand just in case 1 1 Quote [Level ??] Rurik, Templar-Marshal Class: Paladin of the Order of the Sacred Flame (Conquest Paladin/Champion) BRUTALITY 11 | FINESSE 10 | VIGOR 11 | INSIGHT 14 | WILL 13 Equipment: Leather armor, questing longsword, and adventurer's pack with alchemist's kit. "Rangers have to at least give up on pants. It's a special rule we enacted after Rurik became a Guild Leader.” – DarK_RaideR "Did I just get my ass kicked by a member of Metallica meets History Channel's Vikings?" - Wild Wolf "By the Well-Oiled-and-Meticulously-Groomed Beard of Rurik!" - Tanktimus the Encourager Link to comment
Everstorm Posted January 24 Report Share Posted January 24 Feel better soon 🥺 1 Quote Life before Death Strength before Weakness Journey before Destination Link to comment
Rurik Harrgath Posted January 27 Author Report Share Posted January 27 [Rise, Tarnished Quest Log] Challenge Journal: The 20th day of January, in the year 2023. Weight: 232.6lbs Hasn't been the best week, but neither do I feel like I've lost momentum. I've been down with the flu-ish all week, haven't messed up my nutrition really though! Slightly overindulged in chocolate one day but stayed under maintenance for calories, underate yesterday because I consumed some 'tarnished' turkey whose lid wasn't quite closed apparently. Subsequently not feeling too hot today either! Spezzy is out getting her hair did and we were just talking about whether or not she should pickup dinner in town while she's there (we have basically pizza or Chinese for options out here in the 'Sticks) but decided we'd go with the usual chicken for dinner so we could whip up a propper batch of brownies and buttercream icing for dessert instead. That's a pretty big win in thinking after the particularly rough week we've had. Also did some planning for yard layout with the chickens and goats we're planning to get, so that was cool. Got my truck running again today (the battery is being drained by a rogue circuit somewhere... I'm blaming the aftermarket command start and things the previous owner had installed. Unfortunately my electrical apprenticeship did not expose me to anything vehicular so I'm just pulling the new battery and throwing it back in when I actually need to take the truck somewhere... Like to the city for our new vanity next week! We've also decided on laundry units too, I think. So big things on the horizon. Hopefully get back to proper workout tomorrow. Let's call it a day for now. It's Friday! MAIN QUESTS: [HATRED]: ☑☐☐☐☐ Only one half-arse workout so far. [VIGOR]: ☐☐☐☐☐ Too sick to row, but did do some major exploring in our flooded wetlands out back. Felt like a real Ranger! [DISCIPLINE]: ☑☑☐☐ Haven't been as diligent around the Forums as I should have, but mostly been in illness recovery protocols. [BLOOD ALCHEMY]: ☑☑☑☑☐☐☐ Not asshole nights! One taint-adjacent but within calorie allowances. On 1/23/2023 at 7:10 PM, Everstorm said: Feel better soon 🥺 I'm on the mend! Thank you. 4 Quote [Level ??] Rurik, Templar-Marshal Class: Paladin of the Order of the Sacred Flame (Conquest Paladin/Champion) BRUTALITY 11 | FINESSE 10 | VIGOR 11 | INSIGHT 14 | WILL 13 Equipment: Leather armor, questing longsword, and adventurer's pack with alchemist's kit. "Rangers have to at least give up on pants. It's a special rule we enacted after Rurik became a Guild Leader.” – DarK_RaideR "Did I just get my ass kicked by a member of Metallica meets History Channel's Vikings?" - Wild Wolf "By the Well-Oiled-and-Meticulously-Groomed Beard of Rurik!" - Tanktimus the Encourager Link to comment
Rurik Harrgath Posted January 30 Author Report Share Posted January 30 [Rise, Tarnished Quest Log] Challenge Journal: The 30th day of January, in the year 2023. Weight: 234.6lbs My scale seems to love increments of 0.6lbs but I am say I am consistently clocking in beneath 235lbs! After seeing 232 a few times last week and 234.6lbs today, we're proving the Great Crusade is seeing measures of success. But that isn't enough - we must do more. Nothing short of militant dedication to the cause can suffice now; oaths written in blood and carved in stone, offering oneself up on the altar of alchemical change and determined resolve so that our inner iron is cleansed of its inherent weakness like a blacksmith forging a prized tempered blade with legendary intention. The same can be said for our bodies on these righteous journeys of radical self-improvement when the world around us threatens to hold us back and crush us between the twin stones of convenience and ease. I just can't anymore, and that's the only can't I'll allow myself. Today is a triumphant and exultant return to the Sanctum Parabellum, an Iron Crucible for my Great Crusade, in place of a smith's hammer are kettlebells and barbells, my steadily improving nutrition two-parts each blood and alchemy. With furious resolve, I surround myself permeated in a culture of strength and relentless determination. No mercy asked for and none taken. Fire & Iron. Happy #MomoaMonday, fellow Challengers! Keep calm and kick some ass, #MomoaMonday 💪 REPORT FROM LAST WEEK'S MAIN QUESTS: [HATRED]: ☑☐☐☐☐ Only one half-arse workout after being sick and worn out all week. [VIGOR]: ☐☐☐☐☐ No rows, but was happy to get more active toward the end of the week and do some outdoor exploring around our lands. [DISCIPLINE]: ☑☑☐☐ Honestly had little to nothing to report throughout the week, although I did my weekly report and then another update. [BLOOD ALCHEMY]: ☑☑☑☑☑☑☑ Kept my oath, only taint-adjacent a day or two, and tracked it all. Score: 47.62% 4 1 Quote [Level ??] Rurik, Templar-Marshal Class: Paladin of the Order of the Sacred Flame (Conquest Paladin/Champion) BRUTALITY 11 | FINESSE 10 | VIGOR 11 | INSIGHT 14 | WILL 13 Equipment: Leather armor, questing longsword, and adventurer's pack with alchemist's kit. "Rangers have to at least give up on pants. It's a special rule we enacted after Rurik became a Guild Leader.” – DarK_RaideR "Did I just get my ass kicked by a member of Metallica meets History Channel's Vikings?" - Wild Wolf "By the Well-Oiled-and-Meticulously-Groomed Beard of Rurik!" - Tanktimus the Encourager Link to comment
Rurik Harrgath Posted February 1 Author Report Share Posted February 1 [Rise, Tarnished Quest Log] Challenge Journal: This 1st day of February, in the year 2023. Weight: 234.6lbs We've taken the first tenuous step into my first 'southern' cold snap, which - although paling in comparison to my former homeland North of the Wall - has made morning weigh-ins less likely due to the perceived need to jump into my day clothes as quickly as possible so I can convince the boiler of its necessary salvation for the homestead. We turn things down to 62ish overnight, but the current thermostat isn't the most reliable (it thinks 59-65 is 62ish, for example) and run a fan while we sleep, so the bedroom can be just a dash of frosty by morning. But I'm installing a shiny new NEST thermostat today, which is programmable, so hopefully that can revolutionize our morning. This week has been a trial of its own. The family is still battling some kind of sinus cold to one degree or another, as we're still stuffed up constantly, and nauseated in the morning, but I've managed both my Push and Pull workouts each with a row already. Bench is up to 4 sets x 5 reps at 175lbs and Deadlift has been 285-300lbs at 3x5, neither of which I could say I'm proud of given the heaps of work I put into powerlifting some years gone by, but I'm altogether pleased to have maintained that precious strength and to work through the DOMS has been that 'fun' newbie-again treat we're all too familiar with! Food is going great. I'm back on my evening protein cookies, although shying away from true peanut butter for the calories (and it seems to upset my stomach?) in favor of PB Fit powder which doesn't quite make the same consistency but it's still working for now. We've also been experimenting with a food lockbox for our chocolate chips and other trouble foods - like the English muffins for me. It seems silly but it's been an adequate measure to preventing my bedtime snacking and both of us overindulging on treats throughout the day, leaving those to be rationed strictly for dessert. Also week #2 of the meal menu is going strong. We're still trying to dial in the daily schedule just because we've both been ill and Spezzy has had some big things going on at work, but we're at least keeping it in mind if not following it to the letter. The plan for the rest of the week is to keep easing closer to that 0700 wakeup time so we can maximize the sun hours for both our sakes. Normally I'd leave you here with a #WitcherWednesday, but since the sun is finally shining!!! I'm going to walk out with this... Tolkien do deliver on that beautiful solar imagery tho TO SLAY THE GREAT BEAST: [HATRED]: ☑☑☐☐☐ Push and Pull down. [VIGOR]: ☑☑☐☐☐ Twice-rowed. [DISCIPLINE]: ☑☑☐☐ Last week's wrap-up and today's update submitted. [BLOOD ALCHEMY]: ☑☑☐☐☐☐☐ Entirely on track so far. 2 2 Quote [Level ??] Rurik, Templar-Marshal Class: Paladin of the Order of the Sacred Flame (Conquest Paladin/Champion) BRUTALITY 11 | FINESSE 10 | VIGOR 11 | INSIGHT 14 | WILL 13 Equipment: Leather armor, questing longsword, and adventurer's pack with alchemist's kit. "Rangers have to at least give up on pants. It's a special rule we enacted after Rurik became a Guild Leader.” – DarK_RaideR "Did I just get my ass kicked by a member of Metallica meets History Channel's Vikings?" - Wild Wolf "By the Well-Oiled-and-Meticulously-Groomed Beard of Rurik!" - Tanktimus the Encourager Link to comment
Tanktimus the Encourager Posted February 1 Report Share Posted February 1 2 hours ago, Rurik Harrgath said: Tolkien do deliver on that beautiful solar imagery tho I got chills just thinking of his description of Theoden's charge onto the Pellenor fields. 1 Quote Current Challenge "By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath Link to comment
Rurik Harrgath Posted February 2 Author Report Share Posted February 2 23 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said: I got chills just thinking of his description of Theoden's charge onto the Pellenor fields. I can't wait to get there! The one thing that really strikes me so far, and I suspected as much from interviews and reviews, was just how much the Peter Jackson trilogy - while absolutely beautiful and awe-inspiring on its own - really deviated from the source material. Even though I'm foremost a Jackson trilogy fan, I'm for sure preferring Tolkien's OG version. Everything about it. 1 Quote [Level ??] Rurik, Templar-Marshal Class: Paladin of the Order of the Sacred Flame (Conquest Paladin/Champion) BRUTALITY 11 | FINESSE 10 | VIGOR 11 | INSIGHT 14 | WILL 13 Equipment: Leather armor, questing longsword, and adventurer's pack with alchemist's kit. "Rangers have to at least give up on pants. It's a special rule we enacted after Rurik became a Guild Leader.” – DarK_RaideR "Did I just get my ass kicked by a member of Metallica meets History Channel's Vikings?" - Wild Wolf "By the Well-Oiled-and-Meticulously-Groomed Beard of Rurik!" - Tanktimus the Encourager Link to comment
Tanktimus the Encourager Posted February 2 Report Share Posted February 2 31 minutes ago, Rurik Harrgath said: I can't wait to get there! The one thing that really strikes me so far, and I suspected as much from interviews and reviews, was just how much the Peter Jackson trilogy - while absolutely beautiful and awe-inspiring on its own - really deviated from the source material. Even though I'm foremost a Jackson trilogy fan, I'm for sure preferring Tolkien's OG version. Everything about it. Wait till you get to Faramir. PJ did Faramir so wrong. 2 Quote Current Challenge "By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath Link to comment
Everstorm Posted February 2 Report Share Posted February 2 I was a major Tolkein fan long before the films, so I had to watch each one twice before I could decide if I liked them. The first time, I kept being pinged by all the deviations. The second time, I could watch it as a film. It is one of the few film adaptations I feel are worthy of the books, even with all the changes. I shall not speak of what they did to The Hobbit, however.... 3 Quote Life before Death Strength before Weakness Journey before Destination Link to comment
Rurik Harrgath Posted February 3 Author Report Share Posted February 3 [Rise, Tarnished Quest Log] Challenge Journal: This frigid 3rd day of February, in the year 2023. Weight: 234.0lbs 234 even on the scale, cold snap embraced. I was puttering around with some challenge ideas for the next, only to realize this one ends in two days then I went back to my success tracker on the second post of my challenge, confused that I was only in Week 3, only to realize I had missesd a week and that explained everything. Yep, sure enough, this is Week 4 and it's nearly at an end. I'm gonna call this my semi-official wrap-up because I can see the trends of weeks before and have a pretty good idea what's going to happen this week... Basically we're figuring out schedules in this house. I missed a few workouts this week because I wasn't coordinating my end of the plan, which is fine. I have 3 workouts to do in 3 days and I doubt that'll happen - also fine. Truth be told I'll be fine with 2 more even. I'm tweaking some goals and stuff next challenge but it won't be too fundamentally different. All said, I'm very pleased to have established a fairly consistent nutrition plan and more or less feel the need to be working out again. We'll be wrapping things up and clocking in around an 83% success rate, good enough for a B letter grade at most institutions of higher learning. Exeunt, triumphant! So that is good, and I'm pleased with that, but can be so much better. Next (this month, next challenge) will be all about hammering those goals into my Ironclad Tenets and making a righteous sacred oath to uphold them. Yours in Iron & Fire, Harrgath Exeunt, triumphant with a #LightforgedFriday ☀️ TO SLAY THE GREAT BEAST: [HATRED]: ☑☑☐☐☐ Push and Pull down. [VIGOR]: ☑☑☐☐☐ Twice-rowed. [DISCIPLINE]: ☑☑☑☐ Posting. [BLOOD ALCHEMY]: ☑☑☑☑☐☐☐ Going splendidly. 19 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said: Wait till you get to Faramir. PJ did Faramir so wrong. Now that'll be an interesting read; I've always liked Faramir even in PJ's version, but I kind of found the actor a little... dull. 16 hours ago, Everstorm said: I was a major Tolkein fan long before the films, so I had to watch each one twice before I could decide if I liked them. The first time, I kept being pinged by all the deviations. The second time, I could watch it as a film. It is one of the few film adaptations I feel are worthy of the books, even with all the changes. I shall not speak of what they did to The Hobbit, however.... The funny thing about the inverse version is how much more enjoyable the books truly are with so much more exposition and dialogue! Far more character development too! The Hobbit was a travesty. I was so excited to see dwarves on the big screen, and boy what a tragedy that turned out to be... 4 Quote [Level ??] Rurik, Templar-Marshal Class: Paladin of the Order of the Sacred Flame (Conquest Paladin/Champion) BRUTALITY 11 | FINESSE 10 | VIGOR 11 | INSIGHT 14 | WILL 13 Equipment: Leather armor, questing longsword, and adventurer's pack with alchemist's kit. "Rangers have to at least give up on pants. It's a special rule we enacted after Rurik became a Guild Leader.” – DarK_RaideR "Did I just get my ass kicked by a member of Metallica meets History Channel's Vikings?" - Wild Wolf "By the Well-Oiled-and-Meticulously-Groomed Beard of Rurik!" - Tanktimus the Encourager Link to comment
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