The Elements RE-Mastered

[Chef Neem]

Late evening in the monastery while the other disciples where sleeping a lone monk sat with his tea and contemplated the world around him. The earth below him, the flow of water as another monks washes off the day before retiring. The flickering fire of a candle as it is moved by the wind. As the monk ponders these elements he decides he will (re)master them.

Dejavu?

Almost. My last challenge got semi derailed due to job changes so this is a bit of a repeat in some regards

Earth goal: Journey to the center of the earth

For this goal I will be focusing on my core and over all strength. A while back I bought a Men’s Health Magazine home work out kit. Pull up bars, ab wheel and rotational pushups thingamabobs.

It also came with a circuit work out plan that is coincidentally a 6 week plan. I will be following that. Warm up jump rope then…

Circuit 1. split squats/chin ups 2. Pushups/ marching hip raise 3. Ab wheel/ YTI (lay on stomach stick out arms in the shape of each letter and lift them up. Harder than it sounds.)

That is the first 3 weeks then for the last 3

Circuit 1.side lunges/pull ups 2. Single leg hip raise/close grip push up 3. Multidirection ab wheel/side plank

3Xweek for an A +3 STR +2 STA

Water goal: Flow through the forms (again)

This goal is to help me get ready for my fourth degree black belt test in the spring. I have to relearn 8 basic,9 color belt, and 5 black belt forms. Not only that but I have to be able to do them in slow motion also.

Forms was the most draining part of my last belt test. I want to really rock these.

Relearning all forms and being able to do 3 basic, 3 color and 3 black belt forms regular speed and slow motion without falling down dead will be an A+1 DEX +2 STA +1 CON

Fire goal: Burn up the track 10K under 55 minutes

I have a Training plan on my Runkepper app. It is a 16 week plan so this will be part of my next 3 challenges most likely. Hitting every work out of the plan is an A +3 STA

Wind goal: Quit wondering how my money blew away

Track all spending, set up a budget and pay off some outstanding debts. +3 WIS

[Thrillho]

Elemental!

The nerd in me wants to ask "What about pearl?"

The dork in me wants to ask "What about heart?"

The man in me wants to ask "What about Leeloo?"

The author in me wants to ask "What about the elephant?"

[Kishi]

Maybe this isn't the most high-minded way to look at it, but honestly? A little revenge can go a long way if used properly. I say go for it. They got you. Now it's time to get them back.

[Metal Violet]

Good luck with it

[kamikaze]

The theme of this challenge is great - and all of your goals seem doable. Looking forward to your success.

[jedi_mind]

i'm focusing on finances for a part of my challenge as well. i think clearing this part of our minds will let us focus on the good stuff.

[KimE]

Double déjà vu! Me too! Lets rock this challenge, Chef!

[JediJem]

I love the theme of this challenge. Excited to see how you get on with the 10k goal; I'd thought of something similar for my own before realising that just getting back to regular running practice would be a feat in itself. But if this is a long-term plan for you perhaps I can meet you on it during the next challenge!

[caponerd48]

Great to have you back, Chef. Let me know how that men's health workout routine thingie works!

[The Shogun]

Elemental!

The nerd in me wants to ask "What about pearl?"

The dork in me wants to ask "What about heart?"

The man in me wants to ask "What about Leeloo?"

The author in me wants to ask "What about the elephant?"

Oh, now I get what you mean when you say we need like buttons in here...

[Chef Neem]

Hit it so far on everything except forms.

The new job is going to be even busier than I thought making this challenge a challenge again.

I hit the circuits on Monday and Wednesday. Got my training run in and printed a budget with all the major and recurring expenses. Now to track the variable expenses like gas and groceries to try to get a baseline on those.

[Metal Violet]

Ah you must be my inspiration for next years challenge - love the idea of tracking finances and knowing where my money goes, so doing that next year!

[Kishi]

Mm, did the same thing for a week once. It was definitely a revealing thing. It'll show you a lot about yourself.

[Chef Neem]

Catching up on all the other monks challenges is a challenge in itself especially if you have not been around foe a week.

No runs no work outs tracking gas spending so far this week spent more on food than I thought.

My new job is thoroughly knocking me about like a ragdoll. Lots of work to do with every aspect of the food service.

Going to try to run tomorrow.

[Metal Violet]

Sounds like you've had a busy week. You'll get used to soon no doubt and be back on track with the workouts

[Kishi]

Nah, man, I know. The coffeehouse work has given me something of an appreciation for food services in terms of how much energy it takes and how much you need to get done. You're involved, in particular, with a lot more things than I am. Completely understandable.

Keep on keeping on. If you have to pick between life and posting, life comes first.

[jedi_mind]

Catching up on all the other monks challenges is a challenge in itself especially if you have not been around foe a week.

it does right? i've only been able to get online once a week as well and a lot goes on here in that time. however it is nice to see other people making progress. it encourages me to make my goals so i can post good news here.

My new job is thoroughly knocking me about like a ragdoll. Lots of work to do with every aspect of the food service.

yessir! i feel like my kitchen is a gym half the time.

[The Shogun]

It's harder when you're supposed to choose the winner, trust me. And I guess is part of the challenge, indeed.

The good part is that you win a lot of wonderful people as friends. I wouldn't like to have my goals accomplished without my Monks beside me.

it sounds like your job is a sort of workout indeed, I've seen my chef friend working and he has to burn a lot of calories doing it.

[Chef Neem]

I was able to get back on track as of sunday.

hit one of my training plan days for the run and added an extra mile.

did my circuits today and laid my running clothes out for tomorrow.

watched forms on youtube while I was waiting on somebody and tracked my gas expenditures for the month.

I will spend some time on wednesday catching up on all the other challenges. I have been reading some just havent posted on any yet. I am looking forward to being inspired by y'all.

[JediJem]

Good work keeping up in all the busyness!

Try not to see it as not being 'on track' if one week here or there goes badly out of plan - I know, I know, we've all set goals that we hold ourselves accountable to on here, but at the end of the day the most important effect of being part of this community might be coming back and doing more than we otherwise would have, rather than to meet our goals perfectly. At least that's what I'm trying to tell myself!

[Kishi]

Sounds like an effective use of time given the time you had. Keep on it.

[Chef Neem]

Great to have you back, Chef. Let me know how that men's health workout routine thingie works!

It is a solid routine. Even with out being consistent I'm seeing result from what I have been able to do. Well worth the 35$.

[cob]

Men's health seems to have some really good workouts. I've used them for quite a few different ones, spanning Burn Notice's Jeffrey Donovan's workout to isolated core workouts and others. I like to do them as one-offs sometimes, just to shake it up.

[Chef Neem]

It's harder when you're supposed to choose the winner, trust me. And I guess is part of the challenge, indeed.

The good part is that you win a lot of wonderful people as friends. I wouldn't like to have my goals accomplished without my Monks beside me.

it sounds like your job is a sort of workout indeed, I've seen my chef friend working and he has to burn a lot of calories doing it.

The job takes a lot of walking. It is the world's largest honky tonk after all.

I bet it is hard choosing a winner from such a dedicated hard working guild.