JediNickD Level 12: "The Force is what gives a Jedi his power."

[JediNickD]

More than a year ago, I started my first challenge with the most popular Jedi lesson.  In "Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back", Yoda tells Luke to "Do or do not".  In the previous challenges I've used a lesson from Yoda, but I believe for the moment I've exhausted his lessons; therefore, I started to move to Obi-Wan's lesson to Luke with last challenge, my 11th.  I'll continue through Obi-Wan's lesson in episodes IV through VI until I feel I've exhausted them, then follow with Obi-Wan's teachings to Anakin in the prequels.
 
With that previous paragraph, I've set an expectation and made myself accountable.  I had thought about taking a challenge off, because I wasn't putting in the effort to make updates.  I didn't even give myself opportunities to post to my training journal, which is the posts are completely automated by my Excel spreadsheet tracker.  I thought I might be burned out on the site.  I may be burned out, but I am not burned out on my goals, fitness, diet, or life.  I'd continue to set goals and achieve them without Nerd Fitness.  I just haven't made time for Nerd Fitness.  I want to, but I have too much important stuff going on to make an online forum a priority.  I'll make updates to my training journal and I'll update my challenge when I can, but I make no guarantees.  Just know that the Jedi are out there, working hard to serve others.
 
Now, on to the challenge!
 
In Episode IV: A New Hope, Obi-Wan Kenobi is training Luke Skywalker in the fundamentals of the Force and Jedi.  Aboard the Millenium Falcon, Obi-Wan dispenses this very important description of the Force during a lightsaber training exercise:
 

Obi-Wan: The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.

 
Here we get the first real description of what the Force is.  We've seen a little of what it can do.  There is a mystery about it.  I don't want to focus on the wording though.  More in what it means and how it relates to my training.  Obi-Wan is talking about how all parts of the universe are connected in some way.  It could be supernatural, sub-atomic, multi-dimensional, etc, but that is not important.  Jedi can tap into it, interact with it, and manipulate real world things with it. 
 
The main way this relates to the real world is cause and effect.  Everything you do, every choice you make, effects the universe around you.  It could be significant or inconsquential, but their is an effect.  If I move my hand to the left instead of the right, then air molecules are pushed a different direction.  These moving air molecules create "wind" moving water molecules (humidity) and dust particles about.  These changes may be inconsquential in the moment, but could alter the long run balance of the system if it where a prolonged change.  Anyway, the idea is that for every cause there are infinite number of effects and the universe is different than before the cause.  The biggest cause to the ever-changing universe is time.  We do little to effect the world around us compared to time.  Without time, there would be no motion.  As time passes, motion passes and causing effects with it.
 
The second way it relates to the real world is belief.  People believe in supernatural beings creating the Earth, universe, or whatever.  They believe in String Theory connecting everything together.  They believe with the proper training, life choices, etc that they can interact with these things to alter the universe, change the future, etc.  The Force is all those things for those people. 
 
The last way the Force relates to the real world is that it IS life.  With each passing moment, life passes.  The Force is the moment, the life, everything.  As things around you change, you can hold one thing to your comfort.  That is the Force is always there. 
 
Since I'm more of the logical, rational, non-believer, science-based type, I tend to just focus on the first and late one.  I mediate to achieve calmness and clarity, not to find an enlightenment or connect to something.  Anyway, throughout the challenge, I will pay close attention to all three ways to broaden myself.


 
My main quest with attribute points is below:

• FITNESS: Build STA +2 and DEX +2 by Running 25 miles and Sprinting 1200 meters total.
• FITNESS: Build STR +2 and DEX +1 by completing 60 minutes of HIITs in 5 sessions and meeting at least 75% of my fitness side quest goals.
• DIET: Build CON +2 by eating Salad 18 times or more, eating Snack Food 10 times or less, brushing my teeth 80 times or more (twice daily), and flossing 40 times or more (once daily).*
• LIFE: Build WIS +3 and CHA +3 by completing two Toastmaster Manual Speeches, completing one Leadership Series Speech to earn my Advance Leader Bronze in Toastmasters, and completing the rest of the IJRS Communcation 101 and Creed 101 Lessons in Jedi Training.

 

*The brushing and flossing is under diet instead of life, because tooth health is closely related to what you eat as well as your heart health. 

 

 

SIDE QUEST CHALLENGE GOALS

• FITNESS
  • Barbells
    • Back Squat = 200 lbs, 60 reps
    • Bench Press = 190 lbs, 60 reps
    • Overhead Press = 90 lbs, 30 reps
  • Dumbells
    • Bench Press = 45 lbs, 60 reps
    • Fly = 45 lbs, 60 reps
    • Overhead Press = 45 lbs, 60 reps
    • Standing Curl = 45 lbs, 60 reps
    • Row = 45 lbs, 60 reps
    • Side Raise = 35 lbs, 60 reps
    • Goblet Squat = 75 lbs, 60 reps
    • Tricep Ext = 75 lbs, 60 reps
  • Bodyweight Exercises
    • Leg Press = 1050 lbs, 60 reps
    • Box Jump = 31 in, 60 reps
    • Lunge = 20 lbs, 60 reps
    • Burpee = lbs, 60 reps
    • Mount Climbers = lbs, 120 reps
    • HS PU = lbs, 60 reps
    • Pull Up = lbs, 60 reps
    • Chin Up = lbs, 60 reps
    • Hammer Pull Up = lbs, 60 reps
    • Dip = lbs, 60 reps
    • Dive Bomber = 0 lbs, 60 reps
    • Push Up = 0 lbs, 240 reps
  • Abdominal Exercises
    • Crunch = 0 lbs, 600 reps
    • Bicycle Crunch = 0 lbs, 600 reps
    • Leg Lift = 0 lbs, 300 reps
    • Side Leg Lift = 0 lbs, 300 reps
    • Oblique Twist = 0 lbs, 600 reps
    • Side Bend = 0 lbs, 600 reps
    • Side Raise = 0 lbs, 400 reps
    • Rollout Wheel = 0 lbs, 240 reps
    • Reverse Situp = 25 lbs, 100 reps
  • Cardio
    • Sprinting Distance = 1200 meters, 20 reps
    • 50m Dash = sec, 5 reps
    • 200m Dash = sec, 5 reps
    • Medicine Ball = sec, 5 reps
    • Shuttle Run = sec, 5 reps
    • Jogging Distance = 25 miles, 12 reps
    • 3 mile Jog = min, 2 reps
    • 2 mile Jog = min, 4 reps
    • HIIT = 60 min, 5 reps
• DIET
  • Diet
    • Vitamins = 40 qty
    • Snack Food = 10 qty
    • Salads = 18 qty
    • Floss = 40 qty
    • Brush Teeth = 80 qty
• LIFE
  • NF Community
    • Battle Log = 40 qty
  • Toastmasters
    • Manual Lessons = 2 qty
    • Officer Duties = 600 qty
    • Club Series = 1 qty
    • Meeting Roles = 3 qty
    • Table Topics = 2 qty
  • Jedi
    • IJRS Com 101 = 2 qty
    • IJRS Creed 101 = 3 qty
    • Jedi Reading = 500 min
  • Geocaching
    • Caching = 6 qty
    • Stashing = 1 qty

[Mikroftt]

Congratulations on making the right choice to do this challenge.  I look forward to hearing about your progress as the challenge progresses. 

[Mikroftt]

Any updates on how your challenge is going?

[JediNickD]

HA!  The last week and I finally get back here.  Go figure, right?  My training is progressing fine.  I have some Jedi training to finish up this week, but other than that, I am right on schedule.  Maybe, I'll get a chance to post my updates to my Battle Log... unfortunately, work and home life are too busy to get online and make the posts.  It's easier to skip it and get on with everything else.  NF isn't a high priority right now.  I need to change that, because I like the accountability and the interaction.  Next challenge? 

[Mikroftt]

Great to hear that things are going well without having to post.  I know for me that posting is a huge accountability thing.  I know if I slack off I have to tell others that I slacked.  

[JediNickD]

CHALLENGE PROGRESS 1900-01-00

• FITNESS
  • Barbells
    • Back Squat = 200 lbs, 90 reps
    • Bench Press = 190 lbs, 85 reps
    • Overhead Press = 90 lbs, 130 reps
  • Dumbells
    • Bench Press = 45 lbs, 90 reps
    • Fly = 45 lbs, 90 reps
    • Overhead Press = 45 lbs, 90 reps
    • Standing Curl = 45 lbs, 90 reps
    • Row = 45 lbs, 90 reps
    • Side Raise = 35 lbs, 110 reps
    • Goblet Squat = 75 lbs, 110 reps
    • Lateral Squat = 0 lbs, 20 reps
    • Tricep Ext = 75 lbs, 110 reps
  • Bodyweight Exercises
    • Leg Press = 1050 lbs, 60 reps
    • Box Jump = 31 in, 60 reps
    • Lunge = 20 lbs, 80 reps
    • Burpee = 0 lbs, 80 reps
    • Mount Climbers = 0 lbs, 240 reps
    • HS PU = 0 lbs, 67 reps
    • Pull Up = 0 lbs, 36 reps
    • Chin Up = 0 lbs, 33 reps
    • Hammer Pull Up = 0 lbs, 35 reps
    • Dip = 0 lbs, 60 reps
    • Dive Bomber = 0 lbs, 60 reps
    • Push Up = 0 lbs, 240 reps
  • Abdominal Exercises
    • Crunch = 0 lbs, 600 reps
    • Bicycle Crunch = 0 lbs, 600 reps
    • Leg Lift = 0 lbs, 300 reps
    • Side Leg Lift = 0 lbs, 400 reps
    • Oblique Twist = 10 lbs, 600 reps
    • Side Bend = 0 lbs, 600 reps
    • Side Raise = 0 lbs, 400 reps
    • Rollout Wheel = 0 lbs, 240 reps
    • Reverse Situp = 25 lbs, 100 reps
  • Cardio
    • 50m Dash = 0 sec, 5 reps
    • 200m Dash = 0 sec, 5 reps
    • Medicine Ball = 0 sec, 5 reps
    • Shuttle Run = 0 sec, 8 reps
    • Jogging Distance = 28.5 miles, 12 reps
    • 3 mile Jog = 0 min, 2 reps
    • 2 mile Jog = 0 min, 6 reps
    • HIIT = 60 min, 5 reps
    • Bike = 6 miles, 2 reps
    • Rowing = 1875 meters, 2 reps
• DIET
  • Diet
    • Vitamins = 43 qty
    • Snack Food = 10 qty
    • Salads = 18 qty
    • Floss = 40 qty
    • Brush Teeth = 81 qty
• LIFE
  • Family
  • NF Community
  • Toastmasters
    • Manual Lessons = 2 qty
    • Officer Duties = 600 qty
    • Meeting Roles = 3 qty
    • Table Topics = 3 qty
  • Jedi
    • IJRS Com 101 = 2 qty
    • IJRS Creed 101 = 3 qty
    • Jedi Reading = 1065 min
  • Geocaching

[JediNickD]

My main quest with attribute points and grades is below:

• FITNESS: Build STA +2 and DEX +2 by Running 25 miles and Sprinting 1200 meters total.  A
• FITNESS: Build STR +2 and DEX +1 by completing 60 minutes of HIITs in 5 sessions and meeting at least 75% of my fitness side quest goals. A
• DIET: Build CON +2 by eating Salad 18 times or more, eating Snack Food 10 times or less, brushing my teeth 80 times or more (twice daily), and flossing 40 times or more (once daily).  A
• LIFE: Build WIS +3 and CHA +3 by completing two Toastmaster Manual Speeches, completing one Leadership Series Speech to earn my Advance Leader Bronze in Toastmasters, and completing the rest of the IJRS Communcation 101 and Creed 101 Lessons in Jedi Training.  A

Although, I didn't earn my ALB in Toastmasters yet, because the meeting I was to do my speech was cancelled, I'm giving myself credit, because the speech was ready and I was ready to give it.  Unfortunately, I have to wait until January 14th to actually give the speech.