Phytomancer Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 The Story: After the spy mission in Seven Kingdoms, Phytomancer learns that he needs to find the locations of rain gardens, the shrines of the rain god Viruna, hidden in 4 modern US cities, then learn the secrets of its magic. At the same time, the potent mantra will tax his energy. Like other magics, the power of the gods are secret to humans, and if a human yeilds this magic without training, their muscles will turn to willowy grass and their stomach will swell. (No-- his stomach already begins to expand like a balloon!) Slowly, he will turn into a potbelly monster, rendering the knowledge of the heavens useless. That, Phytomancer must fight. The mantra also does not mix well with grains, bread, and sugar. These food will slow him down in learning the secret words, and it will speed up the monster transformation process. He must train for power, for endurance, and for energy. He must select his food carefully. He must spread the word of Viruna. The Goals Strenght:Strenght training at least 3 times a week Endurance:Cardio 30 min at least 3 times a week Food:Grainless (except rice) 5 meals a weekless than 1 Sugary drink a weekless than 3 Sugary desserts a weekHave green leaves everyday Have less than estimately 1200 kCal a day Sidequest:Spend at least 2 hours a day 4 days a week studying the magic of Viruna (Write/edit that paper about rain gardens I should have finished last month) Measure waistline and take photos every 2 weeks. (Extra: A burpee counts both for cardio and strenght!) And then I hope for the best! 5 Phytomancer and The Way of The South East Level: 8 STR 15 | DEX 6 | STA 9 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 7 Level 1: Evil Minion Training | Level 2: Spy of the Seven Kingdoms Level 3: Shrines of Viruna | Level 4: Impending Storm | Level 5: Respawns | Level 6: Green Villains Level7: Returns to Battle Spoiler Pushup: 11.2% 11.2% Green: 11.2% 11.2% Sweets: 11% 11% Link to comment
Elastigirl Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 Great goals! 1 Wisdom 22.5 Dexterity 13 Charisma 15 Strength 21 Constitution-13 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind' Luke 10; 27 Link to comment
DarK_RaideR Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 Following, good luck and be strong! 1 Lvl 55 Madman Link to comment
Phytomancer Posted July 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 Great goals!Thanks, Elastigirl. I listened to you about following the process and not the outcome. Following, good luck and be strong!Thanks DarK_RaiderR. I will try! So I began the first day with my measurement: photo and waist. WaistHowever, I forgot the waist measurement at home. The last on I did was 4 days ago, so it counts. My waist is currently 35.5 inch PhotosI always tried to edit my face out of my shirtless shots because, long time ago, someone used my shirtless photos in the embarrassing sites in the past. But hell, it takes too long, and I'd better be used to be embarrassed anyways. Once I go slim, I will be shirtless very often . I will take two photos-- one is the one that I show my true, potbelly self, and the one where I lie to publc. Phytomancer and The Way of The South East Level: 8 STR 15 | DEX 6 | STA 9 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 7 Level 1: Evil Minion Training | Level 2: Spy of the Seven Kingdoms Level 3: Shrines of Viruna | Level 4: Impending Storm | Level 5: Respawns | Level 6: Green Villains Level7: Returns to Battle Spoiler Pushup: 11.2% 11.2% Green: 11.2% 11.2% Sweets: 11% 11% Link to comment
Arya Sapphire Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 Strong, solid goals and you seem determined to be killing it! I also really like your back story. Good luck, I'm subbing! 1 Level 2 Gnome -who wants to be a Mermaid- RangerSTR 5 | DEX | STA 4 | CON 3 | WIS 1 | CHA 1Challenges: 1 | Current Challenge: Arya Sapphire and the Majora's Mask''Be brave enough to live life creatively. The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition.'' - Alan Alda Link to comment
Phytomancer Posted July 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 Strong, solid goals and you seem determined to be killing it! I also really like your back story. Good luck, I'm subbing! Thanks. The back story is actually my real life, but looked at from a overly fantasy perspective. Monday Jul 28: Drove from Portland to Seattle! With the help of a pretty, petite fairy navigator who we shall call Navigona, Phytomancer collected the location of 48 shrines in Portland, Oregon. He drove along the starlight highway to the city of Seattle. The information of Seattle Varuna's shrines are even more obscure, but he and Navigona will fight the cloud of darkness and unknown. We would locate the shrines in this city. Unfortunately, Phytomancer has lost an important relics called 'the chin up straps.' Now he cannot perform chin up in his hotel room, but opportunities await him in other types of training. He can still run, squat, and push up. It must be noted that Navigona has been an inspiration for Phytomancer's diet regime. No, he only likes Navigona in a very platonic way, but Navigona is very careful about what she eats and how much. This carefulness inspires Phytomancer to do the same, even when he is twice her width. Food Breakfast: Chocolate [Ah, first thing in the challenge], figs, bananas Lunch: grilled ground beef chuck, two eggs sunny side up, a salad.I subbed a serving of breakfast potato for a salad, and it has a lot less hassle than I thought. The waitress did not even bat an eye! Dinner: White rice, chicken with broccoli and carrot(The healthiest menu in Chinese delivery food) Exercise:Insanity's Pure Cardio in the morning2 mi walk after dinner. Bad news:I forgot my chin up straps on the road. Will have to find a new one soon! Week 1 Food LimitationDessert: 1/3 | Drink: 0/1 | Grainless 2/5 | Green 1/7 1 Phytomancer and The Way of The South East Level: 8 STR 15 | DEX 6 | STA 9 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 7 Level 1: Evil Minion Training | Level 2: Spy of the Seven Kingdoms Level 3: Shrines of Viruna | Level 4: Impending Storm | Level 5: Respawns | Level 6: Green Villains Level7: Returns to Battle Spoiler Pushup: 11.2% 11.2% Green: 11.2% 11.2% Sweets: 11% 11% Link to comment
Thom Stépan Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 Burpees! they are so cool. Although the jump is rough on my old knees, so I skip that, but I do the push up at the bottom. Where to find me: Current Challenge : Battle Log : Facebook : Instagram : "Each day, just focus on getting 1% better in whatever it is you're trying to improve. That's it. Just 1%." ArtofManliness Article. "That which is wise and holy helps the health and wholeness of the chain of generations." D. R. Miller. "We do not rise to our expectations. We fall to our level of training." Archilochus Link to comment
Phytomancer Posted July 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 Burpees! they are so cool. Although the jump is rough on my old knees, so I skip that, but I do the push up at the bottom. Pushing up after squatting is the hard part! 2 Phytomancer and The Way of The South East Level: 8 STR 15 | DEX 6 | STA 9 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 7 Level 1: Evil Minion Training | Level 2: Spy of the Seven Kingdoms Level 3: Shrines of Viruna | Level 4: Impending Storm | Level 5: Respawns | Level 6: Green Villains Level7: Returns to Battle Spoiler Pushup: 11.2% 11.2% Green: 11.2% 11.2% Sweets: 11% 11% Link to comment
Arya Sapphire Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 I don't even know how many times I have started the day with chocolate, it just tastes so good. @_@ Good job on your day; food sounds delicious! And Insanity Cardio seems pretty hardcore as well! 1 Level 2 Gnome -who wants to be a Mermaid- RangerSTR 5 | DEX | STA 4 | CON 3 | WIS 1 | CHA 1Challenges: 1 | Current Challenge: Arya Sapphire and the Majora's Mask''Be brave enough to live life creatively. The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition.'' - Alan Alda Link to comment
Phytomancer Posted July 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 I don't even know how many times I have started the day with chocolate, it just tastes so good. @_@ Good job on your day; food sounds delicious! And Insanity Cardio seems pretty hardcore as well! Thanks Arya! The food was delicious. And oh, portland chocolates... they mess with your temptation. Phytomancer and The Way of The South East Level: 8 STR 15 | DEX 6 | STA 9 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 7 Level 1: Evil Minion Training | Level 2: Spy of the Seven Kingdoms Level 3: Shrines of Viruna | Level 4: Impending Storm | Level 5: Respawns | Level 6: Green Villains Level7: Returns to Battle Spoiler Pushup: 11.2% 11.2% Green: 11.2% 11.2% Sweets: 11% 11% Link to comment
Raxie Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 Oh my goodness I love your challenge and your narration of it! Why have I not been following along with you in previous challenges? Great job working out on the road Have you tried desk pull ups? 2 forty-seven: Raxie and the Joining of Unlike Things << previous challenges >> >> instagram || goodreads << Link to comment
RES Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 caught up and subbed... 1 RES...and I want to live days worth dying for Current: RES: Holiday Struggle Spoiler Really Eclectic Scorpio, Level 80 |1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12|13|14|15|16|17|18|19|20|21|22|23|24|25|26|27|28|29|30|31|32|33|34|35|36|37|38|39|40|41|42|43|44|45|46|47|48|49|50|51|52|53|54|55|56|57|58|59|60|61|62|63|64|65|66|67|68|69|70|71|72|73|74|75|76|77|78|79|80|81|82|83|84|85|86| | My Character Page | Tracking Spreadsheet | My Blog | Growth happens when you care more about the well being of your future self than the comfort of your present self! "Pass on what you have learned. Strength, mastery. But weakness, folly, failure also. Yes, failure most of all. The greatest teacher, failure is." -Yoda Link to comment
Phytomancer Posted July 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 Oh my goodness I love your challenge and your narration of it! Why have I not been following along with you in previous challenges? Great job working out on the road Have you tried desk pull ups? Thanks, Raxie. I have tried some desk pull ups. I do like them, and I might use them a lot during this trip. My last one did not have a theme... I was new at things. caught up and subbed...Glad to be subbed Tuesday July 29: First workday in Seattle Phytomancer and Navigona followed the treasure map to find the hidden shrines in Seattle. Alas, the map was faulty! Those shrines were in the different dimension, shattered, divided, and unreachable. Luckily, Phytomancer had a backup plan, he called a Rain Temple in Seattle, rode his smoky gray mechanical steed over Seattle Highway to the temple, and got his new shrine map from a High Preacher of Viruna. The High Preacher gave the expedition team his blessing and a usb drive filled with useful local mantras. However, the day was lost, Phytomancer and Navigonia got stranded downtown. Navigona found a potion store called 'The Chocolate Factory.' The sweet, intoxicating aroma called her in. She looked at the fruits showed on display. Alas, they were covered in mild poison! Upon her request and such guileful temptation of the caramel's aroma, Phytomancer helped her finished the poison fruit, the chocolate-caramel apple, thus lost another dessert damage... FoodBreakfast: Nactarines, bananas Lunch: Salmon sautee with onion and pepper. Substituted rice with carrots and broccoli Snack: Split a caramel apple in half with coworker Dinner: White chicken chili with salsa Workout The hotel was near a cemetery, so I took Steve Kamb's suggestion for tree pull ups and went tree hunting.For a guy whose name meant plant user, Pull up tree was very hard to find. Maples were too tall (for a minion.) Spruces and Pines were too vertical. Crab apples were too weak. So I settled for the mobile tent frame. It worked perfectly. 36 pull ups (6x6)200 push ups200 squats3 mi walk across the city Week 1 ProgressStrenght 1/3 | Cardio 1/3 | Dessert: 2/3 | Drink: 0/1 | Grainless 3/5 | Green 2/7 3 Phytomancer and The Way of The South East Level: 8 STR 15 | DEX 6 | STA 9 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 7 Level 1: Evil Minion Training | Level 2: Spy of the Seven Kingdoms Level 3: Shrines of Viruna | Level 4: Impending Storm | Level 5: Respawns | Level 6: Green Villains Level7: Returns to Battle Spoiler Pushup: 11.2% 11.2% Green: 11.2% 11.2% Sweets: 11% 11% Link to comment
DarK_RaideR Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 For a guy whose name meant plant user, Pull up tree was very hard to find. 36 pull ups (6x6)200 push ups200 squats3 mi walk across the city Pretty sure the name should be changed into Fitomancer 4 Lvl 55 Madman Link to comment
Arya Sapphire Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 I really like your writing, it's really interesting to follow your journey in such a narration. And congrats on an almost perfect day! I second D_R, Fitomancer is a good name! 2 Level 2 Gnome -who wants to be a Mermaid- RangerSTR 5 | DEX | STA 4 | CON 3 | WIS 1 | CHA 1Challenges: 1 | Current Challenge: Arya Sapphire and the Majora's Mask''Be brave enough to live life creatively. The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition.'' - Alan Alda Link to comment
Phytomancer Posted July 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 Pretty sure the name should be changed into Fitomancer Not exactly... After squatting so much I can't find a pair of shorts that FITs around my thighs either. Phytomancer and The Way of The South East Level: 8 STR 15 | DEX 6 | STA 9 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 7 Level 1: Evil Minion Training | Level 2: Spy of the Seven Kingdoms Level 3: Shrines of Viruna | Level 4: Impending Storm | Level 5: Respawns | Level 6: Green Villains Level7: Returns to Battle Spoiler Pushup: 11.2% 11.2% Green: 11.2% 11.2% Sweets: 11% 11% Link to comment
Phytomancer Posted July 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 I really like your writing, it's really interesting to follow your journey in such a narration. And congrats on an almost perfect day! I second D_R, Fitomancer is a good name! Thanks, Arya. When life is nerdy... we gotta make it nerdier, right? 2 Phytomancer and The Way of The South East Level: 8 STR 15 | DEX 6 | STA 9 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 7 Level 1: Evil Minion Training | Level 2: Spy of the Seven Kingdoms Level 3: Shrines of Viruna | Level 4: Impending Storm | Level 5: Respawns | Level 6: Green Villains Level7: Returns to Battle Spoiler Pushup: 11.2% 11.2% Green: 11.2% 11.2% Sweets: 11% 11% Link to comment
Phytomancer Posted July 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 Wed Jul 30 Today was not the great day for the expedition. The High Priest of Nature Monastery in Champaign and a Preacher of the Trees both contacted Phytomancer. The preacher wanted to know the progress of mantra scroll that he had Phytomancer enchanted, and the High Priest carried the command from The Order of Nature: the expedition team must record the size and species of trees in the shrines, as well as capture the magical essence from each shrine with the mantra called geo-tagging. Navigona and Phytomancer searched for geo-tagging relics, but could not find the working tools. They used one that they thought would work, but the item was defected, and they lost all the data. Phytomancer collapse in exhaustion, getting nothing done for another day. His time in Seattle was limited. What would he do? Food Breakfast: Banana, nectarines, plums Lunch: Chicken teriyaki, subbed rice for more cabbage and carrots Dinner: Hue noodle soup with beef, ham, holy basil, and bean sprouts Workout (Luckily, I worked out in the morning, so the chaos of the day didn't change my plan.)37 pull ups (7x5 +2)200 push ups200 squats Week 1 ProgressStrenght 2/3 | Cardio 1/3 | Dessert: 2/3 | Drink: 0/1 | Study 1/8 | Grainless 4/5 | Green 3/7 3 Phytomancer and The Way of The South East Level: 8 STR 15 | DEX 6 | STA 9 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 7 Level 1: Evil Minion Training | Level 2: Spy of the Seven Kingdoms Level 3: Shrines of Viruna | Level 4: Impending Storm | Level 5: Respawns | Level 6: Green Villains Level7: Returns to Battle Spoiler Pushup: 11.2% 11.2% Green: 11.2% 11.2% Sweets: 11% 11% Link to comment
Arya Sapphire Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Argh, I know your pain when it comes to work stress. But you still did amazingly so that still requires some congratulations! 1 Level 2 Gnome -who wants to be a Mermaid- RangerSTR 5 | DEX | STA 4 | CON 3 | WIS 1 | CHA 1Challenges: 1 | Current Challenge: Arya Sapphire and the Majora's Mask''Be brave enough to live life creatively. The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition.'' - Alan Alda Link to comment
Phytomancer Posted August 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Argh, I know your pain when it comes to work stress. But you still did amazingly so that still requires some congratulations! Thanks, Arya! Yep, work stress sucks, but it's also an old story. Thurs Jul 31 Phytomancer consulted the dead. He took the work stress the night before and went running around a cemetery, sprinting at points. By the time he got back, he could composed himself for the next day of work. The day went slow, and Navigona joined him to figure out the new orders. They got it with Navigona's stronger magic in relics and charms, but lost another daylight in Seattle and most of their mana. Viruna will have to wait for rescue tomorrow. The ambrosia, the mana food, will have to be used carefully, or the team will eventually turned into two adorable potbelly monsters. However, they ate it with glee today. Even Navigona finished her large ambrosia portion, which NEVER happened before. This was the fact Phytomancer knew not to notice aloud.. Food: Breakfast: Banana, plums, nectarines Lunch: Vietnamese pork sandwich with taro fries Dinner: Spaghetti with meat sauce, salad, bread, and ice cream. Workout 3 mile run in a cemetery2 mile walk to groceryTook a co-worker to a store for her de-stress shopping expedition while I walked around aimlessly for 45 minutes Week 1 ProgressStrenght 2/3 | Cardio 2/3 | Dessert: 3/3 | Drink: 0/1 | Study 2/8 | Grainless 4/5 | Green 4/7 Phytomancer and The Way of The South East Level: 8 STR 15 | DEX 6 | STA 9 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 7 Level 1: Evil Minion Training | Level 2: Spy of the Seven Kingdoms Level 3: Shrines of Viruna | Level 4: Impending Storm | Level 5: Respawns | Level 6: Green Villains Level7: Returns to Battle Spoiler Pushup: 11.2% 11.2% Green: 11.2% 11.2% Sweets: 11% 11% Link to comment
Xena Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Took me a while to get here, but I really like what you are doing this time around. Great job doing insanity and figuring out ways to do the pull-ups.Very smart not commenting on the ambrosia and dealing with the shopping :-) 2 Xena, Level 14+ Valkyrie Ranger January 2017 December 2016 Oct/Nov 2016 Link to comment
Arya Sapphire Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 That seems like a good day to me! And I have to congratulate you on running in a cemetary, I think I'd be freaked out a little bit. I agree that it's a good thing you didn't comment on the Ambrosia, haha! 1 Level 2 Gnome -who wants to be a Mermaid- RangerSTR 5 | DEX | STA 4 | CON 3 | WIS 1 | CHA 1Challenges: 1 | Current Challenge: Arya Sapphire and the Majora's Mask''Be brave enough to live life creatively. The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition.'' - Alan Alda Link to comment
Phytomancer Posted August 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 Took me a while to get here, but I really like what you are doing this time around. Great job doing insanity and figuring out ways to do the pull-ups.Very smart not commenting on the ambrosia and dealing with the shopping :-)Thanks. You seem to be doing very well in your challenge. I agree that Ambrosia is a sensitive topic. That seems like a good day to me! And I have to congratulate you on running in a cemetary, I think I'd be freaked out a little bit. I agree that it's a good thing you didn't comment on the Ambrosia, haha! I like Western Cemetery. They are always filled with trees and lush green grass. Plus, my culture tells stories about ghosts and spirits as if they exist in the same world as ours, and I wouldn't mind connecting to my roots that way Friday Aug 1: Rainbow at the end of Seattle Typical workday for Phytomancer. The team wrapped up early due to Viruna's blessing, but they got what they needed. The Preacher of Trees called and let Phytomancer know that together, they had created a new magic that nobody had done. The priest of Nature approved of it. However, the preacher needed Phytomancer to scribe the new mantra down and get it out to the magic community, like, RIGHT NOW, or maybe next Friday, but right now was better. Phytomancer will crank again tonight. FoodBreakfast: Peaches, banana, plum Lunch: Beef burrito, no rice, no beans. Just beef, salsa, and guacamole in a tortilla; horchata Dinner: Pad prig king and rice with baby corns, green beans, and pork There is no way today was under 1200. There was no way ANY day this week I had less than 1200 kCal. I need to adjust some strategy here... Exercise: 200 push ups200 squatsCould not go for pull ups due to time constraints, but this will do Week 1 ProgressStrenght 3/3 | Cardio 2/3 | Dessert: 3/3 | Drink: 1/1 | Study 3/8 | Grainless 4/5 | Green 4/7 | 1200 kCal 0/7 1 Phytomancer and The Way of The South East Level: 8 STR 15 | DEX 6 | STA 9 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 7 Level 1: Evil Minion Training | Level 2: Spy of the Seven Kingdoms Level 3: Shrines of Viruna | Level 4: Impending Storm | Level 5: Respawns | Level 6: Green Villains Level7: Returns to Battle Spoiler Pushup: 11.2% 11.2% Green: 11.2% 11.2% Sweets: 11% 11% Link to comment
Xena Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 very exciting new magic! 1 Xena, Level 14+ Valkyrie Ranger January 2017 December 2016 Oct/Nov 2016 Link to comment
Sloth the Enduring Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 Exercise: 200 push ups200 squatsWhat!?! Really!?! Wow! Are you doing ladders, pyramids, straight sets or are you a monster that can do that in one long set? 1 “We might as well start where we are, use what we have and do what we can." – Caitlin Rivers Sloth: The Man with the Hammer battle log Link to comment
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