[JediNickD] Level 19: "Seduced by the Dark Side"

[JediNickD]

Welcome back for another episode in the Adventures of JediNickD!  It seems like forever ago that I joined this site and my first challenge. Judging by my level, you might say I'm right! But level and experience mean nothing unless lessons learned are applied in your life. This website has given me practical knowledge in goal setting and planning. Throughout my life, I have been applying that knowledge. In my career, in my job, in my home life, in my Toastmasters training, in the gym, in my Jedi training, and even in my fantasy football league!

Throughout the next few challenges, I plan to focus my Jedi lessons around this passage from Return of the Jedi where Obi-Wan says that quote:
 

Luke: [approaching R2-D2] I can't do it, R2. I can't go on alone.
Obi-Wan: [from out of sight] Yoda and I will always be with you.
Luke: Obi-Wan.
[Obi-Wan's spirit approaches Luke]
Luke: Ben! Why didn't you tell me? You told me that Darth Vader betrayed and murdered my father.
Obi-Wan: Your father... was seduced by the Dark Side of the Force. He ceased to be Anakin Skywalker and "became" Darth Vader. When that happened, the good man who was your father was destroyed. So what I told you was true... from a certain point of view.
Luke: A certain point of view?
Obi-Wan: Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view. Anakin was a good friend. When I first met him, your father was already a great pilot. But I was amazed how strongly the Force was with him. I took it upon myself to train him as a Jedi. I thought that I could instruct him just as well as Yoda. I was wrong.
Luke: There is still good in him.
Obi-Wan: He's more machine now than man. His mind is twisted and evil.
Luke: I can't do it, Ben.
Obi-Wan: You cannot escape your destiny. You must face Darth Vader again.
Luke: I can't kill my own father.
Obi-Wan: Then the Emperor has already won. You were our only hope.
Luke: Yoda spoke of another.
Obi-Wan: The other he spoke of is your twin sister.
Luke: But I have no sister.
Obi-Wan: Hmm. To protect you both from the Emperor, you were hidden from your father when you were born. The Emperor knew, as I did, if Anakin were to have any offspring, they would be a threat to him. That is the reason why your sister remained safely anonymous.
Luke: Leia! Leia is my sister.
Obi-Wan: Your insight serves you well. Bury your feelings deep down, Luke. They do you credit, but they could be made to serve the Emperor.

 
This challenge I'll focus on the quote in bold by Obi-Wan Kenobi.  He explains to Luke that Luke's father, Anakin Skywalker, was seduced by the dark side of the Force.  From a certain point of view, it can be argued that this caused a new personality to form, Darth Vader, a dark side wielder and a tyrant willing to use pain, suffering, and death to meet his goals.  The good side of Anakin was "destroyed".  In the movie, we learn this is not true.  Luke brings out Anakin's good side to save them both from the evil Emperor, who was just using Vader as a puppet to do his dirty work and would gladly replace Vader with another person strong in the Force. 

The lesson I want convey is that there is good inside everyone.  Obi-Wan actually has it wrong for once (and we find out in the prequels that he was not the best mentor to begin with, so getting something like this wrong is not uncommon for him where he would prefer to play safe and keep his padawan in the dark in some areas [pun intended]). 
 
No matter what mistakes you've made in the past, you can always turn over a new leaf and work towards making amends, correcting your errors, and replacing poor behavior and habits with good ones.  Our society is a forgiving one.  Many of our religions are forgiving.  Our bodies are forgiving to pain and injury as we heal and recover.  It is only a matter of choice.  Which person do you want to be?  Your decisions define your priorities.  You can willingly base your decisions on priorities which you prefer to make a healthier and better you.  It is the decisions we make that fall out of line with these priorities where our focus needs to be.  The decisions where we give in, make excuses, or rationalize to a poor behavior or habit are the ones where we need to be aware of what we are doing to ourselves and maybe even those around us.  We can't always make the right choices, because we are human, but we can damn well try to make the right choices.
 
  
Now, on to the CHALLENGE!

My mission is to be the best Jedi I can be. My main quest is always to enhance my overall health, fitness, and knowledge to be prepared for whatever challenges life could throw at me. As a Jedi, I need to be able to help people, whether that is a life threatening situation or just a charitable one. There is no boss level in Jedi training, there is only tomorrow.

I'm keeping it similar as last challenge with a couple upgrades while keeping in mind that Thanksgiving falls in the middle of the challenge.

My main quest with attribute points is below:

• FITNESS: Build STA +2 and DEX +2 by Running, Sprinting, Hiking, Biking, Rowing, Rollerblading, or Training (HIIT or Sports) for 20 minutes or more, three times a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday is my new schedule with Wednesday being a light day).

Winter is coming and that's when I tend to mail it in, so I'm going to turn up the pressure by going to the gym at lunch time at least once a week.

• FITNESS: Build STR +2 and DEX +1 by completing 500 minutes of Sports Training* and meeting at least 95 % of my fitness side quest goals.

I've switched around a few exercises to my fitness side quest goals. I'm adding Tricep Rope Pull Downs.  I typically avoid these types of exercises because it creates soreness in my elbow tendons, but they feel good right now.  I'll start slow and build them up.  Let's see if I can rock another 100%.

• DIET: Build CON +2 by eating "Healthy Meals"** 30 times or more, eating "Unhealthy Food"*** 22 times or less and count their calories, drinking 250 fl oz of Dr Pepper or less, taking care of my skin and lips by applying moisturizer 80 times or more (twice daily), brushing (twice daily) and flossing (once daily) 120 times or more.

Looking to make more small strides.  Lettuce, peppers, and carrots are staples in my diet, but they get boring, especially carrots which I eat to fill up at lunch time and avoid snacking.  I'm going to get some dips and dressings to make them more interesting, but only for once in a while.  Maybe I can find an alternative vegetable to mix in. 

• LIFE: Build WIS +3 and CHA +3 by completing two Toastmaster Speeches, participating in Table Topics thrice and Meeting Roles four times, and by completing all the lessons for my Acquistion 101 course.

Time to crack open the High Performance Leadership manual.  I decided to switch my goal though.  My goal will be to increase the awareness of Toastmasters in my home county where there are only two clubs.  Growth is certainly a possibilty.  My two main targets are the county newspaper and advertising at the county community college. 
I'm almost finished with my Competent Leadership manual, as well as my communicator manuals.  I plan to do a Speechcraft training session for the 1 hour training session I need to do for my Advanced Communicator Gold, so I can earn my DTM.  My Club Coach and Area Governor roles are going very well.  I'm considering going for Division Director in the spring elections.

Jedi Training needs to be a bigger focus.  They are one week lessons and I take too long between them.  I'm putting it on hold until the following challenge where I will do 6 lessons and finish the course in a reasonable amount of time.

To improve my project management and proposal skills, which are vital to rising higher in the ranks of my contracting company, I decided to take some online courses.  Acquistion 101 is a prereq for just about every course at the University so I start there.  It is a 20 hour course to be completed in 60 days.  I'm already a two weeks in, so I need to finish before the end of this challenge.

* - Training or playing Basketball, Soccer, Rugby, Football, Hockey, Swimming, or Racquet Ball
** - "Healthy Meals" means no grease, minimal fat and calories, mostly veggies, meat, and fruit, while avoiding starches. Breakfast is not included in count.
*** - "Unhealthy Food" means anything with excessive grease, fat or sugar, empty calories, or any meal void of veggies or fruit. Breakfast is not included in count.
NOTE: By these terms, a meal can be neither healthy nor unhealthy. These are neutral meals which I still need to watch my portions on, but will not be tracking this challenge.


SIDE QUEST CHALLENGE GOALS

• FITNESS
  • Barbells
    • Bench Press = 225 lbs, 60 reps
    • Overhead Press = 90 lbs, 30 reps
    • Standing Curl = 105 lbs, 60 reps
  • Dumbells
    • Bench Press = lbs, 30 reps
    • Fly = lbs, 30 reps
    • Overhead Press = lbs, 30 reps
    • Standing Curl = lbs, 30 reps
    • Row = lbs, 30 reps
    • Side Raise = lbs, 30 reps
    • Forearm Curl = lbs, 30 reps
    • Reverse Forearm Curl = lbs, 30 reps
    • Hammer Curl = lbs, 30 reps
    • Hammer Ext = lbs, 30 reps
    • Goblet Squat = 105 lbs, 60 reps
    • Lateral Squat = 60 lbs, 60 reps
    • Tricep Ext = 55 lbs, 30 reps
    • Tricep Pull Down = 50 lbs, 120 reps
  • Bodyweight Exercises
    • Leg Press = 1300 lbs, 120 reps
    • Leg Ext = 235 lbs, 120 reps
    • Pull Up = lbs, 60 reps
    • Chin Up = lbs, 60 reps
    • Hammer Pull Up = lbs, 60 reps
    • Dip = lbs, 120 reps
    • Dive Bomber = lbs, 140 reps
    • Push Up = lbs, 500 reps
  • Abdominal Exercises
    • Crunch = lbs, 600 reps
    • Bicycle Crunch = lbs, 600 reps
    • Leg Lift = lbs, 200 reps
    • Side Leg Lift = lbs, 350 reps
    • Oblique Twist = lbs, 600 reps
    • Side Bend = lbs, 600 reps
    • Side Raise = lbs, 200 reps
    • Rollout Wheel = lbs, 300 reps
  • Cardio
    • Sprinting Distance = meters, 45 reps
    • 50m Dash = sec, 10 reps
    • 200m Dash = sec, 5 reps
    • Medicine Ball = sec, 5 reps
    • Shuttle Run = sec, 10 reps
    • 3 mile Jog = min, 2 reps
    • 2 mile Jog = min, 2 reps
    • 1 mile Jog = min, 2 reps
• DIET
  • Diet
    • Skin and Lip Care = 40 qty
    • Dr Pepper = 250 fl oz
    • Healthy Meals = 30 qty
    • Unhealthy Food = 22 servings
    • Brush & Floss = 120 qty
• LIFE
  • Career
    • Study = 20 hrs , 28 lessons
  • Family
    • Chores = 43 hrs
  • NF Community
    • Challenge Thread = 6 qty
    • Battle Log = 40 qty
    • Epic Quest = 2 qty
    • Mini Challenge = 6 qty
  • Toastmasters
    • Manual Lessons = 3 qty
    • Officer / Governor = 1500 min
    • Mentoring / Coach = 400 min
    • Meeting Roles = 4 qty
    • Table Topics = 3 qty
  • Jedi
    • Jedi Reading = 500 min
  • Geocaching

[Mikroftt]

Lots of good stuff in here!  I look forward to seeing your progress this challenge!

[Xena]

Good luck with your challenge! Looks like you want to do the ranger mini? If so, go check out the thread. DR has already put up some beginning instructions...find a partner for....well, who knows, whatever comes next.

[BarefootDawsy]

I can't resist a Jedi challenge. You've got a LOT of stuff on here...make sure you don't spread yourself too thin, but I'm looking forward to seeing how you go. There is no Try, right?

 

Subbed

[JediNickD]

No try, indeed. 

 

I'm joining the Mini-Challenge and looking for a partner!

[JediNickD]

I was planning a Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday schedule for cardio, but decided to alternate between that and Monday, Wednesday, Thursday to give me better accessiblity to all equipment and facilities.  One gym is closed on Fridays and there are classes which occupy space and equipment on Monday and Wednesday, so I have to plan things just right to maximize my workouts.  Waking up before 0530 will certainly help me maintain my schedule to get the most out of my workouts.

 

So, I started Day 1 with a cardio workout.  Two 4 minute 900 meter sessions on the row machine and 15 minutes of basketball.  I worked on dibbling more than usual, but I'm still pretty embarrassing. 

 

For Toastmasters, I have a speech scheduled for Wednesday and a second on Monday.  I have the first one pretty much set.  I haven't decided on the second one yet.  I have an abstract idea, but I need time to get it right and it might not be ready.  I may have an easy backup just in case.

[Mikroftt]

I miss rowing.  Had access to a machine in college but since I graduated I have not done it.  It is a great whole body workout!

[BarefootDawsy]

No try, indeed. 

 

I'm joining the Mini-Challenge and looking for a partner!

 

Just saw that you found a partner - good luck on the mini!

[DaemonCorax]

Hey challenge buddy - what's on deck for tomorrow?

[JediNickD]

Veteran's Day, so the gym doesn't open until 8am.  I'll get a Weightlifting Workout in at 11am before lunch.  I'm planning on Bench Press, Goblet Squats, Standing Barbell Curls, and Tricep Pulldowns.  I didn't include it in my side quest, but I might do some Deadlifting just for fun.  Depends on how my elbows feel after the pulldowns.  The place should be pretty empty meaning I'll be able to do whatever I want.  Bench Press, Deadlift, and Squats are typically exercises I have to wait my turn, because the equipment is the most popular (even for non-deadlifting and non-squatting exercises, like curls and crap, because people are dumb). 

[JediNickD]

I skipped the curls and did some forearm work instead.  My arms and chest are burning as I went for reps and sets instead of aiming for any PRs.  Deadlifts were welcomed to the party, but I kept it light at 180 lbs.  I maxed at 210 lbs for 5 reps on the bench and just 80 lbs on the goblet squats with two sets of deep 60 lb squats.  Tricep rope pulldowns are become a personal favorite.  I started at 42.5 lbs and worked down a bar every other set.  As I expected, I had my choice as there were only a few other people there. 

 

Now, time to EAT some MEAT!

[Mikroftt]

Forearm work is always good!  I am jealous of your 210 lbs on the bench!  That is a beast of a load!  Keep it up!  What kind of meat are you eating?

[JediNickD]

I eat all the meats.  Pork yesterday, turkey for lunch today, dinner will be chicken.  Lunch tomorrow might be beef. 

 

My PR on the bench is 220 lbs, which I hit last challenge, and previously many challenges ago before I hurt my elbow.  I just looked it up and it was Challenge 8, on May 16, 2013, a year and a half ago.  This challenge, my bench press goal is 225.  I want to get there on Thursday of next week, but that might be rushing it. 

[Mikroftt]

Those all sound yummy.  That is very impressive on the lifting.  I have no doubt you can make it to 225.  Just don't hurt yourself getting there.  

[SkiBlue]

Your numbers are looking good. Love your discipline! Glad to see such a well-rounded quest, as usual.

[JediNickD]

I did a Toastmaster speech yesterday about the four roles in a Toastmasters meeting which a typically poorly managed in my clubs.  I posted the speech in my Epic Quest here:  http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/16806-jedinickds-epic-quest/page-3#entry1280811

 

I have another speech on Monday.  The subject is about the phrase "Do as I say, Not as I Do."  I find myself saying this to my kids for various reasons.  In the speech, I revise the saying to "Do as I say, today is my day, tomorrow is your day," because I do not want my kids thinking I am doing something bad or wrong, because I am usually not.  I want them to understand that I want them to be safe from experiences that may be dangerous to them, that they may not be ready for, and that they will have their chance to learn from making mistakes just like I did.  But today is not that day.  Maybe someday in the future will be that day. 

 

I'm not writing the speech out.  I want to do the speech from heart for more practice with impromptu speaking.  Also, I prepare better this way.  "The Helpers" speech, I wrote every word and rehearsed well enough, but when I write every word, I feel compelled to stick to the script and my performance suffers.  I need freedom to improvise and not feel like I am making mistakes.  So no script this time.  Here is the outline, which is still a work in progress:  http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/16806-jedinickds-epic-quest/page-3#entry1280811

[SkiBlue]

Good luck! Sounds like you know what you're doing with your speech. You'll do great!

[DaemonCorax]

I eat all the meats.  Pork yesterday, turkey for lunch today, dinner will be chicken.  Lunch tomorrow might be beef. 

 

My PR on the bench is 220 lbs, which I hit last challenge, and previously many challenges ago before I hurt my elbow.  I just looked it up and it was Challenge 8, on May 16, 2013, a year and a half ago.  This challenge, my bench press goal is 225.  I want to get there on Thursday of next week, but that might be rushing it. 

 

Meat are awesome.  As winter hits, I don't mind leaving the oven on for hours and hours at a time.  Last week was 7-hr pulled pork.  Do you cook in batches, or do every meal separately?

 

210 lbs on the bench - yikes!  My goal is to one day bench press bodyweight, but for now I just want to deadlift all things. 

 

The thing that always pleases me is how powerlifting translates to real life.  I started deadlifting and now I can pull 2 800-lb liquid nitrogen dewars around the halls at work.  True, the wheels are very good.  I'm thinking of interviewing for jobs as a cart horse.

 

When you go for PRs on the bench, do you have a spotter?

[JediNickD]

I'm gonna to skip out on Toastmasters tonight.  I'm not feeling well and need to rest.  I have a big week, turning 34 on Wednesday with a party on Friday.  I need to recover so I can feel good the rest of the week.

 

Yeah, we usually do seperate meals, but we'll do a ham, brisket, turkey, or pork to have for the week on occasion.  Pulled pork is one of my favorites. 

 

They are not 800 lb nitrogen tanks, but I love being able to easily lift the water cooler jugs.  I get a bit of pleasure watching my co-workers struggle with them. 

 

When I PR, I have a spotter just to make sure I don't drop it on myself, but not to help on any reps.  If I can't get the bar up, then I don't count it.  It is important to know what you are capable of, because there won't always be somebody to help you out of a jam. 

[JediNickD]

Wednesday was distance running: 3 miles in 28:25 minutes.  I ended with kicking a soccer ball for a cool down.

Thursday was sprinting:  5 shuttle runs, 5 medicine ball runs.  Soccer cool down again.

Friday, I lifted dumbells hitting 7 exercises and barbells hitting 2 exercises.

 

Training journal has all the details.  I need to be better about posting those reports.

[DaemonCorax]

So I read this week's mini challenge:  Between your distance running and my bike commuting, we should be able to hit a good target.  In reading it LOOKS like we set a target to hit daily, and if we miss it one day, the miles carry over to the next day.  Anything earned in a particular day beyond the target does not carry forward.  I THINK that's how it will work.

 

My target:

Every week day this week is 17 miles approximately. I need to check.  Since I have more than one way to and from work, my mileage may vary.  Also today I took the short way in (1 mile shorter) because I was an idiot and didn't put chemical warmers in my boots.

 

Does this seem like a correct interpretation to you?

[JediNickD]

Ok, I've been a little out of it, lately. Turned 34 yesterday, went to a wedding over the weekend where friends I hardly see wanted to celebrate pretty hard.

Mini-challenge: the mileage goal for Deadlift Force is set at 16 miles. Alexc crushed it and my efforts are mostly just bonus. On Monday, I biked 2.1 miles on a bike machine and rowed 1880 meters. I'll put that in the spreadsheet. Wednesday, I did soccer training for 40 minutes. I'm running tomorrow morning.

Tuesday was a lift day. Thursday became a lift day, because I didn't get up early enough for a long run.

I did some measurements and I'm impressed on my progress. 
 

 

Date 6-Jan 19-Nov

Weight 167.2 169.2

Chest 39.5 42

Belly 38 37

Waist 36 36

Right Bicep 13.25 14

Left Bicep 13.25 14

 

I need to make the rest of the measurements, but that chest and bicep comparison makes me feel pretty good.

[DaemonCorax]

Hey there!  Glad to have you back.  I think I rode 3-4 miles last night (see message).  I definitely hit 12 this morning.  We'll throw your mileage in and hit round 3 of the target.  The 5 "sacrificial" miles in the log are because you can't split one activity (a single half of the commute, a single rowing episode) across two rounds.  There ARE other people counting spin classes and indoor cycling in the mileage though, so I think we're okay.  I'll start round 4 when I head for home this evening.  (With both headlights charged )

 

I lifted yesterday morning too.  I couldn't get a dumbbell in the right place for a true goblet squat but in the spirit of going for depth, I did front squats instead.

 

I think your chest measurement pretty much explains your bench results. Good for you!

[Toshimi]

• LIFE: Build WIS +3 and CHA +3 by completing two Toastmaster Speeches, participating in Table Topics thrice and Meeting Roles four times, and by completing all the lessons for my Acquistion 101 course.

Time to crack open the High Performance Leadership manual.  I decided to switch my goal though.  My goal will be to increase the awareness of Toastmasters in my home county where there are only two clubs.  Growth is certainly a possibilty.  My two main targets are the county newspaper and advertising at the county community college. 

I'm almost finished with my Competent Leadership manual, as well as my communicator manuals.  I plan to do a Speechcraft training session for the 1 hour training session I need to do for my Advanced Communicator Gold, so I can earn my DTM.  My Club Coach and Area Governor roles are going very well.  I'm considering going for Division Director in the spring elections.

Jedi Training needs to be a bigger focus.  They are one week lessons and I take too long between them.  I'm putting it on hold until the following challenge where I will do 6 lessons and finish the course in a reasonable amount of time.

To improve my project management and proposal skills, which are vital to rising higher in the ranks of my contracting company, I decided to take some online courses.  Acquistion 101 is a prereq for just about every course at the University so I start there.  It is a 20 hour course to be completed in 60 days.  I'm already a two weeks in, so I need to finish before the end of this challenge.

 

Great to see another Toastmaster here! Looks like you're well on your way to DTM. 

 

I'm Focusing on my Advanced Communicator Silver right now, and hoping to be an area governor next year. Have you decided what you're doing for your high performance leadership? 

[JediNickD]

DTM is on pace for July of next year.  My HPL goal is to increase awareness of Toastmasters in my home county where there are only two clubs.  My plan is to create contacts in many areas and businesses where Toastmasters is currently not known and get a newspaper article published about Toastmasters in the county paper.  My goal will be complete when both clubs in the county have at least 20 members or a new club is formed in the area.  My mission starts next month with the newspaper article.