Shaarawy Gets Magical - Sailor Moon Style

[shaar]

WELCOME, friends, to my 4th (whoa~) challenge!  For 2015 I’m theming each of my challenges around something that’s influenced my nerd-life in a big way, be it video game, movie, book, etc. My last challenge was Final Fantasy themed! *victory theme*

 

This month, I’m getting magical.

 

 

For this challenge I’m guild-hopping from Ranger to Druid, and I’m REALLY excited to be here!  I love everything the Druid encompasses (it may also be my favorite world of warcraft class ever), and while I’m already a pretty mindful and spiritual person, there are some pretty big things I need to work on.

 

So, here we go~

 

 

Quest 1: In The Name of Flexibility!  (+4 DEX)

 

 

Yup, that’s Rei laughing at how poor my leg mobility is.

 

My hamstrings are SAD, yo.  They’ve always been fairly pitiful but I’ve been a desk jockey for the past 3~ years, and the further I take my workouts, the more I’m finding that my mobility is just junk-ola.

 

To remedy this, I’m going to incorporate some hamstring stretches to my routine.  EVERY DAY.  No excuses.  These aren’t super time consuming, or tedious, and I can do a lot of them practically anywhere so there really is no excuse.

 

I’m going to base my stretching off of these two videos:

 

 

 

 

 

A: Stretching every.  Dang.  Day.

B: Stretching 6 or more days a week.

F: 5 or less days a week.  Total fail, because, come on now.

 

 

 

Quest 2: Senshi Battle Ready! (+2 DEX, +2STR)

 

 

Fighting the Dark Kingdom takes a lot of flexibility!  You can’t just stand there like a brick and shout at people.  (Well, I think Usagi tried this right off the bat, but it didn’t work very well...)

 

As much as I enjoy my strength training I’m realizing I need to start getting more flexible again.  I used to do a lot of yoga and it’s so great for both mind AND body that I feel myself being pulled towards needing more of that right now.  I’m really looking forward to working it into my current fitness regime!

 

(And besides, being in a better headspace will help me power through the rest of these winter days...)

 

I do barre/pilates twice a week as well, and I still want to leave wiggle room for other endeavors (running!  lifting! etc!) so my grading will be as follows:

 

A: Yoga 3 times a week.

B: Yoga 2 times a week.

F: Yoga only once a week.

 

 

 

Quest 3: Too Many Buns... (+2CON, +3WIS)

 

 

I’m actually pulling a repeat of my last challenge, where I had a quest each to limit my consumption of beer and cheat meals.  I’m happily on track with less beer in my life, but I feel my cheat meals could still use a closer eye for one more go around, especially as it continues to be frigid outside and I think about pizza more often than I should.

 

A: One cheat meal per week.

B: Two cheat meals per week.

F: Three+ cheat meals per week. (Barf.)

 

 

 

Life Quest: Silver Millenium Stories  (+2 CHA)

 

 

I really love writing and being creative, but I just don’t have the time for large endeavors (as I discovered during NaNoWriMo).  My life quest will be to choose a theme each week (using this list) and write a semi-drabble -- 100 to 200 words -- with a pair of characters I’ve been tooling around with for a while. (And will introduce later.)

 

A: Write once every week.

B: Write once for at least 5 weeks.

F: Write once for 4 or less weeks.

 

OF COURSE it wouldn't be a Proper Shaarawy Challenge without a bonus challenge (because since when is anything easy??) - I'll be traveling for AT LEAST two of the weekends during this challenge (actually, the more I think of it, possibly THREE) so I'm going to have to get real clever with my time management and proper food intake (read: avoiding bad meals)... All of the places I'm going are for different reasons but totally wonderful (Charleston SC, for a soccer tournament; Orlando FL, for a military retirement, and Asheville NC, for a limited beer release!) but of course travel always throws a wrench in any routine or plans...

 

But...

 

I GOT THIS!

 

I've decided that if I manage to pull out all the stops and get all A's on this challenge, I'm going to reward myself with some new fitness gear! I REALLY need some new shorts and better workout shirts that aren't ActivateApparel tanks (heheh~), and (hopefully) spring will be here soon.... right?

 

I know I can make this happen! GO TEAM!!!

 

[Urgan]

Reporting for gif and anime nostalgia duty!

[Strickland5]

In an unrelated side note there are some TERRIBLE Sailor Moon gifs out there ... wow. 

[Chanda]

As a fellow desk jokey... I hear you on the flexibility. I to am working on the hamstrings. 

 

I was going to comment on your scoring of A, B and then nothing but an F. Thats a bit harsh in my experience... sometimes a C or D is well earned, specially if life throws a curve ball our way. I once was an A or nothing kinda girl myself, now I am a lot kinder on myself and somehow I am actually making more progress and enjoy life a lot more. Anyway, as you are going for the bonus all A, I can see how not having the option to fall back on a C is motivating. Oh look at that... I commented anyway.

 

Welcome and enjoy your time with the Druids!

[shaar]

Reporting for gif and anime nostalgia duty!

 

*salutes!*  WOO HOO!!

 

In an unrelated side note there are some TERRIBLE Sailor Moon gifs out there ... wow. 

 

You can't just say that and not SHARE!

 

As a fellow desk jokey... I hear you on the flexibility. I to am working on the hamstrings. 

 

I was going to comment on your scoring of A, B and then nothing but an F. Thats a bit harsh in my experience... sometimes a C or D is well earned, specially if life throws a curve ball our way. I once was an A or nothing kinda girl myself, now I am a lot kinder on myself and somehow I am actually making more progress and enjoy life a lot more. Anyway, as you are going for the bonus all A, I can see how not having the option to fall back on a C is motivating. Oh look at that... I commented anyway.

 

Welcome and enjoy your time with the Druids!

 

Hamstrings are so tough!  I hate sitting 8 hours a day too, but, gotta have a job...!

 

I've definitely made allowances in the past if I got injured or sick - which did happen, I injured myself in my very first challenge!!  ( Whoops!! ^^; )  Since then I have an adaptability clause ready to go in the back of my mind because you're right, it's not fair to me if "life happens" and I get sidelined with the flu for 2 weeks of my challenge.  (I'm actually sick with a head cold on this off week... kinda glad it happened now actually, ha!)  These grades are pretty much if I'm fit and able but just... sorta... slack off because laziness!

 

THANK YOU!  I'm excited to be here!!

[Strickland5]

... okay ...

 

 

[shaar]

... okay ...

 

 

 

 

@_@

[Strickland5]

I'm curious the actual logic behind that statement ... does Snow White's chest get talked about somewhere?

[starsapart]

I LOVE YOU AND THIS AND EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS THREAD ALREADY.

 

[shaar]

I'm curious the actual logic behind that statement ... does Snow White's chest get talked about somewhere?

 

There is an episode where the Snow White play is being put on and the girls are fighting over the lead, Ami says she should be lead because Snow White is smart, Minako says it's because she is a star, etc. - Mako says she should have the lead because... well, yup!

 

 

I LOVE YOU AND THIS AND EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS THREAD ALREADY.

 

 

I LOVE how both of our challenges are centered around magical strong ladies, it is just a fabulous thing~

[starsapart]

There is an episode where the Snow White play is being put on and the girls are fighting over the lead, Ami says she should be lead because Snow White is smart, Minako says it's because she is a star, etc. - Mako says she should have the lead because... well, yup!

 

 

 

I LOVE how both of our challenges are centered around magical strong ladies, it is just a fabulous thing~

 

Okay, one, Snow is an idiot.  She is a literal idiot.  In the original story, she takes poisoned stuff from the same old lady THREE TIMES and never questions it.  She has the brains of a fruit fly.  Ami, you are reaching.

 

AHEM THAT SAID.

 

STRONG MAGICAL LADIES FOR THE WIN!

 

[shaar]

Okay, one, Snow is an idiot.  She is a literal idiot.  In the original story, she takes poisoned stuff from the same old lady THREE TIMES and never questions it.  She has the brains of a fruit fly.  Ami, you are reaching.

 

 

And this (among other reasons) is why I heart you.     XD  LOL'ed at my desk!!

[Urgan]

Okay, one, Snow is an idiot.  She is a literal idiot.  In the original story, she takes poisoned stuff from the same old lady THREE TIMES and never questions it.  She has the brains of a fruit fly.  Ami, you are reaching.

 

AHEM THAT SAID.

 

STRONG MAGICAL LADIES FOR THE WIN!

 

[goodbye_farewell]

Here for the awesome. As someone who has spent a lot of time traveling, and I can attest to the difficulties! But I know you will do well.

[BlackTezca]

I shall follow this thread cause this is awesome.

 

STRONG MAGICAL LADIES FOR THE WIN!

 

 

Oh hell yes!

[shaar]

 

 

Oh hell yes!

 

BIG BADA-BOOM!!

 

[tmac]

BIG BADA-BOOM!!

 

 

Love!

 

[mitch_dee]

subbing cause I always forget to and lose you in the Nerd shuffle.....but not this time!!!

[shaar]

subbing cause I always forget to and lose you in the Nerd shuffle.....but not this time!!!

 

 

Oh my gosh.  That gif.  BWAHAHA~~~

[mitch_dee]

Found it appropriate, if you replace his 6-pack with a fut gut and that would be me in Sailor Moon cosplay.

[TMedina]

Sorry, no animated gifs (yet).

 

Have you looked at, or considered, caveman squats for developing lower body flexibility?

[shaar]

Sorry, no animated gifs (yet).

 

Have you looked at, or considered, caveman squats for developing lower body flexibility?

 

 

There you are!

 

I have tried them!  BUT!!  .... I fall over! ;

 

I think now that I have a yoga strap I can hook that up to something to provide myself some more stability, possibly?

[TMedina]

It takes a lot of work to get them right and initially, your knees are going to feel like glass.  You can use a yoga strap, or you could grab onto something like a railing or a pole to provide balance.  Keeping your arms extended out in front as you lean forward into your knees as you descend can help you keep your balance.

 

I'm in the middle of a move and personal drama, but I'll dig up some of the links I have to tutorials and the like.

[stillskies]

 

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! Sailor Moon! :D

 

Also, cheat meals. Pizza. I love pizza. I miss pizza. Even though I had pizza on Sunday. I want more pizza.

[TMedina]

All my usual bookmarks are unavailable, but here are a handful that I often refer to:

 

"Third world squats"

 

http://www.t-nation.com/readArticle.do?id=1856085

 

I don't vouch for this guy's other videos, but this one about the "flat footed squat" is pretty good in my opinion:

 

 

Blogs and light reading:

http://www.zengardner.com/5-reasons-full-squat/

 

Included mostly for the lady, six months pregnant, doing a caveman squat (using guardrails for balance)

https://runningyourbody.wordpress.com/2013/09/01/on-5-exercises-for-minimalist-running/

 

Starting out, I recommend leaning forward, arms outstretched, and sticking your butt out as far as you can go, then sink down, bending at the knees.  Once your chest hits your quads, then try to lower your butt to the ground.  Ideally, your heels should be flat on the ground, but it's going to take time to develop that flexibility.  The caveman squat is one giant flexibility test.  

 

And if you want to be adventurous, try holding it for time.