Urgan Assembles the Triforce

[Urgan]

I am so proud to be joining the Assassins for this challenge! So yeah, here comes challenge number 2! I'm still lifting, and hopefully lifting more at the end than at the start, with some careful planning and attentiveness to my body. I built this in as I was writing up the rules, so that should help keep my goals aligned. Balance is the name of the game for this challenge, so what better theme for balance than the Triforce?

 

 

 

Alrighty, so let's get to it: how do my goals mirror the legendary Triforce? I'm so glad you asked.

 

 

Power (STR+2, DEX+5)

 

What is power without strength? I'm still working on mine, and I suspect I always will be. There's all different kinds of strength, even if we're just sticking the physical kind. In that sense, my strength program consists of the big four powerlifts: Squat, Deadlift, Bench press, and Overhead Press. These are well-established habit by now (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday), I’m not really in need of accountability on these, but I have to consider them because they are number one for my training.

I do, however, intend to incorporate the following into my routine:

- Yoga: 1 day/week (Sunday)

- Walking: warm up/cool down (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday)

- Kip Up: you know that quick-recovery move everybody takes for granted in games? Yeah, gonna give that a try 1 day/week

- Splits and Hollow Hold/Rock Stretches: 3 days/week

- Chins/Pulls: 4 days/week (Start with 1x5 for each to determine optimal reps/sets )

Bottom line caveat for these additions: I will remove anything that interferes with the lifts; success is not gaining all of the new skills by challenge end, but rather establishing the habit of training for them. I'll let my body take care of itself.

 

Power Goals (@75%):

1. Strength Gains (optional, but highly coveted)

2. Incorporate bodyweight skill training: chins, pulls, kip up

3. Incorporate additional bodyweight activities: yoga, splits, hollow hold/rock and walking

4. Find balance in goals 1-3. If I do not do 2 or 3 because it interferes with number 1, it does not count against me

 

 

Wisdom (WIS+3,  CHA+1)

 

 

Wisdom is good judgment in action. I have good judgment and consistency of exercise, I just need to get my diet in line. Specifically, I need to provide myself with the insight to know how much sugar I am consuming and find out a way to reduce it. Here is where I stand as of the previous challenge: I have a max quota of 5 mini-chocolates, I logged all consumables, drink lots of water, and maintain a 9:45 curfew on weeknights.

For this challenge, I will build on the foundation I’ve already laid by:

-          Reducing my mini-chocolate quota to 4 with a non-chocolate junk food quota of 1 to formally close the loophole of utilizing other junk food (not that I was super bad about this before)

-          Log all added sugar: intended to create mindfulness of how many sugar-laden things I consume and thus curtail junk calories

-          Re: drinks, I will establish a strict pass/fail for non-natural, fluorescent, sugar-bomb drinks. The allowed list: milk, water, sugar-less coffee, tea. That's it. Anything else Fails this section for the duration of the challenge.

 

 

There will not be detailed food logging of every single thing I eat and drink to avoid a boring list of sameness every day, for I am a boring creature of habit. I will be relaxing my strict requirement of 8 cups of water/day to avoid interfering with my sleep routine, which I will also not strictly log, but I still expect to hold to 9:45 curfew—if I start sliding, it goes back to being logged.

Note: I realize I have a lot of mentions of “I’m not logging this, but I’m still doing it†in this challenge, I’m easing up on these (re)new habits, but I don’t want to throw them all to the wind, hence my challenge structure.

 

Wisdom Goals (@75%):

1. Curtail chocolate and sugary junk consumption by being mindful of how much of it I am eating and ratchet down one more notch from the last challenge (I'm trying to boil this frog by degrees). I need to get to a place where the vast majority of my calories is fuel for greatness

2. Provide entertainment/info about what new recipes I try via recipe logging

3. Encourage a normal amount of water consumption

4. Get to sleep. I'm going to try to adult this curfew, but if I slip off the bandwagon I reserve the right to go back to logging it

 

 

Courage (WIS+1, CHA+3)

 

 

It takes a lot of intestinal fortitude to devote time to doing the right things, even if it frightens you or you're just uncertain whether it will work out. Willingness to take risks is everything, especially to a good challenge.

Last challenge I had a Life challenge for paying down debt. I plan to pay off the balance of one of two debts and begin attacking the remaining debt

Additionally, for this challenge I will go on an office de-clutter mission. There is a ton of stuff to shred, I have gift wrap from the holidays that needs to be put away, and if I could do anything about the closet that would be bonus (i.e., optional)

I won’t be logging cat box maintenance and teeth-brushing this challenge, however it is still an implied expectation, of course

 

Courage Goals (@90%):

1. Pay down debt--Pay off the lower CC debt of ~$700 and pay minimum $200 on the remaining debt

Thanks to an unexpected bonus check windfall, I am modifying this goal. Pay OFF ALL DEBT (~$680). That's right, we're gonna be DEBT FREE by the end of this challenge! 

2. Clean up my office floor--it's a wreck

3. Find a closet--clean it

4. Once again, I will attempt to adult with proper home and personal care--but, if I slack, I WILL employ self-shame once again

 

So that's my challenge for this coming six weeks! It's simple, but simple doesn't mean easy--or boring, I hope. Can't wait to get started...in fact, I think I'll do that right now!

 

 

Before Pics:

 

Not really a good picture day, but this isn't glamour shots time anyway, so here goes...

 

 

Measurements:

Weight: 101.4 lbs

Neck: 11.5"

Waist: 23.87"

Hips: 33.5"

Biceps(L/R): 11.5"/11.5"

Thighs(L/R): 18.5"/19"

Calves(L/R): 11.5"/11"

 

The reward:

 

I have thought about my rewards and I think I'm gonna reward myself for a well-beaten challenge with a good massage, I have not had one in years and am a bit overdue. I'll have to research where as haven't gotten one in this city before...

[Urgan]

WEEK 1 SUMMARY

POWER

 

1. No gains, but not for lack of consistent lifting! 100%

2. I did chin-ups and pull-ups most lifting days,  66%

    Kip-up practice the promised 100%

3. Yoga (0/1), Splits practice (4/3), Hollow Hold(5/3), General Stretching(4/3), Walking (5/7) -- 100%

4. I haven't seen my lifting performance suffer, so far, so good. 100%

 

WISDOM

1. I've done some good work on the chocolate rehab, some days I didn't even have the allotted 4 mini-chocolates

2. All new recipes logged

3. Working on proper level of water consumption, not stressing about this

4. I am proud of my sleep schedule, it has been pretty good, actually--on time for bed every weekday

 

COURAGE

 

1. NO DEBT.

2. I am halfway to a clean floor - 50% thus far

3. No work on the closet thus far, but soon! - TBA

4. Adulting successful thus far - 100%

 

Mini-challenge 1 STR+1: here

________________________________________________________________________________________

 

WEEK 2 SUMMARY

POWER

 

1. Consistent lifting (barring weather), I'm about to get to a 60lb bench. Feeling pretty good here. 100%

2. I did chin-ups and pull-ups every day I lifted 100%

    Kip-up practice the promised 100%

3. Yoga (0/1), Splits practice (1/3), Hollow Hold(3/3), General Stretching(4/3), Walking (3/7) -- 61%

4. I haven't seen my lifting performance suffer, so far, so good. 100%

 

WISDOM

1. Staying strong on the chocolate quota

2. All new recipes logged

3. I'm easing up pretty well on the water, 4 cups is good

4. My sleep schedule hasn't been perfect, but I made a conscious choice for a few days to go to bed a bit later, nothing crazy

 

COURAGE

 

1. NO DEBT.

2. I am halfway to a clean floor - 50% thus far

3. Closet - 100%

4. Adulting successful thus far - 100%

________________________________________________________________________________________

 

WEEK 3 SUMMARY

POWER

 

1. No gains, but not for lack of consistent lifting! 100%

2. I did chin-ups and pull-ups most lifting days,  60%

    Kip-up practice the promised 100%

3. Yoga (1*/1), Splits practice (5/3), Hollow Hold(4/3), General Stretching(5/3), Walking (4/3) -- 100%

4. While no gains have happened, I have been increasing weight on 3 of the 4 lifts. 100%

 

WISDOM

1. Chocolate within quota, I've managed to start getting the hang of keeping my sugar macro within MFP's guidelines

2. All new recipes logged

3. My water intake is under control, 4-6 cups/day is about right

4. Sleep schedule's been a little screwed up this week due to a bad night's sleep on Sunday...I come home and need a nap, then stay up later in the evening. Not good, but not intentional. Tried to get in bed earlier, but had trouble falling asleep consistently until after midnight. Sunday nights are the worst.

 

COURAGE

 

1. NO DEBT.

2. FLOOR IS CLEAN

3. The closet's clean

4. Adulting successful thus far - 100%

 

Mini-challenge 3 CON+1: here

________________________________________________________________________________________

 

WEEK 4 SUMMARY

POWER

 

1. Consistent lifting = better than before my deload -- 100%

2. I did chin-ups and pull-ups every lifting day -- 100%

    Kip-up practice the promised 100% I have found this to not be as interesting as I'd hoped

3. Yoga (1/1), Splits practice (5/3), Hollow Hold(2*/3), General Stretching(6/3), Walking (3/3) -- 100%

4. A BP 5x5 @ 60 and Squat 5x5 @ 90 are definitely my best yet, a DL @ 120 isn't bad, either -- 100%

 

*I tried to get three, but I was too worn out from my lifting and whatnot to hold the pose

 

WISDOM

1. Chocolate within quota, sugar macro was pretty good with the exception of one night involving teriyaki sauce

2. All new recipes logged

3. 4-6 cups/day works really well

4. Had a better time of sleep, forced myself to not fall asleep on the couch in the evening, that's the ticket for circumventing sleep trouble--got a half decent night's sleep last night, which is a first for this month. All my other adulting has been pretty well in line

 

COURAGE -- DONE WEEK 3!

 

Mini-challenge 4 DEX+1: here

 

________________________________________________________________________________________

 

WEEK 5 SUMMARY

POWER

 

1. Always with the lifting -- 100%

2. I did chin-ups and pull-ups every lifting day AND Sunday, for multiple sets two days, AND I've started dead-hang chins. WINNING. -- 100%

3. Yoga (1/1), Splits practice (3/3), Hollow Hold(3/3), General Stretching(6/3), Walking (3/3) -- 100%

4. BP 5x5 @ 60 is getting more comfortable and I'm now at Squat 5x5 @ 95, DL @ 125 -- 100%

 

WISDOM

1. Sugar and carbs are coming to heel rather well

2. All new recipes logged

3. 4-6 cups/day is where it's at

4. Only had a thirty minute nap one day this week, otherwise things have been better, energy-wise. 

 

COURAGE -- DONE WEEK 3!

________________________________________________________________________________________

 

WEEK 6 SUMMARY

 

POWER

 

1. Always be lifting -- 100%

2. Chin-ups and pull-ups every lifting day -- 100%

3. Yoga (0/1), Splits practice (3/3), Hollow Hold(4/3), General Stretching(5/3), Walking (4/3) -- 100%

4. I have a lot of experience now with BP 5x5 @ 60 and I'm now at Squat 5x5 @ 105!, DL @ 125 -- 100%

 

WISDOM

1. Sugar and carbs are totally under control

2. All new recipes logged

3. 4-6 cups/day of water as per usual

4. Energy was terrible for half the week, lessons were learned

 

COURAGE -- DONE WEEK 3!

[shaar]

I love how you broke each quest down into significant goals.  BRILLIANT!

 

May the (tri)force be with you...

[Ryuu1011]

You had me at Triforce <3 Following! I also like that we have a similar goal which is to pay down our debt

[Urgan]

I love how you broke each quest down into significant goals.  BRILLIANT!

 

May the (tri)force be with you...

 

I've got my goals, I just need my reward. If I succeed (i.e., get an A...there is no prize for a B.), there are options:

 

1. The Practical -- I need a good pair of minimalist shoes for work 

2. The Pampering -- A massage I could very much use

3. The Plastic -- I have a serious flaw regarding highly articulated figures. Exhibt A: Barret, Exhibit B: Lightning Saix

 

Anybody want to help me decide? 

 

You had me at Triforce <3 Following! I also like that we have a similar goal which is to pay down our debt

 

Time to put our game faces on, it's almost show time!

[blkhole24601]

Eeeeee, Zelda theme!! And that image of Link holding a Starbucks cup with that face, priceless, I love it.

 

Fantastic challenge and goals! Subbed~

[Urgan]

Eeeeee, Zelda theme!! And that image of Link holding a Starbucks cup with that face, priceless, I love it.

 

Fantastic challenge and goals! Subbed~

 

Highest of fives! Flabbergasted Link will fuel the awesome! 

[blkhole24601]

 

 

Highest of fives! Flabbergasted Link will fuel the awesome! 

 

 

Yes woo!

 

 

High-fives all around!

[starsapart]

HERE FOR THIS.

[raptron]

O hi.

 

That's a lotta goals and subgoals! Phew! Good luck this challenge.

[erosan]

highly articulated figures? get the ultimate one:

http://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Amazing-Poseable-18/dp/B0000D12XS

I somehow managed to buy one years ago for like 20 bucks and it still is one of my favs.

And for minimalist shoes, I'd be very jealous if you got a pair of these:

http://theprimalprofessional.com

[Urgan]

O hi.

 

That's a lotta goals and subgoals! Phew! Good luck this challenge.

Gotta keep busy, and they all pretty much tie together. I've also left room to bow out in the event it's too much, but I figure I'll do fine. 

 

 

highly articulated figures? get the ultimate one:

http://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Amazing-Poseable-18/dp/B0000D12XS

I somehow managed to buy one years ago for like 20 bucks and it still is one of my favs.

And for minimalist shoes, I'd be very jealous if you got a pair of these:

http://theprimalprofessional.com

 

That is a seriously flexible Spiderman!

[erosan]

It is awesome, though most of my friends immediately default to posing spiderman flipping the bird...    ;

[Urgan]

It is awesome, though most of my friends immediately default to posing spiderman flipping the bird...     ;

 

Sigh. Your friends suffer a collective lack of creativity.

[erosan]

lol. yup.

[Urgan]

They should have made him go all like

 

[starsapart]

They should have made him go all like

 

 

I think I could almost do that.............

[lucky fire dragon]

I think I could almost do that.............

 of course you would

 

Urgan, this is quite a hardass challenge you set yourself here! And well thought through, kudos. Sure you will rock it and ready to cheer you on    

[Urgan]

I think I could almost do that.............

 

If you can, your legs and rear end deserve some credit even though they disappoint you in the appearance department--day-uym, all the flexibility.

 

 

Urgan, this is quite a hardass challenge you set yourself here! And well thought through, kudos. Sure you will rock it and ready to cheer you on    

 

Hop right on the crazy train, no idea where it'll end up but I can guarantee it's rollin'. Mostly it's just taking my last challenge one solid step up--especially in the nutrition department. Holy cow. Is it sad I feel the pressing need to crow that I did NOT take a wedge of rice crispy treat from the catered tray at work? So many people are so good at this sort of thing on NF. Chocolate is a Problem.

[starsapart]

If you can, your legs and rear end deserve some credit even though they disappoint you in the appearance department--day-uym, all the flexibility.

 

If I ever try and succeed, will be certain to let you know.

[mediaguy99]

Second for being a great amazing challenge.

[Urgan]

Second for being a great amazing challenge.

 

I do hope to deliver at least some amusing times over these next six weeks...anything else is gravy.

[Urgan]

Note: You may notice that I have modified my Courage goal. This is because it turns out I DO get a bonus check annually...and it dropped in my lap this week! Ergo, the goal is to become DEBT FREE this challenge! 

[erosan]

forget about strength feats… this is where the money is at! (pun intended).

Make it happen Urgan! being debt free is my goal too!

[lucky fire dragon]

Congrats of going for debt-free, whoohooo!!!

 

And I can totally relate to chocolate being a problem. I have to make my own to keep it in check with healthy versions, otherwise I eat regular chocolate and it is soooooooooo hard to stop