elem - Slays the Slayers

[ElemHH]

This challenge - elemhh – Slays the slayers.

 

When I set up my profile I decided that my race would be vampire. I have loved vampire stories since I was a kid and when left to my own devices my sleep routine levels eventually has me going to bed around 7am and getting up around noon.

 

Even though there are lots of fandoms I would like to play in, it seemed appropriate that my first two themed challenges be vampire related. So this challenge is me slaying the would-be vampire slayers before they can come for me. Each slayer will represent an area that I am working on.

 

I set my previous challenge up to be a pass or fail, I had to work on it every day or fail the whole challenge. I will be doing a slightly less strict version of it this time too. Rather than missing one session making me fail the whole challenge, this time it would only make me fail the quest relating to the activity that I've missed.

 

It may seem like I have a lot of quests, but 3 of them are just continuing on from my last one.

 

Each quest will be represented by a vampire slayer that will need to be defeated in order for me to be successful.

 

 

 

Quest 1 – Strength

 

For this quest I will be continuing to work on my push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups and squats.

I will be alternating days. Monday, Wednesday and Friday will be Sit-up & Squat days.

Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday will be Push-up and Pull-ups days.

 

During my last quest I set a number of reps that I had to achieve in order to pass the quest. This time I am not setting a number, just working on improving. As long as my number of reps at the end is better than when I started, I'll consider it a win.

 

Strength represented by Blade.

 

 

Quest 2 – Dexterity

 

I will be continuing my flexibility work.

During the first challenge I worked on Elements from GMB. During this quest I will be redoing some of the Elements sessions or using Gravity yoga to continue getting more flexible.

 

Dexterity represented by Buffy

 

 

 

Quest 3 – Stamina

 

For this one I will be working on a general fitness course Tapp Brothers: In-home parkour fitness. It is a 6 week course, five days a week.

 

Stamina represented by Werewolves (The vampires natural enemy).

 

 

Quest 4 – Constitution

 

Daily calorie limit of 1,800 (max).

I will be carrying on with my Lose it app, following the calorie limit given (but can go up to 1,800 without failing).

If my weight loss continues to slow or freeze, I will up my calorie allowance to see if I am eating too little and putting my body into calorie efficiency mode.

 

Represented by Raziel

 

 

Quest 5 – Intelligence (I don't have an INT stat, so the points for this quest will be split between CHA & WIS)

 

Learning a new skill will be my intelligence quest. I recently got a cheap keyboard and plan on teaching myself to play.

I only need to practice for 5 minutes a day (although any day that I feel like doing more than that is a plus) to be successful at this quest. It would be nice if I could play a recognizable tune by the end of the challenge.

 

Represented by Van Helsing

 

 

Quest 6 – Charisma

 

My charisma quest will be writing. Like my intelligence quest, I don’t need to do much work to pass this one. The emphasis on these two quests is building the habit of doing them daily.

I need to write 100 words per day to pass.

The last time I started writing 100 words a day, I quickly started building up my word count more each day, the more I got into what I was writing. Within a couple of months I was writing 1,700 words per day. I'm not expecting that to happen again now, but if I do start writing something that I have fun wuth, I do think my word count will end up increasing.

 

Represented by The Frog Brothers (Ok, not the epitome of charisma, but how can I have a vampire themed challenge and leave out The Lost Boys?)

 

 

Quests completed - Wisdom

 

At the end of the quest I will be facing Harry Keogh from The Necroscope.

I chose him because he had to exercise strong control over himself by book 5 of the series. If I manage to complete this challenge successfully, I will have exercised control over my own worse side.

 

 

Current Stats

 

To be filled in day one of the quest

 

Ongoing tasks

 

Additional to my increased reps for my strength goal, I will also be using some of the progressions in Convict Conditioning to further increase my strength.

 

Running 3 mornings per week.

 

Walking (+ running) to Mordor.

 

Trying to improve my sleep habits.

 

 

 

[spooky]

Here for this!! (also yay Buffy!!!)

[ninjakitten]

Tagging along. This will be awesome!

[Eskcanta]

No way would I miss this.  No way!

 

[ElemHH]

Here for this!! (also yay Buffy!!!)

Tagging along. This will be awesome!

No way would I miss this.  No way!

 

Thank you to all three of you for stopping by, I'm glad to have you all along for the ride.

 

and spooky, don't get too attached to Buffy, as a vampire I'm going to have to try to kill her during this challange.

[ninjakitten]

This challenge just started and there's already talk about killing Buffy... 

 

[Everstorm]

Writing and Parkour and Pullups, oh my! Count me in. Your goals are right up my alley.

[imjustarogue]

Writing and playing the keyboard! Makes me want to add those to my quest list (which isn't posted, so you haven't missed it yet...) Just need to figure out how to fit them into my theme.....  Hmmmm...  

[raptron]

Whaaat! Don't slay the slayers! Who will protect humanityyyy?!?!!?! Oh, right, humanity is scum. Carry on.

 

So many goals! So many shiny things! Good luck!

[ElemHH]

Yesterday was a huge cheat day for me, I ate so much during the day that by the time I got around to the evening meal that I had been looking forward to, I actually opted for a sensible meal instead with no desert.

 

I was pretty much stuffed to bursting all day, so didn't feel much like doing any exercise, but since I didn't want to break my daily activity chain I waited until late when I could move and did my sit-ups and squats.

 

At the end of the last challenge I had goals set for 60 sit-ups and 100 body weight squats. I felt pretty good doing my sit-ups, so decided to go beyond that and did 70. My squats were better too, so I did 110. I felt like I could have pushed for another 10 of each, but I don't want to push too hard and fast, so will try to take things a little less than 100%

 

 

Today I signed up for the unofficial assassin's mini challenge and am happy that I did, it has been a good workout so far.

I looked outside and it seemed hot, so I decided to skip my 5 mile walk. After seeing the mini I thought that I would do that instead.

 

My first set was supposed to be 250, but I did too many with one leg leading, so had to even it out and did 300.

I just finished my second set of 300, this time I timed myself (it took just under 12 minutes). I aim to do at least one more set today, maybe two. It will depend how my legs are feeling (at the moment they feel like jelly).

 

Before doing my second set of step ups I also did my daily pull-ups, I couldn't get past 8 today. Then I held myself in a slightly flexed hang for 15 seconds (I could feel that my right arm was much weaker than my left. I started slowly moving to the left). Finally I ended with 5 slow negatives.

I didn't get to beat or even match my end of challenge goal of 10.

 

I also did my daily push-ups. My end of challenge goal was 50 and I managed to match that, barely. On my last rep I was stuck half way up and had to grit my teeth to push the rest of the way up.

 

It's odd that sit-ups have now become the exercise I can perform the best, they were my worst exercise during the last quest, I hated them.

 

Later in the day I'll do the uneven push-up[ progression from Convict Conditioning, some fingertip wall push-ups and some stretches. But for now I'm done and am going for a long, hot bath.

 

[ElemHH]

We are an odd bunch. By the end of the last challenge I was very happy to see the end of it.

But now here I am, practically giddy thinking about all of us starting again.

When exactly did I become the guy cheering "Yay, I get to kick my own arse again for another 6 weeks"?

And everyone else seems even happier than me. This site does strange things to us.

[spooky]

Thank you to all three of you for stopping by, I'm glad to have you all along for the ride.

 

and spooky, don't get too attached to Buffy, as a vampire I'm going to have to try to kill her during this challange.

Fine I will get attached to Spike then 

[ElemHH]

Fine I will get attached to Spike then 

Spike is safe, even in my next challenge when I take on other vampires. You may have to fight my wife for him though. I recently got her into buffy, spike quickly became her favourite.

[ninjakitten]

We are an odd bunch. By the end of the last challenge I was very happy to see the end of it.

But now here I am, practically giddy thinking about all of us starting again.

When exactly did I become the guy cheering "Yay, I get to kick my own arse again for another 6 weeks"?

And everyone else seems even happier than me. This site does strange things to us.

 

It's odd indeed! And I was already complaining in week 2.

[jrosto]

Going after Blade, lofty quest indeed

 

Subbing so I can follow your successes, 

[pureleeawesome]

Can you please kill Edward before going after the others? ... just, cover yourself in glitter and roll around outside in the sunshine?

 

 

You guys can keep Spike, I'll take Jessica (True Blood).

 

 

And of course, following.

[ElemHH]

This challenge just started and there's already talk about killing Buffy... 

 

I love Buffy the show, but the character can be so whiney and annoying at times.

 

Writing and Parkour and Pullups, oh my! Count me in. Your goals are right up my alley.

I'd say my goal is more pre-parkour than actual parkour. I'd like to be able to perform some of those moves soon though.

 

Writing and playing the keyboard! Makes me want to add those to my quest list (which isn't posted, so you haven't missed it yet...) Just need to figure out how to fit them into my theme.....  Hmmmm...  

I see you added them to your challenge too, good. It can't all be blood, sweat and tears, we have to play and work out our creative muscles from time to time too

 

Whaaat! Don't slay the slayers! Who will protect humanityyyy?!?!!?! Oh, right, humanity is scum. Carry on.

 

So many goals! So many shiny things! Good luck!

Humanity is overrated. You should be safe, you are surrounded by dragqueens on your thread and they are already FIERCE so there will be no attacks around them.

 

It's odd indeed! And I was already complaining in week 2.

Maybe this time you'll get to week 3 before the complaining starts

 

Going after Blade, lofty quest indeed

 

Subbing so I can follow your successes, 

Blade is going to be the first to fall (well, if things go to plan). Thanks for following.

 

Can you please kill Edward before going after the others? ... just, cover yourself in glitter and roll around outside in the sunshine?

 

 

You guys can keep Spike, I'll take Jessica (True Blood).

 

 

And of course, following.

I'm not sure how Sookie and Bill were the stars of that show, when you had characters like Lafayette, Pam, Eric and Jessica.

 

 

Ok, I've got to get up at 5am for a walk and run, so I'm heading off to bed.

[ElemHH]

Got up at 5am for my walk/run. Since I was feeling good with my runs last week the plan was to go from running the last 1.5 miles to running the last 2 miles. I wished today that I hadn't made that plan. I woke up this morning with my calf muscles feeling a little tight from all of the step ups I did yesterday (900 in total). I felt nothing in them yesterday, it was my thighs that seemed to take all of the punishment, but I could definitely feel it today.

 

My walking pace had slowed down again, but I wasn't keeping it in mind to push the pace, so I slowed to my normal walking pace.

 

Here are my distances and times:

Walked 3.07 miles - 45min 05sec - 4.1mph

Jogged 2.02 miles - 18min 57sec - 6.4mph

 

I'm quite pleased with my performance today, I wasn't fast, but my speed didn't drop much from last week (I think my fastest was 6.7mph) and I felt like I could have pushed the pace a little more and still been fine. It will be interesting to see how I progress during this next two weeks and if I then feel ready to step up to 2.5 miles running.

 

As I write this my right calf is even tighter, I have realled pushed my legs over the past 24 hours.

[ninjakitten]

Maybe this time you'll get to week 3 before the complaining starts

 

Aim for the stars and all, but I won't promise anything.

Sounds like you did great indeed! Hope you're legs won't hurt too bad tomorrow!

[imjustarogue]

As I write this my right calf is even tighter, I have realled pushed my legs over the past 24 hours.

Definitely add stretching after your walk/runs! I have issues with tight hamstrings and stretching is crucial.

[raptron]

If you don't already foam roll or use tennis or lacrosse balls on your calves + hamstrings, I recommend picking some up! They're super helpful for loosening up tight muscles after runs, IMO.

[AthenaMM]

It seems like you're already well on your way. Great job! You're challenge sounds pretty big but since half of it is a continuation I think you'll be fine.

[ElemHH]

As I write this my right calf is even tighter, I have realled pushed my legs over the past 24 hours.

Hey look at me, inventing new words. I'm not even sure I know what I was going for when I wrote "realled", perhaps "really"?

 

Aim for the stars and all, but I won't promise anything.

Sounds like you did great indeed! Hope you're legs won't hurt too bad tomorrow!

Thanks. My legs don't hurt, they are just tight and a little uncomfortable. No one to blame but myself, I just got carried away in the mini challenge. They didn't give any indication of trouble to come when I was doing the exercises, so I just carried on, oblivious.

 

Definitely add stretching after your walk/runs! I have issues with tight hamstrings and stretching is crucial.

Good idea. I hadn't done that up to this point because I haven't had any trouble after any exercise sessions, so just didn't think about it. I'll definitely be thinking about it from now on though.

 

If you don't already foam roll or use tennis or lacrosse balls on your calves + hamstrings, I recommend picking some up! They're super helpful for loosening up tight muscles after runs, IMO.

Thanks for the tip. I don't have foam rollers or tennis balls (I will pick some up), so tonight I used a can of deoderant to roll over my calf instead. It did loosen up, so thanks.

 

It seems like you're already well on your way. Great job! You're challenge sounds pretty big but since half of it is a continuation I think you'll be fine.

Hopefully I'll be ok with everything on my quest list, a couple of the new ones only have a very small time commitment, so it shouldn't be too much work than the last one.

 

 

 

I'm posting late because I have decided not to go for my 5am walk/run tomorrow. My calves are still pretty tight (mainly the right one), so I am trying not to push them beyond the activities that I have to do. I think that I would be fine running tomorrow, they would loosen up quite quickly and be ok for the rest of the walk and run, but I don't want to risk making it worse, so will have the morning off and go out Friday morning as planned.

 

Yesterday evening I didn't do as much activity as I had planned. I forgot about going to bed early in preparation for my run, so only did one more set of the step-ups (300) for the mini challenge. Then when I had cooled down I attempted my uneven push-ups.

I say attempted because I did a full set of 20 with my left had (right hand on a basketball). But when I switched over I struggled with my right and stopped after 7 reps. After I stopped I remembered how my right arm had been weaker earlier in the day too.

 

 

After reading black_daquiri's advice I did try to stretch my muscles out a little while at work, that did help for a short while.

 

My legs didn't really trouble me on my walk back from work (2.85 miles)

 

When I got back home I did today's mini challenge exercise, basic burpees. I HATE them.

Unfortunately I think I hate them because they highlight weakness, so I am going to have to do 2 or 3 sessions a week to strengthen my weak areas.

I ended up doing the challenge minimum of 50.

 

Tonight I did my sit-ups (70) and squats (110). They both felt harder than they did during my first session, so I think the few days rest played a big part of my improved performance.

This is making me reassess my current quest. I have three push-up/Pullup days and three sit-up/squat days set, with one day off. I think I will switch that to two sessions of each per week and three days off, at least until I feel my body can handle it better.

 

So now Monday and Thursdays will be sit-up and squat days.

Tuesday and Fridays will be Push-up and pull-up days.

Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday will be days off (at least from those exercises).

 

I have finished off the day with some wrist and leg stretches.

 

[ninjakitten]

Burpees are hellish. But it seems you managed quite well, anyway. Good that your legs are a bit better. (I think not overdoing it now is a good choice - just as the stretching.)

[Everstorm]