Urgan Storms In With Section 9

[Urgan]

Guys, I'm super-excited for this challenge, it's going to be the best one yet--I can feel it. Hopefully I won't look back on this and #irony, so here we go~!

 

 

So much to do, so much to build on, and a few new things to boot. That's the name of the game, here. I will be straight-up repeating a few things from last challenge, tweaking some a bit, and adding brand new requirements this time around. It should be fairly straightforward and not too overwhelming, but we shall see, yes?

 

 

 

 

Makoto (STR+2)

 

Iron mind, iron will. It helps to have a full cybernetic body, doesn't it? Well, I don't. That said, it doesn't mean the Major can't serve as my inspiration for this challenge! We can always aspire to mimic her skills...one day...

 

The Mission: Greater Strength is a Major Tactical Advantage. Get some.

 

Lifting - Squats and Texas Method (or TM) progression

Walking - as often as possible 

Chin-ups - 7/wk - follow the below progression 

Week 1 - 3x3

Week 2 - 1x4

Week 3 - 2x4

Week 4 - 3x4

Week 5 - 1x5

Week 6 - 2x5

 

The grading: Chins - 7=A, 6=B, 5=C, 4=D, <4 = F

 

 

Batou (CON+4, WIS+1)

 

If Batou knows anything, the right fuel changes everything. Even if the machine kids complain about it. Well, no whining here--we're gonna do it by the book so we can help Makoto and Togusa kick ass without casualties!

 

The Mission: Moderate the dietary surplus I've been under for a while now to maintain present weight with limited assistance from certain food groups.

 

Maintenance @ 112 - 7/wk - Maintain 2400 calories/day with acceptable deviation amounting to 2150-2650/day. If I see my weight trending up or down...I'll have to adjust my target accordingly. The point is to hit the target. 

Limited milk - 7/wk - Hold milk consumption to 1.5 cups on weekdays and 3 cups on weekends

Limited junk - 4/wk - I am allowing myself 4 snacks a week. Less calories from sugar is better.

Updated specs - 1/wk - present up-to-date measurements once weekly, preferably Sunday

 

The grading: Maintenance, milk - 7=A, 6=B, 5=C, 4=D, <4 = F

                     Junk - 0-4 = A, 5 = B, <5 = F

                     Updated specs - Pass/Fail

 

 

Togusa (DEX+3, CON+1)

 

Ah, a guy with whom I can identify--he's got no cybernetic enhancements whatsoever, so taking a bullet means a lot more to him than other members of Section 9. Us flesh-and-blood types need to take care to avoid injuries and other setbacks cause by insufficient self-care. There's going to be a big emphasis on this mission during the challenge.

 

The Mission: It's all about the self-care. You can't perform if you don't have the energy or are knocked out of commission by an aching quad!

 

Foam Roll - 3/wk - Foam or PVC, roll out those tired, sensitive muscles every lifting session at least a bit. I have a roller at home now, so no excuses!

Hand care - 2/day - Moisturize to keep dryness, itching, and calluses down

                 - 1/wk - Inspect calluses and fingernails and address as needed

Stretches - 2/wk - I don't care if it's at home or at the gym doing a yoga class, two sessions of doing some kind of stretches to ease myself back into this domain

Curfew!    - 5/wk - It's lights-out at 10:30 Sunday - Thursday night, no curfew in effect for the weekend

Max Energy - 5/wk - track hours slept and overall energy for the weekdays only

 

The grading: Foam roll - 3=A, 2=B, <2 = F

                     Hand care - 13-14 = A, 11-12 = B, 9-10 = C, else F

                     Stretches - 2 = A, 1 = B, 0 = F

                     Curfew!     - 5=A, 4=B, 3=C, 2 = C, else F

                     Max Energy - 7=A, 6=B, 5=C, 4=D, else F

 

Saito (CHA+2)

The reluctant team player: sniper Saito. His job is to support the other members of Section 9 with his satellite-linked Hawkeye and rifle. I'm going to be using different equipment, but the net effect is similar--I'm in a position to help others who can't help themselves!

 

The Mission: Time to take out the trash! And cat hair.

 

Cat care - 1/wk - I've got four cats, they need to be brushed and their claws clipped regularly. I've just kinda done this whenever, it needs to be habit

Junk mail - 1/wk - I've been doing this never. Shred some every week with the goal being no mail left by the end of the challenge. Simple. Take it out.

 

The grading: Pass/Fail

 

Bonus Tachikomas! (WIS+2)

Look who just dropped in? Cloaked. With grappling hooks and guns blazing. It's everybody's favorite philosophizing AI-enabled tanks. And who doesn't love a good philosophical tank.  

 

This Mission: Read stuff. Report.

 

Read something - 3/wk - Whether it's my own outline or a book, I need to read more. Can't report in detail on my own work, but I'll give a little recap of what I read and if it is a straight novel, I'll hide it under a spoiler. Fair warning, there's a good chance historical texts may feature here.

 

The grading: 3=A, 2 = B, 1 = C, 0=F

 

Measurements & Starting Stats

Weight: 111.2 lbs

Waist: 24.0"

Hips: 33.0"

Biceps(L/R): 10.25"/10.25"

Forearm(L/R): 9.25"/9.0" 

Thighs(L/R): 20.5"/20.13"

Calves(L/R): 12.125"/12.0"

[Urgan]

WEEK 1 DEBRIEF!

 

Makoto - A+

Squat:    140 > 142.5

OHP:       57 > 57.5

BP:          NA

Deadlift:  177.5 > 180

Chins:     3x3 @ 6 days, 4x3 @ 1 day

Leader of the hit parade: My right shoulder

 

I got my chins in, took a hard hit from a two-day lifting break pre-challenge, yet scored on my first squat intensity day with some shiny (volume) PRs. I will never let two days go by without hitting the gym again. 

 

Batou - A

Avg Calories (2150-2650) - 2410

Milk Consumed - 7/7 

Junk Consumed - 4/4

Updated specs - check

 

Right on target over the week, yes! This was my first week to not let myself eat chocolate/junk every day. That meant no chocolate, no candy, no graham crackers, no cereal more than four times a week. Whew. With less milk, my bloating is down and consequently so are OTHER digestive upsets, and yet I'm making calories. W00T^2. I had a bit of a hiccup on my cooking with a terrible ingredient choice, but otherwise making my own meals has been indispensable in making my macro target. 

 

Togusa - A

Foam Roll - 3/3 

Moisturize - 14/14

Hands       - 1/1 

Stretches  - 2/2 

Curfew!    - 4/4

Max Energy - 5/5 

 

That tennis ball is the awesome. It, along with a different bed and some yoga,helped me tackle my shoulder problem and it's feeling better. Not completely there, but better. My hands are in great shape and look like I actually care about them. My curfew has helped my energy levels and at my very lowest, not even Shark Week could stop me. 

 

Saito - A

Cat hair - 4/4 

Cat claws - 3/3

Junk mail - 1/1

 

Done and done. Junk mail is 60% what it once was.

 

Tachikomas! - A

Read something - 3/3

 

Oh yeah, I like to read...and write, that too. 

 

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WEEK 2 DEBRIEF!

 

Makoto - A+

Squat:    142.5

OHP:       57.5

BP:          73.5

Deadlift:  180

Chins:    1x4 @ 5 days, 1x3 @ deadhang

Leader of the hit parade: My right shoulder, STILL

 

No progress on lifts due to AWA, which is okay. Made chins every day I had access to a bar, and even did some bonus deadhangs. 

 

Batou - B

Avg Calories (2150-2650) - 2262

Milk Consumed - 7/7 

Junk Consumed - 4/4

Updated specs - check

 

Not exactly as good as Week 1, but 6/7 ain't bad. B for Thursday's fail. I took my measurements with an EMPTY stomach...waist still went up, but whatever. Some small fluctuations all over my body, I don't mind my upper arms and calves increasing in size, lol. Week 3 will be interesting...

 

Togusa - A-

Foam Roll - 3/3 

Moisturize - 12/14

Hands       - 1/1 

Stretches  - 2/2 

Curfew!    - 4/4

Max Energy - 4/4 

 

All the tennis ball. My shoulder issues are getting a little better, but it's still there. I need to do the Bradford press now that I'm back in familiar territory that, you know, HAS fixed weight barbells. My energy has been great--not perfect, but then I'm not expecting perfect. 

 

Saito - A

Cat hair - 4/4 

Cat claws - 3/3

Junk mail - 1/1

 

Lots of junk mail progress! 

 

Tachikomas! - A+

Read something - 8/3

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WEEK 3 DEBRIEF!

 

Makoto - A+

Squat:    142.5 > 145

OHP:       57.5

BP:          73.5

Deadlift:  180 > 182.5

Chins:    2x4 @ 7 days

Leader of the hit parade: Right shoulder/upper back

 

A smidge of progress to be had here!

 

Batou - A

Avg Calories (2150-2650) - 2461

Milk Consumed - 7/7 

Junk Consumed - 4/4

Updated specs - check

 

Nailed it! Based on my measurements, this is definitely right where I want to be.

 

Togusa - A-

Foam Roll - 3/3 

Moisturize - 13/14

Hands       - 1/1 

Stretches  - 2/2 

Curfew!    - 5/5

Max Energy - 5/5

 

Meh, missed a moisturize session, but PVC and tennis ball rolled the dickens out of my shoulder. The curfew is doing good things for my energy levels. 

 

Saito - A

Cat hair - 4/4 

Cat claws - 3/3

Junk mail - 1/1

 

Lots of junk mail progress! 

 

Tachikomas! - A+

Read something - 4/3

 

BaSL and writing for the win, in spite of defective computers. 

 

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WEEK 4 DEBRIEF!

 

Makoto - A

Squat:    145 > 147.5

OHP:       57.5 > 60

BP:          73.5

Deadlift:  182.5 > 185

Chins:    3x4 @ 3 days

Leader of the hit parade: Right shoulder/upper back

 

Gains and chins, chins and gains. 

 

Batou - A

Avg Calories (2150-2650) - 2342

Milk Consumed - 7/7 

Junk Consumed - 4/4

Updated specs - check

 

While my eating has been all over the place this week, you cannot argue with the progress on my measurements...I can't wait to do the comparison of pre-challenge and week 6.  Memo to self: don't eat cereal anymore. Ever. 

 

Togusa - A+

Mobility - 7/5 

Moisturize - 14/14

Hands       - 1/1  

Curfew!    - 5/5

Max Energy - 5/5

 

I've been practicing a lot of good mobilization techniques and getting more proficient at rolling the tennis ball all around the affected regions of my shoulders and back. Whether this is more because my mobility is improving or I'm just getting more coordinated, I'm not quite sure. 

 

Saito - A+

Cat hair - 4/4 

Cat claws - 3/3

Junk mail - 1/1

 

Killed all the junk mail. All of it. And organized the papers pertaining to our household ops into the folder where they belong, so bonus!

 

Tachikomas! - A+

Read something - 4/3

 

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WEEK 5 DEBRIEF!

 

Makoto - A

Squat:    147.5 > 150

OHP:       60

BP:          73.5 > 74.5

Deadlift:  185 > 187.5

Chins:    3x4 @ 3 days

Leader of the hit parade: neck

 

Still plugging along here, doing just fine. 

 

Batou - A

Avg Calories (2150-2650) - 2471

Milk Consumed - 7/7 

Junk Consumed - 4/4

Updated specs - check

 

Shark Week aside, my weight has stayed down and my average calories are up compared to last week by over 100.  You know what this means...time to increase the calorie target! Had the good sense to not eat cereal this week...am so very glad I didn't. I cannot recall having any major gas/gut issues this week...

 

Togusa - A+

Mobility - 9/5 

Moisturize - 13/14

Hands       - 1/1  

Curfew!    - 5/5

Max Energy - 5/5

 

I missed a moisturize session, but dat mobility. Energy has been a little on the low side, but this is probably due to Shark Week and migraine hell. Massage and mobility promise relief from the latter at least. 

 

Saito - A

Cat hair - 4/4 

Cat claws - 3/3

Junk mail - 1/1

 

I like how not much mail is coming in lately--this will hopefully make keeping up with it easier.

 

Tachikomas! - A+

Read something - 4/3

 

Finished up Jeremiah, picked up the Bible and read from it, and read a lot re: secret project in between sets at the gym, lol. 

 

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WEEK 6 DEBRIEF!

 

Makoto - A

Squat:    150

OHP:       60

BP:          74.5

Deadlift:  187.5

Chins:    

Leader of the hit parade: neck/head

 

I had to sideline this quest in the name of unloading my back, but I'm not regretting it.  

 

Batou - A

Avg Calories (2150-2650) - 2464

Milk Consumed - 7/7 

Junk Consumed - 4/4

Updated specs - check

 

Holding steady on calories and weight, while my midsection decreased and some of my extremities increased. I'll take it. 

 

Togusa - A

Mobility - 5/5 

Moisturize - 13/14

Hands       - 1/1  

Curfew!    - 5/5

Max Energy - 5/5

 

I missed a moisturize session, but oh well--life happens. I don't think energy has been an issue this week, but then it might have been hidden by the proverbial Bigger Fish. Just trying not to think this is getting worse instead of better...Aura migraines are new and unwanted. 

 

Saito - A

Cat hair - 4/4 

Cat claws - 3/3

Junk mail - 1/1

 

Everything is all nailed down here!

 

Tachikomas! - A

Read something - 3/3

 

My Secret Project made this quest cake.

[DarK_RaideR]

Yay Ghost in the Shell!

[starsapart]

Yassssss I am here for this!

[shaar]

OMG GITS.  YES.  You win all of the things.

[Trewest]

I feel like I should possibly watch Ghost in the Shell before I'll get like 90% of the references that are going to be made..... but that's not about to stop me now is it?

[Sam Ashen]

For some reason, I immediately thought of Section 14, but I do not think anybody here will understand the reference.

 

In every book, once you are killed you have to turn to the infamous section 14.

 

Texas Method, eh?  I will have to watch.  Have fun!

[blkhole24601]

*crashlands here*

[Urgan]

Yay Ghost in the Shell!

Yassssss I am here for this!

OMG GITS.  YES.  You win all of the things.

HAI! All of the GitS...all of it. 

 

I feel like I should possibly watch Ghost in the Shell before I'll get like 90% of the references that are going to be made..... but that's not about to stop me now is it?

Let nothing stop you AND watch the show, read the manga, or watch the movie(s), it is the awesome!

 

For some reason, I immediately thought of Section 14, but I do not think anybody here will understand the reference.

 

 

 

Texas Method, eh?  I will have to watch.  Have fun!

LOL I can count of you for bonus references, yes? Texas Method for the win.

 

*crashlands here*

 

We will have so much fun here...

[Sam Ashen]

LOL I can count of you for bonus references, yes? Texas Method for the win.

 

Old and obscure ones on top of that!

[shaar]

For some reason, I immediately thought of Section 14, but I do not think anybody here will understand the reference.

 

 

I immediately thought of Section 8 housing if it makes you feel any better.

 

[Urgan]

Old and obscure ones on top of that!

The older and more obscure, the better, I always say. I love confusing people.

 

I immediately thought of Section 8 housing if it makes you feel any better.

 

 

Whoomp Whoomp. 

[Urgan]

Forgot to add weekly measurements to Batou's requirements...it's...kind of important to see what's going on. *coughs* 

[Son of Rylos]

I feel like I should possibly watch Ghost in the Shell before I'll get like 90% of the references that are going to be made..... but that's not about to stop me now is it?

Will have to join you on that respect, I haven't seen that movie except for very minor bits and pieces.

[Urgan]

Will have to join you on that respect, I haven't seen that movie except for very minor bits and pieces.

 

You too can experience the magic in manga or anime form (all with different plots, so why not grab all of them??)...fair warning, Masamune Shirow is a dirty old man, lol. 

[Son of Rylos]

You too can experience the magic in manga or anime form (all with different plots, so why not grab all of them??)...fair warning, Masamune Shirow is a dirty old man, lol.

Fair warning, so am I LOL

[Urgan]

Haha, editing for days...I cleared some space for a nice little reading quest, because...

 

 

Fair warning, so am I LOL

 

Hey, you're not THAT old...Lol.

[Sam Ashen]

Hey, you're not THAT old...Lol.

 

My age has already been established earlier in this thread.

[Urgan]

My age has already been established earlier in this thread.

 

I don't believe you! LOL. But seriously, in spite of not being a tabletop gamer myself, Grailbook sounds adorable. 

[Sam Ashen]

I don't believe you! LOL. But seriously, in spite of not being a tabletop gamer myself, Grailbook sounds adorable.

The first part I will take as a compliment.

It is a series of books not tabletop. Uses dice. Much simpler than tabletop.

Sent from my LG-D800 using Tapatalk

[Urgan]

 

The first part I will take as a compliment. 

Exactly as intended. 

 

It is a series of books not tabletop. Uses dice. Much simpler than tabletop.

 

Oh, my bad I breezed past the format too quickly and am not familiar with this. ....interesting...

[elvenengineer]

Awesome challenge

[raptron]

Oooh, a reading goal, even. *swoons*

[Urgan]

Awesome challenge

 

 

Oooh, a reading goal, even. *swoons*

 

And you can bet I'll be rereading Flowers for Algernon, lol...

[DarK_RaideR]

Such a nice book