blkhole24601 Trains to Become a Mafia Boss!

[blkhole24601]

 

MAIN QUEST: Continue self-improvement, become a Triple Threat (act, sing, and dance awesomely), and don't burn out!

Every third challenge, I burn out, and I spend the challenge after that licking my wounds and trying to get back on the horse. Not this time! I will continue the hard work I’ve put in instead of taking a step back, because Reborn would expect no less from one who is to become head of the Vongola Family, so why should I expect any less from myself?

 

 

QUEST 1: EAT TO SURVIVE REBORN’S TRAINING [+3 CON]

 

Reborn’s training is brutal, and it’s impossible to survive without the proper fuel. Not only do I need to make sure I’m eating enough protein, but I need to make sure I’m eating enough, period! I’m at the point now where I should be looking for my maintenance numbers since I’m basically right where I need to be in order to do so, so that’s going to be a primary focus of this quest on top of making sure I get the protein intake I need. (Taken from starsapart’s quest for maintenance a few challenges ago, modified for my needs.)

• Eat at least 75g of protein a minimum of 5 days/week.
  
  A = 5x/week | B = 4x/week | C = 3x/week | D = 1-2x/week | F = Nope
   
• Calculate average daily gross calories at the end of each week.  If my measurements decreased, I will increase my minimum calories by at least 100 calories. If my measurements stayed the same, I must be eat within 50 calories on either end of that range.  If my measurements increased, I will evaluate and adjust accordingly.
  
  A = Followed the criteria 100% | B = Short of the minimum by 25 | C = Short of the minimum by 50 | D = Short of the minimum by 75 | F = Did you even try?

BONUS OPPORTUNITY: If I eat at least 95g of protein (my estimated lean mass being ~95lb), I earn $10 towards Japan spending money.

 

QUEST 2: A WELL-ROUNDED MAFIA BOSS [+12 TBD]

 

Reborn trains Tsuna with some of the oddest regimens that covers a wide range of skills – basically, in the KHR world, a "mafia" boss can’t be any less than the best in strength, dexterity, stamina, constitution, wisdom, and charisma.  And so, taking a page out of stillskies’ book from last challenge, here is a grab bag of assorted things in order to improve all manners of necessary skills in my own life!  Of course, I have a few rules in place to make sure that I stay consistent with the habits that I feel are still too raw to rely upon without a challenge to motivate me.

 

 

The Rules:

1. In order for the fitness points (STR, DEX, STA) to count in a week, I need to exercise 5x/week for at least 30 minutes. This does not need to be traditional workouts/exercises.
2. In order for the non-fitness points to count (CON, WIS, CHA) in a week, I need to make sure that on Monday morning at the latest my budget is up-to-date. Ideally, I’ll have it up-to-date Sunday evening.
3. Attribute points will be distributed at the end of the challenge based on total points accumulated in each category.
4. Mini-challenge participation will grant me 5 points in the appropriate category each day I contribute (for example, if the challenge is to earn +1 STR, it will be 5 points in the strength category when I do it). If the mini is particularly involved, I can earn 10 points in the appropriate category; alternatively, if I’m one of the top five contributors if it’s a quantitative challenge (top three in a team if we do teams), I can earn 15 points (only once a week). Clarification: if I'm both top three in teams and top five overall, then it will be 30 points.
5. In order to successfully complete the challenge, I need to accumulate a total of 2,500 points. Number subject to change based on my progress throughout the course of the challenge. For every increase I need to do, I will earn myself $50 towards my upcoming Japan vacation.

 

BONUS CHALLENGES

And here are some extra things I'd like to pay attention to and reward myself if possible that didn't make it into the grab bag itself.

 

Twenty Pull-Ups Challenge: I’m participating in the PVP for the Twenty Pull-Ups Challenge, and damn it, I’d like to be able to do a pull-up before I turn 30 besides!  That gives me 15 months to do a pull-up.  So every time I do this, I will earn myself an extra +5 points towards strength, up to 3x/week for 15 bonus points. I will most likely spend the entirety of the 8 weeks in the -2/-1 Week but hey, it's the effort that counts!

 

Pirouette Drills/Tap Basics: So I suck at pirouettes, and this is not okay.  I may not be able to move up to the intermediate jazz classes for a while, but if anything is going to hold me back, it’ll be my pirouettes.  So, every day that I work on the drills, I will earn myself +10 points towards dexterity. (Added on Day 02: Because I need some serious help with tap basics, if I work on it at home, I will earn +10 points towards dexterity. If I do both pirouette drills and tap basics, then yes, it'll be +20 dexterity points.)

 

Conditioning: I want to spend quality time with my exercise band and the foam roller and work on my grip strength. Every day that I do conditioning exercises with the band, roll out my muscles, or dedicate some time specifically to grip strength, I will earn +5 points towards my stamina. Why stamina? Because this will keep me going stronger, longer! Clarification: +5 points each conditioning exercise.

 

Meal-Planning: A lot of stress that comes from making sure I meet my macros comes from a lack of planning, and so I will plan out my breakfasts and lunches for the work week every Sunday to make sure that no matter what I eat for dinner, I know I’ll be making my minimum counts on protein.  If I make a plan, I will earn +20 points towards constitution for the week.  If I stick to it, I will earn an additional +30 points for the week. Adjustment: for every breakfast and lunch during the work week I eat according to play, I will earn +3 constitution points up to +30 points.

 

Focus: I am… really bad at staying focused at work.  The Adderall helps, but I have to pull my own weight in this regard, too.  The goal here is to devote only the last 15 minutes of any given hour towards non-work distractions, and at the top of the hour, I’m back to doing something productive again.  If I miss that :45 mark, I miss it and I can’t make it up.  And if I really need a distraction, I take a brief walk to either get more tea, or a glass of water, or just walk around the building some.  And if I have nothing to do?  I FIND something to do that’s work-related, even if it’s just reading documents.  I earn myself +15 points towards wisdom for every day that I manage to stick to these criteria.

 

Hygiene Routine: I am AWFUL at taking care of myself before I go to bed. I usually just do one or two things (usually dental care) and then hit the sack. I need to be better about this. And so, every night I commit to a full hygiene routine, I will earn +10 points towards charisma. What is a full hygiene routine? Brush my teeth, floss, wash my face, moisturize. If I do a full facial, I get an additional +10 points.

 

 

WEEKLY RECAPS

Day Zero | Week One | Week Two | Week Three | Week Four | Week Five | Week Six | Challenge Complete!

 

REWARDS (non-stacking)

I'll be going to Japan at the end of December through mid-January, and Japan is expensive, so this is the money I'm going to allow myself to withdraw from personal savings. Non-stacking, because let's not go insane here!  This is the money for food and shopping and sightseeing adventures. I'm already budgeting for travel and hotel costs. This will be on top of the money I allot myself via bonus money in the above quests.

 

100% of total points achieved = $500 towards Japan spending money

90% of total points achieved = $400 towards Japan spending money

80% of total points achieved = $300 towards Japan spending money

 

Starting Measurements and Pictures

  

 

Waist @ narrowest: 26.875"

Waist @ navel: 30.625"

Hips: 36.25"

Thigh: 21.75"

Calf: 14"

Est bf%: 23.35% (as of 9/7/15)

Weight: 124lb (as of 9/14/15)

[blkhole24601]

Measured Challenge Caloric Average: 1,672+

Estimated Challenge Caloric Average: ~1,745

 

---

 

Starting Measurements                                         Week 5 Measurements (10/18/15) **PMS Week                  Final Measurements (10/25/15) **Shark Week imminent

Waist @ narrowest: 26.875"                                    26.875" (+0.25")                                                                     26.75" (-0.125" | -0.125")

Waist @ navel: 30.625"                                           30.25" (+0.625")                                                                     30.625" (+0.375" | no change)

Hips: 36.25"                                                             36" (no change)                                                                     36" (no change | -0.25")

Thigh: 21.75"                                                           20.750" (-1")                                                                          20.625" (-0.125" | -1.125")

Calf: 14"                                                                  14.250" (+0.125")                                                                   14" (-0.25" | no change)

Est bf%: 23.35% (as of 9/7/15)                                21.65% (-0.25%) (as of 10/17/15)                                          21.4% (-0.25% | -1.55%) (as of 10/23/15)

Weight: 124lb (as of 9/14/15)                                  123lb (+0.5lb) (as of 10/17/15)                                               120.8lb (-2.2lb | -3.2lb)

 

 

POINT DISTRIBUTION:

STR: 2.1 + 1 (from Week 2 mini-challenge)
DEX: 2.6 + 1 (from Week 5 mini-challenge)
STA: 1.6 + 1 (from Week 1 mini-challenge)
CON: 1.6 + 2.8 (from maintenance quest) + 1 (from Week 4 mini-challenge)
WIS: 1.7 + 1 (from Week 6 mini-challenge)
CHA: 2.4 + 1 (from Week 3 mini-challenge)

 

LESSONS LEARNED:

coming soon!

[Urgan]

Here for the protein and dancing!

[starsapart]

Yesssss grab bag excellence!

[blkhole24601]

Here for the protein and dancing!

 

YAY! 

 

 

Yesssss grab bag excellence!

 

WOOOOOOOO~ 

 

I also have a fancy spreadsheet for my grab bag tracking. It's not in Gdocs otherwise I'd link it, but know that I'm basically doing the same thing as you wrt that because #Ravenclaws5EVA and such

[BlackTezca]

Oh wow!  This anime!  It has been forever since I have seen Reborn!  Looking forward to hearing about the maintenance since I'll need to be doing that sometime!

 

Really like the table format for the grab bag and as usual your challenge is very well thought out!  Awesome and fantastic .  Let's do this!

 

[starsapart]

WOOOOOOOO~ 

 

I also have a fancy spreadsheet for my grab bag tracking. It's not in Gdocs otherwise I'd link it, but know that I'm basically doing the same thing as you wrt that because #Ravenclaws5EVA and such

 

You and I both know that we are freakishly similar in some ways.

[blkhole24601]

Oh wow!  This anime!  It has been forever since I have seen Reborn!  Looking forward to hearing about the maintenance since I'll need to be doing that sometime!

 

Really like the table format for the grab bag and as usual your challenge is very well thought out!  Awesome and fantastic .  Let's do this!

 

 

I used to LOVELOVELOVE this anime and all it's campy horribleness. I was describing it to Tyro and his response was, "You're... not exactly giving a glowing review that's motivating me to see this." Basically, don't take this anime/manga seriously, even when it gets serious, or you will ragequit. But I loved the Primo Generation the best (they were the ones I wrote the most fanfiction about), so of course I had to make sure to use gifs that showed them because I miss those guys.

 

And thanks!! READY FOR THE THING!!!

 

 

 

You and I both know that we are freakishly similar in some ways.

 

And this is not a terrible thing at all

[Kagetsukai]

Here! This will be awesome! ALL OF THE DANCING!!!

[blkhole24601]

Here! This will be awesome! ALL OF THE DANCING!!!

 

YASSSSSS. All of the jazz and tap and Latin-based awesomenesssssss~~~

[BlackTezca]

I used to LOVELOVELOVE this anime and all it's campy horribleness. I was describing it to Tyro and his response was, "You're... not exactly giving a glowing review that's motivating me to see this." Basically, don't take this anime/manga seriously, even when it gets serious, or you will ragequit. But I loved the Primo Generation the best (they were the ones I wrote the most fanfiction about), so of course I had to make sure to use gifs that showed them because I miss those guys.

 

And thanks!! READY FOR THE THING!!!

 

I really enjoyed it!  The hubs and I were bingewatching it for a while and then we stopped along the way (WAY TOO MANY MORE THINGS TO WATCH OH MY GOODNESS) so I wouldn't mind going back to it if there was ever a lull.  I'd like to learn about the Primo/First (I'm guessing first since everyone had to keep pointing out how similar the First was to Tsuna) generation as well.

 

YASSSSSS. All of the jazz and tap and Latin-based awesomenesssssss~~~

 

Latin-based awesomeness is awesome.  Not that I have a bias or anything....

 

Part of me wants to get back to my 'roots' and try out salsa dancing.  My dad always loved it and he was a great dancer and I'm all like 'I can shimmy?  Shimmy Shimmy Shimmy'.

[Kagetsukai]

OMG I love salsa so much! I really should get back to it

[blkhole24601]

I really enjoyed it!  The hubs and I were bingewatching it for a while and then we stopped along the way (WAY TOO MANY MORE THINGS TO WATCH OH MY GOODNESS) so I wouldn't mind going back to it if there was ever a lull.  I'd like to learn about the Primo/First (I'm guessing first since everyone had to keep pointing out how similar the First was to Tsuna) generation as well.

 

 

Latin-based awesomeness is awesome.  Not that I have a bias or anything....

 

Part of me wants to get back to my 'roots' and try out salsa dancing.  My dad always loved it and he was a great dancer and I'm all like 'I can shimmy?  Shimmy Shimmy Shimmy'.

 

The Primo Generation arc was actually filler in the anime, though they had something kind of focused on the decisions they specifically made in the past and the consequences nine generations later in the manga that never got animated. But the Primos are AWESOME and it's not just Tsuna who is very similar to the First (Giotto); the other Guardians are also very similar to their Primo counterparts.

G (the Storm Guardian) was Giotto's best friend and right hand man and was sort of the leader of the rest of the Guardians; Ugetsu (the Rain Guardian) was a very skilled swordsman and gave up his love and passion for music to become the best swordsman he could be in order to help Giotto's cause (much like how Yamamoto temporarily gives up baseball to do the same); Alaude (the Cloud Guardian) was a freakin' COP who somehow got himself affiliated with this vigilante mafia group lmao; Daemon Spade (the Mist Guardian) is an illusionist; Knuckle (the Sun Guardian) used to be a champion boxer (like Ryohei) until he accidentally killed someone in a match and, vowing to never kill again, devotes his life to the priesthood and only fights when the Family absolutely needs him to (really the only real parallel to Ryohei is that Ryohei also refuses to kill; Knuckle seriously has the most tragic and interesting backstory of the Primos, imo); and Lampo (the Lightning Guardian) is a spoiled little punk.

In the filler arc, the Decimo Generation get to meet their Primo Generation counterparts, and shenanigans go down. It's actually probably the one and only filler arc in any anime that I legitimately and sincerely love and wish had been in the manga!

 

YAS SALSA. I want to salsa. I want to tango. Things I need to at least learn the basics of before Evita dance callbacks! When I go to a lesson, I'll let you know and hopefully you can come with??

 

 

OMG I love salsa so much! I really should get back to it

 

Offer extends to you too! And... anyone else in Colorado who wants to!! I guess this means I need to get on top of this research into salsa/tango lessons thing.

[BlackTezca]

Oh yes!  Please keep me posted!  I actually have dancing as one of things in my grab bag so learning salsa, even just one lesson or so, would still be so fantastic!

 

Interesting factoids on the generations!  Okay, I'll have to look back onto Reborn one of these days then

[Kagetsukai]

Oh yes!  Please keep me posted!  I actually have dancing as one of things in my grab bag so learning salsa, even just one lesson or so, would still be so fantastic!

 

Yaaay!

 

Offer extends to you too! And... anyone else in Colorado who wants to!! I guess this means I need to get on top of this research into salsa/tango lessons thing.

 

I second Maya's suggestion: Colorado Dancesport is a fantastic place and Scott really knows his salsa He taught me a whole lot in 5 short little lessons. I really should find my salsa shoes...

[blkhole24601]

Oh yes!  Please keep me posted!  I actually have dancing as one of things in my grab bag so learning salsa, even just one lesson or so, would still be so fantastic!

 

Interesting factoids on the generations!  Okay, I'll have to look back onto Reborn one of these days then

 

Wooo!! Then we shall do!

 

I say it's worth it, especially since you already know what you're getting into. Where did you last leave off?

 

 

Yaaay!

 

 

I second Maya's suggestion: Colorado Dancesport is a fantastic place and Scott really knows his salsa He taught me a whole lot in 5 short little lessons. I really should find my salsa shoes...

 

As soon as they have a class that fits in my schedule! Right now their beginning salsa class is right on top of Thursday tap classes... Maybe during weeks when I don't have an acting class and can actually make it to a Monday tap class, freeing up Thursday for salsa? Do they do drop-ins? I didn't see anything explicitly saying but then I took a peek while at work and had to get back to work... ;;;;;;;;;;;

[BlackTezca]

I think the beginning of the...time traveling arc I think!  When past selves of the 9th generations meet the future versions!  Except for Tsuna cause apparently

 

He be dead

 

Aww having to work at work is lame

[jrosto]

Here for Maintenance, Protein, and just general awesomeness.  

 

I like your Japan spending money rewards, those are quite the carrot.

[blkhole24601]

 

 

I think the beginning of the...time traveling arc I think!  When past selves of the 9th generations meet the future versions!  Except for Tsuna cause apparently

 

He be dead

 

Aww having to work at work is lame 

 

I actually quite enjoyed the TYL arc for the first maybe half of it? And then it got infuriating. And then PLOT TWIST and then we get Primo filler arc and I get less mad again and then it's downhill from there. But you're close to the Primos, and there's even an Arcobaleno filler arc I really enjoyed a lot too. Basically, this anime: filler = awesome.

 

LMAO, well I mean. The point of being at work is to work? (Even if I am pulling close to a 13 hour day today, poooo)

 

 

Here for Maintenance, Protein, and just general awesomeness.  

 

I like your Japan spending money rewards, those are quite the carrot.

 

YAY! Glad you're back!

 

OMG, YES!! Especially since it's primarily for the two things I spend the most money on in Japan: FOOD and CLOTHES. Seriously, I go to Japan with a giant suitcase filled with one change of clothes. I leave with it packed with a complete wardrobe update. And I eat SO MUCH while in Japan, oh man, the two challenges after I get back from Japan will be for Japan recovery. I'm taking it easy this year on souvenirs though; usually I turn Japanese and buy souvenirs for EVERYONE, this time I'm being American and being very selective about who gets souvenirs. Good thing is, I think I only have to give otoshidama for two of my cousins instead of all three, so yay! (And I have to bring everyone in Japan gifts from America, ugh forgot about that, I'm putting that into my holiday shopping budget...)

[BlackTezca]

All righties!  Welp better get back to that show sometime soon then!  Also...I guess the point of work is to work but...ugh 13 hour day?!  That sucks .

 

Also on board the Japanese food train cause man!  I loved the food in Japan as well as all the drinks!  It was awesome and so delicious too!

[blkhole24601]

All righties!  Welp better get back to that show sometime soon then!  Also...I guess the point of work is to work but...ugh 13 hour day?!  That sucks .

 

Also on board the Japanese food train cause man!  I loved the food in Japan as well as all the drinks!  It was awesome and so delicious too!

 

I'll probably do a condensed rewatch of the series over the next 6 weeks. I'll skip the episodes I'm meh on and watch the ones I love. So I'll probably rewatch the Primo arc like 5 times.

 

And, eh, such is the life of satellite operations. I mean, I'm stuck at working because I'm flying a Martian spacecraft. Not many people get to say that.

 

YAS oh my god I cannot wait for all the GOOD SASHIMI and CC Lemon and GOOD COFFEE and OISHII PASTRIES (Mont Blaaaaaaaaaanc) and OKONOMIYAKI and REAL YAKISOBA (seriously, how hard is it to make REAL YAKISOBA, Coloradans? FOR SERIOUS what most places sell isn't actually yakisoba, sob) and TAKOYAKI and just

 

oh my god

 

I need to stop, I'm drooling all over my keyboard.

[Urgan]

I'll probably do a condensed rewatch of the series over the next 6 weeks. I'll skip the episodes I'm meh on and watch the ones I love. So I'll probably rewatch the Primo arc like 5 times.

 

And, eh, such is the life of satellite operations. I mean, I'm stuck at working because I'm flying a Martian spacecraft. Not many people get to say that.

 

YAS oh my god I cannot wait for all the GOOD SASHIMI and CC Lemon and GOOD COFFEE and OISHII PASTRIES (Mont Blaaaaaaaaaanc) and OKONOMIYAKI and REAL YAKISOBA (seriously, how hard is it to make REAL YAKISOBA, Coloradans? FOR SERIOUS what most places sell isn't actually yakisoba, sob) and TAKOYAKI and just

 

oh my god

 

I need to stop, I'm drooling all over my keyboard.

 

One day I will buy the yakisoba at my favorite local restaurant, take a picture, and have it judged to see if it real. I dream of ramen shops...

[blkhole24601]

One day I will buy the yakisoba at my favorite local restaurant, take a picture, and have it judged to see if it real. I dream of ramen shops...

 

Basically this is yakisoba:

 

Most places in Colorado use the wrong type of noodles and the wrong type of seasoning. I especially hate going to the Cherry Blossom Festival and seeing fake yakisoba being sold and I'm like. Guys. No. Stahp.

[BlackTezca]

YAS oh my god I cannot wait for all the GOOD SASHIMI and CC Lemon and GOOD COFFEE and OISHII PASTRIES (Mont Blaaaaaaaaaanc) and OKONOMIYAKI and REAL YAKISOBA (seriously, how hard is it to make REAL YAKISOBA, Coloradans? FOR SERIOUS what most places sell isn't actually yakisoba, sob) and TAKOYAKI and just

 

oh my god

 

I need to stop, I'm drooling all over my keyboard.

 

STAHHHHP!!!! I miss Japan even more so now!  Ugh the food was sooooo gooooood!!!

[blkhole24601]

STAHHHHP!!!! I miss Japan even more so now!  Ugh the food was sooooo gooooood!!!

 

RIGHT? RIGHT???????? I have a feeling that even though my Recover from Japan Challenge in 2016 will dictate that I eat at a cut, it won't be THAT much of a challenge because I get home from Japan and just. Don't eat anything. Because everything in America is gross compared to Japan. Plus I usually go through a bad bout of depression because I never want to leave Japan ever