Starpuck Masters Her Passions

[starpuck]

THROUGH PASSION, I GAIN STRENGTH

"It is our goal to be stronger, to achieve our potential and not rest upon our laurels. We are the seekers, not the shepherds."

―Yuthura Ban

 

 

Only recently attuned to the Force and beginning to understand her powers, Starpuck begins to see the potential that comes with them. 

Having found freedom as she starts to break the chains that hold her, our young Force user now looks to delve deeper into the codes that direct the use of this great energy.

 

For this challenge, the goals and schedules are going to have to be looser, and more flexible.     Sunday the 12th (Week 1 if you start on Sunday) I am running a Sprint Triathalon.  OMG.   The end of Week 2, start of Week 3 I will be visiting friends in Canada.  (Thur-Mon)  And of course, Week 4 includes a super summer holiday of July 4th.

 

Non-Specific Goals For Challenge

• Do not back out of the Triathalon!
• Finish Nia Shanks 12 Week Dumbbell/Bodyweight Program (Have weeks 11 & 12 to finish.)
• Buy new Nikon so I can learn it before my trip to New Mexico/Texas.

 

GOAL #1 - "Through Strength I Gain Power"

"Without strife, the victory has no meaning. Without strife, one does not advance. Without strife, there is only stagnation."

This challenge will present many obstacles if I want to keep to my training schedule.   While I've said I plan to be more flexible, that does not mean I will be lax.   To account for trips and holidays, I must make sure I am meeting my goals on the rest of the non-eventful days.  The busy schedule is my strife.   And I will have victory even through it!

 

• Hockey 1-2x / week :: Total Required 5-7 
• Lift 2-3x / week :: Total Required 10-11
• Run/Move/Active 1-2x / week :: Total Required 7-8

 

 

 

GOAL #2 - "The Force Shall Free me"

"The Force is our servant and our master. Our teacher and our companion. A weapon and a tool. Know it and you know the universe. Master it and you master the universe. Strive for perfection and the Force shall reward you."

This has to do with food stuff.   Namely, calorie counting.   There is a nice parallel to what Yuthura Ban said as it relates to my relationship with food and counting calories!   It can be a tool or a weapon with me... a weapon that hurts myself.   The goal here is to aim for keeping on track (perfection) when I can, and not obsess about it otherwise.  *I* am its master.  Not the other way around.

 

• Track Calories 6x  / week :: Total Required :: 21 days 
• Vacation = No Track, Just Smart 4 days :: Total Required 4 days

 

(I'm gonna pretend that is a sandwich in front of her... so hard to find Star Wars gifs related to food.)

 

GOAL #3 - "Embrace your Passions"

"To think us creatures beyond the need of simple passions is a delusion."

This has to do with art, photography, travel ... ie, hobbies, interests and passions.  

 

• Arts 2-3x  / week :: Total Required :: 10-11

 

 

 

 

LIFE GOAL - "Through Victory, my Chains are Broken"

"One who has freed themselves from all restrictions has reached perfection… their potential fulfilled. Perfect strength, perfect power, perfect destiny."

This one is to build on my last challenge of self affirmation and building up a better, more positive body and self image.   It's time for the next step, and that step is a big one that leads OUTSIDE of my comfort zone.   I have to think on this more, and figure out what sort of things will accomplish this, but that in and of itself is a prime example of how terrible I am at this.    An easily stressed, anxiety ridden, likes her routine person, is going to intentionally step out of her comfort zone at least once a week and then share the experience on here.

 

• Comfort Zone Left 1x  / week :: Total Required :: 4

 

I must unlearn my fears and step beyond my current boundaries.

 

 

[starpuck]

Week Zero Stuff

 

Had a great run today at lunch!   Most non-stop running in a long time!    Ran 1.75 miles, walked .25 miles, ran 1 mile, walked it out.      Came home to our power being out due to high winds knocking a large section of tree onto our lines, and that ended keeping us in the dark until 8pm!    So I started drawing, using a reference pose out of one of my manga art books.    I was NOT feeling artsy tonight.  (All I wanted to do was come home, play ESO and watch the Penguins).   Ended up putting together a really solid rough draft of another of our Star Wars characters.

 

This is Davin.   He is by far the most lightsabery of us all.   (The rest of us are still being careful and cautious, and not wanting to whip those things out at every fight.)    He also arts, so I was able to use his own creation to get an idea of what he might look like.    Basically, I just tried to manga up the pic he did of himself.    And put him in an amazingly bad ass pose that I am now jealous of!   The angle is a little funny because it was laying on my bed and my camera was not directly above it.

 

 

Now for some ESO and hockey, and then early to bed!   I am so tired!  Oh... because 14,000 steps on a work day?  Crazy.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Another great picture. I'll be following along again.

[Polgara19]

Yay for great runs!  Jealous since all my runs have felt like slogging through molasses recently!

 

Yay new challenge!

[Raxie]

DUDE! Your hands have improved so much!

 

(I mean your drawings of hands... not your actual hands.  That'd be creepy.)

[starpuck]

17 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Another great picture. I'll be following along again.

I'm pretty surprised by this one, though I feel like I cheated because I used an existing manga pic for the reference.   So I had an EXACT model to copy the hands and pose from.   Still, it's practice if nothing else!

 

8 hours ago, Polgara19 said:

Yay for great runs!  Jealous since all my runs have felt like slogging through molasses recently!

 

Yay new challenge!

Weee!     It's the first one that felt decent in a long time.   I gave up on pushing myself to the point of hating things, so I just walk whenever I feel like I need to.   This run though, it took a lot longer to get to that point and I recovered pretty fast!    Yay!

 

 

5 hours ago, Raxie said:

DUDE! Your hands have improved so much!

 

(I mean your drawings of hands... not your actual hands.  That'd be creepy.)

LOL!   See what I said to Tank's comment.    I feel like a cheater, but even still, those hands are freaking amaze!   I keep looking at his head though now, might have to enlarge it JUST a wee bit.   Good thing that there's an easy way to do that in Manga Studio!       And yes ... *wiggles fingers ala evil villain*   My hands have improved... CACKLE!

 

TODAY STUFF!

I did Week 11, Workout 1 (Nia Shanks today) and was pleased with how things turned out.   The reverse lunges are still so damn exhausting, but when I remember that I accidentally DOUBLED my weight a few weeks back, I feel better about not worrying about further progression just yet.   (I had been lunging with 20-26# TOTAL, ie, half of that in each hand, and then one day, mistook the 20# as being in EACH hand and jumped to 40# total.)  

 

• Reverse Lunges - 20# each hand (total 40#) - 4 x 10
• Push Ups - Regular Floor! - 4 x 10
• Inverted Row - At new height from last week - 4 x 10
• Hip Thrusts - 40# x 1 x 10  || 50# x 3 x 10
• Reverse Crunches - 45 || 35 || 35
• DB Lateral Raises - 8# x 3 x 15

 

We're getting our house worked on this week, so it's liable to be kind of crazy there.   I am hoping that our cook-guy still cooks for us this week!  (My sis and I are so spoiled.)    Then I hope to get a bit of arting in.   I should be ready to put that new pic into the digital program and start tweaking.     Food aims to be on track.   Also - Greek 'Whips' by Dannon - Lemon Meringue flavor, with an 1/8 scoop of Bear Naked Vanilla Almond granola?   HEAVEN!

 

 

 

[erosan]

29 minutes ago, Starpuck said:

I'm pretty surprised by this one, though I feel like I cheated because I used an existing manga pic for the reference.   So I had an EXACT model to copy the hands and pose from.   Still, it's practice if nothing else!

 

 feel like a cheater, but even still, those hands are freaking amaze!   I keep looking at his head though now, might have to enlarge it JUST a wee bit.   Good thing that there's an easy way to do that in Manga Studio!       And yes ... *wiggles fingers ala evil villain*   My hands have improved... CACKLE!

 

I would not call it cheating, unless you traced over the reference drawing, and even then there are things to be said about an exercise where you trace over a drawing from another artist... like developing muscle memory and you paying attention to how certain lines fit with the drawing and such.

 

Do you know what do people call artists who draw looking at a model instead of drawing from their imagination? yup, they still call them artists.

 

I´ve mentioned this to you before, but if you consider most of your drawings come out of your head, you are a more advanced artist than me since I can´t really draw unless I have a model... So if thats cheating, then I´m cheating every single day I sketch... Are you calling me a cheater, nee-chan?  

 

(of course, following)

[starpuck]

Busted by Erosan!    *blush*   I think it's because lately I've been using Justin R Martin's references for artists, which gives you only the basic body shape/lines/contours, and I've had to go from there.    This time I used a totally finished manga style character from a learn to manga book, and just changed the facial features.     But!  You're right!   It doesn't hurt to do a more copied pic once in a while too- because doing so lets my brain and hands work together without struggling too much at it, and it may help the two work better in sync going forward!   And, also, also, I did this half in the dark when we had no power, and I actually did it pretty fast!   Which, I think, could possibly mean that my brain is starting to grasp the proportions and lines more easily now, since it came faster - it means it had to think less on it.  Or something.  Yup!  I am going to just keep finishing it and call it a win!

 

 

[Jarric]

Sounds like a great workout, and the pic look awesome.

 

Following along again!

[Rurik Harrgath]

As soon as I saw this was going to be a Sith-themed challenge I got shivers.  Legit fanboy shivers!

 

We can be Star Wars theme buddies this month. 

 

[erosan]

5 hours ago, Starpuck said:

Busted by Erosan!    *blush*   I think it's because lately I've been using Justin R Martin's references for artists, which gives you only the basic body shape/lines/contours, and I've had to go from there.    This time I used a totally finished manga style character from a learn to manga book, and just changed the facial features.     But!  You're right!   It doesn't hurt to do a more copied pic once in a while too- because doing so lets my brain and hands work together without struggling too much at it, and it may help the two work better in sync going forward!   And, also, also, I did this half in the dark when we had no power, and I actually did it pretty fast!   Which, I think, could possibly mean that my brain is starting to grasp the proportions and lines more easily now, since it came faster - it means it had to think less on it.  Or something.  Yup!  I am going to just keep finishing it and call it a win!

 

 

There you go... that´s more like it. Remember 2 4wc ago, when @BlackTezca challenged us to copy one of the masters in the Loft? same drill. Copying is a way of learning, yes?

[obax]

Following, as always. I'll give it a proper read when my brain is less fried, but I can't wait to see how this one goes!

[Raxie]

1000000% agree with @erosan! Unless you were tracing you definitely weren't cheating.  Just being awesome!

 

Glad to see your RL hands improved too...  What kind of sorcery was employed here? The Force mayhaps?

[Polgara19]

Just read your actual challenge! Looks good! Like the "leaving comfort zone" goal and I'm looking forward to seeing how it works out!

[starpuck]

So, my friend (who has done this Tri twice before) just sent me this pic, with the list of what everything is and what it's for...

 

 

And this is pretty much how I feel about it...

 

 

Plan for today is:

• Walk at Lunch
• Update SWFnD Website
• Home for Dinner
• Work on Art
• ESO (if time)
• Hockey 8pm-11pm
• Home, straight to bed!

 

[Polgara19]

26 minutes ago, Starpuck said:

So, my friend (who has done this Tri twice before) just sent me this pic, with the list of what everything is and what it's for...

 

 

 

 

Good lord!  And what is everything??! I see... a bike helmet?  Did you find one?

[starpuck]

22 minutes ago, Polgara19 said:

Good lord!  And what is everything??! I see... a bike helmet?  Did you find one?

Backpack with plastic bag for wet stuff, wet suit, disposable flip flops, goggles and swim cap (came from packet pick up last year) towel, rinse water for sand removal, bike helmet, shades, filled water bottle for bike, skull cap to hold hair, race bib/holder, anti-chafe, bike shorts, tech-tank, shoes, socks, hat, snacks, more water.    She's wearing sports bra and panties UNDER wet suit for swim, then putting bike shorts and tank on for bike/run.

 

My reply was:

"Um.  I'm wearing a bathing suit that is made of shorts and a compression tank as a top.   I guess I'll leave gym shoes by my bike?"

 

I am seriously panicked now.

[Polgara19]

Don't panic!  

 

Shoes (and socks?), a towel, helmet, and water should get you through, no?

 

Why disposable flip flops?? 

 

And did you get a helmet??!!  

[obax]

Holy cow, that's a lot of stuff! Though I guess you're doing 3 things at once... I agree with Polgara that you could probably pare that down a bit, but I've never even thought about doing a tri, so I could be wrong...

 

Where in Canada are you visiting?

[Kishi]

Agreed with the others. I suspect a lot of this is excess in the name of comfort. You do not need this. You're tougher than that. Although, what you would pare down, I could not say.

 

Also, hi! Following!

[karinajean]

ok more similarities between us:

* not understanding triathlons because SO MANY ACCOUTREMENTS

* vacation this challenge!

 

in!

[starpuck]

2 hours ago, Polgara19 said:

Don't panic!  

Shoes (and socks?), a towel, helmet, and water should get you through, no?

Why disposable flip flops?? 

And did you get a helmet??!!  

Sockls!   THANK YOU!  I would have forgotten these hahaha.

My friend is lending me a spare helmet.    I will be choking/gagging the whole 13 miles of bike time.    I seriously can't stand ANYTHING touching my neck, or underside of my chin.  LOL.

 

1 hour ago, obax said:

Holy cow, that's a lot of stuff! Though I guess you're doing 3 things at once... I agree with Polgara that you could probably pare that down a bit, but I've never even thought about doing a tri, so I could be wrong...

 

Where in Canada are you visiting?

Yes, I'll be paring it down quite a bit.    Our forecast just changed from 95 on Sunday, to 75.   I'd have preferred the former, because races, of course, run early in the morning.  It would have been nice and warm still.  Now, if we have a high of only 75, I bet the morning temps are going to be mid 60's at best.   Brrrr!    Swim bottoms and compression tank as top for the water.    Shoes, socks and compression shorts hanging on my bike with a water bottle attached.   That's my plan.

 

I'm going to be in Cambridge Obax!   How far is that from you?   I've no idea what the plans are, but if there's a chance to snag dinner or lunch someplace, I would not pass up the chance to say hey to one of my longest-standing linemates.

 

50 minutes ago, Kishi said:

Agreed with the others. I suspect a lot of this is excess in the name of comfort. You do not need this. You're tougher than that. Although, what you would pare down, I could not say.

 

Also, hi! Following!

Yay!  Followed by Kishi!   Yeah.   I just hate not having things all set up and planned out.  I have to keep running over it in my head, and even still it's not taking the stress away.   It's 2 hours-ish.   With friends.   In a 'buddy wave' designed for people to run with first timers.    No problem!

 

15 minutes ago, karinajean said:

ok more similarities between us:

* not understanding triathlons because SO MANY ACCOUTREMENTS

* vacation this challenge!

 

in!

Hee!   Right?   And yay, twinsie!  So glad you are here.

 

 

TODAY STUFF

So, this happened.

Was supposed to be just a walk at lunch to get me outside in the nice sun.  (Because Hockey at night...)   But it was soooooo nice.    And at the .5 mile mark I decided to run.   For a 1/2 mile.   Well I stopped and walked for another half, and was SO recovered that I had to run again.  Ended up doing this the whole 3 miles and guys... GUYS.   This seriously made running so much more enjoyable!    If you never get to that 'heart pounding, lungs straining, face throbbing' point in your run?  It's way more fun!

 

I am actually probably going to eat a but closer to 1800 calories today, because of this.    I've been at the 1700 / day mark for a bit, and I'm losing super slowly.  (Which I have to constantly stop stressing over, and try to avoid shouting THAT'S SOME BS!)   But, with the run/walk AND hockey, I'll definitely hit the 3000 calories burned spot today, so I am not worried about eating up a bit extra.

 

Hopefully the rest of the plan stays intact.   Wee!

 

 

[Polgara19]

Sunglasses? Some sort of hat/hair band for running?

[erosan]

 

3 hours ago, Starpuck said:

My friend is lending me a spare helmet.    I will be choking/gagging the whole 13 miles of bike time.    I seriously can't stand ANYTHING touching my neck, or underside of my chin.  LOL.

 

I don´t know if they still manufacture them, but I learned about 8 years ago about this company called d3o, that made a compound that acted like a non newtonian fluid, in that it stayed flexible while under the action of low intensity forces, but would get hard when struck with a sudden force, absorbing the shock at the same time. They use that to do like motorcycle jackets that are armored, in case you fall off your bike during a competition and stuff. ALSO (and the point I was getting to), they used to make beanie caps for snowboarders lined with the substance underneath... SO, maybe hunt down one of these in case they are still around? they should avoid you gagging for 13 miles.

 

The company IS legit, this is not an edited video... as far as I know, they still do safety gear and sport gear for like professional american football helmets and stuff. But I don´t know if they still produce the beanies 

[starpuck]

Whack you on the head one more time?  LOL!   Fantastic.

 

That's amazing!    Probably too late in the game to look into it.    And you're probably wondering... how does she wear a hockey helmet if chin straps gag her?   Face cage!   The chin cup straps connect to the helmet sides, securing the helmet to your head, so that your CHIN strap can remain loose and non-gag-inducing!

 

I've an hour until I must leave for hockey.   Just enough time to do a bit of ESO - and yes, I managed to get Davin sketch inked into Manga Studio.  Dunno what it was about tonight, but my hand was so steady on the tablet that it felt as if I could follow the lines exactly without even having to try!   I tried making the head a bit bigger and honestly I can't tell which one looks better.    This size head, or slightly larger.   So - opinions?   Does the head look rightly proportioned here, or just a scoche too small?