RobinStarling

Heya! Thanks I've never had it properly tested (like by a doctor or something?) but the online ones tend to say my bmr is about 1500. And I'm currently sitting around most days due to current unemployment, so 1500 seems fine to me. I'm upping my intake on exercise days and slightly lowering on other days in an attempt to stave off starvation mode. I might revise in a few weeks if I'm not seeing the right sorts of weight loss, or if I get a job where I'm standing/moving all day.

Going strong, got up at eight this morning (which is much earlier than usual) an its not an official goal or anything, but I'd like to start getting up earlier. Meditated for thirsty minutes, which is proving to be quite a challenge, hopefully it gets easier, and I less distracted. Then I did my first workout of the week. Calories are a bit high over all now, will have a few lower ish days to bring the average down to a better number. It's a bit late, but only by a few days, so here is a starting pic of me. Taken about 8pm (about ten hours post workout and 1400 calories).

Two days in and going alright. The calorie count is ok, though I will need to keep watching it. I worked out the day before the challenge started, so I'm not due for one till tomorrow. And I meditated thirty minutes last night, that it was slightly interrupted and I may have dosed off slightly- I'm about to do my meditation for today and will endeavour not to dose off (I blame the fact that the lights were out! )

*wanders out of the forest with the odd twig in his hair* Awesome goals! I'm planing to do an assassin challenge next time and start getting into parkour! You've set yourself pretty intense goals, so you should have a fun time achieving them!

How far do you manage to run in 30 minutes? These see, like good goals! Strength, eating, and stretching. I'm always really bad at stretching after working out. I usually do a few token stretches for about a minute. That will probably be a goal for me next time!

These are great goals! And good job on fitting the goals to your situation for this challenge. Becoming a non smoker will be super epic for your health and your wallet, so is an awesome focus to have! And I always get excited when I see other people with meditation goals as this is something I want to create a strong habit in myself! Good luck!

Oh man, the one place in Europe I've been is Italy, and the pasta and gelato is just... Sigh. It's even better than you think it's going to be! So no judgement from me! I think as long as it is choice you have made then you're fine. My understanding if a bad rebel would be someone that moves blindly through life, not questioning everything. Though why not bend the rules slightly and set goals for the parts of the challenge when you are home?

I love the whole idea of what you're doing With this challenge! Meditation high-five! I was wondering how the heck you were going to measure your last set of goals, but you're not, so I guess that's fine. Great things to focus on in a more general way though!

Thank you, some water would be lovely! I think 1500 should be manageable. It's only about 500 below maintenance. I can deal without much food fairly well (it isn't hungryness that cracks me usually but the cravings for fat and sugar!) I will be mixing in a few high cal days for workout purposes and inorder to try and buck any starvation mode happenings. As for spiritual practice, I've been ok the past few weeks, but I tend to go on and off it. I want to make daily meditation a really strong habit.

A dark shape is moving out in the distance. Mirages make the figure seem to shift and float in the air. As the robed figure gets closer and his feet finally seem to be touching to ground it becomes easier to see the colour of his robes- the grey green stands out harshly against the burnt umber sand, yet blends perfectly with the flora of the land. He has been livi in a cave out in that dry land, taking with spirits and exploring the vastness of his mind (and maybe taking a few daytime naps). I am returning from the desert. Both figuratively and literally. I sort of fell out of my last challenge, and sat out the last challenge, so am returning from the desert of not participating in challenges. And I've been on a road trip in the Australian outback, visiting places like Uluru, and thus am litterally returning from the desert to city. === Main Quest: Get abs! I want to get down to what Anthony Mychal calls the 'solid base'. So I want to get down lean, and a good way to measure is to have abs showing (at least when tensed and in good lighting). Plus it's sexy! - Eating an average of 1500 calories a day. Averaged by week. - Strength workout twice a week. - Limit and only eat wheat products after working out. Life Quest: Spiritual practice every day. This can include a mix of chants, prayers, invocations and such. This should involve thirty minutes of meditation. Motivation: To have created an internal and external self that I am proud of. To make my life a better, more interesting story. To cross something off my "impossible list". And I will figure out marking at the end as I'm not really sure how grading and stats work with the new rules...

Ok I've really fallen off the wagon! I think as I had been settled in Sydney for a few months, but am now traveling again, moving every day or so, I'm just finding it a bit trickier to actually keep to a routine. I will however put all my effort towards getting back into a routine! Job applications are going ok, Slower than I would have wanted. Hopefully I find something soon

BOOM So that was another fairly fail week, I will put up the progress tomorrow. But my goals for this week are to get back on track with the goals, and to send out at least twenty job applications. I need to get some work for the next few months in Canberra, to get my savings back up!

Thanks guys, To Ash, I did for the first three weeks track calories, but it isn't directly related to any goals. But there is an under pinning wish to lose a small amount of fat (from maybe 14% down to 11 ish). Last few days I haven't tracked though. As for how I did with week three: IF on four days. Spanish on five days. Two workouts, both strength training. Meditation on five days. So a little off but as far as off weeks go, I don't think it was too bad

Whoo! Yay for A's!!! And yay for D since it's improvment! I'm totally imagining having ninja cleaning maids now though. You'd never know they where there. BUT turn your back on something for even a second, and the next thing you know it's sparkling clean!

Week two: Three strength trainings, a walk, and a few stretching sessions. A Meditation on six days. B I need to meditate everyday from here, If I want to get an A IF on five days. A And 35 sentences in Spanish. A Going pretty well, mediation is the tricky one because I cannot have a single day off, where as the others all have a little wiggle room if I'm feeling lazy one day. I'm happy with my mediation amounts, but want an A so will really need to focus on doing it everyday!

Heh, tricky in terms of activity, not people-wise And great for the fact that you would technically still be "wearing shoes".

The benefit I've found from fewer large meals is that you actually get to eat until you are full. Which is great if your big meal is at night as it is much easier to not fall into a late night binge. But really either method works fine I think- just a matter of preference for the most part, I think.

I'm not sure I get your reference sorry! But hi! The fasting is to help me in my efforts to cut. Plus it is supposed to have various health benefits. I realise I will be sacrificing some muscle. But I am making sure to eat a lot on workout days, So I hope to minimise damage.

Swaffe! I totally under stand your hate of shoes. Stupid things! I've started walking barefooted more often these days, occasionally in places where it might be less accepted- though not often. You might be surprised though, I'm not sure malls would mind (you can always keep some footwear in your bag, for if someone does make a fuss?) Or look into those barefoot toe shoe things? I've found the scouts to be a tricky group. As far as carbs, I'm on a cut, so probably eating less than the "recommended" amount. But have struggled to really find a conclusive idea of what the "proper" amount is. For now, I'm quite happy to simply try and up my intake of carbs from fruit and veg, and keep grain based carbs to a minimum- and mostly for after workouts.

I wouldn't bother with putting effort into 5-6 smaller meals. From what I've read fewer meals is just as good, or better.

I don't even know what cow face is, but it sounds awesome/amusing. ... I might be imagining people in a yoga class all bent over slightly, sticking fingers out agains their heads as 'horns'.

Sounds like you're going great with your goals so far! I skimmed a bit, so it is possible I just missed it- but where abouts are you traveling?

Awesome, work! Well done on switching from calorie counting! I'd love to give it up, but think I need to keep going for a while to get my estimations more accurate. I also hear that it's much easier to know when you are eating too much if you have a low body fat percentage, which is one of my current subgoals. Is that a word? Well done on the meditation also. My goal for that is very similar. 10 min everyday. I know how difficult it can be to "do nothing" for even a little time everyday!

The ice cream recipe looks yum! Reminds me of an idea I had for making a homemade version of Nutella! I was thinking blend hazelnuts (and maybe some almonds or cashews?) in a processor till "nut buttery" and mix in either cocoa or melted dark chocolate. Might need to add a little olive oil to get the right consistency. But a much healthier version of Nutella that has actual chocolate and no palm oil sounds win to me! Sounds like your challenge is going well though! Keep it up

To be honest I'm rather struggling with the scouts mini challenge this week. Maybe I'll go for a run or something. I'm trying to she'd some fat, so I won't be able to meet carb requirements, but I could maybe just look into what they should be. I missed meditating yesterday, which means I only have two more days I can skip before an A becomes impossible. I feel like my muscles are getting smaller but, I'm not sure- my strength seems ok though- I think the insurance has gone down though. I'm trying to get down to a "solid base" and then clean bulk from there though, so I'm not too worried about muscle, as long as I keep doing a little strength training, and I've already done two sessions this week.