CB3

Hello, to all... It is good to breathe the air of the NerdFitness Rebellion again!! I am back after a long break to check in with old friends and with any luck, make some new ones. So let's get down to brass tacks... My main goal will be to get into shape for the Tough Mudder 2014 in September. Goal 1: Lift 4x per week to increase overall strength. I currently lift 2-3 times per week, depending on how busy I am at work. My goal is to step it up a notch and train 4 days for at least 40 minute lifting sessions. Lift 4x: A 3x: C anything less is failure Goal 2: Like the wind. I have been working on my lifting but not on my running stamina. My goal is to increase my cardio endurance from 20 minutes comfortably to 45 minutes comfortably. I don't have to do a run workout every time, the elliptical, bike, or stair climber will work just fine. My plan is to add it to my lifting workouts so 4x per week is ideal. Lift 4x: A 3x: B 2x: C anything less is failure Goal 3: Light as a feather. Or not. My goal here is to increase muscle mass and decrease fat mass and my size by continuing to eat in a paleo manner. I am coming off of a relatively strict, high protein diet and exercise program and my goal is to continue to eat well 6 days per week. One "cheat" day, not all out "eat everything but the kitchen sink" cheat day but a meal that is not pale compliant. Plus, no more than one small "goody" per day. I don't mean a fried Twinkie once a day, I am referring to the occasional cookie (generally homemade), a couple of M&M's, or strawberries with chocolate sauce. Eat well 6 days: A 5 days: B 4 days: C Any less is failure Life Goal: The life goal is difficult as there are so many things I would like to improve upon one at a time. But I think I'll choose one that will help all the others and my fitness and health goals. Getting up early.... I normally get up early about 6:30 am, though 5 am would allow me to get more done before all the distractions wake up. I could also get that extra workout or two in Up early 6 days: A 5 days: B 4 days: C 3 days: D Otherwise I failed...so sad.

Eboncat you may not be making headway with your pull-ups but you are obviously making up for it with TKD. You go girl! I like your idea about making your goals next challenge more about overall health instead of just exercise (isn't that why we all do this?)

Well Starbon, all I can say is keep working at it, we all quit at one point or another, at least you are big enough to admit it. Moving in anyway is so very stressful. I have confidence that you will work through it all! Talking about admitting things....I actually have had 2 workouts in the last 2 months until today and I feel it, I swear the bar got heavier not me getting weaker! I suppose I didn't realize how much I missed all the haggling and encouragement I get from NF...it will be interesting to see how much I can deadlift now. I swear I have also packed on a few pounds and went up a size in clothes. Where are you moving to? What adventure awaits the dear Starbon?

Look at you go Starbon, Go you! And I find that when I am trying to start a new habit, like journaling, it is easier to do it everyday, then there is no excuses. It's awesome that you figured out what worked for you. Glad to see the updates as well, keeps the rest of us from wondering where you disappeared to! Happy Thanksgiving to you too!! Get your grub on!

Starbon, I am very impressed. You are doing very well! I like the fact that even when you miss something you seem to intend on putting something else in its place....... THAT is how you succeed. Keep on rock'n it! (literally since your learning the guitar ) And thank you.

Well, Eboncat, You are doing Fabulous! That is awesome...and I love the Skadi ring. How beautiful is that!?!?! talk about a reward. I love Etsy. Sorry to hear about your ankle, though its awesome to hear that you are still getting your weights and practice in. Rock On and Keep Up the Great work!

Hello, all! I did actually sign up for this challenge. I just never got motivated enough to actually set goals this challenge. Though I think I lost all motivation for everything recently, seems kind of sad but just maybe...I need a break. Burn out was inevitable at this point. I don't think I have ever told you guys that I work 7 days a week, about 65 hours if you include my commute. Its been a blur for the last 5 months. All this typing and stuff is time consuming. It's time for a break. Something has got to give and sadly, things like this, that I love to be a part of, give out first. Maybe my priorities should be the other way around, may be my motivation for everything will come back.... I will return and I have plans in the making for my goals. I will be checking in on all of you for motivation and support where needed.....Keep up the great work. You all rock!

Thank you all so much! I'm not sure about Dickens....I think I sound a but crazy! But the last 3 weeks have been that way...Hoping the next 6 are better! See ya'll on the flip side!

Hello, ladies, I did not fall off the planet. (Though that would have been a cool adventure! ) Thanks for checking up on me! I have been very busy.... on vacation, sick, home with sick kids, working too much, and not enough (yes, all at the same time). I have been over the moon, and under the weather, depressed, ecstatic, spending time with the new boyfriend and dealing with the ex, stressed is an understatement, gone to court, and to the top of a mountain(On foot). I have been in the best moods and the weirdest ones. I have become disenchanted with job hunting and enamored by the possibility of something new with the potential to be happier and will not cause me to regret the time and effort I spend at my j.o.b. Sadly, at my current position I feel as though my intelligence and my creativity are beginning to atrophy. It is the potential of a position that is a way to make a living without sacrificing my ability to live and be myself that keeps all my extra time sending out resumes. What is it? Where is that potential? (You may ask.) I honestly don't know but right now, anything would be better than staying where I am at for much longer. The last few weeks have been a blur and I didn't realize so much time has passed, now the challenge is over. I WILL be at the next one. Hope to see all you beautiful people there!

Eboncat, TKD, sounds fab! I really hope that you enjoy it thoroughly. I have found here in the last month that just about everyone I know, online or off, has very limited to no motivation for a lot of things that seems to frosted with a disappointed disenchantment with the world in general. Don't bash yourself too much! You did try and your intentions were all in the right spot, not to mention your unfailing encouragement. You Rock!! Truly.

Beautiful, fabulous lady, you!!! You are amazing! And just being aware enough of yourself to know when you need a break is amazing, a lot of people I know wouldn't pay that much attention to their own cues and know when to take a break. I say rock on! You did good. I will miss your encouragement and hope you the best workouts and conquering the clean eating! Enjoy your break and I will be looking forward to "seeing" you later!!

You did a great Job Prime!!!! Look at all those fantastic marks, you go girl!! We will see you in the next one!

Great Job Rogaecia! I am SO impressed that you stuck through it all and finished like a champ, even the C on budgeting is great since most people lack the foresight and will power to even try to budget anything.... I love you term "existential tantrum" I have been in a "mood" myself and that is a fantastic way to express the way I have been feeling. I'm glad I'm not the only one, you came out of it better than I did, you at least finished your challenge. Great Job, you lovely woman, you!

Great to see you get back on the wagon, even after all that you didn't give up! I'll be looking for your workout post.

Update time for last week (week 2 ) Goal 1: C/ B for week 2; got to the gym 3 x and am getting stronger, Whoo Hoo! Goal 2: A/ A Again I chopped wood over the weekend and a bit the other night, I am not sure if it was what I meant when I made this goal but I think it should count; totally. Goal 3: C/ Sugar intake ahs been down but alcohol intake (which just turns to sugar is up) I'm not sure how to grade this one but for solid food intake I will say I am about 85% I give myself a B for this week (maybe I deserve it, maybe I don't; haven't decided yet) Goal 4: F/A Totally journaled week 2, week 3 isn't shaping up well as well....

Here's hoping your not down for too long! I'm sending feel better energy/prayers your way! (and yes, work stinks for me too)

I don't think that is twisted logic! in all actuality it makes sense...you are used to things being that way. We all get stuck/comfortable in being uncomfortable, everyone is used to you being that way and change is scary even to those not doing the changing. We ALL are afraid of "what others will think" thinking that it will make a difference in how we feel when we start to make those changes. And it is when those things, that place we are comfortable being uncomfortable gets to be too much, that we are willing to risk the dreaded "what will others think" and make things better for ourselves. And that in of itself, the act and persistence that it takes to loose the weight and get in shape, makes us beyond pretty, it makes us confident and beautiful (and sadly, threatening to other people). Just the fact that we are all here shows the beginning of the mind set of being awesome, persistent, successful, and beautiful, shows that we are capable of loving ourselves just a bit more, even with all our flaws and imperfections, some of those make you more beautiful, with all the awesome vulnerability we humans hate to show others. “The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes to everyone else’s highlight reel.†— Steve Furtick

I drink a lot of water and tend to keep it in a shaker bottle, sadly without it, I tend to drink almost no water. I do tend to bring it with me regardless of the shake in the mornings, thanks for the idea though. Extra getting up to pee is not a bad idea either.... Thanks, Primeval! I, honestly, surprise myself sometimes. I read this suggestion yesterday and I will say that it helped massively. Thank you both. I ate a handful of almonds and it perked me right up! I have been not getting enough sleep at night as well. While I'm working on it I have a different distraction...... I eat load of veggies and meat of some kind. Lately, it has been turkey (maybe that is part of it) and then a snack of almonds and dried fruit in the afternoon. That does seem to help so I will be doing that more often. Thanks for all the encouragement! You all rock so much! I will also admit that I am not sleeping well or enough. I am lucky if I get 4 hours straight at night and am not sure what is causing it besides personal stress. On that note, confession time, I am eating pretty clean but I am partaking in alcoholic beverages more than I want to admit. It is a temporary fix to ease my nerves in the evening. I used to have just a glass or two of wine or beer in a week and now that number has come up considerably. I am kind of ashamed but recognize that I am not happy with it and am trying to cut it down severely (its not doing good things to my waistline either) then I have some friends that always seem to drink when we hang out. While that is not always bad, we all have been hanging out a lot lately, one friend in particular has a tendency to refill my glass and I loose track of the number I have had. There is no ill intent there but it is not good and I think that is beginning to add to the stress. Any thoughts?

Today I did legs and I am finding that I am running out of time, I need to find an extra 10 minutes or so. Then I could get my third set of exercises in. I really think I could lift more weight if I had more time or maybe I should with less reps. Oh well, something is better than nothing. Total weight moved 9790 lbs (ok I guess that is more than something) Deadlifts (5830 lbs total) 88 x 20 110 x 15 121 x 10 121 x 10 PR Squats (3960 lbs total) 88 x 20 110 x 10 110 x 10 I'll respond here in a bit...gotta go!

Today I did legs and I am finding that I am running out of time, I need to find an extra 10 minutes or so. Then I could get my third set of exercises in. I really think I could lift more weight if I had more time or maybe I should with less reps. Oh well, something is better than nothing. Total weight moved 9790 lbs (ok I guess that is more than something) Deadlifts (5830 lbs total) 88 x 20 110 x 15 121 x 10 121 x 10 PR Squats (3960 lbs total) 88 x 20 110 x 10 110 x 10

Nice Job, Starbon!! Even though you chickened out on talking to the attractive opposite gendered person sitting nearby. You seem ot be doing great with your weights and meditation...give yourself more credit! Your doing good, really! Glad to hear to made it to the gym on Friday (even thought you didn't want to!) That rocks! I like Primeval's Idea of having pick up lines ready, but maybe something a little more simple and less "come-on-ish" Like "Hi, my name is Starbon!" actually that might work, that name is intriguing.

For today; I really had little energy for this workout though it came out beautifully. I think, anyway. Lat Pulldown (4200 lbs) 60 x 20 100 x 10 100 x 10 100 x 10 PR! ( the last one was difficult here so I think I'll stay here till its easy) Bicep curls (888 each side; 1776 total) 18.5 x 12 R and 18.5 x 15 L 18.5 x 12 18.5 x 9 Its odd how was so much stronger my left arm was to start with and my right the second set was a struggle but I managed it. One Arm Rows ( 1020 each side; 2040 total) 23 x 20 33 x 12 33 x 8 (I had to rush through this set other wise I think I would have pushed 10 to 12 reps, though in hindsight I probably could have pushed the extra few minutes.) 8016 total poundage!

I really had little energy for this workout though it came out beautifully. I think, anyway. Lat Pulldown (4200 lbs) 60 x 20 100 x 10 100 x 10 100 x 10 PR! ( the last one was difficult here so I think I'll stay here till its easy) Bicep curls (888 each side; 1776 total) 18.5 x 12 R and 18.5 x 15 L 18.5 x 12 18.5 x 9 Its odd how was so much stronger my left arm was to start with and my right the second set was a struggle but I managed it. One Arm Rows ( 1020 each side; 2040 total) 23 x 20 33 x 12 33 x 8 (I had to rush through this set other wise I think I would have pushed 10 to 12 reps, though in hindsight I probably could have pushed the extra few minutes.) 8016 total poundage!

Good for you doing your workout regardless of feeling under the weather. It's not always easy. 3 tons!!! Way to go. You really are doing awesome!

Ah! So that is why I always feel off balance when I do these, I never really thought about the hip issue. i just thought I had bad balance! (granted that still might be the case) L'irandaise, you lovely woman, you!! Look at you rocking not only your goals but your weights as well. You should be proud of yourself! There are a lot of people out there who don't have the courage or the guts to pick up weights let alone share them with others!! Way to go, beautiful lady!! Keep it up!