TearDowntheDawn

Yes. I went and loved it. Did another 7 OCRs before the fall season was done! Spartan was my favorite - I ended up failing my attempts at 4 of the obstacles and did 120 burpees - but somehow having completed that course, and the burpees of course, made me feel more triumphant than all the other OCRs that I had been able to complete all the obstacles. OCR fan!

Anybody going? This will be my 1st OCR ever...I am really excited. Been training hard! Never found anyone interested in doing these things, so I will be going alone, which makes me feel kinda nervous - wish I could've found someone who had done at least one before - but as the saying goes "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." I will once again use my "20 seconds of courage" (actually it will be more like 2 and 1/2 hours of courage, since that's about how long it will take me to drive there from Birmingham) but I can invoke the "20 seconds of courage" to get my butt in the car and start driving! Any insight for a newbie on her first OCR adventure would be appreciated.

Hey Dave, Glad you're having a good week. I completely agree with what you said about "It isn't a competition with other people. It's a competition with yourself to improve yourself, to stay off the couch." That is such an important concept. I can't tell you the number of times I have started an exercise and /or weight loss program and ended up just giving up because it seemed like everyone else was doing so much better than me; I felt so hopeless. Its been a good week. btw, name is Bev.

I know that facing a challenge like exercising with a chronic lung condition like asthma must seem...well, too challenging at times. Props to you for "gettin' after it" anyways! You know I don't really have a set list per say. When I am doing strength training I listen to a variety of music, although I do listen to alot of Maroon 5 and Old Crow Medicine Show for the workouts. I am having some problems with my laptop, so I am not using my I pod much right now - don't really have my music set-up the way I want it and can't change it at this point. I do however listen to it for longer runs - generally just alot of music that has good beats and rhythms, along with some fast and slow tempos. I have a friend that thinks show tunes are the way to go for a workout! She says they make her feel happy and ready to have fun during her workout. I love to collect inspirational quotes and then I put them in a binder - each day I select one and repeat it to myself several times over the course of the day. Of course, I probably think about the one that I got right here on this website 50 times a day - "One day at a time. One workout at a time. One decision at a time." Every time I have to make a choice about what foods or drinks I will put in my body, if I will buy something or not, and if I will do my scheduled workout for the day, I repeat those three statements. My inspirational quote for the day is "Repeat after me: I am stronger than this challenge. And this challenge is making me even stronger." Don't know who said this.

So, another Birminghamian....we are building the nerdfitness base here! I wish I had great advice about the issues with giving up sodas, but it would be poor advice because I am struggling as well - just not with sodas - I like to drink beer in warm weather. I have however drastically cut down on how many. Maybe that is the best way to start? I don't know how many you drink daily, but you could set a limit, say for a week have one daily, then one every other day, till you finally have given them up. Then on your occasional cheat day, you could really enjoy drinking one if you choose to use that for your cheat. So, I went to the Superhero Scramble in Georgia this past weekend - It was well muddy...and really GREAT! I am addicted, I don't think I can wait till September for the Run For Your lives one - so I have really amped up my workout routine - ran trails with rough terrain, lots of hills, and stuff in the path to jump yesterday; it felt great. Got to really work on the upper body strength. I am still open to getting together at some point if anyone is interested in talking work out ideas, nutrition, or whatever... I would love to get a team going to do obstacle course runs together, as well. (but I am interested in just offering support - even to people who don't think mud is that great! I know long post, but just one more thing... I don't know what kind of rewards you would find motivating but I pick out some type of work out equipment (like a really good jump rope, a chin up bar, a BOSU Balance Trainer, a foam roller, medicine ball, kettle bells, etc.) - see nothing really big or super expensive, and as a bonus these rewards will help you win more rewards! I also think that it is important to have specific goals and a timetable for reaching them. I really found it helpful when I used my "20 seconds of courage" to sign up for the Obstacle Course Race - paying for it keeps me motivated to make sure I get in shape and stay there. I am well on my way to a BOSU Balance Trainer. Hooray!!!

I am a recovered diet soda addict (although occasionally, for a cheat, I will have one). I have now gone two days without beer (or any other alcoholic beverages). The most difficult part is having to turn down invites to go out and get a beer, but I know if I go I will not be strong enough yet to pass one up - so instead, I'm just heading on home and gardening, which oddly enough also makes me want a beer (working out there in the dirt, getting sweaty and thirsty...). I'm having a lot of trouble setting my fitness goals - I have no idea how to decide on a weight to set for squats, or whatever. maybe I could just pick a number of burpees I could do in a row? I am actually following the work out guidelines in an obstacle course training book, since I have signed up to do the Run For Your Lives course in GA in September - but I am having trouble deciding how to set goals. I guess I'll go post about this - what are you doing to come up with SMART goals? I have trouble making sure the goal is reasonable (something I can achieve with work) and not too easy.

Well, I guess I should add that I am also stunned. Three...who woulda thought...right here in the Ham! We should get together some time. I am trying to give up beer to complete my Paleo eating challenge; wish me luck. I have decided the best way for me to do this is going to have to be one day at a time and one decision at a time. Tough for me...I love beer. Going to forego all alcoholic beverages till I get through this, then add on the occasional glass of red wine with supper.

Hi! Sorry been recovering after surgery - couldn't run, lift, or even act like I was thinking about it for 4 weeks following the surgery....I am ending week 3 and starting in on my 4th week. It feels weird to be eagerly awaiting a return to burpees and box jumps! So are you interested in a nerdfitness sidekick for workouts or to discuss nutrition, or for whatever?

I like to drink a protein smoothie for breakfast - its quick to make and I can consume on the way to work. Right now I am using: Jarrow's unflavored whey protein, organic raw dark chocolate powder, 1/2 a banana (frozen), either stevia or agave syrup - just a little, some cinnamon, and a tablespoon of raw, organic coconut butter, all mixed with one cup of almond coconut milk. I know not really Paleo, but I don't think it terribly breaks any rules either (I don't always have the 1/2 banana in it). Just wondering which is a better source for the protein the whey protein or egg white powder?

Hi. I'm not sure about the fitness bands; I had some but really prefer to just use dumbbells or other "heavy things" like myself, sandbags, rocks, etc. (I also eat Paleo and follow the website by Mark Sisson called marks daily apple for workout and diet advice). When I found the nerdfitness site, I just started out doing the Basic body weight circuit workout and found it to be a great place to start. I was also considering joining a gym at the time, but not wanting to pay those monthly fees, instead I am purchasing some type of equipment for a home gym with each paycheck - kind of works out as a reward for sticking with my fitness and nutrition program as well.

Looking for someone in my area to workout with at times and provide motivation and encouragement on a regular basis. Would love to locate a nerdfitness buddy in my area, but I would try a virtual someone - I'm just not really good at posting regularly - I get really busy and many days I have to make all my extra time count toward reaching my fitness and/or nutrition goals. I often realize, particularly around the weekends, that I have gone a couple of days and haven't even checked my email. But I would try - I have made a lot of changes in the way I do things and am prepared to make more. I am really interested in doing an obstacle course type race and have committed to one later this year - would love to find someone interested in doing this as well.

I'm a 50 year old female who is ready to level up. I have actually been looking around the site through the month of February, getting a fitness plan together, and getting started. I found the site as I was looking for information about Crossfit. My plan had been to challenge myself through the month of February to make a fitness plan and follow it, as well as get completely serious about going Paleo (or for me it would be Primal since I tend to follow the Primal Fitness - Mark Sisson- eating and lifestyle philosophy). So, as a reward for sticking with the plan for the month, I was planning on joining the local Crossfit gym. Well, I have decided not to go that route (here it is March 1st already), but not because I didn't stick with the plan, actually I did - Hooray!- I've just found such great information on working out on NerdFitness I'm really happy doing what I am doing at this time (I can always consider the Crossfit gym later). So, what I needed was a new reward...I took up the suggestion for "20 seconds of courage" and signed up for one of the Run For Your Lives obstacle course 5K runs. The thing is, I don't want to just run it - I want to ROCK it! Already putting together a workout plan to incorporate things I might find on an obstacle course run into my workout plan. I would love any information from anyone on the site who has done one of these. Looking forward to doing a challenge.