j_addict

I think my issue is waiting too long to eat and then getting a headache before I eat. I've been waiting until around 12-1 to eat instead of eating around 10am so I'm going to try and work on that.

Thanks again. My partner and I have decided to focus on ourselves and our health again, so we are eating more cleanly. I am aiming to eat as close to paleo as possible, which is going well so far. Goal Update: #1: Water: Instead of keeping track of my water intake via 64 oz, I am checking my pee (I know gross) for the color. I'm also trying to fill myself up at the end of meals by finishing my glass of water instead of looking for a snack immediately. I feel this is better than stressing myself about drinking and keeping track #2: Moving: I took two weeks off because of a family issue and the holiday, but we plan to start getting food on track this week and running Friday/Sunday. I did do 45 minutes of yoga on Monday but am feeling tired because of the food changes, so I didn't do it today. #3: The Scale: I started weighing in every day because I wanted to keep track of things. I'm back to tracking my food via my phone, and trying not to stress about it. This is helping me stay on track and think about my day's worth of food. By adding in vegetables and decreasing grains I'm doing well. I also like to see my fat % go down. Life Quest: I've been trying to turn on Netflix and put things on in the background I'm interested in instead of just junk on tv. I still don't watch the most thought provoking things, but I'm concentrating on the topic instead of something I've seen over and over. I feel good about this and am just keeping tabs on myself.

Thanks everyone. I entered my food into a calorie counter and I was low on calories. I had a larger snack and the headache went away. It wasn't a paleo snack, but at this point eating mostly paleo in a day is pretty good for me. Thanks for the help!

I have toyed with the primal/paleo idea for awhile and have tried to make the paleo/primal choice when I reach for food. But I keep getting hit with headaches. Anyone else have this issue? I am drinking enough water so I keep thinking I'm not eating enough, but once a headache hits I rarely want to dive into vegetables and even when I do eat nuts or something to stave it off, I still get a headache and have no clue why or how to avoid it. I might be eating too little, which is why I think I need to eat more but it seems like grains are the option that rids the headache and when I'm trying to lose weight/fat it's hard to stick with the headache. This happens almost every time I try paleo/primal which is part of the reason I resort back to carbs/grains. Like today I had some turkey jerky for breakfast, and an omelette with turkey and mixed greens for lunch. I just had a few handfuls of almonds for snack but now I have a headache. Thoughts?

Thanks. I know it's just making the best choice for myself at the right time, but sometimes I just feel like eating terribly and dealing with my feelings later. I know that's not how to do it, but I'm doing better today now that the holiday is over.

Hi Hiraedd, it's not going very well. With the holiday I basically fell of the wagon.

I posted in the previous challenge, oops, this is much better. I know I'm a week late, but better late than skipping it entirely. Main Quest: Lose weight and be a healthier, fitter, me. This has been my quest for awhile but since I moved I gained 5 pounds back from my last real push to lose weight. While the number isn't everything I want to fit into my clothes better, run farther, and have energy to keep going. I want to get back to my challenge #2 beginning numbers of weight: 119 and fat %: 24.5 Goals: #1: Water, water, water! Drink at least 64 oz of water per day through using my Nalgene, ordering water with lemon at restaurants, and remembering to drink throughout the day. ( CON +3) #2: Move Move 3x a week. I'm working on the couch to 5k program so I hope to work through that 3x a week, but may supplement with yoga or some in home workout if things don't allow for a run. I may also start in the weight room, so we will see. (STR +2, STA +2, DEX +2) #3: Conquer the Scale Weigh in on Saturday ONLY! I have a love hate relationship with the scale, and while I want to keep my eye on how my weight and fat % are shaping up, weighing daily stresses me out. I will resist stepping on that scale and check in on Saturdays. (WIS +2, CON +2) Life Quest: Watch TV I'm interested in. I work from home and it's too easy to sit in front of the tv and watch stuff I'm not interested in. I'm going to try and watch shows I'm into, instead of whatever's on. (WIS +2) Current stats: Weight: 124 Fat %: 27 Goal weight: 115 Goal fat %: 22

Retracted and moved to the correct place, in the current challenge.

@Tateman Thanks, I've really been slacking with my eating now that the challenge is over and life is getting crazy, but I hope to tighten it up soon and start eating well again. @Blaidd Thank you. I do enjoy learning from these challenges and it helps me more than just completing my goals. I like the freedom of learning and refocusing goals, and then using the last challenge to help the next one.

WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS CHALLENGE: 1. Stay small with workout goals until I'm doing them past my goal. Like the BBW, I liked doing it once a week, or more, but some weeks I wouldn't do it. As much as I want to push myself, I need to stick to it at least once a week, and then when I'm doing it like a flash twice/three times a week, I can move on. 2. Don't focus on calories. I hated this. It didn't help me make good choices and while it did help me gauge things, it also made me feel guilty sometimes which led to overeating other times. Instead I want to focus on the food I'm eating and work in more fruits and vegetables, experiment with new recipes and options, and just make good choices when I can. 3. It's good to have the running goal, but it often gets pushed out. We are definitely going to work on running more, hopefully once we settle into the move, and it cools down into more fall like weather. 4. I really enjoy reading and want to keep reading one book a week at least. I did like having the goal and really spending time with a book. It's tough when the book doesn't feel right, but I like to have something good going and keep working on those that are a bit slower. Overall I'm glad I adjusted my goals when I did and kept working on ones I didn't like so much. I am always most successful with the non-fitness goals, but need to keep learning about how to increase the fitness which was key with the NF workouts. As for food I know it's going to be an obstacle, but I'm working on it and enjoying my meals out, my not so healthy options and learning to enjoy no matter what and adjust when it feels right. I probably gave myself too many points, but I'm going to try and be more objective with points and achieving them in the next challenge. POINTS: Goal #1: Bikram then NF workout: 3 of 6, +1 STA, +1 STR Goal #2: calories: 36 days of 42 days, +1 WIS Goal #3: Running: 3 of 6, +1 DEX, +1 CON Goal #4: reading 1 book: 5 of 6, +1 WIS Total points earned: +2 WIS, +1 STA, +1 STR, +1 DEX, +1 CON Mini quests: +2 WIS, +1 CHR, +1 STR Successful challenge despite the slip ups, the lack of effort some weeks, and the eye rolling, I'm glad I did it and learned more about myself.

WEEK 6 SUMMARY Goal #1: NF bodyweight workout: I just bit the bullet and did it. I'm glad I did, it's easy and quick and something I'll carry through after the challenge. 1/1 Goal #2: Eating 1000-15000 calories: I did this but was very loose with my eats, definitely need to both stay loose but make good choices. Goal #3: run 1x a week: We didn't run but did walk 3 miles in 95 degree heat so I counted it. We did work, and sweat. 1/1 Goal #4: read a book a week: I definitely did this. I read Room very quickly and was glad to have a book to escape into. 1/1 WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS CHALLENGE: 1. Stay small with workout goals until I'm doing them past my goal. Like the BBW, I liked doing it once a week, or more, but some weeks I wouldn't do it. As much as I want to push myself, I need to stick to it at least once a week, and then when I'm doing it like a flash twice/three times a week, I can move on. 2. Don't focus on calories. I hated this. It didn't help me make good choices and while it did help me gauge things, it also made me feel guilty sometimes which led to overeating other times. Instead I want to focus on the food I'm eating and work in more fruits and vegetables, experiment with new recipes and options, and just make good choices when I can. 3. It's good to have the running goal, but it often gets pushed out. We are definitely going to work on running more, hopefully once we settle into the move, and it cools down into more fall like weather. 4. I really enjoy reading and want to keep reading one book a week at least. I did like having the goal and really spending time with a book. It's tough when the book doesn't feel right, but I like to have something good going and keep working on those that are a bit slower. Overall I'm glad I adjusted my goals when I did and kept working on ones I didn't like so much. I am always most successful with the non-fitness goals, but need to keep learning about how to increase the fitness which was key with the NF workouts. As for food I know it's going to be an obstacle, but I'm working on it and enjoying my meals out, my not so healthy options and learning to enjoy no matter what and adjust when it feels right. POINTS: Goal #1: Bikram then NF workout: 3 of 6, +1 STA, +1 STR Goal #2: calories: 36 days of 42 days, +1 WIS Goal #3: Running: 3 of 6, +1 DEX, +1 CON Goal #4: reading 1 book: 5 of 6, +1 WIS Total points earned: +2 WIS, +1 STA, +1 STR, +1 DEX, +1 CON Mini quests: +2 WIS, +1 CHR, +1 STR Successful challenge despite the slip ups, the lack of effort some weeks, and the eye rolling, I'm glad I did it and learned more about myself.

WEEK 5 SUMMARY Goal #1: Complete 1 NF workout per week: I definitely didn't do this this week. I wasn't feeling it and despite it taking five minutes, I didn't do it. 0/1 Goal #2: Eat 1,000 to 1,500 calories per day: I have been falling off the wagon. My weight loss was stalled/plateaued so I let myself eat cookies and some other junk. Then we ate out several times, tired of salads and the usual dinners. 4/7 Goal #3: Run 1x a week: Definitely didn't do this. The weekend was busy after hearing back about getting approved for our apartment and then we started packing to move. It's no excuse but between that and the heat we didn't run. 0/1 Goal #4: Read one book a week: I started a short book but wasn't feeling it, so started another but I'd read it already. Between not finding a good book and having a ton of work to do this week I didn't make my goal for the first time in the challenge. 0/1 Overall it was a not so successful week. I didn't read or move, and ate way too much. It is busy because we are planning another move, so this week was a bit of letting go and enjoying, which I know doesn't mean compromising my health but still. I learned that I need to tighten back up on things, since I did gain a little bit. I don't want to just let myself go because we're moving but it's exhausting packing and sorting and Sonic or Carl's Jr is so convenient but we will try to do better as the last week begins for the challenge.

Thanks Tateman. I'm glad that things are getting better and I'm finding ways to work out again. I guess I just needed a break from eating and to loosen up, so that I could make progress.

I have a skin condition/allergy that affects my hands but only when I eat peanut butter. I tried what i thought was a pretty minimal bar the other day and two days later I was broken out. The delayed onset because of my body processing the peanut butter is what sucks and made my diagnosis impossible from the doctors. I figured it out myself and tested it the other day because I thought I would be fine, turns out I must avoid it. That sucks that you had a setback, but great that you figured it out. I hate when things crop up and have what seems like no known cause, and you have to play detective. I was having tension headaches in the back of my head, so hopefully it was my outdated prescription and not my frames. I'm getting my new frames fitted soon and am hoping for the best. I'm glad that you're feeling better and can hopefully continue once you're feeling up to it.

I know I haven't been running but week 4 I got some motivation and ran twice! My MapMyRun didn't save my first run, but my second run was saved and the first was about the same as the second. 8/24 and 8/25 total time: 31.29 distance: 1.92 pace: 16:24 We keep between a 15:30 and 16:30 pace which has been pretty consistent for us. We focus on running the times and getting through it, running faster to get better mile times will come with practice. I'm hoping we get out to run this week at least once, he's pretty into it so that's good at well. We feel accomplished after we finished, and the muscle soreness is a great reminder of my progress. How'd everyone else do?

WEEK 4 SUMMARY Goal #1: Complete 1 NF workout a week: This was the beginning of my new goal to replace Bikram yoga since we stopped going. I decided to go with the beginner bodyweight workout and ended up doing it 3 times this week! I did it on Tuesday and it only took like 5 minutes so on Thursday I did it again and felt good enough to do it again. I still do pushups on my knees because I want to get a full pushup, and I haven't found the right weight for the rows, but I'm glad I did it. I think I'm going to stick with this one until I can muster the courage to do a full pushup or if I'm doing this with ease for multiple days or doing multiple sets. 3/1 Goal #2: Eat 1,000 to 1,500 calories per day: I still had a few not so good snacks, but am getting better at being well rounded with my eats, and including grains but not a ton. I'm still trying to keep my carb intake down and increase protein, but am also learning moderation. I did go over by 24 calories one day, but my exercise brought the total down so I'm saying 7/7 for this week. Goal #3: Run 1x a week: We ran twice this week!! On Saturday we were having our pity party about weight and I suggested we run. He totally wasn't into it and I was a little upset because we can't eat crap and expect to lose, nor eat well and not include exercise to lose the last 10 or so pounds. So I did a few things and he sat down and said, "I'm wearing my running clothes" and so we got ready and ran. Then yesterday we felt like it so said why not and ran again. Our times were about the same, my MapMyRun didn't record the first run, but the second run's time was 31:29 total time, 1.92 miles, 16:24 min/mi pace. 2/1 Goal #4: Read a book a week: This one was done right under the wire. We slept in on Sunday and he slept a little later than I did, giving me time to finish the book of the week. It was Still Life with Brass Pole, and it was 3/5 stars. It was a memoir about a boy/man who grows up in a weird household and becomes a bodybuilding bouncer trying to find love in all the wrong places. It was good, but I'm glad I got it for free. 1/1 This week we plan to run at least once during the week, he wanted to do every day but I suggested we start by trying once because last time we ran 3x a week it became a chore and we bumped a lot of other stuff out of our schedule. We are always looking for balance so it's good that we try to run once a week and then once or twice on the weekend. I also plan to do at least one bodyweight workout, but am not sure of the day. I'm also starting David Mamet's Writing in Restaurants today, it's shorter which might mean I'll start a second book this week.

Great update and haircut!

Great update. Setbacks happen, just enjoy and learn from it. Great haircut also. I am trying to grow out my hair so I can feel more like myself. I got it cut and wasn't too impressed, so I'm growing it way long to see how I feel about it.

I usually do about a 70-80% dark chocolate but I get the grocery store kind and it usually has nuts in it, which breaks up the sort of boring (imo) dark chocolate flavor. I choose Ghirardelli which is expensive as far as brand chocolate, and even use the dark baking chips in my yogurt, delish. Way to go this week, we all have slip ups and cheat days but as long as you learn from them, they're so worth it.

@rogaecia, Thanks so much.

I was just thinking of doing something like this! I cleaned my desk and my closet so I'm going to count that as +1. +1 WIS

@Rogaecia Thanks for the tips! I definitely need to do better with my eating. Reaching my calorie goal is one thing, eating good things is another. I will definitely have to try the quiches, since they're easy enough. Could you point me in the direction of a recipe? I also like the idea of a smoothie because I do have some almond milk that needs to be used up, and some blueberries before they go bad. I've decided to alter my goals a bit so that I can re-focus my efforts. Goal #1 was attending bikram, but now that I'm not doing that I've decided to do a Nerd Fitness workout at least once a week. I'm not going to pigeon hole myself by saying it has to be the beginner bodyweight workout, but it has to be a workout. The bodyweight workout took me like 5 minutes so I have no real excuse, and I'm sweating after just the five minutes. Goal #2 was getting at least 1000 calories per day. I have done very well with this, but haven't been eating as healthy as I should. So now it's eating 1,000 to 1,500 calories per day. This will help to cap my overeating, and help me make wiser choices. The running goal and the reading goal still stand, hopefully I'll get a run in sometime soon and it will work out.

@Tateman, I agree. For me it's never straightforward where I do it or I didn't, but more about the whys either why I did it or why I didn't. So far it's "easy" to eat whatever I want to increase the calories and "easy" to spend some time every afternoon with my book. The other things are more difficult but I'm learning the whole way. I'm glad my goals are more tailored to me this time, and that will only help with whatever comes up next time.

WEEK 3 SUMMARY GOAL #1: attend Bikram yoga 1x a week: This was a total no go. Since yoga takes up the whole weekend due to the time and needing to prepare my body we decided against it. I did get my money's worth, and I may attend with the BF because he still has sessions on his account. As much as I like Bikram I think I like running better since it only takes 30 minutes and I feel I can gauge myself and see my progress more clearly. Definitely a great experience though. I may change this goal to working at home once a week since I feel that will be a better goal now that I know I'm not going to be going to Bikram weekly anymore. GOAL #2: 1200 calories per day: I've been doing well on this in that I've loosened up on eating, but I've also let myself go with it. I had a bunch of junk, but managed to keep my calories under 1800 every day, with only a couple days where I went over 1200. I know I've got a weird/bad relationship with food since I stress about it too much. I've been thinking that paleo is the way but it seems too restrictive recently, like if I see my carbs are too high I get anxious that I can't eat anything I want to. So I think moderation might be a better option right now, with me looking to eat good healthy foods and having fruit or yogurt for snack instead of thinking I can't have anything I want and breaking and eating cookies. GOAL #3: Running 1x a week: Epic fail. We didn't even think about running much past asking each other if we should and then forgetting about it. We clearly aren't on a health kick right now and prefer the couch and television to being outside and moving. It makes sense since we were totally into it earlier, but hopefully we will revive ourselves, although I don't have an ETA on this as of now. GOAL #4: Read a book a week: I finished Beautiful Disaster this week which was a whopping 400+ pages. It was really good and I was proud of my dedication. I'm switching back to my Kindle to read a book I got for free awhile ago. It's really good and 270-ish pages. It's called Still Life With Brass Pole. It's a bit out there, but should be a good read. Overall I'm still learning. I'm glad I've decided not to push myself into Paleo and more see what works for myself right now. I'm aiming to eat clean as much as I can, especially since I've had a ton of slip ups recently, but I think it was necessary for me to enjoy and now get back to making better choices. I know it will take some time to get right with food and have a good relationship, especially since I never thought I could lose 15 pounds on my own and I did, but I've learned a lot and continue to do so.

Thanks everyone. @Tateman: I know many people use a crockpot to make soups and stews, which makes it really easy to not only cook but reheat, so your stew might fair well in that especially since you're home to check on it. @KingLeeroy: Thanks so much for the boost!