Radact

Awesome work! Everything looks great for your midway point, and ever still your positivity is awesome to see The sleep thing is hard one I think. I totally understand the weekend thing, wanting to sleep in, but skewing the cycle :/ but I think the important thing is that you are aware of it, and making an effort to still achieve it. In some of my previous challenges I did reward myself for making mental changes with a quest. If I was making a conscious effort to change something, or do something, but I found I wasn't quite hitting the mark, I told my self that it was still a great change. I feel that the point of these challenges is to make and change habits, and the biggest thing is the mental challenge. If you are aware of what you are trying to do, and you are making an effort, you have already done all the hard work, and it is just that last bit of result that you are waiting on. In short; you are trying, and you are aware of the goal, so even if you haven't got an A, you have done a great job on moulding your habit, and I praise you for that! Certainly a good idea for your next challenge! If you want to focus on your sleeping habits then go for it. Yeah the FitBit is a good motivator, and good to help visualise results and feel good about how you are going! Onward indeed! Keep up the great work and good luck with Week 3!

Mid-Challenge Break-Down and Early Week 3 Progress: Mid-Challenge: A Brick in the Wall: Week Step Average: 3,900 (Week 1) + 4,900 (Week 2) = 4,400 - D Certainly not great to have a D at the half-way, but I think I will drop this one just a tad to account for my back, which is feeling a lot better as days pass, and I think if I can get myself outside and walking I can bring this up for the 28-day average. Not the Rack: Still doing my exercises everyday, but certainly not doing 2x the reps. B Not great, not an A, but to be honest the point of this one is to look after my back and make some improvement, which is definitely the case. So I am happy with this. The Oncoming Thirst: Week 1: 1.1L average, Week 2: (Sat/Sun were 1.4L and 2.3L respectively) 1.6L average, therefore ~1.4L average - D- Not great to see a D- there, but the week average did increase by half a litre on the first week, and I am noticing that I am actively seeking out water throughout the day, so I can definitely feel a change in myself. This makes me confident that I am making a good habit and that I can work a little harder and be a bit more conscientious about my intake to get that A by the end. Knowledge is Power, Talk is Cheap: I think there was at least 7 times throughout the week where I went out and spoke to people when I normally wouldn't - A+ I completely smashed it for Week 2, and I am very proud of myself, I have been very reserved socially for my whole life, so this has been a big change, which I think is good for me. I'm sure I can keep it up and get a good grade at the end here. Overall: C I think this is a fairly accurate reflection of how I have done over the first 2 weeks. It has been good and consistent, but I have certainly been letting some aspects slip. With some work I can still easily get this up to an A by the end of this challenge. Really loving the FitBit for helping me track everything, and helping to push me to get things done. Just a bit more effort on my part and I will get there! Week 3 so far: Alpha: 2k steps over today and yesterday total... That might be because I didn't wear my FitBit at all today, but I have put in about 20 hours of work on my current game projects, including a meeting yesterday, so I can understand why it is so low. I just need to organise myself, and train myself to get up and do some laps every now and again, which is the whole point of this challenge for me! Not a great start, but I can turn it around. Goal tomorrow is to get the A-grade +1,000! Beta: Exercises done, but not doubled (in my head I aim to do the exercises twice a day, rather than do a double lot in one go), and it is so close to midnight that if I did another set, I would count it towards tomorrow's amount anyways. Going strong with this, but not A worthy. Gamma: 1.8L of water, which is just a C, hmm I didn't keep up as much as I thought, I thought I did well today. Oh well, just means I need to be more conscience tomorrow! I find the more I walk, the more I drink, so if I make myself walk tomorrow, I can get 2 quests done! Side: Had my meeting on Monday, but I don't think that really counts. Haven't ventured out into the world the last 2 days, so no progress on this. I still feel good after last weeks performance, so I just need to get out and about this week, or contact some old mates. Still feel good and strong on this one! Not too bad, room for improvement. But like Korvida said, baby steps, so I will keep plodding along, and I WILL get there! Good luck to everyone else with their challenges!

Time for an almost 2 week update, and I think I will include the end of week 1 update as well, as I realised I only did the 'almost' one. Week 1: Alpha: D - 3.8k step 7-day average Beta: B - Did my exercises, just not double reps Gamma: E - 1.1L average (I had 2 litres on the Sunday) Side: A - I did have a chat with someone I normally wouldn't on the Sunday, which was good to be honest Week 2 (nearly): Alpha: 5.25k 7-day steps average - C - I am thinking of dropping the ranks for this - I had a really good day walking the other day, and even though I was resting and did the steps over a couple of different time periods, my back was quite sore before I reached 6k steps, so I am concerned that I set the A-grade too high for my health at this point. Beta: Did all my exercises and the physio was happy with my progress, didn't do double reps every day though - B Gamma: 2L average of water - C - but nearly a B, however for the overall progress it scales out to a 1.3L average which is an E. I am not too concerned by this as a slightly higher average each day for the next 2 weeks can still yield an A whilst still being appropriate and responsible with my water intake. For those of you aware of the bushfires here over the last week, you will also be aware that it has been, and still is quite hot, so a high water intake is going to be a good thing, especially as we are only just about to start moving into the hottest time of the year. Side: I would say about 6-7 times this week I really went out there and talk to people I normally wouldn't A+ - I forgot to mention the conversation I had with a bloke at the servo about my car the other day. It was a bit random, but I tried to stay involved and have a good chat about it, which is another +1, and my interview for a part-time job went really well yesterday too, so I feel that that could be a +1 as well Oh, and I also did my best to help out a woman with directions and figuring out where she was meeting her friend yesterday. This was at the traino and I don't think she had been in Australia for very long (eastern European accent on top of everything is what makes me think this might be the case), I think this also counts as a good deed on my behalf too, yay hehe, +1. Despite the bleak outlook just the other day in regard to my quests, I think I am actually doing really well at this point now. I think overall for the entire challenge I am currently sitting on about a C+, but reflecting on what I have done, and how quickly I can climb some of the quests, I think I might be able to say at this time next week that I am on a running overall B, maybe even B+. This is a good confidence boost for myself, and I think I am ready to put more effort in next week. I will review the average steps quest, and consider modifying it, because if I feel that I can't get an A because of my back at this stage, then maybe I shouldn't penalise myself for it. Time to get the scores up for the weekend!

Lol, awkward - triggered the sunglass emote - I honestly forgot that was a thing... I might edit that all out, not sure yet though

This week so far: Mon: 4.1k steps ( D ) Exercises doubled ( A ) 1.4L water ( D ) Had a meeting with some mates from uni about starting up a game project and the potential for a game studio - +1 Tue: 3.8k steps ( D ) Exercises done ( B ) 2L water ( C ) Had a chat with someone that I normally wouldn't, rather than wait around I went up and asked a few questions at the reception desk (I usually would be very happy to just loiter in the corner) - +1 Wed: 6.5k steps ( C ) Exercises doubled ( A ) 2.3L water ( B ) Tried to have a casual chat with a physio rather than just about the appointment and the idle chat they use to distract you while they do adjustments. - +1 Thur: 1.7k steps ( F ) - Wow I know I had a lazy day, but I did not realise how bad it was Exercises done ( A ) 1.6L water ( D ) So it looks like a D - B - D - B average at the moment. Which is actually nowhere near what I thought I was at for the week. Which is disappointing, but a good reminder to not get complacent. I haven't hit that point yet where all is lost. I can still get an A average by the end of the challenge, so I just need to focus and not get so complacent. I can do this!

This is true! Sorry for the delay, I have been trying to get busy with my games development work this week, but I am gonna try and get on more often I swears it! Yeah, this is true too. I think it was good for a first week, and I am trying to get on top of my goals this week. Yeah, I am bad at setting News Years resolutions because I expect that to happen, but my plan is to be apart of NF and use the community support to really achieve these goals Thanks! It certainly is awesome to not feel sore for any period of time. Anterior pelvic tilt - I believe is what the physio was explaining to me, but the reason this came to light was at work about 6 months ago, a group lift of a module of a few hundred kilos was just a bit too much and just set off the chain reaction in my back. Some muscles were pulled and got a bit sore, and all the muscles I never use started to compensate and were the ones that have become the most painful over the last few months. (The work I was doing was (essentially) renovating Target stores around the metro area here in Perth - but we were doing all the non-construction stuff, building and breaking down modules, moving stock and assorted other things - as a result there was a lot of constant lifting of very large and very heavy modules) The difficult thing was at the time I didn't feel any pulling or pain until about a half hour later and it still took a few hours to settle in, it took me a while to figure out what I had done :/ So while I fix my posture and spine alignment, and build all of my back and glute muscles up I still get aches and pains throughout my lower back which transfers out a bit from there. The exercises and physio visits are making it much better though I can say Again, sorry for the delay, I might extend my 4th quest and say that I must not go more than 1-2 days without posting! Thanks for asking and keeping up on my thread though, it does mean a lot

Overall it does look like a pretty good start, which is always awesome. Get the pattern down and you should really start to feel good about progressing this week. Good luck for week 2! Keep up the great work

Congrats on the first week! It definitely seems like a great win, and a great start! You could call that a B+ or A average for week 1, which is amazing really! I think it goes to show that you picked good goals and you did really well trying to achieve them. I think your positivity really helped with it all, which is wonderful, especially dealing with a cold during that week. Nice work! Also, nice work on the culinary prowess, the roast sounded amazing and that fritatta looks damn good! Re: FitBit calorie counter, I think it comes up a bit high with the burn count too, but I don't think it is a lot really. I found when I first really started with my FitBit that it took a couple of weeks to really notice the start of the weight loss, and then it was pretty consistent from then onwards. So I wouldn't worry too much about it too much right now, if you focus on the calorie in vs out and endeavour to do your best you will definitely see results Good luck for week 2! Hopefully you start feeling 100% very soon and you blast all your challenges out of the water this week!

Well it sounds like it was quite a positive result, even despite the set back from being sick. You have started off the year with a really great week Haha, napping surely is indeed! It's great to hear you are feeling on the up, and kicking that cold. Enjoy the weekend and the resting, and feel better!

The (Almost) Weekly Update: A Brick in the Wall: My FitBit 7-day average currently says 3.78k steps. This is a D but it is the first week, and my back is feeling a lot better this week, so, despite the heat, I am looking forward to getting some more walking in next week, try and bring that average up! Not the Rack: I have been doing my exercises, but yesterday I only did the base reps - I don't want this to make me lose an A, so I might think about this one, and if I can keep up the double reps I might still reward myself. Currently... B. The Oncoming Thirst: Well the first 3 days I am counting towards the average as 0, then I had 2.6L, 1.6L and 1.5L today, making an average of 0.9L for 6 days. I'll rate this as an E because I was expecting this week 1 with the 3 days not being counted. 3 days spread over the remaining 25 isn't a big hike to make up the difference, so I don't see it as pushing myself too hard for this one. Knowledge is Power, Talk is Cheap: I still need to make small talk with someone I normally wouldn't, I still have tomorrow though. However I am having a game design discussion tomorrow and I don't expect to run into anyone else, or have the chance. I could e-mail or text someone I have spoken to in a while though. I'm sure some of you can understand that that can actually be harder than talker to someone new though :/ currently sitting on a B. In total I feel I am running on a C average at the moment. But if I can get my steps, water and communication in tomorrow, I could say that the first week was a B. I also feel that I can really pick this all up next week, I'm feeling good at the moment and I won't lose those couple of days for being late to the party, so I am still quite confident!

Ah yeah true, yes being apart of a NF one would be fun. I certainly understand that, haha very understandable. I feel I am a bit the same, I have a few friends that have fitbits, but I haven't even added them because I don't want to impose on them :/ but I have been wanting to do some of the challenges. Hehe, yeah some buddies to do some digital walks does sound awesome! Thanking you! I'm definitely trying, maybe not quite hard enough, but I am doing my best to make conscious decisions throughout the day to do the right thing and try and reach my goals. That is a very good point, I like the idea of looking at it that way. A start is exactly a start, anything is good, until we get into rhythm with it all. I shall keep trying and I will get myself into this rhythm!

Well, just a quick run-down on things so far... I am counting Mon-Wed as follows: A Brick in the Wall - will be graded at the end of the challenge, and I will include the steps I got on those days, it wasn't alot so it isn't too bad. Not the Rack - I have kept up with my exercises so far, I don't know about the 2x though, but I won't let these couple of days from before I started the challenge stop me from achieving an A. The Oncoming Thirst - I will count no water for these days, for the purpose of averages, but I won't force myself into a D or F for these days. Knowledge is Power, Talk is Cheap - With half the week gone I am counting a bonus +2, especially as it is a life quest, I am also trying to chat to my physio in a more casual way when I have my appointments, I feel good about the progress in myself for this alone, so I am counting that as another +1. For the day just passed: 5k steps - a C, but my first recorded day for the challenge, so not too bad. I did my exercises, yay! - A I just finished my 11 glass of water (~2.6L) which I slowly consumed over a 10-hour period, so I never rushed myself and remained consistent, I feel it was a good start - A Didn't get too much chance at the life quest today, hopefully I can figure something out over the weekend though... - Not Graded Today Time to really try tomorrow!

Haha, yeah I completely understand that. It has only been recently when a few people have mentioned that I have positive outlooks on things that I started to think of myself that way. But I can definitely say that everything I am reading seems very positive and definitely demonstrates progress. Yeah, I must agree, the best thing about the community is how supportive it is, I think we can all agree that it is an important thing for all of us. No worries, anytime! Keep up the good work, looks like you have just logged an A+ average for the day, very nice!

Hail back Awesome, cheers! Definitely a big fan of Tolkien, and have sort of known about the walking to Mordor challenge, and have always been interested by it. Ah, thank you, I will have to check it out. Yeah, I think I might join for the same thing, to see where I get to in the story. Haha, lol, indeed, not much desire to be there without business there, and even then I think it would be a bit much! Awesome, thank you very muchly. I haven't added anyone as challenge buddies yet, but I think I might start looking into, because the more I hear about it, the more I am liking the sounds of it, and I do like those sorts of social things to help motivate me, and others. Thank you, and good luck to you too!

Hello! Nice goals you have laid out, and I like the scoring system you have with it, very nice! I wish you good luck with them all, and I hope the FitBit serves you well, I'm certainly looking forward to tracking some of my stuff with it too!