afr0taku

Thank you!!

I love that, thank you, 18ck!! I'm not entirely new to meditation. I started about a year ago during my senior year of college and just kind of fell off. I'm an avid day dreamer and learned how to channel that energy toward stilling my mind so hopefully it'll work out. As for the smoking, I think substituting for water may work sense I need to drink more anyway. I finished what is hopefully my last pack just 10 minutes ago. Wish me luck!!

#1) Meditate tomorrow morning and night, #2) Drink at least 8 glasses of water, #3) a 1 hour yoga session All the while, I'm going to try my damnest to quit smoking, that's going to be my biggest struggle.

Not at all 18ck, like I said in my update yesterday, had to refocus and recommit... drastically lol.

Thank you all for your kind words and support! I'm definitely taking your advice, Attila and reeling it back significantly Lol, you can see my edits above if anyone is interested. Oh and Attila, the show was called American Dragon: Jake Long!! It was one of my favorites that I totally forgot about! Thanks for bringing that memory back lol

UPDATE (04/25/14): So I've been horrible and have not committed AT ALL to the challenge. I will not make excuses, instead I will recommit. I realize, with the replies I've received and my lack of progress, I am trying to tackle WAY too much at once and not focusing on my core problems so here are the edits of my personal challenge: MAIN QUEST: Achieve balance and inner peace while improving health and fitness. MISSION #1: Complete beginner body weight workout at least 3x/week. Meditate every morning and night. MISSION #2: Meditate every morning and night. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. MISSION #3: Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Yoga at least 3x/week. MISSION #4 (I know the rules said 3, but I couldn't help myself, I hope this isn't considered cheating): Taiji Zen at least 2x/week MISSION #5: Yoga at least 2x/week. LIFE QUEST: Get driver's license and buy a car. Quit smoking. My race is a half human/half spirit dragon (I know this is like totally random and off the wall, but it's actually inspired by a graphic novel I hope to publish one day. I figured making my main character my fitness alter ego would inspire me even more!). My class/profession is a druid with aspirations to evolve into a monk. MOTIVATION: I want to live the longest, healthiest, and spiritually balanced life possible so I may experience the world at its entirety.

Yay, you too!!

There's also sweet potato bread! I'm going to the farmer's market today. I'll report back later lol

From my understanding of the Paleo lifestyle, dairy and carbohydrates are frowned upon. I'm fine with nixing dairy because I actually love soy milk, but dropping bread will be hard for me because I'm not the most experienced cook, I eat my share in sandwiches. Is there a brand and type of bread that is the least harmful? For example, whole wheat? I'm so suspicious of preservatives and hormones in everything that I had to ask lol.

Thank you, Uberleben. I'll definitely take your advice because I do tend to nap fairly long when I do so. Also, I'm hoping that when I become more consistently active, my energy will soar. Thanks again!

Thank you, Chris!!

Seriously, though. With all things I want to change in my life and all the goals I want to pursue, I feel like there is literally not enough available days in one lifetime. I'm coming at this from a pretty exhausted place. I just recently just a full time job at Leslie's Pool Supplies as an assistant manager. As thankful as I am to have the job after months of a fruitless job hunt post-graduation last summer, it's really kicking my ass and I'm frustrated because my dream is to work on set--not sell buckets of chlorine and test pool water. I think back when I was in school. Studying full time while working on and off part time. I had so much energy to get things accomplished and even when I didn't I naturally went into "auto mode" and got it done regardless. Honestly there were many times when I was walking to or from the subway and wondering how I managed to muster up the energy to stay on my feet. I don't nearly have as many responsibilities now as I did back then. My main focus right now is to save up money for a car because I'm pretty stagnant at the moment and I'm going a little mental solely going to and from work and my mum's house everyday. I come home and immediately take a nap when I should be either working out, doing tai chi, yoga, practicing new hair braiding styles (I decided recently to make this my side hustle to help save up for a car AND try and pay off my gargantuan amount of student loan debt), studying anatomy, developing my graphic novel idea, or finishing my way over due short film. When I think of all the things I could or should be doing, it makes me even more exhausted... especially now that my free time is limited. Sorry for the rant, but does anyone else feel this way? What did you do to overcome?

Check out TaijiZen. It's an online course sponsored by Jet Li. I signed up about a week ago and I find it very informative and useful. and the first level is free!

Thank you!!

I totally will, thank you! I'll just copy and paste.

Starting my challenge thread took a tad longer than I thought~ but I'm super excited to start my challenge tomorrow morning now that my goals are all laid out (technically today--it's 1:30 AM). I'm going to wake up a tad earlier to try and get a good meditation and Taiji Zen lesson in. g'nite!!

HAI! xo I'm fairly new to Nerd Fitness. I signed up for the Academy and was majorly confused because apparently there are two forum communities: Academy and Rebellion. I coughed up a difficult $100 for the Academy, but I like the vibe of Rebellion more so here I am! (Here's my intro "Hi, hi" post<--) I'm exhausted from work and dreading waking up at the crack of dawn tomorrow but I'm even more excited to start my challenge!! (I realize that I'm starting in the middle of a challenge already in progress but I couldn't wait until the 14th!! Sorry, administrators ) MAIN QUEST: Achieve balance and inner peace while improving health and fitness. MISSION #1: Complete beginner body weight workout at least 3x/week.MISSION #2: Meditate every morning and night.MISSION #3: Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.MISSION #4 (I know the rules said 3, but I couldn't help myself, I hope this isn't considered cheating): Taiji Zen at least 2x/week.)MISSION #5: Yoga at least 2x/week.LIFE QUEST: Get driver's license and buy a car. My race is a half human/half spirit dragon (I know this is like totally random and off the wall, but it's actually inspired by a graphic novel I hope to publish one day. I figured making my main character my fitness alter ego would inspire me even more!). My class/profession is a druid with aspirations to evolve into a monk. MOTIVATION: I want to live the longest, healthiest, and spiritually balanced life possible so I may experience the world at its entirety.

That's awesome! I was wondering how exactly I should get started... Thank you so much for your advice (and clearing up the forums issues as well lol). I am a part of the academy, I need all the help I could get. I finally got a job after months of searching (this job market sucks so much booty) and I decided it was worth the investment, especially with the surplus of conflicting information about health and fitness!

I don't have any drawings of her yet, but I will soon and I will be sure to share! I definitely want to quit smoking cigarettes. I've tried many times before but I'm such a "situational" smoker. I smoke with my morning coffee, after I eat, when I'm stressed, when I'm having a passionate phone conversation, with a beer or wine, before I go to bed... it's such a significant part of my day, my willpower has failed me to quit. I'm hoping when I really start getting active, I'll be more willing to quit because I won't be able to breathe! As for exercise, my main goal is to get into martial arts, perfect my Tai Chi practice and yoga. So I guess I'm a monk/druid hybrid! lol I'm not aware of the April 14th challenge, I'm still reading through the introductory literature for the women's master class. There's so much information! I've just finished reading about the nutrition and diet and now I'm starting the fitness lessons. But I'm willing to try anything and everything!!

Hello!! My nerd alias is afr0taku and I'm hailing from Atlanta, Georgia (well, actually the boonies south of Atlanta ). I introduced myself a few days ago but for some reason all my posts and profile info disappeared I swear I'm not a ghost! Anyway, I'm really really relieved and excited to have found Nerd Fitness. No other fitness program, diet plan, or online community has inspired me more to get in shape! I love you, my fellow nerds! I have a few 'whys' for getting in shape: 1) It is a dream of my to start my own cosplay/costume photography studio and business. I want to help create a new generation of original heroes (and of course still paying homage to the legends) and let other folks see themselves in a way that they've always dreamed of (for me, it's an bo staff and double blade wielding shape shifting martial artist who can turn into a dragon at will ). I realized that if I wasn't comfortable in front of the camera, I would fail to make my clients feel comfortable as well. 2) During college, I put my health on the back burner. I felt it impossible to study full time, work part time, and have a social life--in New York of all places--and be health conscious. I suffered from depression off and on and my weight yo-yoed (I had gone several months without seeing my brother who lives in downtown Manhattan, my weight was in the 200's--I was too afraid to weigh myself--he later told me he was sincerely worried that I'd suffer from a heart attack because of my sudden weight gain at 21 years old! He was probably being a little dramatic but so was my sudden weight gain!) I graduated last spring and I still haven't regained my health. I feel horrible that I can't run along side my doggie across the yard without getting winded. I also smoke cigarettes so yeah--that's another horrid factor. I know I'm in horrible health and with everything causing cancer and young 20-somethings and even teens getting fatal diseases, I'm now very paranoid about my health or lack there-of... 3) Last but not least, I want to become the person I've always envisioned myself to be. Not necessarily thin and sexy. But confident and free. For as long as I can remember, my mother has been obsessed with her weight. She may be a little chubs chubs, but she's gorgeous. However, her insecurities have always been a primary characteristic of hers. Naturally, her insecurities rubbed off on me. She indirectly (and sometimes even directly) always made me feel just short of just good enough. I was naturally a chubby (or as I like to call it, "chibi") kid. I had a perfect bill of health, but my body image was always twisted either by my teen vogue magazines or by my own mum. I have so many goals and desires, I know that I must live the healthiest life I possibly can to experience the world in its entirety. I'm only 23 and I want the rest of my youthful years to be full of fun, risks, and dares so there's no better time than to start now!! Thank you so very much to listening to me ramble and allowing to be apart of such a kick-ass community! Love, peace, and elbow grease! xo