SleepyGi

Thanks IdoruNYC and laodamaren! Just as an update, which will almost definitely result in my jinxing myself, things have turned around considerably! I mean, first of all, look at all of these exclamation points! ...sorry...I'll take it down a notch or two. It's been 10 days since that post, and I've been eating more and more clean, whole foods and drinking water like crazy (so, essentially, I've just gone back to the basics), and it's really helped my energy and mood. I also started sneaking in some brief but intentional "workouts" --also very basic, but just what I need right now. I mean, I stopped at half of a pizza...a medium pizza...and I only ate half of it. This is big. I usually down whole, large pizzas without flinching. The time we got take-out before this I piled up the entire 8 slices on a plate (because it's classier than eating right out of the pizza box, right?), ran a train on them, and then polished off a dessert. Cravings are down, though, and since my mood is lighter, the compulsion to keep eating when I'm full is lessened. So, there's that. Thanks again for the encouragement, I just wanted you to know that I'm rooting for you right back!

I wish I could blame the holidays, but no, I haven't really been on track for a few months now. Even the NF challenges, forums (fora if you're nasty), and Academy have had no effect. I just stopped caring...about a lot of things. BUT, suddenly getting off of my ever-growing rear end will maybe benefit some kids however indirectly, and now, ready or not, I'm jumping back into the game. Maybe not being 100% ready is a terrible way to go into a respawn; maybe I'm just setting myself up for another fall. Like the man says, though, don't keep repeating the same thing and expecting different results, so, maybe jumping in without an elaborate 3 month plan, and just taking it slow, with no expectations, will be the change that I need to move forward. Today I'm back in the game, full of fear and trembling, but with nothing to lose.

Great post--Reading it late, but still rooting you on!! I hope that the last few days have been going great for you!

The last week or so has really flown by! Happy October! Side note: I swear that September used to be chillier when I was a kid...Now it seems like September is just August.1 and mid-October is when fall starts to kick in. Anyway, my long awaited rush of energy and enthusiasm has finally showed up, summer sleepiness seems to be behind me, and I'm getting research done and submitting job applications. I have all of the windows open at home, so it's a nice 63o F, which makes my toes a little icy, but feels so good on face --the colder weather really helps soothe my chronic headaches and migraines. Okay, back to the challenge. I have a checklist going now which is making it much easier to keep track of everything and has made my challenge seem a lot less intimidating. I went all of last week without any processed foods! ...Of course I started this week by using up some 3 servings of my allowed processed foods in 24 hours (silly girl). I've been getting back into exercising, so I'm feeling pretty good that I can make up for lost time for either the NFA workouts or the C25K workouts, but probably not both by the end. We'll see. The last couple of days my heel has been bothering me a lot...maybe a heel spur? I'm modifying my exercises to avoid aggravating it. I also got in a bit more reading. I found a journal called Bioscience, and I plucked a few articles from it. It's a bit beyond me, but I like the challenge. Plus, I figure the more that I read it, the more familiar I'll become with the acronyms and jargon. So far I've only read "Fatty Acid Metabolism: Implications for Diet, Genetic Variation, and Disease" which reviewed studies, so it didn't really have a grand thesis (like "omega-3 will save the world"), but some of the studies were pretty interesting. Back to work for me. I hope you rebels are tearing through the last couple of weeks of this challenge!

A few quick updates: Choosing water and "whole" foods has been pretty successful of late. I say "whole" foods, because I do still eat foods that have a little processing. I like to think of it as a spectrum with an apple on one end and ... I don't know, HFCS or something like scrapple on the other. If you aren't from or haven't spent a lot of time in the mid-atlantic region of the U.S. (especially eastern PA), then you might not know what scrapple is, in which case, enjoy learning about a former favorite food of mine. Anyway, the "plant milk" (a term my husband says that I only I use, but that can't be right) and nut butters I eat fall closer to the whole food end of the scale, so I don't count those. Whole grain pasta is about as far as I'll go without counting it. The exercise routine is coming back slowly--I still need to make more time for it, though. Last, I'm halfway through the flute practice, but I already learned "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and/or the alphabet song. For your listening enjoyment: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8FfguEfsVJYeW9PaWllb2g3SDQ/edit?usp=sharing There's got to be a better way to share that audio file since I can't attach it, but whatever, it works. Maybe by the end of the challenge I'll have a more elegant way to share (without video).

Your poor shin! I hope it's feeling better today. I'm also super impressed how you didn't let the injury derail you or your attitude. You make me think of the 76th rule of wedding crashing: "No excuses, play like a champion!"

Sounds like a great day, except for your poor butt! I'm glad to hear it was awesome despite the everywhere-pain. I bruise super easily, so I sympathize, I really do. I love how you're killing this challenge, and how you've got a routine down. It's so exciting and inspiring to hear your success! Woot woot!

This is basically where I fall on the subject also. Leaning on any one food is problematic. If soy is just one part of diverse diet, and the soy that you eat is minimally processed, then you're good to go. I found this article on soy very balanced and very informative...it's also pretty brief, which is nice, too.

The weekend is flying by! I'm keeping up on water, but last night I had a work function with few good food options, so I used up another dose of processed foods (bruschetta and some soft pretzel bites--my dietary achilles heel). I just read a post on Vegan Muscle & Fitness about RA and a raw diet (raw 'til 4, in particular) http://www.veganmuscleandfitness.com/raw-til-4-helped-rheumatoid-arthritis/. I found it helpful since I really committed to a vegan diet in part because of the RA symptoms that I was experiencing. That was almost 4 years ago, and I've been almost completely symptom free since then! I think incorporating more raw foods into my diet might help with the occasional aches and pains. I'm spending some time today planning out my week, so that should be helpful! I hope that by later tonight I'll be able to check back in with a plan for getting back on track.

Finally got around to reading a little something (actually two brief somethings) for my "aresto momentum" goal: an article on the potential benefits and detriments of soy and soy products, c/o of Joel Fuhrman. It's conclusion was that soy beans and lightly processed soy products (like soy milk or tofu) can be healthy and beneficial--if you're into beans, which I am. Isolated soy protein is a no-go (nothing surprising there). At least I'm making progress, now.

You're making me into your biggest fan, Ciara! That said, I did get out and work on my buddy system goal (I took my dog for a nice, long walk). One down and one to go! I know you're right about my goals, and I should reevaluate them and make them more reasonable, but I'm dumb and stubborn. It's alright, though, I'll be glad just to be in the ballpark with these! I don't mind messing up and failing; it's the times when I can't bring myself to start or try that's the killer. And I know what you mean about sugar--last night my husband helps himself to a hearty bowl of ice cream, to which I reply, "I hate you." ...Luckily he knows that's the detox talking. Or maybe he just didn't hear me over the sweet siren-song of the ice cream. Either way, it works out.

I agree! I love how you recognized that indulging a little isn't the same thing as breaking down or failing. And I DEFINITELY hear you on the victory of not way overdoing it (stopping at 2 rather than 12)! Keep up the awesome work!

Hey Ciara--you don't know how badly I needed that pick-me-up! I haven't been totally out of control, but I haven't been able to really bounce back, either. Traveling hasn't helped either--especially since there were two big events that I was traveling for: a wedding and a baptism, both of which involved eating a lot of bread and heavily dressed salads since those were the only potentially vegan items there. Honestly, I've been toying with closing my NF account and just quitting altogether. So, yeah, thanks, I really, really needed that. I have done not one workout since last Monday, and I have had pretzels and/or oreos everyday. I think I've used up 8 of the total 18 processed foods portions for the challenge, which at least means that I have a chance of still pulling through if I buckle down. And if I sneak in 8 2-workout days in the next few weeks, I can get back on track there too. Ugh, I hate being behind, but it's still better than throwing in the towel altogether. I definitely haven't kept up with the water part of the challenge--at least not in terms of keeping track. Now that I'm home, though, it should be a little easier, and I'm on pace for today. I also need to catch up on a little reading/doc. watching. Maybe I'l do that while I workout. Oh, and I still need to devote some time to that flute! Yikes. I have a lot of ground to cover. ...On the plus side, I got a trophy in Destiny, which my husband was pretty psyched about. It wasn't a goal or anything, but it was fun.

Okay, so, I'm already only hanging on by a thread! The good news is that I've been drinking water like crazy today, so I did manage to keep up with that. I've also avoided (heavily) processed, convenience foods, but despite my better food choices I'm definitely overdoing it in terms of amount. I'm going to try cutting myself off for the night. Seriously, when I get like this, we might as well not keep food in the house...maybe they make timed locks for pantries? I also haven't gotten around to exercising yet. There's a lot of evening left, though, for better or worse!

SleepyGi, Challenge #3: Wrapping up my first trilogy Unfortunately, since the last challenge I have been searching for the bottom, but have instead been freefalling... with a vengeance. Examples include my unwillingness to cook for myself or eat anything with any nutritional value, my newfound interest in overindulging in snacks that I don't even like, and my general apathy toward basically everything. I'm at my heaviest weight in probably a year, so that's not the best. Worst of all, though, I can't seem to get excited about anything, even things I was super-excited about just a month ago. So, that's where I'm starting. Where I'm at is not a pretty place, but it's not so bad if I let go of where I thought I'd be by now. In fact, let's see some quick stats: Weight: 147 lbs Caliper measured BF%: 25.25% I can definitely work with those. Over the next six weeks, I'd love to see some improvement in those areas, but I don't want to let myself get hung up on those numbers. What I need is a healthy lifestyle, so I'd like to spend this challenge taking some strides in that direction, and letting the stats fall where they may. Challenge Quests: -Aresto momentum [3 possible points]: First order of business is slowing down (and hopefully stopping) this dietary tailspin! I need to get back to basics: more good stuff less bad stuff. +1 CON: Drink 10 glasses of water/day. To help facilitate this, I'm using my quart-sized water-bottle and a basic routine: half a bottle with my morning coffee/breakfast, and full bottles with lunch and dinner. This should really help with my headaches (8 glasses/day doesn't cut it) and help stem the tide of overeating. +1 CON: Reduce meals/snacks containing processed foods to 3/week. I want this stuff out of my life, so so so bad! It's like being in a terrible on again off again relationship. Oh bread! You know I'll always love you, but you're no good for me, and I need to move on! +1 WIS: Read 1 article or watch 1 documentary per week on nutrition or meal planning to stay informed and motivated. -"A thousand push-ups" [3 possible points]: In the last challenge I set a goal about the amount of time I would spend exercising or engaging in an activity each day, but instead of taking that opportunity to make exercise a priority I ended up just tracking/counting the amount of activity that I typically get in a day. I'd like to make a pact (with myself) that I will make exercise for exercise's sake a priority, everyday, even if it's only for 5 minutes. +1 STR: Complete NFA workouts 4x/week (avg). +1 STA: Complete C25K sessions 3x/week (avg). +1 CHA: Exercise with someone else at least 2x: go rock climbing with my husband, take a class or find a meetup, walk the dog, etc. It would be especially great to get my close friends or family involved, since right now I spend most of my time [eating] with them. Life Quest: -Master the snarfblatt [2 possible points]: Since motivation has been in short supply, I thought it might be a good idea to put in something fun. I have a basic wooden flute that I'd love to spend more time with. I think it would be great to learn a new instrument, or at least the basic grammar of it. Plus, it would be a guaranteed way to keep music (if we can call the screechy squeaks that are all I know how to make on the flute at this point, music) a regular part of my routine. I need it. +1 WIS: Get at least 6, half-hour sessions in before the end of the challenge. +1CHA: Learn a basic song, record it, and post it here at the end of the challenge, which should be hilarious. And so it begins. I'm at least feeling pretty good that I am actually starting this challenge on time, and I really like the goals that I've set for myself. I hope that I can capitalize on these good vibes!

This thread is so fun! It's really interesting to see the overlap in reasons, but even more so the variety of reasons that bring folks to vegetarian or vegan eating/lifestyle. I'm still pretty new to being vegan; I've got just over 3 years under my belt. Like Ilcawthorne said above, I think that my decision had more to do with letting go of the excuses I made for continuing to eat meat and dairy. Over the years I cut back, wouldn't cook meat at home, wouldn't eat anything I "couldn't take in a fight," would try vegetarian or vegan versions of things...just for fun, but ultimately it was the "big picture" environmental impact of the meat and dairy industries that did me in. I figured if I had decided to live without a car for environmental reasons, and the meat industry dwarfs transportation in terms of greenhouse gas emission, then I needed to reevaluate my food choices. That's the short version, anyway. After vegging it up for a few months, I had really embraced the health and animal rights aspects of a vegan lifestyle. I'm won-over 100% now, and I find myself equally motivated by the health and ethics of a vegan lifestyle.

Okay, another challenge goes by with mixed results. I think posting more regularly will be a goal for next time. Part of the reason that I've been so off track has to do with catching...the plague, maybe?...some nasty virus that had me laid up for over a week. I'm sure I would have gotten over it more quickly if I hadn't used it as an excuse to eat "comfort" (junk) food for a week straight. I really didn't have the energy to cook; it was one of those "I feel like I got hit by a truck" sicknesses that made me achy and weak, but I could've made better choices with the food available. Now for the depressing assessment of this challenge: Goal 1: Get up and move: The only reason that I got this goal accomplished is because I can't stand a messy house--thank God for chores, because otherwise I would go nowhere. Even when I was sick, I would spend the time that I did have energy doing things like scrubbing the bathroom. I'd like to start making time just for fitness and exercise, though, and push myself a little harder. I definitely did not get this done everyday, though, so only + 1 DEX for me. Goal 2: Eat more leafy greens: This was supposed to be a gimme!! I eat some sort of salad just about every day...at least once a day. I should have nailed this. Okay, rant concluded, I did work more variety into my diet more frequently, but I didn't manage to get any bok choy into my system during this challenge, so + 1 CON. Goal 3: I actually kept up with this really well while I was traveling, but then lost it when I came home (ironically), so unfortunately, no points here. I had, though, upped my reps of squats and push ups in my circuit workouts to 20, so that after finishing it I'd total 60 of each, which is exciting. *Life Goal: I had to call out sick for all of the appointments I made--this is what I get for procrastinating! I did find a lot of great organizations and groups in my area that I can be a part of, though, so + 1 WIS. Okay, time to regroup. See you at the next challenge!

What a roller coaster! I'm glad everyone's doing well, and that you've managed to power through!

Hahahaha, awesome! You can tell you're a pro at these challenges by your planned goal-revisions. I know what you mean about soda pop, though...it only takes a little before it's re-ensnared you. I took the bullet for my niece who got a combo meal that came with a soft drink, that I Frank-the-Tanked, and before I knew it I was adding soda to my groceries, like it was a household staple! Yeah, it totally has Templar written all over it.

Oh dear...so, epic fail this past week. As per usual, just when things are going great, my hormones flip a switch, and I go barreling down the path of self-destruction. So, that was fun. I managed to sneak in a couple of workouts before the fall, as well as some servings of chard,and I still got up and moving for an hour, but again, not all at once. I'm a couple of workouts behind and a couple of veggie servings behind, and about 8 lbs heavier--and it's definitely not muscle. Although weight loss isn't a part of my challenge (I learned my lesson from last time), it's still on my radar. That kind of junking out weight won't stick around for long, but it still bums me out. I'm also going out of town this week, so this isn't the best time for me to fooling around with a bunch of bad habits. Yesterday I made a batch of brownies...just for me...and I ate them in one sitting. Yeah, that happened. Okay, pity party completed. It's a new day, a new week, Diablo III Ultimate Evil Edition comes out today, I've got a fun trip coming up, and I get to babysit a couple of my nieces tomorrow morning. I also get to keep working the same weekend job, which is awesome, and shift some of my hours around so that I can actually spend time with my husband! --probably playing Diablo III! As of yesterday (evening) I've recommitted myself to clean, whole-food, plant-based eating and positive thinking. I worry a lot about inconveniencing everyone with my food choices (or just plain weirding them out: "Um, yes, could I have the spicy chicken salad with no chicken or cheese, and while we're at it, sans dressing...thanks, and sorry I'm a freak"), and I feel guilty exercising when I should be reading/writing/working/job-hunting. I'm open to any suggestions or tactics on how to stay confident and make good decisions, on a consistent basis. CAUTION: I'm a theology grad student, so this is about to get theological. You've been warned. I'm very pro-Gospel... I think it's safe to say it's my favorite bit of the Bible. Some folks go in for the OT stories, or they like Paul's letters, or the psalms and poetry, but I love those gospels, and I have a personal (and professional) interest in how discipleship is depicted. That said, that bit about taking up your cross never sat right with me, and I think it's because it's always explained (at least from the pulpit) in such a way that cross=personal baggage. Whatever you struggled with became the "cross" you were supposed to take with you, which presumes that following Christ is easy-peasy (untrue), and it's only made difficult by the circumstances of your life. This way of thinking about it also doesn't leave any room for transformation or growth either, which is some b.s. for sure. I find it very helpful/meaningful, and more theologically consistent (if anyone cares) to think about taking up one's cross as the occasion for dropping everything else: doubt, hopelessness, guilt, anxiety, temptation...stuff, and attachments to it, etc. I want to, and in fact I'm excited to start really focusing on the person I want to be (i.e., the person I want to be like), and drop everything else...like it's hot. All done, and you got a great movie clip out of it! One last quick update: my side quest is coming along. I've finally gotten around to checking out a lot of the different service organizations in the area, and there's a pretty great variety. I've contacted a couple, and I'm hoping to hear back soon!

"Real world" workouts...I like it. Those are my favorite kinds of workouts--they always feel like a two-for-one situation! Great job getting the big stuff in place, and good luck with the rest of your unpacking! I've had to move a lot, so I can definitely sympathize. And I look forward to seeing your next workout/quest/life update!

Hi there Nerd Fitness Community! After a pretty disciplined weekend, I'm starting off the week in pretty good shape (metaphorically). It turns out that my get-up-and-moving goal has been giving me an excuse to stay on top of household chores. I haven't been getting that hour all at once just yet, though (except for at work where I'm up and moving almost all day), so I'd like to work on that this week. Last week my veggie was chard (but I need to make up a serving because I ran out) which I steamed with some zucchini, mushrooms, onion, and garlic--super tasty! Although, I'm a sucker for anything with onion and garlic. I'm going to try to go food shopping tonight and grab some more fun goodies from the list. I'll probably just go for whatever is on sale, but if anyone knows any good/fun recipes for kale, collard greens, bok choy, or spinach, I'm all ears! I missed my Friday workout, like a jerk, so I have one to make up this week. I had hoped I could squeeze it in before or after work on Saturday or Sunday, but wah-wah, no luck. I have been using that cool down sequence from Staci as my morning stretches, though, which has been at least opening up the door to a get up and workout habit. Plus it's been really helpful for my lower back and neck which have been really tight and painful all week. Last, I have not gotten around to even looking for service organizations or charities in my city/neighborhood. I'm going to be out of a job by the end of the month, so I've been working more on that lately. I'd like to get another couple of applications in today, then spend some time searching for volunteer gigs. Okay, so, this actually sounds like I didn't have such a great weekend, but I swear I did! I also recently started the Academy (which I love, obviously), so I'm working on some quests there (like drinking more water and tracking my food and sugar intake). I've really stuck to those, and I think those relatively small changes/challenges, has really helped me to focus. I also, kind of feel like a million bucks: I haven't had a bad headache in a couple of days! Fun fact: I have had chronic headaches (like, one a day, almost all day long, every day...literally, every single day) since I was about 13. For you math haters, that's roughly 16 straight years of headaches of varying levels of ow. Doctors that I talked to about it said that I was fine (i.e., tumor free), and that I should take allergy meds, get more sleep, and drink "enough" water. Limiting sugar, though, including sugar from fruit (sorry fruit!) and increasing the amount of water I drink to closer to double the recommended amount--especially on days when I'm particularly active--seems to be making a dent in those headaches. Or it could be a coincidence. In any case, at least I've got my head in the game.

Hey Emmevee, great quest and great news! The trip to Italy sounds super exciting--do you get to bounce around to a few cities or dig deep into one area? It's a win either way, because it's Italy. And congrats on getting through your son's first days of kindergarten! My oldest niece is starting in September, and even though she's been in daycare since she was a few months old, I'm guessing my brother and sister-in-law are still going to struggle with it! Your fitness and exercise goals look awesome, too. It sounds like you and I have suffered from that same sort of "I'll get to it, when I get to it" mindset when it comes to actually working out, so I'll definitely be pulling for you, and checking in to keep myself on track! I also love that your hoodie came from thinkgeek--definitely a favorite site for my husband and me. I can't wait to see you strutting your stuff in it! And last, giving up dairy...no easy task for sure. I'm sure you can do it, though, there are a lot of substitutes out there to make the transition easier. I also think that not going cold turkey (and keeping a dairy item or two around for a little while), is a smart way to approach such a big change. Even though I didn't really have trouble saying goodbye to any one food in particular, I missed the convenience. Dairy gets put in everything! In the end though, leaving it behind was so, SO worth it! My stomach doesn't go haywire nearly as often, I feel less bloated/gross, and I have less temptation to deal with since my local store doesn't carry too many of the dairy free version of processed goodies (so long m&m filled donuts!). I'd love to hear more about how that transition's going for you, and what new, delicious meals and treats you've had the chance to try or gain a new appreciation for--now that you sent dairy packing. As always, keep up the great work!

As with my first challenge, my overall life goal is to do good--all the time, as much of it as possible, everywhere I go, and in every possible situation. To be that person, I need in both their mental/psychological meanings and their physical/literal ones, strength, endurance, and adaptability ...like, a lot. So, with that level-50 endpoint in mind, over the next 6 (okay, I'm a little late, so it's more like 4.5) weeks I've got some baby-step goals to help me move in the right direction. GOALS: 1. Get up and moving with purpose for at least an hour every day. I read and research most of the day which means I'm sitting most of the day. I have the time and the flexibility (since most of the week I work from home) to get up and do something. I should take advantage of that, and I think that having something I have to do every day will keep me from falling back into old habits. +1 DEX, 4 or more days a week (avg) +2 DEX, everyday...like a boss 2. Eat more leafy greens. Right now romaine lettuce is my main squeeze, and while it has some pretty impressive nutritional stats, I need to start seeing other greens. To accomplish this goal I need to incorporate any of the following into at least 3 meals every week: kale, collard greens, swiss chard, bok choy, and spinach. +1 CON, three meals each week (avg) +1 CON and +1 WIS , all servings accounted for, and each veggie from that list gets a turn 3. Build strength and track my progress. My weekend job requires a lot of lifting and standing for long periods of time, so building strength would be immediately applicable to my overall goal. I'll have to workout 3x / week and track my workouts to accomplish this goal. +1 STR, 3 workouts, accounted for, each week (avg) +2 STR, 50 squats and/or 50 push ups (I'm at 30 right now with both of these, so I think I can make it if I stay on track) *. LIFE GOAL: Find and volunteer with 3 community organizations. My husband and I moved in November, and I still feel a little out of touch with our community. I'd like to spend some time during this challenge getting to know how I can help around here, and then, you know, actually putting in the time. +1 WIS, finding and reading up on services/shelters/charities in my new city +1 WIS and +1 CHA, at least 3 hours of actual volunteer/service time Actually writing this out has gotten me very excited for the next few weeks! This is my first quest with a particular guild (second quest overall), so I hope I make you proud Rangers!

My first challenge is over, and it was not nearly as successful as I would have liked. And I am 100% in a funk right now, so, yeah, haven't been getting exercise or activity, and I've been eating like I'm on a self-destruct mission. Up until this last week I'd have given myself an A- or B+, but now I'm thinking solid C. I did, however, learn a lot about what does and doesn't motivate me, and how DESPERATELY I need to get myself into a routine! I've made some helpful progress in that area, but I still need to flesh it out a little more, and then really commit to it. Right now, I'm just trying to tell myself that it's overall a good thing that I already have some goals in mind for the next challenge. I'm looking forward to this interim time so that I can get my act together!