VanTheMan

My friend is gender fluid. She has boy days where she wants to feel and be perceived as masculine. And she has girl days when she wants to feel and be perceived as feminine. That's her expression of gender fluid. It's different for everyone.

I have some time for a real update! My walking goal has gone to hell. Haven't done it since Monday. Kind of failed on doing push-ups, too. I went to the gym for only the first time last night. I was a little lost. It's been a bad week. So, some changes I'll be making. If I can't walk outside, I will go to the gym and do something, anything. The treadmill is soooo boring! I'll walk outside for an hour with no problem. But 5 minutes on the treadmill and I was ready to rip my hair out. I even put netflix on my phone for something to entertain me, didn't help. I enjoyed the weight machines, though. I'll try to be cardio like on those. At least until I build up the working out habit, then I can forget about the gym and do body weight routines at home. I really dislike the gym. Yesterday I got back to my push-ups. 3 sets of 7 off the kitchen counter. Tomorrow I'm going to try for 3 sets of 3 on a chair. Yesterday I noticed a tiny little bicep muscle trying to peek out from behind my fat. That was nice to see. I'm starting to feel the burn more. My arms are sore after the push-ups. Mostly in the tricep area. Still haven't had any soda. Water, coffee, and tea. Mostly water, and quite a bit of it. I'm continuing to go lower on the nicotine. Not much issue there. I was afraid going lower would make me relapse on cigarettes, but so far so good. I was told this week that I look slimmer. That was nice. But the scale says that I've put on 2lbs. Don't know what that's about. I've had 2 interviews for that second job. I just have to do a drug test. I'm a little worried. I won't say much since I don't think talking about illegal things is allowed on this site. But I did use a small amount of something about a week ago that may give me trouble. I really hope all this water and tea will wash it out of me by Tuesday, but we'll see. I really want this job. All in all, it's been an iffy week. I hope to pick it up this next one.

You're doing great! I'm with you on the shedding of bulk. I hate looking at the number on the scale. I was told this week that I look like I'm thinner, yet the scale says that I've put on 2lbs since the start of this challenge o.O Keep up the good work!

I've been busy so I haven't been able to check in and see how your challenge is going. Had some free time today and you are killing it. Sorry the cold is giving you trouble. I live in Florida, so that's not a problem for me, but I've lived in colder areas before and I feel your pain. Sometimes the air just hurts too much. At least you're still having active fun with the kiddos where you can. Good on you!

Thank you. Academically, I know that it probably won't be as bad as I'm thinking. My life will probably improve, I'll be happier. But it's difficult to test that theory. I applaud every one of you who has come out and are living your true lives. I just wish I had grown up with the online communities that exist today. If I'd had youtube and forums when I was in high school, I'd probably have figured myself out earlier and been able to come out younger. Not at 30! A funny thing. I grew up with 4 best friends through middle school and high school. One friend came out as gay in high school. One as lesbian after graduation. One as a lesbian trans-woman. One just came out as gay this past year. And I'm a gay trans-man. We all presented as hetero-normative when we became friends, yet we all found ourselves to fall somewhere within the LGBT group. What are the odds?

What's your fitness related goal? Push-ups and walking (although walking is becoming any kind of workout I can fit in) What's your motivation for your goal? Want my endurance back and I want to be fit. Who is your favorite superhero (or villain!)? I'm kind of a Spider-Man fan. But I've also always really loved Gambit. He was my boyhood crush. What's your favorite superhero (or villain!) team? X-Men, of course. If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Mind control. I know it would turn me into a villain. Can you get your super power (or get closer to your super power) by working on your fitness goal? Not in a way that I can think of. If yes, what work do you plan to do to increase your own abilities to get closer to having your super power? N/A If no, what things could you do - in theory - that might relate to your super power? Maybe work on my interpersonal skills. Study body language and learn to read people. Build up those charisma points. What's one random really awesome thing about you that you'd like the group to know? Random, but not really awesome, I play the didgeridoo. Every hero (or villain!) has a weakness, what's yours in relation to your fitness goal? Patience. I go for instant gratification, even when I know delaying it will be better What can you (or others!) do to help you overcome your kryptonite? Don't let me make excuses. What's your favorite gif? Share it with us! (Doesn't have to be super hero/villain related!) I don't know how to post gifs :/ Nor do I really have one.

Okay, I'm late on week one challenge. But I wanted to do it anyway. I'll try and remember to post a pic of the lunch I make for today. It's only a chicken caesar salad.

Thanks for the welcomes. I want to come out so that I can transition. Just have to work up some of that courage and become okay with relationships changing and peoples' views of me changing. BTW - This board is extremely, brilliantly, random.

Hello. Just jumping in to introduce myself on this board. I'm a closeted trans-man who also happens to be gay. I've come out to 3 whole people. No family or close friends yet. Just old friends and a random guy at my church O.o Too scared to come out to those closest to me.

Such a stessfull and busy week. I'm going to try to do a real post later. On my phone again right now. Seems I only ever have any time during work breaks. I really hope I get this second job. Just had to drop $500 on my car this week. Not that a second job will help much. The entire check will be going to savings so I can move.

I get accepted into the group and then run out of time to get on this site. I promise to catch up with you all tonight or tomorrow morning.

I really dislike typing on my phone. I did not get my walk in on Friday. But i did get short ones in on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Not great walks, but something. On Friday I did 3 sets of 5 incline push-ups and yesterday I did 3 sets of 6. Still no soda. Slowly decreasing the amount of nicotine in my vapor. I signed up at the gym near my house. They have a promotion going on and it's cheap enough to warrant. I'm not the gym type. But I figured it's worth it if it gives me a place to walk when the weather is bad or it's too dark out. I live in an area you shouldn't do to much after dark walking. I also just applied for a 2nd job. Part time. I know it's only going to make it harder to work out, but I need the dough. I hope I get it.

I'm still here and still working on my goals. Just very busy. I'm about to go into work so can't give an update now. Hopefully I'll have time when I get home tonight. Just wanted to say that I've not disappeared.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not nearly as weepy as the other men in my family (my dad cries for just about anything), and I couldn't care less about most humans. But animals, man! Marley and Me, Hatchi, I wept like a baby.

Thanks for the welcome. I chose the name more because it rhymed. Also, I thought VanTheSlightlyEffeminateCriesDuringASPCACommercialsAndDoesn'tGetSportsReferencesMan was a little excessive.

I just poked my head in to see what this men only thread was going to be all about and it's a conversation about The Dark Tower! I love it. I'm really bad at fitting in with all male groups. I'm not a man's man, but you all are definitely my brothers.

This thread is just filled with inspiration. And I totally agree with both Spike and Roland being inspiring. Can I just look like Spike? Please? He's older than my mom and he looks better than I ever could. James Marsters, that is. Obviously, Spike is older than everyone I know.

If you're still accepting people I'd like to join the X-Men

Thank you for the support, Ocelot. Haven't done my walk today. Pissed at myself. I have to start getting ready for work in about 20 minutes and I had a morning full of errands. I'd like to say I was just too busy to get it in. But the truth is I had multiple chances and just couldn't get myself to get to it. I get off at 11pm and maybe I can salvage this day with a kinect workout. My roommates will be home. I don't like to workout in public and it's almost impossible to get the TV at that time. These are all excuses and I should just get over it and request the TV for 30 minutes or so. I'll let you guys know tomorrow if I actually do as I know I should. I'm about to go and get my push-ups in. I've been doing them every other day. But I think I might want to make it everyday for now. I'm not getting sore afterwards, so I don't think I need a rest day after. I don't know. Perhaps those of you who are more informed on these fitness things can give me some advice. If I did it everyday and I could progress faster. Unless I would be doing myself harm and risking injury. It just doesn't seem intense enough for that. Still no soda. I went today for more e-juice. I bought one bottle 18mg, which is where I've been, and one 14mg bottle. Today I mixed them half and half and I'll see how I do on that and start decreasing it until I'm just on the 14mg alone.

I think you've got it in you to take this whole thing. You already had a solid foundation that you're building upon.

Yes, same developers. I find it enjoyable,but you may not like it if you're already running. It's meant for walking and I've heard it isn't so good with running. The pup will have to be on non story days. Like, when I have a challenge.

That's something, though. Your body is recovering from years of poison. It's only going to get better from here

I find your challenge inspiring. I hope to have similar fitness goals later on down the line. Keep up the good work. You are rocking it!

Quick update before I have to run off to work. Why are there not more hours in the day? Or at least, fewer work hours? Did my push-ups yesterday. 3 sets of 4. Walked this morning. Took my dog this time. I think that may be a rarity for now. The Walk app requires you to keep looking back at your phone and tap buttons. It was really difficult with the dog tugging at me. Also, it was 20*F and I had gloves on. I was all thumbs. Gave up on the story and just listened to music halfway through. Still no cigarettes or soda. Came close with the soda last night. I went to my sister's for dinner and they were drinking Mountain Dew. One of my favorites. But I stayed strong and drank my water. I'm probably not going to be super good at updating this. But I'll try to check in as often as I can. Busy life.

Good for your wife. I hope to eventually get myself off of any nicotine at all. I had already started being off soda before the challenge. I think I'm past that hump. Plus, I still drink coffee. I do love tea, though. You're right. We got this.