rotundrobin

Why hello there! Magnificent to see & hear - thanks for the reply

Thanking you! Level 1 challenge is set. Let's.do.this. *Presses start*

Hi Everyone Super excited to be starting my level 1 challenge, but first a little about me right? PREVIOUSLY ON... I'm 29 and had been a complete fitness-phobe for about 27.5 of those years, last Feb 2016 I had a pretty big change in my life. My boyfriend & bestie of 10+ years and I called it a day, both of us loved each other hard but we were both supremely unhappy. I have suffered from depression and anxiety for as long as I remember and he has some mad selective eating disorder from childhood so the combination of this resulted in a very low household. I had no hobbies, ate AWFULLY, drank way too much and hell, smoked a fair bit. In essence I had zero confidence in body and mind. We were apart for 3 months before we realised we didn't need each other, but we wanted each other. Hey, if you love it let it go and see if it comes back right? In those 3 months, one of my (now closest) friends pushed me to join a gym. His story shortened, he was a chunky little monkey standing 5"6 with a heart of gold but found exercise and now is built like a tank and the most inspirational guy I've met. He made me keep going, even when I did not want, slowly I realised that I was getting happier, less anxious and even though I wasn't doing enough to see mad results, I felt more confident just because I was looking after myself more. FAST FORWARD > > January 1, 2017. I pick up the remote, having just indulged in a particularly yummy breakfast. My fella had popped out to his mums to say HAPPY NEW YEAR. Hi Netflix, how you doing? What documentaries have you got for me? Vegucated? Sounds awful, but then so is my hangover... why not. FAST FORWARD > > October 28, 2017. I've been vegan since that day. Honestly, fella came back and there I was, an absolutely sobbing mess on the sofa - I CAN'T EAT DAIRY ANYMORE, I JUST CAN'T ALEX..... I used to eat CHUNKS OF CHEESE FOR FUN. So pretty big lifestyle change, but my energy levels picked up, I slimmed a bit and I am happier in myself. I levelled up, but now I need to level up my fitness.... I need to evolve from Bulbasaur. NEXT ON... So here I talk about my upcoming quest right? So in 4 weeks and 3 days I am having a breast reduction. I..AM..SO..EXCITED. Seriously, they have been a problem in my life for as long as I remember. Back pain? Tick. Unwanted attention? Tick. Cause pain when I exercise? Tick. So it's done, they are going. But it all happened so quick I have limited time to prepare and slim down as I won't be able to exercise for a while after & I need to be healthy healthy healthy. So for the next 4 weeks... here, is my challenge.... TO THE BAT CAVE! Diet DRINK DRINK DRINK water, lots of it, seriously.... drink that water without any hesitation. 2L a day minimum. My diet is pretty good, but I can go off radar sometimes - stick to ONE cheat meal per week and 1 alcoholic drink, don't get pressured into stuff by some friends. Fitness Hit the gym 3 times a week and aim to get a 30 minute walk in if you can't. Pick up the weights at least 2 of those sessions... make your heart healthy, you need to be strong for your surgery. Level up my life! Prepare yourself for pre and post surgery: Clean the house so you come back from hospital to a comfortable and welcoming home. Lessen your stress Make sure you have HEALTHY food in, meal prep if you need to Buy your first post-surgery bra (SO EXCITING) Organise your hospital stuff - 2 nights so books, films etc etc. RR x

no and no

you have an outstanding set of skills. now, hunkered down in the help cave - let's devise a devilish plan. where do we start?

I don't have a challenge and I'm definitely intrigued - where, who, why and how?

FOLKS. Wow, here I come with the big talk and then drop off for a month + again. So to explain - work work work work work. Went to Paris, did an event... YAWN. A new goal has appeared in my life. TMI coming your way - breast reduction, surgery - big things. Been needing this radical change in my life for 8+ years and damn, the surgery date has been set. I have 4 weeks, 4 days to get myself prepped. The meal plans are set, the supplements are in, the gym sessions are increasing now WORK LIFE is out of the way. I need to slim the damn down, I will be banned from the gym for a fair few weeks whilst I heal so I need to get into shape now. Luckily I'm not so rotund anymore, but.... I have lower belly fat that will.not.shift. NEWS TEAM. ASSSSSEEEEEMMMMMBBBBLLLLLEEEEEE. (best film ever) I'm on for a challenge. Support me team. Help me out! PLEASE Love RR xx

So hello everyone, a reintroduction begins. I joined this glorious forum & community years ago, gave a half-assed attempt and then disappeared off the face of the planet. Now I am back, gym membership & 1 year of attendance acquired and my story unfolds as thus: ''I used to be a complete gymphobe. No scratch that, a complete fitnessphobe.... I hated moving, being active and the idea of going to the gym, ha! A year or so ago (April '16) I had a huge life change - my boyfriend and I of 10 years split up (back together 3 months later :D), I was alone and my depression returned with a damn vengeance.. My gym-loving friend (seriously the guy is a tank), talked me into joining up and trying exercise to boost my confidence and kick my depression's ass. He was right, but after a year of half effort, it's now time to step it up. I want abs, I want to walk into that weight room and feel confident. I want to squat with ease, pick up weights with confidence, run for 30 minutes and not want to keel over. To pick going for walks around my local area instead of sitting and watching TV constantly. I want strength, happiness & health... The REAL story begins now, it's time to level up. Less Toad, more Bowser...'' .. This means its serious now and this community & seriously fun approach to fitness is going to get me there. Big love. RR x

I wasn't going to weigh myself for the whole challenge but curiosity got the better of me - what a KICK i got this morning! 5 lbs lost in week 1... this is awesome I am off to Nandos for lunch but having plain chicken with a corn on the cob side and sparkling water.. no soda

Thanks folks Was going to go running last night but hammered it down - come rain or shine, I'm heading out! Had one of these - hope they are Paleo, if not... ooops!http://www.naturalbalancefoods.co.uk/nakd-fruit-and-nut-bars/nakd-cocoa-delight/ Salmon Salad with Avocado for lunch Treating myself to a medium rare steak with sweet potato fries... NOM NOM NOM NOM

woah... that looks immense. I am the shittest cook though - no really - i burn everything. Sooo have found something a bit less complex. I'll let you know how it all goes and if I end up in bed with food poisoning following my birthday haha! Turned down some 'holiday goodies' today - BOOM

Storms THANK YOU! I tried this yesterday and the pancakes worked... yummy start to the morning. Its my birthday on 17th and I need to find a really good Paleo cake recipe so I can still have my birthday cake If anyone knows of any good ones, feel free to point me in the right direction. BTW - Well done on Week 1 guys - lets keep this going !!

I used to but now I always try and make time for it! Apologies for the lack of updates, it's been a busy time... So far stuck to ALL of my goals and so pleased with myself. Week 2 bring.it.on

Day 3 update Attempt at paleo banana pancakes - turned out as banana mush :fail: Salad - turkey, avocado, orange, cashew, tomatoes, cucumber Chicken stir fry with red onion, broccoli, carrot, pepper and cashew Water/black coffee 20 min walk **alcohol for the week*** Day 4 update No breakfast Leftover chicken stir fry for lunch with nuts and berries after Same for dinner lol (lazy) **1 of my 4 treats from graze.com 20 min walk as worked late so didn't do a run Water/black coffee/green tea Winner!!

Welcome GroZaV - good bunch we have here

Chicken, broccoli, carrot, red pepper, red onion and cashew stir fry. Veggies just past raw so maintaining the nutrients Colour!!!

DONE!!! I just made a delicious dinner with leftovers for lunch Anyone else doing Paleo? NOM NOM

This was great - I have reviewed my quests and made them more manageable Updated here!

Mini Quest One! Is your overall quest achievable (over a short or long period of time)? Is it reasonable? Definitely reasonable - I think by the end of the year to lose 28lbs in a reasonable target - if I put in the hard work and change my lifestyle, this should be a breeze... if I review after my first 6 week challenge and find shifting those lbs is a bit harder... then maybe, but I think strive for the best! Do your 3 quests all build towards your main quest in little ways, or are you taking on too much? Do your quests have sub-quests or is it just one thing to focus on? All build to the main quest, if I carry out these quests, it should make the main quest doable and change my lifestyle for the better. Are your main goals realistic? Can you scale them to smaller steps to fit your life better, even if it will make it take a little longer to achieve them? I've thought about this a lot and taken on the advice from my peers.. I think I should re-evaluate them and make them more manageable.. I've edited my initial post and think this is a better way Are your goals able to be measured and tracked? What will you use to track them? I was a bit blind to this at first but now I am going to grade myself based on I do - I've taken inspiration from some of my fellow rogue squadron recruits How are you grading your goals? Are they pass/fail (“every dayâ€, “not even once over the six weeksâ€)? Is there a reward for the effort, or are you only grading yourself on whether or not you “lose the weight†or “run the distanceâ€? As above - I am grading myself I think this will help the sense of achievement. Totally giving myself a reward too What is your plan for continuing/altering/grading those goals if you become ill or injured? If this happens, I will alter dependant on the situation, I don't want to give up. For example, if I am ill and following the Paleo diet - I can still make a mean chicken soup! If I get injured, I can take it easy with some light exercise.. Did you take into consideration any special occasions (Labour Day, Independence Day, birthdays, anniversaries, etc) that may occur during the challenge? What modifications do you need to build into your goals for those? Birthday - 17th August - this may be a hard one as I hang out with guys mainly and boy do they like to drink but I've taken this on board and diet wise - I can make sure I am stocked up on Paleo snacks for any munchies by planning ahead! Do any of your main goals conflict with each other? Will one goal make it hard to do another? I think all my goals compliment each other - but please let me know if you have feedback! Do you already have the time in your schedule to actually complete the goals you’ve set? If not, what are you planning to do to make time for them? Diet wise isn't a problem - I just have to plan ahead, exercise wise I may fall down but with it being summer and evenings lights, I hope this won't happen. If not, I make up for it another night. Are you trying to build multiple habits, or is all your energy focused on your main quest? It's a lifestyle change, not a diet - so I am trying to change habits here. I want it to become natural to be healthy and happy, not a fad. Thanks y'all

downloading zombies run now psyched - I am so going to test out my new running shoes to this tomorrow night It says you can pitch against friends - anyone fancy linking up for a bit of motivation?

Thanks for the feedback guys - going to give it another shot this week, lower my reps and listen to my body

Greetings Jlud007 All this talk of banana ice cream is making me want to try it!! I love ice cream, that and crisps are my down fall. I am definitely an abstainer... if I have a bag, it's gone... I can have another bag.... bye bye to that one too. Attempted to make banana pancakes this morning (1 egg, 1 banana, simple!) but hell, I can't flip the things.. it turned into banana mush... still tasted great though haha

Day 2 Update Got up early and made a mushroom omelet to keep me going Turkey Salad again - lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, pepper Had a late appointment so grabbed some roast chicken pieces and beetroot... (odd I know but fancied it) Water/Black Coffee all day Walked 20 minutes again at a faster pace Had my mani/pedi Been given a Paleo diet recipe book so made a 'Orange, Avocado and Cashew' salad with some added turkey, lettuce, tomato and cucumber for some extra nutrients and protein - looking forward to lunch today !

Sorry I meant after 3 days I still hurt - not doing it every day... I'll edit

I ache for days... I am not joking, I am the biggest wimp out there. After trying Steve's Beginner Body Strength Workout, I felt great... Day 2.. pretty sore... Day 3 - I was annihilated.. (note: I did on Day 1.... the consecutive days detail pain... I didn't do it again) It's now been a week and I am terrified of doing myself in again - my legs felt like molten lead had been poured into them and set. So guys and gals... any workout plans for a wimp would be gratefully received. Even down to warm up/cool downs as maybe I am just not doing well enough. Background - Sedentary... I drive/train to work, I have a desk job - I walk up and down the escalators... I do stroll about occassionaly but exercise exercise... nadda. Help.. get... me... fit!