Kath

Welcome to Nerd Fitness! Sounds like you are off to a great start. I'm glad paleo eating is agreeing with you - how exciting! I also think it is AWESOME that you are working out regularly and keep yourself accountable with a spread sheet. I hope you find what you are looking for here.

Thank you everyone, I appreciate the support! I realized I forgot to reply, woops. Yeah I think I'm going to break down my goals even further to make it more manageable. (It's sort of like when you look at a time-line... if you are zoomed out you only see major events [the big weight-loss goals] but if you zoom in you see all the smaller events that take place in-between - the small wins!) Keeping a positive outlook is definitely needed, and something I need to work on. Gotta keep that fire lit within yourself. YES I actually like lifting weights a lot. I don't have a gym membership, but I do have dumbbells at home (a variety of heavy ones - not those dinky cardio ones hahaha) and I'm looking forward to when I can get a gym membership so I can start working with barbells. Lifting heavy is just so immediately satisfying - feeling your own body's power, like hey, I did that.

You are too kind tyrsnbdr! Although I totally could pull off pink hair...

Just thought I'd share this fun comparison. So I don't know how many of you know about Overwatch, but it's a new team-based shooter game coming out soon, and there is the character named Zarya, who is like pure muscle. ANYWAY, I realized that we have the same size arms. Sure, mine is 99% fat, but the size is the same. (I have always been super self-concious about my arms, never wearing tanks etc.) But yeah, realizing this made me feel a bit better about my arms. Now I just need to work on swapping that fat for muscle! Also, real life arm goals, for those who prefer actual people instead of video game characters as fitness inspo hahaha. I don't know if my arms will ever get that large muscle wise (though it would be amazing if I could achieve that) but I feel a bit better about wearing tank tops while working out.

Thank you everyone! & ooooh, I forgot about "spouse" JMitch, totally slipped my mind. That's a great one. Patella, regarding the question "How do you know if you aren't the gender you were assigned at birth?" I think the first clue would be questioning in the first place. (To my knowledge, cis people don't really question their gender identity - although it can happen if they are more knowledgeable of the subject. Personally I think as a matter of getting to know yourself better you should always question your identity - at least somewhat - to discover your authentic self.) This isn't something someone else can really answer for you, but I would suggest taking the time to think about. If your gender identity fluctuates, that's okay. If you discover your gender isn't what you thought it was, that is okay too. I fluctuate between agender and female. Personally, I am alright with being perceived as a woman. I love women, I enjoy femininity - even if I have moments where I feel like I am more "other" than not. Because of my comfort with my assigned sex, it's not something I typically talk to people about - but I'm just bringing it up to show there is some grey/fluid area when it comes to gender. However, you should ask yourself what makes you happiest/most comfortable. I would just say think on it, see what feels right in your gut. (& right can change! & you are allowed to change - people grow and change all the time.)

Hey all, I'm Kath / 25 yrs old / lesbian, and I'm new to NF. I'm currently in the closet with my family, except for my brother who I'm really close with. It's funny - he actually came out to me first as pansexual. (Who knew?) So my parents have 2 gay kids under their noses haha. The reason I'm in the closet with them is complicated, but basically I am living with them still & they are super conservative - to the point where they think queer people are a result of psychological trauma and/or obstinate immorality. (Fun folks.) But they love me (though they are oblivious to my orientation) and despite their opinions I love them too - I'm hoping that one day I can tell them the truth and they won't reject me for it. Still, it gets tiring to hear my mom talk to me about getting a husband & giving her grandchildren. I've even begun to refer to any potential person I'm going to marry as my "partner" instead of husband, but I think she is purposefully ignoring my hints... (Not a huge fan of partner though, makes me feel like I'm in a western. I just want to say wife!)

I totally understand, just running 5k itself would be an awesome accomplishment. And omg, the blerch, I've never heard of that - and it looks hilarious. The comic that inspired it is on point and a great inspiration at the same time. I AM THE BLERCH haha. I have heard of warrior dash! I want to do that myself as a far-off goal, don't think I'm in shape enough to go jumping over fire quite yet. I live in Snohomish County, & don't know if I could dedicate myself to a LARPing group right now, but I would love some info on it. Maybe I could join you guys in the future!

So I'm doing some prep work getting ready for my first challenge in April, and I decided to put together a sort of personal recipe binder/nutrition guidebook. (Which is actually a challenge in itself for me, if you saw how I lived you would know organization isn't my forte!) Using recipes from cookbooks I love, stuff I've pinned on interest, and other sources, I'm attempting to organize a easy reference for myself. The thing is, doing this from scratch is a pretty big task. I've got a publisher format I like, as well as a binder ready to hold all of my print-outs, but I'm still sorting some things out resource-wise. My question is does anyone have any links to good: print-outs for keto based OR basic nutritioninexpensive shopping listseasy keto/paleo recipes templates for personal nutrition management other resources related to binder organizationIf any of you keep similar binders/documents for yourself, I would love to hear about your experience maintaining one as well.

Welcome Klara! Life reboots can be an amazing thing, even if the circumstances that caused them are usually difficult. I hope you find lots of encouragement here - so far it seems like a great community for support in all things. I too have a weakness for cheesy cracker things (I will devour a whole bag of cheez-its if left unattended with them hahaha) so I've been looking into less junky alternatives. If cheese can still be a part of your diet, it looks like you can bake cheese (either pre-shreded or from a block) into little crisps that could work as a chip/cracker substitute. (Like this recipe.) I actually did this once when I was eating a ketogenic based diet, and I made a taco shell out of cheese! Pure protein cheesy goodness. The technique for making the crisp crispy and not mushy takes a bit of fiddling though. Although I am allergic to running myself (eventually I will work on this) I admire your goal and I think that is awesome that you want to run a 5k. That fact that you have a route nearby to practice on is fantastic. I am just getting into table top gaming myself, my brother is part of a pathfinder group I'm thinking of joining. Steampunk liveaction RPing sounds like SO MUCH fun though! When I'm at Emerald City Comicon each year I see groups of Steampunk RPers, and I'm always in awe of their outfits etc. Anyway, welcome to nerdfitness! I hope you find what you are looking for here.

Thank you Strickland! You know, I've only played the more modern Bioware games (Dragon Age & Mass Effect) though I did play a bit of Baldur's Gate. I'll definitely have to check out some of their older titles.

I need to start making it again, but I drank bulletproof coffee for probably a month. I felt great, and the taste is yummy too. I usually did: 1/2 tbs butter1/2 tbs coconut oilpinch of cinnamon or unsweetened cocoa powder (optional)I then would blend it in my small drink blender, because otherwise it separates. If I was feeling particularly decadent I would do a splash of whole milk or half-and-half for extra creaminess, but It's not needed for it to be good. This was when I was following a more keto based diet, and it gave me lots of energy.

Thanks Gmork! (Wow, sudden Neverending Story nostalgia haha.) Yes, I'll probably go see PP2 in theatres, I hope it's as cute as the first film. I am very excited for the con - going to the panels and meeting the special guests is the best part. If you can, you should go one day - it gets bigger and better every year!

[raises hand] Hello all, I'm Kath, and I have about 120 lbs to lose... ish. (Depending on how I am feeling/looking near my goal weight.) The idea of taking on such a huge task just makes me feel so overwhelmed - getting that feeling like "why even try?" So to combat that feeling I have broken up my weight loss into some (hopefully) manageable goals that you can see in my signature. Working in 40 lb increments is a little less daunting, though certainly still difficult. Less anxiety inducing at least, haha. No time limit set though, one step at a time! What is difficult about it is that I have always been overweight, so I am stuck in that mindset of I will never be at a healthy weight, which is a unproductive & negative place to be. I am only just starting my weight-loss journey though, so I'm trying to put an end to such thinking and just focus on things I can do every day to be a bit healthier. So to all you ladies out there in a similar situation, I completely understand what you are going through and hopefully I can add some more positive updates in the future! I'm excited to start my first real challenge in April. Until then I'm just going to be learning stuff and planning things out - probably making small changes leading up to it too.

Thanks Skadaddle, that's perfect! And ooh awesome CloneClubber! (I love your name by the way - so excited for season 3 of Orphan Black!) I didn't even know there was a meetup next weekend, but unfortunately I'm going to be busy those days. Hopefully there will be another one in the future I can attend! Thank you though.

Thank you SevenofSeven! I hope to stick around too, and I also suffer from a cardio allergy hahaha. & thank you ShadowSilk! YES I definitely need to add dwarven battle cries to my work-out routine! I look forward to getting to know the community better.

Me too Skadaddle, I am using the same username and pic over there. Yeah, I was a little disappointed it's not as busy in those forums, but I suppose that is not surprising given the price. I am still excited to be going through all of the academy material, but I guess I'll get my social fix over here hehe. (Being the antisocial person I am, it doesn't take too much.) & yeah, speaking of Zelda I got the new 3D Majora's Mask for my birthday - so much fun, so much nostalgia! But thank you for the welcome!

Thank you so much Maaya! (Or do you prefer starsapart?) You sound awesome too haha - it seems we have lots in common. Yes I would love to be able to lift heavy. I don't have a gym membership (yet!) but I do have a variety of free weights at home - heavy ones too! But thanks again for the warm welcome, I'll let you know if I get lost around here.

Thank you Klara! I go with my mom every year (for like the past 4 years now?) and it is always a blast. Our mother/daughter weekend getaway together haha.

Hello everyone, my name is Katherine (but you can call me Kath) and I just signed up for the Academy the other day. I am also posting in those forums, but since it is a little less busy over there than here (population differences and all) I thought I would also sign up to be a rebel so I have more people to learn from/share my experience with. I am 25 years old and have been overweight since I was a kid, and I'm currently at might highest weight of 260 lbs. (For a 5'4" chick with little muscle mass, that's... not ideal.) I big part of my problem is that I struggle with anxiety/depression, and I've been trying to get that under control for a while. Though I am still working on it, I figured it's better to start working on my health now instead of "when I feel better", because that time may not come for a while. I did lose 30lbs about a year ago (though I gained it all back in a bad depressive episode) so I know I am capable of losing weight - I just need to stick with it. Since I have asthma, cardio is not my favorite. (Though I can sprint! Very dangerous over short distances.) However, I actually like lifting weights, yoga, and walking, so I'm hoping to find a happy mix of those that will work for me. (I would LOVE to be able to lift heavy one day - & get some good definition to my muscles!) I am an unfit blob (with a body like Baymax) as of right now though... baby steps! I love playing video games, reading/watching sci-fi fantasy stuff, writing, and drawing. I also volunteer at a local animal shelter where I work in the cat adoption room. More fun facts: If I had to compare myself to a fantasy race, I'd probably be a stout dwarf right now... who loves feasts and ale. BUT I would love to morph into a muscular warrior dwarf babe that can wield a giant axe. I live in Washington State and I am going to Emerald City Comicon this year! So excited.I am a lesbian and I'm not going to lie - I would love to look good so I can score a date. My self-esteem has always been super bad because of my weight, so I've never even tried dating for fear of rejection. ;A;Did I mention I love cats?I am a HUGE Tolkien nerdI have a sweet-tooth so overcoming that will be a big challenge for me. Because of anxiety etc. I am actually really anti-social BUT I am hoping I can stay somewhat active here and not become a hermit.My favorite games are The Legend of Zelda series as well as dating sims - I MEAN BIOWARE RPGS. I am also looking forward to playing Overwatch. Anyway, that's a bit about me, I look forward to getting to know the community better and working on a healthier lifestyle!