Banana-kin

I used to laugh at all the people who did yoga. I used to weight lift, play football, karate...you know...hard stuff. Yoga just doesn't look hard. Then we got "Insanity" and started doing it at work in the mornings. I think it was a REST day when they put in the yoga DVD. It sounded like a good idea. I remember being twisted around like a pretzel, muscles quivering and shaking all over the place. I couldn't stand up...not only because my balance needed help but mainly because the floor under me was so slick from all the sweat! It was like being beat to death by a moth. Humble pie, served cold and no drink. I don't laugh at yoga anymore. And hats off to those of you who can. Keep going! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

How are you doing with your goals? Coming up on the end of the first week. Have some things come easier than you expected? Has some surprised you? Can't wait to hear about your progress! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

Following. Happy Nerdiversary! #crushall10! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

Following. How could I not? This has all the makings of greatness...or a trip to the ER. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

A lot of people will set up a grading system for their quest goals. I'm doing a "90% and above is an A"...just like in school. I'm starting small, since I'm only 1.5 weeks into my own first challenge (I'm basically new like you.) A goal I had was to walk 5 min every day. I am lucky enough to have a Fitbit which tracks my active minutes. I've made my goal every day, so I'm 7 for 7...or 100%... so I gave myself an A. My "replacing my morning soda with water" quest is becoming an epic fail. I succeeded only 3 days out of 7, or 42%...or F. Gotta redouble the effort on that this week. There is nothing hard or fast about rules or grades...its whatever keeps you motivated. Some people give daily updates, almost like a blog. Banana-kin ain't got time to write daily! I shoot for once a week. It has worked for me so far. Do whatever works best for da Flaneur! I haven't messed with the Epic Quest list much, but I'd say check it off at whatever interval you'd like. You won't be audited! Everyone is super encouraging here, which is way cool. The big thing everyone is shooting for is to make the changes we all know we need to make, and get them to stick. If checking it off a list keeps you on track, then do it. Looking forward to seeing your first update and hearing how you crushed your goals with maximum awesomeness! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

Flaneur- I totally relate to your story. I liked your opening proverb. My Dad used to say it. The guys at work HATE it when I talk in proverbs...which means I just keep doing it to torture them! They all lost it when I said "We should all plant trees under which we will recieve no shade." They looked at me like I had 9 heads! I do much better when I know others are counting on me, so I can relate to you. When I go solo, I begin cheating on myself. Worse yet, I can rationalize those cheats very well. Your goals look good and measurable. Will you have a grading system? 90% and above is an A, and so on...something like that? I'll begin following this thread for updates, and I'll pop in from time to time. Welcome aboard, Flaneur! Your Quest awaits! Saddle up. Lets ride!

Drew2014- For Christmas I received a Fitbit One. I like it quite a bit. The thing I like most is its discreet...you can keep it in your pocket. I don't like advertising to the whole world that I've got a Fitbit. I am seeing a Dr for sleep issues, and i like that it tracks sleep patterns. I'm an engineer, so reviewing the data is cool. The only thing it doesn't do is track Heart Rate. It ran about $100 USD, and wasn't hard to set up at all. I track it all through my phone. Considering getting my Druid Bride one to replace her Fitbit Zip.

I had considered "moving" my thread. I may have to just break down and do it. I'm kinda liking the initial challenge being done somewhat incognito. That way when I make mistakes, they aren't so obvious! I'm learning a lot...mostly on how the boards are configured and where to post things. Obviously, I didn't know that a week or so ago. (That was my first mistake of many.) I saw the new challenges starting up on Monday. The just noticed that the new challenge boards are already live. I haven't read much on them yet. My first thought (a week or so ago) was to get the initial rebel challenge out of the way (I didn't pick up on challenges being 4 weeks long...I thought I'd knock one out in a week), then jump into the Ranger boards hardcore on Monday. Now I'm a shade smarter, and thinking there is wisdom in finishing out the remaining 3 weeks of my initial challenge. Also, work picks up really hard the first week of March...and will continue to dominate my time, off-and-on, until the end of May... and I'm not sure how dedicated I would be. Might be best to just do this initial challenge, read about everyone having fun, killing it, crushing it, Ranger-ing it...as well as supporting each other, and jump in on the subsequent one. I can offer support to them, too. If you do a Challenge, I'll keep an eye out for the post and follow it. I can offer support from time-to-time. I know I perform better and work harder when I'm part of a team...when I know others are working with me and counting on me. Maybe my encouragement might makes others' challenges and trials a shade easier. Gotta run. Have a good weekend.

Tomorrow will mark the completion of Week #1. So here's the results: My Diet Goal: Replace my morning soda with water. (Soda is my demon...and it's a big one.) GRADE: D-My Fitness Goal: Walk for 5 min a day. I can track this through my FitBit One. GRADE: A+My Level Up Life Goal: Complement my beautiful bride on something at least once a day. GRADE: B+ What I've learned so far is: I think a challenge is supposed to be 4 weeks long. Some are longer, but I haven't seen any shorter than 4 weeks. The morning soda thing is terribly difficult for me. I don't drink alcohol, so soda takes it's place. Each morning I stop at the same Quicky-mart, and everyone there knows me by name. It's kinda cool, but I almost feel bad if I don't stop in each morning. I may have to modify this a bit...put a water bottle in my car the night before, switch swapping out another soda later in the day instead of the morning one, or even just stop going into the Quicky-mart each morning and breaking ties completelyThe walking is relatively easy. 5 min isn't hard for me to knock out. I may need to bump that a bit to make it more of a challenge.The complementing thing is really been the surprise for me. It's not hard to do once you get used to it. I usually do it in the morning while we are both getting ready for work. "That's a nice sweater. Is it new?" or "You sure are pretty when you smile." or my favorite one "I like your toes." Sometimes humorous, sometimes serious...but it just seems to start the day right. And who doesn't enjoy a complement? Super-easy to do...super powerful results. Today I hit the workout facility at work after I clocked out. I have a Dr. appts on Mon and Wed, and I purposely scheduled them later to make time for me to hit the gym. It was nice cuz no one was in there. I did a C25K first run, then I did Steve's warm up, then I did 1/3 of the Recruit workout. I also did most of Staci's cooldown routine. Probably the most gym activity I've had in 6 months or so. Probably should have filpped the warm up before the run, but that's an improvement for another time. I bought some wireless earphones, and this was first test for them. Not too bad. They could have fit better, but I think they'll work. I bought them on Amazon with a gift card I got for Christmas. Grand total out-of-pocket spend was $5. Can't look that gift horse too hard in the mouth. I also looked up CROSSFIT on YouTube on a whim...and thought it was about the coolest thing I've ever seen. Then I looked up crossfit in my area. Turns out a new facility just opened up in town 6 months ago! Not ready to sign up yet. Part Chicken-$&!*, part cheap-@$$. The classes were $125/month. I could swing it, but next month work gets really busy until mid-June, so probably note the best time to pull the trigger. Still reading the boards and digesting things. Overall, a nice start to the challenge.

Just wanted to say i look forward to reading your stuff. I really wish i had something innovative to suggest, but i don't. Maybe thats why I am looking forward to reading your stuff. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

Got thinking about this the other day. I haven't seen this addressed on any of the other posts yet. Maybe it has but I missed it, or didn't understand what it was saying. What's your favorite gear or tech? My intent with this thread is to see what others use, and it might give me an idea of what to keep an eye out for...almost like a gear/tech review by people that use it. I'm sure we've all got different needs, so what works for me might not work for you, but I thought it's at least worth a look. Besides I might pick up some ideas on some new gear/tech I hadn't thought of. This year for Christmas, I received a Fitbit One. I chose it because its discrete. For me, discrete is a huge issue. It also tracks my sleep, which I think is pretty cool. (It also helps me have good conversations with my Dr. on sleep issues.) I also like the vibrating alarm function. I didn't think I'd like it nearly as much as I do. I'm very happy with it. However, if I had one piece of gear I couldn't live without, it would be my pocket knife. I have a Buck Trekker knife, and if memory serves, it was discontinued in 1998. It's a crying shame, 'cuz its about the handiest thing ever. If you're lucky enough to find them online somewhere, they run about $50, but it's well worth the cost. It's basically Buck's version of the Swiss Army Knife. It has everything I need...two blades, bottle opener, can opener and a small saw blade running down the middle. I lost it for a week last week and I felt naked without it. Can't tell you how many times I reached into my pocket last week only to be reminded that it was gone. Been through many a project/adventure with that knife. Not the smallest knife, but it's like an extension of my very being. So happy I found it...and if there is one guild that needs a good knife, I figure its Rangers! Got anything gear/tech that really helps your life and/or workouts? Shoes? Bags? Tech? Earphones? Playlists?

I agree with your comments on kids on the boards. While I'm completely taken with all the support I'm reading, I'm still not ready to let mine roam. Call me "Old School", but sometimes Old School is the best school.The weekends are actually better than the weekdays. I'd say I went 3 for 3 each weekend day. My weekday mornings stop is my downfall. Its like a Cheers gas station...where everybody knows your name. I'm gonna need to modify things to make it work. So far, I go 2 for 3 on most weekdays. The walking isn't hard to get in 5 min. And the complements (which I thought would be something I forgot to do) is actually going well. Soda is my weakness. That's was no suprise to me. Are you doing any challenges? Its been fun reading all the posts, and I've seen your name a few times. Hope all is well with anything you've got going on. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

All- New to these boards, but been reading voraciously. I like all ya'lls style. I have a couple of questions: 1. Does NF have a family membership? My kids and I took a guild personality test we saw on these boards. The end result was I live with two young female Assassin's (10 and 12 yrs old), an 8 yr old male Warrior and my beautiful Druid bride. I'm thinking I'm a Ranger with a pinch natural Warrior in my genes. I came home the other night to my Assassin daughters doing wall handstands while the little Warrior counted to 60 seconds. A family membership might be useful. 2. I love the Marvel Avengers series. Thor is one of my favs because that hammer is so cool, and I love the personal transformation he goes through in the movie. I know he's a Warrior. Captain America is a close second for me. What do you think Cap would be? I'm thinking he'd be a Ranger. What say you? Enjoying the chatter and the comraderie.

All- I joined NF about 6 months ago, but recently got a bug to look into it more. Been reading boards all week, and thought I'd take the plunge. The boards all say the Rebel site is where to start with a first challenge, so that's why I'm here. I'm stoked about doing a Ranger challenge, but starting here seems like what everyone says Rookies should do. So here it goes: My Diet Goal: Replace my morning soda with water. (Soda is my demon...and it's a big one.) My Fitness Goal: Walk for 5 min a day. I can track this through my FitBit One. My Level Up Life Goal: Complement my beautiful bride on something at least once a day. So, does NF have a family membership? My whole family took a NF guild personality test I found buried in the boards somewhere. Realistically, I'm probably a Wanger (Ranger/Warrior hybrid), but Ranger will do for now. My bride is pure Druid. My two girls (9 and 11) are Assassins, and my 8 yr old son is a Warrior. I came home last night to seeing both my Assassin girls doing wall handstands while their Warrior brother timed them for 60 seconds. One thing is for certain. If I mention any more about how great and cool it is to be a Ranger, I think they'll kill me. (But they probably can't...because I'm a Ranger!) Gotta run. I'll click in later.