300lbninjawarrior

Heyo, rangers! Looking forward to this next challenge to kick off the year! My goals for 2018: Get below 250lbs. (Right now, I'm at 263. I'm engaging a kickass nutrition coach at my Crossfit gym and we're going to kill these pounds.) Rapid debt repayment (I've got a three sources of debt [ and possibly a car soon.] I'd like to know out as much debt as I can this year!) Run a marathon (I'm laying the foundation for a heck of a year of running. If I get injured tomorrow, it's still be amazing to even think about this as a possibility for myself.) I will continue to do karate, crossfit and practice yoga to help balance out my running schedule. Less selfies on my Instagram (@250lbninjawarrior) to give a little bit more variety to my friends and family. Alright, 2018... let's do this! L

Heyo, Rangers! Back from Brazil and getting back to posting. After two weeks of vacation eating (but plenty of walking and working out), I need to refocus on my goals. For the rest of this challenge (less than a week!), I am going to concentrate on getting back to eating nutritiously and enhancing my quality of sleep. A few things that I am going to try to boost my sleep: Limit caffeine. Screens out at 10pm. Take time to walk around in the daylight. Go hard on all workouts. Keep the room about 65°. Focus on relaxing not forcing sleep. Leave worrying and brainstorming for tomorrow. Any tips to get great sleep? Luke

Update! Totals for January 15-21: Sunday | Crossfit Monday | Crossfit, 3 Mile Walk/Run Tuesday | Rest Wednesday | Sculpt Yoga Thursday | 2 Mile Run, Karate Friday | Rest Saturday | 'Marched' 7 Miles Totals for January 22-28: Sunday | 3.5 Mile Run, Yin Yoga Monday | Crossfit, 2.5 Walk/Run, Yin Yoga Tuesday | Karate Wednesday | 2 Mile Run Thursday | 1 Mile Walk, Karate Friday | Yin Yoga Saturday | Crossfit (planned) Body I'm following the Hal Higdon's #5k to #10k plan like a shark. I've been attending Crossfit regularly. Papa like! Alternating running and Crossfit with karate and yoga is helping me get flexy. I love it's healing benefits of having a good balance. Mind Challenge: I gotta finish prepping for a business marketing class that I'm teaching in the spring. Starts in less than two weeks! Challenge: I met with my retirement rep and everything looks good. I'd like to start looking at different ways to save and invest using app. "Make $$, Save $$." Soul In order to slow the hell down, I put a pause on social media. I'm restricting myself to 8-10pm on work days. No recreational scrolling otherwise. I've slowly started laying out a "Kilt-y Pleasures" trip to Scotland. Challenge: To keep working to stay in the moment. Challenge: To keep reaching out to conservative friends. Not going to lie, Trump and Pence have destroyed my respect for the party. Okay, that's it! Hope you all doing well! Luke

Heeeeeeey, Rangers! I've been focusing on slowing the eff down a bit this week. It's been tough, but I think it's working. Breathing deep, stayin' in the moment. Totals for January 8-14: Sunday | 1 Hour Meditation, Yin Yoga Monday | Sculpt Yoga, 2.5 Walk/Run Tuesday | Crossfit Fundamentals Wednesday | Sculpt Yoga, 2 Mile Run Thursday | Crossfit Fundamentals Friday | Rest (dinner with friends & a movie) Saturday | Vinyasa Yoga, 3.2 Mile Run A few of interesting wins: I checked out all of my credit scores at the three credits bureaus and they aren't half bad! They are actually quite decent! I haven't checked my score in awhile and have been kinda burying my head about my finances. The bear has turned. I am sick of holding a good job but still feeling like I'm living check to check. I finished up Crossfit Fundamentals which is a series of four classes that teaches you what you need to start in the actual classes. I can now jump in the big tank! During Crossfit this week, I actually made progress on my jump rope skills. Going from not having jumped rope since middle school, to doing a few 'bunny hopes' to actually doing one jump rotations five-times-in-a-row. I was grinning from ear-to-ear. Another win the same day... I did ten high knee raises in a row while hanging from the tall bar. Another moment to fist pump. :> New glasses have been prescribed and I've got my home try-on offer from Warby Parker coming. Eye health is important, ya'll! Lastly, my first week of Hal Higdon's #5k to #10k plan is in the can. I did a little extra to finish out 3.2 miles. Pretty awesome that we can progress to a place where #5k runs are now a part of workouts instead of the pinnacle of effort. Still the slowest buffalo, but I'll get there. Upcoming challenges: Sad trombone. I gotta knock out a few things at work, so I'm probably going in on Monday. Pain today staves off greater pain later. Still hurts, tho. I can also use this time to start gathering my thoughts on the business class I am teaching next semester. It's only a month away! Formulating my long term goals to sketch in some landscapes. Okay, I'm spent. More next week, rebels (and @tonbaldin!) Luke

Love the topic title! Good luck!!

Heyo, Rangers! Sorry for joining late to the party! Between Instagram, My Fitness Pal, What's App, Twitter and 3,000 new posts on the NF Rising Heroes Facebook...there's just been too many damn things to track. Here's a few goals this Jan. 8 - Feb. 4 challenge: Body To train for my first 10k on March 4th. To finish up a Cross Fit Fundamentals course so I can get in the big kids fish tank. (After this course, I can start putting together a good weekly schedule and get back to Karate. I'll need to strike a balance between xfit, yoga, Karate and running.) To listen to my body while I do things and not get hurt. Mind To start prepping for a business marketing class that I'm teaching in the spring. To slowly start on my Rising Heroes primary specialization "make $$, save $$." Soul To meditate over the next month to slow the hell down. To slowly start laying out a trip to Scotland. To stay in the moment. I did have an interesting epiphany over the challenge break... I had such a time getting it together for my first run of the new year. (The cavalcade of roadblocks: I had a surprise (!) meet-up friends at the cafe where I was going to have a 'quick' dinner, the running track was covered in ice, the campus gym was closed early so I had to go to another gym on a free trial basis, I couldn't get comfortable on the treadmill, the was an incessant clicking sound on the machine, etc.) I ended up doing a 2.75 walk/run white-knuckling my willpower. Later, I realized that running has become the only exercise activity I do alone now. Everything else I can get swept up in the group dynamic. Oddly, that understanding helps me prepare mentally for the next time. I will try not to go ten rounds with myself over my running performance. I just gotta run! Hope everyone is doing well out of the gate! Luke PS -- A rebel posted this Altered Beast comic yesterday. Naturally, I had to watch the full game play. Ahh, childhood.

Wrapping up the challenge after a kickass Crossfit "everything but the sink" workout! Since I'm a newbie, they scaled it. Stoked for the future when I can do a proper burpee and crush a non-scaled workout! Things that I did/learned this challenge period: I've been very happy with my workouts this challenge and I'm pleasantly surprised that I was able to navigate the holidays as well as I did. While far from perfect, I reveled on the appropriate days and didn't make it a season of overeating. It was tough, tho. The amount of times that I wanted to swan dive into a display of holiday baked goods... I nailed my brown belt test! Feels so good! I still need to work on my kicks so that will be a focus for 2017. I co-hosted a Christmas party at work for 600 and had to MC for two hours in front of the room! I am grateful for my amazing co-host who brought the funny and was down for my 'fun' ideas. So glad that's ovvvverrrr! The confidence gained in finishing the Jingle Bell 5k no sweat has got me shooting for a 10k in March. I'll be bringing friends. I ended up purchasing the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus for running. Thank you for the help, @Xena! If I'm tempted by Vibrams in the future, I'll definitely factor in a long adjustment period. A foot massage place set-up by my yoga studio. I've been twice already and it's been amazing. #treatyourfeet I visited a Japanese Buddhist Temple and a Korean-tradition Zan Buddhist group. I deeply appreciate their hospitality. Finished Staci's #NerdFitnessYoga #YogaEveryday 30-day challenge! Loved it!! I have re-committed to learning more affective ways about communicating my values. I've learned a couple of lessons on why not get into social media fights with white supremacists/"alt-right"/"alt-left" trolls. Instead of wasting time, I'll engage with conservatives, independents and liberals alike. As this podcast says it, "no insults, no shouting and plenty of nuance." Question for the Rangers! I'm going to be using Hal Higdon's 10K training program. I did it because you train with distance versus time. What's you favorite run tracker that plays well with MyFitnessPal? Thanks for following the tread! Have a very happy NYE!! Luke

Yesss! The FB communities are kinda the best part. It's pretty dang motivational (and it's get twice as good if you go to Camp Nerd Fitness and actually meet the folks!)

Heyo, Mahalak! NFA really helped me refocus last summer. I put some $$ where my mouth was and spent a couple afternoons learning additional lessons about nutrition and wellness. (I needed to level up to a better diet [one without cheese.]) The workouts helped me get back into a directed lifting routine. I spent a lot of time watching Jim and Staci's vids on correct form. The quick vids were awesome when I needed a reminder at the gym. There are quests that are pretty interesting to tick off as you complete them. I've gone back into the lists to check off a few at a times. I haven't coordinated the effort to systemically go through them, but it's a nice reflection tool. All and all, it's like a great fitness encyclopedia to keep in your backpack as you do the work. Hope this helps, M! Good luck! Luke Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Awesome! Very glad that it is working for you! I had a good time today and didn't die. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

High recommendation! How many times do you go a week?

Heeey, Rangers! Well, it's been a pretty great holiday season. I've kept my workouts, hosted a Christmas luncheon for 600 people, earned a brown belt in karate, did a Jingle Bell 5k and have eaten well. This all means that I'm pretty much a wash for weight loss (but I feel stronger!) I've got my next gym dates lined up! The Iron Bar is a Crossfit gym about 7 miles from my house. I'll try that out 2-3 times this week instead of a conventional gym. I think it's a good time to experiment as I have some time off work and my lower back is somewhat feeling cooperative. Let's hope this 280lb ninja warrior can avoid injury. Hope you got some rest and are now crushing your first day back! Luke PS- I just signed up for a 10k on March 4th. Let's doooooo this.

@Xena Thanks for the additional insight! I'm interested in learning more about the 1-10. The lower the number, the closer to barefoot. Is being barefoot/close to barefoot it in the long run.

Congratulations, man! An amazing level up!

Fantastic goals! Love how you are attacking this challenge holistically!

Ha! This challenge introduction post was amazing!!! Best of luck!

Arrrghhh! Sending all the good vibes to your back! Take it easy!

Thank you for writing, Xena! I'm curious about Vibrams/barefoot running because I heard that it make treat our feet and legs better in the log run. Currently, I run in a set of Nike Free 5.0 2013 shoes. I'd been using them for walking and they seem to work for running. I'm not in a rush to go out and grab a new set of kicks, but I'll go to this sweet running shoe store downtown when I'm ready. Definitely taking the Vibrams warning to heart. As I've been making inquires in the last two weeks, there are a lot of injury stories. Yikes! I appreciate the barefoot strides recommendation. Perfect for the summertime! I'll go slow and try not to take my feet for granted.

Thanks so much, folks!!! @ArgSki77 @animuse @jonfirestar @Jarric @Elastigirl @Xena @Tanktimus the Encourager @Minna I've posted before on non-Ranger threads and heard crickets. It's rad to actually hear something back! I dig that you all like to doallthethings as well! Life is too short to do one thing.) This week's (Nov. 27-Dec. 3) totals: 3 gym workouts (5a, 5b, 5c) / 3 yoga sessions / 3 Karate classes / 3 two-mile runs I'd consider this a 'PERFECT WEEK!' for exercise. I had a great week for diet and nutrition too, but tripped at the finish line with snacks from a White Elephant Party last night. (it was lit in that nerdy, suburban hipster-type way. No regrets!) Between the workouts, focusing on diet, work, family, and trying to be civically engaged (but needing to cut back on bullstuff)... it all ran me a little ragged. This next week, I'm going be wildly happy if I can get in 10-12 activities. Goals this week: 3 gym workouts... keep working on form and load up some more weight! 1-3 yoga sessions... breathe and only concentrate on what I can control on the mat. 3 karate classes... I am working towards that brown belt test on Dec. 15. I skipped a belt during my last test and started thinking about ways I could possibly skip a belt (or stripe) this time. I definitely have an ambitious drive that flexes my grabby hands sometimes. I've since downshifted my id to focus on power, form and spirit and infuse them in all of the things I've learned. While it would be nice to skip another level and get to Brown Belt II, I'll been ecstatic to get to the brown belt level. Just gotta remember to work hard and stay humble. After the 15th, I'll scale back to two sessions a week again. 3 runs... switch it up and do some sprinting during the two miles. I also joined in on Staci's #NerdFitnessYoga #YogaEveryday 30-day challenge. Stoked that she's hosting! I'll be trying to place up photo proof on Instagram at @300lbninjawarrior. (I usually equate how many selfies a person posts to how much of a jerk they are, but I've actually found it a great motivation to post proof of doing things. After posting 60+ selfies, you can take a guess about my cool-to-jerk ratio.) Stoked to be a Rangerrrr! Luke

Heyo, Rangers! My name is Luke and I'm new to the Ranger crew. I've been on a bod development journey for the last couple of years and I've lost ~155lbs. I've started running recently (I've run more in the last three months than I have in my entire life!) and that got me thinking of switching guilds. I was hanging out with the Warriors, but I need a guild that can help field some running questions i.e. how do you balance eating to run and eating for fat loss? What shoes do you rec? Any strong opinions on Vibrams? With the late addition of running, I'm into karate, meditation, lifting (level 5 Nerd Fitness Academy gym workouts), and hot yoga. Changes seem to be the name of the day! I just bought a house and relocated to land twenty miles west. I'm able to keep my hot yoga studio, but my old gym has become impracticable. I'll be in the market for a new gym. Any tips of getting a great gym deal would be most appreciated! I usually just wait for a killer offer and make the jump, but I'm getting a little itchy to lift and may have to make the deal happen myself. (My current strategy with Anytime Fitness is to use the trial week up and wait from them to call me and offer to drop the introductory cost and monthly fee. We'll see!) For this challenge, I want to get back on my workout schedule and eating habits. Additionally, I will focus on practicing a specific kata (Bassai Dai) for my Brown Belt test on Dec. 15 and running a Jingle Bell 5k on Dec. 24. Prepping for the challenge, here goes my workout schedule for Nov. 27-Dec. 3: 3 Karate trainings, 3 runs for 2 miles, 3 gym sessions and/or 3 yoga sessions. (I've been having a little car trouble that may stop me from swinging by the yoga studio. I should be able to get the karate, runs and gym workouts, tho.) Hope you are doing very well, guild! Luke

This week's (Sept 4-Sept 10) totals: 3 gym workouts (5c, 5b, 5a) / 3 yoga sessions / 1 Karate class / 5 walks for 12.5 miles total The best week yet of this challenge! I kept the average down to a nice, tight 1,503 calories. I have no real idea if that's great but I am getting results, so it sure as hell ain't bad! Actually, I should probably check in with a Nutritionist about this. Heh. A couple of good news items: I'm in House Tyrus for Camp Nerd Fitness, I started messing around with the Couch to 5k app and work has toned down to a moderately high influx of stress this week. All good things. #tyrustrue

This week's (August 28-Sept 3) totals: 2 gym workouts (4b, 5a) / 3 yoga sessions / 3 walks for 4.50 miles total / No Karate this week! The dojo was closed. My eating was significantly better this week! Only two days of blowing my cap instead of four. Here's a helpful guide: Wednesday was an incredibly stressful day at work. Victories abound! I was golden until I made the decision to go eat BBQ after a reception where I ate a lot of less than satisfying finger foods. On Saturday, I had two celebrations. Can you tell what blew those carb limits, mmm? Great start to this week..gym, yoga, and 3 miles of walking around the state fair. Today was the first day where I was pretty pleased about multiple photos that were taken of me by other people (from full body angles even.) It's kinda weird and throughly awesome.

After a perfect fitness week to finish out the last 4-week challenge, I prioritized some longterm relationships over fitness and nutrition this week. It was definitely worth it, but now I have to clear out the consequences of three days of alcohol and sugar. This week's (August 21-27) totals: 1 gym workout (4a) / 2 yoga sessions / 1 Karate class / 2 walks for 3 miles total Woof. Here's a little bit about the lead up... Wednesday is routinely weigh-in/BBQ night. I've taken to some unhealthy habits trying to force the needle to move. I usually just have eggs and a nutrition bar during the day to keep up energy, but not tip the scales. This week, I was RAVENOUS by the time weigh-in time rolled around. I suited up in my traditional weigh-in tank and lightest pair of shorts and headed over... only to find out the gym was closed. Arghhh! I took it as a mindfulness challenge and buttoned up my growly urges. I hit the open track for a mile. The trouble was that I was feeling pretty shitty from lack of energy. Also, I haven't had a rest day in a couple weeks, so I skipped hot yoga and the gym to go right onto BBQ night. I was delicious. :> On Thursday, the stress of work and trying to buy a house caught up to me. I bagged Karate to go out to dinner with some good friends. The camaraderie was excellent, the lamb gyro was scrumptious and the drink flowed freely (well, they were hella expensive.) Friday was an 90s throwback concert. Fun. We started out at a local bar where I had a tasty Cubano sandwich, french fries for the first time in a year, plus two ciders. No exercise to speak of besides ironic 90 bump and grindin'. Saturday was a fundraising gala. I couldn't go to yoga because I promised to take my sister to work. After that, I opted to clean and detail my rig and go shopping for new duds instead of going to the gym. I ate well before starting the night. After we landed at the pre-funk, it was all on the skids from there on out. Wine, chips and salsa, and 1 1/2 dark chocolate desserts were on the lists of uh-ohs for the night. All and all, I was hitting 1800-2300 cals from Wednesday through Saturday. I've average under 1500 for the summer. Woof, again. That all said, I'm happy that I threw in with my people! It was a fun, lively few days. Time to get back to my low-key life. Thank the Lo'. I'm going to concentrate on work/life balance and put up some numbers that I can be proud of this week. Time for some Sunday Night lifts!

Progress update for August 14 - August 20: 2 karate classes (with 5+ katas a day) 3 gym workouts (4a, 4b, 4a) 4 yoga sessions (3 hard, 1 medium) 7 miles in 4 walks (feeling good about my new shoe insoles! Helps my hip not feel like fire.) Side Quest: Instead of three pints of Halo Top, I bought two! Chocolate and mint chip. Yum! This is the first time that I hit the 2-3-4 workout since discovering the natural scaling of the numbers this 4 Week Challenge. I dig it. It'll be good when I hit it when I can, but I think I will need to get in a rest day soon. The Olympics continues to be an inspiration. My karate teacher is getting fired up and making us kick like all hell and dropping hints to the kids about 2020. I take a different approach... get in my workouts then hit the couch with Halo Top and fast forward through the commercials. It's been pretty amazing to see the Simones, Michelle Carter, Allyson Felix and the Women's 4x100, Aly Raisman and her parents, #USABWNT, Usain Bolt, Phelps, Ledecky, etc. Before I sign off, I just want to uplift the benefits of the reclined hamstring stretch. I've been carving out 5-8 minutes every morning this week to stretch after the shower and it's helped loosen those hammies like a champ. Can't believe I'm wrapping up my second 4 Week Challenge! Hope you guys are crushing it!