Snow Walker

Hiya and I hope your day is going/has gone well, depending when you read this. By looking at your eating habits and your desire to be active and walk, you're already doing a lot more than before. Keep up the walks when you can and see where that goes. I haven't tried Rising Heroes, so I can't say anything there. Reach out and see what the support has to say on that one. With how new this journey is for you it could be great, or it could be something you build up to in a few months. I think it looks really cool. The more active my hobbit gets, the more I will understand about where you ladies are at. Right now all I have to worry about is crawling, which is nowhere near him running around getting in to stuff. It's an adjustment I am not looking forward to. The fact that that you are trying and that you are concerned about keeping up with your hobbits says a lot. You're looking to make changes because you love them and you want something better. I'm not sure there is a perfect version of any of us, one where we are super-moms with awesome careers, and we meet everything we feel we should do. But at the heart of it, to really care and to do our best-in-the-moment loving and living is the real win. You have a lot on your plate. It sounds like you see the things that you want to fix more quickly maybe than the parts you like and want to keep. I trash bed my brain that way too, and it is hard to find and focus on the things I do like. As you explore what your journey looks like for you, embrace the parts that make it yours. Find what makes you happy with yourself and build on it. I know that sounds like sappy feel-good logic, and it might not help. However, I found that it helped me to give myself a little bit of breathing room when I needed it, to keep from calling myself a failure and a loser and giving up. If you love RPGs and taking walks or joining Rising Heroes is where you find your happy place, own that and rock it. Don't compare yourself to other people and let that get you down. You may find that things you try don't work. I have failed a lot and I'll fail more. I try to learn from it, to laugh at if I need to, to let myself cry too. Plan a few small steps and keep taking them. Define your version of small, repeatable steps. We'll be here to cheer you on.

I didn't see Trixie Falsae's response until I posted mine, but I think she's right on!

Wow! Okay, you weren't exaggerating about barely eating at all. Depending how much soda you're drinking those calories sound scary low. I would encourage you to keep taking small steps and setting goals for yourself. It's perfectly fine to go at your own pace. You mentioned that it took a year for you to get to this point of being ready to start, and that makes these first steps exciting and valuable. You also mentioned feeling poorly and some health conditions as well. I think you are on the right track with small steps. You do not want to overdo anything and get injured or fail, that doesn't help you at all. I have to remind myself of this frequently, as I have old injuries of my own and plan on having more kids (which means more weight gain and body changes all over again). One of the best things about NF is the encouragement to do what you can, to embrace where you are, figure out where you want to be, and get started on the journey. Steve Kamb has built a really good program that breaks down things into little steps and makes it simple to progress. I'm still working through his book Level Up Your Life, but I have it on audio from Audible so it's on my phone. It's great for washing dishes or when I am stuck in traffic, because it helps me to think about mindset and perspective. I'm short on time like you are, so I try to sneak it in where I can. The mindset portion of the academy has been invaluable! It took a while for me to work through and I still haven't finished it, but I learned a ton. Gamifying my my life has helped with motivation too. One of the first NF articles that resonated with me was about choosing my superhero and taking steps to pretend that I was making choices that would make me more like my alter ego. As for the macros, I read Thinner Leaner Stronger by Michael Matthews and got the recommendations from there. These are his suggestions for women who are over 30% body fat, to help with decreasing body fat. His book explained how to calculate my percent body muscle and my total daily caloric expenditure. I used those to target my total calories, but you can find the same online from calorie calculators. I just looked at Mike Matthews' website the other day and I'm not sure it gives the same vibe as I got from the book, also an audio. That's not to say they are contradictory, but the pics of thin ripped chicks on the website isn't something that would have gotten me to read the book. I read the book to help me understand how my body uses food and builds muscle. I do secretary work for a medical company and have developed a sort of affection for the medical/scientific explanations of things. I don't know if this book would truly help you or overwhelm you, that's up to you. The thing that seems most important to me when I hear your replies is for you to not get discouraged, to figure out what works for you, what interests you, and then to learn about it by giving it a try. I think that by taking the steps to add one healthy meal to your day and maybe make one or two other small changes, you will be surprised where you end up. The little wins give us the fuel to move toward the bigger successes over time. I think you have a great opportunity ahead to decide what you want, to move toward it, and to defy your old expectations. I'm excited for you, honestly and truly. Please keep me posted, because I'd love to celebrate your successes and offer any suggestions/info if you want.

@Vendettaressa, Welcome and congrats on the newest hobbit! I appreciate your honesty and I hope that you will continue with it. I can't imagine only gaining one pant size during pregnancy, but my experience was different. I started out around 189lbs and ended pregnancy over 250lbs. I was surprised by how exhausted I was in the post-partum period. The fact that your second is three months and you are already talking about getting back into fitness is impressive! At that point I had given up and was "subsisting" on protein shakes and ho-hos. My husband doesn't cook and I could make it half-way through prepping my breakfast omelet before the little one needed either to be fed or changed again while I was home alone. I gave up eating them burned and just ate junk. It was hard not to give up and judge myself for having no willpower and being so weak and fat. So that's what I did for a bit. It's a hard path, but I hope that you can come to a place where you appreciate your strengths and beauty again. From what my coworkers say it can be tricky when family helps with children. Not necessarily bad, just a mix of blessing and boundary conflicts. I wish you the best of patience and perseverance while working through that area of your life. As you undertake these steps in your life, choosing one real meal per day, and making efforts to health and fitness, know that you are not alone. You can always re-start and re-spawn. I have had to do that several times since starting my journey in November/December. In the 10 months since I had my son, I've managed to make it to 202lbs. At 5'8", the BMI calculators and doctors usually tell me that I should weigh something like "130-150lbs" or if I'm lucky 160lbs. It's hard not to judge myself for where I am at. So while I keep walking toward where I want to be, I keep the progress in my review mirror and I check it regularly. Part of my goal this year is to try to get my weight down to 160lbs (it gets me from the obese category to normal/acceptable weight category as far as my health insurance provider is concerned, which impacts my premiums with my employer). I know that I still have a little more than 40lbs to go and that seems overwhelming to me. So at first I celebrated being able to sustain 5lbs lost, and now 10lbs lost; and each one is like a small victory and decreases the number yet to go. I guess I'm a glass half-full type of gal, but it doesn't mean that when I get down on myself I don't do a little bit, or a lot, of unhealthy eating and self-sabotage. I've learned a lot since starting this journey. Macros are one thing I decided to incorporate into my diet tracking. They are a little complicated at first and seemed intimidating until I learned more and had some practice. That being said, you don't have to track them to see progress, and NerdFitness suggests moving toward a Paleo style of eating which would still work with counting macros, but is not where I am eating yet. I just wanted to be upfront that I have not pursued exactly what is being suggested in the academy so that if you are working on it, I don't confuse or hinder you. Macros refers to macronutrients and I'm still a newbie so if what I'm saying doesn't add up - check it with someone else who may know a little more than I do, or do a little more research online. When I say I'm tracking my macros or at least working to be mindful of them, it means that in addition to targeting a set number of calories, I am also watching what percentage comes from protein, fat, and carbohydrates. At this point I am looking to keep that to about 164 grams of protein, 123 grams of carbs, and 54 grams of fat. Some days I am a little over, others a little under. I never used to get quite enough protein and I was shunning carbs but running wild with fat. Not surprisingly, I had trouble lowering my percent body fat, which is over 30%. The other thing that adding macros does is help me to see that if I want to eat some ice cream or another treat, I can fit it into my calories, but I should eat a little less fat/carbs in my other meals. For example, full fat yogurt, avocados, salmon, and ice cream shouldn't all happen on the same day for me. Before, I would tell myself that I was okay for the ice cream because I had been good with the other three items that were healthy. Now, I'm working to adjust my perspective. There are some foods that are better for you and others you should eat sparingly or not at all; but I am trying to let myself enjoy the food I eat without feeling like I need to be guilty or that I should get a pass because I ate "healthy" the rest of the day. Figuring macros takes a little bit of math. That's why I am ball parking. MyFitnessPal will track them for you in realtime for a fee. I'm cheap, lazy, and have found another app I prefer for calorie tracking, so I don't use that one. Instead I am using a spreadsheet. I looked up the foods I usually eat, or better yet read the labels on the brands I had in the fridge and cupboard. Then I created a spreadsheet on the computer. One page has nothing but different foods, their calories, protein, fat, and carb grams. The other sheet has my meal plan. It's split into breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, and pre-bed snack (because that's what works for me... although I'd love another midmorning snack, I never seem to eat it). I set up the meal plan page to calculate the totals and compare them to my goals, basically doing the math for me. I copied the foods into the meal plan from the other page and tweaked it until the totals lined up as closely as I could get them with food I knew I would eat. The copy-paste feature lets me build my own list of frequent foods over time without losing the data. It took a little bit to get it up and running (maybe 2-4 hours total between understanding, calculating, researching, tweaking) but now I can adjust meal plans for the week in 15-30 minutes. I print them and do my best to follow. But if there is pizza at work and I know I had a low-fat, low-carb breakfast and I can also adjust dinner, I'll eat a serving of pizza if I want it without stressing or re-calculating. The thing I like best about it, is that there's really no focus on one thing as bad or better than the others. It's not against carbs or against fat or pushing you to eat protein until your eyes fall out. After 6 weeks, I can get protein on target no problem, but I still tend to be over in fat and under in carbs if left to my own guesswork. As I learn my tendencies I can work with them and accept myself for who I am. I fail at least a few days on a weekly basis but overall, I'm able to love myself and enjoy food while losing weight.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone! I'm sorry I haven't been keeping up here. How are things going for Challenge 2? I'll admit I burned out on challenge 1 and instead of keeping up with all my weights and workouts I gave in and walked instead... a lot! I didn't lose as much weight because of that, but I used the time to learn about calories and macros and I am back at it in a Challenge2. This time I'm striving to clean up my uncontrolled eating by getting reasonably close to my macros and calories, lifting 2-3 times per week, doing yoga or mobility 3-4 days per week and trying to get in some writing. I'm not hitting all of them full cylinder this time. The writing didn't happen this past week and neither did the mobility. However, I have finally lost a full 10lbs, counting from Dec 2, 2016. We had Christmas, my birthday, and Valentine's Day to get through, so I'm willing to call overall progress a win! Some weeks I lost ground, it was hard not to feel like a loser and then eat junk food. My accountability buddy kicked my ass and kept me moving forward along with my why. I need to spend some more time in the academy so my progress gets tracked and I actually level up, instead of wandering out in the bush. I need to suck it up and do my measurements. They scare me, even though my clothes fit better and I am liking how I look. So, I'll get back in the path and see what my progress continues to be. I like to follow the path, really I do, I just don't have the hang of it yet. I'm pleased with the results though. I'm finally back into my college sized jeans, although not yet as small as I was pre-pregnancy. I still have 2 months to get back there before he turns 1. I may not make it, but I'm going to lift, eat, and train like I know I can get there. I had my other half help me start on a side project and we got half of a DIY weight lifting rack constructed from wood. I hope to have that together and in place by this weekend so I can start moving more weight. It will also give me a pull up bar. I can't do any but if I don't at least hang there and struggle, I will stay where I am at. I know I will eventually hit a brick wall where I find my "max weight" and then have to fight to make gains over longer periods of time, but as a newbie I am loving the honeymoon period of being able to keep adding weight and finally getting in the swing soreness and recovery, which isn't too bad. So tell me where you are at? What are your wins? Where are you going? What destinations have you found among these far flung stars and what does your signal say?

Woot! That's awesome! A chin up takes a lot of strength. Enjoy your accomplishment! I bet you worked hard for it. I can't wait to get there myself.

ElRoberto, Thank you for the suggestions! As a "transplant" to Florida from Upstate New York adjusting to the heat has taken some doing. However, I have stuck with it and will keep pushing myself to see what I can work through. Hydration is an absolute must. And I'all take advantage of the pool for post workout cool down and recovery. Short runs or walks will probably be a must for me starting out. Everyone here is "freezing" at 55 degrees, but come summer we're lucky to see it drop to below 80 at night. You're right about the mosquitoes though! I hope they don't carry you off either. Thanks for the tips. Best of luck in your continued fitness pursuits.

Rebel Pilot Gar, Thanks for the honesty and for posting back. I have also already found a group and have a good accountability set up going. I understand completely and agree with you about overcommitting. I hope that you and your group do well! Best wishes! -Snow Walker

Hey Wolfen, Thank you for the encouragement. It's good to hear other people have been through similar stuff and made positive changes. I'm going to keep hoping that my husband and I get to that point and keep working to keep my heart open for it. And gently see how I can encourage him toward steping in with his parents. Have an awesome day!

Hi Trixie! Congrats on the little hobbit! I found mind brought me way more joy than I ever thought possible. He also made me feel more courageous because I was terrified for the first few months that something would go wrong and I would not know what to do. I feel more confident. I'm still shy, but I suck it up and do the stuff I need to most of the time. I'm kind of jealous that you are only working part time. Some moms love full time and others struggle with it. Personally I could do with a little more time, but I make it work. But tell me, how does working out look for you? Here's what it is for me: I started working out the tail end of November. 3 days per week, strength and body weight exercises at home (couldn't bring myself to leave the house with the lil one at home). Foam rolling and dynamic warm up beforehand. I have a knee injury I can't afford to exacerbate so I was trying to be smart. In January I kicked it up to 3 days of strength and 3 days of Yoga. So far I consistently get at least 5 of those per week. I've only been 100% successful once. I wish the in-laws were different too and that the house could come together faster. My husband gets treated the same as me, maybe a little worse because he gets a lot of guilt trips. (I just don't take any of them.) I have asked him to consider doing the work alone or hiring a professional, but he is determined to do the remodel with his dad. So I am working out to manage stress and build mental strength and clarity to deal with the situation. We estimate the remodel should be done in a year. I try to remember it's a small part of a bigger whole. I'm working on what I can change and trying to let go of what I can't. And making the most of every moment I have with my small family.

Thank you for answering so quickly. I definitely agree that communication and accountability are key. I actually stumbled across your other group and they look like a friendly and lively bunch. I'm a writer at heart myself and my college degree is in writing, despite working in healthcare the last 4 years. However, life crept up on me and that went the same way my working out did. I would like to add creativity to my pursuits eventually (trying not to do too much at once) and the forum would be helpful for that because most of your group was writing something. I'm an introvert and I like smaller groups of people. I want to make sure I don't get lost/lazy in the forum. That being said, if the forum is easier for you, (i.e. not having to repeat stuff if we all end up talking about the same things) let's try the forum and if it doesn't keep momentum maybe switch? Let it me know what you think and I'll jump in.

Hi Milo, I am seeking an accountability partner to help keep me on track and to check in with as well. I'm not sure I meet what you are looking for exactly, but I figured it couldn't hurt to reach out and at least tell you that you're not alone. I can tell from your post that you are positive about this and you have the right mindset. That's going to be a big plus for you in this journey and a huge positive for whoever you team up with. I am fairly new to this. I've been wanting to dive further into strength training and weights and after I got a small taste for it in the gym. I was proud and impressed at the weight I could move on the leg press and hack squat. And it felt great too. I truly love it and after a long day nothing makes me happier than working out. When I had to give up my gym membership, I saved the $ and in turn bought myself the beginnings of a home gym this past November. Since then I have been consistently with 2-3 strength training sessions per week and this month I added 2-3 yoga sessions per week to keep from getting too tight. Now as I level up I get new equipment, which keeps me moving forward. Sadly, I'm not sure what macros are or how to track them. I know they are part of nutrition. I also know that I need to get my nutrition on track or I'll keep working hard and going nowhere. I am working to transition to level 5 right now. Bread/Pasta is no trouble to lose, and I haven't touched any sweets since Tuesday, so I think I'll be leveling up my diet by the end of the month. In addition to changing what I eat, I started tracking calories this week so I don't overeat. I'm between Warrior and Assasin due to using body weight to fill in where equipment is lacking. This is also a feature of needing to use body weight to strengthen and build weaker areas for me too. I may be a newbie, but in addition to keeping myself on track working out the last 2 1/2 months, I have been reading and learning like crazy the past 4-5 months. I am scrappy and determined. I started at serious working out in November 2016. By November 2017 I want to be well on my way through a transformation that doesn't just mean losing weight but means gaining strength and skills and PRs. I want to do unassisted pull-ups, deadlift my body weight, and see if I can't bench and squat half of my body weight. Those actual numbers might seem small (I currently weight 210), but compared to where I am now I find that a worthy goal. You clearly have more experience than I do. The idea of an accountability partner who knows more than me is appealing. However, I know that doing the work and learning new stuff is on me. Getting where I want to go will be hard work. My concern is that my learning curve could be a drag for you, although I hate to even mention it. If you're interested in giving it a try anyway, let me know. If not, I hope you find a better suited partner for your journey. Best wishes!

Hi bassman123, I'm interested in teaming up for accountability and encouragement. Unfortunately I don't know much about Star Wars, but I hope that won't stop you. Being in different time zones is cool with me. Any ideas for what you are looking for in the way of accountability and how you want to swap it? I'm thinking maybe a forum post for starters, or we can message. A forum post would let us get together a group and other people could jump in if they wanted to. I'm open to any suggestions you have.

I'm pretty much a newb who has been dabbling at this for a bit. I am also making my way down this path of fitness and I'd be happy to offer encouragement and support. Sometimes I need a push in the direction of a little more structure, but I like advice and I'm open to it. I have fitness goals - namely get strong enough to do pull ups, deadlift my body weight, and lose 60lbs this year. That being said, most of my support is long distance (family in another state) while the people close, namely my husband is doing his best to be encouraging. His family (in state) is my biggest group of haters. He is remodeling the house with his father who is very unsupportive and dismissive of me. It's been a long haul for this introverted homebody to watch the guys tear my house to studs and redo pipes and electric. I was pregnant for 8 months of it and now they're still going strong and my baby is a 9-month old. I hope that doesn't sound like I am too whiny to be an encourager. I guess what I mean is that I think it makes me tenacious. I dig deep to ground and encourage myself and my husband, but I am looking for someone to talk fitness shop and encouragement and goals with away from the rest of things. I'm 29 and working my way back from 210lbs to a weight I can't remember being (150lbs.) I work full time and then have the little one, but I squeeze in workouts wherever I can. It's not easy and it's not my dream (which is to have my space and some peace n quiet with a home gym and fancy equipment of course!) but it's a damn sight better than it could be and I am proud of myself. And all I'm going to worry about is moving forward. So if you're looking for an online partner or someone to touch base with from time to time, let me know. If you're good or I don't sound like a match to where you're headed, that's cool too. Thanks for reading. Keep being awesome!

Hiya! I was so excited to see your post. I was just thinking this whole keeping accountable thing would be better if I could find someone to work at it with. Then I thought maybe I had to join Facebook to make it happen, but I browsed the forums just in case. Too many distractions for me on Facebook right now, so I'm off it. Have you made any progress on possible accountability partnering/teaming? And if so, is there room for one more? I'm a soon to be 29-year-old gal living in Florida with 60 lbs to lose in 2017. I enjoy hiking/backpacking, but there's not much here by way of that. I am currently starting to lift and mostly doing body weight as I try to build full range of motion. I workout at home wherever I can find space. On my off days I am trying to squeeze in NF Yoga. My biggest problem is eating. Lots of sugar...and as a stress response. Sleep plays a factor too, as I have a 9-mo-old baby and we are living in a remodel. I would love a support team to encourage me and who I could root for too. If it works out, I'd love to join you ladies.