rjphillips

Thanks!! Going to push myself. Don't want to sell myself short by setting goals too low, but I was kind of nervous there for a bit. Lol -Ron

Juicer's are great! My wife and I love ours and use it often. One of my favs is the Mean Green from Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. You can look up the exact recipe online, but if I remember it's something like 2 green apple, cucumber, celery, ginger, spinach (or kale), 1/2 a lemon and something else, but it's great! Sweet potatoes are good, just don't go overboard. Best of luck to ya! -Ron

+1 for more veggies and fruit! I used to not eat a whole lot of vegetables (loved fruit so not too much of an issue there), but I've found myself trying to experiment with how I use them. For example: tomorrow mornings breakfast will be an egg omelet with mushroom, spinach and grated carrot. This morning I stuffed my omelet with blackberries. Lol, to quote Julia Child: "In cooking you've got to have a 'what the hell attitude'." Same goes for cooking paleo. Grab some veggies that sound like it might be a good mix, go wild and have fun with it! -Ron

Update: Today I was able to make my full mile! Yay! Did one full mile in 11:20 (maybe next challenge will include shortening that time ). I also am able to get 3 full pullups done. I'm starting to get nervous about the burpees (after working out today pulled off 12 of them). So looks like that part will be the hardest part of the challenge. As far as baby $$? Got $300 tucked away. Hoping in my next pay check to dunk some more of that. So in short: Goals Run one mile without stopping. (+1 STA) COMPLETED!! Do 50 consecutive burpees. (+2 DEX, +3 STR)15 Save $1000 for incoming baby (+4 WIS) $300 Do 6 unassisted pull-ups (+2 STR) 3 Go to the gym 5 times a week (+2 STR, +1 DEX) Started the challenge on Wednesday, will get full week starting next week. Any suggestions for those burpees? I may have been over zealous, but I'm not backing down...

Just read through your thread... Making amazing progress!!! Way to go! And concerning today? Hang in there, this too shall pass and tomorrow is a brand new day. Also, you could tried telling someone "I was having a good day, then I took an arrow to the knee..." People's reactions to that one always make me grin a bit.

Awesome, I'll look it up... And thanks for stopping by mine too! Rangers seemed to fit my workout tastes, but also would push me the hardest if that makes sense. Lol

I just have to say I've been musing your challenge post and I love the narrative idea, I find it really motivating. /subscribe

+1 for caffeine headaches... When I first cut out all soda from my diet (going from 3 sodas, cup of coffee and sweet tea all the time per day to water, green tea and the occaissional cup of coffee) I had awful headaches for the first few weeks. But hey that's caffeine, it's almost drug like and the withdrawals can be horrendous. I'd recommend it though, because after the headaches settle out and you begin drinking plenty of good old fashioned water you will feel so much better. Best of luck to you though! And keep with it. Also try to make sure you're getting lots of fruit and veggies so as to not starve yourself (a mistake I made when I first attempted to cut grains).

So after experimenting some last night, here's the gameplan: I tried out the Beginner's Strength Training Circuit (kicked my butt lol). But pushed myself to go the gym last night so I stay on track with 5 days a week. For warmups, I plan on trying to get closer to running a full mile each day. Last night? Made a brief jog/walk for only 3/4 of a mile. I made it through only one full circuit of the Beginner's thing and liked it, but knowing I also have a pull-up and burpee goal: I tried those too. Did 15 burpee and 2 pull-ups. Long way to go, but I got this. Also, to help out, my wife wrote my goals on the fridge and said she is going to judge me on it. Woot for accountability! Today at the gym I'm going to try to push myself to at least jog/walk the full mile.

Thanks! I'll have to look at those! Lol. Yes it is. And Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite time for food... And I'm in the Central LA area, almost near Natchez, MS. Plenty of "good" southern cooking that's hard to resist... But, no pain, no gain...

Welcome! I too am new(ish)! I feel ya. Each time I attempt to put my mind to something so many factors seem insistent on trying to bring me back down. Thus, I am here. Welcome again and great to meet you as well!

I had never thought of it that way, and I love your examples. Appreciate the input!

Carefully surveying the guild hall, Ron ducked quietly over to the message board. "Rangers Needed," was scrawled across an old looking parchment. "This may be just what I need to get started," thought Ron to himself... Ok, so I am new here, but I felt diving into the 6-Week Challenge would be the best way to get started. Goals Run one mile without stopping. (+1 STA) Do 50 consecutive burpees. (+2 DEX, +3 STR) Save $1000 for incoming baby (+4 WIS) Do 6 unassisted pull-ups (+2 STR) Go to the gym 5 times a week (+2 STR, +1 DEX) So where am at at start? I can run maybe a 1/4 of a mile and then I'm out of breath. I can do about 15 burpees. I currently have $300 dollars tucked away for the baby. I can do 1 unassisted pull up. And so far I've only been to the gym once this week. And as you can see in the picture. I've along way to go before I am fit to truly call myself a ranger.

All right. Confession/introduction time. I have been on a road for weight loss and healthy living for over two years now... The results? Nothing. I've actually gained fat and weight because each time I commit to something, then fall off the bandwagon midway through. I have a hard time seeing something to completion. I even had poked around here before and tried to get involved in the forums, but I just lost motivation and drive. So there's my confession. Now a little about myself: My name is Ron and I am a youth pastor living in rural Louisiana. I am 25 years old and am a complete nerd (video game, book, Bible, and fantasy). I am 6'1" and currently weigh 223lbs with a body fat % that hovers around 20-23%. I easily get tired and out of breath. Previously I have experimented with p90x, vegan diet, paleo diet, atkins diet, kickboxing, and even just running. In highschool I was highly athletic (had a black belt in two different MA systems) was lean and full of energy. I miss that and after college, fast food and my old desk job, things really turned around. I need help staying on track. Before I had gotten married I wanted to get a "six-pack" before the wedding day. That never happened and I feel that I have failed at every attempt to stay on track since then. So I'm begging ya'll. Stay on me. Here's my plan currently. I made myself a goal: by January 1, 2013 I want to be down to 10% body fat. I know that's tough and a lofty goal. After reading Saint's story, I even asked my wife to bet me on it (to give me even further motivation). After experimenting different diets before (and I'm not just saying this cause I know it's a fav around here) I feel like I have more energy when I eat paleo. I've been doing so for three full days now (plus this morning's bkfast and snack) and am feeling better. But I've been here done that before, so I know I need help to stay motivated. What is that keeps you all motivated to pursue your goals? -Ron