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Intro: Hi, I'm Courtney and this is my first Nerd Fitness Challenge!! I'm super excited to make a commitment to better myself over the course of the next few weeks. In September, I'll be starting grad school for speech pathology and want to make healthier habits than in college. I love yoga, pilates, dancing, hiking, running, and being outdoors in general. More importantly I hope to feel better about myself, by feeling more comfortable with my body no matter what. Main Quest: Lose 5 pounds at the end of the six weeks and join the Adventurers guild. Quest 1: Create an exercise plan that I'll follow regardless of anything life many throw at me. I think I need to physically write down what I will do on what day to keep myself on track. Ideally I'm planning on exercising 3 times a week for an hour each session ( 1 day strength, 1 day running, and 1 day yoga). Measurement: A= 3 times a week for 1 hour, B= 2 times a week for 1 hr-30 min, C= 1 time a week for 1 hr-30 min Reward: +3 STR +2 WIS, +2 STR +1 WIS, +1 STR Quest 2: Eat fruit/vegetables with 3 meals a day. Measurement: A= 3 meals a day, B= 2 meals a day, C= 1-0 meals a day Reward= +3 CON, +2 CON, + 1 CON Quest 3: Get 8 hours of sleep a night Measurement: A= 8 hours, B= 7 hours, C= 6 or less hours Life Quest: Take 10 minutes a day to meditate and be free of all forms of technology. I spent way too much time than I should playing games on my computer and video games in general. Motivation: I want to do this for myself. I'm tired of feeling like I'm not living up to my potential and settling for "good enough." Also I want to prove to myself that I can make a goal and stick to it, even though it will be challenging at times.

Still under construction! Katastrophenkatzchen stood in front of the wooden cottage and waited for her turn. Once the guard called her in, she took a deep breath and slowly walked in. With a deep, respectfull bow she greeted Vol'jin who asked her to come nearer. „I've heard of you from several trolls even over in Pandaria“, he started. „It's said that you want to be part of the soldiers of the horde, but you are still young and – please excuse the offence saying- not very skilled. What are you saying to those remarks?“ „Sir, I started training and yes, I didn't come very far since starting but I'm clearly progressing! I just haven't found the right training for myself.“, she imidiatly repeated. This didn't sound good, if she leaved the expression of not being fit to do some tasks she would be left behind. „Well, this is indead a problem... don't worry, most of the young soldiers happen to have this problem so we encourage them to pick a class. Have you thought about what class you want to be?“ Katastrophenkatzchen was happy... this was a question she could answer clearly: „Yes sir! I'm a kitten!“, she said proudly. „A kitten? What class is that?“, he asked confused. She turned red. „ A druid sir.“- „Ahhh a druid. I like having druids in my army, they are so versatile. So tell me, little kitten, why am I saying druids are versatile?“ She chewed her lip while thinking. „Because they can learn multiple forms?“-“Indeed! Now tell my the forms and what they stand for.“, he encouraged her. She sit up straight and counted them on her fingers. „Well first there is the cat form. It's fierce and it gets less damage from falling because it's so flexible. Second, there is the travel form... nice to have if you don't have a mount. Ehhh, there is the bear form too“, she said, while Vol'jin was nooding satisfied, „It's strong and protects others. The balance druids are often called the owls, so one could say it's the owl form, right? They bring balance to night and day. And the last one... ehh... the tree form! Restauration druids can turn into trees, right? They are great, they can heal!“, she said dreamy. „Exactly, well done. So, you declare yourself a druid, but are just training one aspect of yourself. Maybe that's the problem. You need variety and mental health but don't try to do everything at once. Pick small quests to train different aspects of yourself and you will be fine“, he smiled. „I think I could have use for a soldier like you, especially since you are a trailor. We always need trailors in war. If I can see serious progress in your training in 6 weeks, I take you with me on my next adventure with the horde.“, he promised. „Thank you sir. I won't disappoint you!“ He smiled again. „Now go and think about your training. I'll see you in 6 weeks in Orgrimmar.“ Main Quest - Go with Vol'jin. ... ehh I mean loose 20 pounds by September 7th (catch-up-net: October, 26th) To fit in a Sewaholic size 8 (FYI: Right now I'm a size 12 in their meassurements.) As I'm a seamstress I still take meassurements via tape meassurement. Current: (meassured on sunday, 27th) Chest - 99 cm/ 39" (meassured with dressy bra... last challenge I meassured w/ sports bra) Waist - 81,3 cm/ 32" Hips - 109.8 cm/ 43" Goal: Chest – 88cm /34.5 inch Waist – 72 cm / 28.5 inch Hips - 103 cm / 40.5 inch Weights will be posted weekly in the 20 Pounds PVP. Although mini challenges are not good for me, I have good experiences w/PVP. Generally I want to be fitter but that's too generic for a goal, so I stay with meassurements at the moment. Quests are considered as passed with 60%. Quest 1- Bear Form (Strength) Points Possible: 18 Do BBWW at least 3 times a week. See progress in completing a set, than do multiple sets in one workout Quest 2 – Cat Form (Flexibility) Points Possible: 18 Do Yoga 3 times a week at least 15 min long. See progress in downward dog distance of feet to ground and being able to hold crow. Quest 3 – Tree Form (Restauration) Points possible: 2x5x6= 60 At least 5 days a week: -Track meals on PaleoTrack.com (eating Paleo is not my goal) -Achieve 100% in Iron (I think eating low on iron is the reason for mid-afternoon tiredness) and -at least 60 g of protein Life Quest – Owl Form (Balance) Points Possible: 2x 3x 6=36 I need to balance fitness, studies, sewing, recreation ( like mangas/Animes/gaming) and quality time with friends and partner. Plus there are nessecarities like sleep, hygiene, food preparation, eating etc. First try of setting this goal under the spoiler This challenge I focus on studying and internet time. -30 min of studying/ reading research paper/ writing essays 3 times a week -less than 3 h of non-study- internet a day 3 times a week Lookout: I know my current goals aren't pretty druidy but I feel best being a druid and after weight loss there are sooo many mind things to tackle like gratitude, mindfullness, quick temper, life balance etc.

The Beginning Tundralily finds herself lost alone in the woods, far from home and the people that she cares about. Many things brought her to this point where all her hope is lost and the darkness threatens to consume her from the inside out. For an unknown amount of time, she has been wondering in a daze through the woods without an idea of where she is or where to go next. After wandering through the trees for many weeks, she reaches a point where she can no longer hold the darkness within at bay and collapses near a lake. Her heart, filled with despair, homesickness, and pain, threatens to break out of her chest. Sobbing, she curls up in the roots of a nearby tree, ready to give up on ever finding a way home. Then she hears a voice nearby, clam and steady. You are loved little one. Don't give up. You will find a way home again. Startled, she looks around for the source of this mysterious voice. Nothing appears to be nearby. Again, she hears the warm and quiet voice. "Get up little one. It's time to fight your way back and fight for your life. This will not be an easy path, and it will be filled with challenges. But you will find your way home once more. My gift to you, is hope. You must find and develop virtues on your way for your journey to be successful. The first of which, is hope. Let these qualities plant themselves in your soul and grow to build you a home within your soul, so that you may be safe and loved wherever you may go". Main quest My journey begins here, far from home and my safe spaces. For now, I will focus on building a home within my heart and soul and continue recovering from depression, PTSD, anxiety, and trauma (aka the darkness within). Building strength, calm, harmony, and restoration of my heart, body, soul, and mind. I will face each day with an open heart, be adventurous in all the ways that piqued my curiosity, have specific long-term goals, and practice kindness and compassion towards myself. I will meet myself where I am with love, compassion, and without judgement. I will celebrate the smallest of successes and be gentle with myself if I fail, focusing instead on learning what works for me. I will respect the limitations of my mind, body, heart and soul, and find the edges where I can growth from. Challenge Quest: Finding harmony within Quest 1: Relax from the pain I will score myself on completing self a management and care activities from a list of things I enjoy (in progress). Each activity will be worth 1 point, and can be completed in any combination depending on my emotional and mental needs for the day. Goal: 40 points Quest 2: Calm physical, emotional and mental self On the advice of my medical professionals, I will work on breathing at rest for 10mins daily (5 mins x2) through meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, or stretching. I am going to experiment with different approaches and see what I like and works for me. Quest 3: Harmony with body and mind by moving my body in enjoyable ways I will complete 30mins of moderate to intense physical activity 3 times weekly, experimenting with what works for me and that I enjoy. Possibilities include yoga, running, strength training, walking, swimming, paddling etc. The point of this goal is to build a habit of moving my body in ways I enjoy, and then create physical based goals with future challenges. Life quest: I'm on medical leave from work and headed home for a couple weeks to figure out what's next. By the end of my trip, I would like to have written plan of what I want to achieve over the next 6 months, 1 -3 years, and an action plan if we decide to move home in the spring. This will include specific goals and a plan of how we will get there. I will work on the grading later, but that's pretty much it for now! I'm keeping it simple and focused so I don't burnout and get a flare up. Diet and a more structured fitness plan will be tackled in future challenges. Looking forward to adventuring with all of you!

Hello, I am Spockgrrl and this is my first challenge. I've recently begun exercising regularly and eating well, but I still feel like I'm missing something. I've struggled with binge eating, depression, and perfectionism for several years. Now that I'm working on improving my physical health, I'd like to bring my mind along too. Main Quest: To reach my "goal weight" of 155 pounds by the end of the year. I currently weigh 190 pounds, so that's 35 pounds to lose, and to have a healthy relationship with food. (A note: part of this journey for me has been letting go of my obsession with the scale. I'll be focusing more on how I look and feel, but I like numbers for goal-setting purposes, so.) Quest 1: Exercise at least 5 days a week, and do an active recovery day (yoga, a light walk, etc) at least one day a week. Quest 2: Meditate at least 5 days a week, and keep a journal. Quest 3: Record all of my food and exercise daily, and eat mindfully. Life Quest: Meet some new people, and generally be more social. Motivation: I've wasted too much of my youth twisting in the wind. It's time to find some peace and be happy.

Hello Nerd Fitness! Long time no see! At this point it has been a year since I have done a challenge and I am at the point I need a full reboot. More and more often I get headaches, hipaches, kneeaches...pretty much, if it's a joint, then it'll ache. I have other issues that are caused by my weight. I am tired of being sick and tired. My main quest? Lose 45-50 pounds by the end of the year and be back in my size 11 pants Quest 1: Yoga 3 days a week, 15-30 minutes. I've been trying to do it over the summer and can tell a major difference when I do it. Measurement: A= 18 Days, B= 12 days, C 10 Days Reward: A= +2 DEX, +1 STR; B= +1.5 DEX +0.5 STR; C = +1 DEX, Quest 2: Take my prescribed meds, drops, allergy spray as prescribed. I go to a chiropractor and he has given me some nutrition and homeopathic drops to help my body heal. More often than not, I forget to take them. all three types need to be taken twice a day. Measurement: A= 2x2x42; B= 1x2x42, C= anything less Reward: A = +3 CON, +2 WIS; B= +2 CON, +1 WIS; C= +1 CON Quest 3: Ease into paleo. I'm wanting to be 80-20 by the end of the 6 weeks. My family is mostly on board with this now so it will be easier. Measurement: A= 3 meals 5 days a week, B= 2 meals 5 days a week, C = 1 meal 5 days a week Reward: A= +2 CON, B= +1 CON, C= +0 Motivation: I hurt. I feel terrible most of the time. I also want to be healthy for my future. I love having my cousins over, and it would be wonderful if I could chase them around. My niece is mobile and heavier so I need to be able to keep up with her. I'm going to post starting stats tomorrow, because of school habits tuesdays are the measuring days for me. Happy Questing guys!!!

Hi everyone, I am brand-spanking new to NF and am starting off by doing a challenge. What drew me to NF was the sense of adventure, creativity, and (a touch) of fantasy in fitness. I have specific goals that I will tackle in time, but I aspire foremost to make a genuine mind/body connection. For a long time, my body has been a vessel for my mind - the mortal coil that shuttles my passions, thoughts, and questions throughout the world at my feet. Sadly, over the ups and downs of life, in time I lost all mindy/body connection to the point that it's very hard to gauge how I'm physically feeling (good or bad) outside of the urges of being hungry or thirsty. What now? Here's what I'm thinking: My main quest is to take my first real steps towards connecting my mind and body. Three missions will be: 1.) Walk from the Shire to Mount Doom and back http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2012/07/23/walking/ not sure how long this will take but my journey will begin today. 2.) Experiment with yoga, pilates, and bodyweight exercises every morning for 30 minutes. 3.) Plan my meals and shopping ahead of time. I won't be sticking to a diet outside of common sense for this challenge. Life quest: Undecided, but it will either be something creative or to the benefit of my beloved academics. Do you guys have any suggestions? My motivation: Life is beautiful. I have a lot of things going for me, and I'm afraid that if I don't take the personal responsibility to connect with my body now, the anxiety and overprotectiveness from past hurts will calcify and permanently deform my character and appreciation for the all good things I have. I need to learn to be kind to myself.

Hello fellow Nerds, I first signed up for this site over a year ago, and committed to doing a 6 week challenge in April of 2013. It ended in disaster. Well, disaster is a little harsh. In reality, I just didn’t stick with it for very long and abandoned the challenge along with the site. Not because the goals were hard, but because I wasn’t committed to the things I had set out to do. I hope to change that with this 6WC. I intend to be a cross-class Nerd, and I wanted to train with the Druids for this 6WC, but it appears that some changes have been implemented since I last visited this site with the Level 1 Group. My goals for this challenge are geared towards the Druids, as I’ve rediscovered yoga, though I’ll probably bounce around guilds from challenge to challenge. It took me a year to use up the 12 class Groupon I had for my local yoga studio (just used my last session on Wednesday), and the instructor led us through Parsva Bakasana (Side Crow), which I had never been able to do in the past. However, this time I was able to hold it for a few seconds before falling over. Those few seconds invigorated me and filled me with a sense of determination: I need to master this asana. And so I signed up for a monthly membership with the studio, and I purchased a selection of Shiva Rea DVDs with which to practice at home. Main Quest: Perform and hold Side Crow for 60 seconds. As far as I can tell, this asana requires upper body and core strength. Therefore, my mini quests will be as follows: 1. Workout consisting of 3 sets of 10-15 pushups, 3 sets of core exercises taught to me by wife (fire hydrants, dead bugs, throw downs, leg lifts, bicycles), 3 sets of pull ups - Every other day 2. On alternate days from above mentioned workout, do a yoga sequence, following one of the DVDs I bought. 3. Attend one class at the studio per week to gauge progress and receive feedback. Life Quest: Write for 30 minutes per day towards the short story I’m working on (Project ZC) or the novel I’m working on (Project SB) Motivation: I play a lot of video games. While I enjoy them, I feel that spending so much time on them is a waste. I spend hours leveling up my Vault Dweller, or my Courier, or Grey Warden, or Dragonborn, or whoever. The thing is I have other things I'd like to do with my life, things that require time to get good at. If I'm spending time in game, I'm not spending time on my life. Somewhere along the line I became an adult in his 30s, married, working a full time job, and all the time I thought I'd have to create the life I wanted disappeared. So I have to be strategic with the little free time I do have and use it on myself. "I am my own avatar." So there you have it. Strike hard and true.

Hello! I'm Asa Pond and this is my first challenge at Nerd Fitness. I am very excited to join one as I have been lurking around since mid-May waiting for a new one to start! My history with fitness and health has more peaks and valleys than the Misty Mountains . There have been times when I have eaten nearly completely clean and worked out 6 days a week, then there are the times where I literally do nothing active and eat tons of junk. I tend to lean towards extremes. I used to be able to run 5 miles easy, now I can't run 1. I have been going to yoga and those downward dog skills are increasing exponentially - still working on the headstand. BUT! I know that I am so much happier and have so much more energy when I am healthy and I want to get back to that feeling. Stats: Name: Asa Age: 22 years Height: 5'4" (1.6 meters) Weight: 140ish lbs (63 kg) With that: My one ring: Fit back into my size 2 (US) clothing. Baby Steps: 1) Vinyasa yoga class: 2 times per week 2) Runs in the morning: 3 times per week 3) Eat clean 80/20. Life Quest: GET ORGANIZED. Seriously, this is my biggest difficulty in life. I never know where anything is and my room and office are always in complete chaos. I'm working on it, but it is never my priority and I really think switching to being more organized would help me in life overall (including fitness). Baby Steps: 1) Use desk calendar and daily agenda 2) Keep room clean - Make sure stuff is put away every day. 3) Meditate Daily - helps remind me how clearing out the clutter (even if it is brain clutter) can help calm the rest of my life hence: cleaning out actual clutter will help as well. Recap: Get back to peak fitness. Yoga. Run. Clean Eating. Get Organized. Calendars. Daily Cleaning. Meditate. Motivation: Feel more confident and happy, and look great for a huge event I have coming up in August. Hoping to keep this up to date with my progress and to use it as motivation. Would love to meet some of you guys as well!

Introduction: The young troll tailor Katastrophenkatzchen rummage around in her pattern collection."It has to be here... somewhere!", she muttered. Her plan was to sew this specific perfect pair of trousers and she knew exactly the right paatern for it. "Got ya!", she triumphed, while pulling out a little envelope. "okay, how much fabric do I need. Let's see---- WHAT?", the troll yelledc, compairing her meassurements with the chart." Noway!That can't be true. Nasty pattern! I can't be a size 18! Ridiculous!" She stormed out of the little cabin to release her anger. While she wandered though the town she saw strange things.... new watch towers, baracks, marching soldiers.... What was happening? Could it be.... the return of the scourge? Or wourse... the burning legion? I have been here for the previous challenge but stated too late, it was already 3 weeks done. So, I start this challenge as a level 0 and have a level up halfway throught (I'm looking forward to it and am not flexible enough in my mind yet to change it, will be working on it). As I think tackling all three burdens at once would be hard, I'll introduce 1 burden at a time/challenge. Last challenge I started yoga (and love it!), this time I bring running back to my routine and next challenge I'll add bodyweight workout to achieve a pullup someday. So this is the plan: Main quest: Be no burden in war/zombie apocalypse and be able to sew that pants . For being no burden I want to achieve 3 things: - Being able to run away from zombies - Pull myself up (for example up a fire ladder to escape that way) - be flexible and have a sane mind through yoga ( and keep it sane ) Quest 1: Do yoga 3 times a week (+DEX, +STR) A-3 times a week B- 2 times a week F- less than 2 times a week Quest 2: Do zombies, Run! C25K 3 times a week (+DEX,+STA) A-3 times a week B- 2 times a week F- less than 2 times a week Quest 3: Follow the happy herbivore meal plan, but stuck up to 1700 kcal (+500kcal) (+CON) (I like having these preplaned mealplans but the start at 1200kcal and you shall decide yourself if you stick to those 1200 or bulk up. I don't think it would be good too eat so low calories, because I'm large framen AND start running, so I'll add an extra smoothie before exercise and a small snack in the afternoon or so, adding up to 500 extra kcal. If I feel that's too low, I'll think about adding more and inform you about it.) A-7 days a week B- 1 take out or else F- more than 2 failed meals Quest 4: Resulting out of the above.... reduce bodyfat % from 33,4 % to 31,5 % = -2% (+CHA) win/fail Lifequest: Study 1,5 h daily ADDITIONALLY to classes. A-1,5 h+ 5 days a week B- 1 h 5 days a week or 1,5 h 4 days a week F- less than 1h 5 days a week or 1,5 h 4 days a week

Greetings! This will be my first official challenge Main Quest: lower my body fat % and get stronger My last personal 'challenge' was to do the following for a month: 1) eat no grains 2) do yoga 2x a week 3) drink no alcohol 2 days a week Now that I'm officially doing a challenge (woot!) my goals are the following: 1) no grains, beans or legumes 6 days a week 2) no dairy 4 days a week 3) work out a minimum of 3x a week (yoga or lifting) (plus keeping the 2 days a week of no alcohol) Side Quest Read 2 papers a week related to my field Motivation My motivation for doing this is to finally lose that pesky 'freshman 15' from undergrad and become healthier. So far, I have gone from 125.2 lbs to 114.4 lbs. Here's to leveling up!!

Hi, I'm Jujuba and this is my first challenge. I work in a lab where I sit around all day and I haven't really exercised at all since high school. I do have good eating habits so I'm not fat, but I'm seriously out of shape and can barely climb up stairs without getting tired. When I found nerd fitness, I read the page about Jedi training and I just went crazy!!!! But then I tried it and discovered I can't do any of those exercises... actually I can't even do the beginner warm up... actually not even half of it... It made me sad to realize that I'm not taking proper care of myself. So I picked an even easier routine, a Yoga routine that my aunt suggested... and then I had to reduce it a little more, but now I think I have a good starting point, still challenging but doable. Main Quest: At this point, I just want to be able to complete the Padawan level on the Jedi training. I know it won't happen this year, but I want to work steadily to improve my fitness so that I'll get there. (And then I'll start looking at the master level!) I've been trying the Yoga routine, but until now I could barely even get the poses right, much less stay in them, and then I feel bad that it's so hard and give it up for a few days. So my quests will deal with that. Quest 1: Master the poses on my beginner 40 minute routine by the end of the 6 weeks. Measurement: A = stay in all the poses for the required time, B = maintain poses for at least half of the required time, C = manage to get into all the poses (with proper breathing) Reward: A = +3 STR, B = +2 STR, C = +1 STR Quest 2: Keep a steady routine. Measurement: A = exercise every day, B = every other day, C = 2-3 times a week Reward: A = +3 STA, B = +2 STA, C = +1 STA Quest 3: Get enough sleep, so I can wake up early and exercise without feeling like a zombie. Measurement: A = 35-40 days; B = 30-35 days, C = 25-30 days Reward: A = +3 CON, B = +2 CON, C = +1 CON Life Quest: Tackle the cause of my disregard for myself. Before exercising, look in the mirror and say that I can do it and I'm worth the effort. Measurement: A = feel like I mean it, B = mean it at least sometimes, C = halfhearted attempt Reward: A = +3 WIS, B = +2 WIS, C = +1 WIS Motivation: I want to become a better person, improve my health and my self esteem. (I also want to make Obi-wan proud.)

Hello Mugen here! So this being my first challenge I thought I'd start with stats: Age: 18 (Will turn 19 during this challenge, feel free to drop a message on July 14th!) Gender: Female Height: 166.5 cm (5'5'') Weight: 51 kg (112 lbs) Main Quest - Starting the Journey Goal: Getting into the habit of living healthy, daily! Quest 1: Every Action Starts With a Thought Meditate at least 10 minutes daily Quest 2: Pull Your Own Weight Literally. Manage a pull up Quest 3: Follow Your Chosen Path Run at least 3 times a week (Try to complete 1.5 miles in 12 minutes or less) Life Quest: Start Off With a Clean Slate ... And a clean room. Keep it clean. Motivation I'm thinking of joining the Finnish military after I finish my school in half a year or so. I want to be in good shape there!

Introduction Hey everyone! I'm dpquick1 and I'm a 20 year old college student. When I was 16 I entered into a very unhealthy relationship for two years. Within this time I gained over 50 pounds, stopped working out and being active, and made bad eating habits a huge part of my life. For the past year I have been counting calories and doing cardio to lose weight. I have lost 43 pounds but I've been at a stand still for months no matter what I do! Main Quest I want to lose all of the extra weight I gained and to change my horrible eating habits so I can fit into a size 5 for the first time ever. And to make the deadline more important to me, I am going to surprise visit my boyfriend to show off my new healthy body and to meet his parents for the first time! Smart Quest Goal 1: I want to cut out carbs and processed foods from my diet Goal 2: Do Yoga 3x a week Goal 3: Do body weight workouts 5x a week Life Quest I'm really big into Anime and I've always wanted to cosplay. So by the end of the 6 weeks I want to learn how to sew so I can make my first cosplay costume ever!

When Greenleaf set out on his journey this morning he had no idea he would be tested so soon. The road from Glenwood to the Druid forest is long and fraught with danger, but it is a path he must travel, one step at a time, and with each step he will become a changed elf. It was his first journey from the safety of the wood, one of self discovery that he knew would last a lifetime. He had thought he had it all planned out, but best laid plans often find hurdles, and he will need to hone his ability to adapt to keep himself moving forward. As he defiantly approached the mountain road he heard a thunderous crashing and saw a band of Mountain Gron's tearing through the rock with their massive clubs, causing a shower of boulders to rain down before him. It seems that Greenleaf's first move had been anticipated. He now had a choice, he could clamber over the rocks, a difficult prospect enough with his injury, risking a battle alone against eight angry Gron's, or he could travel across the lake. All the boats had long since been burnt to ashes, and Greenleaf had never set foot in the water, for fear of being dragged down by the beasts that lurk beneath the deceptively tranquil waters. Clearly someone, or something, did not want him to succeed, but Greenleaf was not the type of elf to give up at the first hurdle. “Oh well†he shrugged, “It looks like I'm getting wet.....†Background So, this isn't how I planned my first challenge at all. I see myself eventually as a Druid / Assassin hybrid class, and I started my fitness journey with the beginner bodyweight workout, wanting to become stronger. But as I've talked about in another thread, I have developed an injury. The injury was, in at least one way, a blessing in disguise, as I discovered Yoga in an effort to fix myself. I had always wanted to give it a go as I am interested in the strength flexibility combo, along with the mind/body/spirit balance. It is the first type exercise routine I have truly enjoyed and wanted more of, which is a very positive thing for me. However the doctor has said to rest for the time being, I asked if there was anything I could do to improve my fitness in the meantime and they gave me one life line – Swimming. Now I've never been in to swimming and not done any since school (quite a long time ago) however as its that or the sofa, my path has been set out before me. Main Quest My quest for the first 6 weeks is to prepare my body, mind, and begin to strengthen my weaknesses, working towards my ultimate goal of becoming stronger and healthier every day of my life. This really is the starting zone for me, I've been in this zone too many times, so this time I am going to start slow, build a strong foundation, and make changes that stick. Goal 1 – Swim twice a week Look into lessons (which will count as one session if I sign up for them) and add in an extra session in any event. I cant be more specific yet as I haven’t been swimming in years so I need to find my limits before I can push them. Goal 2 – Meditate for 5 minutes each day Always makes me feel better, but I practice too sporadically, make this a habit! Goal 3 – Replace cakes, biscuits and chocolate with fruit, nuts and seeds My main diet goal is to get bigger, but doing it the right way. This is the first step. I'm going cold turkey (and in fact may eat some cold turkey). Life Quest – Get back into the Reading Habit I love books, and I love reading them, I used to do it all the time. Once my daughter was born I let it go by the wayside as there was so much else to be done. She is three years old now, so I don't have an excuse there, but I do have a bookcase full of books I haven't read yet. I will make time to re-discover my old passion. At least 30 minutes twice a week. Motivation I want to be healthy and happy for my family and myself. I want to become a super hero to my daughter so that when she grows up she will be proud to say I'm her dad. Plus I need to be ready for when I am called upon to join a secret guild of assassins and/or protect the Galaxy.

I noticed that people were posting super awesome intros, but sadly this one may fall flat because at the moment I'm exhausted! This is my first challenge (so wish me luck). Hmmm... intros... I guess I should say more about me: I'm a currently a student, and I'm getting my degree in Physics/Astrophysics with a minor in biology. So this is the main reason that I put off working out (so much studying!) but no more excuses! In case you are wondering about the title of my post it is called Sticks before Swords because I feel like in videogames, before you get a "real" weapon, you get a stick... and you just have to deal with that. You must level up and wield that stick like it is the mightiest of swords! Here is to my first challenge! Cheers! Main Quest: To lose weight and become a comfortable size 6. Three missions: 1. Yoga three times a week (vinyasa) 2. Strength training exercises 4 times a week 3. Drink 64 oz of water a day (need to stay hydrated!) Life Quest: Ace Calc exams (during challenge there are two exams). Note: In order for me to have enough time to do everything that I need, I will start having to wake up earlier. Motivation: From here on out I will lead a healthy life and I will strive to make this a lifestyle change so that I can live for a LONG time. I want to have my body in good physical condition because I want to do highly physical activities and more importantly I just be comfortable in my own body. In 2009 I weighed 197 lbs and I promised myself that I will never be that heavy again.Since then I've slowly lost 32 lbs, but it isn't enough.I have been wanting to dedicate time to getting into shape, sadly I've always made excuses and have honestly been afraid. But last year I met the love of my life, and I want us to have a long life together. There is so much in this world that we can experience I just want to be present and have the physical ability to experience everything to its fullest...I don't want to be a spectator to my life.

"This will do!" Vaddix said with a grin on his face. "This is the place where it will all begin." Standing in the opening of the forest Vaddix looked around at the scenery. A babbling brook in front of him with plenty of space behind him to make camp. The foliage of the trees a vibrant green, a sure sign of summer days. The sounds birds chirping and insects flying about. After taking everything in he started to set up camp and recalled the stories of the Assassins that brought him here. About the control they had over their bodies, the techniques they mastered, and adventure they went upon. It was in this place we vowed to master his body and calm his mind. And once he had, he would search for a school that would give him the experience and techniques he needed to be an assassin. A mixture of sweat and humidity stuck to Vaddix as he put the finishing touches on the camp. As he stood up he rubbed his hands together. "Well, I guess there's nothing left to do. Time to see what I'm made of!" Introduction: Hi! My names David and I've finally decided that my body has been neglected enough. It's time for me to live a healthier life. While the beginning might just be focused on the body. I hope to move to other things as well. I've had an interest in cosplay, gymnastics, marital arts, music, parkour and too many other things. And once I've tackled my body I hope to include my other interest into my challenges as well. Don't be afraid to say hi I promise I won't bite. And here's to the start of something new and wonderfull! My Main Quest: To feel healthy, more energetic, and comfortable in my body. By losing fat and being active. Also to try and bring out my full potential in my body mind and soul. Quest Objectives: Beginners body weight workout 3-4 times a week [A = 3+ more times a week, B = 2 times a week F = 1 or less] Light jogs/bike rides 3-4 times a week [A = 3+ more times a week, B = 2 times a week F = 1 or less] Yoga and meditation 3-4 times a week [A = 3+ more times a week, B = 2 times a week F = 1 or less] Motivation: Wanting to feel comfortable when out in public. Wanting my body to feel strong, flexible, and energetic. Overall I want to wake up and feel like my body can take whatever the day has to offer. I want to feel like I've brought out my body's potential. Besides you never know when an enemy will sneak up on you or when the apocalypse will happen right? Starting Body Photos: http://goo.gl/oqZkYf

My first half-challenge has gotten me in working physical condition, so I can actually purse exercise related goals! Mission: To build regular exercise into my schedule. It's the final piece in the Jenga tower of life habits that I am building. Mission 1: Strong Lifts 5x5 workout 3 times a week. I'm aiming for Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday because I already know that my Wednesdays and Fridays are a write-off. Mission 2: Twice weekly yoga. This can be power yoga, Moksha series or yin yoga. I'm not setting a fixed schedule, but I'm anticipating Sundays and Mondays, due to scheduling constraints around gym time and work. Mission 3: Keep my nutrition on track to feel better and help lose weight. Three meals and two snacks a day. [*Edit*] I forgot to put a grading scheme in, so here it is: Mission 1: A - 3 times, B - 2 times, F - once or less. Mission 2: A - 2 times, B - Once, F - Zero times Mission 3: I'm not going to grade this because my schedule can be wonky and it's more of a feel-good goal than a specific mission. I don't want to beat myself up for not eating enough. Life Quest: Move! Mission 1: Paint my new apartment Mission 2: Actually move (June 21st!) Mission 3: Unpack and make the new place feel like home.

Here goes nothing... First 6-Week Challenge. Love and best wishes to all who are doing the same. Heard about NerdFitness from the intrepid CitizenKade. (Geekshow says hey!) Current Stats: Male, 5'6", around 205 lbs (haven't been near a scale in quite a while; will weigh in on Mon, Jun 9th) Main Quest: To reach and maintain ideal weight of around 150, with significantly increased muscle mass, flexibility, and endurance. Goal 1: Perform a 30-minute tabata- or weightlifting-based workout four to five times a week, preferably in the mornings. Goal 2: Reduce my current caffeine and junk food (fast food, refined sugars) intake by 70-80%. Goal 3: Complete at least one 25-minute round of zazen every day, preferably in the mornings. When I'm working out regularly, I'm a big fan of CrossFit techniques. Hate running more than words can express, so other than some time on the rower, isolated cardio is usually not on the menu (although a proper tabata gets the old heart pumping just fine, thank you very much.) Working out makes many things much better - sleep, diet, energy levels, mental attitude. For me, failing to take care of myself has never been about not knowing what to do or how to do it, but simply about getting over the physical and emotional inertia involved in tackling a new habit (or more accurately, letting go of old ones). Hoping that putting this out there with some fellow nerds will result in good conversation, motivation, and accountability for us all. I'm an old nerd, relatively speaking. I saw the original Star Wars on opening day, my first video game was Pong, and I was raised on a steady diet of Starlog and Omni magazines, the comedic perfection of Chuck Jones, and the Saturday morning psychedalia of Sid & Marty Krofft. My nerdiness takes many forms, and has grown in and out of many different areas of interest over the years. At the moment, most of my focus is on Doctor Who, anime and Japanese pop culture in general, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Neil Gaiman. Lots of other areas that I'm interested in to be sure, but those are the things that I'm paying the most attention to currently. Not too sure about a character class right now...to be continued. To all my fellow Level 1 partners: If I may be so bold as to offer some unsolicited advice... - Do not underestimate yourselves - you are stronger than you can possibly imagine. - Do not let anyone convince you that you can't do this, especially yourself - and make no mistake, your self will try to convince you that you can't do this. - Do not, under any circumstances, allow yourself to give up - this is something that no one else can do for you. Ever Forward, Zed

Begins with this 6 week challenge. Backstory: Name: Jacob, Age: 27, Trade: Programmer I used to be a member of Komuso (Emptiness Monks), a group of dedicate monks who practice a mindful way of living. The Komuso strive to be fully engaged in the world around them, ever present and undeterred by any circumstance. By quietly reflecting they have each set out to destroy fragments of their ego called Hahen, a never ending battle waged not with anger but emptiness. Hahen are shape shifting aberrations which drain energy from all sentient lifeforms. Some are more dangerous than others but the Komuso believe that only through the process of destroying the Hahen can one fully awake to their lives. Sadly I met a particular form of Hahen which turned me away from the path of emptiness with promises of control and power. By the time I found out they were illusions the Hahen had fled and left me in darkness and despair. Fortunately the Komuso are always there for those who are willing to make the right effort and so I return to walking the path of emptiness once again. Main Quest Flash 5.9 and V2: From Komuso HQ: As a returning member to the Komuso you are tasked first with the attainable. Progress can only be made one step at a time, there are no short cuts. You have a 6 week window in which to acquire and eliminate your targets. Our intelligence suggests that there will be two Hahen materializing in this realm and each will require different skills and abilities to eliminate. The first will rest at the end of a long, technical 5.9 route, and will only remain there if you are able to flash the problem (finish the climb on the first try, without falling or any knowledge of the correct sequence or "beta"). In this effort be efficient and mindful of each movement, it is only through absolute control and precision that successful possibilities will present themselves. The second is accessible through a powerful V2 boulder and again any failure on the flash attempt will cause the target to change locations. Here you must unleash all of your power in order to succeed, but aimless power will not bare fruit. Once you have flashed each problem remember that the greatest challenge remains ruthlessly destroying these Hahen of your own ego. They will do everything in their power to convince you that they are real and should be preserved, however you can only step closer to emptiness by reclaiming the energy they steal from you moment by moment. Go forth in goalessness. Goal 1: Climb 2x and BBWW 1x In order to build up strength I must continue to climb and work out each week. Working out twice a week in the climbing gym also allows me to discover and practice climbing techniques which I need to master in order to increase my overall capabilities. In addition to working out in the climbing gym I need to continue to build body weight strength so I will also progress through the BBWW. On weeks when I must travel substitute BBWW for climbing. A - Complete 2x climb and 1x BBWW each week for 6 weeks B - Complete 2x climb and 1x BBWW each week for 5 weeks C - Complete 2x climb and 1x BBWW each week for 4 weeks D - Complete 2x climb and 1x BBWW each week for 3 weeks F - Complete 2x climb and 1x BBWW each week for 2 weeks Goal 2: Eat Paleo A house cannot be strong if it is built form paper and thus a body cannot be strong if it is built on bread and soda. My version of paleo includes occasional dark chocolate (65%+), coffee and very occasionally potatoes. When I am traveling I will bring energy bars with me that may not be paleo and it's possible I may not be able to eat 100% paleo, don't count these instances unless right effort was not made (also father's day as rice WILL be had, but limit my portion). A - Eat 100% paleo meals (except when traveling and father's day) B - Eat 90% paleo meals C - Eat 80% paleo meals D - Eat 70% paleo meals F - Eat 60% paleo meals Goal 3: Meditate 7x Finally, my quest will be meaningless if my body is trained, technique is improved and yet the mind is not sharp. Meditate each day to sharpen the only weapon that can defeat the Hahen. Meditation will assist in not only the ultimate goal of killing the Hahen but also in finding space in each moment leading up to that encounter. Mediation sessions for step in the journey can be as short as 3 mins, but must occur each day. A - Miss only 1 session. B - Miss only 5 sessions. C - Miss only 7 sessions. D - Miss only 9 sessions. F - Miss only 13 sessions. Motivation: Obviously there is a philosophical (religious for me) component to my quest as I have a deeply held belief that there are many forces including Hahen that wish for nothing more than to watch as I allow my life and energy to slip away like mist in the desert as I feed them rather than myself. In addition to the philosophical I also find that I have allowed myself to become unfit and discontent and generally out of harmony. So the first step is to reclaim that harmony in my own life through mental and physical exercise because it's only after that step that I can start to be a positive force for those around me.

Main Quest: Lead a more balanced life. Quests for this Challenge: Do the "You Are Your Own Gym" first class workout 4 times a week. Meditate or similar spiritual exercise 4 times a week. Pass my SDE's course. I've spent the last several years focusing on my professional and academic development to the exclusion of all else. Add to this a year spent renovating a house and there has been little balance. So one goal is physical, one spiritual, and one mental.

Hi RachaelAgnes here, Have recently been discharged from hospital, overweight, old and now asthmatic!! Used to enjoy exercise and looking good - then 20 years happened! My main quest for this challenge is to lose 10-12lb My missions during this quest are: - to do the beginner body work out twice a week - by the end of the quest to have stopped eating bread - to swim at least twice a week. My life quest is to get to a body weight and fitness level that improves my overall health - but especially my asthma! I have looked at the guilds quickly, and the Druids would seem to be my best fit at the moment. Good luck to everyone!

Hello rebels. I started a challenge a long time ago, got sidetracked, didn't have time to keep up with posts. I'm not sure I'll have time to keep up with posts this time either, but I thought I'd give it a try. If I finish this challenge I want to join the Druids and be a dirty happy hippie. Here goes. Main Quest: Get back down to 150lbs. Challenges: 1. Water!! Drink 100 oz of water each day 2. YOGA! Do yoga for 1 hour each day, either in a class or by myself 3. Food. Stick to a low-carb diet. I've decided I'm gonna try Tim Ferriss's idea, because he's awesome and I'd like to be awesome as well. Buy his book. It's worth it, it's full of science, and it reads like it was written by a real-life Tony Stark (which he is). Side quest: Apply for 5 internships. I need to get one before I graduate, which is coming up in December... eeep. Good luck to all of you!!

Ok, so I derped and posted this in the wrong place... For this challenge I just want to get myself on track, which will hopefully help me get going on my fitness. Goals: #1: Mental (this is my main focus for this challenge) -Work on improving mental health; this includes keeping up with doctor's visits, going to support group once it starts and find alternatives to unhealthy mental practices. -Work on mindful meditation; try to meditate for fifteen minutes a day. -Try to be more social; make an effort to hang out with friends at least once a week and try to move out of my comfort zone by actually talking to people and trying to make new friends. #2: Physical -Swim at least 4 times a week. -Walk at least 30 minutes a day. #3: Body -Eat healthier, eat more fruits and vegetables and work on cutting out processed foods. -Find a sleep schedule that works for me and stick with it. #4: Future (This one might take multiple challenges) -Find a job or volunteer opportunity that relates to my bachelor's degree. -Continue to look into master's degrees or upgrade programs.

I woke up gently, as I had been for the past few months. There was no reason to wake at a particular time, no reason to actually get out of bed at all. The biggest challenge of my life was approaching, but this morning, like every morning before it, I thought, 'I still have time.' That is not true any more though. Time is rapidly slipping away and I need to get ready. My fellow elves and I are going to compete, and I am currently the weakest of them all. The other elves say things, knowing that I'm weak, thinking I don't belong with them. "She is only half an elf after all." I don't know if I will have the strength to prove myself as the best within six weeks, but I am determined not to hold anyone back. Life training starts today. Right now I am the weakest of the elves, but this will be the weakest I will ever be. Every day I will make at least one effort to better myself, until one day I can say that I have surpassed those who do not believe in me. Main Quest: To have a body that is capable of amazing feats. Specifically, being able to run a marathon, do at least one pull-up, hold a handstand, touch my toes, and look banging hot while doing these things! Main goals: - Finish a Tough Mudder (July 12). This will require running and strength training. Aside from one rest day a week, I will run every day. This will include hill training, a bit of speed work, but mostly accumulating miles. AT LEAST every three days I will do some type of strength workout. I've cancelled my gym membership, so this will most likely be Jillian Michaels workouts. - Finish 10 minutes of yoga every day. - Put more focus on fueling my body in the best possible way. Absolutely no more fast food. Having one plant based meal a day, and trying a new paleo meal for dinner each night. This is especially difficult when I am coaching in the evenings as I usually leave my house around 4-4:30, and don't get home until 9:00, but I need to stop using that as an excuse. About Me: I attempted a NF challenge last time around, and I got a week and a half into at which point I started slacking off. When I didn't hit my goals 100% I felt defeated, and quit. I have since been doing some mild workouts, but my TM is quickly approaching and its beginning to look extremely scary. Today (June 9), for some extra inspiration, I logged into NF for the first time since that botched challenge, to find a challenge starting. I'm taking that as a sign that I'm supposed to do this. Grading: Workout days completed: 6/6: A 5/6: B 4/6: C 3/6: D 2 or less/6: F Yoga is all or nothing, 7/7 days: A, 6/7 days: B, anything less F. *I changed this, because its harder than I though to yoga every day. Food choices: For every "paleo conscious" decision I make I get 10 points. This could mean something simple like choosing not to have bread, and instead eating only the "insides" of a sandwich, even if the meal isn't 100% paleo, I would get the points. I don't want to make any extreme changes in my diet right now, because it will lead to me quitting quickly. Right now, making small changes are best. That allows for a total of 20 points a day (considering I usually eat only 2 full meals). An additional 10 points will be awarded at the end of the day if I feel like I had a "good eating day." So if I snack on that bulk bag of peanut m&m's all day long, I wouldn't get the 10 points, even if my main meals were perfect. This is pretty subjective, but I think its the best way to inspire good decisions all day long. Each week I have the potential for 210 points. For the first week I need at least 100 points to pass, the second week I need 120, the third 140, and the fourth-sixth 160. The entire week will be given an A if I have at least a B in workouts, and I pass both yoga and food. One letter grade will be taken away for either a fail in food/yoga, or every grade lower in workouts. For instance, if I get my food points, but I do not do yoga, and I only workout 4 times my grade drops to a C. If I only workout 3 times its a D. Life Side Quest: - In the next 6 weeks I want to read for the equivalent of at least 20 minutes a day. So.... um.. math.... 840 minutes. But I'll say anything over 800 is an A. Week 1 Update: C C for workouts, F for yoga, but an A for food. I've only read around 40 minutes, so I'll have to devote more to that as the challenge progresses.

I want to get better at yoga. During the past six months of dabbling I've found that it's very grounding and moving around a bit is good for my mental state. And it would be cool to do some of the more epic moves one day Quest 1: 15 minutes of yoga, at least five days a week 6+ days/week = A 5 days/week = B anything less than that is an F Reward: A = +3 WIS, +3 CON; B= +2 WIS, +2 CON Quest 2: Take my first real yoga class, and then continue once a week 1+/week = A 0.5/week (i.e., I go every other week) = C anything less is an F Reward: A = +3 CHA, +3 STA; C= +1 CHA, +1 STA Quest 3 I committed to zen mode in the No Soda PVP (365 days without) and I'm sticking to it. Go big or go home zero soda = A 1+ sodas = F Reward: A = +3 WIS I may be ending this challenge a little early if I have the opportunity to visit family I haven't seen in a while. If I survive until then, July 4th at the earliest, I'm going to count it as a victory as long as Quest 3 is maintained. Unless that's not kosher?