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Hi All- I'm a long-time reader, first-time poster. Goals, goals, goals. By the end of the year, I'd like to lose 20lbs. Now this is probably going to be hard- this year, I'm graduating from college, moving, starting a new job, etc. But little by little, I believe it can be done! This month, I will be: Reducing the sugar intake in my coffee (1st week only 2 drinks with coffee, 2nd week only 1, weeks 3 & 4 no sugary coffee at all)- I'm trying to avoid drinking my calories. Following my exercise program, which, of course, has lots of fun exercises to increase my flexibility and stamina. 3. Also, I'm planning to get all A's this semester in my courses, so this week I want to create a schedule planning out all of my major due dates to help me get organized for the semester. 4. I'm also taking up photography through online classes, and I want to spend at least an hour a week learning new techniques.

My ultimate goal is to fit comfortably into UK size 14 trousers. To do that, I need to drop a dress size and I want to do this by losing fat. I feel like I've got a good grip on workouts and food / diet so this challenge is about creating new routines and adding another level of automation into my daily life. Being more active outside of workout sessions and looking after my body are my main focus areas for this challenge. 1. Activity! STA+2 CON+2 Be active outside of workout sessions. Minimum is walking for 10 minutes per day. This is continuing from my previous challenge but is being made more difficult by a higher target. A = 30 or more active days B = 26-29 active days C = 22-25 active days F = 21 active days or fewer. 2. Spring clean! DEX+1 CHA+2 WIS+1 The start of spring is approaching and my body is beginning to show signs of winter wear and tear. I have made a list of activities I need to do to look after my body, and I have attributed points to those activities depending on how difficult (how likely I am to do them) they are. A = 100 points or more B = 75-99 points C = 50-74 points F = 49 points or fewer. 3. Floss! CON+2 CHA+2 I'm treating this like a 30-day hard hat challenge for the whole of the 6 weeks. Fairly simple, I want to automate my flossing routine, put floss everywhere and make sure to floss daily. Pass = Never miss 2 days in a row Fail = Miss 2 or more days in a row. 4. On your bike! DEX+1 CON+1 STA+1 I received a folding bike for Christmas and it's really easy to get out and about with it. I want to fit my bike in my car and take it to work with me. I hope to make a new activity out of bike riding and my initial aim is to ride my bike once per week. A = 5 bike rides or more B = 3 or 4 bike rides C = 1 or 2 bike rides F = No bike rides.

Happy new year fellow rebels! Here goes for level 11 ... My ultimate goal is to fit comfortably in size 14 trousers. To get there, I need to drop a dress size. I need to be more active in order to burn the fat off. I am fit and healthy and rested so looking forward to starting the new year off right. 1. WORKOUT! 30-min workouts, 5 times per week. STR+2, STA+1, DEX+1 A = 28+ days with a workout B = 25-27 days with a workout C = 22-24 days with a workout F = 21 days or fewer with a workout 2. ACTIVITY! Be active outside of workout times. Minimum 10 minutes per day, 5 days per week. STA+2, CON+1 A = 28+ active days B = 25-27 active days C = 22-24 active days F = 21 or fewer active days 3. WORD! My employers have provided me with an advanced course in word processing, all paid for, but I need to find a few hours per week to learn it, practice it and take the exam. I want to take the exam before the end of February. WIS+4 A = Learned, practiced and exam date set B = Still practicing, nearly there C = Still practicing, will take exam but not sure if I will pass F = Nowhere near; will have to defer exam 4. VALENTINE! Valentine's day falls at the end of this challenge and I'd like to get away with my beau. I will need to plan a place, travel, accommodation, food, some activities and probably a bit of spending money. CHA+4 A = Everything planned and paid for B = Most of it was sorted but I forgot something small C = It was OK but I forgot something fundamental F = We stayed at home for Valentine's day.

So just about a year ago I joined Nerd Fitness with all of the best intentions. I started eating a diet closer to primal than paleo, I bought and began the workout in the Convict Conditioning book (which I personally find awesome because it doesn't automatically assume you can immediately do something like a squat or a pushup straight off) and then something really horrible started to happen..... I got complacent, I started listening to all of the people around me at work that couldn't understand that the weight/inches I was loosing was because I was doing something besides going home from my very sedentary desk job and plopping down with a book or a movie, I let my mother talk me into trying all the "gluten free" (and still carb laden) foods that her doctor recommended when we found out she's allergic to that horrendous GMO wheat protien and I let my body weight exercises slide. I am ashamed.... and things would have kept on in that vein if I hadn't started getting bullied at work and treated like a slave and a doormat. Three-ish months ago I realized that things were only going to get worse where I was when one of my long time sales guys (an incedentally someone who I had up until that point highly respeced) went completely totally ballistic when I ordered a single thin crust vegetarian pizza for several employees who have legitimate health reasons for no eating meat during a building wide meeting but refused to order a thin crust meat pizza because that's what he (all by his lonesome) prefers to eat. The very next day I took a long lunch an applied for a job that every single person (with the exception of my best friend who now lives in CT) told me I would never get or survive. A month later I started working the assemby line at Nissan in Smyrna, TN helping to build SUVs. Yes, it's a complete turn around from years and years of desk work but damned if I don't love the movement and sense of accomplishment I feel at the end of the shift because I actually contributed to something in a tangible manner instead of just processing hundreds of phone calls and pieces of paper. I'm 10 days away from being there for 2 months, the body aches are mostly under control (with the exception of a single finger on my right hand), my appetite isn't quite as voracious as it was in the first few weeks, I'm loosing inches in all parts of my body as my muscles take over with constant movement and use, and I'm ready to amp up this transformation even more. After this week I'm determined to clean my diet up to what I'd been doing before: No more gluten free breads, pretzels and cookies! After this week I'm going back to the beginning of the Convict Conditioning circuit: Wall Push-ups here I come! After this week I'm not letting ANYTHING stop me! 12/25/13 Update: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays fellow Nerds!! As I sit at my mother's laptop in her empty (except for me and three dogs) house in Nashville, TN I thought I should give you a quick update on my progress. The workout schedule is going great, the diet... could still use a little work. It's been a bit easier this week since I'm on holiday break from work and can't in any way justify a fast food stop (yay) but those gluten free products are still popping up despite my best intentions. I can't help loving GF toaster waffles with my bacon and eggs for breakfast and maufin (rice straws) with my stirfry and soups. Maybe if I solemly swear not to buy any more? Maybe a few of you can give me some pointers on quick, easy and portable snacks to take with me when work starts back up on Jan 2? That's where and when I know things are likely to go really downhill fast. I love the nuts and dried fruit option but I could really use some variety so any help would be awesome thanks!!