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Y'all - hold my hand. I'm doing something a little scary this challenge. I'm going off-roading. I've spent the last couple days rereading my old NF challenges (which was a fun trip down memory lane) and realized that while I've done some kick ass challenges over the last 8 years, I consistently fail once I fall off the boards. And while I love the NF boards, I don't want to spend my whole life always replaying the same game: doing weight-loss challenge after weight-loss challenge. I want to win the damn game and do new things. Once upon a time, I thought that meant 1. Get to my goal weight, 2. Profit?? but I'm realizing that the challenges I do here on NF are challenging... but unsustainable for long term. I need to build organic habits and set up systems that don't come crashing down the minute I take a break. Instead of starting anything particularly new this challenge, I'm going to set myself up for success by focusing on the big things that really help: meal planning and intentionality. For possibly the first time ever, I'm not doing a paleo/primal/grain-free challenge. Instead, I'm building up my recipe book with healthy recipes (and ok yes, those tend to be paleo/primal/grain-free for me personally) and let meal planning guide my diet. That's the scary part. I worry that I'm going to binge eat and go to donut town the minute the restraints are loosened. But letting go of the diet mindset is probably the only way I'll ever really get long term success. I am going to keep myself accountable by posting more often here on NF (plus I'm kind of an awesome cook, and I want to share what I make!). Meal Plan and Share - Meal plan 6 healthy recipes per week - Add 5 recipes per week to Plan To Eat - Log meals on NF challenge thread 5x per week – ideally with pictures! I'm also going to keep running – but that's it. Rule 6 of the Rebellion is: We Don’t HAVE to exercise, we GET to exercise. And I realize I've been putting myself in a box trying out video workouts from home and ST exercises that I don't really enjoy. I'm never going to want to do that long term. For 2022 I have a goal to find some kind of active hobby I enjoy (in addition to running) in order to cross train and working more activity, but for now – when it's cold and dark and I just want to hygge and hibernate? – I'm going to take a step back and focus on what's sustainable. Run - 1 long run (Starting at 45 minutes and adding 5 minutes each week) - Run 5k 2x per week I'm going to take the habits that work and keep doing them – no point quitting something that works! This is a compilation of little habits I've been fairly consistent at over the last 3 challenges. My goal is to track here, rather than Habitica, since I'm going to be posting meals anyway (right?). Continue Healthy Habits - IF 16/8 5-6 a week - Drink 8 glasses of water daily - Floss daily - Limit alcohol to 2x a week Finally, one of my big goals for the upcoming year is to read more. I want to keep up with my monthly Book Club, I want to finish the books I've started, and I want to knock some books off my to-read list. For this challenge I'm reading Atomic Habits, which is something I think will help a lot in the year going forward, as I make healthy living more of a habit instead of a diet. Read - Read November Book Club pick, Talking to Strangers - Finish The Starless Sea - Finish Deep Work - Read Atomic Habits

The last couple of challenges I did (not the last challenge because I didn't do one), I noticed a pattern. The first two weeks would be great. I'd get 90%-100% of stuff done. The next two weeks it would be less and by the final week, I was barely doing anything. And because I didn't do anything last challenge, my exercise was pretty minimal, just a couple of weekend hikes. And that's not enough to keep up my fitness level for SAR and scrambling, plus snowshoe season is coming soon. So I'm going to do just one thing for this challenge: ruck two days a week and walk at least four more days for at least 10 minutes. That's it. I can go to bed whenever I want, dishes don't have to get done (at least until I run out of plates or spoons), I don't have to tidy the house, I don't have to do any yard work. Some of those things might happen anyway, but they don't have to. Oh, and I'm going to post that I did (or didn't do) my walk/ruck every day (which might lead to a very boring thread, but oh well).

Greetings, and welcome to all! I’m a married parent of 4 kids aged 0-8. I’m ultimately an adventurer at heart, though I train similar to a lot of Rangers (and I’m something of a Druid Paladin which is also something of an equivalent to a Ranger). I love hiking, exploring, traveling, and other fun things with the family. Since shortly before joining Nerdfitness, my physical training is typically built around injury rehabilitation (which happens a bit more often due to autoimmune arthritis) and training to be able to travel, explore, and play with my family. I have a pretty effective Disney World training system, and try to ensure that at any point I’m strong enough to carry my whole family somewhere. That has become more difficult as the years go on but I can still do it for the most part. I am also an enthusiastic suburban homesteader bent on establishing an orchard and vegetable garden, so things can get pretty out-doorsy depending on my goals. My needs mean I do a variety of types of training, and my earliest two physical training goals were “run fast” and “be able to competitively play any sport I come across.” I prefer to avoid gyms and do a lot of body weight training. When I do lift weights it is at the YMCA or, more commonly, takes the form of children, sandbags, or logs. At the beginning of the year, we welcomed baby 4 into the family, my cat was diagnosed with feline dementia a few months ago, we adopted a kitten (our third cat and Rex’s first), and we have returned to school. At the beginning of this year, we started shopping for an existing business with a professional kitchen to give a physical location to our small bakery. We now own the bakery kitchen and business, and are focusing hard on getting our renovation done and team built, as it had grown by multiples over the summer from the original numbers given to us. We’re on the cusp of hiring and some of our equipment is in so I am hoping we tame it a little bit because the volume has been insane and has left us all burning the candle at both ends. The fruit trees and bushes are all doing well. The Methly Plum tree which is recovering well from the last deer attack. We’ve had ever more figs, the Ranier Cherry tree isn’t dead year (and seems to be doing well thus far), and the serranos have a dozen new flowers and the Carolina Reaper is really filling out. They’re going to move insider along with the kumquat tree, though the kumquats are likely going to live at the bakery over the winter. No pumpkins and sadly, the few female flowers we have came very late. My dreams of a fall homestead surrounded by a bountiful crop of squash will likely need to wait at least another year, though if I possibly can I’ll make it happen this year. Even a handful of small ones would be awesome. The people with those violent dogs sold their house and they moved last challenge. Good riddance. This brings a great relief to me and basically all the neighbors. For those who don’t know, we were warned about the dogs when we moved in. Then one of them came over the fence and attacked my dog out of the blue, and my precious Mama Dog lost half her ear. Turns out that the pair of dogs 1. Gets out regularly and 2. Attacks other animals, children, and even adults. 3. The owners take zero responsibility and gaslight people about it. These are the only neighbors here I don’t like, because they’re an actual danger. I am relieved they’re gone, because it means soon I’ll be able to remove the rabbit fencing I’ve kept at the very back to keep our dogs and kids several feet away from that back fence. I’ll have the freedom to establish a real garden at the back, since my attempts to grow an espaliered tree hedge have largely failed. We do have a thriving Crapemyrtle and blackberries along the back and I look forward to basically making those and the lilac bush a full hedge without the threat of a dog attack. Healthwise, we’ve been living the keto lifestyle for a little over 8months, and we’ve found it to be incredibly easy to stick to 99% of the time, meaning we’re seeing more success and I’m burning less willpower on food-related stuff. I am past my arbitrary goal weight, and I’m focusing hard now on maintaining around this weight while achieving my goal composition. The last time I was this weight was before I met Jessie and when I was in my student teaching (yeah, before the wrestling coach gig!) That is, one of the best shapes of my life. I want to be lean and strong, not skinny and weak. (Tried that and hated it). I fell off the wagon a bit when it comes to strength workouts. I do push-ups in people’s name as a form of prayer and last challenge saw a lot of sickness and worry, so it sort of took over everything else. I’ve been doing lots of bodyweight squats and lunges with the 6-lb trays and I can tell a difference. Working in the bakery is much better physically than desk work (which I also still do). But it’s a nice physical job and I like it. I've generally been doing well with my “no yelling” goal, though I’ve slipped a couple of times. I continue to strive towards zero yelling. Goals: 1. Sleep. As best as possible. This is critical to managing my emotions as well as general health and quality of life. I’m currently trapped in sleep deprivation until we can hire and train our team. But I can also see a light at the end of the tunnel. 2. Basic calisthenics routine at the least. I don’t want to lose my pull-up and chin-up strength so I’m still doing those in the morning every other day, but I’m in maintenance mode until I can fix the sleep situation. 3. Take one concrete step forward per day- at least one tangible, visible thing to make life better. This ranges from things as small as “dig out the replacement toaster” to as big as “reorganize the playroom.” I don’t have to complete the bigger ones as long as I make progress. 4. Take one concrete step forward per day career-wise. I need my job but I’m not satisfied in it and otherwise need a change. I need to hone/adapt skills and look for other opportunities. -> Currently, this involves working towards dramatically expanding the team to help run the formerly part-time business that exploded with the acquisition of another bakery. Said bakery's business grew out of control and the previous owner did no real expanding of the business, she just worked herself into the ground. 5. Home and Garden. I want both to be better. 6. Therapy. I have a new diagnoses and new medication that have been, it feels, pretty life changing. I finished intensive therapy that was also insanely helpful prior to that and I am continuing with less frequent sessions. My goal is to better learn how to manage ADHD and how to be a more connected, present, and supportive husband and father. I think I have been progressing well. I feel healthy. I am excited about how this has gone. I am working on anger management and taking a page from the book of Mr. Fred Rogers. I had no idea that he struggled with a strong and volatile temper. He never wanted to be remembered as a saint because he didn’t want his example to be unachievable but I do think he is probably the best person who ever lived a full life. I will be looking to him as an example and we’ve decided to introduce the show as a regular part of our kids’ lives. Gods know it’s as helpful to me as it is to them. It is a very exciting time. We just celebrated our 11th anniversary and went for fondue and axe throwing. I’m pretty good with the axes though Jessie is far better with shuriken and throwing cards, which are substantially similar to throwing a ball. She played softball as a catcher and was on the Olympic team arc before an injury so she is an amazing thrower and it’s rare that I can out throw her with anything. Actually, so far, it’s only ever been the axes. And I suspect I would come out ahead on throwing spikes and throwing knives as well, but only because those things I practiced throwing as a kid and they are markedly different from throwing a ball. It was a good time. The bakery is overwhelming, though in a good way. We have too much business, which I think is probably better than the opposite problem. We’ve had no end of bank problems and then state withholding paperwork took forever to get processed, so payroll is only just now set up. I have a pretty good idea on how to best utilize people; even a totally untrained, unpracticed helper can dramatically increase the output by taking care of easier tasks allowing the other person to keep hand-rolling the pretzels. Machines are expensive and not able to adequately roll and work dough consistently so they tend to create pretzels that dry out quickly or are super chewy. Our real “technology” advantage is teamwork. A team of 3-4 could make half a week’s worth of cases in a day, being limited then by the mixer output. Walk-in retail is surprisingly high given we have a sign on the door that says “closed for renovations.” We have to lock the door to keep people from coming in and some knock and ask anyway, and I hardly have the heart to turn them down. As always, I seem to bounce between exuberance and despair 😂. That is, some of the long days are really hard. But having help is, well, oh-so-helpful. And though it is slow going, building a team will make it absolutely doable. Baking itself is FUN. And physically more pleasing than sitting at a desk. Sadly, our D&D campaign is on hold until we iron things out with the business. We have to focus on that so that we can all get our sleep/be able to take care of our homes/actually take our vacation over Christmas without ruining the business.

The weather has cooled off finally, and it is time to hit the trails! for this challenge, I am going to 1. Walk 55 miles. This is a busy time of year for me, so I know I cant make a “complete x for z days a week”. But if I aim for a number, that gives me flexibility. I may walk a half mile one day, and three another. 55 is a good number to get me outdoors and moving in the crisp air. spoilered content is mile tracking 2. Finish a picture book. I’m not talking about the book itself, because I have learned not to do this. Picture books are typically 32 pages, including end papers and title pages, and is it ambitious? Kinda? I have the story in my head, and the character design done. This is about getting over my fear of failure and just doing the work, writing and drawing it down to paper. 3. Traveling made me realize I spend way too much time at home. I cant even really blame the pandemic, I’ve always hidden away at home, and it’s not doing me any good. For this challenge, I am going to get out of the house and do something for 3 different days or evenings. Not running errands, but going out to a festival, checking out a museum, a concert… something.. I’m going to schedule it, and show up! Spoilered for tracking

“Ships on vigor of the waves are skimming Barren summits to the verdant plains Each horizon is a new beginning Rise and reign Far from the Fjords and the ice cold currents Ravens soar over new frontiers Songs and sagas of a fate determined Shields and spears (...) Fires are rising and the bells are ringing Glory take us into Odin's halls Golden glimmer and the sound of singing Asgard's call”* My fellow rebels, welcome to my new challenge! I am gonna report about my progress weekly and post some motivational stuff and music too. If you support me, I’ll try my best to return the favour. Let’s unite our powers! I am gonna level up on the path of a warrior. These are the values of the Vikings’ Code of Values I am gonna pursuit and how I am gonna do it: 1. Strength “It takes a certain kind of warrior to be able to row for hundreds of miles on the open seas and then go raiding for riches. Raw power is necessary, along with endurance and functional strength. Having a physical presence and mental fortitude was essential in surviving.” Strength: My ultimate goal is to become as strong as I can. This month there are only two weeks left of this challenge and I am both sick and injured, so I am gonna include some basics: - learn the proper technique of basic movements of strength training - do what you can without compromising your health - Do exercise to strengthen the joints every day (was injured recently, need to prevent future disasters) (10 min) -Eat garlic every day (if anyone has any advice about other effective ways to boost the immune system, let me know) 2. Discipline “Discipline, again as part of a total way of life, refers to self-discipline. If one is going to live by ones own standards, they are responsible for and must be willing to control your own actions. “ Always do what is planned unless seriously sick or unwell. Never slack off - especially studying. Study every day for at least half an hour (I work 9 h a day, so not that much free time) and more on the weekend. 3. Courage The Vikings were known for their courage and bravery in battle. Courage actually applied to every part of ones life. It take courage to do what you know is right, especially when those around you disagree with your point of view.” Do at least one thing that scares you. 4. Self-Reliance “Warriors are by nature independent beings, they strive to ensure that they don’t have to depend on others for their survival. Indeed family was at the center of Viking life. A Viking is responsible for taking care of himself and his family; this is his first and foremost duty in life. Being frugal and prepared for hardship, as with a long upcoming winter, was an important part of being self-reliant.” Don’t spend more than 1000 yuan (it is 156 American dollars) for personal expenses every month. Save the rest for future adventures and possible hardships. 5. Stay in tune with the gods “The Vikings had a deep connection to nature, to the Earth and the phases of the moon, and Norse spirituality has many similarities with shamanism around the world.” Turn off your phone for two hours a day (on the weekend). Admire the nature. Connect with it and search for that feral feeling deep within. Reach to your roots, to the roots of humanity. *the lyrics at the beginning comes from “Valhalla Calling” by Miracle of Sound. It is my battle hymn!

Hello. I'm back. I am Stronkey Kong. I'm still trying to figure this out. Last challenge took an early nose-dive. I was training with weights, losing my enthusiasm for my nutrition plans. Then I started stockpiling Halloween candy... You know how that ends, and now I feel shitty and I'm back to where I started at the beginning of summer. So now it's time to reboot, and reset a balance, and work on some goals that are satisfying too. MEDITATE -- Once a Day, Every Day: I actually broke my streak. I had meditated every single day since March 21st. Then last weekend, as I was preparing to shift my wake sleep cycle to dayshift for a week of training, I missed a day, then another, and it's been almost a week now. Anywho, it's time to get back on it. MOVE -- Everyday, As often as possible: I am not touching a barbell until my weight is down. To many here, that sounds like blasphemy, but I've proven to myself time and time again that every time I get into a strength routine, and go for too much strength or intensity, I either give myself permission to overeat or burn myself out. Right now, and until I get my weight down to... idk... 225 lbs., I just need to keep moving, lightly even, and I need to avoid the couch potato days. So every day I need to do some kind of movement, or at least get something done. I'll just be asking myself "Did I move today?" -- that is anything beyond getting up, eating, going to work etc. Chores and projects would count, purposely going for walks, yoga or stat bike in front of theTV... it all counts. Pay back the Halloween candy calorie debt -- I still have over 28000 calories to burn. NOOM -- Daily Tracking. Weigh in and track the foods. All else is optional. ART-- I am making a big painting, and started prepping a huge canvas... (spoiler'd cuz huge) 75 x 60 in. I have an idea and sketches, I just need to do it. Not sure what the goal is here. First and foremost work on the painting. Second, finish the painting. I have a feeling I'm either going to finish it Alla prima this weekend or agonize about it all challenge. We'll see.

DISCLAIMER: This challenge has nothing to do with the show Supernatural. Sorry if the title is misleading. Late to the game, but blessed to be able to join this challenge. After some serious (but not severe) life challenges... ... I've found myself lost amid the chaos again. Bad eating habits and not staying active have taken a toll on my health lately. I used to be the guy who hardly gets sick, but now in the course of two months I've had a respiratory infection and a stomach virus, and my stress levels have been higher than typical. So, I return to something that used to both bring me joy and help me stay consistent with my workouts: lifting heavy objects Upon visiting their site this morning, I came across a new-to-me RPG style workout program called Pathfinder. After a closer look, I've decided it's a perfect way to get back into caring for myself with some physical training. And, as has become part of my true nature, there will also be plenty of poetry to accompany this adventure. PHYSICAL GOAL: Lift heavy objects as often as possible. I've had to modify my goals since the first time I posted this, but I'm beginning to realize that I need to return to simple and practical. I'm finding opportunities to run but struggling to find time to follow a prescribed workout routine, so I've decided to start lifting heavy things again. This includes cinderblocks, logs, stones, kettlebells, weights, and my own body whenever the opportunity presents itself. They key is to lift mindfully, focusing on specific muscles/muscle groups and specific movements. NUTRITIONAL GOALS: I will eat mindfully, selecting foods that nourish my body and don't leave me feeling blah after eating them. From the Harvard School of Public Health: "Eating mindfully means that you are using all of your physical and emotional senses to experience and enjoy the food choices you make. This helps to increase gratitude for food, which can improve the overall eating experience. Mindful eating encourages one to make choices that will be satisfying and nourishing to the body. However, it discourages “judging” one’s eating behaviors as there are different types of eating experiences. As we become more aware of our eating habits, we may take steps towards behavior changes that will benefit ourselves and our environment." Seven practices of mindful eating From SAVOR: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life Honor the food. Acknowledge where the food was grown and who prepared the meal. Eat without distractions to help deepen the eating experience. Engage all senses. Notice the sounds, colors, smells, tastes, and textures of the food and how you feel when eating. Pause periodically to engage these senses. Serve in modest portions. This can help avoid overeating and food waste. Use a dinner plate no larger than 9 inches across and fill it only once. Savor small bites, and chew thoroughly. These practices can help slow down the meal and fully experience the food’s flavors. Eat slowly to avoid overeating. If you eat slowly, you are more likely to recognize when you are feeling satisfied, or when you are about 80% full, and can stop eating. Don’t skip meals. Going too long without eating increases the risk of strong hunger, which may lead to the quickest and easiest food choice, not always a healthful one. Setting meals at around the same time each day, as well as planning for enough time to enjoy a meal or snack reduces these risks. Eat a plant-based diet, for your health and for the planet. Consider the long-term effects of eating certain foods. Processed meat and saturated fat are associated with an increased risk of colon cancer and heart disease. Production of animal-based foods like meat and dairy takes a heavier toll on our environment than plant-based foods. I do not plan to switch to a plant-based diet, but I do plan to increase the amount of vegetables and fruits that I consume and reduce processed meats. MENTAL/SPIRITUAL GOALS: I will re-instate my morning practice. I will read and post one poem a day, as well as write a poem of my own every day. MORNING PRACTICE: 0415 wakeup prayer/contemplative meditation scripture reading breath work cold shower BONUS CHALLENGE: Read Becoming Supernatural and complete the recommended mindfulness exercises. And that is my challenge. As always, I am grateful to those of you who have faithfully encouraged me and followed me on this journey, even while I was away from the forums. I look forward to continuing with this new adventure.

Hello all, and welcome to my little corner of chaos. As those of you who were following along last challenge know, I a new job, which I am starting tomorrow, and I have just recently returned to working out after a mild back injury (yay!). That being said, I am stripping my usual challenge wayyyyy back, because I am going to be BUSY. I have some busy weekends coming up, a lot of catching up to do with my new job (using a system I have not used before), and I have a personal training certification exam in mid-November. So, those will be where most of my focus goes. Someday I will learn not to overbook things so much, but this round is not that time🤣 The rest will be aimed at slowly working back into my fitness routine and trying to maintain the few threads of sanity I have left. Bladesinger - Martial Arts, Stamina, Bodyweight Training - (STR) Strength and Agility: Bodyweight workouts 2x/week with focus on joint stability and muscle endurance - (DEX) Balance and Coordination: Stretching 2x/week with focus on flexibility and range of motion - (CON) Stamina: 15min+ walks 3x/week with focus on improving cardiorespiratory endurance Bladesinger - Mental, Intellectual, and Career - (INT) Intelligence: study for Nov. Personal Training exam - through Nov 13 - (CHA) Charisma: TBD training for work

Hey there! So I decided to go after the so called Holy Grail of Fitness - abs. It has been my dream for many, many years to have a six-pack. I can remember myself sitting on the carpet in my parents' dining room and watching a music video on tv. In that music video there was one girl dancing and she had a very distinctive abs. I thought, wow, I would love to look like that! I shared that thought with my mum or dad (can't rememebr because it was something like fifteen years ago) and he/she replied: "Forget it! Do you know how much hard work and sacrifice it costs?! No way!" And just like that, the spark of the dream had been extinguished as soon as it appeared. But hey, here I am again, stronger, more disciplined and level-headed than ever. And I won't give up until I achieve my goal, no matter what. Even if I had to crawl to the finish line. Not only because it is cool to show off on the beach and take some awesome selfies (but hell yeah, let's not be a hypocrite, that's a part of the fun too), but because having a body like that is a proof of incredible inner strength, self-discipline, dogged consistency and grit and that's all I stand for in life. So that's my plan: - stay in calorie deficit - don't eat any snacks, sweets, sweet drinks, bread, etc until the objective is complete (I don't believe in cheat days) - workout: abs + cardio or HIIT - every other day, however I plan to slowly increase to 5-6 days a week - work around my wrist that has been injured recently and is still healing (it means only lower body workouts) The challenge has started on the 5th of October. I lost some pounds and cm around my belly and got some muscles (really little though). Not very satisfied but I guess the muscles won't just appear there overnight. Keep fighting!

To live with and learn from nature. To support it and the communities I immerse myself in with kindness and vigour. This was the mission statement I put together at the start of the year. I wonder if I am setting myself up for failure with the vigour part but now that university is (almost) over for the year I'd like to start working on myself. Intentions Move daily Buy less packaging Sustainable fashion More non-fiction Let go of my past self More simple, nutritious meals For this challenge I'd like to have something to say about each of my intentions. Move daily will require some form of either exercise whether an activity or just a moment of activeness (like cleaning/organising). Buying less packaging involves looking at alternative options to buying things. My biggest weakness is ready-made meals which goes hand in hand with wanting more simple nutritious meals. I plan to visit the local fruit & veg shop and the bulk buy shop and between the two I'll hopefully do well for myself this challenge. I'm meant to be going on holiday during this challenge so will need to plan accordingly if it comes to fruition. Sustainable fashion. I did, in a rush of not thinking, buy clothes from a chain store recently. This challenge I'd like to make at least somewhat of a dent in my mending basket. More non-fiction. I'm going to allow watching YouTube videos into this one. But, rather than watching shows or reading fiction (fanfiction) I'd like to be a little less fictional and a little more real. Let go of my past self. There is also a part of this that should say "let go of expectations". Of myself, of others. I've had some expectations recently that haven't been met and it results in hurt. Be kind, be thoughtful. Love more.

Rule #2 - When you join, you're in for life. I joined NerdFitness over 10 years ago. While my interaction with the NF Community has waxed and waned over the years, it's always something I've carried with me, and have been happy to return to. Now I find myself at the end of one journey and the beginning of another, and I know that the habits and lifestyle I build here at the start will shape the next chapter of my life. I just finished a 4,500 mile self-supported bike tour of the United States. From May to August of 2021, I rode my bicycle from my home in Central Virginia to the Pacific Coast. On my bike, I carried all of my camping gear, all of the clothes I wore, all of my food, and everything I would need to take care of my bike and my body. The trip took me through eleven states, most of which I had never been to. I spent time in small towns, big cities, and National Parks; I rode dirt roads, paved bike paths, and Interstate Highways; I got chased by feral dogs and threatened by truck drivers in 18-wheelers; I learned to accept the kindness of strangers, and made lifelong friends. That journey is over now. I will always carry its lessons with me. It is time to take those lessons and look forward. In order to go on that journey, I had to quit my job. This, to me, was no great sacrifice. I was ready to move on from my position, and my frugal lifestyle allowed me to accrue a significant financial buffer. Now the job hunt is on again, and in addition to a new job, I'm moving to a new city. I recognize this in-between time as a perfect opportunity to build new habits, and form a lifestyle I'm happy with and proud of. To pursue that, I'm going to explore what Level 50 looks like for me to define some long term goals, and formulate some shorter term goals that will make good 6-week challenges.

Like Bilbo, I am alive...but I do seem to have been knocked on the head or something, because apparently I missed seeing the end of the last challenge But whatever. It's a new day and a new week and a new challenge, and I'm here for it. There is a spreadsheet. There will be a challenge write-up (in a day or two I hope). Here's to continuing Adventures!

I am tired of hating myself. Setting myself 500 goals and then being upset when none are complete because the thought of them is so overwhelming I cannot begin just one. One of the intentions on my whiteboard is to let go of my past self and that combined with envy of other people because I feel like I'm not doing enough ultimately resolve in me doing nothing. So, all I have left is to be kind to myself. It's been a challenging month for me. University and work have been very stressful. I'm trying to finish things on a deadline for an SCA event at the end of this month. I'm now in a relationship that while it is joyful it also challenges me. I should spend less time focusing on this and more time focusing on myself. Inspired by Steve's post on Instagram I have two goals this challenge. 1. Read the book on calm I got from the library (Actually reading the books I get from the library is a smart idea) 2. Prepare the batcave. Except, it's more a hobbit house, I think I'm not sure what this looks like overall, except everything I don't want is gone, my areas are tidy, things are accessible and I set boundaries about what goes into my spaces. Does anyone have more advice/words on how to be kind to ones self?

I started working on this concept a couple of years ago. Shelved it for a while. Brought it back as an RPG but there wasn't much interaction and I still wanted to tell this story so I shifted the medium. I originally had beats for challenges and stuff but I tend to hold onto massive ideas in my head and mull them over until it feels right. I follow the Bukowski idea of writing: I didn't want to be pretentious or have to write it and re-write it. I didn't want to have to proofread and show it to other people before I went back to the drawing board. I wanted to wait until the fire roared in me. I wanted to just write through passion and if I felt it: write. If I didn't: don't write. And currently, that is what's happening. What started as an interesting idea for a short campaign turned into research upon research and more and more ideas. I had to cull what I wanted to fit. Once I had a plot-line sort of figured out, I looked at how many words I was writing per plot-point and I realized that at this rate, I will have a full-scale book. Not a Game of Thrones or an IT sized tome, but something that qualifies as a regular book you'd buy these days. I've been writing a lot (for me at least) and I know a few beats that I want to have happen next and I know where I want the ending to go; but towards the end where I connect these things is a little fuzzy. Not really a writer's block, but more of a 'how do I make it fit and sound awesome?' With the rate I've been writing, I think I seriously may finish writing a whole damn book by the time Halloween comes around so that's my main goal this challenge. This challenge is the following: -Book -Diet: I've gotten into a groove with the 2400 cal set up that my dietician put me on. I have my checkup this Thursday. I'm going to ask about meeting more often to stay on track because I can use that as an excuse for more accountability. -Workouts: This is 3 parts. 1) Cardio at the gym 4-5x week. 2) Lifting weights at home 3-4x week. 3) Lordosis stretches and exercises 4-5x week. I would like to hit the high number of all of these but I consider it passing if I can consistently hit the low-end. I'll post my lordosis vid here to make it easy to find and also seeing as how this is NerdFITNESS, there might be someone who stops by this thread and realizes they also have lordosis since it's common if overweight: -Projects: Mold is growing downstairs really REALLY bad with all this heat and humidity. Even with running the dehumidifier, it's wall-to-wall spreading so washing every wall downstairs is a project. I have a bunch of plants that I've been gardening with this summer and I need to stay on top with picking and also setting up a compost bin, prepping soil for next year, drafting up some plans for what I want to do, etc. My next post is going to be what I have so far of my horror book, all edited into [spoiler] chapters so the post itself isn't stupidly long. I'm ahead by about 2 posts currently so I'll wait until the end of this week to put up new content on here and then I'll actually, like, socialize with people's threads. ❤️, Teros

I have landed in a new place, amidst a pile of boxes and chaos, in a new and uncharted part of town. It is exciting, but also exhausting. I do not want to waste this opportunity. I am still sore from my big move and I am not doing voluntarily anything requiring walking until the hurting stops. (I walked more than 70,000 steps over the course of the move, much of them up and down stairs. My calves are complaining loudly.) But once I recover, I want to explore this new place that I am in. For five months only, I have access to city buses and a part of the city I've never really visited. I get to be a tourist! But first I need to make a list of things to see and do, and start exploring locally. That's my first challenge item. My second is also move-related. This move took two days and four truckloads. That's a lot more than we had planned on. We have to move again in five months, and I and the rest of my family want it to be easier next time. As we removed furniture from the truck, we were already setting some aside for sale. We need to do more purging, using up, selling, etc. I also need to repack some of the boxes to be lighter, because let me tell you: what you think is a reasonable weight when you are carrying just one box is not reasonable anymore after you've been lifting and carrying for hours. By the end of the day, everything is heavy. I think 25lbs. might be my limit this time. That's the second challenge item. I also have habits I was trying to maintain before the move, that I should be rebuilding after. I'm going to have a look at my battle log categories and have a bit of a think about which habits I want to focus on right now, because I may need to adjust. There's the third challenge item. I will also endeavour to catch up on what everyone else is doing and be more participatory now that the stressful time crunch is over. So, in short: 1. Make a list of things to do and see, both in my local area and in the wider city. Do at least one per week, preferably one local and one "abroad". Take walks locally to get a feel for the area and what it has to offer. Explore! 2. Either deal with an item in the try/use up/make a darn decision pile, or choose a box to go through, discard items where possible, and repack at a friendlier weight. Goal is one per day. Stretch goal is one of each on non-work days. 3. Do daily habits, but first select which habits to work on. Onward to adventure!

With two successful challenges under my belt so far in 2021, I’m back and ready for another! ...Well. Actually. No. Not quite. Technically, I’m at the beach for the next two weeks. So… if you’re reading this, there’s a good chance I’m sitting in the sand with a piña colada in my Yeti right now. Sorry. 😬 But I’m not going to let all that good momentum go to waste! I’m definitely going to enjoy the hell out of this vacation, but I am committing to sticking to some of my goals, and hitting the ground running when I get back. This will (mostly) be a challenge in two parts: 🏖 Weeks 0-1 🏖 and 🏃 Weeks 2-5🏃 with three main focuses: Diet, Exercise, and Habits. DIET 🏖 Weeks 0-1 🏖 My goal for these first two weeks is just to eat mindfully and try not to binge eat just because I can. At this point, Intermittent Fasting 16/8 is almost second nature, but I know I’m going to struggle with not eating after 8pm if we’re doing something fun like drinks by the pool or a special dessert. Paleo/Primal will also be a challenge because we’re doing group meals and it can be hard to eat grain-free when someone is making, say, baked spaghetti. So I’m just going to do my best. And to make the game more interesting, being mindful of my goals during the beach weeks will have a direct impact on how much I have to buckle down during the second half of the challenge. IF 16/8 at least 4x a week Each Primal meal I eat earns me an extra “non-primal” meal in weeks 2-5 🏃 Weeks 2-5 🏃 Time to recommit! I’ve been having really good success with a “primal-ish” diet - basically no grains, no high fructose corn syrup, no legumes. But I’m comfortable with limited amounts of dairy, exceptions for condiments, and starchy veg like white potatoes. IF 16/8 at least 6x a week Eat Primal-ish most of the time: 1 non-primal meal per week + any extra meals I “earn” during weeks 0-1 EXERCISE 🏖 Weeks 0-1 🏖 I know that exercising in the southern heat, on vacation, is going to be a challenge, so I’m cutting myself a good degree of slack here. This is mostly for the sake of “keep it up, don’t lose that momentum.” Run at least 20 min, 5 times Bodyweight workout, 3 times 🏃 Weeks 2-5 🏃 Last challenge, I finished the C25k and consistently did the NF Beginner Bodyweight Workout. Now I’m working toward my ultimate goal of a sub-30min 5k and supplementing with some strength training. I’d like to find an ST workout that I really love, but I'm not sure if that’s going to happen with this challenge, so keeping up the BBW is fine too! 1x long run per week - starting at 30min and adding 5 min each week 2x 30 min runs per week - focused on speed 3x ST workouts per week HABITS Here’s where I break from the Phase 1/Phase 2 approach because the habits are critical - all challenge long. So they just need to get done. I’ll be tracking these in Habitica and there had better be a 35 day streak at the end of this challenge. Drink 8 cups of water Floss and Brush teeth No nail biting And that’s it! Usually I like to include a creative goal – bullet journaling, organizing, self-care – but honestly, I feel like this is enough for now. I may come back in and add something when I get back from the beach, if I feel like I need more of a challenge. But I’m pretty sure that coming down from the vacation high is going to be challenging enough.

Greetings, and welcome to all! I’m a married parent of 4 kids aged 0-8. I’m ultimately an adventurer at heart, though I train similar to a lot of Rangers (and I’m something of a Druid Paladin which is also something of an equivalent to a Ranger). I love hiking, exploring, traveling, and other fun things with the family. Since shortly before joining Nerdfitness, my physical training is typically built around injury rehabilitation (which happens a bit more often due to autoimmune arthritis) and training to be able to travel, explore, and play with my family. I have a pretty effective Disney World training system, and try to ensure that at any point I’m strong enough to carry my whole family somewhere. That has become more difficult as the years go on but I can still do it for the most part. I am also an enthusiastic suburban homesteader bent on establishing an orchard and vegetable garden, so things can get pretty out-doorsy depending on my goals. My needs mean I do a variety of types of training, and my earliest two physical training goals were “run fast” and “be able to competitively play any sport I come across.” I prefer to avoid gyms and do a lot of body weight training. At the beginning of the year, we welcomed baby 4 into the family, my cat was diagnosed with feline dementia a few months ago, we adopted a kitten (our third cat and Rex’s first), and we have returned to school. At the beginning of this year, we started shopping for an existing business with a professional kitchen to give a physical location to our small bakery. I’m not at liberty to discuss much more at this time, only to say it’s a thing that we are working hard on and I expect this challenge to bring several major changes to our lives. The fruit trees and bushes are all doing well, minus the Methly Plum tree which is alive but a deer broke the largest, tallest branch AGAIN and that part is dead. The rest of the branches are healing well. Last challenge we had our first fig, which was awesome. I’ve never had a raw dig before and as Bo Peep almost immediately ate said fig, nothing has changed. Deer chomped my kumquat tree, , my serranos, and my Carolina Reapers a couple of challenges ago but they appear to have regretted that and haven’t bothered anything on my front porch since. I have 2 serranos, my all-time favorite peppers, ready to pick. I am losing hope on the Carolina Reapers; the plant seems to be ok but no fruit . We have several wild pumpkin plants growing including one enormous one that started under our deck and has grown around the stairs. No pumpkins and sadly, I don’t think we have any female flowers. My dreams of a fall homestead surrounded by a bountiful crop of squash will likely need to wait at least another year, though if I possibly can I’ll make it happen this year. The other fruit trees in the back are going fairly well. The Rainier’s replacement will arrive the week of September 19th and I am looking forward to that. Our next door neighbors said they’re looking to get a peach tree, too. Yes, yes, come to the Dark Side (we have orchards!). Their Apple tree is doing well too, and apparently it lost all its leaves last month. The vegetable garden is basically dead. I have only myself to blame. The weeds got totally out of control and choked out pretty much everything. I have some surviving tomatoes and that’s it. The berries are all doing well and provides a decent harvest this year, enough to reasonably blunt out fruit bill. I think we’re going to torpedo the veggie gardens after this season and try again when we can get the cinder blocks and seal off the bottom; the weeds have been atrocious and I don’t think I ever really blocked the root systems underneath them. I want a veggie garden but what we’re doing isn’t working well without a larger amount of maintenance than we’ll be able to provide with society being restarted. Jessie wants to move the whole thing to the deck, which requires more care as far as watering and soil quality go but is virtually weed free. Part of the problem this year has really been mosquitoes. They don’t touch me but they persecute the rest of the family and le bébé is not fully vaccinated against stuff and the love him so I can’t even really wear him in the harness for anything less than actively mowing the lawn. Which, I might add, has looked more like a field or jungle. Between those, the wasps I finally got rid of, and the vicious dogs living behind us, we haven’t really been able to use our back yard this year and that makes me sad. There IS and update I can share, though. The people with those dogs sold their house and they’re moving. They had an open house Sunday and received a pending contract almost immediately. This brings a great relief to me and basically all the neighbors. For those who don’t know, we were warned about the dogs when we moved in. Then one of them came over the fence and attacked my dog out of the blue, and my precious Mama Dog lost half her ear. Turns out that the pair of dogs 1. Gets out regularly and 2. Attacks other animals, children, and even adults. 3. The owners take zero responsibility and gaslight people about it. These are the only neighbors here I don’t like, because they’re an actual danger. I am relieved they’re gone, because it means soon I’ll be able to remove the rabbit fencing I’ve kept at the very back to keep our dogs and kids several feet away from that back fence. I’ll have the freedom to establish a real garden at the back, since my attempts to grow an espaliered tree hedge have largely failed. We do have a thriving Crapemyrtle and blackberries along the back and I look forward to basically making those and the lilac bush a full hedge without the threat of a dog attack. Healthwise, we’ve been living the keto lifestyle for a little over 6 months, and we’ve found it to be incredibly easy to stick to 99% of the time, meaning we’re seeing more success and I’m burning less willpower on food-related stuff. I am past my arbitrary goal weight, and I’m focusing hard now on maintaining around this weight while achieving my goal composition. The last time I was this weight was before I met Jessie and when I was in my student teaching (yeah, before the wrestling coach gig!) That is, one of the best shapes of my life. I want to be lean and strong, not skinny and weak. (Tried that and hated it). I fell off the wagon a bit when it comes to strength workouts. I do push-ups in people’s name as a form of prayer and last challenge saw a lot of sickness and worry, so it sort of took over everything else. I would like to get back into doing squats and deadlifts at the YMCA gym but I think it’s going to take getting the house and routine into order. I have, quite frankly, been struggling with the return to school. Jessie works really long hours, the kids have their school and activities, and I have my job as well as the responsibility to clean and organize everything possible at home. We’re not yet at something sustainable. Further, therapy has been generally going well but I still have been snapping and yelling at people, and that has to end. It isn’t healthy for anyone, including me, and I need to practice healthier ways of expressing myself. So that is a new challenge goal. Feel emotions, and express them in appropriate ways at appropriate times. Goals: 1. Sleep. As best as possible. I’m a nonfunctional mess without sleep and can sacrifice it for a few days ok but then I have to make it a super high priority to regain it. This is critical to managing my emotions as well. 2. Basic calisthenics routine at the least. Preferably with 1-2 big weights sessions at the gym, and I’d like to find home alternatives to the barbell squats and deadlifts. Woody is practicing and building his upper body strength for a ballet lift in his winter duet. The older boys are both in cross country. The oldest 3 are taking dance classes and Rex is back in gymnastics. Jessie and I proposed working out remotely with Marinara since his girlfriend takes zero initiative and doesn’t give him the boost he needs to do it. So we might start that as well. 3. Take one concrete step forward per day- at least one tangible, visible thing to make life better. This ranges from things as small as “dig out the replacement toaster” to as big as “reorganize the playroom.” I don’t have to complete the bigger ones as long as I make progress. 4. Take one concrete step forward per day career-wise. I need my job but I’m not satisfied in it and otherwise need a change. I need to hone/adapt skills and look for other opportunities. -> Currently, this involves working towards dramatically expanding a part-time business into a full-time business, which would have Jessie running that business full-time and likely have me also working it full time within the next few years. I’ve also continued to interview elsewhere to help give us options. I really want the business to work though. 5. I need to retake the yard and the garden. It’s been overgrown for too long and I want it back. 6. Therapy. I have a new diagnoses and new medication that have been, it feels, pretty life changing. I finished intensive therapy that was also insanely helpful prior to that and I am continuing with less frequent sessions. My goal is to better learn how to manage ADHD and how to be a more connected, present, and supportive husband and father. I think I have been progressing well. I feel healthy. I am excited about how this has gone. I am working on anger management and taking a page from the book of Mr. Fred Rogers. I had no idea that he struggled with a strong and volatile temper. He never wanted to be remembered as a saint because he didn’t want his example to be unachievable but I do think he is probably the best person who ever lived a full life. I will be looking to him as an example and we’ve decided to introduce the show as a regular part of our kids’ lives. Gods know it’s as helpful to me as it is to them. The kids love D&D and making movies. Woody destroyed my workstation this weekend and built an art and stop-action animation studio. He and Rex made a short film AND layered voiceover so I’m super proud of him. I am excited for this challenge and what life has to offer next.

Hello everyone! I am Aquarii, your resident element of chaos trying to learn how to become an element of controlled chaos 😂 For those of you who don't know me, hello! I love seeing new faces around here. For those of you who already know me, I am sorry. Jk. Welcome back, my wonderful friends. The last couple months have been pretty crazy. At the start of the last challenge, I left my job due to the environment spiraling into something very toxic. I have yet to find a new job, but I do have an interview coming up in a few days, and it happens to be for a place I would really love to work with, so fingers crossed there. Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with bipolar II (probably, the jury is still partially out on that one) and have been on a journey to better understand and manage it. Last week, my apartment management decided to inform me that they are raising my rent by about 15%, which serves to motivate me that much more to get a new job position and get out of this place. Anyway, on to the reason for the title of this challenge. Over the last year, the style of fitness that I choose to do has been changing. Avoiding gyms for Covid forced me to focus a lot more on bodyweight workouts with very minimal weight, and I have found that I much prefer working with bodyweight, calisthenics, and bands instead of iron and heavy weights. It just fits a lot better with my interest in functional fitness. Once I am back in a position with a little more disposable income, I would like to start taking a few dance classes again. And, my partner and I have decided that we want to get into martial arts as a couples' activity. He has always had an interest in martial arts, having done some as a kid, and I have always wanted to learn a martial art. So, it seems like a perfect way to increase our fitness while learning something fun together. I don't know if we will be able to join the dojo or if I will be able to get into a dance class this challenge, but at the very least, I want to focus my training around preparation for it. Improving joint stability, range of motion, and muscle/cardio endurance are all going to be a big part of my training this challenge. Because my fitness is going to be heavily centered around bodyweight training and martial arts prep, it seemed like a perfect time to multiclass outside of my little corner of the forums. If you all have any recommendations or tips, I am always open to your advice and ideas. I only have a minimal idea of what I am doing, so I will take all the help I can get. Anyway, challenge goals: Bladesinger - Martial Arts, Dance, and Bodyweight Training - (STR) Strength and Agility: Bodyweight workouts 3x/week with focus on joint stability and muscle endurance - (DEX) Balance and Coordination: Yoga and/or stretching 3x/week with focus on flexibility and range of motion - (CON) Stamina: 20min+ walks/jogs 3x/week with focus on improving cardiorespiratory endurance Bladesinger - Mental, Intellectual, and Passion Training - (INT) Intelligence: Read 6 books - (INT) Intelligence: Complete 6 modules of Health Coach certification course and study for Nov. Personal Training exam - (CHA) Charisma: Choose one performance-based activity (music, dance, or acting) to practice at least once per week - (WIS) Generativity and Legacy: Watch a documentary each week on a topic related to minimalism, protecting the environment, society/activism, etc *Note: If you are interested in learning more about my leveling system above, check out the full leveling map in my Battle Log.

Hello witches and wizards, and welcome back to Hogwarts this September! I'm Professor Annyshay, the current headmistress of Hogwarts. You've been sorted into your houses and are ready to tuck into a delicious feast. Now it's time for me to say a few brief words before we start the term. This year the houses will be working together to support general wellbeing. Gryffindor = Breathwork It takes courage for me to be present in my body without trying to change anything. Breathwork can be anywhere from 5-30 minutes. I'm aiming to do it most days of the week. Hufflepuff = Snacks I ten to skip snacks and go too long between meals and then get a bit shaky. I'm going to be more intentional about aiming to have a morning and afternoon snack. Ravenclaw = Writing I'm trying to get back into the habit of creative writing, but this will start with keeping my streak on 4thewords.com. That means writing 444 words a day. Slytherin = Decluttering Since I'm moving across country, I need to be ruthless with my possessions and get rid of the things that don't truly bring me joy. I'm going to try to do at least 15 minutes of decluttering each day. More details will come as you go through your time here, but for now... let's eat!

Hello. I am Stronkey Kong. I've been on NF for over eight years . I'm still fat and making the best of it. learning from my mistakes. 🤔 GOALS: MEDITATION+: Still practicing the Buddhism. Still on a meditation streak since March 21st. That's all fine and good, and is habit. Now I need to step it up and memorize the "King of Aspiration Prayers: Samantabhadra's Aspiration to Good Actions." The prayer/mantra itself is a guide to the essential meditation preliminary practices we do. It is also 259 lines long. But for the benefit of all sentient beings I will memorize it... in English at least. Then I'll start on the Tibetan. Settle in to the WIZARD TOWER: As some of you saw last challenge, I bought a house and moved in. While I'm almost done upacking, now is not the time to stop. So definitely want to get all that finished up this challenge. This weekend I got the bedroom in order by unpacking all the clothes, doing ALL THE LAUNDRY EVAR, and putting clothes away. There's one more box in there, then I need to get the office and kitchen done. MOVEMENT: Now that the house moving and all is tapering off to just regular chores, I need to start working out again. So I'll be lifting weights and following the Greyskull LP... M, W, F or S. It'd be great to get a little cardio and yoga on top of that, but that'll be a bonus. NOOM: Just showing up and getting it done. Weigh in, log food, read articles. I think that's all. I thought briefly about a writing goal, but maybe I'll add one when the office gets settled. And there will be pictures of and stories about this idiot...

Never been fantastic at forums and this is strangely making me nervous but I'm using my 20 seconds of courage and posting a thread! 🎉 The Daily 5..actually turned into 6 Spanish Goal Spend at least 15 min/day, 5 days a week advancing in the lessons Furry Player Goal Work with furry player 3 on the training skills he's learned to ingrain them. Do this daily. Physical Goal Workout 6 days / week: walk, ride, or strength train with the academy plan Eat healthy every day or make a conscious break (but no more than 2 in a row) Financial Goal Spend 30 minutes/day learning more about investing Mindset Goal Leave work on time each day so I have time to work on other goals in my life and spend time with my family. Scoring: Each day a goal is completed = 1 point, 6points possible per day = 210 max points possible Goal: 168 points (80%) Reward: Solar Lamp

I am now officially post-hike and post-holidays after my awesome hiking (and campervan) holiday (see my Progress Woot thread). A tricky time here as we are back in lockdown and will be for more weeks and I am conscious of how post-hike blues can put me in a hole. So I need to focus on the 'things I learnt on the trail' and try and keep just a bit of that trail fitness. So what is it that is so enjoyable about an extended hike? The simplicity of each day. You know what you have to do (get to the next campsite) even if you may have obsticles in the way - that ridge walk, those very large boulders that you have to haul yourself and pack up and over etc). Also, always being a little out of your comfort zone (see aforementioned boulder field with no clear path to progress) So it is really a 'back to basics' type challenge. Fitness - running. I noticed that my running was much improved after 3 weeks on the trail - so I figure that I should take advantage of this and increase the amount and distance that I'm running. I am kind of thinking of doing a half marathon next year. I haven't really put it out in the world until now. I need to progress from 10k on my 'long run' days. 3 x 5k runs during the week 10k+ run on the weekend Food - I have officially reached my goal weight (whoo hoo) - the hike got me down those pesky last 2kg so I am now offically only just not overweight (ie the top of the normal weight). My real aim is to not put any back on with post-holiday eating, but since we are back in lockdown I have had a 'no junk food lockdown' policy. I'd love to drop another 5kg in the next 12 months, so not bothered about doing anything radical. I am going to log food for at least this challenge (maybe for 3 months) which is an interesting decision as I barely logged when I lost the weight. (I went as low carb as I could - maybe sometimes keto and did a small amount of fasting). i do feel that logging will be good from a maintenance perspective. Log food daily - if miss a day - add in an estimation. Environment - Another lockdown 'habit' is to improve my environment. You wouldn't think so as I am sitting in a room full of miscellanious extra furniture etc, but the real sanity project is in the garden. I've started a gardening journal in Evernote, have a stack of projects I'd like to complete but the goal will just be: 10 Minutes of gardening a day (more if in the mood / have the time (who am i kidding, I always have time) Life outside the comfort zone this is a little more challenging while in lockdown - some ideas that I have need a little more freedom of movement. I guess at this stage I'm just looking for things that are outside of the zone. Here are a few that I am thinking of: Before work run - make two of those weekday runs before work. This doesn't sound very challenging but I am sooo not a morning person. Of course on the trail I could get up around 5 each day becuase we needed to get going at daybreak due to distances/terrain/heat considerations and I did it each day with no issue. I also had accountability from my hiking buddy. Learn something - I was really big into the 'life long learning' thing, but I've dropped off completely. Find something that I can do online and commit some time to doing it. Really vague. Basically consider if there is someting that could form part of my next challenge. Watch out for uncomfortable opportunities - and report back here.

Prelude: Summer came and went at Owlshire. We had a cool and often wet summer, sparked now and again by short heat waves. The garden didn’t fare well. Tomatoes in great promise, suddenly gone in their entirely in a few days after a blight hit. Anemic vegetables, little nibbling animals… There’s always next summer. At the beginning of the year, I started a full time “9-5” job for the first time in almost 10 years. Time slips away so much more quickly when one has a day job, even one they enjoy. Last week I turned 42. I’m an American word witch living in the forests of England with my British husband and pre-school son. I write, I game (mostly board games, TRPGs and LARP), garden, and spend a lot of time out in the woods looking for faeries. 42 is supposed to be the answer to everything, but I’m still searching… The Challenge: Less is More Eat Less - continue reduced portion sizes and snack avoidance. Move More - continue 100+ minutes of walks and garden labor each week. Continuing from the previous challenge, I’m 3lbs down on my 10lbs by the end of the year challenge, and if I can keep that kind of progress, I might actually make it. Rededication to Deep Work Over the past few weeks I’ve discovered Discord communities and other online distractions and I’m spending way too much time on them. I don’t want to drop it entirely, but I need to get a grip on my online time as it’s eating into other things I want to do. So I’m going to use my Less is More philosophy here—less distractions, more focus. Five 30 minute focus sessions on work on work days (average) One 30 minute focus session on personal time per day (average) Work focus session activities include doing the writing of course, but also on courses I’m starting on game design and other related topics to my career. Focus sessions are done around meetings, email, Slack, etc. Personal focus sessions include continuing my spiritual studies, non-work writing, personal admin, and similar activities. I plan to increase personal sessions over time. Extra Credit - Participate in the Class! - Get active on other NF threads again. Check and comment on one thread a day x5 week (average). Pass Conditions: Weigh less than when I started this challenge. Deep Work goals 80% met. Reward: New Clothes! Midterm Reward - 2 items I’ve been eyeing in the latest catalogues End term Reward - 3 items I’ve been eyeing in the latest catalogues

This is a simple carry-forward of the goals I set last time after the house-sale goals were met. There are two groups of goals: habits and pre-move goals. Basically, my habits were abandoned while all my free time went to preparing the house for sale and purging, sorting, and packing, so I need to rebuild them. And there are a bunch of things I want to do here before our move-out date (which is just a week after the end of this challenge), so I have made a mini bucket list of sorts for this location. Copy-pasted, because why reinvent the wheel? Habits I would like to rebuild: exercise. The every-day-at-the-same-time-do-something scheduling was good. Need to revive it. fiddle practice. In all my packing, I left my fiddle accessible for a reason. I've been holding onto the library book for a reason. My subconscious wants this to happen. daily walks. This makes me feel better about everything, whether the day is going well or poorly. And I get to enjoy the beautiful summer weather to boot. That's a good place to start. Will revisit next week to see if any additions are warranted. Things I would like to do before I leave in September: swim across the river. I've wanted to do this for years but never tried it. There's a public boat launch on the other side, so it's not even like it would be a weird infringement on someone's property/privacy. There's just a lot of boat traffic, so it can be a bit dangerous. But I saw someone doing it last week, so it can be done if you pick your times well. (Btw, I am not a strong swimmer. This would be a lifejacketed or something-floaty-holding swim.) canoeing. Moar canoe! I have barely canoed for the last few years. I will still be able to canoe at the new place, but the scenery will be different. Time to explore the nooks and crannies here for (probably) the last time. plant milkweed seeds. I collected a crazy amount of seeds last summer when I was royally pissed that the city kept mowing them down for basically no reason. They have been mowed to death before, and the seeds can't quite spread to places where they would thrive on their own due to the prevailing winds. I have a whole bunch processed and ready to spread when the timing is right. If I do this right, it will survive me and the local monarchs will have a little bit of a refuge where they won't risk being chopped up by a stupid mower. sleep outside. Maybe tents, maybe not. (Probably yes. Because mosquitoes.) more walks, including night walks. I don't know where I will be able to take walks at night in the deep dark at the new house, but I will try to find a place! They are wonderful in ways I have trouble putting into words. maybe stargazing? It could also be a thing to look for at the new house, but we deal with heavy light pollution from the north here, so 🤷‍♀️. New house might actually be better, who knows. scatter some of my father's ashes. This list also might grow.

You know what, I figured if this whole “beware how you name your challenge” turns out to be true all the time, might as well use it from the start to leverage greatness. Your focus determines your reality and all that stuff. I’ve been floundering for way too long, due to a combination of financial and mental health issues, on top of the obvious pandemic problem. These limited my options and severely undermined my willpower, which in turn made it really hard to focus on fitness, nutrition and working out. I was still around, because I know it’s better to hang around and stumble than disappear and go completely down the drain, but it’s high time this thing turned around. Nutrition Last challenge I was tracking my eating, just to get back into the tracking habit and to be slightly more mindful. This will continue, plus I’ll try to do more weighing and less eyeballing. I shall also post the results here, hoping for constructive criticism and suggestions from anyone who might want to bother telling me what I could do better. Some of the weak points I’ve identified are quantity control (whether that pertains to an entire meal or caloric-heavy ingredients like olive oil), poor breakfast options (because I rarely plan for it and putting together a meal from what’s available while sleepy and hungry isn’t helping), random snacking (especially inside the house, especially with sugary items available around) and alcohol (which I’m consuming socially, but still sometimes I’m having a beer when I don’t really feel like drinking, to the point where I can’t finish it). To sum up, I shall: Track my eating Share the results here for accountability and suggestions Be mindful of identified issues (Quantity, Breakfast, Sugary Snacking, Unwanted Alcohol) Workouts I really need to get back on the horse here. Not (just) to lose weight or look good or be strong, I literally need to move so that my body and mind will feel better. I’ve come to realize home workouts aren’t cutting it for me for a variety of reasons such as lack of space or proper floor surfaces. Also, my mind seems to work when there’s two things involved. One, I go through the process of putting on specialized clothes/gear and go to a place specifically intended for working out. Two, I do a workout that’s both intense and lasts more than 10-20’. For this challenge, I can’t commit to a certain facility, as there’s a good chance I’ll be visiting my hometown for a bit of vacation, but I can at least commit to be active in the aforementioned ways. If nothing else, both places (where I live and where I might visit) have places I can get a run in. Swimming in the sea will obviously count as a workout, if I can do that. In terms of time, I’ll let my body tell me when it needs a rest day, but in terms of keeping this consistent and making room for any unexpected events, I’ll follow the “never twice in a row” rule. To sum up, I shall: Aim for a long and intense workout every day, outside the house Never miss two workouts in a row Also, I’m pulling the trigger on that Forbidden Lands RPG narrative I talked about last challenge. I’ve read books, watched videos and ran some test games, to the point where I can confidently do this now. I’ll be putting the technical stuff and game rolls under spoilers, so you can either read the narrative alone or take a peek under the hood on how this system operates. If you need reference or it seems interesting enough for you to check out, the Quickstart pdf is available for free.