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The first challenge this year was all about building good habits as the foundation for my change. This challenge is all about momentum. What I realized is that I have a good plan but need some luck (avoid getting a cold) and a bit more disciplin (no cheating). I will keep this simple, but not to easy, so I will stay with my goals from the last challenge. Goals: Cleaned up eating / LCHF, paleo - minimize intake of sugar and starches (every day during this challenge)Drink water - drink recommended amount of water (every day during this challenge)Exercise - outdoors or at the gym (3x week during this challenge) *Why? This is to (1) get back on track (weight, BF% etc) and (2) build habits for more challenging goals (e.g. strength goals etc). *) Work out program: 1 - Push press, squat, bosu ball, chin ups + extra 2 - Dead lift, shoulders, plank, pull ups + extra Cheers, Chrille

Everyone has a past… everyone has a history. I have never been ATHLETIC. I’ve always admired those who could run races, be strong, and fast, and fit… but that was never me. And then I found NF, and for the first time in my life it became something I could do. I made progress. I kept up with my challenges… and then life threw me a doozy. I landed in the hospital, had operations… got out to heal, and then went back in for more surgery. When I got out, I recovered, went back to work (pediatric dialysis/pheresis nurse) and started grad school a month after discharge. For the longest time it was all I could do to put one foot in front of the other and make it through my days. I was in survival mode, and that was ok. I’m just now to the point that I don’t feel like getting through each day takes everything I am and everything I have. I’m ready to start climbing that ladder again, and ready to make this body stronger and more resilient. I’m re-zeroing all my stats and starting over (RESPAWN!) at Level I in everything (*sniff sniff!!*) In previous challenges (forever ago) I’ve hung with the Scouts, because to me the idea of being “in shape†meant being able to run more than a block without dying. This time I still want a few runs… so rebooting the C2-10K program… but I’ve come to realize that I don’t find JOY in running like a true Scout should… (I partially blame the St Louis 105 degree heat index and 99% humidity), so that can’t be my whole plan… I’m doing some searching this time around. I’m going to try weights because I want some strength, and I want to see if it’s something I like. I want to be able to see some muscle under the skin, and know that this body may have been through the wringer, but it’s not frail and fragile... I need to find my fitness JOY My diet’s pretty solid… no processed crap. Gluten-intolerant so yay (?) for having something VERY self-reinforcing with immediate unpleasant consequences. Used to be off ALL grains and most complex starches, but have added back in rice, quinoa, lentils, potatoes and sweet potatoes and am able to tolerate them now. No interest in soda at all (gross!), but I could stand to back off on the coffee and up the water intake. Other than that, I also drink 1-2 glasses of red wine or whiskey every-other-dayish that I probably could cut back on as well. SO… Onwards and upwards! Fitness goal: I AM someone who lifts weights three times a week.NF Academy: Barbell Battalion: Level I workouts: 3x/week (STR +2)Side-goal: Working toward being able to do ONE FLIPPIN PULL-UP… also 10 real pushups from toes with good form. (STR +1 each)Bonus points: For any C2-10K run I complete. (STA +0.05 each run- rounding to nearest tenth)Diet:I will drink 3L of water a day. Cannot refill coffee cup until I drink one bottle of water per refill. (CON +1)Research and figure out what kind of protein needs I will have with my weightlifting workouts. Feed the muscles I want! (CON +1)Life goal:Keep up with grad school work. Make a plan for the week, and schedule out schoolwork time as appointments so that I KEEP them and not rush to finish projects right down to the wire with deadlines. (WIS +0.5, CHA +0.5)Cook healthy dinners for the hubby and minions, and plan ahead with the crock pot for days I know will be busy. (CON +1)Work my budget. Seriously. I have a plan, it can flex with my life, but I need to WORK IT for real. Eldest daughter is going off to college next month, I’m in grad school, one middle schooler and one high schooler still at home with us. I need to get a handle on where we’re bleeding money and why, and stop up the holes so that I can plan for what life throws at us. Will track/manage this with YNAB on laptop and tied to cell phones for spending tracking. Each dollar will be put in it’s category so I know where it’s going. I will reconcile with online bank records WEEKLY. I want to go from tracking where it went to telling it what category I want it to go in BEFORE it’s spent. (WIS +1)Step one in working towards Xena Warrior Princess!!

-=Begin Transmission=- This is Ron Solo and you’re tuned into the ol’ Pork Chop Express. I’m your pilot on this beautiful journey through the stars. I’m here to tell you of the tales and challenges that this scoundrel faces as he flies around the galaxy. Currently, I reside on a planet named Dae’hanmingoo in the As’ia planetary system. I’ve been stationed here helping the local younglings in improving their understanding of Basic. When I’m not enlightening the minds of youngsters, you can find me meditating, training my brain or finding other ways of improving myself. My current specs are 5’11†and 160 lbs. I’d like to build muscle and get rid of the baby gut I‘ve acquired from the copious amounts of late nights I’ve had in the past couple of years. I’d like to follow the way of the Battalions of Barbell; a transmission I received from the Nerds of Fitness. Main Quest: Complete Rank One of the Barbell Battalion Quest 1: Follow the Rank One schedule 3 days a week. 5x5 Squats/ Push Press one day. 5x5 Deadlifts/Pull ups one day Measurement: A = 18 workouts, B = 12 workouts, C = 6 workouts Reward: A = +3 STR, +2 STA, B = +2 STR, +1 STA, C = +1 STR Quest 2: Spinning class 3 days a week. I signed up for spinning at my gym because I like to ride my bike and this is a fun way to do it. Measurement: A = 18 spin classes, B = 12 spin classes, C = 6 spin classes Reward: A = +3 STA, B = +2 STA, C = +1 STA Quest 3: Yoga class 2 times a week. I would like to work on my flexibility, and I also signed up for this at my gym. If I can’t make it to yoga, daily night stretching should count for something. Measurement: A = 12 Yoga classes, B = 6 Yoga classes, C = 42 nights of stretching Reward: A = +3 WIS, +2 CON, B = +2 WIS, +1 CON, C = +1 WIS Life Quest: Meditate daily. Even if it’s only for five minutes. I can do it as soon as I wake up. Measurement: A = 42 days, B = 36 days, C = 30 days Reward: A = +2 WIS, B = +1 WIS, C = +0.5 WIS Motivation: I have found love in one of the local women of this planet and I’d like to look my best on the day we are to be united as one in their ritual practice of marriage. I want to look like James Bond walking down the aisle. I can’t do it alone. Help me Nerd Fitness, you’re my only hope. -=End Transmission=-

Aaaand I'm back. Well, I was always around, lurking/creepin' on the forums and dutifully reading my biweekly NF emails, so let's say I'm back and actively participating. So, let's get down to business, shall we? Main Quest: To lose 10 pounds and/or 5% bodyfat. Bikini season is soon upon us, ya'll. SUMMER IS COMING! Current stats: 142 lbs, 28% body fat, 5'5", single white female (j/k j/k). How to do it? 1) Ketosis. Can I get an "Amen"? I'm pretty much in love with the ketogenic diet. After going full paleo since the beginning of the year, I started playing with ketosis for a month now and love my results. I've been following a "paleo" version of it, so no dairy but lots of coconut and olive oil, fish, fatty grass-fed goodness (I'm salivating), etc. I'll follow a paleo-ketogenic diet 97%. By 97% I mean, one "off" meal a week that will probably throw me out of ketosis, but it better be so worth it. I've tried having "weekends off" or even one "off" day a week, but have found that my weight jumps up 5 pounds, then takes all week to get back to my pre-cheat-day weight. Yes, I do weigh myself everyday. Yes, I know doing that doesn't give me the most accurate information about true weight loss. But I like to start my day off knowing I'm making progress, cos usually it's a good number. So anyway, paleo-keto 97% of the time. I'll be tracking my macros and calories on myfitnesspal, aiming for 1400 calories a day (this is surprisingly hard for me to hit. I find myself eating coconut oil off a spoon sometimes to get that high). 2) Drink a gallon of water a day. A ketogenic diet is naturally diuretic, so keeping a close eye on hydration is key. I know I don't drink enough water daily. After I left my water bottle at a doctor's office a few weeks ago, I've haven't been putting effort into my water intake. 3) Follow Barbell Battalion Lvl 1 Started this last week and am OBSESSED with the barbell! So basically for this challenge I'll be at the gym 3x/week following the workout plan. Gotta get dem stallion legs. Motivation: Again, SUMMER IS COMING! More specifically, I'm taking a river trip down in Austin in June with a huge group of folks. I want to look hella good in that new bikini I'm going to get myself when this challenge is complete. #epicloot

HELLO WARRIORS!! Hi. The name's Joy, but I've been known to go by MW, Weaver, or Fy. I've been with NF for almost a year and have collected plenty of underpants (eeuw). I've challenged with the Adventurers multiple times with mixed results because I never really dedicated myself to making a change, or if I did, it was short-lived and didn't stick. I made the decision over the last couple days to commit myself to the Warriors because I did/do really enjoy lifting, so here I am! Current sitch in a nutshell: I'm 290ish lbs; 30 yrs old; career mom of 3 sons; married to an overweight (and seemingly content about it) man; in co-habitation with my in-laws w/ little to no control over family dinners; have paid access to a 24/7 gym w/ free-weight section. ------------------------------------------ EDIT: Challenge Goals HERE. ------------------------------------------ I haven't completely figured out my goals yet (I feel a post edit coming on...) but here's the general idea: 1) lift the heavy things consistently (Steve's Barbell Battalion 6wk plan of awesomesauce modified to use bent-over dumbbell rows instead of pull-ups) to get strong. Track my progress & post it. Record my 1-rep-max pre-challenge and post-challenge for my squat, deadlift & push-press. Embrace my inner Wookiee and get beastly-strong. 2) eat clean as much as possible to get lean & lose this fugly fat. (essentially, eat only veg & meat when I'm dining on my own [for breakfast and lunch] and minimize the damage at dinnertime when eating Ramona's dinners) I've got a lot of fat to lose... popping snickers from the boys' Halloween stash isn't going to get me there. >_< 3) simply put: shun processed sugar. Cut it out. Go through withdraws and get it out of my system. Period. Gotta tackle this addiction ferociously and kick it to the curb. My life depends on it. 4) I'm thinking a sleep goal? Ideas? REWARDS: 1) +3 STR, +1 STA, +1 CON 2) +3 INT, +1 WIS 3) +2 WIS, +1 CON & +1 STA 4) ??? Upon completion of this challenge, I will gain a level (yay!) AND I will give myself the OK to buy a pair of jeans. Motivation: My dad lost 50+ lbs by changing his diet and walking on a treadmill after he had a heart attack last year. He's 61. What in the heck is my excuse?! Just like he's being a good example to me, I need to start being a better example to MY kids... otherwise they'll end up like I am now. I will post measurements and starting references when I get them. Thanks for reading & best wishes on your challenge!

I am a recent purchaser of the rebel strength guide, just starting Barbell Batallion, and i'm slightly sceptical / confused ... Firstly... I am 'skinny-fat'... slim, female, with 18% body fat. Also relatively fit, certainly not starting from ground zero with exercise. But I AM starting from ground zero with strength training. Its intimidating...! Would love to just build some strength and power, im tired of cardio making me tired without building my muscletone ! My first question - What are you all doing on your rest days? Surely not... nothing? Can i do interval running? Kickboxing? Or will that affect my strength development / recovery...? Secondly - Barbell batallion... two exercises?? Is that really going to do it... ?? It just doesnt seem right. You go to a personal trainer, they'll do at least 4 or so different weight sets wont they? Can you guys tell me about your experience (and success!!) from sticking to this routine? I think I just need some reassurance and encouragement while getting started.