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I am ready for 2018 to start. But there is still one last challenge to get through. I have had a decent year and met many of my goals from my 2017 Roadmap so I was planning on having a nice relaxing challenge, with lots of hot cocoa and sitting by the fire (I don't actually have a fireplace). Then I came to my senses and realized I still have time to accomplish more and my goals will not be reached if I am on autopilot. The only goal left on my roadmap is to reach Onederland. While that ship has sailed for the year, I would like to at least end the year less than how I started it. I was recently looking back at my weight loss data since joining NF. I started my first challenge in the middle of 2014. Over the course of what remained of the year, I lost over 50 pounds. The trend continued through most of 2015, losing another 25 pounds, only to gain 6 of them back over the holidays. THAT trend continued into 2016 where I continued to gain another 40 pounds back. For 2017 I am currently sitting about 7 pounds heavier than when it started. 2017 was the year to turn everything around, to turn gains into losses, so I would much prefer to have my data show a tiny loss over the course of the year, rather than any gain at all. However, with only a single challenge left and many obstacles, that leaves me little time. I will be enjoying a proper week 0, though trying not to go overboard, and then will be ending the next challenge a bit early as I am travelling to Minnesota over Christmas, returning home for 2 days, and then travelling to Denver for New Years. If I can reach my goal before the trips, I will just stop getting on the scale until 2018. I do, however, have time for a quick and dirty challenge. I tried to very carefully search for a SFW gif for Quick and Dirty and I found this...And this seems totally appropriate and who can't use all the high fives? How will I attain a net loss in 2017 you ask? My normal routine looks like this: Wed/Fri - Lift days Tues/Thurs/Sun - cardio days Since I have only 24 days for the challenge, and I'll be spending one of those weekends at the cabin camping, that should allow me time to get the following workouts in: 6 lift days - That's enough time to complete practically an entire cycle of 5/3/1, if you don't count deload week. So that's what I shall do. 10 cardio days - Since 2018 will need to be heavy on the cardio and I hate cardio, I'll prepare by trying out as many different types of cardio as I can. I'm thinking some rowing, elliptical, rucking, kettlebells, dancing, dreadmill, maybe some tire pulling? Some days will be low intensity for longer periods of time, some will be higher intensity for short periods. Perhaps I'll stumble on a winning combination that will sustain me throughout 2018. There continues to be a lot of home improvement projects going in the Shello household. That can only be used for cardio once. Food will be much the same as last challenge. I'll be eating Paleo Plus (Paleo plus dairy and moderate amounts of whole grains). I do not have to log food if I stay compliant. If I chose to include non compliant foods, I'll use MFP and stay within 1600 calories. I am allowing 1 variance during week 1 and another during week 3. For week 2, the camping trip will basically be one big variance so no others will be allowed. The final 3 days of the challenge in Week 4 will be Way of PainTM all the way.