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My current fitness goal is primarily to become toned. I’m pretty skinny, but squishy, so some muscle would be awesome. I love rock climbing so my main quest is to climb a 5.10b route. I think by the time I get to being able to do that I’ll likely be pretty darn toned. Some things I would like to be able to do with my soon to be fit self are: Improve my upper body strength (pretty important for climbing) Be able to do a pull-up (that would be awesome)Maybe a hand stand? I’m kind of tall and gangly, that might be a stretch. Take a yoga class (improved flexibility would be awesome)Run a 5K Teach T’ai Chi again. Rock climb outdoorsClimb a 5.9Climb a 5.10aClimb a 5.10bClimb a 5.10cClimb a 5.11aTake a lead climbing classPaddleboard yogaBe able to climb a ropeReduce fried food intake (I have cut caffeine, artificial sweeteners, dyes, and so many other things, but I loooove chips)Weight lift (I’ve always loved hand weights, I just never moved up to the big guns)Kayak/paddle-board regularly (2x a month would be nice)Begin aerial yogaDeadlift 100 lbsDeadlift 150 lbsBench Press 50 lbsBench Press 75 lbs

Hello. I'm Kareesh. A bit about me for those who don't know: I'm 27 years old, and a stay-at-home mom to a very active almost-3 year old. I've been married to my husband for 4 1/2 years, though we've known each other for a heck of a lot longer than that. (He was my brother's best friend from middle/high school). I live in the great state of Iowa, USA. I decided to start this battle log because I kept feeling like a "failure" at the challenges. I'd be one of those people who would do pretty good for the first week or two, and then just not sign in due to not completing something and not wanting to let people down. Also, I need some place where I can vent about things. I've never been diagnosed with depression or anything like that, but then again, I haven't been to a psychiatric since I was really really little. Even so, I do struggle with severe down times. Like, I hesitate to call it depression, knowing that depression is a real and huge thing that people struggle with, but that's what it feels like. I've had suicidal thoughts since I was in high school, and I've struggled with cutting as well. I believe that I'm doing better in those two areas, but I still backslide from time to time. Another reason for this battle log. I need to be brutally honest with someone. I feel like the only people who know the real me is my husband and daughter. I have this weird belief/feeling that people don't really want to know what's wrong with me, so I put on a happy face for them. Even my parents only know a bit about what I've dealt with. So, I'm going to be brutally honest on here. I apologize if it comes across as whining or bitching or whatever. I'll try and remember to post the happy things as well. Moving on... I'm severely overweight. I want to become healthier so I can keep up with my husband and daughter, so that's my motivation, though if I'm perfectly honest, I also want to feel "sexy". I'm going to *gulp* take pictures and measurements tomorrow and that will be (re-)starting point. I would love to get down to 125-130 pounds, but if I end up at 140 or 150 and I'm healthy and happy, then I'll take it. My short-term goal right now is to lose 10 pounds by March 13, 2015. That is the start date of my first major convention since I was in college. I'm planning on cosplaying, and I would love to lose a bit of weight before then. 10 pounds is doable as that's only 1 pound a week. My main problem is food. I love food. I love cooking and eating. If I make something that's super delicious, then I'll just stuff myself with it. Not so good when one is trying to lose weight. So, in the food area, I'm going to get back to logging my food on MFP (my username is Shy422, if you would like to follow me). I will also log the food here as to keep accountability with ya'll. At the end of November, I took a huge step and decided to join a gym. I've been a few times since then (holidays are a time-killer for me) but I find myself actually wanting to go back, so I'll be going Mon-Wed-Fri and mainly do a warm-up cardio on the treadmill (or elliptical if I'm feeling ambitious) before moving to weights. I'll be posting those stats here as well. And...I believe that's everything. If you have any questions about me, just let me know.

Hello! My name is Melissa. I am a university student studying archaeology on the East coast of Canada, and I absolutely love it! I have found my passion for a career. I am learning to find my passion for health and fitness. But for most of my 26 years on this earth I have been relatively sedentary, so it is a struggle. I am slowly getting it! My nerdy passions are sci-fi and fantasy books, Doctor Who, Red Dwarf, Firefly and World of Warcraft. I am also really interested in tabletop gaming; and I have a nice little collection of Circle Orboros miniatures from the Game War Machine and Hordes. I just have no one to play them with, nor the time at the moment to play. My goals for 2015 are: 1) Prepare to run a half marathon in the fall 2) Get my diet straightened out (I want to be healthy so I can run faster and further!) 3) Quit the soda, the only thing that comes from that is rotting teeth and unwanted pounds 4) Keep thinking and acting in positive ways! I want as little negativity as possible this year With all this in mind, I am starting a daily battle log! Within the next week I will update on my weight and bmi, and also perhaps add before photos. I go to university full time, and I work somewhere between 24 to 31 hours a week on top of it, so I have a pretty hectic schedule. But updating my battle log will be the last thing I do every night before I go to bed.

Been meaning to start one of these for a while but finally getting around to it. I decided that I should start one so taht I have a progression showing before I go into basic. Quick backstory. Was once in shape, then lost my shape and trying to get it back now. Newly married in september, decided recently that I am going to be enlistin in the United States Air Force as soon as I can drop 50lbs. So i have started running and bodyweight workouts to prepare. Feel free to throw oppinions in and all of the encouragement that you can muster cause I am going to need it. 4:30am runs and workouts suck! but they will suck less in basic if I do it now. anywho heres to life changes!

Hello There! My name is Tiffany, and I am actually on the academy forums but I figured I would keep everything in the same place since the 6 week challenges are something I enjoy. As the new year is about to start for me I have reflected on what I did well and not so well over this current year. I have gotten stronger, I haven't lost weight, I have fought my bad eating habits a bit but I need to get better at consistency overall. Since I used to do the whole "get in shape" resolution every year I figured this time around I'm going to focus on something new. Becoming a Badass! lol... My goal this year is to deadlift my body weight (at least 3-5 reps). I just started deadlifts with dumbbells a few weeks ago, I am up to 12 reps of 50lbs, so it's a good start. I figure if I focus on the strength, the other changes I want will come along as well. And this is something I will see constant/consistent improvement in if I keep up with it. What I will need to do in order to hit that goal by the end of the year: - Eat the correct nutrients to gain muscle and lean up - I will be tracking meal's with My Fitness Pal - I will be aiming for an 80/20 eat healthy ratio, so as not to binge on horrible things because I say I can't have any - I will be planing and prepping breakfasts and lunches for my week, so going off plan will be less likely - WATER!!! At least 8 glasses a day - Weight Training 3 times a week - I have an online training coach through fitocracy that gives me a schedule which I will be following - I will be going to at least one extracurricular active activity once a week - I enjoy crossfit, want to learn more about MMA and enjoy ice skating, so I will be doing these once a week. If I got to AM crossfit it will count as a weight training session since it is a weight based crossfit class (and kicks my butt for 3 days after, lol). What I will be tracking here: How I feel I did for the day overall, my goals as they change and adapt, and overall thoughts on my journey.

(original art from Marvel's She-Hulk Vol: 3--- text and color edit by me). From the start of all of this I had one goal in mind: I want to get a hold of my health again. I want to not be afraid to risk taking a job in fear of not being able to pull my weight because of my illness. I don't want this disease to define who I am, because for a while, it has. Main Quest: Medical Remission of Rheumatoid Arthritis October 2, 2014: Showing signs of medical remission, under doctor's watch I am beginning to taper off the strongest of medications. Lowering dosage by .1 ml every three months unless told otherwise. October 21, 2014: First week of lowered dosage. Lessened side effects, usual exhaustion and sickness dissipated within 3 days but was able to complete full sessions at the gym and eat whole meals during this time. Side Quest: Lose 65lbs (45lbs by my Birthday December 27th). July 2014: Weight: 245 August 2014: Weight: 237 September 2014: Weight: 225 October 28, 2014: Weight: 220 This here log will cover: Achievements Weigh-ins/measurements Progress Photos (WHAT? WE GET TO SEE WHAT SHE HULK LOOKS LIKE?! Gasp). Weight training plans Nutrition My weekly grades (during challenge times) Mini two-week challenges for myself between the NF-driven challenges. Basically, I'm gonna use this to cover all sorts of things.

Originally, I was going to wait until I started my first challenge in a few weeks, but then I decided, why not now? It's a good enough life motto, so this is probably a good place to apply that philosophy. And so, here I am! My current fitness goal is to lose those pesky 43lbs 32lbs that are still hanging around (thanks, grad school and injuries, thanks a lot) and improve my strength and stamina in general. I've been at it in earnest since fall of last year, and this seems like a great place to inspire me to up my efforts. It would be pretty badass to be in the best shape of my life at 30, and I'm going for it! Goals I'd like to achieve on my journey include but aren't limited to:Improve my upper body strength now that my hands are finally as healed as they're going to getMaster Crow Pose. (This is done as of 8/19/14) Also possibly Flying Lizard and Firefly.Do a handstand again!Do my first-ever pull-up????Stop being scared of free weights (Lifting program started on 7/21/14, 4-6 days a week now)Do a hyperextended split againLearn Parkour! Why dream small? (On hold - started classes, broke ankle, and off to rehab I go...)Certify as a Zumba instructorComplete the process of cutting processed foods and GMO foods out of my dietHome-cook everything. Don't take the shortcut to the work cafeteria, Maaya. That's a bad shortcut. (Calling this done - in the last 3 months I've been down there maybe twice, and have made healthful choices each time, eschewing the "bad" options)Look good naked. What can I say, I'm vain.In other words, drop some dress sizes. At least 3, preferably 4, in a crazy world possibly 5. (Currently down 1... looking to be down 2 soonish.) I hope to look back on this in a year or two, realize I have accomplished everything on this list, and gleefully set new goals! So, here we go, wish me luck~

Introduction Hi there! I've been lurking in the forums and chat room for a week or two, waiting eagerly for this challenge to start. Well, really I'm mostly eager to get into the Assassins guild. But all good things come in time, or something, right? I'm a middle school English teacher in Korea. And, well, let's get this thing going. Short and sweet because I'm tired and am reserving my typing energy for NaNoWriMo. Main Quest I want to be able to run, climb, jump, and be a bad-ass. I want to be as capable as Lara Croft is, to handle whatever comes my way. I want to be able to do handstand pushups on the edge of a cliff. Because I know I can do it; it's just a matter of getting there. Tasks 1. Do the bodyweight workouts 3 times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. (a total of 18 workouts) ( STR 4, STA 2) Grading: A = 18 B = 12-17 C = 7-12 D = 0-6 2. Go without takeout meals (A = 100% B = 75% C = 50% D = 25% F = 0%) (CON 2) 3. Go to the climbing gym at least 2 times each week. (DEX 3, STA 3) (a total of 12 workouts) A = 12 B = 8-11 C = 4-7 D = 0-4 Side quest Life: Complete NaNoWriMo (WIS 1) So, everything neatly summed up in the goals part of my character sheet (check the link in my signature to make your own): Rewards: Well, being able to fit into three 'new' pairs of pants (gifts from my mom who hadn't seen me in a year) will be reward enough. Motivation: I want to be able to do anything and everything that Lara Croft can do, if I want to. I want my outside to match how I feel inside.

Hi Everyone, This is my battle log. Below are the things I want to achieve - my quests, my goals, my hit list, call it what you will... (Be warned: it's long...) Background: ex-ballet dancer-fencer, current violinist, wants to get into kick-butt shape Goals: Running: Run 10 miles. Run a half-marathon Run a marathon Run a sub-nine minute mile. (Sun, Sept 7, 2014, Mile 3 of 5, 8:57!) Run a sub-eight minute mile Run the Leadville 100 (at some point before I die...) Strength training: Do one real pushup (Mon, Sept. 29, 2014 Do 10 real pushups Do a pull-up Salmon ladder! (because it looks cool) Skill-related: Enroll in a martial arts class and obtain a belt, if said martial art does those things Try a different martial art Become a better ballroom dancer Try archery Try parkour I think that's it, but I'm sure I'll add to it as I manage to cross more things off of the list. For the rebellion, Petra

vi squareone.log I've been doing alright with the body weight piece of my adventure for challenge one: Square One I did get three workouts in during week1, which was the goal so I feel pretty good there. I'm thinking about either increasing the reps, or adding some more weight to make things more difficult as this is getting to be a little bit lacking in the challenge department. ~ I've also been technically doing alright with drinking water, the second piece of my adventure for challenge one. I'm not feeling like it's enough water though and I'm not drinking much more than the specific guidelines I gave myself at the beginning of the challenge. It sounds like it should be an easy fix but for some reason it's just not. ~ Running has been a fail. I'm blaming the sudden drop in temperature in this neck of the woods, even though last winter I bought myself some fancy and expensive cold weather running gear. This would be a good time to... uh.. I dunno... use it? ~ ~ I am totally failing my side quest. I am not physically talking to any new people like I had planned. I wasn't anticipating this level of stress, so I felt a lot more confident about this quest at the beginning. I moved back with my parents in August. It was rough but now with the holidays so close, I don't know how much I can bear. I am shutting down. I don't think new conversations stand a chance right now. ~ ~ ~ "squareone.log" 16L, 1385C written :wq!

This first post is a crosspost from Rebel Introductions - I wanted to start my log here from the very begining. Back in April, my whole world crumbled and I was shattered into a million pieces. The details aren't important really, only the fact that I was broken. I saw my entire life reflected back to me. What I saw was a giant lie and an incredible amount of crippling fear. I lied to myself for so many years, lied to others. Lie upon lie upon lie. The fear of failure and defeat so complete that I was careening down a path of total destruction - I needed to crash land. So there I was, 31 years old and at my heaviest. A whopping 310 lbs. I was carrying the weight of nearly two extra people on my body. It was my burden. My shield from the rest of the world. My cloak that masked any of my potential. It was my excuse. Most people think of being broken as something negative, heartbreaking or devastating. For me, it was the opposite. It was the best thing that could have happened to me. I was broken from my old self. My 310 lb shell was finally cracked. This was my opportunity to evolve. To reach out and embrace the unknown. It was my defining moment. Over the next few months, I dedicated my focus entirely on rebuilding myself. I analyzed my behaviours, deciding which ones to keep and which ones no longer served me. I started establishing better routines, sweating daily and taking special care of what kind of fuel I put into my body. I was putting myself back together in a whole new way. I learned truths about myself instead of convincing myself of lies. Instead of only learning and reading what about I should do, I did it. I discovered that I am much stronger than I had ever dared myself to believe and I could do all the things I knew I should have done years ago. I kept reaching for my goals, even when I stumbled - I used my strength to pick myself back up. I let go of fear. I abolished doubt. So here I am now. I'm 100 lbs lighter than I was when I started on this path. 210 lbs and dropping. I used to think a number was my end goal and spent a lot of time obcessing over it. Over the course of this journey, I've become aware that it's not about reaching that magical number. It's not even about having an end. My path is to always keep evolving and reaching for something new. It's to set goals and do whatever it takes to accomplish them. To flex, shift and adapt as the path morphs and changes. It's about consistent progression and growth. Physical, intellectual, spiritual. The reason I find myself here at nerdfitness is that I believe it will give me the opportunity I need to level up on my quest. I am a lone wolf and tend to hide and keep to myself. I have a hard time relying on others, asking for help or even opening up. In all honesty, I needed a place where I could be exposed. So it is very nice to meet you, and thank you in advance. I joined the academy and I thought I would share my intended goals here as well. More accountabilty for the work ahead of me in the next few months. Here are the nitty gritty details of my journey. Long Term Goals * no definite time span however I would like to see these accomplished in the next few years. - Transform my body and my mind so that I am comfortable being naked - - Complete a Triathalon - - Write a novel - - Refine my photography and artwork - - Find a new avenue in life - employment/location - - Go on 10 day canoe portaging/hiking expediton to Maple Mountain - 2014 Goals I know the year is starting to run short but I have my sights set on accomplishing these by the year end Fitness: - Run 5K in under 35 minutes on pavement - *current time is at 49:08 on pavement and 37:39 on treadmill unlock: Concert tickets - Swim 3000m freestyle in 1 hour or less - *current distance for one hour is 1950m unlock: Trip to Ottawa to skate on the Rideau Canal - Run a 10K - *longest run so far is 6.5K unlock: New bicycle - Unassisted pull-up - *currently doing assisted pull ups at 100 lbs unlock: Snowshoes - Unassisted dip - *currently doing assisted dip at 70 lbs unlock: New backpack for overnight hikes - Do 10 pushups in a row - *currently can only do one single proper pushup unlock: Klipsh headphones - Increase flexibility - touch head to knees - sit in full lotus - *I can move my body differently with less fat getting in the way - take advantage Unlock: Meditation Retreat Health and beauty: - Weigh below 200 lbs - * welcome to onederland! Unlock: 2 night stay at Royal York in Toronto - Weight below 180 lbs - * move out of obesity and into being overweight unlock: NHL Hockey Game - Take better care of my outward appearance - * wear makeup, look pretty, buy clothes that make me feel girly, get a mani-pedi, etc Life and carreer goals: - Start writing novel - *develop plot, create story outline and characters. - Bring my photographs to art studio for framing and display - * stop hiding my work and reach out - Maintain a more organized and cleaner space - * when things are in order, my mind is in order - Pay down my debt by $1000 - *rethink spending Mind and Emotions: - Find peace in my path, let go of past mistakes - * I've let go of a lot but some days it still haunts me - reduce my anxiety - * remember to breathe - go out and do something social - * outside of my comfort zone - it has to be new and fun! Unlock: Spa day Measurements: Current weight: 210 lbs Waist: 39 inches Hips: 49.5 inches Neck 14.5 inches Calf: 16 inches Thigh: 26.5 inches Bicep: 14 3/4 inches * Note - The measuring tape I had was not ideal, I will be updating this as soon as the one I ordered comes in. My path and rewards: Fitness: - Minimum of 10 000 steps walking/running every single day - 2 consecutive weeks: 1 Home or Theatre movie pass 1 consecutive month: New piece of workout gear or gadget - NFA Workouts 4 X per week - 2 consecutive weeks: Home or Theatre movie pass 1 consecutive month:New article of clothing - Running 30-60 minutes per day 5 days per week - 2 consecutive weeks: New Book 1 consecutive month: New article of clothing - HIIT 2 days per week - 14 consecutive days: 2 episode TV Show pass 1 consecutive month: new article of clothing - Swimming 3-4 days per week - 14 consecutive days: New book 1 consecutive month: New piece of workout gear - 100 Squats and lunges, 1 minute plank per day - 14 consecutive days: 2 episode TV show pass 1 consecutive month: New shoes - Daily yoga routine - 14 consecutive days: yoga pants 1 consecutive month new vinyl record: - Keep to Paleo diet - NO SUGAR - Plan and prepare meals - Track all food in and meet macros - 14 consecutive days: 2 episode TV show pass 1 consecutive month: New vinyl record Health and Beauty: - Put on makeup - Straighten my hair 3 days per week - Make an effort to look pretty and dress nicely - 14 consecutive days: New makeup 1 consecutive month: Mani-Pedi Life and Carreer: - Write a minimum of 300 words per day - Write in my Battle Log at least 5 times per week - 14 consecutive days: 2 episode TV show pass 1 consecutive month: New gadget or toy/game - Organize photos into a portfolio and create a Flikr album (or similar) to showcase my work - rewrite resume * you can find an album with some of my photos in my profile - Keep to a regular chore schedule - - Put $175 per paycheque onto my debt - Mind and Emotions: - Meditate 5 minutes in the morning and at night - - Use breathing techniques to help with anxiety - - Watch less TV - - Get more sleep - - Read more books - So that's the map I have set out for the next part of my journey. The area is massive so there are a lot of different paths to take but they all lead to the same result. So long as I stay within the map of course. As far as 2015, I will set those goals when it's a bit closer to that time. For now, I have a lot to keep in focus and have learned that 3-4 month plans work best for me. “You're never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true.â€

Time to officially start my battle long on here. I've kept notes in my phone, but I'm hoping this helps me as well. I've been seriously lifting for about 6-7 months now. Sure, I lifted a little in my past, but not on any kind of program or any kind of schedule. I have seen huge increases in strength, which is AWESOME, but now I need to get the diet part figured out. I need to lose weight, plain and simple. It will help my overall health, and it will be easier to see the muscle I'm building. Ok, time to put up this last week's stats. Note:deadlifts aren't usually a separate day, it just happened that way this week because of time constraints. Nov 8- Back Bench Pulls- 4x5 120lbs, 1x5 125lbs Dumbbell Rows- 35lbs x8, 40lbs x8, 45lbs x8, 50lbs x8 "Batman" or High Rows- 90x10, 140x10, 180x8 drop to 90x10 Superset: Lat Pulldown- 90x15, 100x15, 110x10 drop to 80x5 Straight Arm Pullovers- 50x15, 60x15, 70x15 drop to 40x10 Face Pulls- 50x20, 60x20, 70x20 Nov 10- Chest Bench- 2x5 145lbs, 1x5 150lbs Bench Press w/Dumbbells- 80x8, 90x8, 100x8 Floor Press (with chains, not sure how many lbs they added)-2x5 135lbs. Incline Hammer- 45x10, 55x10, 45x10 Nov 11- Leg Day (Quad Focus) Leg Extensions- 115x15, 130x15, 145x15, 160x15 Hack Squats- 90x10, 140x10, 180x10, 200x5, 230x5, 250x3 drop 140x8 Leg Press-180x20, 270x20, 360x10 drop 180x20 Nov 12- Shoulders and Arms Overhead Press (OHP)- 3x5 90lbs, 1x5 95lbs Bicep Curl (Barbell)- 2x5 75lbs, 1x5 80 Close Grip Bench- 3x5 140lbs. Bicep Curls (Dumbbell)- 35x8, 40x8, 35x8 Shoulder Press (Dumbbell)- 40x8, 35x8 Lateral Raise- 15x8 Skullcrushers (I'm not sure how much the bar weighs, so it's just plate weight)- 2x8 30lbs, 1x5 50lbs Face Pulls- 50x25, 40x25, 30x25, 20x25 Tricep Rope- 50x25, 40x25, 30x25, 20x25 Nov 15- Deadlifts 285x1 5x5 225lbs. Nov 16- Back Bench Pulls- 3x5 125lbs, 1x5 130lbs. Dumbbell Rows- 45x8, 50x8, 55x8 Batman- 90x10, 140x10, 180x10 drop 90x10 Hammer Strength Neutral Row- 45x12, 90x12, 115x12, 135x10 Giant Set: Lat Pulldown (reverse grip)- 90x10, 100x9 Straight Arm Pullovers- 60x15, 70x15 Face Pulls- 40x20, 30x20

November 20, 2014 I'm beginning this log for myself. I keep track of my workouts in a pen and paper binder that I carry around the gym with me and I will be entering them here at the end of each week. I don't feel like jumping into the 6 week challenges until next year, as I'm going to be very busy until then. I am 5'10 and, as of yesterday's weigh-in, 213lbs. These are my current goals: Weight Goal 1: 200lbs Weight Goal 2: 190lbs Weight Goal 3: 180lbs Strength Goal 1: Bench Press 5x5 275lbs Strength Goal 2: Squat 5x5 315lbs Strength Goal 3: Deadlift 1RM 405lbs I want to minimize strength loss in my upper body, and actually attempt to make gains if I can during the weight loss process. I haven't lifted using my legs in several months due to injury, so I expect to make gains there, as I am dropping the weight significantly from what I was formally able to do. I am eating at a caloric deficit that should cause me to lose 1lb of fat per week. I use myfitnesspal to track my calories and I'm currently becoming familiar again with StrongLifts 5x5 following my completion of physical therapy. I had completed 12 weeks of SL previously and had become quite powerful. I'll link myfitnesspal in my signature, as I'm currently most active there for the tracking and the facebook-like social aspect. The forum discussions here seem a lot more informed and intelligent. There seems to be less garbage to filter through to get to facts and methods that work. Currently I am prioritizing my weight loss goals over the strength gains. When I get larger muscles, I want to see them in their veiny, striated glory. I am leaving on vacation tomorrow for 10 days and likely won't make another entry until then. Realistically, I expect to be heavier because it will be harder to train and I am allowing myself to indulge on Thanksgiving. I will, however, make time for running, walking, and some body weight exercises while I am out of town. Until next time, Broshi

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I've been tracking nutrition and workouts on MyFitnessPal for a long time (on and off) but decided to start a battle log because hey, why not? It's called a battle log! At the gym, I track my workouts in my TARDIS journal and no way I'm giving that up, but it'll be nice to have everything in one place. MFP is a bit of a PITA when it comes to scrolling back through each individual day to see what I did. I also posted my Level 1 Rebel Challenge, which has all of the details on my mission. My main goal is to decrease my body fat, and to do so I'm engaging in 4 days of heavy lifting per week, plus at least 1 day of pure cardio (I also do some cardio on my lifting days). I'm currently limiting my carb intake, which doesn't seem to have much impact, but I'll keep it up for the length of the challenge and then reevaluate.

New year, new log! Right? Well... or... I don't know. But still. Everyone is making challenges and logs, so I felt like making a new one >.> I've verified that challenges don't seem to work for me, so here I am. So pretty much ever since I went to Boston at the beginning of December I've been slacking on both eating well and exercising (and updating logs and challenges >.>). I've done a few CrossFit sessions... I went for a run right before Christmas and it looked something like this: And I looked something like this: Aaaaaaand... I'm pretty sure that's the last time I worked out (unless you count my nephew walk/ruck... he's adorbs and 15 lbs.). But now! The holidays are over. My birthday is past. And I'm not traveling again for two weeks So I'm looking forward to getting back into a Paleoish lifestyle and back to CrossFit. I have some major changes coming in my life, so things may get topsy-turvy and I might have to come up with a new fitness plan. They're good changes though, so I'll happily deal with that as it comes. I told my supervisor today that I won't be doing another field season with them, so now I'm waiting to hear the verdict on how long they want to keep me around. I'll be applying for jobs and if I get one here in Portland, I'll be looking for a new place to live. If I don't find another job here by the time I'm done where I'm at, then my current plan is either 1) move back to Alaska for the summer or 2) take an epic road trip across the U.S. and then go back to Alaska for the summer (time of year and money-dependent). So here goes nothing! I'll be logging and musing. The travel in two weeks is to Dallas-area for the 4T meet-up, so I'm SUPER excited to see some of the nerds (some I've met before and some I haven't). So there might even be some photos ending up here. *chmok!*

Greetings, warriors! I am actually really excited for this challenge, so let's get to it! First, some backstory. I was doing really well with my fitness over the summer, and then I kind of let things slide when I got back to school. So the last two months haven't really counted for much except the odd plank or press up set in my room. Now I'm back into the swing of a routine, and actually paying for a gym membership to get me out the door and using it. So my quests are as follows: Work out consistently. I'll be lifting weights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Cardio will be done on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I'll post my stats here each week like I did on my first challenge so I can compare the beginning with the end. Exciting, yes? (+3 str, +3 sta) Stretch before and after each workout. I always forget to put this in my challenges, but I really need to crack down on this. The hope is to have my splits back by New Year's. (+3 dex) Avoid carbs and sugars more. No more boxed macaroni, or heaps of white potatoes, or Yoplait yogurts. I'm not cutting these things out entirely, mind, but I do need to get my serving sizes under control. I'll be sticking with the the fist rule when it comes to carb serving sizes (each serving should be the size of your fist). (+3 con) My Life Quest is to start playing piano again. I still play piano, twice a week, for a class I'm in, but it's nothing compared to what I did in high school. I'm going to start practising on my own time at least once a week, starting with my old repertoire and getting it polished again. (+3 cha) Here's to a great next six weeks!

So I'm coming back to this, after a...month and a half?... of hiatus. Augh, I'm a Rebel level 0 again, since I didn't make it on my first challenge, but I'm okay with that, I think. Starting somewhere is the important part, right? I figure I'd reevaluate my goals, you know? I'm doing a Diabetes Prevention Program/class thing through work, though I'm not pre- or currently diabetic, but it's a good thing for me. Most of the information is stuff I know, though, so it's not super exciting, but it's another layer of accountability - one of the ladies I work with runs the meetings, so it's easy for her to come to my desk and ask me about progress or lack of reporting. It's...interesting. Anyway, so goals: My main mantra is something like "Training to be a Hunter" (Supernatural). Duh, show's not real, I'm a fan, not a lunatic. But I want to be strong like them, and be able to kick ass and be physically strong enough to take on demons and stuff, just minus all the dying (looking at you, Dean!). I'd like to be able to eventually run for a long distance without feeling like I'm dying, haul big bags and shove bodies around, all that good stuff. Mostly, I want my body in good working order to be able to do something physically demanding. Plus, if I can eventually have something that even resembles Winchester abs, hells yes I'm in. So here are my baby steps, all portioned out for a short-term goal of 1/1/15. Physical: Lose 10 pounds/one pants size by Jan. 1st, 2015: This will give me approximately 8 weeks to lose 1.25 pounds a week, which seems reasonable. It also will bring me 1.5 points lower for my BMI (47.1 to 45.6).Be more stringent about tracking - use the DPP class handout to more accurately track my calories (which means actual measuring, not eyeballing) and eat around 1800 calories daily (which is approx 600kc deficit)Do resistance yoga with the family 3x/week (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday - already doing this, woot!)Do weekly boxing unit at local dojo (Mondays) Mental (pending gym membership, maybe?) Run a 35-minute 5K on the elliptical by Jan. 1st. (I consider this a mental one, because I've rarely been able to run a sub-12-minute-mile, so this will help me grow in my confidence and self-esteem)Run 5K 1x/week in November, 2x/week in DecemberInterval training program on the elliptical 2x a week (add a day each week until 5x/week, then reevaluate)Steve's Mobility Stretches 3x/week (add a day each week until 7x/week)Spiritual Work on getting a solid 7 hours of sleep a night (usually I get around 5-6)No fussing with electronics after 10PM (no matter how many episodes of Supernatural I wanna watch, dammit) (and no phone at the bed, ya idjit!)Dinner finished (and hopefully eaten) by 10PMPack my bag and meditate/quiet time for 10 minutes before 10:30PM (bedtime)Starting weight: 310 Okay. Okay, so those are my goals for now. I'm doing No Junk November and cutting out candies and soda (again) so that will be super challenging. I /was/ going to start yesterday but was eating cake while I decided, and it all... went downhill from there. Sigh. Things I've got going for me/resources available to me: Weekly yoga with family: Free Weekly boxing unit: $10/week Weekly weigh-in at DPP: free Fitbit (that I don't know how to use): Free Gym Membership: ...$117/month?! I may have to reconsider the Mental goal. Okay. So, yeah, there's that. I still have some needs, like, I need to get myself in the habit of doing weekly meal prep, and get new running shoes, and maybe invest in some dumbbells and/or resistance bands, but I want to be as low-key and not crazy as possible. So, here's my log. I'm going to try again, and by god, if Castiel can drag the boys outta Hell, I can drag my sorry ass to these goals.

I am starting a battle log because I want 2014 to be a year where things change. I want to be able to journal through times I just can't get myself out the door and celebrate the successes I plan to make. I want a place to track what I am doing right, wrong, and in between. I will post new progress photos each month on the last day of the month. Here are my starting photos: Entries will start on January 1st. January Start: Waist 33.5 Hips 42.5 Thighs 24 Arms 12.75 Weight: 171 February Start: Waist 32.5 Hips 41 Thighs 24 Arms 12.5 Weight: 169 July End: Waist 30.5 Hips 36 Thighs 22.5 Arms 12 Weight: 153

My first battle log! I started this to keep me organized and motivated, and to have a record of my progress. I have a few goals I'm focusing on right now: Progress toward being able to do a pullupImprove my rock climbing (first stage goal: be able to fluidly climb a 5.10)Run a 5K sometime in the fallIn the longer term, a bit more weight loss and some body recomposition are also goals of mine, but right now I want to focus on doing things and not on how I look. My running is pretty mediocre at the moment, so I'm using the Zombies 5K training program on my smartphone and occasionally rowing to help build up cardio endurance. I have a weight setup in my basement (bench, squat rack, barbell, plates, and dumbbells) and I just ordered a pullup bar; a combination of basic lifts and body weight is how I plan to progress toward my pullup goal. Climbing will improve, I expect, through a combination of my strength training efforts and simply through climbing, which I currently do once per week. Since I have a physical job, I have to be pretty careful not to overtrain (if I get injured I'm useless at work!) but I don't have any particular time limit on anything so there's no reason to rush. All I'm asking of myself is to stay active, progress at a safe but challenging rate, and have fun. In case anyone's curious, here's the short version of my backstory: a Canadian woman who lives in Boston. Used to be obese until a few years ago when I lost 90 pounds and improved my fitness. Currently striving to improve it even more. I like to rock climb, I like getting stronger, and I'm working on improving my running endurance. Used to be in corporate law, now assistant manager of an organic farm on the edge of the city. I work in the fields and drive tractors and make crop planning spreadsheets. I'm a nerd who likes languages, history, computer games, biology, camping, music, building things, and dancing.

Been a few days since I posted anything. Mainly because I've been kinda busy at home helping out the folks ^^; Now to get down to business! I have a few links to share (though I'll also put them in my signature as well). So feel free to stalk them This one is to my workout log: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QbSxvj_MMOpWjm4mDyA4rn2DU0UAMCEH2yDMyKaKhcQ/edit?usp=sharing And the other one is to my MFP food diary: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/turntechBiologist Monday was an excellent day when I first started the Academy's Recruit workout! Though I was only able to complete 2 rounds of it and that was it. And I'm still a bit sore from it, but I'm okay with that. I did my warm-ups and cool-downs like I was supposed to, so I excepted to still be kinda sore. I'm not comfortable with the walking DVD program I do now. I used to be fine with it, but now I'm not. And it'll seem a bit dumb, but I'm not comfortable walking around the park near my house anymore. Too many shady cars parking on the side street near it, plus I've had some issues there when I've tried walking around the entire park, mostly when it comes to stray dogs. So I don't want to deal with that. I can't walk around my backyard because it's just one short straight path and back (I should take a picture so show what I have to deal with XD). Plus, we have dogs roaming around, and I don't want them jumping around on me when I'm trying to exercise. So I guess it's just walking back and forth in the house? I don't know, I'll have to find a park I can go to with no problems. I ate pretty good on Monday I believe. Tuesday was just completely boring (and feeling very sore). I didn't get to go for a 30 minute walk like I wanted to because I had to find some nice clothes for Friday (my graduation ). So I was on my feet, but it was still really boring. Especially when I thought we were only going to one (or two) stores and that was it, but then we went to another one (augh!).It's just really uncomfortable going into a store with clothes you already know won't fit you :/ But I won't let that discourage me! I was just really bored, so I called up a friend to help me keep my sanity. I ate very well Tuesday except for dinner. We had Taco Bell for dinner, but I'm not letting that get me off track! I may post about Wednesday either later on or tomorrow

Today I got a scale. This is a Big Deal for me, because I outweigh most scales. For a long time, I was over the limit for bathroom scales, etc. And not because I was huge and ripped or anything. It was because…well, I looked like I ate John Candy. When I finally went to a doctor because I was having a hard time sleeping, I got weighed and measured and all that for the first time in, oh, ten years? More? Anyway, at the time (April of 2013) I weighed in at 475 pounds (215 kg or so). Hafthor Bjornsson weighs remarkably less than that, and he’s damn near seven feet tall. I’m six three. So. Time to get my butt in gear, I saw when I had quantified information. I also found out that I was diabetic (sugar at 350 on that visit, which is what the experts call “OMG levelâ€) and had high blood pressure (190/130, known as the “stroke out†range). I was 34 at the time. I got on the BP and sugar meds and got those things fairly well ironed out, and immediately felt better. I got on kettlebells, got on Barbarian/primitive fitness stuff, and set out to achieve my goal of “being able to stand up throughout my brother’s wedding as a groomsman.†This goal was accomplished at the start of January, and I have slacked off to damn near nothing since then. To be honest, I hadn’t really been sticking to workouts at all for the two weeks before. That puts us at about two months since I had regular workouts. For those of you keeping track at home, my sugar has started to edge upward again. So I joined NerdFitness and bought a scale that could weigh me! It’s a talking scale, but I shut that bad boy up ASAP. Today I did weighing, measuring, and took pics of myself without a shirt on (something I’ve not done before…well, ever). Currently I’m at: 463 pounds. Neck: 23†(58cm) Chest: 65.5†(166 cm) Bust (for the hell of it): 67†(171cm, and according to an online calculator, that makes me a 30AA) Right Bicep: 19†(48cm) Right Forearm: 15†(38cm) Waist: 55†(135cm) Belly: 68†(173cm) Hips: 59†(150cm) Right Calf: 22.5†(52cm) Okay, granted, I might have gotten carried away on the measurements. Mom’s a quilter; she instilled good values in me. TLDR: Fat guy finds out that he’s fat. So what do I plan to do? I’m a fan of bodyweight exercises, mostly because I have a lot of it and I believe in using what you have. That and I’m cheap, so I can’t really afford a gym right now. I have that, information about bodyweight exercising (including Convict Conditioning, aka Spark’s Fitness Bible), a set of three kettlebells, a homemade “iron mace,†and a set of 10-lb homemade clubbells. I also have a tractor tire, on which I pound said mace. Over the last week I’ve been getting back into the CC workouts with a daily routine, breaks on Sunday. I plan to add kettlebells to the daily workouts and use Sundays for the mace/clubs stuff as a full-body routine. This is probably going to be too much, and I’m okay with that. I like to know my limits. My body has always reacted well to exercise; those of you who know what all those numbers mean up there know that I have good genes to have survived this long. The goal is to survive longer, and feel better than I did growing up. I will firm this into a serious plan by the start of the next challenge cycle as I figure out what I can do and what I can’t. In addition to the weights, I plan to add walking to my routine. Three days a week. I’m still nailing the schedule down. Fortunately, I live in rural Arkansas (we do not, as they say, faff about when it comes to rural here), so I can walk wherever I want with only minimal risk of villagers running me off with pitchforks and torches. So here’s the intro to my battle log. Starting pictures of me are spoilered below, but don’t feel obligated to click on them. I’m glad to be in a place where people reading my words have some idea of what I’m joking about, and I can already tell that it’s a supportive atmosphere. Cheers.

Hello, lovely people! I feel honored that you have taken the time to read my daily battle log. Well, at least, the very first post on it! I have been on Nerd Fitness for over a year now, and have been on NF chat for..... probably a year and a half. The past year, I've been doing challenges, and have not been very successful overall. I have, however, learned a great deal about myself during that time. Some of those lessons are: 1. I am terrible at setting realistic goals for myself. 2. I am easily frustrated and disappointed in myself. 3. Those negative feelings about the poor start of a challenge or a rough patch in the middle of a change sabotages the rest of the challenge. 4. I am extreme in my passion, enthusiasm and optimism, but am not as skilled in perseverance and problem solving, nor focus and consistency. 5. I have some serious issues I need to straighten out, namely my eating disorder. The solution? Trying my best every single day, day in and day out, to accomplish as much good and to take care of myself as well as possible EVERY day. I have been trying to think more in terms of every single day, rather than a week or 2 weeks or 6 weeks, and it seems to be helping a bit. My overall objectives are to: 1. Lose weight and gain muscle, strength, tone 2. Become strong and healthy in the physical, emotional and mental sense 3. Pursue my dreams and career aspirations 4. Strengthen my spiritual life and finances Some of the ways I will achieve that is to: 1. Eat paleo (mostly Whole30-approved foods) 2. Eat as close to my BMR as possible and not deprive myself 3. Work out 5x a week (hopefully running 3x a week) 4. Hopefully start lifting soon 5. Drink 100 oz water per day and take my vitamins 6. Find ways to manage my stress, prioritize and become efficient and effective 7. Focus and meet school and career goals 8. Take time to pray 9. Reduce spending and become more organized with my record-keeping I'm hoping to treat this as more of my online confessional than anything else. My posts may have just about anything going on in my life in them, so I hope you don't mind. It's going to be a whole lot of Snow being honest about where I'm at in life Right now, I am exhausted and pulling the billionth all-nighter this semester. I'm just ready for it to all be over. I am putting off working on a paper that is already late, and I have the longest to-do list in the world. I want to crawl under a rock and ignore everything, and sleep for about a week, but that's not possible. In order to get a little accountability, here is my schedule for today. I will be reporting to let you know how much I got done: 5am: 1. Do laundry 2. Pick up the house 3. Do reading assignment for Anarchy 4. Do paper slips 5. E-mail Professor Zeff, Will, Ryan and Rod 6. Write Media Paper #4 9am: Shower, eat breakfast, take vitamins, get dressed, print and fill out transcript request form 10:15: Work on Media Paper #1 11:45: Leave home, mail request, go to school 12:30: Political Research Methods class, 2: Sovereignty and Anarchy 3:15: Meeting with professor 3:45: Graduation dress and heels shopping with Mom! Dinner, homework, sleep by 1am. I expect people asking how much I got done! Hahaha help me out! I need some accountability. I have: 2 more days of regular classes! 8 more days of school! 10 days until my grad party! 11 days until commencement! 14 days until my last concert in Iowa! 15 days until I fly to NYC! Roughly a month before I need to start my new job, whatever it may be! Thanks for reading! I love you for who you are

Drip. Drip. Drip. Jazzy twitched in her bed. There was no way it was morning already; she’d only just gone to bed! Drip. Drip. Drip. What in the world was that noise? It wasn’t her alarm clock; that had more of a bell sound than a drip. A loud groan shook the demon’s ear drums before literally shaking her from her bed. Her eyes shot open as her body toppled from her bed. “Oh god! An earthquake!†She scrabbled to her feet, her orange tail puffed out like a pom pom. Wood bit at her toes and nipped her finger tips, splinters catching the flesh. She paused. Something wasn’t right. She… she had carpet in her house, didn’t she? Grey carpet, to be exact. She looked down. This was definitely wood. And real wood, too, not that cheap linoleum that was made to look like hardwood flooring. But this wasn’t hardwood flooring, either. This was hardwood planking masquerading as hardwood flooring. Nothing fancy here. There was only one thing left to do in a situation like this: scream. And scream she did, with a bit of stumbling and falling backwards into the hammock she’d just fallen out of. “Hey, hey, hey, what’s all this noise?†a voice said from the darkness. Jazzy popped her head up, ears alert on the top of her head. “Ah. A new member. Welcome aboard the Paunch.†“Come out into the light!†Jazzy yelled, slowly trying to untangle herself from the hammock while keeping an eye in the direction of the voice. The first thing she notice was the gleaming blue eyes of the man as he stepped where she could see him. Quickly followed by the sheer volume of the man. He was tall and thick. Not fat, not really, but thick. She’d have assumed he was a football player if it wasn’t for the sailor’s clothes he wore. Thank god the hammock was there to catch her swoon. “Who—who are you?†she stammered. He half smiled. “Logan. I try to help new recruits aboard the ship.†“I’m not a recruit! I went to bed in my own bed last night!†He nodded. “Most people don’t remember getting here, just that they did. It’s possible to leave, it’ll just take time and hard work. Most of the crew find it easier to just… deal with it and go on. I can help you, if you want.†Jazzy opened her mouth, then shut it. Did she want his help? Did she need it? How hard was it to get off a ship? “Your captain just lets you help people escape?†Logan shrugged. “He doesn’t care. Captain Gut knows he can claim almost anyone. What’s one lost crew among the masses? So… do you want my help or not?†--- Hello! I'm Jazzy and this is my battle log! I decided that to keep myself interested and entertained in posting, and to keep anyone who reads this entertained, to creatively write intros and make this a whole adventure for me. Hopefully it'll also keep me on my path to weight loss. A little bit of info about me, I'm 25 for now, 5'8", and as of last weight in, 303 pounds. I've always considered myself fat, though looking back on my younger self, I didn't really get "fat" until about 11th grade. But, I had always been told that if you look down and can't see your feet, you're fat; sad thing there is, I have a big rack! So seeing my feet beyond the boobs never happened unless I was naked. I've tried losing weight before after hitting my highest weight of 310 pounds (that's my guess, because my scale didn't go above 309, so all I got was ERROR, but it didn't take me long to get back to a weight that the scale read). I got down to 269 pounds, then bounced back to 285-289 area and was okay there until recently when I jumped back into the 300s. I'm an emotional eater and I'm trying to break that, with the help of my boyfriend. I suck in the willpower department when it comes to food, so all the help is loved, lol. I've actually written him in to the story as my guide, aka Logan from the story. Stats Age: 25 Starting Weight: 305 Current Weight: 303 Goal Weight: 150 Challenge 1: Befriend the Cook Main Goal: To change my eating habits Quests: -Eat at home 15 out of 21 meals a week 71% of my meals -Cut out soda (No Soda PVP Challenge) -Log all food eaten. Life Quest: Obtain my driver's license Challenge 2: Now Starts the Hard Work Main Goal: To lose 5 pounds Quests: -Ride stationary bike at least 30 minutes, 3 times a week -Stick to 1810 calories a day -Drink at least 32 oz of water a day Life Quest: Write at least 100 words a day Side Fitness Quest: Attend yoga twice a week (this isn't a quest above because I'm taking yoga as a course at my college) Challenge 3: Back on Deck Main Quest: Lose 5 pounds Quests -Ride the stationary bike at least 3x/wk for at least 30 minutes -Stick to 1810 calories per day -Work up to 7 minutes meditation/day (start at 2 minutes and add a minute each week) Life Quest: -Post an update to my challenge thread every other day -Post to my crew's challenge threads at least once a week -Cross stitch when possible Side Quest: -32 Oz of water a day

I have been uncertain how I am going to construct this particular thread, but I came to one realization: my brain is my own worst enemy, therefore I'm going to stop trying to overthink it and just start writing. I can always fix things in editing, right? Right. Here will be my workouts for the next foreseeable future: Monday: kickboxing, then Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Tuesday: kickboxing Wednesday: kickboxing, then Muay Thai Thursday: running Friday: kickboxing, then personal training (if I can afford it), or perhaps Muay Thai Saturday: kickboxing, running later in the day Sunday: running It seems like I do things without a break. Interestingly, the kickboxing days are so tough that when I do running, it's basically a rest day Also, I don't run all that fast. I will be posting about the things I do at the workouts each day (attention span permitting). Coach J does some really insane things at times, that make me question my abilities. The other day he had us tossing a 15lbs medicine ball over a bar 10ft high for the partner to catch. Repeatedly. My arms still hurt from that. It will help me stay accountable with my running, too. Nutrition: I do not count calories at the moment, so I won't be posting about it. I am in maintenance mode, where I already know the rough estimate calorie worth of food I eat, how much I burn, and I am content with where I am. Alas! I have a feeling that the next challenge I do will involve some weight loss, so I'll start counting again. I am NOT looking forward to it, it's a pain in the ass (as much as it's helpful). After each workout I do a protein shake that provides roughly 20-24g of protein for recovery purposes. I am not trying to bulk up/gain weight, so I don't need to ingest more than that. That being said, I have no idea how I used to work out 4-5 days a week without protein. It has provided me with serious salvation! People, have protein after workouts, it HELPS! So, this is me and this is what I do. Let the games begin and may the odds be EVAH in my favor!