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Good morning fellow Beginners, Rebooters and bewildered individuals. I am ValkyrieRising and have decided to dip my toe into the water and drink the Kool-Aid of Nerd Fitness. A little about me. I'm a history Nerd who had been working on being accepted to do her PhD overseas in Denmark when I got a rather unpleasant medical diagnosis. (No prizes for guessing my area of interest given my Nickname/BattleTag/Secret Identity/Hero Name etc) Im a 30 something years old and struggling with my health after that medical diagnosis and just the fact I'm not as young and sprightly as I used to be. I finally have the all clear from my doctor to begin the long road back to good health and good eating that was me 3-4 years ago before my diagnosis. Currently my focus is just on eating healthy again as during my fight with my body and the treatment I devolved into eating comfort foods when I was well enough to eat. I indulged in anything I wanted, telling myself I deserved it because I was going through tests/chemo/hospital stays/transfusion/whatever excuse I felt like using. So for my first challenge this is going to be my focus. Main Quest: To eat healthier and get my eating habits under better control by not gorging on whatever I feel like and sticking to a measurable goal of between 1650-1900 calories each day based on my activity. Smart Goals: 1. I will weigh and measure my food until I can re-orientate my brain as to what a proper serving size is. (A whole pan of brownies is not one serving.) 2. I will track my consumption and calories through an online Food Tracker. (I'm using My Fitness Pal since it seems easy enough.) 3. I will cut my sweet tea consumption out and focus on drinking water each day instead. I accept that this will be a struggle and I may slip but a small slip is no reason not to press forward in this challenge. 4. I will meal prep my food during the beginning of the week in order to ensure I do not eat mindlessly. I recognize this as a big pitfall of mine, sitting at home and being bored so grazing through the fridge for food. If I prep my snacks and food ahead of time I hope to graze on that and not overeat during the week. With all of this I am allowing myself 2 instances where I will divert from these plans. The first is on December 14th and the premiere of the next Star Wars movie. I've had tickets since October and intend to go and enjoy this occasion without worrying about myself and what I'm indulging in.The second is a Christmas party my friend throws that I am finally healthy enough to attend after missing it the last couple years. This is part of being mindful and accepting that constantly saying no to the things I enjoy will lead to me failing and binging. In my reading, here and other sources, I really grew to like the idea of the 80/20 approach. As long as I am doing well the larger majority of the time and don't let myself slip and keep on track then those small indulgences have less of an impact and value. I look forward to reading along and travelling with you all through this journey and hope to grow not only in my health, mind and body, but also in my challenges as I see how creative and all in many of you go. Its awing and inspiring! I leave you with the following words to consider in life.

This is the beginning of my journey, and I need your help. My name is Lindley. I am an ICU nurse with a really shitty night schedule. I am 5'1" and the heaviest I have ever been at 163 pounds. I was in a very unhealthy five year relationship, had two sons with the individual, and am now a single mom. I struggle with Borderline Personality Disorder, depression, anxiety, binge/purge, and PTSD. Now for the thing that sent me over the edge... June 12, 2016, I woke up and discovered my 5 week old son (Ronin August) had died from SIDS during a nap. Needless to say, it was the single most traumatic experience of my life and it's left me with an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness and apathy. Any kind of will to live just went out the window, let alone any king of will to get healthy and back in to shape. Now, just waking up and doing day-to-day things is a struggle. I live in Oklahoma and have a very limited support system (one friend within physical proximity, and my mom and aunt available via telephone). I'm maxed out on my antidepressants and I go to hypnotherapy 4 times a month (which is not cheap!). Also, I'm now hypertensive and I just FEEL the toll this is taking on my body. I don't feel good. I used to be very in shape. I loved being active and eating clean. But now, the smallest things are a challenge. I don't want to live like this, but the sadness overwhelms me. I am reaching out to this community because there is still a sliver of something inside of me that wants me to "get better". I'm searching for support. I've tried to be mentally healthy, thinking my body would follow suit, but that obviously didn't work. And now I need a different approach. I want to be healthy for my remaining son (Olin Anthony). We all have struggles. We all have our crosses to bear. I would love to hear what others have overcome and how they did it. Tell me your story.

Hi, I'm Amelia! My introduction post is over here. This is my battle log! This will record both food and work outs. For the food log, I'm going to log the food on my iPhone and upload the notes here. In the beginning it will be general food recordings to work on accountability and habit creation. My long term goals: Walk more (in the USA, car capital of my life) Do one real push up Do 10 real push ups Run a 5k Run a 10 k Learn parkour Figure out and take parkour courses/training. Take rock climbing classes Learn to like vegetables Stop drinking diet coke. 1. Food - 70 points per week Eliminate french fries and potato chips in my meals. I don't eat either of those foods any more. Stop snacking on candy in my day to day life because I don't eat candy! Eat at least one green, orange or red vegetable a day. And no future me onions and vegetables in tomato sauces doesn't count. 2. Exercise - 30 points per week NF's Beginners Strength Training- The plan is three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. (​So far I've completed last Friday and this Monday. Yay me!) The three Boss secret moves to watch out for... Unhealthy Eating Assault. Critical Attack. Airport and train station snack counters that are filled with miles of candy cakes, cookies, bagels. I will be able to defeat this secret move by equipping my tool belt with healthy snacks and enabling will power mode. To do this player must procure alternative snacks before arriving to the boss scene and equipping the pants check feature. Pants still too tight? Will power engaged. Failed to do either? Lose 10 pts. Final Temptation Binge Attack. Critical attack. This boss move is usually seen right before the player leaves a destination for the last time. Player will need to engage foresight mode. To do this player must use her inner-eye feature to see that there will be future opportunities to sample local cuisine. Fail to utilize foresight, lose another 10 pts. Procrastination Strike. Semi-critical attack. However, this boss move can be used repeatedly to deplete the player’s stamina. Player will be able to overcome this move with a dodge-and-go combination move. To do this player must evade the procrastination's attack by engaging in some type of physical activity. Failure to dodge-and-go will lose me 10 pts. Each week I'll tally up my score. If I reach 100 pts for the week then I won that week's boss battle! Yay me! Finally I'm including my "before" pictures even though they're not before they're actually right-now pictures. Because here in Wonderland that's what people seem to do.

Generally speaking, most of us probably know how to survive without depending on fast food and/or take-out. My cooking skills, and abilities, tend to fall in the realm of "apply fire, add tobasco, eat. If burned, add more tobasco." Ok, I kid - but not by much. With that in mind, the thought occurs that there might be others who are in a similar situation and actually want to improve their skills in the kitchen. So, post what you've got - websites, blogs, tutorials, whatever. I also wanted an excuse to post this neat website of "knife handling gifs (calm down - for the kitchen)": http://firstwefeast.com/eat/gif-tutorial-essential-knife-skills-with-a-mission-chinese-cook/ Found originally on the new Kinja food/cooking blog: http://skillet.lifehacker.com/introducing-skillet-a-lifehacker-blog-about-cooking-an-1683249301/+whitsongordon Also: I dunno how healthy this is, but it seems an interesting application for ramen: http://lifehacker.com/transform-ramen-into-a-crispy-breading-for-fried-chicke-1683252168

“Ow.†Veshki awoke and groaned. It was noteworthy that, while she lay very still squinting her eyes against the obnoxiously blue sky, there wasn’t a part of her body that wasn’t hurting. Ever her teeth seemed to be in on it. She had been laying here a while, her leather armor had warmed from the sun, and chafed her in all the places she wouldn’t admit. Damn stuff must have shrunk or something. Leather shrinks in the winter, right? “Not dignifying that with a response.†She muttered bitterly. Sitting up slowly she raised her bruised arm to shade her eyes and looked out across the pine crowded mountain side at where the lost Feytower-of-whatever had stood. Holy crap, there was nothing left but sunlit debris made up of the weird grey stone shot through with purple, piled a couple stories high, but nothing that resembled its original alien sweeping design. Veshki tried to stand and then put it off for later. Looking around she saw none of the other hired muscle or Boss Ur’Trag. Looking about the collapsed ruin she could only make out a fleshy bit near the base, possibly an arm. Looked like Talg’s. “Nice.†She grunted and happily recounted the snarky comment the flatlander had decided to make about her weight just within earshot. She had been ready to respond violently but the group entered the weird ruins to go hunt down some other non-tithing group who decided to explore the tower that was debatably within Boss Ur’trag’s territory. She managed to stand upright painfully, it’d been two years since she actually done any real work. Two years and 3 stone or so’s weight. Ugh. Talg wouldn’t have been an issue back then. Look at the size of that bloody buff arm under that rock. It had been pretty dangerous when attached to the rest of Talg, but she had been very fast. Had been. After her theft of the Badronis Diamond, she had gone soft two years later found herself almost broke and few remembered her, or recognized her. The wagon ride up into the Kam Laro’s had seemed like a easy way to get back into things. Sit there, shoot things, etc. Guard a wagon while the rest of the hired jackasses went into some ancient creepy feytower chasing some other group of idiots who liked playing in tombs. Veshki preferred robbing the living, they generally smelled better. It was at least 4 or 5 days down the mountain to the first village. Welp, best get moving. A huge crashing sound tumbles down the valley from nearby, rock shifting and falling as something, something big, was moving. "Of course." Starting Statistics: Howdy! I'm a part time student, 3/4 time gm, part time activist (oh noes!) and full time geek. I am a trans woman with all the fun and excitement that brings. Fun. Excitement. Oh, and danger! One of the reasons I want to get back in shape. I am married to Noor's player and copying most of her formatting here because, umm, she was done before me? I am 5'11'' 234.6 lbs and my current sedentary-style is very lifey. I mean, I need to get off my ass. I am primarily interested in Assassin and possibly Ranger or Druid. Will decide the secondary class later. Main Quest: To attain my old goal weight of 165'ish and perform several one armed pull ups. Because Linda Hamilton damnit. Goal 1:(CON) I need to make good grub at least 4/wk. A= 24 days B= >20 days C= >16 D= >12 F= <11 Days Goal 2:(CON) I will log my food daily and remain under my calorie goals A= >37days B= >33 days C= >29 D= >25 F= <21Days Goal 3:(STR) I will complete the Beginner Bodyweight Workout training circuit three times a week.Each completed circuit will constitute 2 point, leaving a possible 108 points in 6 weeks. A=90 – 100 pts B=80 – 89 pts C= 70 – 79 pts D=60 – 69 pts F= 59 pts or less. Life Goal:(WIS) Get it down on paper. I write a lot of beginnings, a lot of notes, a lot of ideas. I enjoy them greatly but I never finish or complete any of them. I want to complete at least one story of 10,000 words or more this first 6 weeks. Should be easy but I know it’ll put up a fight. Motivation: I want to be faster, stronger, and able to perform tasks without panting like a dying catfish. Weekly Challenges: One Two Three Four Five Six

I am very much like a hobbit--except in my body build! I like comfort, 2nd (and 3rd!) breakfasts, lots of nice people around me and not much adventure in my life. I am 43 years old, and the mother of 3 really awesome nerdlets, as well as the unofficial mom of 5 more (2 of them live with us full time, the others are here 80% of the time--I am not exaggerating this!). I don't look very overweight, because I was blessed with an amazon build--I am 5'10 with extremely long legs, which make it almost impossible to find pants that fit! However, I have been steadily gaining weight for the last 10 years, mostly because of my sedentary life choices--(I have always hated exercise) and my complete lack of will power where sugar is involved. Last fall, several things changed in my life. I changed from home-schooling my two oldest children when they chose to enroll in an awesome Vocational High School in a town about 30 minutes away. I also teach an early morning scripture study class for teens in my home, so it made sense for me to drive my 3 (2 biological + the extra one who lives with us) and their 3 friends to school in the morning--and one of the other moms usually picks them up. In October, my sweet husband asked if I might want to join the YMCA in the town their school is located in (I wasn't aware that there WAS a "Y" in that town!) , but I checked it out, and it was a perfect fit for me! The reason it was so perfect is a little odd--I love it because it is pretty old, a bit shabby and not really "gym-like"! In another nearby town, they have a brand spanking new "Y", filled with lots of very daunting equipment, and busy, physically fit, really intimidating people! MY "Y" has nice equipment, but a much more laid back attitude, and most of the people who are exercising at the same time I am are very old guys, who don't intimidate me at all! So, I started, very gently, to exercise a bit (I drop the kids off at school and drive over, so I have a nice habit pattern!). I began with doing an 8 minute walk on the treadmill (which has an automatic 2 minute cooldown, so I only spent 10 minutes). Then, I joined the M-W-F "Aquadance" class, which is filled with old ladies (I am by far the youngest class mate!). However, it is a nice stretch, and a good workout which is fun and enjoyable, and since I am in the water--nobody can tell how terrible I am at the dance steps! (I am getting better all the time, though!). I also joined the T-Th Qi Gong class, where I am also the youngest. Then I met with a trainer, and started using the machines. I haven't lost any weight, but I am getting stronger, and (best of all!), my hips, neck and back don't hurt, and I am actually enjoying and looking forward to the exercising! I still only spend between 8-10 minutes on the treadmill, but I listen to music and put a little bit of dancing into it and I never do the same exact thing--I vary the speed and the incline, so it isn't just "same old, same old", which I am discovering is DEATH for me! I like the freedom of not "HAVING" to do a certain routine--if I am busy or just not in the mood, I will do something different, but I do SOMETHING ACTIVE every day. I found Nerd Fitness around the same time, but I have been putting off joining, both for financial and emotional reasons--it takes me a long time to decide! But, I think it really is a perfect fit, and I joined officially on Monday, and have done enough quests to get to level 2! My biggest motivation for fitness is not losing weight, or eating better, even though I know both of those things will bless my life. The biggest reason is I need to strengthen my core and my arms, because my youngest child has pretty severe Special Needs, and has to be carried a lot, and I want to be strong enough to help her without hurting myself. However, the way I see it, there really isn't a downside to this adventure!

So, I didn't discover this forum until this past weekend, so I'm starting this challenge late. I've already been working out with my husband for over a year now, and I've been really getting into the strength training, but I haven't had a lot of success sticking to the nutrition I know I need so I'm hoping I can push myself more through these challenges. So, here goes nothing! (*NOTE* Editing Quest on 12/5/14, as I was able to take the time to work out some more specifics. This may also be due to the fact that I actually just read the Level 1 Guidebook in detail only yesterday... Oh well, I'm glad I posted my initial, though incomplete, challenge notes when I did as I knew if I didn't do it I would eventually convince myself to wait until the next challenge started in January.) Main Quest Improve myself - and my body - physically. I didn't want to make too specific goals here, like weight or clothes size because I don't want to obsess over details like that. But I know I want to be strong - I know I want to get my body fat percentage down to a healthy level, and I know I want to believe that I look good when I look in the mirror. Ultimately, I don't want to set a "goal weight" because eventually I hope to become happy with my body and then just build muscle beyond that and continue to get stronger. I know, at the very least though, that I need to lose at least 50 pounds. I'm only 5'3", and I currently weigh 200 lbs. I think starting with a goal of 50 lbs is a good, healthy goal to start with; once I'm there, we'll see after that! To be perfectly honest....one of the main reasons I'm unsure of the weight I should aim for at first is because I am Latina, and my bust, hips and butt have always been bigger no matter my overall weight. I don't want to get too specific here or weird anybody out, but this is the reality of my conundrum and frankly it's something I worry about a lot - worrying about my bust size especially, as it has never fluctuated in size with my weight. (At least not since my sophomore year of high school when I hit the size I am now....let's just say "the girls" were bigger than average, especially for a 16 year-old girl, and they've stayed pretty much the same size ever since.) I've never worked out and strength trained the way I am now though, either, so I'm nervously anticipating what changes might happen all over my body. I'm mostly just not sure whether I should be worried about the size of "the girls", and how their size may or may not affect my overall health. I'll just take things as they come, I guess, no matter what changes in my body may occur. My goal is to be strong and healthy anyway, and I want that more than anything else. Steps to take for reaching the Goal (For the remainder of this challenge) Workout, both strength training and cardio, at least 5 times a week. This will involve: Strength Training at least 3 times a week Cardio at least 2 times a week Individual goals within this step: run for 3 miles straight without stopping at least 3 times by the end of December; learn to squat and bench press with the free-weight barbell (rather than the Smith machine) by the end of December; be able to complete at least 3 full pushups by the end of December. Continue to wear my Fitbit daily (taking one night off a week to charge it) and track all exercise, food intake, and sleep each day. I have a food plan on my Fitbit account aimed for a 750 calorie deficit every day - I will be flexible with that though on the days that I do intense strength training (in other words, Leg day). The best way to measure whether I’m tracking accurately and being honest will be by my weight; my hope is to lose 1.5-2.5 pounds per week (weighing on Sunday mornings). Limit my eating out to three times a week, and avoid eating out at lunch as much as possible. It’s harder to find good food for lunch that meets my current dietary needs, while if I eat out for dinner with my husband we tend to eat healthier and be more careful. (This will also help financially.) Life Quest I am very much an introvert, and I don’t want these goals to keep me from developing and growing emotionally as well. My goal is to spend some time at least once each week hanging out or talking to a friend outside of work - either going out dancing, having someone over, or going over to a friends house for a visit. (And my husband doesn't count - he sees enough of me, and I know he wants me to be more social, too.) Motivation I want to improve my health so I can start a family, sometime later next year is the goal. I want to build good habits before then so I can be the best person I can be for my kids and give them a good example. No Attribute points at this time for me, but I do want to outline how I want to measure each of my Quest steps at the end of the challenge. Workouts A = 10-12 Strength Training Sessions, and 7-8 Cardio Sessions completed by the end of December B = 8-9 Strength Training Sessions, and 6 Cardio Sessions completed by the end of December C = 7 Strength Training Sessions, and 5 Cardio Sessions completed by the end of December D = 6 Strength Training Sessions, and 4 Cardio Sessions completed by the end of December F = 5 or less Strength Training Sessions, and 3 or less Cardio Sessions completed by the end of December Fitbit and Weight A = 26-31 days tracked on my Fitbit, and 7 or more pounds lost by the end of December B = 21-25 days tracked on my Fitbit, and 6 pounds lost by the end of December C = 16-20 days tracked on my Fitbit, and 5 pounds lost by the end of December D = 12-15 days tracked on my Fitbit, and 4 pounds lost by the end of December F = 11 days or less tracked on my Fitbit, and 3 pounds or less lost by the end of December Eating Out A = Eating out 12 or less times during the month B = Eating out 13-14 times during the month C = Eating out 15 times during the month D = Eating out 16 times during the month F = Eating out 17 or more times during the month Alright - let's see how this goes!

Intro: I am a hobbit. I gravitate toward nature, am short and enjoy eating several times throughout the day. While I can't jump, I have decent endurance. I'm joining Nerd Fitness to become a soldier angel of epicness (Gift of Orzovha, MTG) who can climb (walls and rocks), hike, run, and defend herself. Master Quest: Fit into size 8 pants. I think my desired level of athleticism would equate to this size. At least it gives me a firm "yes I slew the manticore." 3 Goals for achieving this: - Go to the gym at least 4 times a week. I'm not choosing specific reps or weights right now because I'm not yet sure what I want to focus on. This 6 weeks will be my feeler period. - Drink all the water in my 32 oz water bottle each day. This will make sure I'm getting that water in, and I'll be less likely to buy a soda or hot chocolate from the cafe at work. - Eat at least 3 veggies/fruits a day, and use those veggies to take the place of grains. Life Quest: Write a cover letter and apply to that Washington D.C. internship. Motivations: I have two major motivations. First, I plan on working in the less civilized areas of the world. As a white American female, I'm going to have a target on my back, and I want to be able to escape unforseen situations. Second, my best friend and I want to spend a good chunk of our lives hiking, canoeing, etc. Based on our past trips, esp. when we tried the PCT summer 2013, I know I want to perform better. As of today, I'm 165 lbs, size 10 pants.

Hi all. Last year, around this time, I started on the path to improving my physical fitness as a means to improving my mental health. I made dietary changes (particularly, cutting out Energy Drinks) and did some basic bodyweight exercises (based around the Angry Birds plan) I was/am literally at the peak of fitness in my life - more so than when I wrestled, or when I played American Football. So I reached a point I was happy with and then... Stopped. For one, while I enjoy the results, I find working out itself ultimately leaves me feeling empty. At first I could burn through the exercises relatively quickly, but later on I was having to set aside 40 minutes to an hour which was difficult to work in to my routine and access. Also, the activities, while strenuous, were boring and left me feeling breathless but unfulfilled. On top of that, and to my annoyance, I don't find any kind of sports or exercise interesting (to watch or take part in) and have very limited access - I can sometimes eke out an 8' by 2' space to exercise in, during the daytime, when I'm not working. The nearest gym is roughly an hour away, and while the area I live in is not terrible, I don't feel comfortable leaving the house without a reason. So, fellow nerds - am I a lost cause?

6 weeks 42 days 10 minute abs every sunrise 1min- plank 1-side plank left 1-side plank right 1- situps 1- side sit ups right 1-side sit ups left 1-push ups 1-triangle push ups 1-leg lifts 1-bicycle Every day 10 back bends 3 sets of 12 pull ups 3 sets of 12 dips Monday - Back - hyper extension 3 sets of 12,bouncy ball, 1 min swimming Tuesday- Legs lunges, 3 sets of 12 leg presses, 3 sets of 1 min bounces Wednesday - Butt 3 sets of 10 squats Thursday- voyage to land of Teef, yoga 7:30 Friday- Run Saturday- Pilates Sunday- yoga

Dear Jackie, it's been a good while since head quarters heard from you. We almost suspected you injured or even worse, dead. We're glad to have you back and as usual, we'll jump right to it. Your chestnut reddish hair and green-brown eyes won't save you from this one, nor will your awesome guitar skills or writing skills. *Ehm* Sorry, I got a bit lost. Here goes: Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is as following. Main: Lose approximately 20kg and find yourself living a healthier and more exciting life. Your mission progress shall continue as following. Level 1 + 2 (6 jan – 16 feb 2014) Goal 1: Get a minimum of 7½ hours of sleep each night, preferably 9. Goal 2: Wake up at 7:30 on week days, 9:00 latest on weekends. Goal 3: Eat something for breakfast (within 45 min) each morning, even if it’s just some nuts. Life quest: Do not use your credit card for anything, continue to pay it off to eventually get you out of debt. Do you accept? ___________________________________________________________________________ Silence in the room. I look down at my computer whilst thinking it through. Am I really ready for this? I know they're letting me start off easy, because I'm new, it's been a while and I need to start small. But really, breakfast? I never ate breakfast, like ever. I tried it in periods, but it just isn't my thing. Can I really make it my thing? I know it's needed if I want to continue my time here as an agent, and I really do want to stay here. I want to see myself achieve the status that Master Woh has carried for almost a century, Little Miracle. Suddenly I hear the clock strike midnight.. it's a new year. Poof! Just like that I know what I need to do. I stand up, and I almost yell into the computer out of excitment, YES I'LL DO IT! A flash of green, like always. And just like that, as if nothing had changed, I was on my way to start the adventure of a lifetime. ___________________________________________________________________________ The why? I've tried changing my life several times over, always biting of way more than I could ever chew. To get over that, I've decided to change my life around one aspect at a time, and I start with the one I feel most comfortable with: sleep and day rythm. For a very large portion of my life, my sleep and day rythm has been horrific, to the point of damaging both me and the grades I get at university. This being one of my major source of unhappiness, I realise that to live a really healthy and happy life, this is where I need to begin. Together with that, I have never ever been a morning person. I border on diagnosis for DSPD (Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder), but don't have one officially. With that said this will be a huge challenge for me, even though it might look stupid to some of you. With my no-morning-person nature, also comes that I am not really awake until noon, leaving me with no hunger or attention span until that hour. Wanting to change that, I've decided to try and get myself used to a different life, and see how that will affect me. There is a risk of having a very negative effect on my mental health, and it might be obvious but; if that's seen, I will retreat immediately and go at it a different way. But yeah, starting somewhere, I start here. ___________________________________________________________________________ The result In accordance to the head quarter bible, I will be able to come out of this alive with the following results. Level - 2 STR: 0 DEX: 0 STA: 5 (+5 from the 10 points given half way, for enduring so far.) CON: 3 (+3 for finishing the sleep/breakfast goals after 6 weeks.) WIS: 2 (+1 from the 10 points given half way for having slept and eaten so well, +1 for finishing the life goal after 6 weeks) CHA: 4 (+4 from the 10 points given half way for being forceful enough to continue.)

Pyri reporting for duty, Sir! I heard that the Nerd Rebellion is in need of out of shape, overweight, people who are finally ready to kick some ass... so here I am! I beg each and every one of you to help keep me going, to help drag me through the dirt and the rocks and the rough spots, til I can learn to do it on my own. I have a lot of motivations, but I would say that the biggest is that I want to be in good shape for when I have a child (not currently pregnant). I want to be able to go hiking and camping and fishing and play soccer and fly a kite and go swimming and lift them up high and swing them in my arms and just be able to be active with my child, so that they learn to naturally have an active, healthy lifestyle. I will teach and show my child, so that they don't struggle the way I have growing up. A bit of a back story... I've always been bigger, and have always been embarrassed of myself. I don't enjoy my body, and it shows that I don't take care of it. At 5'2, I'm 245 lbs. I'm tired of being looked down on, I'm tired of being tired, I'm fed-up with being mocked, and I'm fed-up with not liking myself. I want to become strong. I want to know what it feels like to RUN and not get winded. I want to know what it's like to skydive. I want to get back my self esteem (did I ever have it?) and grow some self control and up my willpower. I CAN do this. I WILL do this. And ain't nothing gunna stop me!

Soooo....(-.-)' I am just beginning my lifestyle change. I have some idea on where to begin such as a caloric deficit(?) I'm assuming that means eat less. Which means less energy, which is bad because I already have an energy issue...or rather a lack of energy issue. I cannot sleep at night, second night in a row that I am up. Even when I get 6-8 hrs of sleep I am groggy and slow and irritable. Some days I am down right violent, verbally. Nothing I do or take gives me the energy to do much, save the fact that I need to do something or my son would never eat or shower or learn. I also have anxiety/depression whatever the doctor says or some such, for which I refuse medication convinced that when I start losing weight that I'll feel less so. Basically where do I find energy where energy is absent? I want to make this change. I want to get up and exercise. I NEED to but I cannot seem to do it and I get upset and angry at myself for not doing it. Then I look at my son and think that I am a failure. I think I have failed him and will keep doing so the rest of his life unless I make some kind of change. It sucks because I keep making excuses for myself. It sucks because I'm tired of looking this way and I'm tired of thinking it is because of this weight issue that my marriage ended even though he kicked us out. I'm just tired. But I WILL NOT GIVE UP!!! I just need help to figure out what's next. What do I do next to ensure that my son still has me when he is older?

Hello! My name is Jess and I am a 24 year old programmer. I have been on the lazy side as of lately and I really want to get a jump start on getting active and healthy. This is my first challenge and I have to say I hesitated a bit before joining. Main QuestTier 1: To lose 3 inches off my hips and 1.5 inches off my waist. {Hips 50, Waist: 40.5}Tier 2: To lose 5 inches off my hips and 3 inches off my waist. {Hips 48, Waist: 39}Tier 3: To lose 8 inches off my hips and 4.5 inches off my waist. {Hips: 45, Waist: 37.5} Specific Goals> I will only eat when I am hungry {Choose the less processed options}> I will work do the Beginngers Body Weight Workout at least 3 times a week> I will drink at least 3 glasses of water daily {Try to stay away from juice unless its homemade juice} Life QuestLearn Polish and be able to keep up a conversation in it What's Your Motivation?I want to prove that I can finally do it. I can lose weight and stop using it as an excuse to not try new things. Plus I have a super active 10 month old Boxer puppy that I really want to be able to keep up with and maybe one day tire. (His name is Rook ) Age: 24Height: 5'10''Weight: 250-260lbsCurrent Stamina: Low-Moderate Measurement Update (found that darn tape!):Chest: 48'' (unbra'd)Arms: 14''Hips: 53''Waist: 42''Thighs:31.5''Calves: 19''Forearms: 10''Shoulders: 46''Neck: 14'' Beginners Body Weight Workout20 body weight squats10 push ups20 walking lunges10 dumbbell rows (using a gallon milk jug)15 second plank30 Jumping JacksNow I can't really do push ups yet, but I read the article and I will do elevated ones until I can do a proper push up!

Joining a little late, but hopefully not too much so! Last time I logged on the current challenge was too far underway for me to feel comfortable joining. I promised myself I'd make this one, but boy how time flies! Bit about me: My name's Alex, I'm 21. I'm finishing my final year in college (BS in Business Management, minor in Computer Science). I'm also a freelance writer and editorial assistant. I am, of course, a giant nerd (Star Trek, Doctor Who, games, games, games...) Some fun facts about my health journey: I've been overweight since I was 9I went to a fitness and weight loss camp (read: fat camp) at 14I've gained all that weight back since thenMy parents both have had weight problemsI'm perpetually lazyI have too many bad habits to countI've tried an uncountable number of "fad" dietsHere's my challenge! Main Quest My Main Quest is pretty vague, I guess, but it's built out of necessity. I want to develop healthy, kickass habits while banishing all those lame, unhealthy ones. Goals Be active everyday. Whether it's just a vigorous cleaning session of the apartment or a formal gym workout, I never want to spend another day entirely sitting on the couch. Get up by 9A everyday. One of my worst habits is sleeping to much. My schedule is 95% flexible and I never have to be anywhere before 1P. I'll sleep all day and try to justify it in my mind. I think if I start getting up by 9A, I'll start getting tired appropriately and get myself on a normal sleep schedule, which should lead to more productivity. Self-monitor food/drink intake. I had to do this at camp at it was eye-opening. I'm very well versed in nutrition now, but self-monitoring is a good way to keep myself dedicated to my new lifestyle. Having to write it down means more of a connection. I'm not too worried about caloric intake, but it'll be nice to see what kinds of foods make me feel like shit--or make me feel awesome! Live Quest Like I mentioned, I'm a writing. I'm currently trying to break into business writing in order to build a stable career before I graduate. I've been dragging my feet due to low energy and low self-confidence. My goal for this challenge is to reach out to at least 50 local businesses about my copywriting abilities. Motivation My motivation is to not feel like crap anymore. I want to have more energy. I want to feel good for no reason! That should be the default. Being energized and happy. Also, I've always love this e-card: My boyfriend is working on getting healthier with me (he says he's got "relationship gut"). I'm not doing this "for him" but he is great motivation! I'm tired of feeling like I'm not good enough just because I'm overweight and lazy. Real Life Roleplaying I haven't looked too much into the stats, but here's my character so far, cause why not Race: Wood Elf Class: Adventurer Surprise, surprise. Not entirely original, but a small start! So, yes, hi guys Glad to be participating. I'm off the gym for the first time in... oh, just about FOREVER. Oh, if you want a before picture, here you go. It's old, but it is exactly what I look like today.

Hi Everyone! I am a 21 year old student here to better myself. I read an article not to long called " Remember the Guy Who Dropped 128 Pounds in 10 Months? He's Still Kicking Ass" I was inspired by Joe's story, instead of wallowing he decided to get up and work on changing his life. Yes it took a while to achieve his goals and I'm sure he faced many setbacks but he still kept pushing. This story stuck out to me because it made me realize I have no reason not to work on my own personal problems. I am currently studying to be a nurse, because of this I have been taking a lot of Nutrition classes and it amazes me how many people including myself sometimes have very bad eating habits. I'm not gonna lie, I am a bread addict... that felt good getting it out! I am a big "foodie", I live for trying foods from other countries but I need to learn to modify how much I eat these foods or find healthier versions of them. I have joined Nerd Fitness not only to work on my outer image but to also boost my confidence As frightening as it is to say I have very low self esteem. I've lived 21 years with this mindset and I think it's time I do something about it. I call myself the Female Captain Planet, without the blue hair! It's my goal to help people everywhere, however my arch enemy self doubt comes comes along as foils my plans. . For the most part I am comfortable with my weight. As of right now I weigh 125 lbs. However I hardly work out, I want to change this. I find that during the summer when school is not in session I work out at least 3 days a week however once school starts I get overwhelmed and stop. Not having the time is not an excuse, there are people out there that have way more on their plates and still find the time to do some form of workout. Also there are times when I plan to work out but never follow through, instead I put it off until the next day. I know that I will not always be this size so I want to gain the tools now that will help me maintain a healthy weight later in life. Recently I have created a weekly schedule that contains all the goals I want to complete for the week. This have helped me create a routine that fits with my busy schedule while also helping me stay focused on my goals. My other goals are as followed: The Big Fish: Work on my confidence and being healthy Little Goals Trying new things. I want to go out of my comfort zone and explore all the wonderful places and things this world has to offer. No procrastination!!; I tend to put things off till the last minute then stress out when I need to complete task. Being Positive... As the saying goes "Life Sucks" things are not always going to work in my favor but I need to stop complaining about my problems and work on finding solutions for them. Personal Goals Being comfortable in my own skin. Sometimes I let other people thoughts and views change how I see myself Be more brave. I want to be to the girl version of Captain American! Or at least be more comfortable when I meet new people.

My goal is to be a Warrior, but I'm still reading and learning in that area. So I've been doing the Crossfit.com WOD. I'm really happy with today's workout. It was as many rounds in 20 minutes of 5 pull ups, 10 push ups, 15 squats. I got 6 in 15 minutes with some modifications. I'm 8 months post op left foot surgery; regular push-ups are brutal. I wasn't thinking & started out with too much weight for my squats, which cost me some time. I'm still doing assisted pull-ups, but I'm decreasing the amount weekly. I can almost do dips without assistance, woot! I'm surprised how quickly I've gotten addicted to Crossfit.

Hi. My name is Sara Benincasa. I'm a comedian and a writer and a human. I played a lot of King's Quest when I was a kid. I was in marching band for two years, and I was actually on a competitive baton and flag squad. On purpose. I spend a lot of time on Twitter and Facebook when I ought to be a.) working on my novel b.) working on a script c.) eating healthy foods or d.) exercising. I try fad diets and then stop them. I always sucked at sports and so I react to the thought of exercise by whining and running in the opposite direction (generally straight to bed to take a nap). I'm here because I'm a nerd and I want to get fit and I'm not sure what to do about it. I love bread and pasta and ice cream and I'm pretty sure I'd love a cronut if someone put it in front of me. I'm not good at denying myself the nomz. I like yoga, but I don't go. I even like lifting weights, but I don't go to the gym. I spend a lot of time napping and avoiding the great outdoors, and I'm tired of it. I also -- and I wrote a memoir about this, so I'm comfortable posting about it in an open forum -- deal with depression and anxiety, and take medication to help. Recently I tried to blame my weight gain on the meds, but my doctor said nope -- it's not the meds. It's the fact that I'm sedentary and that I loves me some carb action. And he's right! So I'd love to hear your inspiring tales, even if you've only lost five pounds. Five pounds sounds amazing to me right now! Good luck to you. I hope you are having an awesome day. Best, Sara B.

Hi! I'm new and have been lurking for a couple weeks. I wasn't sure if I was ready until I tried on my cosplay outfit for comic-con and realized that even though it had only been purchased a month prior, it no longer fit. I have always struggled with my weight. Sometimes I feel like I'm winning the battle, but most of the time I give up after not seeing progress fast enough or falling of the wagon. This time is different. I am no longer thinking of this as a temporary struggle before I can get back to my cupcakes. This is a life change and failure is not an option. My inspiration is below. I look to my favorite video game gals for support and now I look to Nerd Fitness too! I'm so excited to be here and thank you for reading!

I fought The Devil on a Monday when I was four years old. The battle took place amid the towering shelves of the local library, deep within the Pre-K learning center. Armed with a pitchfork and a desire to gouge out eyes, Satan's vessel giggled gleefully behind the horned mask of his master. No princess, firefighter, cowboy, or dinosaur was spared from the hellion's taunts and provocations. Demonic douchiness soon became the only treat to fill our plastic pumpkins. Had it been any other day, the sound of my sobbing would have readily joined the chorus of the others'. However, on that particular Monday, I too was a vessel for a greater power. I had no sword, fangs, or claws of adamantium. All that accompanied me was a blue onesie, a red cape, and a large "S" branded shield printed on my chest. On that day, my spirit was indestructible. Almost twenty years have gone by since that Monday morning. I've replaced the costume with a suit and tie. In place of the library is a small office with fluorescent lighting. My demons no longer poke their heads around bookshelves but rather into my thoughts. I've felt broken more times than I would care to admit. I choose to tell these secrets with you, complete strangers, because I'm tired of being a bitter hermit. I no longer want to feel weak like I used to when the bullies gave me a hard time in grade school. I'm done with feeling worthless like I did when I found out my first girlfriend was cheating on me. I'm dropping the lingering hatred of my current life and choosing to actively believe that I can build a better one. For the next 90 days my goal is to complete the P90X program that has been gathering dust on my shelf for the last three years. My diet is clean but in desperate need of Hulk-sized portions. I can't say with certainty if I'll bring anything new and shiny to this community, but I'd feel happy if even just one person was inspired to make a positive change in his/her life based on my experiences. I know I was when I first found NF. In closing, I'm a skinny nerd and this is my fitness story.

Very excited about this challenge... As you can see from the picture HERE: I have a bit of abdominal fat: I am a bit of a boozer and a party animal (although still a total nerd). Not only that I have skinny arms as I haven't worked out the past. My main quest is to reduce my body fat percentage and to become noticeably fitter in the process. As someone who has quit smoking, my cardiovascular efficiency is not where it should be. I want to be faster and stronger. Over the next six weeks this means I will do the following: I am scheduled to run a 10k in September. I want to be able to run a 10k in six weeks in under 55 minutes. I will do this by running at least 3-4k twice a week.I will eat 4 days a week of super healthy eating (low-GI, grain-light, protein-heavy meal days), and will record this by keeping a DAILY food diary.I will learn how to lift by following instructions on this site, and on the net, and develop a strength work-out that is manageable but challenging.My motivations for achieving this are explained in my main post HERE but to summarise: I am quitting smoking, and I don't want to gain weight. I am by no means disgusting, but I've let myself go in the last few years. When I was 18 (9 years ago) I cycled from Vienna, Austria; to Bratislava, Slovakia; and then to Budapest in Hungary in just over a week. On a terrible bike with only one gear. Now I get tired walking up the escalator sometimes! My life quest is to create budget as I am moving house, and I have just paid of my credit card by getting a low interest loan. So I want to make sure my finances are in order.. I will set a budget and see if I can stick to it for the month of August. LET THE REBELLION BEGIN!

I posted in this blog a couple of months ago about my weight struggles. I still have them. I have actually gained more weight since then. I am 5'7" and 173 lbs. I used to be 5'7" 135 lbs. For some reason, in the beginning of my weight gain, I lied to myself saying that I was not getting bigger. told myself that I still fit into the clothes that I wanted to and still felt good about myself. After 20 lbs later, that was no longer the case. I saw pictures and was really unhappy with myself. I still didn't want to admit it to myself though so I still ate like I still had my metabolism of a high schooler (I'm 23, now). I have been doing a lot of reflecting lately and I realized I ate everytime I was depressed. I ate everytime I thought I was fat which made me depressed. I wanted to not be the fat girl trying to lose weight by not eating that slice of cake or pizza. I was somehow ashamed to admit to myself that I could not have some foods to limit my calories for the day and to be healthier. I used to be the girl that brags about how I can finish an entire pizza and felt great because I was 135 lbs. Now, I would eat the entire pizza because I feel depressed about being fat. I am also trying to reach happiness by having an addiction with shoe shopping because my shoe size hasn't changed. Now I am just tired. I am tired of the lies I tell myself. I am just done. I tell people now I can't eat that huge cupcake because I am trying to lose weight. I am trying to be healthy. I went to the doctor the other day and found out I had high cholesterol and low HDLs. I read the blogs and posts on this site and everyone really inspires me. I am now starting out small but trying to walk everyday and do a quick kettlebell swing or a work out in the morning before I shower. Any tips on motivation or eating or staying on track would be greatly appreciated .

This is my first nerd fitness challenge, so I am not sure if I am filling this in correctly, but here goes (wish me luck!?): 1. Walk an average 10,000 steps a day 2. Do yoga a minimum 3 times per week. 3. Do three sets of simple strength exercise, minimum three times a week (i.e squats, pushup etc) 4. Pack lunch for work a minimum 4 out of 5 days I know I am technically a day late (Its Tuesday here in Australia) but I am sure I can catch up I am not quite sure how the stats/scoring works, but deducing from what others have posted, mine will go something like this: A+ = 90% A = 80% B = 70% C = 60% D = 50% FAIL = <50%

Hi Everyone. A good friend referred me to NerdFitness and I'm stoked to be here. Here's my story. Two years ago I competed in my first triathlon and performed pretty well. I trained a lot, ate well, and loved the lifestyle. Since then, I got laid off and moved in with my parents. The stress of it all hit hard, and I ate whatever my folks served up (I love 'em, but home-cooked meals aren't exactly healthy). I started taking odd-jobs to pay the bills and had no routine at all, so no exercise. I've since put on some weight and can barely run a mile anymore. I'm sluggish, self-conscious, and downright tired of it. The good news is things are turning around. I've got a stable job and I'm moving into my own place next week. I'll set my own schedule, control my meals, and have a cardio center inside my apartment building (not much, but no excuses). What I'm looking for is the support to get started and to keep going. For my NF Character, I'm totally a scout. If it's about endurance, whether on flat land, in the hills, or in the water, I'm in. I'm still working on setting goals (any suggestions are welcome!!!). One outcome I want is to fit into the t-shirt I got from my first triathlon. I prefer bodyweight exercises, but I'm open to learning about weights too. Well, that's it for now. I look forward to becoming part of the community!

Sorry I’m getting a tad bit of a late start, but I’ve been out of town to visit friends and family in South Carolina. I have mentally had my goals set since last week, I just never had a good change to sit down and bang them out in a thread. A little less than a year ago, I lost my job. It wasn’t the worst thing that could’ve happened to me because I was a contractor and had the job for a year longer than my first contract was supposed to last. Also, the commute was unbearably long and the job was not ideal for what I want to be doing long term. I saved enough money to get by without a job for a while, so I’ve been focusing on the improv and sketch comedy teams and classes that I’m a part of in Chicago while trying to find a job that I would be happier with that would to lead to a career. The upside of all of this is that I have been foregoing taking public transportation for 9 months in favor of riding a bike. I’ve also been cooking more meals for myself instead of buying food at work or in between work and rehearsals/shows. These are things that I do to save money, but they have also led to healthy weight loss of my pesky college chubbiness. I’m a 5’2†tall, so extra weight sits weirdly on my small frame. In the last few weeks, I’ve been at a breaking point of restlessness during the day in between job searching and interviews. I decided to start running in addition to a nice, aerobic Jillian Michaels yoga video that I had already been doing 2-3 times a week since January. I needed something to get my head in the right place and make me be productive by day so that I wasn’t a wreck by night. I only run/walk two miles/30 minutes at a time thus far, but I love feeling like I’m getting into better aerobic shape. When I was introduced to the Nerd Fitness challenge, I knew it was a great idea for me to fill in the gaps between some already present life goals. My goals are as follows, but I am open to any suggestions of clarification or adjustments: 1) Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred – I would really like some toning and definition especially now that I’ve lost some weight. My upper arms and thighs are pretty stubborn, which also makes clothes-buying weird: I lost a lot of weight in my waist, but my legs are about the same size. It’s obnoxious. I also like JM a lot. However, I want to do only 30 days of Shred over the course of these 6 weeks. I have a very busy schedule on certain days, and I don’t want to feel stressed by having to fit it in somewhere or feel guilty if I miss a day. 2) Run 10 miles a week – I have never, ever been a regular runner. I played soccer and basketball growing up, but I never just did running training. I think 10 miles will mean 4 to 5 30-min running sessions a week. By the end of the challenge, I may be able to up this, but I think 10 a week is a good starting place. The bonus of better aerobic health is that I think it’ll help my on stage with better breath support for improvising and singing. 3) No eating after 10:30 PM – Honestly, I’m thinking this shouldn’t be a terribly difficult goal for me. I am not typically a snacker (especially not at night), but every time I have been on a run recently I get SUPER HUNGRY when I get home from a rehearsal late at night. Eating late causes me to stay up later, which causes me to sleep later and waste the next day. This goal is as much a lifestyle change as it is a heath goal. I need to be sure I’m getting up early enough to get in at least 3 meals to balance the exercise metabolism. 4) [Personal] I want to start (release at least 3 episodes of) a podcast called "MBS-ing" – I’ve had this desire for months. I used an Amazon gift card that I got for Christmas to buy a decent podcasting microphone. I have a fully realized idea for what I want it to be about: the title stems from my initials, but I also want to cut the BS out of conversations in my life and on the show. I want each guest to come in prepared to talk about a topic about which he/she knows preferably an obsessive amount. It’s ok if I know some about the topic; I just want him/her to be able to share knowledge with me (and the audience) of something he/she loves. It could be as simple and pointed as one particular film or band, or something as broad and loose as a sport or their college major. As I get older and have been out of school for longer, I stupidly find my pathways to learning waning. I love talking to people about anything I’m/they’re passionate about, so I think this could be a cool way to get to know more about an odd variety of topics and an assortment of my friends and members of the Chicago comedy community. There are so many bonuses to this goal: getting to know people in a cool, new way, garnering information from people on some things I may know nothing about to color my life and to color my improvisation, and being able to have a physical artistic project for myself and for friends and family (and strangers?) within but especially outside Chicago to appreciate and support. Boom. I hope these don’t seem too lofty. In my mind they are measurable and simple, but I haven’t run them past anyone else yet. Thanks for reading, nerds.