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Check out my current challenge here! And start reading about progress for that challenge here on my log! This is just a place for me to log my progress and for you all to come chat with me and keep me accountable! Also, I will post neat crossplay, cosplay, and fitness things I find or generate here. So, this is the start! Hi. I'm Dandy. I crossplay, I'm trying to get more fit, and I'm trying to get my degree in library science! I'm pretty friendly. I cycle a lot, I like doing strength training too! My idol is Erwin Smith from Attack on Titan and he is my fitness inspiration! Let's talk and keep tabs of my battle record here!

I failed my first challenge here. But, like my hero Erwin Smith, I don't intend to make excuses. It is 2015 and I am back and this time I am going to get things done! Since December, I've been using a website called PopSugar to inspire myself. I finished their 30 Day Squat Challenge just yesterday, so I know that with their printable resources I can inspire myself. This is because I can have them on my wall, looking at me, I can get myself inspired to go and do them in my own home. I'm decently fit. I have asthma, but I can cycle for upwards of an hour at a regular pace of about 80rpm. But I'd like to do more. I'd like to get to 150 by May. Main Quest: Get from 170 to 165! If I'm going to look svelte in my suits and titan killing gear, I need to lose some weight to accomplish this, I shall complete my mini quests. Mini Main Quests: (or how I'll achieve my main quest!) Quest 1: -Start tracking my meals and eating more healthfully. With this goal, I'm going plan my meals, keep track of what I'm eating, and see where I can improve. I can post these on my wall for inspiration too! Reward: 3 WIS. Grading: For every two pages filled and kept to of the six I have printed, I will get 1 WIS. Quest 2: -Because it is winter, hit the stationary bikes at the gym three times a week just to keep myself in the habit of cycling for when the ice melts and I can get back out on the real road. Reward: 4 STA Grading: 2 STA point at the first three weeks successfully completed, another at six weeks. 1 will be rewards if I complete this with a 90% or higher success rate. Quest 3: -Do the PopSugar Body Weight Work Out. I will do this every other day during the course of the challenge. Reward: 2 STR, 2 CHA Grading: 1 STR and 1 CHA at three week mark, 1 STR at 6 week mark. One extra point CHA if 90% of the work outs were actually completed. Life Side Quest: TAKE THE GRE! I have been pottering around since I graduate with my history degree. If I am going to get full time work as a library employee, I need my masters. And I need to become a librarian. The first step to that is to take the GRE. I've already signed up and have been studying since December, so this is sort of a roll over quest, but I don't care. -Schedule 3 study sessions with my engineer friend to brush up on my math. -Study two hours a day for six days a week. -Take the GRE February 9th and report back with results! Reward: 3 WIS Grading: JUST TAKE IT AND MAKE IT INTO 50%. This year is going to be an intense year of crossplay for me. Last year, I did Jean Kirschtein, Cecil Palmer, and Erwin Smith. And I looked pretty good from the waist up, but from the waist down, I'm still not happy with myself. Here's a photo of me as Jean Kirschtein with my swell pal as Sasha Blouse. From the waist down, I still have heavy set thighs and can do with toning those up, especially for crossplay because the characters I'm going to tackle this year are even more: Erwin Smith, Jean Kirschtein, and Cecil Palmer again, but I am adding Tsukiyama Shuu, Makishima Yuusuke, Thranduil AND a Pokemon Bug Maniac trainer class! Fortunately, I've got until May to get into shape. So, rather than focus immediately on 'problem areas', I'm going to start by changing my habits at their core. Because the only way to change yourself and keep weight off is to do things slowly, consistently, and all over, rather than some hard core, area focused work out that promises results, but nothing lasting. And, what's not to like about getting a second degree, studying, and generally bettering my place in life? I don't intend to make excuses, but I do intend to become fabulous!

I’ve followed NF off and on for almost a year but this is my first challenge commitment! So here it goes for 2015! Background: I am a 30 year old mom of 2, struggling to figure myself out enough to grow in a “healthy†way. I used to consider myself a “country/farm†girl but now that I have a decent job/career established, I find myself behind a desk for what seems like the majority of my time. When I am not working behind the desk it seems as though I’m frantically trying to figure out how to provide nutritious meals to the husband and little people (one (the 4 year old child, has extensive medical demands including a high salt, high calorie diet! ugh!) and keep everyone happy. With extra help in 2014 I was able to successfully get my weight down to a healthier range, while also getting the 4 year old to maintain a good weight with HEALTHY food and keeping the other 2 family members relatively content. Now it’s time to keep building on that. Long Term Lifestyle Goal: I would still like to eventually loss another 20-30 lbs assuming that’s what it would take to get rid of some more of my belly bulge and have more engery and feel “STRONG†but want to be smart about it and will be focusing more on non-scale victories/activies along the way so I’m not putting an immediate deadline on this goal as long as I’m not noticing additional flab to squeeze into the clothes and I’m maintaining overall happiness. I would also like to figure out some physically challenging activities that I can enjoy and grow old doing. Fall 2015 goal: I’ve committed to a 30 miles in 1 day rugged Hike in efforts to raise money to support medical research that could greatly benefit my family down the road. This hike is in September 2015 and scares me ALOT! But I think I can do and am starting to train NOW! So now we have arrived at my 3 measurable goals for this 6 week challenge, that will get me closer to the goals above… 1) Focus on Strength training three times a week. I have never really focused on “strength†before so will start with the body weight program for this challenge. 2) Continue to progress through the Coach to 5k Program I started before Christmas. (Strength training and C25K work will be on alternating days) By the end of this challenge, I should be able to jog for a continuous 30 minutes and should have a good foundation established to start working on time and/or mileage goals by the next challenge. 3) Eat clean, consistently. I will do this by committing to plan meals WEEKLY so they are ready to go, easier on me and the family and more likely to be excuse proof. If I know what’s on the “menu†ahead of time I’ll have better luck avoiding the temptations at the office, grandmas, etc. that are around me ALL THE TIME! That’s the plan, here we go! *I will try to report in with weekly progress updates but will be significantly limiting my “technology usage†in hopes of better time management and focusing on goals. oh and a note to self: be nice to ME...

UPDATED: MONDAY, JANUARY 12TH So.....2014 didn't end as well as I had hoped. I'm up 4.5# and 1.5% body fat since Thanksgiving. I wasn't really doing much to lose weight over the holidays, but I'd hoped not to gain either...c'est la vie.. But I'm ready to get things going again for 2015! It's going to be a really great year...I can feel it!! FITNESS GOALS FOR 2015Get down to 25% body fatDo one pull-upStart taking aerial classesGreatly improve on five yoga poses GOALS FOR THIS CHALLENGEComplete the challengeReduce body fat by 2%Make noticeable improvement on yoga poses CHALLENGE ACTIONSStrength training 3x a weekDancing Cardio 3x a weekFollow Bulletproof diet guidelines Grain and dairy freePractice yoga poses on week night ACTION DETAILS Strength training 3x a week 20-30 minute strength training sessionsBody weight, yoga, kettlebellMondays, Wednesdays, FridaysGrading Scale: A = 3 sessions per week // C = 2 sessions per week // F = 1-0 sessions per weekSTR +4Dancing Cardio 3x a week 15-30 minute dancing cardio sessionsHooping, belly dancing Couch-to-5K programTuesdays, Thursdays, SaturdaysGrading Scale: A = 3 sessions per week // C = 2 sessions per week // F = 1-0 sessions per weekSTA +4Follow Bulletproof diet guidelines Grain and dairy free Keep food choices in the green and yellow levels on the Bulletproof Diet RoadmapStay grain and dairy free (white rice and grass-fed butter/ghee allowed)Grading Scale: A = 0-1 indulgences per week // B = 2-3 indulgences per week // C = 4-5 indulgences per week // D = 6-7 indulgences per week // F = 8 or more indulgences per weekCON +2, CHA +2Practice yoga poses on week nights Practice one pose each evening for a minimum of five minutesMonday: Crow Pose (Bakasana)Tuesday: Tree Pose (Vrksasana)Wednesday: Monkey Pose (Hanumanasana)Thursday: Upward Bow Pose (Urdhvadhanu)Friday: Four-Limbed Staff Pose (Chaturanga Dandasana)Grading Scale: A = 5 practices per week // B = 4 practices per week // C = 3 practices per week // D = 2 practices per week // F = 1-0 practices per weekDEX +3

I want to start off by saying happy new year to everyone. January brings 14ish hour days, 6 days a week. So I will be working with limited free time. I hope that this challenge serves as a good reminder that I have fitness goals to attain! That said this challenge may come across somewhat bland, but it will hopefully serve its purpose for me. I have never had a load of followers anyway, so its not like I need to worry about letting people down. That said, I fear this all getting placed very far on the back burner so I plan to keep things simple. 1. Lift + body weight 3 times a week. I started lifting heavy weight last challenge and I like it. I progressed very fast, and to be honest my joints were starting to hurt. So my plan for this time is to do slightly less weight, where it is still a challenge, but not complete exhaustion. I will then use my time tested body weight routine after. I hope this will allow my joints to "catch up" while i still lift and my body weight helps my smaller muscles/ balance. Simple to judge I either do it 3 times a week or I don't. 2. Use work as exercise. I work at a power plant, the facility is very large and has many stairs. My phone tracks my steps so I want to hit 10k steps every day. My job requires more desk time as I keep getting promotions, but if I want I can get up and inspect many things. This is one thing I can do while at work, getting payed to work out I also want to add "piss ups" while it is a crude name (I work at a power plant we have colorful language) it should help keep the fitness ball moving while being stuck here at work. The idea is to do 10 push ups and 10 air squats whenever I go to the restroom. Last in group is to ALWAYS take the stairs. To judge I either hit 10k steps or I don't. Piss ups and piss squats ( I need a new name for these) relief ups and relief squats ? do them or don't stairs use them 3. For F^*k sake just eat right dummy This is regularly a goal for me, and I have had off and on success. I traditionally gain quite a bit of weight in Jan because of my work. The plant always has an incrediable amount of junky food around since were all here so long. last challenge I stayed even. I want to eat in a deficit this time. This boils down to a will power item. I have set my self up for success with delivered meals etc. I just need to not eat junk food! Wish me luck! Just eat right stupid Life Goal Some of you know I love shooting sports. from pistols to archery to throwing knives, to tactical shooting, to competitions. I have always hoped my wife would gain interest in these so we could enjoy them together, this has had limited success. She likes to shoot pistols once in a while, and wanted to know how to safely handle and use all the styles of firearms ( Which I think is a good idea.) Anyway long story short we had a chance to go to a very upscale gun club which had long range ranges (up to 500 yards.) I have never tried that before (south Florida doesn't have many places where there isn't buildings in the way for 500 yards.) I failed! And it excited me! I now have a drive to get better! and my wife loved it! I have been saving funds for a new purchase maybe for the jeep, but now it will go towards a decent bolt action rifle and practice. By the end of the 6 weeks I hope to have my rifle, have a scope mounted, and sighted in with at least one practice session in. I will likely be devouring books, and tutorial vids on the subject along the way. No challenge would be complete without at least one picture of Wile E coyote. Good luck everyone

Hi all, my name is Phytomancer, and I am back. Last week, I have a very embarrassing but neccessary surgical procedure. The mark is small, but the doctor told me not to exert heavy physical exercise until further notice. But as everybody knows, superheroes (and super villains, like me) only get stronger after every defeat. So do I! Disclaimer: This image is only representative. You may find the real me slightly more physically alluring, that is, if you are a dwarf like me. This guy's just too elvish dontcha thang? The winter holidays is almost over, and Santa has done his job, and it started to spoiled Phytomancer's mood. Because he's taken a liking to Grinch, and even when Grinch got his heart melted (,sentimentals only fail,) Phytomancer would take up to do the Grinch's job. He will steal New Year Resolutions! Whatever popular resolutions people wish to do and didn't, Phytomancer will take it and make it better. 1. "I'll lift, like, everyday at the gym." - Walk 30 min/ day - Lift/ bodyweight workout 3 times a week 2. "I'll eat better" - Eat greens 7 days a week - Only eat between 7-5 (10 hours) 3. "I will study hard" - 2 hours in the morning in writing creatively for the first week - 2 hours working on dissertation everyday (or 14 hours/ week) - Sleep 8 hours/ day for brain capacity. And that's it. Time for minion to start his first set of evil tasks. Good luck, everybody !! I--I meant-- MUAHHAHAHAAAHAA

Since last challenge went a bit haywire, this time I'm keeping it simple, getting back to basics and being awesome in manageable ways. There will be silks. There will be early mornings. There will be pain. There will be gifs. Let's do it! Main Quest: Lose 3kg this challenge Goal 1: Get to the gym and do weights programme and run (30 minutes) 4 times per week. Record activity to get a base line and work from there Goal 2: Eat 1250-1500 cals per day and record on MyFitnessPal Goal 3: Stretch post workout or do yoga, so there is stretching or yoga each day Life Goal: Keep working on the garden every day and of course, keeping silking! I am going to be away for the first few days of the challenge, so for them I will just try to focus on keeping the eating good, and getting into a routine when I get back and back to work (cry cry cry). At least I have the challenge to look forward to. It's gonna be good

Been doing this fitness thing on and off for roughly 3 years now. Got myself down close to my goal weight of 200 (really hit 225). Fell apart on my goals. Went from a job where I was able to work out consistantly and eat great. Left that job to go back to an old job where I stress ate, worked WAY to many hours in the week, and couldn't make it to the gym ever. I recently (october) left the crazy job to go back to the OTHER job (I know it gets confusing) been there for about 3 months now and I have a bet going with my new (old yes it is the same boss that I worked for before) boss. We are both doing Paleo in a mission to drop weight. The first one to break paleo gives the other person $50 The main piece to this challenge is that within the next 6 months I plan on enlisting in the United States Air Force. I am currently at 250lbs and I need to be below 208. I need to atleast have the Liberator standards under my belt. I plan on getting to Warhawk before I enlist but Liberator is where I am starting. Males Run (2 miles) Run (1.5 mile) Push-ups Sit-ups Pull-ups Liberator (minimum graduation standard) 16:45 min. 11:57 min. 45 50 0 Thunderbolt (honor graduate standard) 14:15 min. 8:55 min. 62 70 4 Warhawk (extraordinary - highest standard) 13:30 min. 8:08 min. 75 80 10 Fitness Goals: 1. Run 5K in under 30 miutes 2. Complete 5 pullups in 1 set 3.25 Pushups in 1 set 4.60 situps in 1 set Life Goals: 1: Put 350 into personal savings (took a paycut to go to a lower stress job, need to rebuild the savings account,) 2: Read something printed at least 30 minutes every day, does not matter what it is as long as it is NOT on the internet.

I am going to be away from home/the gym for 2 weeks and want to come up with a body weight routine that I can do in the meantime. I will be busy with family stuff a lot and likely won't have large chunks of time to exercise or get really tired. I want to design a plan that I can do for these 2 weeks that won't require me to change/get really sweaty, can be broken up and done in little time chunks throughout the day and that doesn't require equipment or a lot of space. I've been exercising pretty hard the last 2 weeks (about 40 min a day, 20 cardio and 20 weights) and I don't want to gain weight/lose muscle over the holidays (even though I know this is likely impossible with barely any exercise and eating extra food lol but hey a girl can dream). So what do you think would be the most effective? I was thinking: 200 squats 100 alternate lunges 200 standing cross body crunches 20 pushups 36 tricep dips 40 crunches 10 reverse crunches

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!

Hi, I don't know where to ask this, but I've been stuck in my pull-up and my push-ups progression. I have been doing startbodyweight weight loss program for a while now, and I hit 6/6/6 on my half pull-ups and 8/7/7 on uneven push-ups. From there I can't seem to move on. My body just can't follow. Is there anything I can do? Here are possible factors that I considered: I've been eating less for a while nowI'm training boxing/kali in my off daysI'm not quite sure what to do from here. Thanks for helping me out.

Greetings everyone. I'm new to the Assassins Guild after finishing up Challenge #2 (x2) with the Adventurers. I'm still a work in progress and kinda need help from multiple guilds. But I'll gain the most right now by being an Assassin until next Camp Nerd Fitness next Fall... For a quick background on me, I'm a considerably overweight 42 year old guy who started to get serious on the fitness journey last April after being diagnosed as a Type II Diabetic. I'm also motivated in losing weight in order to have a much needed major surgery that will make a significant impact on my standard of living (and hopefully keep me out of the hospital). I've bonded with a great group of people last September when I attended Camp Nerd Fitness # 1 (see my post that I link in my signature for my experiences and my Yearly Quest). What is my current regime? I currently do the StrongLifts 5x5 program three days a week and do a bodyweight regime on the off days along with a healthy dose of walking and jogging. I'm currently involved in an almost continuous Fitbit challenge with a few rebels and currently average over 70,000 steps a week. I'm also starting to work on my Grip Strength. My Main Quest: As of now, I want to lose another 100 pounds. I currently have lost approximately 50 pounds since April 2014. The problem? Since I've started adding bodyweight and StrongLifts, my weight loss has ceased. However, I have noticed the difference in that I'm able to wear clothes that I haven't worn in years (down 4" in waist and 1 shirt size). Continuting Quest: For the last challenge, I have adoped a new ongoing quest to maintain a certain high level of activity. On days I don't go to the gym, I want to make sure that I get at least 10,000 steps. On gym days, I need to make sure that I kick butt. My overall goal is to make sure that I'm at least over 70,000 steps a week. Challenge 1:Continue doing my workouts. I finally found a gym I can live with and do my StrongLifts regime as well as some Cardio... Bodyweight is still my major goal. I can do everything BUT Pullups.. I'm not likely to tackle that anytime soon. I will be happy if at the end of this challenge to be able to actually hold my actual body weight using the pullup bar on the Power Rack I use. I'm also want to continue building up my Grip Strength and increase mobility. I'm not going to do Parkour, but I want to better my balance and slacklining (without a slackline - using beams/etc that are low enough to the ground to be safe for me). Challenge 2:Diet. I suck at diet. I'm starting to make food to take with me to work, but I haven't gotten the vegetable balance in my life. Part of it is the limited amounts of veggies that I can eat. I'm good with meat. I've also been good at grains (or the lack of). I still have to get a minimum amount of carbs since I'm on a basal insulin (dose half of what it was in April) and have had a few pretty bad lows, so I'm being careful. I'll consider this a roaring success if I don't eat out more than twice a week, OR find that I can stand broccoli or eggs. Challenge 3:Push the Envelope. I'm an introvert and an aspie. I cope with this by staying in and avoid living on the edge. This isn't healthy for me. Another realization after getting home from Camp was that I needed to stop giving f@'s about what other people may think of me and live for myself. Last challenge I accomplished this by marching Alumni Band for the first time in 12 years and actually doing one of Amy Clover's bootcamps up in Austin. This year, I have the following things to do that will push me: 1. Go camping at the Texas Rennaisance Festival Thanksgiving weekend and actually party with the other campers. Yes, party. Maybe bring someone special. 2. Actually do a hike a week. One of these should be Enchanted Walk. This is my time of year to be outside and I need to kick myself in the butt to do it. Life Challenge:I made up a list I posted on my blog (see the Road Ahead link in my signature) of things that I want to accomplish in the next year. I need to mark a few more things off of it. During the last challenge, I've already done a few things and have tried to do a few others. The Camping/Hiking/Running will be done. I'm working on the girlfriend thing, but lets just say that I completely suck at it. I generally have tried striking up a conversation with someone new rather often. Also, depending on when I take my reward trip, I may be able to do the Hike Mt. Rainier. And yes, I have taken progress pictures and will be posting them soon.

Here is my list of goals for this challenge. I'll fill out where my starting point is at a later point, but wanted to at least get this up here. Goal 1: Eat at least 80% paleo. Allowance of 42 Non-Paleo Tokens (NPTs) (accounting for 3 meals and up to 2 snacks per day)Goal 2: Lose at least 2.5% body fat. Starting point: 28.58%Goal: 26% or lowerGoal 3: Complete the NF Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Workout 2-3 times per week. Life Goal: Get rid of 50 more pounds of stuff. Onward!

Third challenge! After last time, I did really well (if I say so myself!) but then fell off track in the gap between challenges arg! So getting back onto it, trying to stick with it despite getting busier and busier towards the end of the year and Christmas! My main goal is still to lose 20kg by around September/October next year. This challenge in particular I am aiming to lose about 4kg Quest 1: Do gym work, aerial silks or PT for 45 mins a day, 4 days a week I am getting good with the consistency now, but my work is picking up so I need to make sure that I plan my workouts well enough that they happen even when things get chaotic. Quest 2: Eat 1350 cal/day for 5 days per week. I was good at this last time and I want to keep that going. I also want to get good whole foods in and back off the sulfites which have started creeping in again Quest 3: get a straddle up and be able to do the seatbelt higher up on the silks. This is going to mean working lots on my core strength, and practicing getting out of the seatbelt without relying on the ground lol! Lifegoal: I have a schedule for my housework, I want to stick to this because when my house and workspace is organised, I am organised and more relaxed. I want to get my hair cut and coloured, because I havent done either of those things since JUNE and it is looking RATS lol, which doesnt help me feel professional, confident or pretty. I'd also like to get my eyebrows done because i havent done that in god knows how many months. I also need to get my tattoo touched up! Lots of work to be done!! But it's going to be awesome

Rotengars 47 Orc challenge. Okay so last challenge did not go well despite the fact that I was able to keep on working out and have been getting closer to my goals of reducing my BF%, my workout group has collapsed due to very unnecessary drama and my partner in crime has stopped working out as well, leaving me rather unmotivated after all of this. But I will not stop until the job is done (and really is it ever done?) "Grumbling at the base camp he's made after falling down the mountain. Rotengar absently kicked a rock down the mountain in frustration. Alerting a large pack of Orcs to charge up the mountain to get the squishy pinky. Drawing his blades cursing now in for the fight of his life." Challenges! Do Neila Rey's Fighter's Codex all 30 days (and then start over for the last 17) each day completed means one orc killed. (+2 STR, DEX, CON) Reduce coffee intake to one cup a day. This helps me spend less and focus on eating healthier. drink teas water or juice instead. (+2 Wis) Spend less at the company store by bringing in replacements. Impulse spending has been an on going issue, and while we were at the other building it wasn't a huge issue, because I could only go in my break, now we basically have a convince store in house. On average I spend anywhere between 10 - 40$s per day at the "Cstore" (+2 INT)Grading; Challenge 1; Succeeding with style; Completely kill all the Orcs, and lose BF% in the process. Passing, Kill all the orcs. Fail; Kill less than 75% of the orcs. Challenge 2; Succeeding with Style; No coffee for the entire challenge (unless it's an emergency,) Passing: Consume no more than 47 cups of coffee during the course of the challenge. Fail: Consuming more than 47 cups of coffee during the challenge. (Emergency cups do not count.) Challenge 3; Succeed with style; Spend no money in the cstore or any other place for snacks (save ~1200$'s), Pass; Save ~900-450$, Fail; Saving less than 450$.

Ok! Right challenge this time! Name: Caprarius Age: 22 Height: 5' 9" Weight: 180 lbs (Gonna change during the 8-10, we're doing weigh ins) Race: Half-Elf Class: Ranger Stats: •Strength (STR) - 0 •Dexterity (DEX) - 0 •Stamina (STA) - 0 •Constitution (CON) - 0 •Wisdom (WIS) - 0 •Charisma (CHA) - 0 Main quest: •To get stronger, better, faster. (And to kill that Great Jaggi!) Goals; 1.Do the beginner bodyweight work on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Starting at 5 sets and ending at 10 sets on the sixth and final week. 2.Do atleast 30 minutes cardio on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Jump on the treadmill, cycle, swimming, or just running around in a circle. If I can move, I will! 3.By the end of the sixth week, my main source of hydration will be water and hot tea, with the occasional beer or glass of wine. Side quests; •Life Side Quest: Save $4,000. •Fitness Side Quest: Achieve good or above in the Navy PFA. Motivation: "To be proud to walk around without a t-shirt on." I think that sums it up nicely, besides all the healthly benefits and such that comes from being fit!

Getting a better grip on what I'm actually going for with this challenge, I'm modifying some stuff from my initial post. My Main Quest was kinda vague. I mean, gaining muscle and losing flab is good, but there's got to be a way to measure. I don't have the fat caliper pinchy thingies, and they make me feel inferior anyway, so I'm going to go with pictures, one to be posted shortly. For Mission #1 - Be Stronger Than Your Excuses, I've got myself a lovely list of exercises to get better at, and even if it's boring, I'm going to keep at them for the full six weeks to see what improvement I can make in my initial numbers, to be posted tomorrow. Mission #2 - Weight Watcher Reboot - is set to start tomorrow, since that's my first weigh-in with the new at-work group that I'll be joining, that meets during my lunch hour - which is awesome. I'll report in my first planned small change for the week at some point tomorrow. For Mission #3 - Snooze - there are no alterations - I managed lights out on time last night and coaxed myself out of bed at 6:45 as scheduled. This arrangement should guarantee me somewhere around 7 hours of sleep per night, which is about the right amount for me to not be cranky next day. As for my Life Quest, aka Mission #4 - Self Control, I've got Self-Control programmed with a blacklist of my main offenders. I didn't put NerdFitness on the list because I figured I usually forget to post how I did on stuff until later at night. So I'm leaving that available. Facebook, Hulu, Netflix, Yahoo & MSN are out. More may be added later, depending on what I find tempting me after hours. I'm leaving YouTube off for now because if I want to do Poi lessons, I'll need it, but it may be too big of a temptation. At 10:00 tonight I plan to set it off and maybe clean some stuff. I've been rearranging furniture and trying to weed out all the crap in my apartment, and the project is coming along, but slowly. My dad just called to say he found a nice small dining table for me, and I'm visiting him this weekend, so I need to sort out this corner full of crap that I had collected from other corners. I have a lot of yarn for some reason. Here's an additional thought, I've got this calendar white-board that I got for previous challenges. I think it's time to erase April and add in September and October so I can have a place to track progress. Strength 3 times a week, choose and make a small change weekly, lights out by 11:30m and out of bed by 6:45 every work night, and Self-Control activated at 10:00 every work night. I don't know that I'm going to bother with the attribute points. I've never been much of a gamer. But I may reward myself for successfully completing my missions. So on to the photo taking and strength-getting... I'll report in soon.

For those of you who don't know me, the short version: Five years ago, after having my first baby, I quickly dropped 25 lbs below my pre-pregnancy weight and I was not overweight to begin with. I now have two more kids. I love being a mom, but I have not taken care of myself. I'm weak and I have very little energy. I don't want to keep living like this. Main Goal: Gain 25-30 lbs and end up at around 16-18% BF. Be stronger and have more energy than ever before. 1. Eat all the food! Get at least 2000 calories of real food. (+2 STA, +2 CON) 6-7 days a week- A 5 days- B 4 days- C less than 4 days- go to Golden Corral (not really lol) 2. Do all the workouts! Body weight training 3x week. (+3 STR, +1 STA) 3x- A 2x- C less than 2x- quit being a slacker 3. Walk all the days! Take my dog for a walk every day. I'll accept the 1-1.5 miles I did before just down the road and back. I enjoy the time with my dog and just being outside, so this is good for me mentally as well. (+2 STA, +2 WIS) 6-7 days a week- A 5 days- B 4 days- C less than 4 days- get up and get out Life Goal We've decided to clean out our basement. There is a good bit of space there that we could really use and it's just full of junk. We're clearing out, cleaning it up, and getting rid of all the crap we don't need. I'm not sure how to grade this one, since the time I'll be working on it daily will vary and my husband will be helping too. (+3 WIS) Motivation- 1.I want to have an active, healthy family. I'm with my kids every day and they watch what I do. I need to be a good example. 2. I've always been a shrimp and I never thought I would be able to do much physically. It's time to find out.

Greetings! This is my first challenge (I posted it on the Level 1 Rebels thread and was pointed here)--I did my first real push up last week, looking to do my first unassisted pullup by the end of the year. I've been lurking on NF for a year or so but am finally taking the plunge and joining even though I'm generally shy on forums. You all seem like nice people though so it's not too TOO scary. Here are my goals: Goal 1: Strength train to support rock climbing, working towards a pull up by including Body Weight Rows, Isometric, and Suspended Pull ups for the next 3-4 weeks and moving towards Eccentric Pullups and Assisted Chin Ups. A = 18 sessions B = 12 sessions C = 9 sessions F = Anything less D: Goal 2: To lose some fat (and hopefully weight, to make the pull up easier haha), I'll track what I eat, aiming for less than 1600 calories a day, with a focus on protein and veggies. (Measurement will be by week, with an average grade at the end based on all 6 weeks.) A = Made it 7 days a week B = Made it 5-6 days a week C = Made it 3-4 days a week F = Made it less than 2 days a week D: Goal 3: Work on my grip strength (hand exercisers, barbell holds, plate pinches, etc.) A = 18 sessions B = 12 sessions C = 9 sessions F = Anything less Side Quest: for mental health, get outside for some kind of physical activity at least 1x a week. (Easier than it sounds for someone who hates the heat and is in southeast Texas.)

Ok here is my challenge outline! This is my second challenge, and first in the guild. Main Quest: lose 20kg by around this time next year I've done it before, I can do it again, I just have to get my sh** together!! Quest 1: Do gym work, aerial silks or PT for 45 mins a day, 4 days a week Last challenge i did well at this but I need to be a bit more consistent and log my progress each time so I keep the motivation going Quest 2: Eat 1350 cal/day for 5 days per week. I was pretty average at this last time but I know it really works for me. I'm trying to be more wholefood-y, I'm not completely anal about it but I need to be a bit more strict about it than I was last time at least Quest 3: Climb to the top of the silks!! This is a big one! When I started in July I couldn't climb at all. Now I reckon I am about 2 steps away from being able to touch the top. I think I have the strength, but it's more the fear of heights and worry that I won't have the strength to get back down again. Or that I will completely panic and let go lol Life Side Quest: Finish the kitchen OMG we have been working on this kitchen for almost a year now. It is time to finish it and say good bye to major renovations for the rest of our lives!!!!

Did the beginners bodyweight work out for the second time this week! AND cancelled my gym membership that I've been paying for for 8 months and NEVER going to! I've been wanting to start this body weight routine for months, but have always found soooo many excuses not to. "Im too tired", "Im hungry", "I have to read the entire internet first" or just plain sitting on the couch in silence instead of doing anything physical. I did the routine first on Monday morning when I had some time (it only takes 15 minutes!) and felt super worked after, sweaty, a little weezy, hating everything. But I felt really good the next day! I planned on doing it again on Wednesday, but I was feeling a little too sore still, but had some time this morning and did it again! It was already easier, and I could do more reps per set of pushups than day 1! I'm going to use this thread as an accountability thing for myself, might be something I need, along with the two alarms Ive set on my phone at the beginning and end of the day to remind me everyday to work out.

Slightly late posting this, but I started this challenge last week and haven't been able to get on the interwebs for a week. I'm following this program http://hundredpushups.com/ and I've downloaded their official app to track progress. I've also roped two mates to do it with me. Details: Name: Aaron Age: 35 Height: 195cm Weight: 115kg Main Goal: Complete 100 push ups Mission: 1) Follow the 100 Push Ups program for 6 weeks Downloaded the app and ready to go. Going to throw in the squat and situp challenges as well but push ups, being a great weakness for me, are the priority. 2) Continue to eat healthy My diet has been pretty great, I’m at the salad bar twice a day at work (where I live for 20 days of the month) and avoid the desert bar. Just got to be avoid snacking and take outs when I’m back home. Too many nice restaurants near me. 3) Running/Cardio off days The days I’m not body weight training Life Quests: Write every day Spend at least half an hour a day writing. I started and stalled out off Nanowrimo last November and I want to get back to and finish the book I started. Making a habit of writing alongside making a habit of training every day is the ideal side quest. I had this as part of my last challenge and didn’t take it seriously enough. Going to button down this time. I’ve just read Stephen Pressfields short book The War of Art so my creative motivation is at an all time high. Motivation: · Prove to myself I can do something I never thought I could

Cobaltsword's Journey: The Battle Log I need a break from the challenges for a while, maybe i'll just sit this one out. I need some rest. But i'll continue on my quest to becoming a true assassin. My training regimen so far after two years with Nerd Fitness (woot!) Monday: Spartacus workout + mace training + bo staff trianing Tuesday: Parkour + running Wednesday: Spartacus Workout + mace training + bo staf training Thursday: rest Friday: Parkour + running Saturday: Spartacus Workout + mace Training + bo staff training Sunday: Parkour + running So just a small head's up: yesterday i finally achieved a speed vault and what i dubbed a side kong vault. The true kong vault is within reach but not just yet. I need the mental strength to attempt it. But i also improved my stride jumps, my cat walk, and climbed a new building a few days ago (abandonned train station) i did not go al the way up for my grip strength is not quite there yet. But it's encouraging to see how far i've come anyway, a big woot to me for now

The Story: After the spy mission in Seven Kingdoms, Phytomancer learns that he needs to find the locations of rain gardens, the shrines of the rain god Viruna, hidden in 4 modern US cities, then learn the secrets of its magic. At the same time, the potent mantra will tax his energy. Like other magics, the power of the gods are secret to humans, and if a human yeilds this magic without training, their muscles will turn to willowy grass and their stomach will swell. (No-- his stomach already begins to expand like a balloon!) Slowly, he will turn into a potbelly monster, rendering the knowledge of the heavens useless. That, Phytomancer must fight. The mantra also does not mix well with grains, bread, and sugar. These food will slow him down in learning the secret words, and it will speed up the monster transformation process. He must train for power, for endurance, and for energy. He must select his food carefully. He must spread the word of Viruna. The Goals Strenght: Strenght training at least 3 times a week Endurance: Cardio 30 min at least 3 times a week Food: Grainless (except rice) 5 meals a week less than 1 Sugary drink a week less than 3 Sugary desserts a week Have green leaves everyday Have less than estimately 1200 kCal a day Sidequest: Spend at least 2 hours a day 4 days a week studying the magic of Viruna (Write/edit that paper about rain gardens I should have finished last month) Measure waistline and take photos every 2 weeks. (Extra: A burpee counts both for cardio and strenght!) And then I hope for the best!

Hello Rangers! Long time no see. I did a couple challenges with you fine folks in ages past, but disappeared for a while, then hung out with the adventurers and the Druids. Good times! But really, I'm a ranger. I got sucked in to signing up for a Spartan Sprint under duress (I wanted to do a Warrrior Dash with work folks, SevenFootGeek wanted to do the Spartan with nerd folks. We agreed to both do both. I feel like I was had... The Spartan is so much harder!!) and I'm totally not ready for that shit! So what do we do about it? Get ready, that's what! I gotta shed some pounds cause that will make it easier, and I gotta get stronger. I know I know, shouldn't try to do those two things at once, but here is my plan: calorie deficit + yoga and body weight work outs= fat loss & muscle maintenance= seeming stronger because there is less of me to haul around with equal muscle. Eh? Eh? Makes sense to me. Goal 1: Eat like a Spartan! I wanna go from a (female version of) this: To THIS: Last challenge I really focused on adding the good stuff. This challenge we are going to work on eliminating the bad. I am going to focus on eating clean, unprocessed goodness. If I have a treat, try to make it a clean, unprocessed treat like home made ice cream, not vending machine crap, or stove top pop-corn not corn twists. To track how I am doing here, we are going to be using MFP and tracking every day. So, don't finish a day, loose a point. Eat something processed and bad, loose a point. Then grade it like school. Yogurt and pepperoni sticks are processed and will be allowed. Also I will be internet un-accessable for Week 2. I will write down what I eat, but I'm not going to piss about with trying to calculate calories and what not, just good and bad to stay accountable and not fall in to the 'I'm on vacation, I can eat all the things!' mode. I will also will be using this to track moods and emotional eating. "I'm tired... stressed... over worked,... moody ect ect ect" are not reasons to stuff my face. They are reasons to yell, cuss, go for a 5 min time out walk, punch the air violently, or throw a shoe, but not this: Be tough! With your shield, or on it! Goal 2: It'll take more then good eating to get Spartan Tough I need to do pull ups, push ups, squats and... other stuff.I need a bodyweight work out that will help me transition to relatively out of shape to in pretty good shape. I plan to start going to the gym to lift heavy weights in the next challenge, but right now I don't even think I could do the empty olympic bar, so we are going to work up to that. I haven't found the right work out yet, so I need to do some research for this one! I test myself out the other day... I could do 4 knee push ups, no full ones, and can't move myself from a dead-hang to pull up. That being said, I could climb up the walls with rope like a squirrel at the Warrior Dash, so WTF man? There are scary mega rope climbs and other nasty obstacles in the Spartan, as well as plenty o' hill/stair climbing. Here are my thoughts BW work out 3/week (Exact work out TBD, SFG to be consulted) Goal 3:Rock climbing 1/week (won't happen week one or 2 because of scheduling maddness so we'll aim for 4 times this challenge) and Yoga 2x week. Classes are better, but at home is good to. Goal 4:Walking/Running up and down a hill near my house 2/week Side goal to make it all happen: This is going to take hella organization to accomplish. I am adding a LOT. Probably too much to be honest. But, its gotta happen. Meal planning is going to have to be a thing that happens every start of the week, with grocery shopping not being optional. Making lunches in the evening so that I can get to yoga or the park in the morning before work without getting up at 4am. Please, keep your comments of "I get up at 4 am every day blah blah blah" to yourself. I need 8hrs of sleep, if I get up at 4, I need to go to bed at 8pm. Really? Nope. I will likely start aiming for bed by 9:30pm, up at 5:30am This goal isn't getting marked. Its success will immediately impact the success of the other goals. If I'm not organized, I won't get anything done. If I am, I will get all of the things done and be amazing. I will also have to do progress pics this time I think. Starting the process of going from this: To this: