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So I am very new to this, like 10 mins kinda new. But so far so good! I am 32, and recently discovered rock climbing, and have become a bit addicted. Main Quest Be able to lead climb 7a (currently top roping 6a) Quests Climbing is hard, and even harder when you carry a few extra pounds, so I am hoping to build strength and lose weight in a manageable way.. Lose weight I am currently 5'4 and 155lbs, within the 6 week challenge I would like to be 145lbs, I am going to hopefully achieve this by cutting out all junk food and increasing my protein - decreasing my carb intake (I am vegetarian so any advice on meat free protein would be great) Start running I have started the couch to 5k and am on week 2, ideally by the end of week 6 I would like to be able to run for at least 20 mins, even if its slowly, my dog will thank me for it too! Make time to climb My local climbing wall offers women's only bouldering on a Monday night, at the moment I am so busy with work (queue excuses here) that I rarely make it in, and it can be intimidating when they all are strong climbers, so by week six I want to have it ingrained in my routine. Monday nights sorted. Any and all advice welcome!

So here I was, pondering which guild to join after spending the past six weeks with the recruits. I'm training for a 5k coming up so was thinking the Scouts might fit, but I also recently started Stronglifts 5x5 and find myself in love with my alone time in the garage. So i was stuck in a conundrum, go to the Warriors and focus on strength? Or go to the Scouts and focus on my running? But I didn't want to decide! As I sat here at work looking over the Guild sub forums in my indecision, reading the captions trying to decide where I best belonged, as my eyes darted from Scouts to Warriors and Warriors to Scouts, something caught my eye "Rangers are a hybrid of Warriors and Scouts, built for strength AND endurance. A jack-of-all-trades but master of none, Rangers are well-equipped for any situation". Yep that's when I found myself a home. So now that I'm here in my new home I guess I should introduce myself to everyone. I am 27 years old, have two dogs, a horse and a fiance. I'm getting married this coming October and am pretty certain at this point we should have just eloped, but I've been told since save the dates already went out I can't change my mind now. I have a good job with good benefits, I recently got a promotion and start my new position in May, which is quite bittersweet. I'm trying to move up as quickly as possible now so I can save up in hopes to being able to afford my "dream" home/business sooner rather than later. I'm excited to start my second challenge as I would describe my first Challenge as a great success. I got into a routine and stuck to it, which helped me realize how important a routine is to me. This Challenge will be a continuation of the same, with an increased difficulty level. Starting Stats:(WIll update all on Sunday, along with pic taking, took pics on March 12, during last challenge and I see a HUGE difference already) Height:5'2" Weight:124 Biceps: Chest: Waist: Hips: Thighs: How Strong: (These are not my 1RM, this is just the highest weight of done with Stronglifts 5x5) Squat:70lb/31.75kg Bench:75lb/34kg Barbell Row:75lb/34kg Overhead press:50lb/22.67kg Deadlift:105 lb/47.62kg Pull Ups:0 How Fast: Longest Run: 22 minutes Best Mile Time:9:51 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My Mission: Stop being a lazy bum and keep getting healthy! Goal 1 -Continue Stronglifts 3x a week -I also want to get a video asap to I can post it on the form check, some of the lifts just don't feel right + 3 STR +1 WIS Goal 2 - Continue running 2x a week - Should be starting at C210k Week 7 Day 1, may be at day 2, but doubtful as I want to rerun W6D3 due to the unexpected interruption of my neighbors off leash dog (grumble grumble, resisting rant) -5 months left before the Pooch and I do our 5k, so 5 months to train in attempt to finishing in less than 30 min + 2 Dex + 3 STA Goal 3 -Keep Carbs below 30% of calories on workdays & below 50% on days off -Will do this by tracking everything on myfitnesspal -1 Cheat day per week allowed +2 CON Life Goal: -Organise ALL the things, take care of 1 Project/task per week This means my schedule, my house everything. With being in the process of planning a wedding my entire life is currently in chaos, and it's driving me nuts. Instead of just whining about the fact that my old stove is still sitting in the middle of my kitchen, I need to put it on craigslist, same with the riding lawn mower that has been sitting in my garage for the past year. Or those clothes that i cleaned out of my closet and are just now sitting in bags on my floor, actually stick them in the donation bin. You get the point. +2 WIS +2 CHA ---------------------------------------------- Will update Stats Sunday

My name is Patrick. I'm 24, 5'7", and a vegan. I've also been pretty scrawny and a terrible runner. Lately I've been doing a lot of body weight exercises and lifting to try and be healthier and hopefully gain some mass. I had pretty much given up on running though. But I frequently think about the cardio benefits, the stamina, everything that comes with it. So yesterday on a whim I went out for a run for the first time in a year. To my surprise, it went much better than the last time I attempted, which I remember as being a painful, difficult experience. Instead, I kept my pace, I was having fun. Until the cramps killed me after about a mile. But it excited me. So now my goal is to be able to complete a 5k race, without walking, at a reasonable time in comparison to other non-athletes my age. But I really want to build on that in the future. MQ: Be able to run a 5K without walking in six weeks. Q1: Walk/run the 3.5 mile loop by my apartment every other day, lessening my walk time progressively. Q2: Track my diet, which I've never really done before, to make sure that my running doesn't devour what little mass I've gained through strength training, which I'm worried about. Q3: Use light yoga and hip/leg stretches on my rest days to increase flexibility in these locked up areas. LG: I want to change my lifestyle to one that is more fit and active permanently and be the strong, healthy bookworm instead of the pale, scrawny one. Motivation: Me. I want to feel capable, I want to have energy and sleep soundly. I'd also like to actually be good at tennis, which I enjoy playing. Also, I quit drinking as well as other bad habits and having training to do helped me fill that void and transition into a new approach to my life.

First challenge! Main Quest: Run a 5K. I'm going to use C25K, which I've used successfully before (except for falling off the bandwagon...) Three Goals: 1) Follow the C25K plan (Interval walking/jogging, increasing length of jogs and decreasing length of walks over time, until running 30 minutes without stopping). The plan is 9 weeks, so I should be finished Week 6 by the end of the challenge (running 22 minutes without stopping). I'll run Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. 2) Stretch for 20 minutes after every run (Avoid injury). 3) Get at least 7 hours sleep every night (I tend to use being "too tired" as an excuse not to run). Side Quest: Apply for a job every week. I'm looking to relocate to be closer to my BF, and have been putting off applying for new jobs because it is easier, safer, and more comfortable to stay put. Good luck, everyone!

The big goal this challenge is to decrease the amount of sugar that hubby and I consume. He is non-insulin-dependent diabetic but needs to improve his blood sugar levels STAT. So, this guy is public enemy number one at our house: I don't think that he is ready to go cold turkey; so I've devised a transition plan - based in part on the NF Academy nutrition guidelines. I've already dropped my sugar consumption about 25% - compared to last month. Gotta love data!!! I'm using LoseIt to track what I eat, and have the premium plan so that I can drill down on my macros to see what I'm actually eating. So Quest #1 is to transition to a Whole30 (which will be next challenge's goal). Each week, I'll add another improvement to our diet, and I'm going to be tracking it using HabitRPG. At stake: 2 CON, 2 WIS - with grading by percentage of days that I manage to stick to our improvement plan. During the break, I've convinced hubby to eat a high protein breakfast ... and he's already feeling better. That was no big deal for me, but next week ... I need to substitute a vegetable in for a starch at lunch and dinner. I'm not a big veggie eater ...... (0/42) The other big thing I am working on is to be able to complete an obstacle course race. I've been a bit discouraged at how long it takes me to improve my upper body strength, but I'm going to keep at it while working on my running and my general agility. So, Quest #2 is to do strength training 3 times per week. I mix it up and do a routine at the gym (including assisted pull ups), kettle bells at home, and sandbag training at home. At stake: 3 STR, and grading is also a percentage of goal. (0/18) Quest #3 is to get through C25K again. This should be pretty darned easy since I'm on week 4 already and am an experienced runner. But I'll (hopefully) be transitioning to outdoor running by early April. Yes?? 2 STA awarded for getting through it; 1 STA if I get to week 6. Quest #4 is to work on agility weekly (at least). I have my FitDeck agility cards. Or I can go climbing or take a related class - such as yoga, zumba, pole dancing, martial arts class, etc. I'm allowing myself to play with this and have some fun .... and be flexible with how I work on improving my agility for 2 DEX, based on percentage completion. (0/6) Quest #5 is to work on my dead drop assassin skills - using geocaching and Ingress. I'm going to pull a number out of the air and say that I'll do this 20 times during the challenge for a possible 2 WIS and 2 DEX. Geocaching in the harsh winter can get to be a bit problematic ... so the augmented reality game, Ingress, is a good substitute to get me out of the house. Scoring is also by a percentage. (0/20). PLUS - Assassin's Guild minis:Week1 - Pullups and Mountain Climbers (+STR)Week 2 - RUN!!! (+STA)Week 3 -Week 4 -Week 5 -Week 6 - AND, I'm competing in an exercise consistency challenge that Bekah put together on FB. AND WAIT - that's not all!! I'm putting together a simple Fitness RPG. It has a long way to go, but I'm playing it while designing it. So, I'm really hoping to have fun and improve my body composition this challenge!!!

This is my first time as a scout (normally I hang out in the druid area!) Quest: Run a 5k! Why? Well there are several reasons why. The first is that I was dumped in January, and my mental self is limping along. There's not much I can do to take care of myself other than keep busy. (Most of my critical needs both practical and social are ok, even if I'm super crazy stressed over everything right now) As such, I've been scouring meetup for stuff to do, and one of the things I ran across was a nifty 5k at the end of April. I'm not much of a runner, but I decided I want to do it anyway. So there ya go, that's a decision down. I have just enough time to actually try to train, so I thought I probably should. I definitely cannot run a mile now. I looked into c25k, which conceptually should work fine for me, but all the pages on it were like WEIGHT LOSS!!1!!111! That's fine for anyone for whom weight loss is a goal, but not only is it not something I'm after, it's something I find incredibly stressing. I was disappointed until I realized that I could use the 5k version of Zombies, Run! which will take me through the running stuff without making me constantly wade through weight loss talk. And I like their stuff (I did part of season 1 just walking, because the story was cool, so I'm sort of excited about this). PLEASE NOTE: I would like people to avoid discussing weight loss in this thread. I appreciate the courtesy. Similarly, I would like to avoid discussions of food an diet, with the exception for things like: what can I eat before a run that will help me keep my energy up without upsetting my stomach. Zombies 5k is 25 episodes, so I need to figure out how I want to space that out over this challenge + most of April. I also want to keep up lifting weights at the gym (usually I go twice a week) so I need to plan plan plan. Planning is hard, should be interesting. Most of my lifting goals will be maintenance or stronger focus on arms / back, most likely. General plan for running gear: same stuff I wear to the gym. Might not be perfect, but should suffice. I'm most worried about my shoes, but I think they're designed to be running shoes anyway. Regardless, I'm not feeling up for spending money on more shoes for something that might not work out. Mostly I just need to keep and eye on the condition of my shoes so I can replace them if I start nuking them. Due to certain stress (*cough* over the breakup), I also need to try to do better with sleeping and water intake. I've been sleeping poorly, and irregularly (though not as terribly as I would have expected) and have been dehydrated for a while now. Part of sleeping is making sure I wake up on time, and oddly, eat breakfast. I used to breakfast with steadfast regularity, and now it's hit and miss, meaning I spend a ton of extra money stopping for coffee and pastries in the morning to serve as "breakfast". For sleeping: I want to wake up between 6:30 and 7 every weekday. That means I really need to be in bed by 11 whenever possible. That means I should really be getting ready for bed at 10. Getting to bed includes teeth, internet (like updating this thread). That means I need to have showered earlier in the day (I usually shower in the evening, but timing varies). Showers won't be a problem on gym / running days because I always follow stuff like that with showers. Exceptions for bed time on work nights is Thursday evenings, because I have a conflict, and will likely reach my bed at 1 am (12 if I hurry and also skip internets). Breakfast shouldn't be a problem as long as I'm waking up on time. I'm not sure if I'm going to set a wake up time for weekends. Even the bedtime is iffy due to trying to maintain a basic social life (sadly my friends are night owls). Will play that one by ear for now, but in general want to be in bed by midnight-ish on weekends and up around 8, when possible. I don't know how I want to track water intake. I am shockingly bad at just counting bottles. I am, however, really good at knowing when I'm not drinking enough water, like right now. I'll ponder this over the weekend and hopefully come up with something I will find more effective (for me personally) than just number of bottles consumed. All in all, I have quite the planning to take care of this weekend, but I'm looking forward to the weirdness of my first 5k goal eva.

I just started training for a 5k for this challenge. I'm using the Zombies! 5k app, so I don't have to plan any runs myself. What it doesn't give me much guidance on is stretching. Does anyone have a good, simple, short list of must-do stretches for after a run? Right now I'm just sort of vaguely stretching out my legs in half-remembered things from who-knows-where. I need things that are simple to understand and simple to execute, so that I don't get too overwhelmed.

Hey all, So this is my first challenge as a ranger and the first in a few months. As this is a new year and I've learned a lot about myself these last 6 months, I've decided to start anew with goals more suited to what I want out of my life. Main Quest: To lose 85 lbs this year and to compete in a local tough mudder in June. Goal 1: Work out for 45 minutes 3 days a week. In these work outs I want to do a C25K to help with the distance part of Tough Mudder. I also want to do SL 5x5 one day a week to help with the obstacle part of Tough Mudder. A: 15-18 workouts completed B: 12-15 C: 9-12 Fail: < 9 Goal 2: Drink 8 glasses of water each day. I really struggle with drinking anything at all most days and because of this I am always tired and have massive headaches. A: 37-42 days done B: 30-36 C: 21-30 Fail: < 21 Goal 3: Sleep 7-8 hours and no more every night. My sleep schedule is all over the place all the time and so most days I either get 2-4 hours or 9-11 hours of sleep and it screws up my body clock. Plus, when I sleep too much my body gets really sore so sticking to 7-8 hours a night will help with this. A: 37-42 days done B: 30-36 C: 21-3 Fail: < 21 Life Quest: Seeing as January 5th is both the start of the new challenge and the start of a new semester this goal is to keep on top of my homework. Last semester I really struggled with getting my homework done and studying for my exams. Hopefully with getting my health in order and sleeping more regularly, this part of my challenge is a little bit easier. Motivation: This is what I really struggled with last time I made an attempt to get m health in line. I did it more for other people and less for me and I'm pretty sure that is why I lost motivation half way through. So this time my motivation is me. I am tired of living my life behind my weight and allowing it to stop me from doing the things that I really want to do. My weight will no longer hold me back from the life that I have always imagined for myself. I want to go backpacking and hiking and I want to get to see all the beautiful country that is around me. So that is where I stand and I'm excited to get going on this new year.

I'b back for my second challenge! As I was celebrating New Year's with the family I saw a commercial come on for some health apps to start the new year. But one stuck out to me the most; the couch to 5k app. I thought to myself "why not?" what do I have to lose? Nothing, but weight. I already use most of the other health apps the commercial mentioned since they were free and could sync with the health fit app the iphone already has. In my last challenge I learned to build new and better habits. I work out more, make healthier eating choices, track my calorie intake and sleep schedule, and keep up with a daily to do list. I've been gaining weight because of the stress of college, recently changing majors, and taking care of the family after my grandmother passed. I'd love to lose that weight by summer. So 40 pounds by June or 20 weeks. That's about 2 pounds per week which is completely doable. (Shout out to rebel stillskies for her lovely last challenge. It was completely awesome, extremely nerdy, and very inspirational. And I think I'll follow suit with hers.) Main quest Learn to master Earth bending! To do this, I’m going to need to be able to travel around to find a earthbender teacher, actually train with said teacher and bend some earth, and have energy to spare. (and after that maybe find a hidden spirit library in the desert for vacation) Quest 1 Find an Earth Bender Teacher(+4 STA, +1 DEX) It's gonna take some exploring to find an earth bender teacher. I've got a lot of ground air to cover. CHALLENGE 1: run three days a week outside (weather permitting) and follow the couch to 5k apps regimen. A: 100% 3 day run completed, B: 67% 2 day run completed; C: 33% 1 day run completed CHALLENGE 2: Take time to stretch out for at least 5 minutes after my runs. I’m really bad at this if all I’m doing is running. A: 100% complete/stretched for 5+ minutes after both runs, B: 50% completed/stretched for 5+ minutes after one run Quest 2 Earth Bending Training (+4 STR, +1 CHA) Earth bending is tough. CHALLENGE: Lift three days a week following the Stronglifts program. [Edit: I'm changing workouts since I don't have the proper equipment for the program] CHALLENGE: Complete the Beginner Body Weight Workout three times a week 20 body weight squats10 push ups20 walking lunges10 dumbbell rows (using a gallon milk jug)15 second plank20 reverse crunches (or) ab roller 30 Jumping JacksA: 100% completion three days, B: 67% completion two days, C: 33% completion one day Quest 3 Eating healthy (+4 CON) Food is so tasty. It's hard not to overdo it. Stay within my calorie limit. I've been very bad and going over my daily limit on MyFitnessPal. I'd like to stay within the limit recommended A: Met weekly goal, B: Went over 1 or 2 days, C: Went over 3 or 4 days Life Quest Secret Spirit Library(+1 WIS) CHALLENGE: read. I just started reading again over the Christmas break and I haven't stopped since. I started reading Harry Potter and half way through the third book. I plan to read at least three books over this challenge and keep this momentum going. A: three or more books read, B: two books read, C: One book read Point breakdown LEVEL 2: STR : 4 (A=4, B=3, C=2) DEX : 1 (A=1, B=.5, C=.25) STA : 4 (A=4, B=3) CON : 4 (A=4, B=3, C=2) WIS : 1 (A=1, B=.5, C=.25) CHA : 1 (A=1, B=.5, C=.25) Measurements: Neck: 16 Chest: 40 Waist: 35 Hips: 45 Thigh: R: 23.5 L: 23.5 Calf: R: 16 L: 16 Bicep: R: 13.7 L: 13.7 Weight: 194.6 Dress/pants size: 16

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...

(Thread under construction. I decided to make it Pokemon-themed before I realized I don't actually know how to Pokemon. Derp.) Sara Bareilles' "I Choose You" always makes me think of Pokemon, for obvious reasons. I know it's a love song, but I've decided it's a love song to the Flea I want to be. So of course I had to use that for a challenge. And then the Pokemanz demanded to be included so... yeah. Welcome to my brain. Challenge Goal: Level the fuck up Flea's moves 1: Quick Attack Use c25k to start running 3 times a week (and not freeze to death in the process). 2: Grassy Terrain Eat a vegetarian diet. Bonus points for entirely vegan days.3: Rest Get 7 hours of sleep, minimum. Go to bed by 11. 4: Recover 30 minutes every day for Flea-things. Journaling, extra language study, reading a real book (no fanfic!), extra meditating, whatever. *Running was a goal in like, 3 of my challenges last year? And I sucked at it each and every time. But I got all the way to week 7 of c25k at one point and it felt awesome, so now I have something to reach for instead of just "running is a good idea." Evolution: She needs a name. Fleaball evolves into...? Pretty!Flea? idk. I want to be this Flea again! This picture is from August 2010, at the end of two months studying in Jordan. I weighed a good 25-30 pounds less than I do now, was eating much better, felt better, was happier, baaaasically a polar opposite of who I am today. (Except for the fact that I was out of shape there as well.) I miss this Flea. She's not my final evolution, but for now leveling up until I get to that point again is a perfectly good goal. Where do I buy the rare candy?

Current Quest: (PART ONE) 1/5 - 1/23 - Come Back from the Dead MAIN QUEST: Back to Basics :: Don't Suck I've been AWOL for about 3 months... Sigh. I'm lucky that my reason for being AWOL is that I got VERY involved in the play I was doing, made a bunch of new friends, and subsequently did a lot of this: Time to recommit and get ready to rock! Ultimate Quest: Survive the Zombie Apocalypse NECESSARY SKILLS: I will be focusing on... STR: Fend off zombies with brawn STA: Outrun hordes for long distances DEX: Be agile and quick enough to cover rugged, varied terrain effortlessly CON: Have the supplies and means to bunker down and equip myself properly WIS: Be wicked smaht. Because zombies are dumb. CHA: Charm the pants off of handsome survivors. Steal their shit. CHALLENGE PT ONE GOALS (First 3 Weeks) At the midpoint of this challenge, I will assess, assign points, and create a new set of challenges! (5 points possible for each 1/2 challenge) 1: Money, Money, Money I am starting a new teaching job! Long-term subbing is exciting, but it means 21 days of petty pay before the big bucks kick in. I need to be frugal for the next month! - NO FAST FOOD, Not even coffee! - Pay all bills on time - Stick with the alternative 52-week challenge (deposit anywhere from $1-52 per week, each number can only be used once. This allows greater flexibility in case of car repairs or other unexpected expenses!) 2: Get Apocalypse Ready (+3 STA) - Make my new gym membership worth it! Go at least 2x a week - Do the first three weeks of Couch-to-5k! LET'S DO THIS!

double post (dammit)

Current Quest: (PART ONE) 1/5 - 1/23 - Come Back from the Dead MAIN QUEST: Back to Basics :: Don't Suck I've been AWOL for about 3 months... Sigh. I'm lucky that my reason for being AWOL is that I got VERY involved in the play I was doing, made a bunch of new friends, and subsequently did a lot of this: Time to recommit and get ready to rock! Ultimate Quest: Survive the Zombie Apocalypse NECESSARY SKILLS: I will be focusing on... STR: Fend off zombies with brawn STA: Outrun hordes for long distances DEX: Be agile and quick enough to cover rugged, varied terrain effortlessly CON: Have the supplies and means to bunker down and equip myself properly WIS: Be wicked smaht. Because zombies are dumb. CHA: Charm the pants off of handsome survivors. Steal their shit. CHALLENGE PT ONE GOALS (First 3 Weeks) At the midpoint of this challenge, I will assess, assign points, and create a new set of challenges! (5 points possible for each 1/2 challenge) 1: Money, Money, Money I am starting a new teaching job! Long-term subbing is exciting, but it means 21 days of petty pay before the big bucks kick in. I need to be frugal for the next month! - NO FAST FOOD, Not even coffee! - Pay all bills on time - Stick with the alternative 52-week challenge (deposit anywhere from $1-52 per week, each number can only be used once. This allows greater flexibility in case of car repairs or other unexpected expenses!) 2: Get Apocalypse Ready (+3 STA) - Make my new gym membership worth it! Go at least 2x a week - Do the first three weeks of Couch-to-5k! LET'S DO THIS!

"Mal Ravenne" is Elvish for Golden Lioness ..... It seemed to embody the story arc for this coming year's quest to turn around my life, get brave, and return to pursuing my dreams. When I went to St. Olaf College (the crest is a golden lion ... mane-less, btw ......) I had certainly not intended to live a small life as an administrator. As I recall, I wanted to go into the Peace Corps and then study archeology. So, this is a ROUGH plan for improving in 4 areas of my life this coming year. Fitness, nutrition, regaining self-confidence, and taking responsibility for my habits and environment. The NEXT post will include the EPIC things I want to do or accomplish ..... Challenge 1 - Escape the Maze of IllusionsFinish C25K training Eliminate alcohol (& other liquid calories) and high protein breakfast: Levels 1 & 2 NF Diet Listen to the Self-Esteem CDs (Jack Canfield) Cook one healthy meal dailyChallenge 2 - Recover in the House of Healing (<= 36.62% BF)Finish NF BWW 3 Cut out chips, fries, and chocolate (other than very good, very dark chocolate) Apprentice in HOORAY Groom dog (life side quest) Reduce body fat to 36%Challenge 3 - Equip for the Journey (BF 35%)Body weight workouts (NFA BWW 4) Level 3 NF Diet - replace processed carbs with vegetables at lunch and dinner Wear contacts again Find or create a job Finish 100 geocaches foundSummer A - Shanghaied!! Aboard the Northern Girl (BF 34%)We interrupt this previously scheduled program with an adventure on the high seas!! (Part A)10K steps per day Sturgeon Tank FitDeck Nutrition points Summer Activities Practice web programmingSummer B - Not my idea of a Caribbean Cruise! (BF 33%)Following the clues up the river to the Burned CityDiet - stick to <= 1550 net calories (add for exercise) and protein >= 66 grams Do a chin up or pullup with <= 30 pounds of assistance Deadlift 80 pounds Walk/run 10K Decipher the clues (i.e. move)Post-Summer Reorientation Challenge 6 - Not Waiting to be Rescued

Hi everybody! I apologise for the long wall of text that is coming, but I kind of need to talk this through to myself. Those of you who already know me, also know what troubles me: anxiety, stage fright, low weight... and of course, being unable of doing that damned first push-up. I've been working a bit on all this since I came first to Nerdfitness, and lately I've been focused on my anxiety. I've done a rather good work these last months, and I can perceive how much better I am compared to last scholar year beginning in 2013. Now that I've put almost everything on place, I would like to spend this challenge just trying to get everything in my life going on and keeping anxiety in the lower levels. I've designed 3 main goals: physical care, mental care and brain food. Everyone of them is a tool to achieve a lower level of anxiety, not a “goal†by itself. I want to be stronger, and faster, and have more stamina, and to put on weight, but that won't be the point this challenge. Physical care will include exercising but also resting and taking care of food intake. It's divided in 8 areas which have different demands: Running: 2 or 3 times a week (I am more or less following the C25K program, 4th week right now). Lifting: 1 or 2 times a week. Tap dancing: 1 or 2 times a week. This means I have a lot of flexibility on which kind of exercise I do, but I expect to workout 4-5 times a week. Eating. Eating well. Eating more fat. Not letting anxiety lower my appetite. Chewing what I eat. Staying warm. Not letting winter, cold, rain or snow make me feel I have to hibernate because it is too cold to do anything. Assure myself I am warm at home while I am not moving, try to keep my feet warm, take hot beverages to keep the heat, put my feet in warm water... Whatever helps. Go outside. Yes, it is cold, but outside is good anyway. I run in the country, so I'll be outside everytime I go running, but it would also be nice to go for more walks, or hikes if I have time available. Rest. A rest day between workouts, where I can work on stretching or Feldenkrais movements. A time a day to take a nap or to slow down, or to do something fun. Mental care will include 6 activities: Meditate. At least 4 times a week, but would like to meditate 5 to 7 days a week. Breath. A short break once or many times a day to just focus on my breath for 4 or 5 minutes. Rest. This is similar to physical rest, but if what I am doing is reading, or watching a series instead of just relaxing, breathing or taking a nap, that is not mental rest, it's only physical rest. I need both of them. Anxiety workbook. I've been working with this book last weeks and it's proving itself very helpful. I am only half way in the book. I'll work on it (reading, writing about what I read, working on the exercises proposed) 4 to 7 times a week. Positive things. As an anxious person I have this tendency to give more importance to negative things or to think they are more frequent than good ones. So I'll keep a list, 5 to 7 days a week. I've been doing it for a while and it helps. No-procrastination mode. This is hard, yes. But procrastination is responsible for lots of anxiety moments. Brain food. This includes only 2 activities, just for fun, for distraction, and to educate myself at the same time. They can serve as physical rest moments: Learning icelandic. Reading. Some of you may think “hey, that is a lot of work!†but in fact everything is more or less in place already, as I've been working on slowly adding activities one by one while keeping my anxiety low. So all I have to do, the real challenge, is to keep everything in place, to make it keep going, without anxiety piling up. If it does pile up, then activities will be reduced to anti-anxiety-emergency levels, where there will be only 5 activities that must continue whatever it happens because they are what most help me to reduce anxiety: Meditation. Breathing. Running. Resting. Icelandic. These may surprise some of you, but this really makes me break away from everything. While I am at it, nothing else exists and anxiety about other things in life dissipates. Plus it is really fun. Gradings: Physical care: I exercise as planned and rest everyday: C. All that + good eating, slow chewing and taking care of staying warm as much hours a day as possible: B. All that + extra outside time: A. Mental care: Meditation, breathing and resting: C. All of that + positive things list and time dedicated to the anxiety workbook: B. Everything said + no-procrastination mode: A. Brain food: Icelandic: C. Icelandic + reading: B. Icelandic + reading books on different subjects or areas: A. If I must stay one, or two non-consecutive weeks, at an anti-anxiety-emergency level for justified reasons, I will still pass the challenge. If besides all that, I keep a regular musical practice schedule: A+. Rewards: As challenge goes by, it will be harder to keep everything on place, so the rewards planned this time will also grow in value (value not meaning necessarily more money, but them being more expected or desired). At the end of the first week: my already traditional box of raspberries. At the end of the third week: a slow cooker. Final reward: head massage. Character points: Grade A: Strength 1 point Dexterity 1 point Stamina 2 points Constitution 4 points Wisdom 5 points Charisma 2 points Grade B: Strength 1 point Dexterity 1 point Stamina 1 point Constitution 2 points Wisdom 2 points Charisma 1 point Grade C: Strength 1 point Dexterity 1 point Stamina 1 point Constitution 1 point Wisdom 1 point No charisma points Now, let's do some work!

Greetings Scouts, One of the hardest things about learning how to run is knowing how to start. Sure, you can lace up your shoes and go for a run, but how do you know if you're doing it right, or running long enough, or short enough? Is running out of breath after 15 seconds normal (btw, for new runners, the answer is often 'yes!'). One of the most popular programs for learning how to run is the Couch to 5k plan. Many of us have tried it, and it has helped heaps of people become regular runners. There are, however, some flaws in the system, and as such, it's time for an overhaul. Rebels, allow me to present the Nerd to 5k program. It's a straight-forward, 6-week program designed to get you running 5 kilometers (3 miles) consecutively with as little pain and difficulty as possible. It uses a simple progression model that can be followed even by those of us who have yet to take our first running steps. Unlike C25K, it uses 1 set of walking and running interval periods to make timing much easier to handle. It progresses smoothly from running for 30 seconds at a time, all the way to 40 minutes. By the end of six weeks, you should be able to run non-stop for 40 minutes, covering at least 5 kilometers. All you need to do is follow the plan below (convenient printable PDF attached as well convenient Google Doc available here), make sure you're running at a comfortable pace (eg: able to talk or breathe through your nose), and you're good to go. Where possible, I'll be creating an Accountabilibuddies thread to help out anyone interested in trying the program out during a challenge. Comments and feedback are much appreciated! BFD Summary Note: each session starts and finishes with a walking interval. *Week 6, Sessions 1 and 2 use uneven running intervals Detailed *Please note that this is not a Nerd Fitness endorsed routine. Though this program is safe for most runners, if you have any medical concerns, it is advised that you consult with your medical practitioner before attempting it.

Challenge 3 - OneEyedWolfie's 30 Rock challenge Hi all! The first challenge helped me get focused. The 2nd challenge really helped with my running. The 3rd challenge I hope, will help me combine running with the gym. That's why I want to join the rangers! I am studying Lean and Six sigma, like my hero Jack from Tina Fey's 30 Rock. So I will throw out some 30 rock references as I go. This is my project charter, there are many like it but this one is mine! Main Quest: Jack Attack! Lean mind, lean body ....be a ranger! 1. Train using a Convict conditioning hybrid. I am following convict conditioning now, but find I can focus more in the gym. I am moving through the steps and using Paul's suggestions, throwing in an alternative workout on top of the training to keep things fresh e.g. as well as push ups, I do dips or bench press. Going to complete C25k ( on week five) and have Run Zombies running at the same time. It's synergy people- don't fight it, it's bigger than all of us! I will then progress to 10k. I will score this using my HEART. Hard equations and rational thinking. A = 3 workouts a week and complete C25K programme for the week. B = 2 workouts and miss a C25K session C = 1 workout and miss 2 C25K sessions F= no training that week. 2. Eat paleo meals twice a day and vary my third meal with carbs. Almost carb cycling to aid in fat loss and muscle growth. I get one cheat meal a week, any more and I take points. I will score this as A = 3 meals a day as described B = 2 meals a day as described but 1 was a 'cheat' C = 1 meal a day as described but 2 were a 'cheat' F= diet went out the window that day 3. Get more sleep and recovery. Remember to relax Last challenge I had an injury that I tried to work around, in the end I couldn't. I learnt a lot which is why my wisdom is quite high. I will aim for 8 hours of sleep. I need to get to the gym for 6.30 for a 45 min session or wake up at 6 for a session at home / outside. My little boy is 2, my wife is 23 weeks pregnant so I need to sneak around like Nixon, the wire tapping bastard. I will score this as A = 8 hrs as described B = 7 hrs C = 6 hrs F= 5 hrs or less Life Quest Get a secondment! I am actually going for a job interview today but my goal is to get a promotion for 6-12 months to get the experience in improvement and innovation within my organisation. To do this I am studying for my black belt in service improvement. I don't see a module for handshakingness though. By the end of each week I want to complete and pass a module. Ok Wolfie, it's the bottom of the 9th. What you gonna do?! Your mommys fancy boy! You're a lion! Take it, it's yours! Wish me luck

On August 1st, I happened to spot a post on fb about an upcoming local "color run". It's a 5k where you get pelted with corn starch color "bombs", and you finish the race looking like human tie-dye. I said to my husband, "This looks fun, I think I want to sign up!" to which he repiled, "Are you feeling ok?". When I asked a (fit) friend to sign up with me, she was in similiar disbelief, responding to my text with "who is this?". Once I convinced her I wasn't joking, she agreed to join me. The problem being... I don't run. I don't jog. In fact, I detest it. I would rather do just about anything other than cardio. But I was commited, and had just a little over 10 weeks to prepare. My friend works out consistently and is in great shape (she has been since I met her), so I don't want to embarrass myself trying to keep up with her. That's when I remembered seeing the couch to 5k program. It made perfect sense that if I try to jump off the couch, lace up my sneakers, and try to start running... it will end with me being a wheezing, sweaty, red-faced angry person with multiple cramps after about 87 seconds. But this program starts you off slow, and builds over the weeks. I made it through week one, and just finished the first day of week 2. I still get winded, and I definately get sweaty and red-faced, but I have a specific, doable plan, and a goal I'm working toward (completing my first 5k!). I thought I'd throw my stats down here for tracking purposes (scary, even though I'm anonymous): START 8/4/14 (beginning of Week 1) Weight: 172 Bust: 36 Waist: 34 Hips: 42 8/11/14 (Week 2) Weight: 170 8/25/14 (Week 4) Weight: still 170... 9/1/14 (Beginning of week 5) Weight: Bust: Waist: Hips: I'll try to remember to follow up as I go, with weekly weigh-ins and measurements every 2-3 weeks, at the beginning of each month.

I am noticing a reoccurring theme here...I've also noticed that my goals seem to be keeping me in the Adventurers, while I thought I wanted to get to a point I would move to the Druids, I find I'm rather fond of this class...so I'm going to stick around... So on to my other realizations...I find that I love how I feel when I eat Paleo, I am miserable when I stray from this...I love doing 5k's, never thought I would hear myself say that...I love how I feel after I do yoga, so at peace...I will love what I am able to do when I finish school, however I am rather burnt out on it and am trying to maintain, December 8th is my last day! I can do this! Paleo is not an issue, I do this daily without really thinking about it, so why is it so difficult to find my motivation with the rest of it? When I was doing my whole30 I documented in my (now fairly abandoned) battlelog, it helped to keep me accountable. This challenge I am going to do the same for my workouts/studying for the same reasons, I need something to keep me accountable! A – Elliptical/treadmill, 18 workouts (3x week - 6 weeks) (+2 STA, +2 CON) B – Skipped 1-3 (+2 STA, +1 CON) C – Skipped 4-6 (+1 STA, +1 CON) D – Skipped 7-9 (+.5 STA, +.5 CON)(which will irritate me because I hate fractions of points!) F – Skipped more than 9 I determined with the last challenge that I am not doing well at getting through the c25k, so I am going to start by doing 15 minutes on the elliptical or treadmill and work up to 30 by the end of this challenge, which is adding 5 minutes every 2 weeks (doable!) after that we'll work on c25k (aka next challenge ) Also doing a 5k August 23rd (still need to sign up for this) A – Yoga (or BBWW), all 12 workouts (+2 STR, +2 DEX) B – Skipped 1-2 workouts (+2 STR, +1 DEX) C – Skipped 3-4 workouts (+1 STR, +1 DEX) D – Skipped 5-6 workouts (+.5 STR, +.5 DEX) F – Skipped more than 6 workouts. Homework, 30 minutes a day, every day but Tuesday, because everything is due on Monday, Tuesday is also a tough day at work so that will be my 'free day' +2 WIS, to be adjusted accordingly if I don't do it. Measurement - 7/20/14 Weight - 175 Chest - 40 Waist - 36 Hips - 43 Let's do this!!

Hello all, New here and just finished my first challenge, so coming into this one a little late. From the looks of it, I’ll be late to the next party too, but then I should be caught up. Also, my first time outside the Level 1s. The adventurers looked like a good fit for what I’m looking at, glad to meet everyone. I’ve seen a few people do up their challenges as prose, and I thought that would be a fun way to go about it since this is meant to be roleplaying. Please bear with. Hopefully, it doesn’t come across as obnoxious. --- Anno didn’t so much walk up the hill as progressed. Walking was a dignity that had withered and fallen off about a mile back. He’d been limping since near the base of the hill when someone had, apparently, staked his knees with rebar. Staggering had left him when that rebar turned to salt. Now, he held his walking stick like an oar and rowed himself up the hill. In the last few paces, he saw a new, green vale reveal itself beyond the crest. A bright river ran through the middle, opening into a blue lake down below. A village sat on the valley’s far shoulder. On the side of a mountain in the near distance, he saw the outline of a monastery. Standing there on the very top of the hill, looking down on the steep path to the valley floor, Anno threw up up his arms. He let out a loud, “Woo!†and promptly collapsed onto his side beside the path. He let himself roll, content to simply flop down onto his back. His pack, however, was happy where it was and saw no reason to make things easy on its owner. Anno quickly found himself with his head and left arm dangling, the world sitting at an odd angle and him not giving any part of a damn to correct it. “You’re late,†a voice said behind him. Anno tried to sit up, but the pack and worn muscles firmly declared that that wasn’t happening, allowing only a groan and a weak flop. He kicked, squirmed and he tried to shimmy. He finally found and loosened the straps to his pack. He slid off the thing and onto the grass. A pull of the pack later and he was propped up, almost a sit, looking at an old man who sat on a nearby boulder. “I said, you’re late.†The old man tilted his head up to listen to birdsong in the trees. “And the birds are laughing at you.†My first challenge was largely my doing a modified Angry Birds split between two days. I plan to continue with the Angry Birds workout, now condensed to a single day to allow for more flexibility but with the same amount of exercise. 2x per week. 1) Maintain A - All workouts done. Less a grade per 2 workouts missed. (+1 Str, +1 Con, +1 Sta, +1 Cha) The original called for me to reach level 3 in the workout within the six weeks. This didn’t happen. This time, I’ll aim to progress to at least the next level in each exercise of the first by the end of the challenge. Reducing weight on stats for this one, partly because the increases aren’t fast and partly because they’re fairly incidental. Going up a level is dne by hitting 3-star on a part twice consecutively. 2) Progress A - All five, B - 3-4, C - 2, D - 1, F - None. (+1 Str, +1 Sta) The old cleared his throat, looking back at Anno. “Have you decided where you’re going?†“Not yet.†The man’s shoulders sagged. “You know, people don’t usually start up this way without some idea. Rude to make an old man wait here for you if you haven’t got any ideas.†The old man grinned. “Or did you just figure out that you don’t live in assassin country?†“How…?†“You’re not the first, kid.†The old man snickered and pointed down into the valley. “But if you’re still here, I’m guessing you still want to make something of yourself. The village always needs people, strong backs and in the forest, and the monastery’s not far off. You ever worked any of that?†“I was in the militia once, and I trained with a monk, but that…†The old man poked Anno in the gut with a stick. “A long time ago?†“...yes.†“You’ve got a ways to go, son. The Monks won’t accept new students until the Harvest Moon, but you won’t get there before then anyway. And the town needs someone a little less flabby.†He held his hand to shade his eyes as he peered off into the distance. “Still, might just be ready before you get anywhere...†3) C25K The listed three times a week, with the option to trade one out for a hike once a week. A - All workouts done. Less a grade per two workouts missed. (+3 Sta, +1 Con) “...and, for pity’s sake, loosen up. You move like a pregnant yak.†4) Flexibility: Eight Brocades of Silk Stretch. Minimum 3x per week, in-class sessions during Tai Chi count. A - All done, less a grade for each two missed. (+2 Dex) Anno sagged back against his pack and glared at the old man. “Is there anything else, or can I die for a little while?†The man snickered again. “Just one more thing.†He reached behind him and pulled a very slight, straight sword from behind his rock. “It’s dangerous to go alone. Take this.†5) Weapon training. Minimum 2 hours per week. Something I’ve always wanted to get into. Since I’m in a class for Tai Chi, I’ve recently picked up a book on a tai chi sword form. I’ve also signed up for an archery class starting in two weeks. Either or, but a minimum of 2 hours every week. (+2 dex, +1 wis) Anno took the sword and drew it, looking at the blade shining. The old man was gone when he looked back up. He looked around, then down at the village. He looked at the blade again, sheathed it, and promptly flopped sideways onto the ground. He spent enough care to set teh scabbard down and bunch up an edge of his pack for a pillow before he passed out. Above, the birdsong played through the trees as the birds kept laughing, but right then, he was too tired to care. -- That’s my goal this time around. It looks like a lot, and is potentially biting off more than I can chew, but realistically, I’m looking at two days of exercise on my off days from Tai Chi using a modified warm up, plus one lesson/sword study session and one hike a week. Shouldn’t be too bad. And, why yes, I would like some salt with my foot.

Is that a bird? Is that a plane? NO! It's Firstmatenora!! Back from the evil realm known only as the Dissertation of Doom, she comes having fought her way valiantly through three months of horror. She was stuck in a wasteland of writing and no exercise for months, having nearly given up hope of finishing, and lost track of almost all of her health goals. Yet, when the deadline came, she was prepared and turned in her dissertation, and boy did she kick its butt! Though she did not come away unscathed, she stands ready to get back to the basics and build again. Her body and mind are prepared for the journey ahead! Backstory: I fell down in my goals during the last challenge when my schedule became overwhelming. I had family and friends visiting me for nearly two months straight, and a 15,000 word dissertation to write, while looking for employment in the fall. Had I been a better manager of my time, this may not have been as worrisome. However, I turned in my dissertation on Monday (yay, me!) and found a job that will let me stay in this fine country (also, yay!), plus a place to live until I move down to London in late September. Even though I didn't exercise at all these last couple of months (I mean I ran maybe twice, it's embarrassing), I haven't gained any of the weight back because I kept to fairly strict paleo diet (with the exception of ice cream a couple times a week, because sometimes you need sugar for those all nighters when coffee just won't do. Oh and I ate a donut one time, but I felt gross afterwards and avoided doing that again.). My goals for the next week: Unfortunately, I am extremely late to this challenge, and I am by no means settled. I'm crashing at the moment with a friend, trying to finish moving out of my flat, and trying to keep everything organized for when I move again in less than a month's time. However, I would like to get back to a regular schedule of my runs and bodyweight workouts. So, with that in mind, I'm going to take it pretty easy and just set the goal of eating right, running at least four times in the next week and a half and doing at least 3 bodyweight workouts. I'm not going to set an overarching goal because of the short timeframe, but generally I want to restart my healthy habits and get back to a normal routine. Eating: Paleo, with less than 3 occasions containing gluten: A 4-6 glutenous indulgences: B 7-10 no-no foods: C More than 10: F Running: >=4 times: A 3 times: B 2 times: C 1 time: D 0 times: FFFFFFFffffuuuuuu Bodyweight workouts: 3 times: A 2 times: B 1 time: C 0 times: Nope, no points for you. And with that I say: It's time to boogie woogie!

2014 - Goal 1.0 Lose 70 lbs. 20 lbs lost. 189 lbs to 119 lbs. Currently 169 lbs. 20 lbs lost - 50 lbs to go. 28.57% Completed. 28.57%28.57% ---------------- Slight change. My updated plan is to lose weight until I am under 140 lbs. Then my focus will move to lowering my body fat to 20%. So... 2014 - Goal 1.1 Lose 30 lbs. From 169 lbs to 139 lbs.

Challenge 2 - Mommawolfie Gets Scoutly Main Quest: To get to a level of fitness where I feel worthy of joining the Scouts for Challenge 3 To do this I will: Mini Quest 1: Run 5km without stopping (STA) - C25K a minimum of 3 times per week Mini Quest 2: Build a minimum level of core body strength (DEX and STR) - Complete BBWW 3 times per week, progressively increasing the number of circuits: :- Week 1 and 2 - one circuit 3 times per week :- Week 3 and 4 - two circuits 3 times per week :- Week 5 and 6 - three circuits 3 times per week Mini Quest 3: Eventually ride bike to work once a week (DEX and STA) - Build up to riding a minimum of 12km a minimum of one day per week (6km each way) :- Week 1 and 2 - Ride 6km 1 x per week :- Week 3 and 4 - Ride 9km 1 x per week :- Week 5 and 6 - Ride 12km 1 x per week Life Quest: Paying off/down my credit card (Ultimate end game to eliminate debt and buy a house) (WIS and CHA) - Increase credit card payment, pay $1000 minimum off over the 6 weeks - Credit card can ONLY be used if I have to move house (real possibility due to rental uncertainty atm) or veterinary emergency - Take it out of my purse and freeze it in a lump of ice so I have to really think about it before I use it (and post photographic evidence that I HAVE frozen it)

Welcome back, Rebels! As before, this group has unlimited membership and is open to all guilds. I'd especially like to encourage L1 Rebels who are interested to join up with us and make some friends. This group focuses on improving running endurance or pace using a C25K program or any other kind of app like Zombies, Run! - I've also heard tale of apps that match your pace with music! Please make sure to let us know how you're doing with your app (staying on schedule? Setting new Personal Records?) so we can be here to encourage and support one another. And don't be skimpy on the high-fives when someone else hits a milestone! Alright, rebels. Let's get to running!