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I'm Pathfinder, and this is a respawn. I'm post-shy: I am acutely aware that accountability is the only thing that makes me work on fitness, but for some reason I seem bound and determined to struggle and fail in silence (thanks, brain). I'm looking for an accountability group with an RPG lean or a fandom I'm familiar (and caught up) with, so if anyone has suggestions, please let me know! Current Terrain: I'm taking an Emergency Medical Technician class and working four hours a night. I just moved into a new apartment, so most things are in boxes or in places I don't remember putting them. This means sleep is at a premium (between transportation, class, and work, I'm doing 15 hour days). I've also learned that 15 hour days mean I turn into a food vacuum, so I've been eating just about anything that comes into arm's reach. Coffee is my starter fluid and primary fuel source, partially because of dependence and partially because sleep is at a premium. To survive this terrain, I'm going to have to focus on tracking food, finding water, fixing up my leg, and passing my EMS course. Foraging: I've pretty much been scavenging food - making random runs to convenience stores, raiding my snack stash at work, and ducking into random take-out restaurants. The goal is to track what I'm eating, about how much, and when(ish). Then I'll note the time if I have a sugar crash. Passing: 75% compliance. [Experience Get! + 1 WIS] Aced it: 90% compliance. [Loot Get! Glucometer with accessories] Dowsing: Drink 2L of water per day. Passing: 75% compliance. [Experience Get! + 1 CON] Aced it: 90% compliance. [Loot Get! Fun tea infuser] On the Mend: Rehab my leg. Do something that's good for recovery twice a day. This includes stretching, balance and stability work, walking (and light running), and the strength exercises I was given at Physical Therapy. This does not include "shotgunning" my hips (a joint correction they taught me to do to myself), because I have to do that anyways just to keep from being in pain. It's very self-enforcing. Passing: 75% compliance. [Experience Get! + 1 DEX] Aced it: 90% compliance. [Loot get! New running shoes] Hunting: Complete my Basic Emergency Medical Technician class with a passing score. And hopefully in once piece. Aced it: Passing marks. This is a pass-or-fail goal. [Experience Get! + 1 WIS] [Loot Get! Backpack to start a First Aid Kit] And, of course, the Level 1 stats. At three weeks, I'll be Level 1 and can assign my 10 stat points. They'll be distributed as such: STR 0, DEX 2, CON 1, WIS 6, CHA 1.

Hi everybody without going into gory details 13 years ago I had an accident that required my lower right leg to be surgically reattached and as a result of secondary infection I have lost some of the nerve function in the lower leg. Can anybody give me any advice and or routines on the use of EMS machines as this is the only way of getting the muscles of my lower leg to work and as a result I have an atrophied leg on one side and no other means of balancing the overall appearance of my legs (I know they will never be perfectly symmetrical) any help would be great I have tried many the popular magazine forums to no avail please can anybody help?

May 25, 2013 I have been doing a lot of restructuring of my Epic Quest, and have updated it as follows: Retitled to "ShadowLion Weaves the Strands Together," to reflect the more complete version of my epic quest that has evolved since I started this post. It now includes more of a life list and various modules for different aspects of my life that will be showing up in challenges as Life Quests. The "ShadowLion Returns to the Fireline" title has a narrower focus than what I currently see as my epic quest. I am now thinking of that as my Main Quest for the 40 week period that begins June 2, 2014 and ends in mid-March 2015, just in time for the Arizona Wildfire Academy. My plan for that portion of my epic quest is outlined in the next post of this thread and will be called "Forty Weeks to Fire Fit," so that I can abbreviate it to 40W2FF. Writing up this epic quest has been a time of intense and valuable reflection on my values and a realization of my own unique perspective that has grown out of my life experiences and choices to date. Oddly enough, I seem to have come back around full-circle (spiral, maybe?) to a new appreciation of the poem "Ulysses" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. More than 38 years ago, I hung a poster with the following excerpt on the wall of my dorm room above the head of my bed. I dreamed of what I would do when I was out of school, the places I would travel, the adventures I would have someday, somewhere. Some of those dreams have happened, some have changed, some have been left behind in favor of other dreams...but the same words still inspire and guide me. And, as I write this, a line from a popular rock song of the time is running through my head..."You're still the same old girl you used to be." Yeah, I guess so! Ulysses (excerpt) I cannot rest from travel: I will drink Life to the lees: All times I have enjoy'd Greatly, have suffer'd greatly, both with those That loved me, and alone, on shore, and when Thro' scudding drifts the rainy Hyades Vext the dim sea: I am become a name; For always roaming with a hungry heart Much have I seen and known; cities of men And manners, climates, councils, governments, Myself not least, but honour'd of them all; And drunk delight of battle with my peers, Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy. I am a part of all that I have met; Yet all experience is an arch wherethro' Gleams that untravell'd world whose margin fades For ever and forever when I move. How dull it is to pause, to make an end, To rust unburnish'd, not to shine in use! As tho' to breathe were life! Life piled on life Were all too little, and of one to me Little remains: but every hour is saved From that eternal silence, something more, A bringer of new things; and vile it were For some three suns to store and hoard myself, And this gray spirit yearning in desire To follow knowledge like a sinking star, Beyond the utmost bound of human thought. As I get older, other parts of the poem take on new meaning, yet this fragment is still a polestar, a wish, a dream, and a reflection…

Longtime NF reader, first time poster here. Please forgive the long-windedness. I'm currently in my first semester of Primary Care Paramedic training in Toronto, and our lift requirements have got me concerned. We're currently into our second week, but lift tests are coming up fast (week 5), and I'm only just finding out that I haven't got the strength. 3 weeks from Friday, we're supposed to do 5 different lifts with a 170-lb "patient" (weighted mannequin), and proper form requires that we squat deep (in one case, on stairs), lift, and hold a weight for an extended period of time. I'll attach a few links to example videos of these particular lifts, and I'll note where my college's form differs. It's important to note that these are all 2-person lifts., with the exception of the ambulance loading, which is essentially the same as the stretcher lift, just with one end in an ambulance. Stair Chair - (For us, we need to go up/down 2 flights of stairs, with a landing in between, twice – once at the head and once at the bottom. The bottom guy in the video carries with his arms extended, but we need to squat down low and grab the bar with arms curled to our chest and hands together, to lift from there. We need to do this squat both going up and going down, but being a bigger guy, my squats never seem to be low enough to lift without my back, even at 120 lbs – which is an insta-fail on our test.) Backboard/Stretcher Lift - (This is basically the same for us. Given that it's 2 different lifts, I've counted it as 2) Fore and Aft - (also basically the same So far my progress on all of these has been stuck at the 120 lb patient (even the 2-person lifts), and I just can't seem to lift any heavier. I'm obviously stepping my fitness regimen (until now, I've mostly been running, with occasional bodyweight training – sloppy I know, but I've been working on getting back on the wagon). Since forever, I've been trying to lose weight, and I'm not sure how to quickly put on the strength I need. I'm thinking lots of squats, deadlifts and curls at high weight (max 10 reps), but that's what I'm here to ask you. Can this 50-lb strength upgrade be done in 3 weeks?

WELL MAYBE NOT THAT BASIC RYAN... Hey sexy nerd peeps! So the last few months have been...challenging. I got injured in November and that derailed things for a long time. Christmas followed and my journey down the road of eat all the things has been a costly one. However, I have had my freak out pity party and it is time to move forward...by looking back. I've been rereading some of my previous successful challenges to see what made them successful. Those things are - keeping it simple, and tracking all the way through. MAIN QUEST: MORE MUSCLE. LESS FAT. I have seen and felt in myself the different body composition can make. Steve is right, diet really is 90% of the battle. With that in mind, the focus of this challenge is correct nutrition. My PT has put together a new meal plan (Paleo/Primal, very low carb, bit of dairy) for me which I've been following for the past 5 days, and I already feel so much better for it. I find it much easier to stick to something if I'm tracking it, so that will be part of this one goal. #1. Hey girl, eat clean, track everything. Follow the plan, and write it all down here (skip to end of thread for current posts). 42 days in the challenge so... A = 42-38, B = 37 - 33, C = 32-28, D = 27-24, F = 20 or fewer. Side quest - Hey girl, post all the way to the end. For the last couple of challenges my posting has been horrendous, starting off well and then drifting off towards the end, not being around for others, generally being a bit selfish and lazy. Part of this challenge will be to post regularly, grade appropriately and review weekly. I know its more important to do the things, than write about the things, but its much easier to track progress with consistent recording (duh!) A - 6 reviews, food log for every day, at least one post on another thread per day B - 4 reviews, food log for 30 days, four posts a week on other threads C - 3 reviews, food log for 20 days, three posts a week on other threads F - 2 reviews, food log for 10 days, two posts a week on other threads THANKS RYAN. That's all folks. Here's to a cracking six weeks with you lovely people. P.S. Please feel free to scatter this thread liberally with Ryan-y goodness. It makes everyone happy, especially Dom and Mitch

Hey sexy fit nerd rebels! Happy 2014! Its time for a new challenge! And not just any challenge, the first of a brand new year. Smells like...fresh grass and...possibility... Now usually, this time of year is littered with people making mad crazy plans, massive life overhauls and vowing to be a completely different person by February. But rebels, we know that huge, sweeping changes are not the way forward. Oh no, it is the small daily shift, one more rep, ten minutes earlier, saying 'I don't', that breeds habit change and true transformation. So, with that in mind, I am keeping it simple. This challenge will focus on something I have neglected for too long, a small change, that will transform everything. I recently re-read a few of of Steve's old articles, personal responsibility, 3 words and productivity, plus this link about doing things once, because I've been feeling lately that I've been leading an inefficient life of unfulfilled potential. I have some big plans for this year, including moving out and getting into vocational dance school, and for those things to happen I need to make more effective use of my time. #1. Do it now. Do it once. This applies to all aspects of my life. If I am reading an email, I respond to it straight away. If I strip my bed, I remake it with clean sheets right then. If I am cooking, I wash up as I go. If I use something, I put it away as soon as I'm done. Obviously this will be a work in progress, and I won't become perfect overnight, plus there are some things that I simply won't be able to do immediately, but I need to complete the things that can. I'm not too sure how to grade this one yet. Watch this space. #2. Multitasking is a myth. One thing at a time. Again, this applies to my whole life. No more watching TV while reading a book, eating and texting. One thing, done well, at a time. The exception to this will be listening to music while doing things such as working or cooking, working out etc. Again, unsure about best way to grade... And, a little something on the side... I don't eat sugar, aside from the honey in my morning yoghurt or my post training smoothie, and I don't eat bread. This is a goal I brought over from last challenge. The bread went well, as did the sugar...for the first two weeks. After that it got a bit messy, so this time around I'm making the sugar slightly easier but giving myself Sundays to have sugar if I really want it. I am a massive perfectionist, and often when something goes a little bit wrong I have a huge overreaction and decide I may as well give up because I've ruined it already. (Brilliant, well done Ems). So, in a bid to prevent this, I'm hoping that by building in some flexibility I will be able to tolerate less than 100%. Seriously am my own worst enemy sometimes. Grading will be simple for this, no bread, and only non-honey approved sugar on the six Sundays. Maximum. Hey girl, I think your challenge sounds great. Thanks Ryan Let's do this. NB: I'll update with better grading.

IT IS TIME...TO SKIP. THE WORLD SKIPPING CHALLENGE HAS BEGUN. (T-REX NOT INCLUDED) THE MISSION: 15 MINUTES NON-STOP SKIPPING. WITH A ROPE. THE CONTENDERS: ZACI DEETS EMS THE RULES BOTH CONTENDERS WILL USE THE SAME SKIPPING ROPEPOST THEIR TIMES AT THE END OF EACH WEEK SKIP THEIR ASSES OFF!

Hey everybody! Ok so here we are, round 2! This challenge is all about resetting, restarting, not from square one but from where I have managed to get to so far My first challenge was very...challenging! It was far from perfect, and because of that was, in hindsight, exactly what I needed. I am a perfectionist by nature, and have a frustrating tendency to overreact to mistakes. This was something that negatively affected my last challenge, so something that will be tackled this time around. Last challenge I gave myself no wiggle room at all, so it was very demoralising when I failed once in a goal, as it instantly dropped my grade. This time around I'm going to be more realistic, take smaller steps and be more practical about melding the challenge with my life. So, let's get down to it. Goals are as follows: #1 Reduce body fat percentage from 29.4% to 27% Since joining NF and starting with a personal trainer I have dropped my bf from 32% to 29.4%. It has made such a difference to how my body looks already that I am bringing this goal forward from the previous challenge. It may seem like a random goal number, but if I get to 27% that will be a 5% drop since late January 2013 A - 27%-27.5% B - 27.6%-28.5% C - 28.6%- 29.4% F- 29.5% or higher 1 DEX - 2 CON - 2 CHA (less fat = greater mobility, better health, looking good) #2 Complete either a 5k or 10k row once a week - ALTERED TO AT LEAST ONE ROWING TRAINING SESSION PER WEEK I've become increasingly passionate about rowing since my trainer incorporated it into my sessions. I have a rowing machine at home, so there's no excuse about not completing additional training on my own. I have a very active job (dance teacher) so teach 17 classes a week, plus participating in 2-3 classes a week for my own training, and 2 personal trainer sessions, hence why its only a once a week row! A - 6 rows, B - 5, C- 4, D - 3, F - 2-0 1 DEX - 2 STA (work on speed, but also boost endurance) #3 Choose to get back on the wagon and track the journey Last challenge I set myself a very difficult diet goal, and have found that the more I tell myself I can't have something, the more I want it - classic. So this challenge I am cutting out cake, sweets, crisps and soft drinks completely, as I have done this before and don't eat these things very often anyway, but I am not tying these to a grade. Other than that, I can choose what I eat, and I'm hoping that this freedom will encourage positive choices as it has in the past. The second part of this goal is accountability - food will be logged daily on my Daily Battle Log. It doesn't have to be logged on the day itself, but each day must be recorded, and obviously, the sooner it is done, the more accurate it will be. My grade will drop when I miss 2 days a week food recording. A - 7/7 logged, B - 5/7, C - 3/7, F- 2-0 3 CON - 1 CHA - 1 WIS (better diet = better health, looking good and greater self awareness from recording foods) #4 The to-do list This 6 week challenge will cover an extremely busy work period, probably the busiest so far in my entire career (eep!). To help my head not explode, the goal is to complete a to-do list of what MUST be done tomorrow before leaving the office. This will be a short (hopefully) and very specific list of things that are the most important for that next day. I will also post these on my Daily Battle Log. Mon-Tues, Tues-Wed, Wed-Thurs, Thurs-Fri, Fri-Mon A - 5/5, B - 4/5, C - 3/5, D - 2/5, F - 1-0 2 WIS - 1 CHA (better organised, more efficient and not turning into a raving stress head!) Ok so there they are, thought about them a lot, but they may well be tweaked over the next six weeks. Looking forward to this new challenge, and to reading all about yours as well. Here we go! Emily