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Hello All! A year and a half ago I took a journey to Thailand that kick started my health goals. I lost 20lbs in 3 months. Now a year and a half later, I've lost 60lbs altogether! I've went from 197lbs down to 137lbs I'm in the best shape of my life and I even was a featured speaker at an anime convention to teach other people how they can use anime to help them meet their fitness goals. I did it all through portion control and lots of exercise, no fads, tricks, pills, or gimmicks here! I even run a little facebook page for anime fitness memes I'm also a freelance writer with a few fitness articles under my belt. Now I'm looking to go a step further and really increase my muscle mass, lifting power, and cardio-respiratory endurance. Like most people though, I want to find a way to balance it all with work and play. I'm hoping that by coming to this forum I can tap a new wealth of ideas and maybe help out a few people along the way on their quest for success! I love anime, am a huge rpg fan, and I also nerd out about outdoorsy stuff and travel. I hope we can all push each other to new heights and break the bad health stereotype for nerds everywhere! Let's do this! Hello and welcome all!

Hey everyone. So, I've been pretty bummed out about my progress, or lack thereof. Recently I've started a challenge strong, then something happens and complete derails me. It's frustrating. I'M GOING TO GET BACK INTO THE GAME DAMNIT!!! I need to do better. Albeit, I'm still doing a lot better than I was a year ago. What I've been doing hasn't been working. I'm starting over from square 1. I'm making super simple goals and going to build on them as things move forward. I'm in this for the long haul, not the immediate. I need to keep in mind what my goals are and remind myself why I want to accomplish them. I need to find my determination again. This time I'm going for the Lord of the Rings theme. Frodo started off as a simple hobbit, lazing around, eating all the time... but by the end he went through so much and became a much stronger hobbit in the end. That's my goal! Progress! Goals for the end of 2017: Here is an update on my progress towards my 2017 goals: Some of them I'm going in the right direction, some of them I am not. I'm going to work harder to improve this challenge. Goals for this Challenge: Goal 1: Say no to second breakfast: No more than 2 variances per week I'm going for this one again. I didn't succeed last time. I have to learn how to say 'no' to second breakfast! This is the most important goal for me this challenge. I can't outrun my fork. I HAVE to get back on track with eating healthy. I've already meal prepped for this week, so I'm starting off strong! Goal 2: Battle the Nazgul: Work out 3 times per week Ok, last challenge this fell through. This is going to be the same as before. I still kept looking at it as 'going to the gym' for working out. This time I'm really going to focus on the 30 minutes of working out. I think part of the problem is my trainer keeps putting me on work outs that take an hour and a half just to do the weight lifting... then he wants me to do 30 minutes of cardio. This is for 3 days/week. I don't want to work out 2 hours a day, 4 days a week right now. That's too much for me to handle, especially while I'm in school. I'm going to have to just do my own thing I think. In October, I'm going to cancel my trainer sessions. I don't think it's worth the money for me anymore. I think I've learned enough on my own for me to take that next step in controlling my own workouts. I would LOVE input from everyone on workouts to do. I'm wanting to lose weight and get healthy. I'm not looking to become a power lifter (at least not right now). I want to get more energy, lose weight, and live a healthier life! Thoughts? Goal 3: Walk to Mordor: get at least 7,000 steps a day 4 times per week Time to get moving again! Gotta get those steps in to throw the ring into mount doom! I didn't do well on this last challenge, so this challenge I'm going to try and make it a little easier. My goal is to do 7,000 steps 4x/week. Let's see if I can manage that. If I can, I'll bump it up to 5x per week. It's about improvement! Goal 3: Fellowship of the RhiaWolfe: Check in at least 4x/week Even with my busy schedule, I need to check in with you guys and my accountabilibuddies at least 4x per week. I need support. I need to talk to you guys. Keep me honest, guys!

Hello there, Druids! I am very excited to be joining my first challenge with your Guild. My name is Equinoxe, I love cooking and funky sunglasses. Pleased to meet you! For my challenge, I wanted to focus on deepening my mindfulness/meditation practice. I thought I might find some wonderful like-minded company here. I'm a big fan of nerdy themed-challenges. Wouldn't want to leave home without one! I'm ambitious, so I'm kicking off what will (hopefully!) be the first of many meditation-centered challenges. The mindful and spirited nature of Airbending came to mind. So without further ado - Equinoxe's Airbender Challenge Mindful Study: Reading and Practice My goal is an hour a day of solid mindfulness practice: 30 minutes of reading/study, 15 minutes of meditation in the morning, 15 minutes at night. It's a more rigorous schedule than I've ever tried, but work's never been more rigorous than it is right now. I get the feeling that some discipline here will help a lot! Mindful Moving: Hit the gym 4x per week Pretty self-explanatory. I did 3x in the last challenge, and felt great! My biggest challenge will be making sure I hit all four. I hate routines, and so it's difficult when to predict I'll be able to make it in for a workout. If it comes to two-a-days on a Saturday, so be it! Mindful Eating: No Distractions! I have a habit of eating while working, eating while surfing the web, eating while nervous... My goal is to eat 3 meals a day (with no distractions) and to be more mindful of my urges when I want a snack. This means no eating while I'm working at the office! I'll take a break and have a snack. No snacking while walking from meeting to meeting! Just no. Same with snacking while stressed! Nope. I will sit in a meeting and munch a salad or sip my soylent (yes, I know) like a GROWN LADY. But no more downing chocolate on-the-go because I need an energy kick. Life Goal: Build the Sanctuary This is a hold-over from the last challenge, but I really want to see it through. I have a spare bedroom that's been holding unused furniture ever since I moved into my apartment. My goal is to sell all the furniture, fix up the room, and turn it into a dedicated meditation and movement space. Excited to get this challenge underway! I'll be spending Week 0 doing minor tests, to see what pitfalls I might run into with the challenge. There's no way I'll be an Airbending Master in 4 weeks, but it's a good place to start! Here we go!

Howdy, guys! I’m back for challenge #2 of my respawn! Last challenge went all right, but needed some tweaking for the second round. Goals are staying roughly the same, or within the same vein, and I’ve made things a bit more interesting. Not only do I have an actual theme this time around, but I’ve also done some gamifying! This challenge is wholly inspired by Cowboy Bebop, which is one of my all time favourite animes (right along side Ghost in the Shell). This show came about in the late 90’s (early 2000’s for the US), and was quite progressive for it’s time. I used to stay up until ridiculous hours just to watch it in my early high school years. As I never got around to watching every episode back then, the BF and I have been going through the series over the last week. I’ve grown a new appreciation for it, and it saddens me that I haven’t found anything modern that even comes close to being on par as it (if anyone knows of any, let me know!!). Well, without much ado, lets get this thing started! Cowboy Bebop Intro

Hello everyone! I kinda bummed out of the last challenge before it ended. My apologies on that. As an update, I ended up falling off the wagon for about a week. So my husband and I bought a new mattress because the old one was making my back hurt. While the new one was super comfortable, I couldn't sleep through the night. I kept waking up over and over again. So, all week I was sleep deprived. There was one night I went to the gym as it was regularly scheduled, and I ended up breaking down crying in the middle of the gym floor. I went and got my stuff and left without working out. That's how sleep deprived I was. So, starting then I said "fuck it" and ordered a pizza. After that, the next day I had a cinnamon roll and some skittles and leftover pizza for dinner. Then after that... you get where this is going. Well, starting this week I've been doing awesome on food, not so much on the gym. So, I'm going to go ahead and start this challenge with my totem: The Wolf. This challenge will be wolf themed, so bring on all the awesome wolf pictures and gifs! For me, the wolf is a symbol for my ferocious nature and need to fight through my challenges as well as protect those close to me. I can also be cute, fluffy, and cuddly at times. Hehe... but I also can bite. I am also going to have this challenge extend through 2 challenges so to speak. So for this challenge set and next challenge set, I'm going to continue to have the same goals to try and change my habits. The reason for this is because I feel that 4 weeks really isn't enough for me. I'm going to turn it in to 8-10 weeks instead (if you include zero week) to try and get those good habits going. I haven't been successful in getting back to where I was, so I'm trying to change it up a bit while still having similar goals. I'm also going to make some goals I plan to reach by the end of 2017 and I want to have my challenges be a way to get me there. So, here's the thing. This first week I am not going to the gym because I'm actually trying to get ready for Epic Nerd Camp (ENC) (Not affiliated with Nerd Fitness). I leave on Saturday and will be back on Wednesday night. This week I'm packing and getting everything ready, so I really don't have time for the gym. I AM trying to walk more during the week though while at work. That's one of my goals. Moving more. However, I'll get to that in a minute. So let's get this started!!!!! Goals for the end of 2017: I think these are goals I can reasonably accomplish in the next 4 months. The hardest ones are going to be the last two. I'm going to up my game though and fight to get there! I haven't lost any weight in a long while. It's time to push harder! Goals for this Challenge: Goal 1: No more than 2 variances per week A variance in this case is considered anything that is not healthy. If I go out to eat, but I choose a healthier option than I normally would, that does not count as a variance. If I have a sweet treat or dessert, that counts as a variance. No more than 2 per week (Excluding my vacation week). Goal 2: Work out 3 times per week I think I've been looking at this the wrong way, so I'm going to change it up for now. In the past my goal has been to go to the gym 2-4 times a week depending on the challenge. If there's some reason I can't make it to the gym, I instead just don't work out at all. For this challenge I'm going to consider doing body weight exercises at home or swimming laps in my pool a work out as long as it is at least 30 minutes of continuous activity. Goal 3: get at least 7,000 steps a day One of my problems I think is that I've stopped getting up and moving. I need to get up and move more. At work, I sit at a desk all day. I need to get up during the day and move around. When I do that I have more energy and can take care of more things. I have more energy and am more productive. So, to start, I'm going to try and get back to doing at least 7,000 steps a day. Goal 4: Report to my Accountabilibuddies daily I will not only be updating this every day that I can, I will talk on chat with my accountabilibuddies every day and tell them what I am going to do to set myself up for success that day. We do that most days, but I have been slacking on checking in with them. I think with more support I'll be more successful. Ok, let's do this!!!!

Hey all! As a real life roller derby player and aspiring firefighter, I have been seeking out that extra push to advance my fitness to a new level. Derby demands such intense levels of strength, endurance, and agility that practice alone does not make for the best player. And as my career interest has taken a turn, I know the physical requirements ahead will be challenging and at times, grueling. That's where I'm hoping this community can help me to challenge and push myself. Going through a significant life transition, I am looking into a new career, choosing to focus on my mental and physical strength, and trying to do more of what I love. Life is better with friends along the way, and I'm looking forward to meeting you all. Stay wild! -Buck

Hey all! So, I was just thinking, with the recent rise in virtual reality as a gaming technology, more and more gamers are starting to stand up and move around in order to play their games. I believe this could have very interesting implications for gamers and the fitness community, and going forward we may see those two communities intertwine much more often. First of all, VR games on systems like Occulus and the Vive have people on their feet, ducking and dodging and flailing their arms wildly. Generally, these games have people moving and at least getting some kind of workout where, using traditional methods, they would have been sedentary. Secondly, as VR evolves and becomes more accessible, user-friendly, and compact, I think we could see people begin to integrate it into legitimate fitness experiences. Imagine putting on your HTC Vive or Occulus Rift while you stand on the treadmill, and instead of having to stare at a wall and blare music, you could be jogging through the grand canyon on a sunny day, listening to a nature soundtrack, even if it's the dead of winter where you live. Or taking part in a simulated boxing match that requires you to duck, jab, kick, and perform other movements to win. I think the potential for VR to be used as a tool to promote fitness in the future, as the technology becomes more refined, is incredible. I'm interested in hearing your thoughts! Can you think of any other uses VR could have, fitness-related or otherwise? Or am I getting far too ahead of myself? Thanks for reading, guys. Have a great day!

Well, dear Ranger family, I’m back. Again. I’ve been off and on this challenge train for a few years now, and I think it’s finally time this stuck. I’m feeling good about it, I’m in a good place in my life, so why the hell not, right?! As this is a total respawn for me, I’m starting from the lowest rung on the ladder. Over the last 2ish weeks, I’ve been updating my Battle Log waiting for this challenge to start. For those of you who haven’t seen it, I’ll summarize the last 6-7months since I've been here (in no particular order): -I left an unhealthy and, in hindsight, emotionally abusive relationship -Been doing a whole load of nothing health-wise -Lost a bunch of weight (~15-20lb) in a very short time due to stress/depression and not eating -Gained all the weight back, and more -Opened up to a new relationship -Adopted a baby Hedgehog, whom I’ve named Bean. He’s now 5 months old -Left my soul-sucking job for one that I actually enjoy going to and doing -Stopped going to therapy and am no longer and anti-anxiety medication (YAY!) -I'm in a much improved mental state -Moved into a new apartment this past weekend (6/24) -Added to my tattoo collection with two new arm pieces (part of a planned half-sleeve) and a calf piece Don’t worry, there will be plenty of pictures of the little Beansicle for everyone to see On to the challenge stuff…. I’m going to be focusing on a few general goals over the coming months/year: -Losing weight/dropping fat and gaining muscle -Cutting down on my spending -Learning a new skill -More me time/self care Lose the weight The new complex that I moved into has it’s own fitness center - and it’s in my building! That means I have literally no excuses not to work out. It is mostly limited to cardio machines, but I have a set of adjustable dumbbells and my own bodyweight to use towards strength training. Plus, I have a set of Monkii Bars 2 on order via Kickstarter (they’re like the TRX system). I’m not sure when those are coming in, but it should be soonish. The basic plan is to work out 3x/week, for no less than 40min. I plan to do 20-30 min of cardio, and however much time I need to complete the strength training. Cardio will be whatever I feel like doing that day - stepper, treadmill, bike, etc. I will likely be following along with Zombies!Run for the interval training. For strength, I will be following the NF Academy Bodyweight workouts, switching between A and B. Workout 3x/week, or a total of 12x during the challenge. One of the really bad habits I’ve picked up since the start of the year is drinking a lot of Red Bull. Typically, I have one in the morning to start my day during the workweek. On weekends, I don’t drink them as much, but if I’m out and about it’s highly likely that I will stop at a gas station or convenience store to pick up my dose of caffeine. This needs to stop. The plan it to cut down to 3 every week. It’s going to suck, and I’m going to hate it, but it has to be done. No more than 3 Red Bulls/week, for a total of 12. Cut down spending Another area in which i’ve been terrible is keeping to my budget. I do have a budget, I just have a way of not really following it, and then I end up screwing myself. So, here’s the deal: I get paid every other week, the next time being the 7th - right before the challenge. Every paycheck, I will allow myself to spend up to $40 out of budget. This is money that I need to have in cash - I cannot use my card because that’s how things get out of control. I can spend this money on: Red bull (for the previous goal), take out or dinners out with people, clothes, art supplies, video games or other gaming items, and pretty much anything else that either isn’t already budgeted for or is considered ‘unnecessary’. On Saturdays, I will also evaluate my spending for the previous week and see where else I can improve and take note of it. Spend no more than $40 every other week on non-necessity items, total of $80/challenge. Learn a skill: Digital Art For Christmas, my dad bought me this awesome drawing tablet. It has a full screen display and everything - it just plugs right into my computer and I’m off. As cool as it is, I’ve used it a total of 1 time As I’ve been itching to get back into drawing and sketching, I figured why not incorporate this awesome new tool! Digital art is something I’ve been interested in for years, well, actually it’s probably closer to a decade now that I think about it….man, I feel old haha. I’d like to spend 30-60 min, 3x/wk learning to use the tablet, and to complete one art piece by the end of the challenge. I’m not yet sure what that will be, but I’m brainstorming and going to look into tutorials. It’s so much different from classic drawing, that I’m sure it’s not going to be that great starting out - but that’s why I’m doing this in the first place, right? Spend 1.5-3hrs a week (split into 3 sessions) learning to use my tablet and creating a drawing. More ‘me time’ Yeah, yeah, heads out of the gutter please I’m talking about self care here, time spent focusing on myself and my mental health. As well as I’m doing now in comparison to where I was a year ago, I still struggle regularly with bouts of depression and anxiety. In order to increase the number of good days, I need to make time for me. This could be taking a nap, crafting, playing video games, taking a bath, walking, reading, whatever. Anything I need to lessen the stress and relax for a little bit. This doesn’t mean I can’t do those things outside of this time, this just happens to be scheduled. Schedule 1hr every week to do something just for me. That’s it. Let’s get this shindig started, shall we? Edit: This challenge isn't themed, I'm just all up in the hype for Destiny 2 haha

Hello, all! I'm not the best at introductions, but I thought I could spend forever lurking and reading, trying to figure out how to join... or just jump in with both feet. I used to be really fitness/diet-oriented... maybe a little too much, maybe a little too extreme. It consumed my whole life, to where there wasn't much room for anything else. Eventually, I wanted to let loose a little more, I started really focusing on my career, joined in an amazing and supportive relationship... but for the past two years, fitness and healthy eating has slowly been slipping to the point where I trick myself into thinking it's still a part of my life. But in reality, it's been months since I've exercised, I've been eating indulgent food constantly (and my ever-climbing weight reflects that), and I've been feeling stuck and sluggish. It's time to have a hard talk with myself and go for a reboot! There's got to be a good middle ground I can strike here; it shouldn't be all or nothing. I'm not sure what part of my health I should try to tackle first... I tend to try to change too much too fast, get overwhelmed, panic, and roll back past square one. I was thinking maybe dialing down my diet first, and I say "dialing down" because I love to cook. I love to try new recipes; the more complicated and impressive, the better. But healthy? Not a high consideration. I feel like that's a good place to start, but it'll take some deep breathing and gentle reminders to keep it simple. I mean, making roasted veggies can be as fun as making a vegetable galette with herbed vegan 'crème fraîche' and fried squash blossoms, right? ... Right? I think I just need to shift my mindset to be a little more self-care oriented, but it's tough. Or maybe I need to get an exercise routine down first? Anyways, I'm here to make friends and play nice; I know it's much better not to do this alone, and I'd love to meet and support some folks on a similar path! For NF itself, is the best thing to do to join a Challenge? Start a Battle Log? All suggestions are happily welcome, and it's nice to meet you, in advance!

Hi everyone! I am new to the Rebellion! I have already posted two questions and have received replies that have made me nothing but more positive. I really do love it here. I am still learning to navigate, and I am super excited to try a 4 week challenge when the next one starts. So here is my story for those who would like to get to know me: I am a young female South African, 25, 154cm height. BMI .29 (considered obese). I am a little person in this huge world that it, yes, trying to get smaller. I have been struggling on and off for over a year trying to lose weight and get fit. Of course no one ever decides to lose weight and then actually loses it without also making the decision alongside to be serious, dedicated and disciplined as well. Only the past 4 months have shown me some results. Small results, but nevertheless they are still there. I was concentrating on resistance training, and then for the past month I have also added strength training. I have about 20-25kg to lose, give or take. I have made the decision to start working really hard for it this month. My main concentration will be my weight training alone in the mornings and dumbbell routines that I do with a friend in the afternoons. I will also be adding in some HIIT and Yoga. So I am planning to have a lot of fun this month while creating everlasting habits that will keep me fit throughout my future life. I am also on a paleo diet of only meat, vegetables and now and then some fruit. The only things not paleo are my protein shakes. I try to keep my calories up to 1200. I have been told that I can eat more than this and still lose weight. I know that I can eat more because of my training and still lose weight but I eat like a bird and veggies keep my calorie count super low which makes it difficult to sometimes reach a higher caloric intake (most of the time I even struggle to reach 800). I also don't want to force myself to eat more than I can fit in and overfeed myself unnecessarily. I use the application Fitnesspal as my food diary. It helps me keep track easily. My goal this month is drop one size at least, and I have made the decision to be discipline enough to reach that goal. I will be forcing myself not to be lazy and to complete all my exercise tasks even when I really don't want to. There are posters of beautiful fit women all over my gym room to help motivate me and I have a file where I will record all of my progress and activities. This helps me with motivation as well because I love planning and recording things. I am a "list-person" if you know what I mean. I am very excited to be a part of this community and to have somewhere I can turn when I need advice, inspiration and motivation. Also, I am happy to help anyone wherever I can as well. My advice might not be abundant as I am still a newbie in all of this but I can help motivate and inspire where I lack any advice or knowledge! We can all accomplish our dreams and reach any goal that we set for ourselves. Cheers!

So, last challenge I did ok. By week 4 though I was having difficulties. I've been crazy stressed by school. It's to the point that I"m looking for an online tutor to help me. I've never had a class THIS hard before. So, I began to stress eat. Starting today though, I'm calling on the Winchesters to help me fight my demons!!!! So, with Sam and Dean at my side, I can totally kick this challenge's ass and get back on track!!!!! Demon #1: Ruby (HP: OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO) As Ruby fed Sam's addiction to demon blood, so has she fed my addiction to sugar and high calorie foods. With Sam and Dean's help, I will vanquish Ruby back to hell by limiting my sugar intake to 2 sugary snacks per week. Demon #2: Alastair (HP: OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO) Alistair... the demon who tortured Dean and taught him the tools of the trade in hell. To withstand his torturous blades and then kick his ass with the Winchesters, I will need to be strong and resilient. Every time I go to the gym and work out is an attack on Alistair. I will go to the gym and work out at least 2 times every week. Anything above that is a bonus attack on Alistair. Demon #3: Crowley (HP: OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO) Crowley, the King of the Crossroads and the King of Hell himself. His power is the power of temptation and deals. He makes his deals so tempting by trying to make us give in to our desires. I refuse. I will not let him get the best of me. I will resist having a variance in my diet more than twice a week. I can't let the bastard win! Join me in this demon hunt! We will get there! With the Winchesters at my side and my NF friends cheering me on, we can make this happen! Demon 1 (Sugar): 0/2 Demon 2 (Gym): 0/2 Demon 3 (Variance): 0/2

Hello everyone, I've tried 4-5 different workout plans but actually none of them satisfied me ! I need to build a semi-professional -fitness- workout routine and for that I need your help. I'm 23 years old, 122.5 pounds, and 173 tall, I can work 6 days a week , each day up to 2 hours, but I prefer it to be 4 days a week (not necessary), and bellow is the shape of my body right now : ( more pics here : https://www.mediafire.com/?4cxhjk6jiqzordh) can anybody help me build this, or at least give me some clues ? I've got to mention I don't take supplements (I only take vitamin pills), I can get some dietary advice too. I'll appreciate your help, Regards.

We have probably covered this before, but what the heck! Getting healthy can sometimes seem like you're facing an uphill battle, but along the way we all find little tricks and tips to make the journey easier. Considering how big the market for losing weight/ getting healthy is, and just how many products are marketed as THE invention to get us there, it makes me wonder.... Just what are the best tools, inventions or weapons (<-sounds much cooler!) to use when you are trying to lose weight, gain muscle, or otherwise get fit? What has been your secret weapon? Now this can be anything that has helped you achieve your goals, whether that's something you've purchased, a technique you've learnt, or simply a mindset you've adopted. What is is that you would recommend to other people following in your footsteps?

Janus (Latin: Ianus. Pronounced: 'ja:.nus]) is the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, doorways, passages, and endings. There are respawns, and there are respawns. I do a lot of the first one - every month, every week, sometimes even every day. Things like 'I'll stop this now' or 'This time I'll do it this way.' These are normal. These are for those times when you fall off the wagon, but you only need jog a bit to climb back on, or maybe you lay on the ground for a little while and then grab ahold again when the wagon laps you. Sometimes, however, a respawn is equatable with a personality transplant. I picked my username, my character name (and my RH agent/code name) to remind myself that it is now time to change. My goals, my methods, my approach - everything. Who and what I used to be is no longer functional or, more importantly, acceptable. I have named this 4 week challenge - my first one - as the First Gate because right now, there are no doors. There is an infinite list of choices and destinations, and all that I have to do is choose a path and walk it. Later on I'm sure there will be challenges that involve more obvious barriers to overcome, but right now there are no barred entries, no fixed map. So having said all that, thank you for taking the time to read along on my not-so-little journey. Please feel free to leave comments - kudos, critiques, suggestions, and opinions are equally welcome. I'm planning to operate on a slightly different schedule - rather than a planning week, I'm going to have a reflection/planning week at the end of the challenge. This is due to how my work/holiday/life schedule is currently set up, and the fact that I've been planning already for two weeks. Which means my four week challenge starts.... Now. Somewhere, there stands a person. This person is not special. Like the many hundreds and thousands (and millions and billions) that have come before them, they stand not at a crossroads, but at a point of origin. They inhale, and acknowledge those that came before; Exhale, and know that there are those that will come after. Inhale. Eyes open, acknowledging the myriad of paths that lay before them. Exhale. Step forward.

Morning crept up over the horizon on the shore of a small island. The red sand shimmered and gleamed as the rays began to tickle them and spread warmth across the deserted beach. On the very edge of the beach, was a small figure. She was disheveled, her long brown hair tangled and knotted and green eyes were red from tears. Her toes had dug themselves into the cool sand and she sat curled with her arms hugging her knees. There were no tears now, they had dried themselves up and she looked weary. As the sun ran across her and began to warm up the sand around her, she blinked and closed her eyes, a look of peace coming over her face. Yes, it was time. She leaned back and stood up, shaking the loose sand from her baggy clothes. They were very large, hiding a large frame and the draping fabric made her look even bigger. She looked out to the ocean and smiled, a determined look in her eye. “I will return.” she said, looking out at the dark water longingly, before turning and leaving the beach. Hello all, my name is Cassandra and I’m a mermaid who has been banished to the land and longs to return to the sea. I’ve allowed myself to descend deep into emotional and physical depths in my time, but I know that if I work hard I can become happy and healthy with my new lot. Perhaps it will even allow me a chance to return to my home! I suppose in general, I wish to become a fierce warrior and healthier to boot! I’d love if you’d help and follow me on my journey to be a better me. Also, anyone know where I can get a decent kelpshake around here? One of the worst things I miss from home… But I suppose that’s the lot of a landlubber! My goals for the first month of my new journey are as follows! 1. Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (exercise for at least 30 minutes, x5 days a week) 2. I ate what? (keep a record of the food I eat, be it through pictures or trackers) 3. It’s a masterpiece! (finish x4 pictures of my art to-do list every week) <- please note I work very quickly on art, so this could all be done in one day if I sat down and did it, tbh 4. Rinse and Repeat (up my laundry game and do x2 full loads every week) I have already had a tutorial week since my introduction to this amazing community and have nearly fully succeeded in my goals! Okay, well I made the exercise goals and missed the first day for food… And no art… But I’m working on it and I’m striving to work that much harder! After all, who doesn’t want to level up and be an amazing, fierce, mermaid warrior?!

There’s something about Thai Green Curry. Its wholesome, incredibly flavorsome, and it will pack a serious punch when the right ingredients are used. There’s a reason why Thai cuisine is starting to be more regularly consumed all over the world and a reason why Thai outlets and restaurants are becoming more commonplace. The best part – Thai curry is very easy to prepare, cook and digest. Its also relatively cheap. All the boxes for a fantastic meal have been firmly ticked. This Thai green Curry recipe is precisely the type of dish that will suit a workday evening meal for one, a weekend treat for two or even a dinner party that you decide to host. Its as versatile as it gets. That’s why we’re keen to help you with this Chicken Thai Green Curry Recipe . Ingredients • 2 raw chicken breasts • 300 grams of Sugar Snap Peas • 1 White Onion • 250ml Coconut Milk • 1-2 Green/Red Chillis • Green Curry Paste • 1-2 Peppers – Red/ Yellow/ Green depending on preference. • 1 tablespoon of Coconut Oil (14ml/grams) • 100 gram White Rice (per person; Thai Sticky or Basmati/ Jasmine Favorable) • 500 grams of Mushrooms • 1 Clove of Garlic Instructions In a saucepan, bring water to boil and add Thai Sticky Rice. This will be cooked for 15-20 minutes. For 100 grams of rice (one person) 2-3 cups of boiling water will suffice. More water can be added later depending on preference In a wok, add the tablespoon of coconut oil and simmer gently. Coat the Wok in the oil once it has melted. On the meat chopping board and using a separate meat knife or meat scissors, cut the chicken breasts into small bite-size chunks. (Ensure hands are washed after.) Add the chicken to the Wok, cook through and ensure that the chicken no longer bears pink. This will take roughly 10 minutes (for optimal results, keep the temperature low to ensure that the chicken remains succulent Using the vegetable Chopping board and the vegetable knife, cut the garlic and onion finely, the pepper into strips, the garlic, the chillies and mushrooms Now add all the vegetables to the Wok and fry lightly until the vegetables have cooked through (onion and mushrooms brown) Add the Coconut Milk and Thai Green Paste into the Wok. Simmer for a further 15 minutes on a very low heat. This will let the garlic, green curry paste and coconut milk infuse into the chicken and vegtables Revert back to the Thai Sticky Rice and ensure that all the water has absorbed and the rice is sticky and cooked through. It should not appear hard. If this is the case and if all the water has been absorbed, add some more water. Once at the desired consistency, serve the rice. Serve the Thai green Curry and place over the rice. Optional: Place in fridge if being eaten later For pictures and more on the recipe including nutritional information: Sautéed Garlic Chicken Thai Green Curry Over Sticky Rice

We all love a sweet potato. Whether its baked or boiled; whether as sweet potato fries or sweet potato mash. They're so good we just cant get enough sweet potato recipes. We all need more of them and thats why we’re here to help. This healthy recipe is ideal to prepare for lunch at the Office or can quickly be assembled as a delicious, wholesome evening meal. Whats more its quick to prepare, nutritious and punches a host of vitamins and minerals. Ingredients • 2 raw chicken breasts or sliced chicken breasts • 1 courgette/zucchini • 1 Red Onion • 1-2 Peppers – Red/ Yellow/ Green depending on preference. • 2 medium sized sweet potatoes, • 1 tablespoon of Coconut Oil (14ml/grams) • 250 grams of Asparagus – spear heads • 200g Spinach • Garlic, salt and pepper to taste Instructions Take the 2 sweet potatoes and use the potato peeler to remove all of the skin. Discard of the skin as this is not required. Using the vegetable Chopping board and the vegetable knife, cut the sweet potato into small chunks or cubes (The smaller these are cut the quicker the sweet potato will cook.) Bring the sweet potatoes to boil (these will take roughly 15-20 minutes) Now prepare the vegetables: slice the Peppers, Courgette and Onion. Place these in a small bowl On the meat chopping board and using a separate meat knife or meat scissors, cut the chicken breasts into small bite-size chunks. (Ensure hands are washed after.) Add the chicken, courgette/zucchini, and onion into a baking tray or glass dish. Mix together and add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and garlic/salt and pepper. Place the tray or dish in the oven at 200 degrees. This will take roughly 20 minutes to cook. (for optimal results, take the tray out of the oven after 10 minutes and stir with a wooden spoon and place bake into oven) Place the Asparagus into a second cooking pot and bring to boil (cooking time 5-10 mins) Wash the raw spinach and add to a serving bowl. When sweet potato is soft, remove from boil. Drain. Place chunks into a bowl. With the potato masher finely mash the sweet potato until the consistency is even and all clumps have been removed. This is now sweet potato mash. Remove the dish from the oven; let the chicken concoction stand for a few minutes. Remove asparagus from boil and add to serving bowl Now add chicken to serving bowl and the previously sliced peppers. The Chicken Vegetable Medley and Sweet Potato Mash is now served and ready to be enjoyed! Optional: Place in fridge if being eaten later For pictures and more on the recipe including nutritional information: Chicken Vegetable Medley and Sweet Potato Mash

Hey guys, Wasn't sure to put this in another category but as I'm a vegetarian leaning towards vegan I thought I'd get more refined advice here. So I'm mainly a runner (minimal soles / barefoot(ish)) but I want to bulk up. I have a rack in my garage with weights and like doing the 5X5 compound strength training. But I have 2 issues. I need to lose about 5kg of body fat. I'm 65kg and would rather that was made up of muscle as this is in my ideal weight range but I've got plenty of spare flab around my mid section. I know a protein shake is important for muscle growth, but worried its going to slow down my fat loss. I'm an intermittent faster between 8PM and 12PM each day. What should I ideally be eating? My main diet is plant based with lentils, beans, tofu etc. Bonus question: Should I also take a protein shake after a 10km run or is it too much for that? Just looking for some direction really. Any help is greatly appreciated

I've been around NF for ages, but I've never really managed to get anything to "stick", except NF yoga. And then, somehow, everything came together at the end of last year and I had a Facebook meltdown which meant that I stopped using it - right at the same time that the NF yoga challenge started. So I had a lot more time each day (plus loads more mental energy) and a clear challenge to finish. And I found that the format of doing something, even if not something very big, every day for a month, really felt like a good fit for me. If you only have to do 10 minutes' meditation a day, then surely you can keep it up for a month? (Answer... yes, but only barely.) Since then I've done the following: Yoga for at least 10 minutes every day. Many days it's been a lot more. On the days when I had the flu at the worst, in mid-December, it was really only those 10 minutes, and some of those were just the kind of yoga sessions where you stretch a few limbs, but I did it. So since 1 December I've done more than 30 hours of yoga. And although I've still got the tightest hamstrings in the universe I'm definitely feeling a bit more bendy and more able to balance. Sometimes. My January month's challenge was 10 minutes of meditation a day. And I hated it. HATED it. But I did it. And actually I did learn some stuff - such as I find it much easier to meditate while in slight pain (one of the meditations involved holding your arms out to the side for the whole time. That really hurt, but it gave me something else to think about.) The worst ones were where the instructor said "release your worry about..." and then listed a whole load of things that were completely irrelevant or just annoyed me. But again I learned that actually most things in my life are pretty good - it's stuff like "release your worry about Brexit meaning that the entire foundation of your life has just collapsed" that I'd have to include, and that's the kind of thing that would make anyone worry. So I have actually done meditation a couple of times since January, and I'm going to try to keep trying it, because I know the various benefits are astonishing. Although I was amused to read the other day that Mark Sisson can't be doing with meditation either! My February month's challenge was at least 15 minutes of writing every day. And I looooved it. It's not that I was surprised to love writing, because I've always thought of myself as a writer, but the format was something I didn't think I'd enjoy. A couple of years back I enrolled for a month's free write challenge (you had a topic every day, you were supposed to just write for 15 minutes, no crossings out, not thinking too much about what you were writing). I did maybe three of the prompts and then gave up because I "didn't have time". So I dug out those prompts and used them. I wrote last thing at night, in bed, longhand. Sometimes that meant that I started writing at 1am. But I did it. I actually even created a little loop of music to work to with an app on my phone for quite a lot of the sessions, which was fun too. And the prompts were weird things, like "Creativity all over it" and "Fruit party", "Cloud dancing" and "She stood for". And from this I learned that 1) when I'm writing stuff that's not meant to be part of something longer, I'm amazed by the things that come out of my head. Often even when I actually started writing I didn't know what I was going to write, but pretty much all of the pieces are OK, and one or two of them are really good, either as they stand or as clues to a longer piece; 2) at some level I think that short fiction should involve violent death. I killed or threatened to kill several other people in these stories, and in one of them I was the victim. So that was fun!; 3) you can actually end up writing quite a lot if you only write every day for 15 minutes (although of course a lot of them were longer sessions). So writing is going to carry on. Indeed, this mammoth battle log entry is going to be my writing for today, I think. March... now, March is why I'm here. There are a number of reasons why I want to finally do something about losing the few pounds extra that I'm carrying (particularly as I'm going to hit 49 in May and the few extra pounds are increasing all the time). So March needs to be about fitness/body composition. I've been a member of NF Academy since it was launched and never really done much with it, so that's my basis for my "at least one thing a day" for this month. And last night I wrote down my "big why". Which was that I haven't really got one, and how that fact has been one of the things preventing me for doing much about my body composition for several years. My big why (and the full version runs for several pages) is that yeah, I understand completely why a big why is a good idea. But mine boils down to "because". So that's what I'm going with. Thus far, I have to say that this challenge format is great fun. I've really enjoyed doing different things each month and then finding ways to keep up the activities I enjoy. Other things I want to be adding for other months later in the year include improving my Spanish, not for any reason other than it sounds so nice, and trying to achieve better sleep hygiene while still managing to squeeze all the other stuff in - this will be easier as of April when I'm meant to be back home in Sweden and not renovating in France for at least a few months. Oh, and I'm still off Facebook. Which given all the shite that's been happening is looking increasingly like an excellent decision. So, yeah, a bit of a saga there. But this is for my own accountability so that's fine. I'm intending to post regularly but I probably won't usually write very much - one of the keys to this set of challenges has been about not making it too strict for myself, so I'm not setting rules for how often/what I'll post. Tomorrow's action: Take my "before" photos. Again. And try not to despair too much at the fat I've put on over the winter.

What are some workout add ons that you guys think are a necessity for your martial art. From basic to advanced I want to put a list together of the things all monks think are important. This means anything you think overall for any martial art, or any that are specific to your style. Like upper and lower body condidtioning(locations and reasoning), Stretches (type and reasoning). It doesn't need to be long drawn out explanations but I'm a curious person. Thank you for your time! Thanks Peeps!, GodzillaofTokyo

I believe in empowering people with their own self defense and fitness. We can get strong and fit without spending a bunch of money. I will share workout tips, videos, and how to make improvised exercise equipment. And a lot more! I look forward to hanging out with you all. Be good to yourself, because you are worth it.

Kuros, through passed down stories that have become nothing more than legend, is known to most as the "Knight Warrior of the Books of Excalibur," but few would know it upon meeting this unassuming hero. Less bulky warrior and more agile ranger, with a mind sharper than any blade (except Brightsword, of course), Kuros is a servant of light, far more humble than the picture this old keeper of lore will paint for you. Always cloaked and seldom seen, it would be easy to mistake him for an assassin (a poor one at that if he is indeed seen), or a scout. Alas, this is not the case. Jack of all trades, but a master of none, except maybe stillness of mind. The sum total of his attributes is what makes him a force to be reckoned with. Any obstacle or any foe can be conquered, and the only limiting factor is his force of will. With the proper application of blade and bow, mind and manners, Kuros can equally well disarm both the hound of Hades or the daughter of Zeus. Ironically though, given his tremendous capability and power to sway the forces of evil, Kuros has not been seen for many years, and as we approach our darkest hour, the world needs all the heroes she can get. Whispers on the wind have become widespread rumor, and these tell of a broken husk of a man that was once humankind’s staunchest advocate. It is said that he has withdrawn from the world, grieving for a loved one who has passed from this life. If Kuros happens to be reading this right now, know this. This world is merely a doorway to the next life. You will see your beloved again, but not yet… not yet. Take heart. There are many more beautiful lives to preserve and the darkness is ever encroaching. The bell has been rung and the hour is now. The time to reforge ourselves into something new, something stronger, is here. I call upon all the hesitant and all the eager heroes of the world. Our world is at your mercy. Will you not answer her call? Hello everyone and sorry for the over the top RPGing. I had serious fun with that. I'm really looking forward to this experience. Such a cool site and idea. Anyways, my real name is Mike, I'm 27 years old and I'm looking to get fitter than ever. How fit? Like Gimli and Legolas had a baby and that kid grew up in the wild raised by wolves and surrounded by orcs level of fit. I like to do a little bit of everything to be honest with you. Traditional strength routines, cross-fit style circuits, sprint workouts, distance running, and climbing. If anyone's in the Idaho Falls area (just about to move out there from Virginia), let me know if you're looking for a workout partner. Also, that list is by no means exhaustive. I also like to snowboard, play ultimate frisbee and competitive online video gaming. My xbox live gamertag is Terra Unu if anyone wants to add me. Right now I play Overwatch and Left 4 Dead 2 (yes I know it's old) mainly, but I also occasionally get on Battlefield 4, Halo 5, Destiny, Diablo III, Titanfall 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops III. My favorite games of all time are Rygar, Wizards and Warriors, Donkey Kong 64, Goldeneye, Nightfire, Halo, Left 4 Dead, Jak and Daxter, Champions of Norrath, Fusion Frenzy, World of Warcraft, Counter Strike and the original Star Wars Battlefront games. This last part I'll end up posting in a more appropriate section of the forums, but I thought since I'm introducing myself, I might as well introduce another idea that I think would be great for the site (or terrible, not sure yet). What do you guys and gals think about all our character profiles and quests being accessible via a facebook-like network? I personally think it would be cool to check out and gain inspiration from other people's profiles and keep in touch with one another via a facebook-like interface, but in the style and format of this site with this specific community. Or should I just shut up and go use facebook? Ha, anyways thanks for reading and rebel on. Mike (AKA, Kuros) https://www.nerdfitness.com/character/191847

Hey everyone, My name is Marco, I'm originally from Germany and now I've been living in Taiwan for more than 6 years. I always do sport, however, in the past I struggle to keep the momentum. Once I stopped exercising bad habits occurred and weight gain happened rapidly. I told myself never again! Half a year ago, I changed my diet, started to do intermittent fasting and stopped drinking alcohol. I started going to the gym 3 times a week, but this past few week I've been focusing on preparing for a dragon boat competition. Just this week I could make my dream come true and combine passion with work! I'm working at a place where people are passionate about to share nutrition tips & education. I'm very excited meeting you all

Hey! You can call me Kiffle and this is my first 4 Week Challenge for Nerd Fitness. I like to think I'm pretty active in general and decent at making goals, but I always love trying new ways of doing both of those things. I'm not new to fitness or nutrition at all, but for the sake of starting a new challenge (and sort of falling off my last one due to life) I'll start here! So, here we go. FITNESS GYM WORKOUT 2X/WEEK WITH AN UPPER/LOWER BODY SPLIT (AT LEAST 60 MIN) RUN 1X/WEEK (AT LEAST 1 MILE) NUTRITION EAT 80% CLEAN EVERY DAY (5 OUT OF 6 MEALS/SNACKS) STICK TO SERVING SIZES REGARDLESS OF "CLEAN" OR "NOT-SO-CLEAN" LEVEL UP! PAY OFF FRESH START LOAN TWO MONTHS EARLY (ON 05/10/17 INSTEAD OF 07/10/17) I look forward to successfully completing these quests. Baby steps, right?

So. I've set up plans to meet my goals for this challenge. I found a running partner - we're running her neighborhood every Monday after I get off of work. I'm thinking the gym should be on Tuesday and Thursday every week. For a while I was going M, W, F and then alternating, but with a 50+ hour work week I got thrown off. I've decided to also slightly alter my nutrition goal. I'll give myself one day a week to not be as strict, that way I have a built-in day to not feel guilty if I'm offered something not inline with my goal or go out to eat and can't really weigh or measure out my serving size. Still learning how to eyeball some things. I also have a solid plan for my loan to be paid off early next month. The early payment is part of a larger goal to reduce my debt and increase my credit score. As part of that I actually disputed one of the collection accounts I have and it was removed! I was so excited when I found out today. I'm on track to better credit and better opportunities.