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Hello lovely people! It's been a while (like... a year xD), I hope there are still people here who remember me. The world is changing. I feel it in the water, I see it in the earth, I smell it in the air! A lot has happened since my last attempted challenge. tldr: Finished all my internships and my degree, took a few months off (well I still worked my office job and did my dance teaching but it was chill), looked for a job, found a job, looked for a new apartment, found a new apartment, had some health stuff*, made some changes and now here we are. xD New job starts just two days after this challenge will end, new apartment will be ours from the 1st of December. Will say goodbye to the office job (one more day to meet everyone one last time and bring my WFH-PC back next week), will continue the dance teaching (currently 2-3 days a week). So now the challenge is: prepare a move (=declutter something every day, pack everything) while preparing for the new job (= brush up my knowledge on that subject and read a book or two about it too - they have a lot of trust in me and I want to not disappoint them xD) while incorporating some new food stuff (want to do three meals a day, get some protein with every one meal and I ordered some supplements that should arrive any time in the next few days that I wanna get in the habit of taking). I went to a friend who is a nutritionist, we did a BIA (wanna do one of these every three-ish months now to see how things change*, super interesting), she analyzed my food diary, I learned a lot. I have a new morning routine that I wanna keep doing (been on it for almost a week now ). I got the sports thing down atm (a lot of dance teaching and dancing, gym some days, it's nice having so much spare time ), so I won't track that. Tracker: 🌻Morning routine 3️⃣Three meals a day with protein 💊Supplements 📚Read a chapter 📦Declutter/Pack one something Bonus: 👾Secret research for a secret project * health stuff spoiler since it might be a bit TMI, not sure? PS: I do have a 452 day streak in Duolingo now, that owl has me tightly in its grip. xD xD

As a Zelda fanatic, I have to theme this in Tears of the Kingdom, so here we go! So, lately I've been struggling... bad... with food cravings and I feel out of control of my eating. I've been eating the same as I was right before I was diagnosed with diabetes a year and a half ago (I reversed it and am afraid of getting back to that point). Long story short, I finally got with my doctor and she prescribed me some medication that is supposed to help. I took my first dose on Friday, and already it's helping immensely. I haven't had any cravings and I feel so much more in control of what I am eating. I'm starting my challenge today to change habits and get back to a place where I feel healthy and have energy. I'm only going to have two goals right now. I know that with the medication, I'm probably going to knock one out of the water, but I'm going to stick with the goals I had in mind before I got the medication. Goal 1: Eat only when hungry. I am going to try and learn to listen to hunger cues. Right now I'm not having cravings, but often I can't tell the difference between a craving and being hungry. The cravings are so bad sometimes that I can feel that my stomach is full and it hurts, but I can't stop eating. So for now, I'm going to try and make sure that I only eat when I actually feel hungry. Goal 2: Move for 20 minutes, 3x per week. Doesn't matter what form of movement I do, but I must move for a straight 20 minutes 3 times a week. My plan is to do the elliptical at my work gym 3 times a week, but if for some reason I'm unable to do that all three times I can substitute another form of movement. I've struggled so hard with having to exercise "perfectly" or not at all. Like, if I couldn't do a full workout, I just wouldn't do it. Now I'm going to start by not "working out" but just getting movement in. Maybe if I look at it that way I will feel more comfortable doing it.

Me the past two years I woke up this morning at 185.2 That may be my highest ever. So basically I need to start moving and eat right. No theme to this challenge just a few basic principles and the help and support of this community. Daily: My morning routine A workout later in the day(lifting or cardio) Eating right No alcohol Morning Routine Walk around the blockish. Some mornings I do 45 mins, sometimes I do less. That is all. If I do this I always hit at least 10k steps later in the day. Read. Read a book for some period of time. That's it. Duolingo 50XP When I start my day like this it generally goes really well after. It also prompts me to get to bed early so I can get up early and do these things. Workout 3 Days a week I'll do compound barbell lifts. The other 4 days I will do some form of cardio. Some examples might include: Running Biking Paddle boarding Hiking Rucking Hockey Tennis This will likely be done right after work. Eating Right Is it Mediterranean? Specifically Ikarian. Is it Paleo Those are my two approved eating methods. I am loving eating Mediterranean food, specifically Ikarian. Ikarian is mostly veggies/fruits, lots of beans, some whole grains, and a metric ton of EVOO. Very little fish and poultry, very little dairy. I am still eating paleo since that is in my freezer and cabinet. I will not be buying any more paleo items though. When out to eat, I will just try to make good choices. I went and had Thai with my GF for lunch this past week and ordered the ginger dish with shrimp and brown rice upcharge. I ate half and then took half home for later. Normally I would order pad thai and eat the whole thing and that is why I am in this mess now. No alcohol None. However I will cook with it if called for it since a lot of my recipes call for it. IPA is good, but it makes me fat. Maybe after this challenge I will reincorporate red wine into meals like the Mediterranean.

The last week of the previous challenge was ... really bad all around. No nothing done! I fell out of all my habits and need to get back into the groove. 🎶 See what I did there? Since leading into the holidays is a tough time to crack down, I am keeping this super simple. EAT BETTER! I had been doing okay with eating 'normal' for 2 weeks after my trip. Then the last week hit and I got a stomach bug/weird ookiness going on, and I just ate total garbage. I will feel better if I am eating cleaner again. I should probably track calories to ensure I get my ass in gear, but this week and weekend is also b-day outings, so ... I have to give some flexibility. EXERCISE!! I skipped exercising for a week straight (partly due to stomach ookiness) mostly due to laziness and 'dunwannas'. I can't be that way. I must get into the warehouse 2x for strength and find some movement/cardio for the other days. Even if that means signing up for the walking track at the local park district by work. Those are the priorities! That's where my first effort goes. Music and art have been been an easy target for me for weeks. I am still super enjoying it and running with it, so I will do those and track them with my time log app. The food and exercise will get tracked here for accountability because I want to start getting my summer body ready now... and not wait till the last 'not happening' like usual lol. Strength⬜⬜ Move ⬜⬜⬜ Food ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ In other news, I got my new guitar! An electric guitar for some day soon (hopefully) music recording and song writing. My sister and brother in law decided it would be part of my Christmas gifts and paid for a chunk of it. I am hoping to get a video up showing my new rig 🎸but I need to find a way to make the sound not sound awful! Art continues with lots of inspiration being drawn from the Vampire: the Masquerade game still, so I'll try and post some of that here too. Plan for Week 1 Monday - Eat good, strength day. Piano, bass and art. Tuesday: Eat good, b-day dinner, maybe some post fam stuff creativity. Wednesday: Eat good, strength day. Guitar. Game night with peeps. Thursday: Eat good, 1/2 day, beat saber, music time, make dinner, Vampire game night. Friday: Day off. Eat good breakfast and light lunch (maybe the zoo?) 4pm Axe Throwing, 6pm Shabu Shabu! Saturday: Get some exercise, eat good, make dinner (for Thursday left overs) to boot. Sunday: Church, music, some hang outs, D&D To Do Stuffs

Beltane May 1 - June 11: Bloom Where You’re Planted Yoga, meditation, anti-inflammatory foods, gardening, composting (with worms!!), love. Welcome to a truly Druidic Challenge. Grounded. Like an errant teenager or an injured pilot, like the third prong on the electrical plug, this challenge I am grounded, or looking to get that way. Me, being me, I’m taking this as literally as I take everything else, and I’m looking to dirt and roots to help me out. Even my yoga sessions are on the ground, and meditation is definitely that way. Nourish Flower and urban farm shares (including eggs!) start this week. Nearby farm vegetable delivery starts May 17. I need to make sure I have the fridge and tools prepared and waiting. Eating farm-to-table is a mindset more than an activity, and having the right structure in place makes all the difference. Weekly vegetable delivery means weekly cooking. Last year was a wash with me having no motivation or energy. Truly, it was a sad year on the cooking front. Looking forward to this year in the kitchen. Vermicomposting, the nerdiest druid thing to happen in the dirt. I’m super excited about this. I’ve wanted to do indoor vermicomposting for years, and am finally making this happen. I have the composter ready to be assembled, and lots of thoughts about worms. The composter isn’t large, but every square inch matters in this small apartment, so I’ll need to figure out where it will live and how collecting vegetable scraps and tea leaves will fit into the workflow. Plants! Vivian wants to plant roses and lavender in containers on the rooftop terrace, and I want to have fresh herbs again, especially rosemary and basil, and possibly sunflowers. Look for green thumb reports. Bask I’m kicking the challenge off with a session of sound bowl healing, one of my favorite activities. A second session is scheduled for the first week of June as well. The weather is warming up and there’s a couple free yoga sessions each week with an instructor I really like, so I’m adding those to the calendar, in pencil as my energy level allows. Acupuncture and milk each week help me keep my glow. I have two passes for a salt float (similar to a sensory deprivation tank, but larger) that are like a deep meditation session, and I’ll add those where and when I can. Love I get to see Vivian every other Saturday, still, and we are supposed to start adding in time on the following Sundays, as well as video chats on the Friday before. I’m looking forward to that. Academic Housekeeping: I need to finish up the semester projects and send them off. I’ve been dragging my feet and will have them done and turned in by the end of zero week.

And I'm back! Decided to go with a Naruto theme since I'm reading the manga, again, and trying an approximation of Naruto's genin training! Starting Stats Age: 32 Height:5'4" Weight:214# Diet Eat at least 100g protein a day! I'm in a state of just not eating enough right now so I'm going to work on increasing my protein intake! I know this will come with calories so hopefully it'll bring me high enough. 7 days- A 6 days - B 5 days - C 4 days - D 3 or less - F Fitness Training! I'm on a working out 6 days a week. Alternating walking and calisthenics with biking or skateboarding on the weekend! 0 strikes - A+ 1 strike - B 2 strikes - C 3 strikes - F Side Quest Sleep Better! My sleep schedule is very up and down. I go to bed around 9 or 10 and end up just laying in bed or tossing and turning until midnight. Sometimes even til 2am which just doesn't work with my waking time at 7am. So during this time I'm going to try different methods to fall asleep faster. Scoring will be based on how many hours a night I get, averaged for the week. 8 hours- A 7 hours - B 6 hours - C 5 hours- D 4 hours - F

So lately I have been off the wagon big time. Eating poorly, lack of workouts, no structure. This challenge I want to set a weekly goal and achieve then carry it and a new goal into the following week. That's it, nothing special.

So for the next 2 weeks(9/11 - 9/25) I will be leaving sunny wonderful Florida to spend time at my cabins in Wisconsin. Highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s. It is going to be quite the change. Goals for the challenge Workout of some sort daily 10k steps daily Eat whole foods(mostly paleo with limited dairy and maybe one whole grain serving daily). Two travel days are cheatish days(morning food and some beer). Also some freeze dried camping food reviews for content. I may choose to have whiskey once while up at the cabins but other than that strict. Daily hobby 50XP of Duolingo daily Read 10ish pages Post a picture of dinner Examples of WODs Ruck Run Circuit training Weight lifting Hobbies Minis Content creation(youtube videos and launch channel) Fishing Model rockets Building things(fish tank stand) Board games Currently also running a PvP warm up for Rucktober. I need to market Rucktober and get some sign ups. The PvP for the warm up is here if anyone is interested.

Eat and Move I was going to have slightly loftier goals for this challenge than my previous one but then my old illness came barrelling back out of nowhere. Although if I'm honest the signs have been there for a couple of months that it was getting worse. I'm finding it extremely hard to function right now. I just want to curl up into a ball and sleep. During the course of this challenge I'll be having a bunch of medical tests and exams. One of these includes and awkward encounter with a camera. I'm seriously not looking forward to that but I want answers. This challenge has two very simple goals: Eat and Move. I need to eat better. It's very simple but it's very hard when anything solid is extremely unappealing. I just want to try and eat better so I'll say what I've eaten every day. Move Get out and move once a day. It doesn't matter if it's running, cycling or walking. The goal is just to keep active and moving.

So I've been on hiatus for most of a year for a variety of reasons (good and bad). But it's time for a respawn, so I'm reaching out again to the support networks I have (the forums here, Connect on the WeightWatchers app, etc) to try and maintain accountability and get regular feedback on things. Yet to do: re-write my Life at Level 50 mission statement/goals (Work changed, and with it, the driving need to drown my frustrations in food and shopping). The previous battle log is here, if anyone wants to visit the unpleasant swamp of the past: https://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/83812-tokidoki-kittys-daily-log/ Going forward: - If not a daily log, at least a weekly one - Revisit and refine my goals regularly (and set them up in smaller, manageable pieces) - Improve my productivity habits / reduce my procrastination habits -- this goes for both work and home. - Address, treat/mitigate my physical pains (through diet, exercise, etc). - Financial success (large savings account) and freedom (no more credit card debt/recurring balance carryovers) - I want to go to Japan and spend a lot of time on experiences and shopping for tea and kimono equipment that I can't get in the States. Need money to do that. :/

Hey all, I need some advice and ideas. I work 60+ hours a week, basically from 7:30a to 9:30p with very little time to eat during the day. I do get breaks but not really enough for anything complicated. I have all day Sunday available to cook and do my house-hold chores. That being said, I eat out a lot. Which is bad. I need to start eating better but I keep coming up with the excuse that "I don't have time". Basically, I wake up, get ready for work, eat out, come home, brush teeth and straight to bed. One of my jobs is at a health food store which is great because at least my options can be on the slightly-healthier side, but during the main part of the day I teach and it is hard to get away for more than enough time to say run to Burger King or Taco Bell (both across the street from the school) and head back. So, basically, I would love ideas for meals that I can bring with me for lunch and dinner and maybe some snacks that I can eat as a teacher and a cashier. I bought some protein powder and I might start doing shakes for breakfast since I can just drink that in the mornings on my way in and while I start my lessons. Is that a good idea?? I've never done shakes before but I am getting to the point where I am so lost and desperate that I will try just about anything. I NEED to start eating better. I feel like crap all the time and since I have anxiety and depression, my poor eating habits only make them harder to handle.

A deep, comfortable silence had settled over the world after the passing of the late spring storm, and I pushed the windows open to let the cool, damp breeze wash into the house. Just past the edge of the clouds, a spray of stars glittered in the deep black sky. There was no hint of frost in the air for the first time that year and I drank in the fresh warmth of approaching summer. My world, like so many others', had become very, very small in the weeks of quarantine. No longer the energetic, confident Ranger who crossed land and sea without fear, I had shrunk too, pummeled and bruised in spirit from weeks of grief, loneliness and loss. I wanted to give love and light, but found myself receiving it more often than giving it. I wanted to adapt and thrive in the quiet of isolation, but found myself just past the boundary of survival, dreading the start of each day and avoiding the sleep that brought it sooner. Tears were never far from the surface and regularly burst out at the most inconvenient of times. But all was not hopeless. I climbed up to sit in the windowsill and lean out, looking down across the valley to where the lights of the village twinkled faintly through the trees. My physical strength was beginning to return; I no longer felt pinched and frail. A shipment of fresh fruit and vegetables had boosted my spirits the previous week and another would be coming the following week. I was in regular contact with family and friends, and their spirits were lifting as they adjusted to isolation, finding space for joy and expansion within the separation. And more than these things, I had discovered a strength within myself I wasn't sure I had. Each time I had lost something or someone, fallen to the ground again with weeping, I had lifted my eyes heavenward and gotten to my feet again. When given the choice to give in to despair or keep trusting that the King's plans were good, I had turned toward Him and leaned on His strength through even the darkest nights. I always said I would follow Him even through the shadowed valleys of death, danger and grief - and I had. When I didn't understand, when I had to say goodbye, when my heart longed for the fields of my home and the embrace of my family, I had clung to faith and not given up. And with His help, I planned to continue doing just that. I slid down from the windowsill and padded into the kitchen to measure the coffee and water for the next morning. Courage in this season might not look like climbing mountains or crossing rivers - it might look like measuring the coffee and going to bed instead of staying up to wait for dawn, trusting that there would be goodness in the following day. A hint of a smile crossed my face as I blew out the candle and picked up my journal to head for bed. There was goodness coming in the morning. Even if I couldn't always feel it, I knew it was there. It would find me before long.

Hi everyone! I realized that I tend to by the same things every time I go to the store, win! But there's a point to it, I'm not sure what to do with all of this heathy food! Loss! I have around 20 items and I need help creating recipes that would be easy to meal plan with. I'll leave the list below, thanks! P.S also any way you can help me with budgeting all this would be greatly appreciated! I'm a poor college student now! Protein 1. Whole Eggs: cage free 2. Any of these could be in my kitchen, Lean Meats: Chicken, turkey, lean cuts of pork (like tenderloin), beef, along with wild game (buffalo, venison, elk, ostrich, rabbit) if I want something different. 3. Fatty Fish: Salmon, mackerel, sardines, and anchovies can help to increase mood during my long shifts and stressful calls. Likewise depends on week 4. Fermented Soy: This produces natural antibiotic agents to increase the body’s resistance to infections. Legumes 5. Beans: Small red beans, kidney beans, chick peas, and black beans depending on what's available for cheap, it's in bulk. 6. Lentils: Low in calories and perfect for reducing the chances of heart disease. Bulk Vegetables 7. Tomatoes: They can help with connective tissue strength and even help to improve vision. Get 8 8. Spinach: Packed with Vitamin K, which contributes to building stronger bones. Buy a box or two 9. Cruciferous Vegetables: Packing your plate at the firehouse with broccoli, cabbage cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts will leave you feeling fuller longer in-between meals. Steamfresh if possible Fruits 10. Avocados: Studies have shown that avocadoes can reduce cholesterol and even help you burn fat. Bag 11. Citrus Fruits: Oranges and grapefruit Bag it and tag it when available 12. Berries: Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and cranberries Frozen Starches and whole grains 13. Sweet Potatoes and Yams: These act as your body’s storage tank for energy. You better have just the right amount of energy if you’re going to be fighting a fire. A few lbs 14. Quinoa: High in protein, but more importantly, high in riboflavin, which has been shown to reduce the frequency of migraines. If there's someone who deals with enough migraines, it's emergency workers. Bag and tag 15. Amaranth: A great solution to having more fiber since it contains three times more than wheat. Bag and tag Heathy fats 16. Nuts: Walnuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, and pistachios can all help reduce inflammation and even lead to a better mood and mental process. Can also be eaten in nut butter form. Bulk it 17. Seeds: Flax, hemp, chia, and pumpkin all contain good fats that help you feel fuller for longer. Bulk 18. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: This is high in antioxidants and the healthy monounsaturated fats, which can help to control your cholesterol. Drinks 19. Water: Water makes up approximately 70% of our body I carry around a gallon of water while I'm at work, especially on hot days when your uniform and gear will cause you to lose more water than normal. 20. Green Tea: A chemical in green tea called EGCG can help lower cortisol (your stress hormone) and increase your immune system after long shifts.

[Fireworks, Explosions, Team America memes] I mean .... I *did* just crack open my actual computer for the first time in over a month just to edit this shizz, soo ... Happy 10th, Nerd Fitness! It was 10 years ago in March our Rebel Commander started this little corner of the Internets we’ve all found a home in. Let’s celebrate that decade-long accomplishment by branching out, not sitting on our collective laurels, and pushing the envelope just a bit more. I know I call for a return of the Hype Train(TM) often, but dammit, I miss my train. I *miss* the overhype we used to have around here - the breakneck speed at which (6 week) challenges flew, the community engagement ... /getsmistyeyed As so many others are doing, let’s take a look back at my NF journey. Warning: Shit gets mushy and I’m not re-reading it or I’ll start deleting the mush. Could be rambly and make zero sense. I promise nothing. Ooh. I should cop out and spoiler this next bit, but I won't because it's probably cringey and that's how I roll: uncomfortably. Challenge 1 https://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/22780-first-challenge-darkfoxx/ My first challenge was in January of 2013, right after I decided I was tired of using the holidays as an excuse to completely feel like a slug every January. I remember being fed up, and sitting in my little bedroom office in Brooklyn - freezing my ass off because that apartment was so cold in the winter it was (barely) legal - and Googling something along the lines of Nerd Fitness. This was right after a chat with my DH (Darling Husband for those of you new to my exposition), where he floated the idea of a support network, I scoffed at it, and went about finding one anyways. He thought I could benefit from having people to talk to about fitness that wasn’t him; I thought that (fitness) realm wasn’t really for me and that everyone would be lame af and we wouldn’t have anything in common. Oh boy was I ever wrong. I remember how I felt when I found that first article Steve wrote - don’t remember what it was, but I remember feeling like someone could finally maybe see me - maybe not with that article, and maybe not him specifically, but it was enough to get my hella introverted IRL (at that point I was basically a hermit and only ever talked to my DH in person) self to feel comfortable putting herself out there - especially in a realm I still found terrifying. My challenge was only 2 goals long, and they are goals that have carried forward in some form for all 63 of my challenges: moving my body and eating right. I was already working out a bit (thanks to the Nintendo Wii, I’d already lost a fair bit of weight), and had sloooooooowly started unpacking all things food and brain related. This first challenge, I focused on 4x a week workouts - alternating the NF bodyweight exercises with my first foray into non-Nintendo yoga: Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown. Which I loved. And would still legit do, no matter how much she annoys me. And paleo. eating paleo consistently, finding ways to cut down my meat consumption, and eating more veg. Sound familiar? Awwww … looking back at this challenge, my first few commenters - whom I will be forever grateful to - have fallen by the wayside (hello @tekilla @vic-torus @bagpipenebula @Slosh - come back!), but my girl @Fonzico was there from page 1, cheering me on. Hey, girl! We were so cute and young! Since then, and here’s where I squirm in my seat because shit gets mushy, I’ve found immeasurable worth in my community. The friendships I’ve formed here have gotten me through some dark shit, and have given me the confidence to do some crazy ambitious shit - like that year I did, what? 16 medal-winning races/rucks/OCRs, or the fact that I smashed my shell to do my first OCR at all and found a huge love for the sport. The SPORT. That the girl who used to practice lying still on a fainting couch - and ate just enough to not land in the hospital - and refused to break a sweat (whose body was only hydrated and nourished enough to barely actually do that) found that she LOVED. And I hella wouldn’t gotten to that place without y’all. I haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate carrying on tedious conversations with fitnessy people (even yoga people) IRL, and have like ZERO tolerance for dumbassery; so being able to have a safe home where I can be my F-bomby, snarky, side-eye of judgement self (and where I can totally get called out on my own BS in like 3 seconds), is something I hold SUPER FUCKING DEAR. I loves y’all, and I loves what Steve has built here. So thanks, Steve. Lots. And that’s not all! My first and main love will always be the Forums and I’ll champion them until the Internet dies - to anyone that shows anything other than open hostility to the first three words I say on the subject. Repeatedly. I’ve taken part in NF Yoga, and started down the Rings & Handstands path (mostly because any time the Crew put up a chance to send some lucre their way I was All Frickin On It - because I can’t express how much I’ve gotten out of this free service and want to help in any way possible). And the Facebook groups. And then there were IRL meetups. That were terrifying but awesome and where I met some rad-ass people (hello @Raxie;@rowan I MISS YOUR DAMN FACE COME BACK WE NEED HYPE). AND CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMP. Where I had the privilege of giving back to my community by serving as a Wizard. And meeting so many of my friends in meat space. With actual hugs. And already knowing the actual them. And making new friends. Who I have legit seen IRL. I can’t think about Camp without getting mistily maudlin. That shit was transformative, yo. AND A NERD FITNESS WEDDING TAKEOVER. WEEKEND. @Taaaaaaaaaank @Tanktimus the Encourager what’s this season’s Shiner? And people who know my drama and accept it encouraging me to learn new scary skills (*cough* Ranger Jedi Master @EricMN *cough*). Then lending a shoulder and giving me space through that whole next year of BS and then a difficult move. Internet friends aren’t real friends, my ass. I know a ton of Rangers (and now Druids) - an ENTIRE REBELLION ACTUALLY that would BEG TO DIFFER. And my DH. And half my other friends, TBH. TAKE THAT, OLD (guard) PEOPLE. TAKE THAT, EMPIRE (tho your fashion choices are on point). /END MUSHINESS. EEEWWWWWWWWWW *shake* Errr. Ummmm … #soexposedrn Back to business. And Poiiiiiiiiints. Because: American, and we like points (which is something that fascinates my non-(this type of) nerdy and European friends to no end). This community is only as strong as its members, and as such - I’m laundry-listing this challenge. And remembering to keep all my goals in sight this cycle. Old Business Not eating like an asshole (eating intuitive-ish with a look toward limiting the overall quantity of food I eat while watching the pain level that certain foods create); I will be documenting meals with pics for year 2 of a 365 project, and will be collating a list of current go/no-go foods in an effort to work more veggies back into my diet. I miss veggies. I don’t miss pain. Yoga 365 project - Daily 15 minutes+ of either yoga or meditation/breathing exercises (or as long as I can muster on the latter). I’ll be sharing weekly wrap up pictures here for that as well. Keeping at least 1 current craft going (at the moment, I’m knitting a busywork shawl, knitting a baby blanket, and waiting on the final supplies for a quilt). Pics of course when I finish a project and more information than you want during. Cultivating my current support network and actively recruiting more. This cycle I’ll be experiencing the downside of expat life - friends moving. I’ll be losing at least 3 friends in February/March to the four corners of the Earth, and that’s going to be hard. I need to allow for that hardness - that time of grief (especially for 1; my local bestie is leaving for a country it’s not currently easy for me to visit), and move on. My monthly drunk brunch group is most likely dissolving with these two leaving (we’ll be down to 5 OG members; 1 of which is actually reliable at attending our monthly fetes), and that’s going to take one of my set social days out of my weekly calendar - that’s mostly ok, for the moment at least I’ve replaced my weekly Wednesday breakfast with a rousing Detox Yoga class. But still ... I’m going to need to address this issue sooner rather than after I’ve refused to get off the couch or take a shower for 3 days in a row. Dog Training - The home training is going fairly-well; the wiens understand (mostly) that we don’t want them to lose their everloving minds every time someone is in the hallway, and they’ve (mostly) stopped singing when locked in the bedroom while I’m out. We do, however, need to continue to work on Odin’s leash manners - his anxiety, panic attacks at seeing other dogs and not being able to play with them all - and his pulling. OMFG the pulling. Such strength for 7 kilos, you’d think he was training to singlehandedly win the Iditarod. We have 1 private training session left and a good few group sessions to attend. We need to go to those, and continue to work with him daily. I need to get better at this - currently, I suX0r at it and DH has it down pat. I need to suck less. New Business Because of all this impending turmoil, I’m feeling a loss of control. Happily, this loss is taking the form of wanting to do a big ole’ purge. I’ve been feeling uneasy about the amount of - things - I’ve let creep back into my life for awhile now and I feel like I’m at odds with my wardrobe again. Since I like a good long-term challenge and feel like I may need to be strong-armed into not sewing allthethings (especially impractical things) clothing-wise (like, when would I actually *wear* a corset in my current life? How many historical skirts do I need? Do I need more 50s dresses? What about weirdo structural pieces? Do I actually need any of those?), let’s do a 333 challenge: 33 articles of clothing only (aside from underpinnings, athletic and swimwear) for 3 months. I’ll at least start it this challenge by reviewing and documenting what I have, and I’ll report on the outcome. This challenge should shoot me riiiiiiight through at least 1 holiday and into the beginnings of Summer - when things get interesting. I’m curious to see if I can make it work without blowing my 7 kilo carry-on rule or melting in the heat. Mini challenge (either all-guild) or Druid-specific. I’m writing these goals out hella early, and it remains to be seen whether we are doing an all-guild dealie, or if we are reviving Druid-specific minis. Do that. Whatever *that* is. EDIT: The all-guild mini has shaped up, and I think y’all will like it. I’m excited about it. Scoring & Reporting Points are fun, so let’s go back to scoring. Most of my goals are daily, so scoring will take the shape of ‘x of 7’. A few are more esoteric, and will be more of a ‘did I do X thing by the end of Challenge? Food POD x of 7 Breakfast Lunch Dinner Snack Anything try to kill me? Yoga 365 What did my practice look like today? X of 7 Crafts Current Project(s): What did I work on today? X of 7 Support Network What is my battle plan this week? Did I work toward it? X of 7 Dog Training Did I work with the babes today? X of 7 Clothing Have I done an assessment? Have I pared to 33 items? Mini Challenge Did I do my part to drive my car of this particular Hype Train? X of 7

Just curious what you other folks eat for breakfast on a regular basis. I've been doing smoothies for awhile, with the following ingredients: 1/2 avocado scoop protein powder (whey) Salt (cardiologist orders) 1 tsp chia seed "Handful" Spinach Almond milk Water Cinnamon (sometimes) 1/4-1/2 cup frozen berries So what do you guys/gals eat? Whats the weirdest thing you put in smoothies, eggs, or toast?

What do you guys do for post-workout nutrition? By that I mean the first thing you consume after a good workout. I've recently taken a liking to a quick baked sweet potato in the microwave usually with some greens.

Since my diagnosis with diabetes at the age of eleven, my own diet has changed dramatically. I maintain my current healthy weight with a great diet/eating plan. If you do plan on losing more than about a stone in weight then I would visit your doctor for more tips on how to do this without risk. I've had diabetes for seven years now, but to tell you that how I maintain weight is perfect would be totally wrong of me. However, I can advise you to follow my steps because I know what works and what doesn't. Before I really begin I must also say that I have been brought up by great parents who taught me to eat everything, and so I do! If there is something that you don't like, there are loads of other diabetic recipes and ideas that you will eat and appreciate. I am a university student and I like to buy fresh and organic produce from where I live. I believe that this is important because it can be the most good for your body and contain more nutrients and vitamins than most supermarket produce. I like to source food from my fortnightly farmers market in town, which sells amazing meat and dairy produce and fresh in season fruit and vegetables. This is another important thing to remember, that eating fruit and vegetables in their season means that they will taste better as well as doing you good. I have a lot of influence from Western European cuisine (mainly France and Italy) as you will tell, but I do not profess to be a chef and everything is easy to make and very convenient. I have read countless diet books and diabetic recipe/diet books, and I came to a conclusion that I think really works. I fused all the good things from the diets (but not from every diet) and sort of put together my own one. I call this my Juvenile Diabetes Healthy Diet! The "rules" that I would lay down are as follows: 1. Cut back on snacks and then change the type of snacks you eat. Certainly my biggest downfall although it wasn't really apparent to me. When I first started at University, I had little or no routine which meant that filling my day was difficult and popping into the kitchen for a snack, no matter how healthy it felt, was a regular occurence. This is one of the hardest things to do for some people, but establishing a great routine is essential to great diabetes care. The types of snacks to be eating are unsalted nuts, dried unsweetened fruit, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables (I love fresh red pepper and cucumber), dark chocolate (richer and nicer and you only want 2 squares usually). 2. Cut back on white flour and embrace wholemeal carbs. This is the most essential part of your diet, and the thing that can show the biggest increase in loss of weight. Some diets in fact jsut focus on this point, and are very successful. Wholemeal (especially stoneground wholemeal) is so good for you and has so much more flavour in it that switching is much easier than you think. Most people are really surprised at the ranges you can get in you supermarket, again remember that the bread that is best for you is the one that is freshest with least perservatives or added ingredients. Also, brown or basmati rice is great with a lovely nutty texture. Wholemeal pasta is great and for your potatoes I would totally recommend the smaller new potatoes. 3. Stop drinking cocktails, start drinking wine. Cocktails are full of sugar, colourants and preservatives. As a student I have had loads of practice at going out and not drinking cocktails, so my drink of choice is Malibu and Diet Coke if I feel I have to drink something and I make it last all night. I can then top up with Diet Coke (which has almost no sugar in it) and it looks as though I am drinking Malibu, who is to know. If you are out at a restaurant, red wine is much better than anything else you can order, (except water of course!) and it has been proven that the anti-oxidants in red wine are great for keeping a healthy heart. The recommended amount is one glass a day with your evening meal. 4. Start cooking more fruit and vegetables. Fresh fruit and vegetables are a great way to get all the vitamins and minerals you need. And there are so many different ways in which to cook vegetables, but I find that raw is the best followed closely by steamed. Both of these ways preserve all their natural goodness as well. I will follow this post with another diabetes recipes post. 5. Drink more water. I know you have heard people say this many times before, but the benefits of drinking more water are endless. A few tips on how to get more water into your day are firstly to put bottles of water at all the places you go in the house or work. So keep one in your desk, on your desk, a glass in the kitchen, the bedroom, the sitting room, etc. Try and drink all these glasses up and you will be well on your way to 8 glasses a day. The trick is to add a glass every few days or so, if you try to drink all that water in one go you won't be so inclined to drink 8 glasses again, trust me! Have a go, it's amazing how great you will feel. i recommend this cookbook for u if u want healthy delicious food : Here

Hello nerds! I'm annyshay! Here are my goals for the next 6 weeks... Pass my boards Win NaNoWriMo Go Deeper with Health Coaching There's been a lot of upheaval in my life in the recent past from moving across country to the death of my Grandpa to a lot of traveling, but things are starting to mellow out just in time for... my boards and NaNoWriMo. Hehe. That's right, within the span of this challenge, I will be taking two sets of medical boards and trying to write 50,000 words in one month. So, I want to try to lean on my community here a little bit harder instead of just phoning in my updates. So, I have overarching goals and will give narrative reports within those about what's going on for me at the moment. I hope to continue to post consistently and wander among other nerds threads a bit more than I have been doing lately. We'll see how it goes, and everything is open to tweaking as necessary to help support my goals. Sound good? Let's do this thing!

I’m back again I was originally thinking of skipping this challenge but then I though screw it, I’ll do the challenge! Food/sugar is currently my biggest problem at the moment and I’ve dedicated two quest to it to try to help that issue. The Challenge:  Nutrition Quests No two in a row sugary snacks & deserts – Because I have an issue with eating too many sugary foods (usually chocolate) I will be implementing the no two in a row rule and hopefully in the future I can make that rule last longer: I will not eat sugary snacks &/or deserts two days in a row. Limit the amount of sugary snacks & deserts – By having a clear and cut size rule that I can stick to and not a generalised don’t overdo it: Baked goods (biscuits & cakes) = No more than the size of my palm. Packaged goods (chocolates & lollies) = No more than half the size of my palm. Fitness Quests Yoga – Apparently exercise is good and my last challenge was to yoga once a week so now I’m upping that to twice a week to get momentum going, with access to printed routines, apps, YouTube videos & classes there are no excuses: 2 days a week at the minimum. Level Up Your Life Quests Meditation – I didn’t succeed with this last time so I am at it again and will succeed this time, plus I really need to do this for my mental & physical health: 3 days a week using my Calm app. Minimum of 2 minutes required. I’ll be posting on a weekly basis as that’s easier for me to stick to that daily.

metanoia (n.) the journey of changing one’s mind, heart, self, or way of life Or all of the above. It’s another step along the way to become the person I want to be, the kind of person I know I can be, if I give myself a chance and enough support to grow. A large chunk of this journey has been moved to my battle log as it’s more a day-to-day, goalless kind of thing. Though that does technically mean I have to find myself some goals for these challenges. Like so: Goal One: The Pistol I used to be able to do pistol squats. Only a couple on each side, but still… My progress in that area has reversed drastically over the years. I can just about wobble to the ground on each leg, but it is a very shaky wobble and I cannot rise up on either leg without ending up on the floor. As far as I recall, I managed to figure out pistols the first time around through brute force and ignorance. There will be a fair amount of that this time around, but there will also be some specific mobility and balance work. I can do this, I just need to help my body remember how. Aim: Do a whole pistol squat on at least one leg (more likely to be the right leg) by the end of the challenge (ambitious, not the end of the world if it doesn’t happen, but I’m determined to make sure it does!) Goal Two: Downward Facing Dog My heels do not now, nor have they ever, touched the ground in the downward facing dog pose. All signs point to my not-so-great mobility and general lack of flexibility. This is where the specific mobility work mentioned in the first goal comes in, and I’m hoping that since there are two outcomes resting on it that it will encourage me to actually get it done properly. Aim: Three times weekly leg mobility practice Goal Three: Vegetables Seriously. I am not getting enough in and it has a noticeable impact on my insides and my energy levels. This is basically a repeat of my food goal last challenge. Aim: Five to ten portions of vegetables daily Side Project: Guitar Something to force me to have some fun, even on the days I feel like crap. I can kind of play guitar. Very badly. I’ve wanted to improve for ages but have never actually made it a priority. Until now. I’m committing to ten minutes a day, five days a week minimum. Doesn’t matter what I’m doing so long as I’m playing for ten minutes. And that’s that. Keeping it simple goals-wise in an effort to help myself actually stick to things (as well as continuing the things I’ve tried to incorporate into my life already), especially when life gets rough and the stress climbs higher. I’m going to also aim for five small updates per week to try and keep me a little more social and connected.

I decided to stick with the warriors still. The community is nice and most of my training is still weightlifting so it makes sense. The last few challenges have been helpful. To recap I went from an average of 155-157 lbs to 167-170 in about 15 weeks, whilt my bodyfat estimates (via taping) have remained about the same. In that time I've dealt with depression, learned to prep cook (kinda), picked up swordfighting (love it) and rehabbed a knee injury to a point that I didn't think I could get back to. It feels like gaining this weight has gotten me to a much better state BUT, in getting there my diet has become trashed compared to before, so along with some small housekeeping things. My goal for the next few challenges is to relearn my love for cooking ( I was a chef for 9 years until I just couldn't deal with it professionally anymore.) I will start cooking MEALS again instead of lost of snacking just to reach my macros. I will change my shopping habits so that I'm using more whole foods instead of processed foods. And I will revive my now dead hobby of food photography. That's all for tonight.

This is the first stanza of a children's spring song we sing here in South Africa, with English translation in brackets. I tried finding a YT video but alas... Dis heerlike lente, die winter is verby, (It's wonderful spring time, winter is past) weer vrolik die velde vir jou en vir my! (joyful are the fields again, for you and for me) Ryde the Spring Wave Blooms are opening up in an array of colours; grass shoots are pushing their little heads through the dark, nutritious soil; the warm sun is shining bright, and every now and again the soft swish of rain comes down to quench the thirsty soil. I'm just trying to keep my balance between stress, life, and continuing with a 'normal' routine. Not aspiring to reach any level of fitness, not training for anything, just keep moving. Oh, but I am trying to reach 100 (maybe aim at 150?) push ups at some point in time. I am going to try and learn line dancing with my youngest son, and I am going to try and loose a bit of weight. Again, nothing serious, just... cut down a bit on food, think seriously before I eat, weigh myself every Saturday and see how I do. The extra stress-causing-things going on in my life at the moment are... nr. 1 probably the current situation of our country (South Africa). nr. 2 our plans to try and emigrate (and all the preparations it entails). nr. 3 my mom, and the usual little foxes that happen in life to throw you a curve ball. NOTE: My birthday is going to be end of week 3/beginning of week 4 and I am going to have cake/chocolate or something in that line. Goals to focus on this challenge: (only going to check over week days - will continue over weekends, and try to stay in control over weekends, but only check weekdays for the challenge) Bible/Quiet time doing bible study with/without my boys and/or quiet time sometime during the day to gather my thoughts, praying, or just unwinding and relaxing (catching my breath). Water/Herbal tea, fruit/veg water drinks +-2 bottles (just under 2Lt) per day. Go to bed at the latest 21h30 (give or take 5min.). Food: keep gluten to one day a week only (Fishy Fridays), and try to cut down on how much I'm eating. Check weight every Saturday (report on Monday). Let's see if I can loose 1kg (2Lb) this challenge. I'm the heaviest that I've EVER been in my life. Finances: monthlies and dailies. Monthlies are up to date, but will need to be done by end of September again. Dailies are done +-3x/week, or as necessary. Clean house: I have a schedule for the month. Certain chores that I need to check on every day. My vacuum cleaner just burnt (basically brand new) and I'm back to using a broom. Will know whether they'll fix it within the next two weeks. Burpees at least 3x/week, which will include a pushup, which will count to my pushup challenge if they are full pushups. Pushup count: currently 39 Other exercises: Walking (Wednesdays for a long walk, and short, steep uphill on a Thursday) and Dancing (going to try and learn line dancing with my youngest son) on a Friday.

A Bit About Me: This is my first challenge as a Druid as I was previously a Ranger, but Druid fits in with my needs better now and it’s been a couple of years since I’ve done one of these challenges. My health hasn’t been great and for 10 years I was unable to eat normal food without getting very ill, I have finally this year gotten to a point where I can eat like a normal person without getting ill at all woo!!! And now it’s a matter of getting the rest of my health sorted. My beautiful dogs Winston (French Bulldog) and Hank (Beagle x French Bulldog) help with my stress and moods but I need to put more effort in managing this myself as well. The Challenge: Nutrition Quests After Work Snacking & Desert: I have a tendency to overdo this massively and it feels like just have no control and I think this is why my weight is climbing: Don’t overdo it e.g. instead of eating 2 rows of chocolate, a packet of chips & ice cream in one sitting only eat one of these things in one sitting and don’t overdo the portions. Treats are ok but not all the time and try to choose healthy options e.g. instead of always reaching for something sweet and super calorie dense every day try to add better options like air popped popcorn etc. Fitness Quests Walking: I like walking but I just don’t do it anymore and I want to make it a part of my everyday life: 3 days a week aim for a minimum of 5 minutes. Before or after work stop further away from the front entrance instead of right in front of it. Yoga: I have been told that exercising in a gentle way will be more beneficial for me and I thought Yoga would be a perfect fit: 1 day a week at the minimum but hopefully more. Done by either printed routine, an app or a class that I can follow/attend. Level Up Your Life Quests Meditation: This would help me so much and is what my body really needs, it would help my body to learn to not to run on stress and hopefully lift my mood: 3 days a week using my Calm app. If I feel like I just don’t have time 1 minute breathing exercise counts. Exercise Physiologist Stretches: If I don’t do these my chronic pain will never stop/get better: 2 days a week at the minimum.

It often seems like we have to fight for everything we get in life, and once we have it, something tries to take it away. Not that that’s always a bad thing, sometimes what we have is less than we deserve, dangerous, perhaps, or maybe something we’re better off leaving behind but have become attached to instead. But it isn’t personal. Chances are there isn’t any kind of something doing any kind of taking. It’s just a thing that happens. We assign meaning to it all by ourselves. I used to believe that everything happened for a reason, that the bad was always a lesson and the good was always a reward. I don’t believe that anymore. There’s a constant rhythm of pushing and pulling, a dance played out across nature conducted by an indifferent universe. Things happen because they happen, because that is the nature of life. It’s up to us what we make of it. It’s up to us what we do with it. I had this challenge all planned out and ready to go, and then the universe pulled. Now I have the threat of homelessness hanging above my head on top of everything else. And maybe this is something that will get resolved tomorrow, maybe my landlady will decide not to sell the flat after all, but until I know one way or the other I have to prepare myself for the worst outcome. But that is not the same as letting fear and anxiety rule my life. Right now it’s a waiting game. At some point I will get an answer and I either get the immense relief and embarrassment that comes with overreacting to something, or I get the information I need to make the appropriate arrangements. After all, even if it does come to the worst, it won’t be a permanent thing. Really, it means carrying on doing the best I can, striving to keep the little trickle of progress going. That was going to be the whole premise of this challenge anyway, but with the focus on the oncoming winter and how that usually leeches both happiness and drive away from me. This latest situation is just the latest pull, but I will keep pushing myself forward regardless. I’m not ready to give up just yet. These aren’t SMART goals, but they are adaptable ones and not too different from the direction I was originally going in. If the worst comes to the worst, I can continue on with the majority of these. If things turn out for the better, I can build on them and take the steps I originally wanted to. Goal One: Food After undeniably massive success with cutting out sugary junk, I’m taking the next step along to improving my diet. Sugar watch - Chocolate almond milk is allowed when I feel the need for the world’s cheapest mocha, plus a weekly non-dairy treat. But only if I feel like it, it’s not an essential, nor is it a reward. Veggies - The current NHS RDA is 5-10 portions of veg a day. I thought that was a lot until I found out that a portion is 80g. Regardless, I will have five portions minimum daily. Goal Two: Movement It turns out that daily walks are not always doable for me, but exercising whilst not leaving the flat is far more agreeable when I’m in a low mood. Therefore I will be capitalising on that (but if I can walk, I will walk). Yoga - I’m keeping the short daily sessions and adding in two extended sessions weekly. Either I’ll follow an NF yoga video or I’ll string together several short sessions to make something longer. No strict guidelines here, just as long as it happens. Mobility - Wrist mobility exercises three times weekly. I have truly awful wrist mobility and it makes so many things more difficult than they need to be, for example I actually cannot do push-ups with my hands flat on the floor, my wrists just do not bend that far yet. Primal movement - Something else to help my sub-par mobility. To begin with I’ll be focusing on two things. First, the simple squat. That’s something I’m going to incorporate at work. Whenever I need to spend time reducing/stocking the lowest shelves, I will settle myself into a squat rather than subject myself to knee pain by kneeling. Second will be the just as simple dead hang. At the end of every day I’ll spend a little time hanging off of my pull-up bar, not until failure, but until near failure. No time limit yet. I'm also not ruling out doing bear crawl/duck walk laps of my flat when I've been sitting still for too long... Goal Three: Recovery I think this could also be called self-defence right now, I’m working on protecting me from myself… Meditation - Continue the daily habit, but also branch out, try new techniques and do more reading on the subject. People - The worse my anxiety and depression get, the more I want to pull back and isolate despite knowing that that only does more damage. I do need to balance this, however, as too much will overwhelm me fast. So I’m going to commit to being more active within the Druids and check in with other people on a weekly basis at the very least. Positivity - A lot of what I have written is heavily flavoured by my current negative mood. I do not want that to become the norm. At all. I want to be able to find the positives, to speak about them, to live them. So I will. I will make an effort to put at least one positive in every update, no matter how small it may seem. And that is that. Fortunately I’ve got the whole of zero week off of work, and I fully intend to spend it calming myself down and allowing myself to relax. All going well, I’ll get the answers I need before the week is up and at the very least that will remove the anxiety caused by waiting and not knowing. For the rest of zero week I will make the effort to check in daily.

Hey everyone! I'm new to the group and am looking for some advice regarding nutrition. Basically I'm 6"4 used to be chunky and now I guess I'm on the edge of skinny fat and struggle to gain muscle. I've been experimenting with diet trying to find some nutrition dense foods and have come across Quark (Kwarg) in our local supermarket and decided to try it out! I've been eating a 250g pot nearly every day as I'd read it's like yogurt, it's fat free and has around 25g of protein per 250g pot which is great! However I just noticed on the packet today it says contains 8 SERVINGS?! Slightly freaked out that I've been eating something WAY over the quantity than I'm supposed to. Felt like maybe I'd been eating a tub of Mayonaise a day now! The nutrional content is as follows: Per 100g Kcal - 249 Fat < 0.5g Mono/polyunsaturated <0.1g Carbs - 4.2g of which sugars - 4.2g Fibre - < 0.5g Protein - 10g Salt - 0.15g Has anyone else been eating this in these quantities? Would love to hear your advice! H