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Introduction: Hi, my name is Jeremy Boyum. I've already done an introduction here but I will summarize and expand a little. I work at Dell as my profession but have an aspiring career as a touring musician in my band Shadow of Whales and running a music news site Anchor Music news. I have a wife and step son I adore a lot. I didn't have any special doctors visit that brought me here and I am not visibly unhealthy. However, I've never had a healthy eating habit (EVER) and fitness has been seldom at best. (I think my longest running routine was in my sophomore year at high school for like maybe a month?) I am very serious about working my way to being full-time in the music industry and want to live for as long as possible so as to spend as much time with my family as I can before I leave this world. All of the men in my family at some point in their twenties started exponentially gaining weight and I'm afraid of getting to that point. It hit me about a month ago that it was time. It was time to start acting like an adult with my fitness and health and diet, and stop making excuses. To be a touring musician, I'm going to need to be healthy and fit if I want to keep jumping and running around on stage the way I love to. (And if I want to keep myself from injury) I discovered Nerd Fitness late last year and really dug in in the last couple months. I've been reading about the six week challenges here for weeks now and I'm so pumped that I'm finally getting to start my own. As suggested I've started changing habits slowly as I'm prone to being to eager to take everything on at once so I'm taking small steps. Looking to be pretty well rounded with a focus on Strength and Stamina so I'm thinking I will likely end up in the Ranger class, however, the Assassin class looks hella fun and I've always loved the idea of free running. Main Quest: Obtain/Maintain Healthy/Fit Lifestyle with both my diet and fitness Quest 1: Run 10 minutes (outside), 5 days a week. Right now I'm on a ten minute routine that takes me about 1.2 miles around my neighborhood. My goal is to be able to do this without taking any breaks. I normally take one. If I reach that goal I'm assuming it will take me less than ten minutes which is why I put a ten minute goal instead of 1.2 mile goal) I really want to make sure I'm able to be consistent with this before adding on to it too much. Best I've done is 3 days a week but I want to get it consistent Monday-Friday. Measurement: A = 10 min for 30 days, B = 10min, 25 days, C = 10min, 20 days Reward: A = +3 STA, +2 STR, B = +2 STA, +1 STR, C = +1 STA Quest 2: Drink no soda for the whole challenge. My first step was to drink only one cup of coffee a day. Right now I do that with an occasional soda near the end of the day. (between 1-3 times a week) I want to take soda out completely. Next six week challenge will be to eliminate caffeine completely Measurement: A = 0 sodas, B = 1-6 sodas, C = 7-12 sodas Reward: A = +3 CON, B = +2CON, C = +1 CON Quest 3: Ab Circuit workout 3 times a week. This is the goal I'm worried about. Like I said above I don't want to add too much too soon, I really want to make sure I make habits that change for good. My wife gets off work at 6 and I get off at 5. So normally, I do my run right when I get home. This should leave me plenty of time to do a small workout every other day. But I'm worried about being able to be 100% consistent with it. They don't call it a challenge for no reason though. Workout is: 30 leg lifts 30 knee lifts 30 knee lifts + crunches 15 bicycle kicks 15 v-sit ups 30 second plank Probably not the hardest workout in the world but I've done it twice now and I am wiped by the end... Beginners Body Weight Workout 3 times a week. I changed this due to suggestions below. I'm liking it better... I think haha. I like that is more well rounded than the ab circuit I started with. 20 body weight squats 15 push ups 20 walking lunges 10 dumbbell rows 30 second plank 30 Jumping Jacks Measurement: A = 18 workouts; B = 15-17 workouts C = 14 or below Reward: A = +3 STR, +2 STA, B = +2 STR, +1 STA, C = +1STR Life Quest: Finish a book on marketing in the music industry or financial planning within the six weeks. (I suck at sticking to reading unless it's online articles or comic books so this one will also be a challenge) Measurement: Pass or Fail Reward: PASS = +2 WIS, FAIL = Nothing Motivation: I kind of already said. But I want to be in best shape so I can be better ready for my aspring career but also to ensure I live a long life. I know this change will be good for me and I think I'm really ready to do it. I know the challenges seem small and honestly I feel like I'm not doing enough but I know it's a challenge for me to stay committed and consistent, what I'm aiming to change is my habits and I will SLOWLY add on to this as I master each habit change. I want these changes to be permanent.