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I am cutting out the flashy bells and whistles and just going at this challenge. It will be harder, since I am out of the country for 8 days of it, but I want to do this. MAIN QUEST: Reset myself so I don't burn out and can make a real life change in 2014. Goal 1: Go to yoga at least once a week. I don’t even care where. Go to Alison’s class. Go to the gym. Go to Tula in Saint Paul. Just… find a class and try it out. Goal 2: Stick to the new meal plan. This sadly means no beer Monday – Thursday. Try to make breakfast, lunch and dinner 400 calories each and make sure you sneak a 100-150 calorie snack in twice a day. Five smaller meals total. FILL IT WILL GOOD THINGS. Yogurt, veggies, fruits... nothing processed. Goal 3: Clean and rearrange the kitchen and the craft room. Two rooms, six weeks, you got this. Life Quest: Make something from scratch each week. Almond butter, yogurt, a craft project… Create. Fitness Side Quest: Start the Couch to 10k in preparation for 2014’s running season. Go slow. Take it easy. No pressure. Try for twice a week, but listen to the ankle. It will say when to stop. Grading: Did I go to a yoga class? 1 point (6 available, plus extra credit) Did I use c210k? 1 point (12 available) Did I make progress in the kitchen/craft room? 1 point (5 per week, 30 available) Did I make something new? 1 point (6 available) Total points: 54 available Points earned:

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES... Installment three. MAIN GOAL. Lower bodyfat percentage. ADDITIONAL GOALS FOR THIS CHALLENGE. Stick to personal trainers 21 day Paleo meal plan. Blog about it. LIVE IT. Work out 6 days a week in some fashion for at least 30 minutes. Drop the self-depreciation. Seriously. LIFE QUEST. One craft project a week with my children. One main craft project for myself for the duration of the challenge. MOTIVATION. This weird and oddly humbling feeling that I discovered whereby it's okay to live in the moment and not sweat the small stuff. It's given me so much more momentum than I thought it would. BEFORE STATS.

I am starting a battle log because I want 2014 to be a year where things change. I want to be able to journal through times I just can't get myself out the door and celebrate the successes I plan to make. I want a place to track what I am doing right, wrong, and in between. I will post new progress photos each month on the last day of the month. Here are my starting photos: Entries will start on January 1st. January Start: Waist 33.5 Hips 42.5 Thighs 24 Arms 12.75 Weight: 171 February Start: Waist 32.5 Hips 41 Thighs 24 Arms 12.5 Weight: 169 July End: Waist 30.5 Hips 36 Thighs 22.5 Arms 12 Weight: 153

hey everyone. my name is Aiden and i am 28, from minnesota. i am a female to male transgender male who is in the process of changing things in my life. i quit smoking back in july and that has made a huge difference for me but lately i have been gaining weight a lot due to my weird over eating habits. i am in the process of eating better but once i started reading the things written on the site about the diet and ways grains effect your body i realized that i eat an obscene amount of grains and sugars and that is going to be my hardest issue. i also used to be a vegetarian but i love chicken and ham so it was really hard to stick to that. after reading further into the dieting part of the plan i realized this is exactly what i need. one thing that i am going to try my hardest at is working out at home. i work out better in a gym but right now we can not afford a gym membership since we only have one gym in our town and they are quite pricy. i am open to talking to everyone about everything. i am going to need all kinds of support in here with the dieting and working out so i am always open for any workout/ dieting buddies who are willing to harass me through facebook or texting once we get to know each other better. i know i am lazy and have been putting things off for most of my life but i need things to change and it is time. look forward to seeing the changes!

Jitters is an amazing idea man and has decided to plant the idea of a Nerd Fitness Minnesota 5k next spring/summer. Me, being the over organized bitty that I am, decided to get an organization and idea thread going! So here it is. The basic idea is run a 5k, grill and hang out after… and of course, post-race beer. Suggestions? Dates? Places? This totally unofficial 5k will be totally officially fun.

Some of you know I am in a battle with myself right now. I thought the theme with Fight Club for this challenge was perfect. My favorite author, one of my favorite movies, and some really hard-ass looking at myself… THIS is my motivation. I am in my own personal fight club to keep myself accountable, finally make progress, and quit hating myself for everything I am not. I hope this challenge marks a turning point for me. I hope this is the beginning of the end. I am adding positive and negative points in this challenge – something new. The threat of losing points has motivated me in the past… so hopefully this continues to help. Main Goal: Lose 5 pounds. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but it will be the most I have lost in months. I’ve been maintaining throughout the last three challenges, hovering at 162-165. The first step to losing 20lbs is losing the first five. Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken. Goal 1: Talk the talk, walk the walk. Get back to meal planning and clean eating. You can do this. You did this during the summer and it went great. Find hearty clean soups. Low calorie, filling root veggie dishes. Eat what will fill your soul and nourish your body. No more McDonald’s or Burger King because you’re stressed and you need comfort. You will feel better when you eat better. 1 point per planned meal. -1 point for quick options like eating out or vending machine snacks. (126 max points) Recycling and speed-limits are bullshit. They're like someone who quits smoking on his deathbed. Goal 2: Get healthy now. Run. Train. Lift. Do. Make the gym a priority. Three times a week. No excuses. If you are not at the gym three times a week, remember you are paying MORE for your membership. Leave work on time. Go to the gym. Scan that card three times, and no less. 1 point per gym visit. 1 extra point for extra visits. -1 point for each day of the required 3 missed per week. (18 max points, plus extra credit) Generations have been working in jobs they hate, just so they can buy shit they don't really need. Life Quest: Get that damned credit card under control and start moving on. Manage your money better. Make four small payments throughout the month, rather than one big one with each paycheck… and then being broke until the next paycheck, forcing you to use your card again. Quit buying things you think you need. Manage compulsion. Manage impulse. Think about the purchases being made. 1 point per payment. -1 point per use of card. (12 max points) If you don't know what you want, you end up with a lot you don't. Side Quest: Meditate. Journal positivity. Send out the energy you wish to receive back from the world. Knock off the woe-is-me, I can’t do this bullshit. Yes, you can. Yes, you will. Believe it and then be it. Vanquishing the negativity is a MUST. There is no room for it in your life anymore. 1 point per meditation. 3 points available per week. (18 max points) I am Jack's smirking revenge. Goal 3: Track in My Fitness Pal every day. Every day. EVERY DAY. Enough said. 1 point per day tracked. -1 point per day not tracked. (42 max points) 216 Points Total for Challenge 36 Point Per Week A – 27-36 B –21-26 C – 14-20 D – 8-14 F – 0-7 Week One :: 33/A Week Two :: / Week Three :: / Week Four :: / Week Five :: / Week Six :: / Total Points :: / Final Grade :: And remember the first rule of Fight Club:

Main Quest: Mom! Mommy! Someone Maternal! [sTR]4 Complete the Monster Dash is under 48 Minutes. Last year, lack of training and general laziness made this race murder. It is my last 5k of the year, and I want to go out with a bang, proving to myself I have made progress in the last year. I am not going to be able to do this without some serious training. The Monster Dash is October 26, just in time for challenge end! Goal One :: You Look Horribly Familiar [sTA]2 This is a goal that has been consistent in all of my challenge. Each time, there is a slight twist. This go around, I am going to challenge myself not only just to run three times a week, but to log 6 miles total per week. I have often ran one mile and counted it, when my normal runs are 2-3 miles in length. I call that taking the easy route. Not any more -- I will be accountable for 6 miles each week. How I split that up over my three runs will be up to me. Goal Two :: I’m Just Naturally Like This [sTR]2 This goal is two fold. I will make it to the gym three times a week. It doesn't matter what I do while I am there, so long as I go. It can be a session with my trainer, my yoga class, or a run. I need to make the habit and make it stick, especially with winter just around the corner. The second fold is to go three times a week, because this gets me a refund at work for my membership, dropping it from $30 to $10 a month. While I continue to struggle with finances, a few bucks here and there will go a long way. Goal Three :: You’re Digging Your Spork into Your Leg! [CON]2 [CHA]2 Through meal tracking I have determined (thanks to these challenges!) that I can ruin my entire day with dessert. I bake. I love to bake and I am a slave to my sweet tooth. The goal to address here will be to control how often I allow myself dessert. I will be allowed two dessert opportunities a week. The best scenario would be to avoid them both, but to have more than two will actually count negatively against my weekly point totals. I am hoping this will train me to realize I do not always need to have dessert. Dessert should be a rare treat. Life Side Quest: We Do The Weird Stuff [WIS]3 In an effort to help me become more self-aware and more attuned with myself, I need to get back to journaling and meditation. I have only meditated for a short period of my life, but the results were wonderful. I am hoping to get back there again. I will push myself to meditate or write in a journal twice each week. Motivation:The Status is NOT Quo I am trying to build a status quo. I make excuses to not go to the gym. To not work out. To not eat well. I need to stop this dead in it's track and build health back into my life. It's as simple as that. My motivation is to not need to be motivated anymore. This needs to be a life change. Not just a stopgap. Grading: Each run will equal 10 points for a total of 180 available points Each day with journaling or meditation equals 10 points for a total of 120 points Each gym visit will equal 10 points for a total of 180 available points Achieving 6 miles per week will be 5 points for a total of 30 points Each dessert over the weekly limit will equal -10 points 510 Points Total Available 85 Points Per Week Available A: 61-85 points B: 51-60 points C: 41-50 points D: 31-40 points F: 0-30 points Starting Measurements: Weight - 162lbs Arms - 12in Hips - 38in Thighs - 23in Waist - 31.5in Results: Week 1: 85/85pts - A Week 2: 40/85pts - C Week 3: 20/85pts - F Week 4: 20/85pts - F Week 5: /pts Week 6: /pts Ending Measurements: Weight - Arms - Hips - Thighs - Waist - 24.31%24.31% Total Miles out of 36 22.22%'; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">22.22% Total Runs out of 18 33.33%'; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0 0, 100% 100%, color-stop(.25, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.25, transparent), color-stop(.5, transparent), color-stop(.5, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2)), color-stop(.75, transparent), to(transparent) ); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -moz-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -ms-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); background-image: -o-linear-gradient( -45deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 50%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent ); -webkit-background-size: 23px 23px; -moz-background-size: 23px 23px; background-size: 23px 23px; border-radius: 4px;">33.33% Total Gym Visits out of 18 41.66%41.66% Total Desserts Eaten out of 12 33.33%33.33% Total Reflections out of 12 Here we go!

Just curious! Any Twin Cities nerds out there?

I've never been a great goal setter. I dream big, but my plans seldom come to fruition. I like the goal setting aspect of this site and have found myself keeping a notebook handy to write down all the goals I'm coming up with. Looking forward to June 3 to start the next challenge! I drank the Crossfit Kool-Aid back in January, and an Epic Quest of mine is to join a Crossfit gym. I am especially motivated by the social aspect of Crossfit. My charisma score is lower than I'd like. I'm an extravert whose friends have all been having children. No time for gaming or social events outside of "let's watch the kids." Which is fun, but... My wife and I have spend most of our social time with empty-nesters (like her parents). Which is fun, but... I was an avid video gamer; although, I've never had great stick-to-it-ness when it comes to gaming. The only game I think I've passed without cheats is Metroid...on the original NES. Anyway, looking forward to seeing if this community sticks. I love to talk comics, movies, games, etc. Excelsior!