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Quick intro! I'm karinajean, 38, live in NY state, commute to NJ about an hour each way (so lots of time in the car). I joined the NFA in October 2013 and over the last 2 years I've gone from 206 to around 180. I practice tae kwon do several times a week, take weapons and boxing classes in addition, and have an overarching fitness goal of doing good form push- and pull-ups. I have a crazy mean (yet super sweet) cat and live with my husband full time and my stepdudes 1/2 time. I motorcycle, knit and spin, and am endlessly ignoring how messy the house is. I'm an ASSASSIN because I like doing all the things, and because I want to be able to do push-ups and pull-ups -- these seem like very efficient movements that will exercise my upper body and core, and if I can do those and run and do martial arts (NINJA) I will feel totally strong and fit and capable. The MERMAID comes in because I saw it in a dream when I was a very young child and I believe it. And! it's my 39th birthday on April 15! challenge backstory! I've been here at NF for just about 2 years (nerdiversary on april 14th!) and lately I've been working on my SHOWING UP. I'm trying to believe that my baseline level of activity is actually worthy of being considered ACTIVITY (can you believe I have imposter syndrome around this?) and that I just need to show up and keep on keepin' on to stay healthy, happy, and fit. Goals! Goal 1: keep eating and tracking I still don't have hazard-quality information about how my body uses food. Honestly, I may NEVER have hazard-quality information about how my body uses food... but I want to grow the karinajean database of information. but! I need to add to this. progress status photos and measurements on a weekly basis, please. Goal 2: keep using my calendar tracking system and keep doing the things and telling you about them. I like this calendar tracking plan. it works for me pretty nicely. Goal 3: Show up and have fun! it's spring, y'all! I need to just show up and have fun! like, here, in my back yard, at my birthday party, on the weekends, in the library with a candlestick (oh wait).... Larger items to pay attention to: * having a birthday party with hula hoop instructor on APRIL 16. * 4th degree black belt test still tentatively scheduled for MAY * currently training for a 10K to be run on MAY 15 * it's spring and my yard is a mess and I need to BUY AND PLANT SOME BIG TREES * I need to get my attic dry-walled. it's a big deal and is going to be a huge pain (because there's currently things in it) but it is TIME. you know what will be fun? when this is OVER. * oh, and my motorcycle! we got the tarp off of them last night (thanks strong winds) and I need to FIX THE THROTTLE CABLE and RIDE IT EVERYWHERE.

Bekah's 2nd Nerdiversary/Birthday Challenge!!!!! I can't believe I have been here 2 years already! I look back and am just amazed at how much my life has changed since then. I have gained confidence and strength and lived through experiences I was pretty certain would be the end of me...and I made it out okay...better even! I tend to look down on myself because I am not at the weight I want to be, or not doing the things I need to for my physical body to be at it's best with diet and exercise, but that negates all the good that I have accomplished since I came here. Yes I lost and gained 40 lbs, but I also had major surgery and was in bed for 3 months. Does that make me a failure? Depends on who's asking I guess...but I don't think so. The biggest lesson that I have learned since I came here is that it's not about my outside, but about my inside...and if all my Nerds are to be believed, my inside is pretty freaking fantastic...and that alone means that I am not a failure. THANK YOU ALL!!! It is because of you, that I can eat brownies today and not fat shame myself for it, and because of you that I know I am capable of loving and being loved and because of you, I can look at my outside and know that my inside is still awesome no matter what the scale or the mirror says. I have realized that I have some very serious hormonal imbalances that end up looking very bipolar-esque, and that I can come here, and you all talk me through it and I realize it will be okay, and doesn't mean anything more than my body is not happy at that moment. Because of you, I don't want to die, I want to live and be happy and healthy and because of you, I am inspired everyday to not make excuses and push myself and be kind to myself and take breaks when I need them and be okay with needing things and wanting things and that NONE of that, means I have failed. Next post: Challenge Goals

At this time, one year ago, I was lurking... Reading Steve's "rules"....and deciding whether or not I could give up all of the excuses that I have used all of my life... I was just starting my first full time teaching job, and realized that I couldn't devote every waking hour to my job...because I was stressed and unhealthy... I needed to make changes to help myself, so that I could better help my students... During this challenge, I will celebrate the decisions and choices that changed my life.... Decision one: The first thing I did after joining Nerd Fitness: I will become a better Accountabilibuddy. My first accountabilibuddy needed more than I could give him... He needed medical help for his PTSD and TBI, but he gave me the big goal to work for, even after his death. It is hard to find that strong of inspiration again, but I feel it should start by supporting others... Decision Two: The second thing I did after joining Nerd Fitness: I will love and take care of myself. It was my first goal... And honestly? Super successful. I'm still working on feeling self conscious sometimes... But when it comes to my body, I'm almost narcissistic with how happy I am about the changes that I have gone through over this last year... I still have a long way to go, but taking care of myself is the most important. I think I will take care of myself this time through meditating when I get home from work... It will help me unwind and let go of the stress of the day... I'm hoping 5x a week, but realistically? Probably 2-3...and I'm okay with that. Decision Three: The third thing I did after joining Nerd Fitness: I will go to the gym, 3x a week for workouts, 1x a week for sports massage. When I set foot in NF's chat room I met some great people... The first person that I met in person was clawed_bear.... I was looking for a personal trainer, and took his advice: I joined Local's Gym: Lynnwood Crossfit. Meeting Jesse changed my life as much as TexasToast did... I've NEVER enjoyed working out. Ever. I never felt confident enough to lift weights, or do anything athletic in front of others. Jesse made all of this possible. It's hard to believe that a year ago I was just trying to SOMETHING in the gym where people could see me (not to mention wearing big baggy clothes to hide anything that would have to move or jiggle when I worked out)... Now I'm in CrossFit classes, sometimes twice a week...wearing yoga pants and tank tops and having a great time! I am squatting 52% of my bodyweight, which is, as of yesterday morning, 13 pounds lighter than a year ago...and have started shopping outside of women's sizes... I have shoulder and arm muscles! I've never had those before. And finally, Decision Four: The fourth thing I did after joining Nerd Fitness: I will cook at home 3-4+ days a week. Over the last year I have quit my addiction to sugar, and concentrated on an almost paleo diet... I have become mildly lactose intolerant... And have also stopped thinking in terms of calories, and started think more along the lines of protein, and what ingredients are in my food. Very little to no more sodas, especially diet... Food may not always be gluten free all the time, but at least I can pronounce the ingredients. So there you have it... My 1 Year Nerdiversary challenge... Maybe I will add pictures and measurement data etc. later... Not sure how often I will check in and post, but we'll see. Sent from Tapatalk, all errors are the app's fault! ;-)

Here is the Nerdiversary Party plan All party food will be Yummy and make me happy when I eat it (ie. No gluten or dairy, limit sugar to ONE treat per week, except pre shark week, I get 3, and REALLY try to limit allergens)There will be lots of bendiness (back to 3x/week yoga)Will try new and exciting things with new (and old) friends (participate in all Biggest Loser 2.0 mini challenges)Preferably, all gifts will be Fiction books (I will read nothing but Fiction books for the entire challenge)There will be juggling (I got myself into a juggling PvP! O.o)No grades, no pass/fail, just going to enjoy the next six weeks the best I can, and do the things I love and that make me happy and feel good. My birthday falls on the Wednesday before the challenge ends, so it's a double dose of party!! "If it ain't fun, I ain't doin' it"