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Sometimes we fail to see the forest for the trees....I was taking to much time looking at trees to see the obvious...huge thanks to @DarK_RaideR to pointing out that a battle log may work better for me in keeping up on here...I had one previously but it was dated and no longer fits...so this one is shiny and new! For those new to my saga, I've been here for over 3 years now (January 2, 2014) I've been a Ranger (and everything that entails) since the big restructure of 2016. I am <95% Paleo in my style of eating, because I have RA and it makes me feel better...I'm slightly addicted to 5k's, and am discovering that weight lifting can be a lot of fun if I take it slowly and don't aggravate my neck injury. I'm an accountant and work for a minor league baseball team in Florida, which is every bit as much fun as it sounds So I have a spreadsheet for tracking purposes (may look very familiar to some, )...if this works for you as well feel free to borrow my sheet (file/save copy into Google Drive I think...) and tweak it to fit your needs My overall, far reaching, want to accomplish this year, goal is to lose 40 lbs...at the very minimum I want to look good nekkid In my opinion, not anyone else! To work towards this goal I'm going to go to the gym 3x a week, or if I'm not able to do that I will do an alternate workout (such as hitting my step goal, bike ride, bodyweight workout...etc) I was aiming for 5x but that was stressing me out because I was not always able to accomplish it due to life/work commitments! I re-worked the routine I worked out with the trainer to come up with to fit into the new goal...I may also add tracking at some point to see where I'm hitting with calories if results are not forthcoming. Sleep is a struggle for me, I rarely get 7 hours a night and this makes a huge difference in my energy, not to mention my pain levels if I don't...I'm going to try and do better with this... The last one is NF related, I am tired of going weeks without checking in on here, so I'm going to make it a point to not only be on here, but post somewhere on here at least 3 times a week to keep myself accountable...I did better with my goals when I was doing that, and I enjoy supporting and encouraging others

"The gunslinger came awake from a confused dream which seemed to consist of a single image" Roland awoke by the ruins of the campfire to find himself ten years older. His black hair had thinned at the temples and gone the gray of cobwebs at the end of autumn. The lines in his face were deeper, his skin rougher. SUMMARY In order to become who I want to be, I need to up my game. The past challenge was a massive failure. Like Roland, I had a dream that lasted too long only to wake up in a strange beach, years later, without a clue of what was going on, and losing part of the skills I´d worked so hard for (thankfully, not lost fingers, only fitness levels). So I'm still far from where I need to go. So, two steps forward, one step back. I lost momentum, gained some weight, but I´m respawning. I can do that, right? I will get to my tower. I´ve decided to penalize myself with a level down, and a stat drop to reflect the lost terrain. GOALS The man in black shuffled the cards with flying, merging rapidity. The deck was huge, the design on the backs of the cards convoluted. "These are tarot cards," the man in black was saying, "a mixture of the standard deck and a selection of my own development Watch closely gunslinger. I’m going to tell your future" The hanged man the man in black said. The darkness had given him back his hood. “Yet here, in conjunction with nothing else, it signifies strength and not death. You, gunslinger, are the Hanged Man, plodding ever onward toward your goal over all the pits of Hades." I will get fit. I will become better. I´ll exercise once more +5 STR if avg 3 workouts per week. The sailor Note the clear brow, the hairless cheeks, the wounded eyes. He drowns, gunslinger, and no one throws out the line. Your diet.†+3 CON if avg meal is paleo friendly. +2 CHA if 2kg lost (or visible change for the better). The lady of shadows “Does she look two-faced to you, gunslinger? She is. A veritable Janus.†She represents the distractions. One side looks at work, the other looks at something to procrastinate. Must avoid one and focus on the important. +2 WIS for focusing more on work Dominion / Ruin "Your choice, gunslinger. Take control of your life, or allow chaos to permeate it." +1 STA for succesfully completing the challenge. LSQ The magician Training of skills. Because. +1 DEX for training of pen spinning skills. +1 WIS for practicing drawing/sketching. MOTIVATION LGN MINIQUESTS none yet.

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.

I started the previous challenge weighing more than I have ever weighed in my life. After a regimen of strict paleo, I ended the previous challenge down 10 pounds. Let's see if I can keep the downward trend going while introducing some new rules to improve sustainability... The Meal Plan should following pretty strict full paleo rules, except: Social: Don't let The Meal Plan interfere with choices about where to eat in social situations. It should never come up in conversation unless someone else initiates it. As a corollary, don't let The Meal Plan interfere with choices about what to eat in social situations. I should be able to find something to eat that perfectly or nearly perfectly conforms to The Meal Plan without making a big deal about it. 80/20ish: Cheat meal or cheat item(s) in a meal is okay once or twice a week in non-consecutive meals. (Should this be non-consecutive days?) With more of a macro lens I could consider just the aspects of the cheat meal that actually cheat. (ie: if you consider a fajita then really only the tortilla is against the rules, but the tortilla accounts for nearly half of the calories!) The occasional dessert should fall in this category. It seems like I have no real problem with ice cream, whereas I probably should avoid glutenous desserts During this past challenge I was only tempted to cheat when I was hungry, so it's likely that by eating the paleo parts of the meal first I will curb most of this desire I was ready to allow up to 1 cup of rice with any meal and not consider it a cheat, but 1 cup is ~200 calories(!), and I don't trust myself yet to know how to limit the rest of the meal around it. Please weigh in on how realistic you think the rules are. I think I will do better with some strict limits, so I will probably have to add corollaries to the 80/20 as I go. Let me know if you have any good ones. Thanks in advance for supporting me this challenge! I've stocked up my Bat Cave with fruits, vegetables, and proteins. Let's do this!

Harriet’s Lifestyle Healing Magic: Quarter of Earth This is part four of a year that I am setting aside to try to heal from chronic exhaustion and demotivation. There are four aspects to lifestyle healing magic: food, stress, movement, and sleep. But I also want to include things in my life that make it meaningful: lifting, painting, writing, spirit work. I keep veering between demanding too much of myself, and too little. I need a schedule, but it needs to be tiny and achievable. I am going to put some things on hold while I get the workouts consistent again. In this Challenge I will organise the first quarter of my day. I will work out, get groceries, then walk in the park for forty minutes. This quarter of the day shall be dedicated to the spirits of earth, in the hopes of receiving strength, resilience, persistence and material health. Transfiguration (movement) Last challenge, non-walking exercise was optional and I didn’t do it. This time it isn’t optional. Ambulatory Ritual I will walk for forty minutes daily after my breakfast or grocery shopping (I shop three times per week). Hypertrophic Chant Alternating with cardio, I will do push, pull and lower body workouts at home with five exercises and five sets each, and one minute rest periods. It should not be exhausting, but rather gently remind my muscles to be strong. Miniature HIIT Spell All previous attempts to do cardio have resulted in non progression and failure. From what is known or hypothesised about CFS, I believe long lasting medium intensity work is out of the question. Unfortunately, everything above walking is medium intensity for me. So I will try very short intervals. Alternating with the strength workouts, I will do five all out ‘sprints’ on the cross trainer of only thirty seconds each, with thirty seconds rest. That is all for now. Potions (food) Lesson One: Do Not Ingest Poison: no sweets, caffeine, or alcohol I had some dried mangoes recently and not only could I not stop eating them, they upset my stomach. Sweets are out, except for fresh whole fruit. I also had two glasses of wine last night (first time in about five months) and I got a headache, disturbed sleep, upset guts, and I was sad when the wine ran out. Instead, I could have just been sad without side effects by not drinking in the first place. Good lesson, I suppose. Ale of Paleolithium I am now eating a slightly higher carb, lower fat paleo diet to see if I can keep the benefit of low anxiety while also treating the reflux and getting some more physical energy. No grains or legumes, and I may cut out dairy too, just to see if it changes anything. I may be pressured by family or questioned about the scientific justification, but no one can actually put grains in my mouth except me. Ketonics Module II My doctor said to keep eating keto, and instead prescribed me a medicine for the reflux. She also said we'll test my blood again in January to make sure the diet isn't killing me. Therefore, I should continue eating keto, not paleo. She didn't want me to give up dairy. I am happy to obey and drink cream. Defence Against the Dark Arts (stress) I stopped meditating last challenge to see if the massive reduction in anxiety was from meditation or diet. It was from diet. Meditation is on hold until I get some other habits sorted. Charms (sleep) Somnolence Ritual I will take melatonin as it is helping, and I will do 20 diaphragmatic breaths in bed because I heard they are both calming and good for reflux.

I was struggling to think of a theme for this challenge - in NF of yesteryear, I loved doing fun, fannish challenges, usually with complex spreadsheets and real-life roleplaying. Last challenge, I picked a theme that felt somewhat interesting, but it didn't really reflect my goals and I didn't feel like I engaged with it aside from the goal post. As I put my goals together this week, hemmed and hawed over theme options, thought about roadblocks from last challenge, I realized... maybe I don't need a "theme." Maybe this month is just about simplifying and streamlining. So that's where we are. This challenge I'm using Habitica to track my info, and a spreadsheet to collect all that data and analyze it. Each goal has the Habitica tracker under the spoiler cut. And yeah, this feels like a lot of set up, but it actually should make it easier to track in the long run! 👟 Exercise The plan is to build on the awesome C25k success I had last challenge and add in even more exercise fun. I'm on Week 5 of C25k currently, and planning to stretch that week out a little since it's a steep change from previous weeks. Ideally I'll be finishing up the program right as this challenge ends. On the strength building side, I'm going to restart the ol' NF Bodyweight Workout, twice a week (thanks for the idea, @MezzotheLefty!) C25k 3x a week = 15 total NF Bodyweight Workout 2x a week = 10 total 🥦 Eat Paleo 4 Days a Week Okay, paleo-ish. I'll probably keep putting half and half in my coffee and using ketchup. So maybe this is more "low-carb" than paleo. But the idea is to eat more or less grain- and sugar- free, to fill my plate with vegetables, and to break out of the carbo-loaded diet I've been eating for the last 3 years. Hopefully some weight loss will come along for the ride. Notice it's only 4 days a week though, because, baby steps here. Even 4 days a week is better than I'm doing now. Paleo 4x a Week = 20 total 🍴 Healthy Food Habits IF 16/8 8 glasses of water a day No binge snacking No sugar before 4pm There's a lot going on here, but this is all stuff I've done before and been successful at, so the idea here is just to keep building these habits and keep up a streak of healthy days. There's nothing too challenge or restrictive, just reminders to not go nuts on the snacking or the sugar and to prioritize drinking water. Everyday = 35 total 🏠 Minimize | Organize | Optimize This is part of my on-going effort to declutter and beautify our house. I have a checklist in my Bullet Journal that's pretty granular - each space should take less than 2 hours. This includes: thoughtful decluttering, donating/selling anything we don't use, making sure this is the right "home" for everything that does stay, clearing space so that new things can come in or be relocated here, zhuzh-ing up the look to make it more beautiful or functional. The plan is to do 2 spaces a week. 2 spaces a week = 10 total Spreadsheet Of Tracking

Greetings In this challenge I will be keeping it pretty simple Running/exercising: follow the training program I worked out in April up to the date of my 10k race, then come up with a new one. Eating: sensible eating at the start of May. Its my birthday soonish and I'll just eat whatever then and afterwards I'll go full paleo, no exception, no excuses, just lose some weight, fatso. Meditation: not really. I have a couple of weeks left on my subscription to the app. I'll be listening to the remaining courses but not planning to make meditation a big part of my life, just probably trying to explore the implications a bit more in my day-to-day. Or something. Dancing: starting out fairly easy: I'll practice some dance for 5 minutes a day - probably the running man just to get used to the leg coordination (I think that's what is going on in this picture 👆 right.... Right?) After the race I will go much harder, aiming to get passably OK at one thing (I am thinking the piu-piu dance) Not kelladactyl level good or anything but not actually shamefully shit. I'll settle for that. I feel good about this goal. I don't know how it'll end up but it'll be fun to try and I am going to throw myself into it. Ad Victoriam!

My Goals... My Goals Never um... Changes I'm a Mighty Mighty Man, I'm Young (ahem) and I'm in my Prime (cough, cough) Keeping it simple this time, sticking to what I need to do and what I've been doing, but doing it better. Not expecting miracles but aiming to get back to the level of fitness I had about 5 years ago, which seems achievable with some effort and consistency. Basically, be able to run fast for a sustained length of time, have some upper body strength, be able to do a bridge, and not feel like my belly is always getting in the fucking way. I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire Week zero is prep: fix my bike, review my morning routine, get the allotment organised, clean up my eating (which took a real nosedive towards the end of the last challenge) And then 1. They Call Me The Wanderer Move ever day, including at least one long run and two other runs per week 2. Hack, Whack, Choppin' That Meat Eat properly: porridge for breakfast and paleo for the rest of the day, no booze 3. Civilization? I'll Stay Right Here Carry on Meditating* This is becoming a habit now - I've only missed 3 days since the start of the year, I think. I'm still undecided about it though. I only really feel like about one session in five is effective. The others are just me sitting there thinking about stuff and not really engaging. I think I need to do more prep beforehand to get things out of my head - you know, make notes, turn the oven on for breakfast, drink something, that kind of stuff. So that I don't have so many distractions. I think I need to make this challenge period a make or break for this one. Either i find a way of making this more reliably useful or I give up on it and use that ten minute slot for things that are going to benefit me more. I still feel like there's something to be got out of it but that maybe it's not something I'm suited to and maybe I'm better off cutting my losses. Hm... *=now there's a Sid James/Kenneth Williams film I'd love to see

It is time to return to a challenge that always seems to fill me with the energy and motivation to stay active. It is an epic one, but it is less about completing all of the things and more about staying present with the essence of each challenge goal. Basic Challenge: Connect With Environment: The Na'vi are deeply connected to the natural world around them and they take care of it. When completing each of these challenges, engage all of your senses and stay mindful of the impact nature has on your body and your spirit. At least 30 total minutes outdoors/day in a natural setting Go barefoot as often as possible and be mindful of how my body reacts; wear minimalist shoes when necessary. Explore an unfamiliar outdoor area, or explore a familiar one as if seeing it for the first time. Swim in wild waters (creeks and rivers) and climb trees Give at least 5 total minutes/day of mindful attention to a life form other than human (pets, wildlife, plants, etc.). Download Joulebug and complete at least one challenge/day. Do a litter cleanup in a natural area at least once/week. Avoid using plastics of any kind (unless impossible). 1 hike or trail run/week Connect With Food: The Na'vi are omnivorous hunter-gatherers with a deep connection to the available provisions that surrounded them, both meat and plant. When completing these challenges, savor each bite, eat mindfully and pay close attention to how this affects your body and spirit. Eat full vegetarian at least one day/week Eat at least 1 vegetable/day Eat fresh meat whenever possible instead of processed/boxed/canned meat at least 3 days/week; this includes fish (BONUS: game meat when possible). Forage at least once/week (dandelion, plantains, wild onion, etc.) Fast intermittently; be mindful of when it is acceptable to not eat and when it is necessary Eat locally at least once/week if possible (Farmer's market?) Connect With Body: The Na'vi need their body to be in top shape in order to survive such a harsh environment. When completing this challenge, use a variety of "wild fitness"/primal/paleo natural movements and be mindful of how this impacts your body and spirit. Deep squat more Drink at least 1/2 gallon of water/day. Practice balancing on a narrow surface 3 days/week Dead hang for at least 30 seconds 3 days/week. "Natural movement" HIIT workout at least 3 days/week; continue to incorporate resistance bands and other home workout equipment (cinderblocks, log, stones, etc.) Barefoot sprint in the field more often Daily breathwork Connect With Tribe: The Na'vi have a deep connection with members of their tribe, especially family but also tribal elders and leaders. For this challenge, be mindful of your relationships and how you strengthen them. Spend time in the afternoon with your daughters ('ite); at least one technology-free playtime/week. Use intimate physical touch with tribal members (for family: hugs, kisses, holding hands, snuggling; handshakes/hugs for friends). At least one uninterrupted/technology free evening with wife (muntxate) Call your mother (sa'nok). Connect With Self: In spite of living in a savage environment, the Na'vi are very self-aware and practice a disciplined self-control and humble appreciation of all life, including their own. Become toruk makto: tame the beast and take control of your temper by pausing and being mindful of your emotions. Seek wisdom: read works written by great tribal leaders and elders who have come before you. Choose your words: be mindful of when to speak and when to be silent; don't waste words, but choose them wisely. Be grateful: keep a log each day of things for which you are grateful. Connect With Eywa (God): The Na'vi believe in and commune with a being greater than themselves. This is the essence of their culture and it drives their actions and lifestyle. While completing these challenges, be mindful of where your heart and spirit rest on these issues. Greet each morning with a grateful smile and a spoken "Thank you." Pray/meditate in silence at least 10 minutes/day. Integrate prayer throughout the day. Treat each person you meet as spiritually connected and as image-bearers of God; treat all lifeforms as God's creation. Practice agape love (unconditional love). Bonus Challenges: Learn Na'vi language. Spend at least one night outside (in a hammock, if possible). Take a long hike deep into the woods (off trail, if possible). Ride a horse. Harvest spring water. Go rock climbing (freestyle).

Hi, I’m Nomadic. I’m new to NerdFitness, decided it’d be good to have a community to work with! Nice to meet you all! About me: The name comes from travelling all over the world. Have been searching for a place to call home, for someone to spend my life with and for some fitness! My recent health story in short: Currently at 238lbs, aiming for 200lbs or lower. At the beginning of June I said, “Right, that’s it. Make a change” and went on a Keto diet. Keto has worked for me in the past (I once lost 20 pounds in 2 months) but for some reason this time it would just not work. So, went to a nutritionist and he said “You need nutrients! You’re starving your body so it’s holding on to fat”. I changed everything on 1st of November: Switched from eggs and avo for breakfast to Superfood Cereal (Oats, chia, sunflower/pumpkin seeds + Oat Milk) Whey Isolate Protein shake for lunch with berries + avo Lean protein (salmon / chicken) for dinner All meals are eaten between 11am and 6pm (intermittent fasting) Twice a week gym routine Three times a week 30 min walk / jog I’ve kept this up for 45 days and... nothing. 0 pounds lost, 0 inches around my stomach. This is crazy! Anyone else seen something like that? I know I’m stronger - weights have gone up a little bit. I know I can run a bit further (now at 2.5 min jog / 1 min walk and increasing), but beginning to lose momentum. How long does one need to stay the course before seeing something! Thanks for reading! Nomadic

It's been a while since I've been consistent and intentional with focusing on my health and fitness goals. There are many reasons for this - shoulder surgery this autumn, the pandemic, feeling guilty that I want to change my body even though I love myself, the list goes on and on and on....but I'm ready. I'm done wishing that I had started taking the steps to reach my goals. I'm done starting over again and again and again. I’m done letting other people’s opinions determine what I do, or don’t do, with my body. So, I’m using the time during this holiday challenge to hone myself for the new year. Challenge Quest #1: Paleo Prep I'm not as bad as I used to be, but still have a lot of room to improve. I am moving to a paleo approach to eating, so the weeks leading up to the first challenge of 2021, I will be cleaning things up to make the transition that much easier. I'm already mostly gluten-free but will be removing all grains, aside from white rice from my diet. I will also be removing added sugars, and mostly removing alcohol - I will be completely cutting out alcohol for the first challenge of the new year. Challenge Quest #2: Cardio I am so slacking here. Big time. I'll be bringing strength training into my routine with the first challenge, but I want to build up my aerobic fitness. I'm terrible about holding my breath when dancing and doing more intense cardio. I'm going to do thirty minutes of cardio everyday. This can be any kind of cardio - low-intensity steady state, HIIT, dancing, yoga, whatever. Just thirty minutes of getting my heart rate up every single day. Challenge Quest #3: Hydration I love drinking water! I really do. But I can be really bad about staying hydrated during the colder months of the year. I have a beautiful 64oz water bottle that I carry around my house with me, I will be aiming to drink two full bottle everyday. Side Quest: Physical Therapy I need to stay consistent with doing my daily PT exercises for my shoulder. I've been slacking a bit, and I can't do that. I have a lot of exercises to choose from, but I need to do at least ten minutes every day. I'm getting started a bit late, but better late than never!

I see a theme emerging in our first few new challenges here. Start small, but start ... This challenge, I'm doing a point system and keeping track by repurposing an old, old online program (Chore Wars) to keep track of my points and determine when I level up and what my character's (old school DnD) class should be. One of my goals this coming year is to rewrite it in Ruby on Rails as an example for my software design and development class. Meanwhile, it works pretty well and has a cute, constantly updating, badge so you can see how I'm doing. It has a static level-up every 200 points system, which is why I've set every task to award very low points. My focus for this challenge is also to rebuild healthy patterns and habits after too many life changes. Success will be determined if I gain 200+ points .... starting yesterday. Physical activity: go to CrossFit class at least 3 times per week Nutrition: cook at home, dammit!!! I'm easing into a mostly-Paleo diet, but the big thing is to cut out refined sugars. Learn: study up on Paleo, especially reading the Nom Nom Paleo books and Michelle Tam's blog. Mental/emotional health: meditate daily Work: get the article finished!! Everything else is a step in the direction of eating better, working out, and not letting other people ruin my equanimity.

I pretty much gave up last challenge and ate So last challenge I did two GORUCKS and then really just sat around and ate. two years a go my pre IRONMAN Texas race weight was 163lbs. Up until a few months a go I have stayed down in the 165's or so. That has recently gone way off the charts though. This morning I was 175lbs. That being said I know a lot of it is sodium but I still have gained close to 10lbs I am guessing. It is not helping that my In Laws are here until Sunday and we are drinking and eating out every night. I can try to use that excuse but last nights burger and brownie sundae were my choice as opposed to a salad. The Delerium Red on draft was excellent though and I have never seen that. So for this challenge I would like to get under 163lbs, yes lose 12lbs in 5 weeks. Keep in mind though I should drop 3-5 quickly due to sodium. I also have two other minor goals, WOD daily, and eat paleo clean(this will be how I lose the weight). Lose 12 lbs WOD daily(includes stretching) Eat Paleo I do have a GORUCK heavy in 3 months so my WODs will be a 3 day rotation. Lift Recovery(swimming usually) Ruck, and possible light WOD That is about it for me. Kicking this off today 6/25.

Hi guys! I am starting my boy scout summer camp in a few days, which is awesome. What isn't awesome is the menu. When we go, we are catered by the camp for all our meals. When buying food for 500+ scouts, the camp tries cutting costs, and the quality of our meals goes down. I am trying to eat a diet free from refined sugars and flour. This diet has worked wonders for my energy and has allowed me to lose 40+ pounds since December. I would hate to derail myself by the sheer amount of sugar in most of our meals. I was wondering if anyone could suggest healthy snacks that would last a week at camp. Also, ideas on what to avoid in camp food (besides the sugar wafers we get for dessert) Would be really appretiated!

As some of you recall, a little more than two years ago (wow, it doesn't seem that long ago) I created a challenge inspired by the James Cameron movie Avatar. This morning, I took my dogs on a barefoot walk in the morning rain and decided it was time to reboot this challenge. I'm going to modify it to include some of my recent goals and exclude goals that are either no longer relevant (can't visit grandfather b/c he passed away) or have become habits and no longer need to be considered "goals" (such as early wakeup). But I am keeping the same theme structure with a strong focus on primal fitness and nature, and of course there will be a lot of Avatar-related greatness and lots of other wild awesomeness to enjoy. If you weren't around the last time I completed this challenge, zola‘u nìprrte’. I am glad you're here. Connect With Environment: The Na'vi are deeply connected to the natural world around them, and they take care of it. When completing each of these challenges, engage all of your senses and stay mindful of the impact nature has on your body and your spirit. At least 30 minutes outdoors/day in a natural setting Go barefoot at least 30 minutes/day; wear minimalist shoes when necessary. Explore an unfamiliar outdoor area, or explore a familiar one as if seeing it for the first time. At least one wild swim/week At least one tree climb/week Give at least 5 minutes/day of your attention to a lifeform other than human (pets, wildlife, plants, etc.). Download Joulebug and complete at least one challenge/day. Do a litter cleanup in a natural area at least once/week. Avoid using plastics of any kind (unless impossible). 1 hike or trail run/week Connect With Food: The Na'vi are omnivorous hunter-gatherers with a deep connection to the available provisions that surrounded them, both meat and plant. When completing these challenges, savor each bite, eat mindfully and pay close attention to how this affects your body and spirit. Eat full vegetarian at least one day/week (Meatless Mondays) Eat at least 1 vegetable/day Eat fresh meat instead of processed/boxed/canned meat at least 3 days/week; this includes fish (BONUS: game meat when possible). Forage at least once/week (dandelion, plantains, onion, etc.) Intermittent fasting Eat locally at least once/week (Farmer's market?) and seasonally when possible Connect With Body: The Na'vi need their body to be in top shape in order to survive such a harsh environment. When completing this challenge, use a variety of "wild fitness"/primal/paleo natural movements and be mindful of how this impacts your body and spirit. Wim Hof Method breathing and cold showers daily Morning movements and stretches daily At least 5 minutes deep squat/day Drink at least 1/2 gallon of water/day. Balance at least 10 yards on a narrow surface 3 days/week Dead hang for at least 30 seconds 3 days/week. Push-up progression daily At least 2 minutes of planking/day at least 3 days/week. Ride the direhorse (bike) at least 3 times/week. Follow the Primal Blueprint Exercise Plan; below is the simplified version: Monday – Sprint Tuesday – Lift Heavy Things/Bodyweight Exercises Wednesday – Move Slowly, Play or Rest Thursday – HIIT/WOW Friday – Move Slowly, Play or Rest Saturday – Lift Heavy Things/Bodyweight Exercises Sunday – Move Slowly, Play or Rest  Connect With Tribe: The Na'vi have a deep connection with members of their tribe, especially family but also tribal elders and leaders. For this challenge, be mindful of your relationships and how you strengthen them. Spend every afternoon with your daughters ('ite); at least one technology-free playtime/week. Use intimate physical touch with tribal members (for family: hugs, kisses, holding hands, snuggling; handshakes/hugs for friends). At least one uninterrupted/technology free evening with wife (muntxate) Call/visit your mother (sa'nok). Continue to help and spend time with your mentor Connect With Self: In spite of living in a savage environment, the Na'vi are very self-aware and practice a disciplined self-control and humble appreciation of all life, including their own. Become toruk makto: tame the beast and take control of your temper by pausing and being mindful of your emotions. Seek wisdom: read works written by great tribal leaders and elders who have come before you. Choose your words: be mindful of when to speak and when to be silent; don't waste words, but choose them wisely. Be grateful: keep a log each day of things for which you are grateful. Connect With Eywa (God): The Na'vi believe in and commune with a being greater than themselves. This is the essence of their culture and it drives their actions and lifestyle. While completing these challenges, be mindful of where your heart and spirit rest on these issues. Greet each morning with a grateful smile and a spoken "Thank you." Pray/meditate in silence at least 10 minutes/day. Read/listen to a devotional/contemplative prayer daily Integrate prayer throughout the day. Treat each person you meet as spiritually connected and as image-bearers of God; treat all lifeforms as God's creation. Practice agape love (unconditional love). Bonus Challenges: Learn Na'vi language. Spend at least one night outside (in a hammock, if possible). Take a long hike deep into the woods (off trail, if possible). Harvest spring water. The Hallelujah Mountains: Go rock climbing (freestyle).

I have been planning on making a battle log for a while now. I have been in and out of the challenges for 3 or 4 years now. I have enjoyed them but I think for now I am done with them. I used to be bigger into lifting and rucking and then shifted into the world of IRONMAN. In 2017/2018 I finished two full IRONMANs struggled through a couple of GORUCK challenges and generally was not too happy with my fitness. This past year(2018) I have kind of been lazy and not focused much on a goal, I did a few sprint triathlons and a GORUCK light. For 2019 my new game plan is to hit the triathlon disciplines pretty hard while maintaining rucking and beginning a new linear lifting progression. In general I want to become stronger, fast, quicker, and improve my flexibility. I want to achieve a WOD daily with stretching. I have always followed a mostly 80/20 healthy eating regiment. I find this is not really good for me, I like to eat healthy during the week and then I would do an 80-100 mile bike ride on Saturday which would be followed by binge eating then usually a night of binge drinking. Sunday would be a "refeed" day. In order to really achieve what I am hoping for I need to follow a 100% healthy eating rule and maybe see it slip into the 99/1 range. I have a large amount of goal distances and weights I am shooting for. I won't post them until I achieve them. Same goes for other(mental)aspects of my year. For now I have a GORUCK light scheduled in two weeks, a tough/light in may, and a heavy in September. Tri's are just some sprints and a tune up half IRONMAN in march. I do want to get my "A" race sometime in the late fall for the half distance. I have no intentions of doing a full this year, that is for sure. I will post some book reviews as I finish them since I have reading goals as well as any other aspects of my hobbies that I feel like(gardening, cars, fishing, etc).

Goals: - Workout 21 days in a row using the Monkii app. - Improve my meals - 100% a game Attempting a return to NF Rebellion with this new year. Last year i went up and down with fitness & eating healthy. Did good until april and then it went downhill. Tried to get some done before the holidays but didnt really succeed. So lets take this first month to get back into a healthier life style. Workout 21 days in a row using the Monkii app: Last month i found the Monkii app which has a nice 21 days habit program which has workouts using their Monkii rings. Don't have those but i have normal rings and looking through it i should be able to use them to workout. So i'm going to follow that starting next week. Improve my meals: I had a so-so decent meal plan, the basics were good. But screwed it up often. So i'm gonna go back to basics and try some new stuff and see how i enjoy it. 100% a game: I have fond memories from previous challenges were i played games to 100% them, i want to start doing that again this year. Gonna look for a easy/fast one to do. Well thats pretty much my challenge plan to start 2019 with. Let's see how i'm gonna do!

Hello fellow nerds, My name is Isaac Brewster and I am thinking about trying the paleo diet. (Or some of it, as I like peanuts and beans). I think the hardest part of it will be transitioning to eating more vegetables. I don't know of any particularly tasty recipes for vegetables. (Hopefully not all vegetable based dishes though) I particularly want a recipe for a spicy sweet potato fry, but any other tasty recipes would be appreciated.

Hi, guys I recently switched to the paleo diet and am having trouble finding meals that are easy and paleo. Any advice?

I was never really happy with how my Thai curries turned out until this one. It's pretty easy, for how good it is, and the fish completely falls apart and just becomes part of the whole experience. Serves at least 2. 6 C vegetables like broccoli, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, zucchini, mushroom, chopped in small pieces (not more than about 3/4"). carrots especially must be thinly sliced to cook quickly enough 2 tilapia filets (from frozen is fine, but they should be thawed before cooking. If they're not thawed ahead of time, a half hour or so in a bowl of cold water should do it) 1 can coconut cream or milk (I get coconut cream from Trader Joe's, I guess it's a little creamier) 2 T green or panang curry paste (Mae Ploy is really good, which you can order online or buy from an Asian food store, it's a big tub and pretty cheap) 1 T fish sauce (you can substitute soy, but it's not really the same) 2 t coconut sugar or other sweetener (optional, but really good) 1/2 C fresh basil (optional, but really good) Put about half the cream or milk into a hot frying pan - the thick half. If your can of milk is separated, scoop out the solid part and use that. Heat on high until the milk starts to bubble and hopefully separate into clear oil and a white part. Stir in the curry paste and fry it for a minute or two. Stir in the rest of the milk, the fish sauce and sweetener. Add the chopped vegetables and the fish. You can leave the fish in un-chopped fillets, just get them close to the bottom of the pan and covered with vegetables. Put a lid on the pan and leave it for five minutes, maybe stirring for once in the middle. After five minutes, the fish should be flaky and fall apart easily when you stir, and the vegetables should be cooked...but feel free to test them and cook a bit more if everything doesn't seem done. Stir in basil at the last minute and serve over a little brown rice, cauliflower rice or whatever.

I've fallen back into old patterns and bad habits, put back on a lot of weight and made myself unhealthy, The Matrix has me again... ...and yet in realization, hope is kindled.. ...so I'm re-igniting my faith in myself and resuming the fight... 100 days to return to the light Goals for 100 days: 1. Count calories and be in deficit at least 5 from 7 days a week. 2. Drink less alcohol (not more than 2 days a week, or if I do within calories) 3. Exercise 3 times a week 4. No refined sugar 5. No bread Sub-goals 1. Save $1000 into my ute fund 2. Earn $1000 extra from ebay or other methods Bonus ball Walk 100km, that's 12km a week. 100 days dates: 20/08/2018 -> 28/11/2018 Starting weight: 93.3kg Rewards: Below 90kg = Buy a new baseball cap Below 85kg = Rent a Ute for the weekend and do the Great North Trail Below 82kg = TBA Below 80kg = From this point on I can buy a Ute, within budget.

Terra: Part 1 - Changes in Attitudes I am going to go back to the basics of life. I have gotten away from the things that I know work best for me and it isn’t a good thing. So lets get back to the building blocks of life and enjoy! I find that in times of change or upheaval I turn my radio to Jimmy Buffet. Jimmy has decades of wisdom in his lyrics and so I will celebrate life and hope to live life to the fullest. That is my warning to you, there will be lots of Jimmy quotes and songs in my challenges over the next several months!!! I found NerdFitness through Mark's Daily Apple blog years ago and now I'm going to return to the basics! https://www.marksdailyapple.com/ I have gotten me a Primal Blueprint 90-day journal. I know I’ll miss days so it should work out perfectly for the next three challenges. I’ve started and will be trying to focus on the the daily worksheets to keep me on track. I have come up with 5 goals after looking back at the last several months as part of my baseline evaluations. Goals: 1- Reduce excess body fat 2 - Declutter my home 3 - Improve endurance 4 - Continue my Brazilian Jui-jitsu practice and the strength/conditioning classes 5 - Find ways to improve my work environment That seems like a lot of stuff but I don’t have to focus on every goal every week. I can focus on one thing at a time if I want. Not to mention goal #4 is just maintenance of my habits that are already part of my life. I’m writing up each goal on the experimental pages of my workbook and I will post to my Instagram account for accountability. I’ve also been in a mode of thinking more, doing less however, getting stuck in my head is keeping me from being accomplished in all areas of my life. I must do more, even if I am not confident or tired I must do something to move towards my goals!!! I am considering treating myself to some pampering (massage or pedi) if I can put my books down and be more productive. My updates might be more sporadic but I hope more content filled and I am going to try to Instagram more so you can see my efforts. Visual proof of my efforts is the goal!

Greetings, Rangers. My name is Wolfen. I usually kick it with the Adventurers, but for this particular challenge I felt I needed some motivation and advice from some Ranger friends. Plus, my goals this challenge seem perfect for this guild. If you want to know more about me, I'm sure @Tanktimus the Encourager can tell you everything you need to know since we've been NF buddies for a while. First, a quick bit of history. If you want to skip this part and go straight to my challenge goals, feel free: So there you have it. My mail goals will reflect the plan discussed above. In addition, I will be participating in Soulcon again, which kicks off September 17th, so there will be a spiritual aspect to this challenge, as well. So I have broken the challenge down into four parts: Body, Mind, Heart, and Spirit. Body: Daily: 0430-0445 wakeup 40 push-ups and 15 burpees barefoot time in the morning and stretches and movements (inspired by Primal body Reboot program by Jonathan Mead) cold shower at least 64oz of water at least 10,000 steps 2230-2300 bedtime Running Schedule: Monday: Distance run (at least 5k) on the trails Tuesday: Cross-training Endurance or Strength workout Wednesday: Tempo run (on road or track) Thursday: Recovery Day: only Mobility/Yoga workout and very light recovery run on the trails Friday: Interval run or hill run Saturday: Distance run (at least 5k) on the trails Sunday: Rest Day Nutrition -- eat whole foods as often as possible, whole grains, healthy carbs and fats, protein, lean meats, and vegetables Mind: WHM Breathing/Meditation in the morning Read at least 20 minutes per day; currently reading Endure by Alex Hutchinson (seems appropriate) listen to at least one podcast per week read at least one article about trail running, running, or endurance athletics take a brain break in the afternoon (20 minute binaural meditation) daily. Heart: listen to music that lifts my soul watch at least one motivational video or movie per week document at least three things I am grateful for daily make eye contact and greet people as I pass them on campus text or call at least one friend daily to see how his day went play with my younger princesses after homework is completed spend evenings with my queen Spirit: prayer and scripture study daily every morning, say a prayer of gratitude for the day read through the Soulcon devotionals post and visit the Soulcon Facebook page listen to or watch at least one sermon per week.

I stumbled through the last challenge in the newbie forum, but circumstances have changed a bit this month - my husband is having potentially serious neurological issues, which means 1) we've been really strict about nutrient-dense paleo food, in case it helps, but 2) I also got distracted and did little working out over the last couple of weeks. My main goal for last challenge was to hit a weight under 160, and I hit...160, which was an anti-climactic two-pound loss (though, I do think some recomposition is happening...I lost at least an inch and a half off my waist over the same period). I'm sick of being disappointed and I guess I'm still hoping to enter the 150s, so I'm keeping that goal for this challenge. I guess I'm also hoping that my rough bodyfat estimates will hit 24% (currently at 25%, so that seems doable). Specific challenge goals: 1. Stick to strict paleo diet, which currently looks something like: big smoothie with frozen berries, spinach and something yogurty, optional chicken sausage, optional coffee big bowl of (previously) frozen veggies, chicken or beef burger with salsa toasted nori, baby carrots and the occasional handful of nuts or raisins for a snack (previously) frozen tuna steak or salmon, salad, kimchi, air-fried potato, fruit juice gelatin thing a dark-chocolate covered honey mint from Trader Joe's (these are amazing if you haven't tried them, and are made of only honey, peppermint oil and unsweetened dark chocolate) Try to enjoy this food, streamline prep time and maybe add a little variety. Buy some organ meats (heart and liver are on my list) and try to integrate them. Continue working on homemade kombucha, sprouts and fermented veggies. Reintroduce eggs in a couple of weeks, and see how that goes. Occasionally try new products and recipes, including desserts with approved ingredients (worked on this a bit last challenge and it was going pretty well, though I guess now we won't be eating chickpea brownies because of the legumes). 2. Get back to working out Resume my previous routine of bodyweight strength training 2-3 times per week, yoga and skill work 2-3 times per week, and sprinting once a week. This schedule bugs me because I'd really like to get in three strength sessions, three yoga sessions, a sprinting session and a rest day without doubling up, but I guess I don't need to pick a fight with calendars right now...maybe I'll make one of my yoga sessions restorative only and call that a rest day. 3. Meditation and related exercises Minimum of fifteen minutes six days a week, though I have some 30-45 minuted guided visualizations (yoga nidra) I'd like to try, so hopefully I'll fit some of those in, too. I would secretly like to get through one or two seven-part yoga nidra series, but I don't think I'm going to make that a formal goal. 4. Rings! I bought some rings. I need to hang them up and figure out what to do with them, probably starting with just supporting myself on them – and I also want to see if I can still do flips, which I may not have tried in twenty years, so I have no idea how close to possible it is. Extra credit: get weed whacker fixed and turn the jungle outside my house into a usable lawn. That would be nice.

Hi rebel friends! Starting my first challenge a bit late, but here goes! I'm a 30 y.o. woman living in the Midwest. I love hiking, camping, road trips, and travel. I live with my husband, who's super supportive and trying to get healthy as well. Our ultimate goal is to travel the world together over the next four decades or so, and the healthier we are, the longer we can enjoy it. On Monday, I'm starting a new job earning over twice what I earned at my old job, and the first thing I want to invest in is food that makes me feel good. I know from past experience that eating paleo(ish) totally eliminates my stomach issues, but I just couldn't afford it. It would be super cool if I could lose the twenty pounds I've gained in the last ten years, but I'd settle for not having a bloated, upset stomach every night. So here's the plan - I'm keeping it as simple as possible: Stop eating grains. They hurt my stomach. Stop eating legumes. They really hurt. Even my beloved peanut butter. Cut the sugar. I'm addicted guys. Other than a bit of fruit and occasional raw honey, it's gotta go. And that's it. I don't really have an exercise goal this time around. Best of luck to everyone in their goals, and thanks in advance for your support!