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Hi, I've Dave. It's been a while since I've done a challenge. With the stress of changing jobs four times last year, eating right and working out consistently has fallen by the wayside. Quest for Consistency My goals for this challenge: Lose at least 1 lb per week every week. Get more of my calories from natural foods. (I'll share some healthy recipes during the challenge.) Body weight strength training 3x per week. I've developed by own program with two sets of Pushups, Squats, Pullups, and Revolving Planks. Cardio training every day (stationary bike, playing on the Wii, walking, shoveling snow, swimming, etc.) Work on getting 8 hours of sleep every night (I presently average around 6-7). I'm a veteran of the Rebellion. I know what to do. I just need to do it.

Yay, new DBL for Evicious! So the Army is now sending me back to Korea for a year. I had been notified that I would be deploying to AFG to take the place of a piece of shit warrant officer who should never have deployed in the first place another member of my unit who was returned for no fucking reason other than the fact that he's a piece of shit minor medical reasons. I was all spun up, packed up, and ready to go, only to end up waiting on orders for the next few weeks that never came. I learned later that was because orders had already been cut to send me back to Korea before the unit tried pulling me to AFG. I'd honestly rather have gone to AFG, too. My first duty station was in Korea, and while I adored the food (KIMCHI!!!!!!!!) and my unit there was... alright... I was really hoping to spend any other time overseas in different locations, rather than revisiting places I'd already been. Also, I can't take my fiance' with me and the timing is seriously screwing up my wedding plans. Obviously I'll make the most of it though. I'm definitely looking forward to the food (KIMCHI!!!!!!!) and I'm making it a goal to spend at least one day every weekend hiking one (of Korea's numerous) mountain trails that will be available to me. Depending on what position I end up filling in the unit, I may also attempt to complete some basic college courses while I'm there (much like I had anticipated doing when I found out I wasn't on the initial deployment roster here in LA). Who knows? I anticipate many open evenings and weekends, since I won't have my man there to keep me busy, and I want/need to stay busy and productive. A lot of what I am and am not able to do will depend on where on the peninsula I end up being stationed. Hopefully, I won't have to fight for every little thing and I can just roll through the year until it's time for me to come home. So that being said, here is what I will be using this DBL for: Tracking my weight Tracking my workouts Tracking my progress in other goals Random babblings

Hi. I've decided, after a lifetime of being way to skinny, to really make some solid changes to my diet and training. I'm just going to assume that i've always been eating to little due to my little to zero gains, cause i'm pretty tall/skinny. 187cm-ca 63kg. I've read a lot on nerdfitness, and lurked around the forums for a bit, and generally tried to edjucate myself. I have aquired myself a blender, and i've started to use that pretty regularly , but i honestly "can't" get enough calories in my diet atm. It's like 10 times harder for me to change my diet than exercising more. Trying to get used to just eating more, all the time. And healthy of course. I'm aware that i might (read have) to start tracking my calorie intake for a while so i get a general idea of how much more i need to eat, but for now: Is there some genius things i could do to amp up my calorie intake? Smoothie recipies, food recipies, i've got no idea really. Best regards. Norwegian Newb.

Hello, Monks! Since day 1 of my Nerd Fitness life, I've wanted nothing more than to join the ranks of the Monks, and I have finally arrived! I couldn't be more excited! So, for my last challenge with the Druids, I just got overwhelmed; I bit off more than I could chew, but I think situating into such a new life made any sort of extra challenge impossible! I ended up taking an internet hiatus, but now I’m back, and I want to be better than ever! The big hope is that I'll be able to enroll in the Nerd Fitness Academy and make that my main fitness priority! However, if I'm not able to sign up, I have a training plan that I'm excited to get going on. I have one big thing that I feel like is getting in my way: I want to be too much. Master Quest: Choose my Path There are TOO many things I want to be. I want to be the best at everything, and I feel like a little pat of butter spread over too much bread! So my theme for this challenge is self-discovery; I want to choose a healthy routine that works for me, gives me pleasure and allows me to go and live the rest of my life! So there’s going to be a lot of healthy habit-building, and routine constructing! Goal 1- Choose my Monastic Path I know that I want to pursue martial arts again; I miss the dedication, the forms, the testing... The knowledge that I'm working my way up, and training towards a level of mastery. But I don't want to just choose the first practice I come across; I did that when I was a kid (with Judo), and it actually worked... But this time I want to be a little more discerning! My goal is to try a number of different classes, before deciding on one to go with. Task: Try at least three different martial arts disciplines, and decide on one to practice! Goal 2- Monk Conditioning Choosing a new practice is a noble goal and all, and not a decision to be rushed... But, trying a new class every so often is not an efficient way to keep fit and active. So, I'll be doing some strength and conditioning exercises to ease myself back into exercise habits, and get my body back up to speed! Task: Do strength and conditioning exercises for 15+ minutes, 3x per week Goal 3- Solo Chef School I want to become an awesome chef, and cultivate recipes that are delicious and healthy! I'm a pretty good cook, but I keep getting stuck in healthy and nourishing, but boring ruts. I'd like to experiment with different culinary styles, and continue with making tasty plant dishes! So, this goal seems small, but its important to who I want to become, and its in two parts- Task: Make a new, involved recipe every week, AND properly document it for others (photos, recipe, method) Life Challenge- Use my Voice! Something I really want to do is speak and be heard- whether I'm spouting off my own ideas, or promoting someone else's. I always keep quiet, because I feel like I have nothing interesting to share. But, I want that to change! Even if I feel like I have nothing to contribute, I'm gonna fake it ‘till I make it! If I just start speaking, I hope it’ll become less stressful for me. I’m hoping to find my voice along the way, and I’m starting with good ol’ social media. Task: Tweet at least 3x per day (RTs and convos count!) So, please follow me here if you would please; keep me accountable! Plus, I might say something silly, and you don’t want to miss that! Diet Challenge- Se ralentir! (“Slow down!â€) I am very inspired by the way the French seem to eat; three meals a day, and they eat mindfully; not on the go, not in the car, not at a desk. I am guilty of all of these, and I want to kick the habit (especially of eating at my work station!) So, my mini quest is to eat more mindfully; slow down and enjoy every meal! Task: Eat with purpose; don’t eat on the go, in the car, or at my desk. I heard that July was a rough one for some, including myself! But I want to kick this challenge’s ass this time around, let’s make it happen!

The Stealthy Ninja Bastards accountabilibuddy group has shared a bunch of terrific recipes, some Paleo, some not quite. This thread gives our group a central location to save recipes.

Hey guys, I thought it might be nice to have a recipe thread IN the Level 1 Rebel board, since I'm assuming a lot of first time challengers would benefit from some healthy eating ideas! So, I have been trying a lot of Paleo/Whole30 recipes lately, and one that I LOVE is Bacon-Wrapped Dates. I have started trying new things and I had never had a date before a week ago! These are amazing!!! http://oursavorylife.com/a-delicious-paleo-snack-recipe-bacon-wrapped-dates/ What is YOUR favorite easy, healthy recipe?

Has anyone here tried any kind of cleanse? I was really into my strength training workouts for about 5 or 6 months but then fell off the wagon due to a lot of travel, crazy heat waves with no air conditioning, moving to a new apartment, etc. Now I feel physically gross and I'm starting to notice my pants feeling tight. I need to get on the path to healthy again, but I'd love to start by cleaning up my diet and getting rid of all the toxins, hopefully making my body feel a bit less gross right off the bat. I've never tried a cleanse before though and I'm wondering if anyone here has any recommendations for a cleanse that will be (1) healthy, (2) relatively easy to prepare, and (3) make me feel awesome so I can start my strength training and cardio again?

Main Quest: To lose weight (7 lbs for now), and fit loosely in my size 10 shorts. Long term I want to get down to a size 8 and look lean / fit (so I won't really care about the weight at that point, but it's a decent measurement to take for progress). 3 Goals: - Track activity and food on Myfitnesspal.com (daily) - Do HIIT for cardio 2x week - Add 2 new paleo recipes to my "staples" Life quest: Take a photography or art class. I've been meaning to do this on my time off, but never get around to it. This kind of stuff relaxes me, and I tend to have a stressful job, so definitely would be a good healthy passtime. Motivation: I've been working on being healthy for a while now - started at 218 lbs and now down to 173 (78.5 kilos). It's been tough, slow process that has taken about 5 years, so far, and I know will be a lifelong thing. BUT...I am engaged, and we will be taking pictures in October...so yeah, definitely want to look fabulous for those pictures, but I'm not about to starve myself. This is going to be done the right, healthy way! oh, btw, did I mention I pretty much fly around the world for work every month? until next time.......

Hi Updated/Changed/Finalized June 5 Goal #1 Whole30/Paleo Lifestyle - 3CON I want to make 80/20 my life! Due to the fact that I put milk and sugar in my coffee and resort to protein shakes (made with water) that leaves me with 1 "no worries" meal per week. Goal #2 Running - 3 STA I am going to try to do the couch to 5k program. Starting with week 3. My crossfit schedule has been changed, leaving me with Thurs evenings free for working on my running. I am awarding myself .5 points for each week I go out and do the C25K program. I would like it to be Thurs, but can make it up on the weekend if needed. Goal #3 Pushups - 4 STR 10 girl crossfit pushups - pass or fail Goal #4 Savings - 3WIS, 2CHA This was supposed to be a sub goal, but due to the fact I just learned I need to replace my roof this summer, this has become a major goal. I don't know the exact funds needed yet, but the previous quote I received was $1400. I need to save this much money ASAP. Thank God that my brother and dad will be doing the labour for free, so I only need materials. This will be attacked two fold 1. I will (try to) make a change each week saving me money for the long term. I say try because I live pretty frugally as it is and not sure if there are 6 major changes I can make to save money long term. (I have some ideas though). 2. Spend time each week looking for either a new career postition that pays more or a part time position. Subchallenge 1. Drink 1/2 my body weight in water each day. This is a challenge presented to me by the ladies I work with. They are doing it, but not tracking in any way. I exceed this most days, without thinking about it, so I said I would join them. Basically I will push them!! That is the goal I give myself.

The wonderful life of being healthy, it's a far fetched and almost unrealistic goal for many of this earths inhabitants. The inspiration felt as you lie in your bed at night, saying over and over that tomorrow will be the day when you wake up and make a change. You research weight loss on google, trying to no avail to discover a secret, an easy way out. But when you see the horror stories that come with the supplements and pills, you finally realize that the one way you will look good in that now to small bathing-suit is pure fitness. Maybe you make the one mistake we all do our first time, you just try to change the exercise. You make a detailed plan, one which has you exercising at the gym or at home for an hour every other day, but after a week as you expect to see a perfect person in the mirror, the inspiration rushes away and with it takes a piece of your expectation. You start looking at other people, comparing them to yourself, thinking maybe you don't look that bad, maybe you're body is fine. You delude yourself. Then in a month or two as you watch your slim friends splash at the pool while you stand there in a white t-shirt and boy shorts, that wave hits again. I want to be skinny. I want to be skinny. You repeat. I want to be skinny. But that's not the way to start out. Maybe you spend years of this routine, failing each time. You lose one pound and it's like heaven on earth until the next week you're up by two. Or maybe you do what I did. You wake up one morning and you say to yourself enough is enough. You're sick of the cycle. You're sick of hating the way you look. You set your alarm for the next day to 6:00. You wake up and jog through your neighborhood. You throw away all the cereal and candy and sweet things in your house and replace it with fruits and vegetables and meats. You watch what you eat, you mark the calories and fat and carbs and you stay true to your limit. You get rid of that scale in your house. The only time you ever look at your weight is when you go to the doctors. You drink 8-10 glasses of water and you exercise along with it. They say 80% of weight loss is diet. I say 100% of weight loss is willpower. You can change your life. I had never before eaten as well in a month as I did that first day I woke up and cut the crap. I lost 5 pounds in 8 days. And I honestly don't care. As long as I am doing my best to make my life a healthier and better one then I am happy as a clam. I hope this helped some people out there that were as conflicted as me. I am 5 foot 8 and I weigh 130 pounds. I am not their yet but everyday I am working towards a goal which I haven't even made yet. Before I was 142 pounds and unhappy. I felt like I was the heaviest person in the world. Now I feel light as air and happy and everyone has noticed a change. If you want to make a change here are some great methods and websites that can help. 1. http://www.livestrong.com/ Count your calories and water and exercise. Not only does it force you to look at what you eat but it also takes time. A great motivator is convenience. Is that cookie really worth taking all that time to figure out the calories and nutrition info? 2. The Eatery app. This is the same idea as the calorie counters. 3. http://www.bhg.com/recipes/ This website has some healthy and delicious recipes. 4. http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM1Nde-9eorUhq-teaWlgUA Without access to a gym, these exercises are easy but really work you. 5. Smoothies. If you are a salad hater like myself, add spinach and kale to smoothies. My smoothies are simple and easy, half a banana, a handful of strawberries and blueberries and a little water. Then just add a handful of your two greens and you can't even taste them. A teaspoon of powdered sugar isn't too bad, if you are a sugar addict like I once was then I would do that until your taste buds adjust. The point is, make a healthy change. And do it now. Don't say next week or tomorrow just do it now. And when you get those cravings just go with them, a healthy oatmeal cookie or a square of dark chocolate never hurt anyone.

Hey everyone! So the long story short here is that I'm fifteen, a freshman in high school, and I'm becoming overweight. I found out about the Paleo Diet thanks to Steve and all of his articles with Nerd Fitness. The only problem is: I'm stuck. Being in school, and not being able to actually drive anywhere I want, makes the whole process of starting this Paleo Diet quite hard. Each weekday I have about 5-10 minutes each day for Breakfast, in which I currently eat a granola bar or fruit snacks. I currently pack my own lunch for school (A sandwich and chips...obviously both are against Paleo) and I buy a drink there. For dinner, it's really whatever my mother is cooking that day. I came here to ask you guys for some help. I need suggestions for what to eat. What types of breakfasts should I be eating? I need something fast, and I would like it to be filling. I will begin packing something other than a sandwich for my lunch since the grain is a no-no. Again, any suggestions? Next, what kind of snacks can I have once I get back home. Usually i'm eating another granola bar and some orange slices. Not sure that fits with the Paleo Diet I'm trying to get into. Finally, what suggestions do you have for good-portioned dinners that are both filling and healthy? As it is now, I'm eating something like Pork Chops and salad for dinner...then I come back at 8-9 for another snack. With your advice, I'm hoping to make a full 5-day "Recipe Book" (can't think of a better word) so that I have different options each weekday. Any and all of your suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

Well, considering how much progress I made with my last challenge goals, I figured that it would be a good idea to keep to the basics of those previous goals, while expanding a bit on the details and incorporating a few new things to them that I've been itching to. Each goal set has two (or three) points to it, which should be simple enough for me to accomplish, since the point of some of them is to get me off the computer and Internet more. Part 1 - Diet Making the change to Paleo (+2 CON): I don't just plan on following the 'eat protein and veggies, avoid grains and sweets' basics like I did the last time. I'm going to stick to that (it's been so much easier now after the first challenge), but also cutting out the packaged and processed stuff too, like pre-made seasonings, sauces, and dressings. Try/test two new recipes each week (+1 STA): I decided to change the wording on this. Since this was the spot that I did best on last time, and it's an important task (I want to make this eating a permanent change), I'm going to test two new recipes each week.Part 2 - Exercise Beginner Bodyweight Circuit 3x week (+2 STR): Pretty self-explanatory. Might add some plank time or some other glute/ham exercise to keep with the quad reversal.Bike ride once a week (+1 STA): Also pretty self-explanatory. One 30 minute long bike ride a week. I want to be able to handle the inclines in my neighborhood better.Part 3 - Recovery Stretch (and foam roll if needed) EVERY DAY (+2 DEX): This is one of the things I really sucked at last time. I'm going to make it a point to do this every day, not just for the reversal, but to add to my recovery and increase my flexibility.Start bedtime routine at 9pm, in bed by 10pm (+1 STA): I'm tired of my sleep schedule. I'm changing it, starting with bedtime. Part 4 - Life Submit a job application AT LEAST once a week (+1 CHA, +1 WIS): This will continue to be on my list of goals until I find a job.Write once a week (free write, story piece, blog, journal, not NF posts) (+1 CHA, +1 WIS): I almost went to school for this. Science is fun, but so is reading and writing what goes on in your imagination. I would really like to spend more time doing this hobby.Prepare for move; sort possessions and finances, and start to budget (+2 WIS): The possessions and financial sorting is due by Week Four. I need to be packed for the move by then. I will be sorting all of my possessions into move/store/sell/donate/recycle categories. I've accumulated way too much stuff that I really don't need or use during my college years. With the move looming over me slowly, I've realized that I don't really want to have all that baggage following me around during my life. So, I'm going to see if I can't put some of that stuff to good use either earning me some money back or going to someone who really wants or needs it. Clothes and jewelry included. I also need to figure out my finances. The move starts my next step to being independent from my parents, and when I finally get a job, I'm hoping to stop my financial dependency. In order to be more prepared for that moment, I want to start budgeting what money I do spend and find out where the heck in the world my student loans are (and all information pertaining to them).

Goals 1. Improve Swimming: Sta +4 Improve number of laps done at once to 16 laps breaststroke (25m pool so this is half a pool mile). Starting point is 11 laps. (A = 16+, B=15, C=14, D=13 F <= 12) 2. Slow Carb Diet: Con +4 I will follow the Slow Carb Diet for most of the challenge (I have not done well yet as it is day three and I was still deciding on goals before I came to this one) I will make a post about my interpretation and diet here in a bit. Every Deviation from the diet counts as a demerit. (A <=5, B <=10, C<=15, D <=20) A demerit can be assigned once per meal or snack. Free days don't count to demerits and they occur on Sunday. As of today I am at 3 demerits. 3. Compile Recipes: Wis + 3 To keep up with the diet goals, I need to get my meals, shopping etc all in order. To do this I need to compile all my go-to recipes so that I know the ingredients to put on the shopping list. (All or None on this one, It should take me a week to get the initial workup, and then the collecting of recipes over the next 6 weeks) Life Goal: Skill building Cha + 4 This is the junk drawer of goals, there are a lot of things I need to work on over the next little bit. So this will be a point system based goal. The Goal is to reach 40 points for the challenge. The things I do are listed below with their point values. Finish one module for a certification for work(a good number remain): 3 points each Create on illustration or visual project for myself: 3 points each Complete a design project for others (1 pending): 10 points Complete the organization in one room in the house (bedroom, main room, kitchen): 5 points each Complete one section in writing an adventure book: 10 points

Hello! I'm interested in trying a more paleo-ish diet, but most of the tips around these parts seem to be for cooking beginners or basic ingredient substitutions. I consider myself a pretty good cook and definitely a foodie, so I'm more interested in learning how to cook paleo ingredients in a way that showcases their own deliciousness. Does anyone have any more challenging or unique paleo recipes or recipe sources? Any cookbook or website recommendations? Thanks!