Search the Community

So I'm 20 years old, 5"3 and about 170 lbs right now. My weight is not that big of an issue to me but I am looking to lose a bit for the sake of my health and fitness. My mum is a BIG supporter of this (she's a weight loss fanatic) and is always advocating for my sister and I to eat healthy. My main problem is the gym. Don't get me wrong, I love the gym. I love feeling the burn that comes with pumping some weights or doing some aerobics. (I especially love squats and dead lift days.) Plus the results Ii get really boost my self esteem and morale and often keep me positive and help me start my day right. But my problem is that my body's limits and my mind's don't quite mesh. More often than not, I end up in a good place with my exercises, getting a decent rhythm and even starting to move on to heavier weights when...a muscle pulls or some knot develops in my muscles. Then I'll be down for the count and for days at a time just trying to get over the pain. The worst bit is though, that I don't even lift that heavy. I mostly work out with 3-8lb dumb bells or 5-10 lb barbells. And everything else is mostly body weight exercises. Now before I used to have a personal trainer who was working with me to overcome this, but as I have begun to start saving up for college I've had to let him go and now I have to deal with this issue on my own. Does anyone have any advice on what I could do? Do you think I should see a doctor about this?

Well, hi folks. It's been quite a while since I stalked the NF rebellion. Well, let me give you a short overview of my glorious deeds ... It's really short: None. Maybe some of you guys remember that I had to restart my engineering studies ... well, that restart was a disaster. I only passed three of 10 exams - I'm still in, I can continue, but it's pathetic. That totally dismantled me ... well, I spare you the details. I had to stop my TKD classes, and of course the workload is so immense that it's THE perfect excuse for skipping exercise and drowning in misery. Well, good news is: I pulled myself together, I even found friends at college [sic!] and studying is finally as natural as it was in High School. The bad news: Sedentary lifestyle, bad nutrition, BC pill (I will stop taking that crap very soon, switching to a hormone-free method), so I put on about 10 kg. Which sucks. But not as much as the loss of the little strength and endurance I crammed together so painfully. And now also my mind starts messing around with me again. Freaking out over everything, making an elephant out of a fly ... My soul too isn't in best shape, therefore the tag uncertainty. Now, what to do: I'll be honest: I don't have the slightest idea. I don't think I have the willpower to reset now, but I hate my life as it is now - I could make so much more of it than just being reactive and being afraid and anxious about everyrhing all the time. It's not that I have biiig problems or feeling like shit all the time, don't get me wrong, all in all, I'm fine. I ... just kinda hit a dead end and don't know how to get past it. So forgive me that I don't have a good plan for this challenge, maybe I just need a place to share my thoughts to get them in order - to kick some butts again.

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: