Search the Community

Hello Scouts! After some pretty long pause (last post around April 2014, I think), I am ready to be back here. About four years ago I started this journey to a better version of myself with some degree of success, I stopped smoking, lost a lot of weight and started excersising, one thing led to another and I got into triathlon, which is awesome, then I decided to train to run a half ironman (1.9k swim, 90k bike 21k run), which I did, for my 40th birthday, and although I did finish the distance, I was quite unprepared, so I suffered, big time, and I decided to take some time off, the effort had been big and the reward did not seem proportionate. Month after month I found "reasons" not to get back to training, and I gained some weight (not as much as When I begun), so this winter break I did some thinking and here I am, back again seeking some accountability, some short term goals and to find (and give) some motivation to get back on track. The things I knew, but ignored. Of all the things I was doing, I've kept on swimming, and my eating habits have remained somewhat healthy, but it has been slowly going back to old habits, so I don't think I fell completely off the wagon, but still, I need to get back on track! So, this is my 12th? of 1st challenge, depending on how you see it. Quest #1 - Eat Healthier - No more unhealthy snacks, not even one. - At least two fully paleo meals a day - No sugary drinks, including coffee, only exception is an evening tea with a teaspoon of honey, once a day maximum. Quest #2 - Just keep swimming - Five times a week, at least 8,000m a week Quest #3 - Stir it up - Add at least three workouts a week (besides swimming), that's biking (fixed or real), or walking/light jogging Quest #4 - LIFE - Write something, a long, long time ago I used to love writing, I would like to get back there.

Gimeniux's: Take Six - A new Start Hey, remember me? I'm that girl who was getting back on track, who said she was going to make it, the one who was so close to her goal, who lost almost 13% of fat, almost 20 pounds of pure fat after a two year journey. Yes, that's me, but i'm also that girl who failed not once, not twice, but so many times i don't want to count anymore. And today i'm almost back to where i started, i haven't weight so much ever, 155lb (70kg), that's just 1lb away from being overweight. Although i have 26% of body fat, so i'm more muscle than fat, still, i'm totally off track. So without further due, here are my goals, new year, new goals, i can make it. GOAL 1 - Goodbye Facebook I suffer from depression, and Facebook is one of my triggers. I like to share stuff with friends and family, but mostly i get discourage when i spend so many hours looking at profiles, news, photos, and so. The worst part is i became a slave of the likes, and i don't want to be. I want to be happy because i am, not by how many people like my pictures, or my profile. So i have deleted my account, i don't know if it will be definetly or temporary, Facebook says i have 14 days to regret, if not they'll delete my complete account. I just make a backup to have all of my photos. It's all for my mental health. GOAL 2 - Hello 100% Paleo I love eating Paleo, because it gives me energy it doesn't make my stomach hurt, it also make wonders for my depression. When i eat clean i almost don't have any episodes. Lately i've been feeling pretty bad but that's accordingly with my bad eating habbits. I say 100% rule, because i don't do well with 80/20 it always ends up like 60/40 or 40/60. All or nothing for me, thanks. GOAL 3 - 10K i'm going to catch you! Last time i was 1K away from making it, now i'm starting my training program from cero. So first i'll do the 5K program, then catch up with the 10K. But i'll get there, i'm gonna get there. Side Quest - Salsa Lessons I love dancing, i've been taking clases, but i'm afraid i'm about to quit. I need a little push to continue, i want to make this my quest, attend to every class this month. And practice at least once apart from the class every week. MOTIVATION I've spent years looking to become the person that is within me. I want to know all of what I'm capable of. What my body could be. I don’t like to hide. I want my outside strong and imposing, to cause inspiration for me, for everyone. I want to see myself and feel that the future is worth the while. I'm doing this to smile. Want to live without getting sick. Be healthy and proud. I've been close many times. This time I will not fail.

Main Quest To improve my squat and deadlift. Specifically to squat 227x5 and deadlift 247x5. Background After finishing my 99 miler, I feel kind of blah about fitness goals. Understandable, but it has been almost three months now so time to move on to new and exciting fitness goals. My main quest may not seem very scoutly, but runs are much nicer as the legs get stronger. I will work on my upper body too, but that just comes along for the ride and not my main motivation when lifting. So my goals for this challenge are simple. Fitness wise I want to lift, keep up running (both for fitness and a calming) and get some yoga in too (mostly for calming). Diet wise I am going back to 3 primal meals with only planned indulgences. And my first attempt at a novel (NaNoWriMo!). Goals +4 STR: 18 lifting workouts +2 STA: 18 runs, bikes, or stair workouts +2 DEX: 6 yoga +4 CON: 3 primal meals, indulgences only if planned +3 WIS: 50000 words Stats LVL: 24, FAILS: 3, STR: 39.25, DEX: 36.5, STA: 57.5, CON: 28.25, WIS: 22, CHA: 17.75

[Explicit] I have been a long time away from NF, and a long time putting fitness on the back burner. It's time that I stop letting my excuses pile up and hold me down. It's time to stop letting the greedy little piggy whisper in my ear. I am the wolf, so let the games begin. Rule 1) Run 3x A Week [sTA +5] Rule 2) No Booze. [CON +5] Rule 3) Update 3x A Week. [WIS +2] Rule 4) Create A Routine. [WIS +3] These chains are heavy, if I'm going get them off it's going to happen one link at a time.

Failed before, yada yada yada. That doesn't matter, because it's in the past. And you can either run from it or learn from it. So onwards to this challenge, where I'm just going to use whatever images/gifs I think are appropriate. None of my goals really tie together, either. So this is my random challenge! MAIN GOAL: Don't be the fat kid -Everyone else in my main friend group is in rather good shape, except for me. I'm tired of being the fat one, so I'm going to try and lose enough that I can no longer call myself fat. GOAL ONE: Run -Run 3x per week -Ultimate Goal: Run 5 miles straight by the end of the challenge -Exception: Week 1 (I got sunburned really badly on Sunday and now it hurts to even walk. I'm hoping to still get two runs in this week, but I'm going to play it by ear) -Background: I've run off and on for a few years, and towards the end of last year got to the point where I ran over 6 miles without stopping. Then I quit because it was cold, and now I'm back to barely being able to run a mile. I'm using Zombies, Run! 5k to get back to 3 miles, then I'll go back to the normal app after that. GOAL TWO: Cook -Cook at least one Paleo meal per week (I cook in batches, so it's at least three meals, usually four) -Ultimate Goal: Eat 100% paleo during the week, whatever I want on weekends -Background: I've gone back and forth with both eating paleo and eating nothing but garbage. So my compromise is to eat Paleo during the week and whatever I want on weekends. GOAL THREE: Bend -Squat for 5 minutes per day weeks 1 & 2, 10 for weeks 3 & 4, 15 for weeks 5 & 6 -Foam roll at least 5 days/week -Ultimate Goal: Be able to be comfortable in the bottom of a squat -Background: I have very poor mobility. Nowhere is it more obvious than in my squat, so I clearly need to work on that. Also, my calf has been bothering me while running, and I know I should foam roll more, but never do. So that's part of this now. GOAL FOUR: Russian -Listen to 5 Pimsleur lessons per week -Background: I'm going to Russia at the end of September! I'm really excited about it, but don't know Russian. So I want to try and learn the basics of conversation. I'll also be doing a couple of other things when I can, like Memrise for extra vocab and Rosetta Stone. I also have a text book from which I'm going to try and learn a little bit of grammar. -Ultimate Goal: Be able to speak enough Russian that I will be able to learn while I'm there, rather than just struggling. Or to drink with Putin. Whichever. So that's it for now. Oh, and I'm going to own this challenge.

Okay so I am not a great cyclist but I love to ride. This challenge I am finally crossing off the goal of a 100 mile ride. No excuses. Here is my challenge. Goal 1 - evaluate what I eat track the food so I can analyze (using mfp)70% paleo (2 pts per 50 calories)25% real foods...items I know are working for me but not "paleo" (1 point per 50 calories)<5% processed/sugar junk. We are stuck eating some but I can balance it out and make sure that the majority of my calories are real foods or outright paleo (-1 point per 50 calories)...no one likes to loose points!Goal 2 - move it sunshine run 3 days a week (10 pts each session)strength 3 days a week (10 points each session)bike (1 point per mile) - commute, ride extra, 1-2 speed workouts a week and focus on increasing weekly distance and long ridesfun (10 points a session)...smack around tennis balls with the family, walk the dog for more than a mile, just do something not part of my training. If I am able to do 4 strength workouts then do one I normally do not do from NF website...have freaking fun!Goal 3 - get my head in the game not tracking this on the spreadsheet but I have noticed that there are times I fail/fall short simply because a voice in my head convinces me that I can not do it even when my body says "yeah its hard right now but you have more in you". I know what it is like when I do push through the mental and I can not always tell when it is in my head or it is my body saying take it easy. No good way to track it. Open to any suggestions for tracking or getting/keeping my head in the game.Yep I have it tracked on a spreadsheet and am tracking points Tracking . I even added a pie chart for each week regarding food. I found that amusing...I am easily amused. I love to work toward points as I found out in an earlier challenge. If my estimates are correct based on what is possible I am shooting for 2500 points! This will not be entirely easy but definitely achievable. I love progress bars... 0%0%

I will clean this post up as the days go on, but I am squeezing it in at lunch, and wanted to get in on the fun before this 6-week challenge got to far along! I was a Scout at the beginning of last year, trained all summer long and left the 6-week challenge Nerd-Crew due to time and changes in my training focus... Ran my first half-marathon in September and it was solid! SUCCESS!! Then I took a break, recovered and relaxed... Winter started up and disaster struck! I tore the ligaments in my big toe on my left foot while running in the ice and snow... Everything has been reset to zero, I was on crutches for 2 weeks over the Holidays and haven't ran since that fateful December evening. SO... Here I am... I've returned to my Nerd-fitness 6-Week roots to get back on track. Main Quest: Half-Marathon in September 2015 (I would be in heaven if I can do this again!) Goals: Run 32 miles, over 3 runs, adhering to a plan that will put me at half-marathon ready by September 23rd. -Grading based on final percentage of miles completed on the scheduled days. Dumb-bells & bench: 2 times a week. -Grading based on final percentage missed workouts. Drop to 177 lbs making smart eating choices and portion control. -Grading based on delta weight to final pounds. Life Quest: [WIS +1] Work & Home: Get in on time everyday to work M-F & Work on one project at home S/U. - Grading 6wks * 6 days = 36 days, percentage of days achieved. Motivation: Getting myself back from the injured battered runner and get back to where I was in September. Starting Stats: 38 - Male 5'10" ~187.8 lbs

Hello, hello, fellow nerds! I'm increasing my intensity a bit for my second ever 6 Week Challenge. It's a long(ish) list, but all pretty simple. Hoping I can stay on track! 1) Run 100 miles 2) Lift 3x a week (currently just 2x) 3) Switch from Special K to oatmeal with nuts / berries for breakfast 4) Stop buying bread! 5) Track EVERYTHING I eat on MyFitnessPal 6) Do 5 minutes of French practice every day 7) Go on at least 3 dates 8) Follow my "sweets program"* and stay under 40 points 9) Stick to just one beer a week CW: 175 GW: 165 UGW: 150 Height: 5'10 Gender: Female *Sweets program (I really need to come up with a cool name for it) is a program where I add a "point" to my calendar every time I eat a naughty sweet (cookie, yogurt-covered pretzels, cake, pain au chocolat, hot cocoa, etc.). We're playing it like golf -- the less points I have at the end of 6 weeks, the better I am! Already got 2 points today (great start, me), so I have to seriously step up my game so I can stay under 40 in the next 42 days. HERE WE GO!

I Want to Not Be Creaky When I Move! 1. Obtain A Healthy Weight (or just start with whittling at the 15lbs keeping me above 200lbs) Get My Feeding Habits Under Control! Pay Attention to Portion Size... Meal Plan with the following in mind: Eat as Many Nutrient Dense Foods as PossibleEat a Lot of Vegetables and FruitsEat Some Quality Protein & FatsLimit Hidden or Added SugarsB12 DeficiencyIron DeficiencyNeed More FolateNeed More CalciumGet Plenty of Sun -- I need the D -- The Vitamin DDrink Enough Water and: Limit SodaLimit Coffee​Starbucks: Get thee behind me -- or to a Nunnery -- Either way -- No!Limit AlcoholExercise! Swim/Bike/Run or Walk with some mini-goals: Swim Up To Two Miles In Under an Hour (In a Pool)Swim a 200 Butterfly with Good FormBike Anywhere in FairhopeRun/Jog a 12 - 15 Minute Mile Walk to regain strengthSprint a little too? Participate in a TriathlonGrandman May 30, 2015?Swim > ¼ mi, Bike > 18 mi, Run > 3miParticipate in a Marathon SwimOcean Springs Osprey May 2, 2015?Swim > 2 mi2. Be Flexible! Stretch Warm UpCool DownFoam Roll/Massage Yoga Balance DrillsCoordination Drills3. Be Strong! Lift Heavy Things and Put Them Down *4. Be Multilingual (Bonus Round) One Spanish Lesson Each Day (choose at least one): Listen to a podcastRead a Spanish novelDuolingo PracticeA chapter of grammarVocabulary FlashcardsOne French Lesson Each Day (choose at least one): Listen to a podcastRead a French novelDuolingo PracticeA chapter of GrammarVocabulary FlashcardsSwims (11/18 Days) 61%61% Runs Long Walks (9/18 Days) 50%50% Bike (3/18mi) 16%16% Strength and Flexibility Training (13/18 Days) 72%72% Stick With the Meal Plan (15/34 Days) 44%44% LIve Without the Starbucks (17/34) Days 50%50%

Hi I am starting (again). This is how I am going to do this, since I'm late: 1. create goals now and start them 2. create more relevant goals when the next 6 week period comes up and start on level 0. No level-up for me since I'm late. My goals: I want to run 5k by June 14th from sedentary status. I want to start doing casual lap swimming, so I will be doing this as part of my cross training. I will be following the schedule below: Week S M T W R F S 1 Rest 1.5 m CT 1.5 m Rest 2 m CT 2 Rest 2 m CT 1 m Rest 2.5 m CT 3 Rest 2 m CT 1.5 m Rest 2.5 m CT 4 Rest 2.5 m CT 1.5 m Rest 3 m CT 5 Rest 3 m CT 1.5 m Rest 3.5 m CT Update progress once a week, probably Sunday, as a summary since my logging will be done mostly with pen and paper.I decided to update daily/as often as I remember/can because it keeps me accountable (see below). I will also be side-questing by preparing for grad school applications and starting work on my summer job in a couple weeks. A little background: I haven't been very active lately and although I really dislike running (despite running a half marathon a couple years ago) I know it's a relatively easy and surefire way to get me back into the "Exercise is a thing I should do" mindset. As for the progress bar in my sig, I will update as 4% = 1 day of non-rest completed

The Zombies are after you, better start running or you are done for. I'm about to get real with you guys... I have been lazy, full of excuses and giving up easily. I have been eating when I am not hungry and going for those bad snacks lately. Water? What is that... Juice all the way. It has made me feel like shit and I am tired of it. It has been affecting me in my horseback riding and my life... it needs to stop. These are my zombies and I am going to outrun them for this challenge. MAIN GOAL FOR THIS CHALLENGE: Lose 10lbs by April 5th Sub quests: > Minimum 15 minutes Zombies, Run (or cardio supplement) 2x/week 2x / Week = 2 Points 1x / Week = 1 Point 0x / Week = 0 Point > Minimum 2 Strength workout - Bodyweight, Resistance Bands, Swiss Ball, Kettlebell 2x / Week = 2 Points 1x / Week = 1 Points 0x / Week = 0 Point > Track that Grub (Food Journaling) 6-7 Days = 2 Points 3-5 Days = 1 Point 0-2 Days = 0 Point 6 Points = A.. You outran the zombies... this time 3-5 Points = B.. The zombies are still on your tail, pick those knees up! 0-2 Points = F.. You got eaten by Zombies... Try again LIFE QUEST: Get my head in the game...If I don't it could cost me my life. Be decisive...Be motivated...Be Confident. This part of the challenge is all about mental health and perspective. For this, I will be reading books, listening to music, speeches and basically just pumping myself up for life. If you guys are interested, these are the books I am reading currently. So I guess I could give a little blurb about myself I adore horses and I quarterboard a beautiful Belgian cross mare (non-horse people read: big female horse). I had quite a tumble off her back in October and that resulted in a torn ligament in one of my fingers which is just getting sorted out now with physio two times a week and I have an appointment with a plastic surgeon April 20th. Anyways, a lot of my goals tend to resolve around my riding and getting lighter, stronger and more stamina for that. Horses are a big part of my life, but the biggest love [aside from my boyfriend ] is my Boxer dog Rook He is just so crazy and full of life, he is definitely the best! Aside from those, I like programming, playing video games, reading and doing art. I tend to randomly post art I have done in my thread lol so don't mind that. Starting weight: 248lbs Height: 5'10'' Wish me luck <3 grawwrrrrrrrr

The phone rang in my pocket. “Wait. What?! I have my phone in my hand! What’s ringing in my pocket?†My thoughts began to cloud my mind. Was I going crazy? “Hello?†I said, with fear in my voice and my heart racing. “You’re going to do exactly as I say, and maybe, just MAYBE, you’ll get out of this alive.†“Who is this? Why should I do anything you tell me to?!†I started to panic. This was out of this world. “I’ll answer everything later, for now, turn left and waitâ€. This was the beginning. This was how I met the killer codenamed Bourne. The first time I was with him face to face will be unforgettable. It started by asking me why “them†were after me, and as I proceeded to ask “who’s them†he thought that I would answer if he showed more, dedication. That’s why it will be unforgettable. It’s really hard to forget the barrel of the gun aiming at the middle of your eyes. The after successfully explaining that I did not know who was he talking about, and after a change of pants and underwear for me, he explained while drinking in the hotel room. Treadstone, Blackbriar, they were after me. And he told me he would teach me how to survive. “But why are you willing to help me at all?†I asked, again with so much fear in me that I could not see his face clearly. He said that there was something he could gain. By helping me survive, he would have found another ally and both of us could figure out what Blackbriar/Treadstone wanted and how we could prevent it. And so my training began. The thing was, we could not be always together for that would raise suspicions. So he told me that when we could we would meet for some one on one training we would meet, however, I would have to develop some skills on my own. So I started, turning my fears into skills. Overall Mission: Defeat Treadstone/Blackbriar Goals: Escape Blackbriar (running and general Fitness) (+2 STR; +2 STA; +1 DEX) Gather Information (Studying) (+5 WIS) Blend (Language learning) (+5 CHA) Each week I will get a target for every goal. I have to report to Bourne everyday telling what I did and what I didn’t (I report to you people and you’ll tell me what I can do to improve). First Week Targets: Escape Blackbriar: Run 40 minutes + 20 pull upsThis is a personal goal of mine. Both of them. The 40 minute run is something that I still can't do no matter what. I'll try to blend my Parkour training in there, so it will be a more dynamic training. On the days that I am not running I should be doing some sort of general fitness training. Mainly Bodyweight (obviously). Gather Information: So far I still haven’t got a specific target. I still haven’t got an exams scheduled so… I’ll leave his one blank for now. Blend: get to lesson 30 of Pimsleur’s Norwegian.I’m currently at 17 but at the beginning of the challenge I’ll be at 20. Sometimes I have to listen to two lessons. Hopefully, by the end of the challenge, I will be albe to read news in Norwegian and who knows, listen to radio or podcast in that language. My daily reports will be small, quick and objective. If I start to make it hard I will never be able to it regularly and everyday. If I ever skip one I need you guys to make me try harder. See ya soon (23!)

Back with the Assassins! So last challenge did not work out so well because life happens and I'm honestly just super lazy. So what can I do to not be so lazy? Practically anything! I'm going to be focusing on more life style challenges just to get me motivated to get out of bed and move. Main Quest: To live life to the fullest and be healthy. My practical goal is to get to a size 8-10 pants size or lose 30 lbs. P.S. My triathlon training was a bust. I'll get there someday but right now I need to try something else. Quest 1 Just do something active for 30 min 5 times a week or a total of 30 sessions. From walking, to running, to swimming, to riding my bike, to dancing. I just need to get up and move! For my crazy life I might as well try a crazy strategy. A= +3 Str, +2 Dex; B= +2 Str, +1 Dex; C= +1 Str, +.5 Dex Quest 2 Actively study or do something with my brain 4-5 times a week or at minimum 24 mental workouts. I'm still working on GRE and studying, but I'm also working on a science integration curriculum. I think I teach a class or work with students every day now so this teacher needs to stay sharp. A= +3 Wis; B= +2 Wis; C= +1 Wis (I would also put intelligence (INT) here too but I don't think that's a category) Quest 3 Actively keep my room tidy and wash my dishes in a timely manner. It's kind of sad that this is in here but it's the truth. I am combating laziness here and my environment is very important to changing this bad habit. A= +3 SDex, +2 Con; B= +2 Dex, +1 Con; C= +1 Dex, +.5 Con Life: Budget again. Because life. A= +3 Wis, B= +2 Wis, C= +1 Wis This challenge is to help me combat laziness, to stop being depressed, and become motivated again. I'm really glad that challenges refresh every 6 weeks because then I can try again. It’s time to get out of the pity parade and move!

So I've been gone from here for a while now. So long that I had to read the rules again. The bright side: I've been working out regularly for the past month and a half, and semi-regularly since October. My diet, however, is pretty much the worst it's been since...ever. So I figured it's time for a good old-fashioned "Hollywood reboot." Now, none of my goals from my first challenge are really things I want to work on right now, so I'm not just going to redo that challenge. And come on, when's the last time a series reboot stayed anywhere near to the original anyway? I was debating basing this on another book (Game of Thrones?) like my first few were based on The Hobbit, but I don't think I'm going to. MAIN GOAL: PREPARE FOR THE TOUGH MUDDER That's right, I signed up for a Tough Mudder! It's in May! However, the coworker who was going to do it with me moved 8 hours away and now can't do it. And two of my friends that were going to do it have a wedding that weekend. Also, with my life goal challenge, I may end up having to transfer to a different one. But regardless of all that, I want to be ready. That means running and strength training. Goal 1: Swift as a coursing river I hate running on treadmills. I get bored and it's too easy to quit. But I also got stranded the last time I ran outside (I went way too far and then the temperature dropped like 10 degrees and I wasn't ready for it), so I don't particularly like doing that, either. So I'm going to stick with the treadmill for now, though my distances won't be impressive. I'm planning on building up a tolerance for treadmills in the same way you build a tolerance for pain. Run twice per week Weeks 1 & 2: Min. 2 miles per run Weeks 3 & 4: Min. 2.5 miles per run Weeks 5 & 6: Min. 3 miles per run 3 DEX, 2 STA Goal 2: With all the force of a great typhoon I've been doing strength training at least twice a week since the beginning of December. The first 3 were 3x, but with the holidays and going out of town and my gym being closed, I only worked out twice the last two. I'm currently using Starting Strength. Strength train 3x per week 5 STR Goal 3: Once you find your center you are sure to win (Okay, now I'm stretching, but the first two worked and I felt like sticking with the random theme) My squats suck. I have zero hip mobility. I also have very poor mobility elsewhere, but the hips are what's really killing me right now. The plan is to use GMB's Focused Flexibility combined with just sitting in the bottom of a squat every day. This shouldn't take all six weeks, so when I get to the point that I can sit in a legit bottom squat for five minutes I'll move on. Focused flexibility as prescribed + Week 1: 10 min. in bottom squat throughout day Week 2: 15 min. in bottom squat throughout day Week 3: 20 min. in bottom squat throughout day, etc. until I finish 5 CON Life Goal So I've been speaking with my cousin's husband, who works for a company that I would love to work for. This job would involve moving across the country, away from everyone I know (although they're pretty much all 4-6 hours away right now), and starting new. That's semi-scary, but what's really scary is a) the amount of hours I'd be working (60+ per week), and the amount of responsibility I'd be taking on. My current job is rather easy, and has very little to do with my field (electrical engineering) except when I go out of my way to work on something that I, technically speaking, shouldn't be working on. So I'm mostly worried that I would fail miserably at the new job. A friend of mine told me that the fear of not knowing what you think you should know is actually called something, but I can't remember what it is (and I probably should. Oh no! There it is again!). Step 1. Write resume Step 2. Get resume reviewed Step 3. Apply Step 4. ??? Step 5. Profit TL;DR: Run twice a week, strength train thrice a week, work on mobility, and get a new job. I feel like I need more random photos/gifs in here, so here's one of the most adorable ones I've ever seen.

Hello fellow Rebels! It's a new year and that means new challenges (yay) Although I wasn't posting too much last challenge (sorry) I was pottering away at my goals and was doing fairly well but then Christmas came along and I think we all know how that goes... So now I'm back and ready to start ripping into 2015! My main goal for 2015 is to try and balance all the things I want to do and achieve because I tend to find that I obsess over one thing letting others slide and go backwards and forwards with those every month or two. Here's what I want to get done then: Stay fit and healthy all year roundRun a marathon (and what you get in between)Write another bookDo some extra curricular work that means I get a few steps closer to being an editorMove out / Save UpI tried to push pretty much all these goals last year (although it was write a book, rather than another, and a half marathon instead of a full one) and I found I burnt myself out because I'd feel guilty about not doing writing when I'm at home after work then say 'fuck it' and end up not doing anything and gaming with friends at night. This year, I want to balance all of those things but not at the expense of my sanity, I like gaming with my friends, heck that's why I'm here! I like writing too and I don't want to stop, and I actually miss long distance running, it felt great to just run and run while an audiobook (I'm basically thinking of Prince of Thorns here) prattled on in my ear. So I'm going to try and build all these things up slowly but surely, proper long distances might be tricky at the moment because it's cold and dark but i'll look into circuits around my town (again, I liked just running in the countryside but blast if I'm doing that in the cold and dark). Anyway, /rant! Onto this challenge! I'm going to be basing my theme this challenge on the all singing, all dancing, all wonderful Chris Pratt! Main Goal: Turn Andy Dwyre into Starlord! Goal 1: Run 3 times a week (+2 CON +1 DEX +1 STR) I haven't signed up for a marathon just yet but at the moment I'm trundling along with 5km runs after work, so I want to run 3 times per week and hopefully be at a 5 mile regular run by the end of the challenge. Bonus points for doing 5km in under 30 minutes and 5 miles in under 45! Goal 2: Strength Training at least twice a week (+3 STR +1 DEX) As ever we all want to get stronger! Just like Starlord looks... So at least 2 strength training sessions per week, which I tend to do fairly easily during the week as I just go out for exercise (almost) as soon as I get in from work, but I do want to try and add in sprint training as part of the warm up. This will just consist of 4-8 sprints and then jogging home to do the actual exercise. I used to do this and I think it worked very well in slimming me down too. Here’s to trying it again! I’ll try with just 4 at first and then add one more each week. Some mini goals with this is that I'd love to get my pull/chin up numbers to 10 at once and if I can move on past diamond push ups but I wont rush headlong into that one. Goal 3: Eat Space Food (+3 CON) Well maybe not space food! But this is just about eating healthier, I’m sure we’ve all overindulged a little bit over the holiday and this is just about getting back to where I want to be. I don’t think I’ll count calories because I think that if you look after what you eat then how much you eat tends to fall into place anyway (or at least it does for me because I usually only have 2 meals a day). So the concrete definable goal: eat 70%+ paleo It’s the return of the ever-beloved Non-Paleo-Tokens or NPTs and for each meal I eat that doesn’t fall under paleo guidelines I use up a token, also evenings of drink will only use up one token, and I get 34 NPTs in total to use. Goal 4: Write 8,000 words a week (+2 CHA +2 WIS) I figure 8,000 words a week isn't too ambitious as it's just over 1,000 words a day (which I should be able to do if I concentrate for an hour or two everyday or even most days) and by the end of the challenge I should have half a book, and if I keep it up by the end of the year I should have enough words for a couple of books! I'll keep a running total in my updates and see how it goes! There we have it! My challenge for the New Year! Don't worry about the pizazz the gifs shall be coming later!

Ho! Fellow Rangers! I've been a member of NF since last February, but a move and nursing school haven't help me reach my fitness goals. I finally decided those are not the best of excuses and so here I am! This is my first official challenge but I've done many of this type of thing with other groups/people and I LOVE THEM. They are infinitely invaluable to me. I chose Ranger because I feel like a "jack of all trades, master of none" applies to my life in general. Background: I'm a 34 yr old, mom of 5--used to be farmer/homesteader but decided to put that on pause while I get my nursing degree (BSN) wo moved to town last April. I was pretty fit and at a good weight IMO in January 2012. I weighed in at 148 and was the smallest size-wise that I had been since high school, which was a size 8. I had completed my first (and so far ONLY) Sprint Triathlon and was loving life. I decided to start back to college and pursue a nursing career. With the shock of working 25 hrs a week, 5 kids, a farm and full time college, I put my fitness on the back burner. Within about a year I gained 20 pounds. When I finally decided to try to get it off, it wouldn't work. I had blood tests done and tried to figure out something because with the exercising and clean diet, I should be losing weight. It had always worked that way for me before. I spent the next year trying to figure out what was going on with me and no dr. could help. My chiropractor didn't have much better for me try and I gained another 10 pounds even while exercising and dieting (mostly paleo or Whole 30 type). I finally decided to have my IUD removed because it was the only thing I had in/on my body that was artificial. I don't have any prescription meds or anything else. So--I pulled the IUD in July, did a Whole30 in Sept/Oct and lost 12 pounds. Started at 181 and ended at 169. I gained a couple back after ending my Whole30 but I am here starting at 171 pounds. I don't know what helped, maybe not the IUD at all, BUT something is. Maybe it's just mental. SO now to my GOALS-- MAIN GOALS--Lose 25 pounds by my 35th birthday--May 15, 2015---Run a 5K by that time also (without stopping)---just get stronger and see some more muscle definition in my arms and legs. These are my overall goals to get to my goal of 148 pounds and also that it coincides with a consistent workout routine. 1) Goal for this 6 weeks to lose weight: is to complete a Whole 30 (I'm on day 4) and drink 100 oz. of water a day. 2) Registered for a 5k by Feb 15--the end of this challenge. To do this I plan to run 3x a week for at least 30 minutes. Working up to all running time. 3)Increase my weight lifting/strength training by lifting 4x a week for the challenge, doing 50 pushups and 100 bodyweight squats a day during the challenge. Side Quest for me is to meditate/pray/study scripture every day. I have slacked on this while in nursing school and want to fix it!!! I'm ready... let's do this, bring it on, no pain no gain, etc. etc. etc.

I was perusing the west meetup and saw a post from red_queen about a 5k - the run scared (http://www.runscared5k.com/). It occured to me that if I had seen it earlier I just may have dropped $5 for the race (the run is for leukemia and lymphoma). NF's are a very caring and giving group, I think, and it would be a great way to show support to members, especially when theres a run (or whatever) in support of something that has affected my own life. Maybe a sub-topic under battlelogs, or woot? I also remember when my cousin was going through muay thai internationals and some of the fundraising they did (mind you I think that was grant work, but still) I believe races have a way of creating individual pages and can collect money there, for accountability. I know I'd rather give $5 than go buy a latte

Here we go again. Former 6-week challenger, fallen off the bandwagon. On-and-off runner, sometimes closing in on 10K... but never exercising with consistancy. "Skinny-fat" accountant who has made some changes but has a LONG way to go. I've made SOME progress in the time since I first joined NF... about two years ago? Three? Yikes! But consistancy has ALWAYS been a problem for me. I go for things hard and strong, burn out, and am left back where I started. Repeatedly. Year after year after.... Running? Worked up to a 5K many times over the years, pushed too hard and injured myself or caught a cold and dropped running altogether, and... stopped. Strength training? I had been doing sets of 10 pull ups at one point. Today I can't do one. Pushups? I've worked my way back UP to a set of four! Food? Over the years the ltitle changes have stuck, the big ones have not. I eat like a pig, constantly. And drink enough coffee to kill a horse. But I'm down from 5-ish sodas a day to zero (maybe once a month or so as a treat). No sugar in my coffee (except for rare occasions), and chomping trail mix or pretzels instead of candy. It's a start.... but I've also gained 17 lbs in the past two years, so.... I have lots of areas to work on but am seeing some progress in my life: - soda, candy and sugar-in-coffee practically eliminated from my diet - converted my desk to a standing workstation at work - running 2-3 times a week, but not particularly consistantly - signed up for Endomondo so I can track my runs and post to Facebook for some encouragement And I've started various other things and just not stuck with them. Then I saw today's NF blog post in my email. And I realized: I need a rez... and some encouragement... and I know where I can find them. You guys have never let me down, and I've only failed when I walk away from my NF teammates. So here we go again! REZ PLEASE! How will I move forward? - I will seek community and encouragement where ever I can: facebook, endomondo, NF... - I will commit to regular workouts (setting phone reminders to run 4x/week and do BASIC minimal bodyweight exercises 6 days a week) - and I will make one small diet change, since it's the small changes that serm to stick! I commit to making one veggie snack every day to bring to work

Hey guys! I've been seeing a bunch of stuff about the IIFYM way of eating and basically it's that you eat really whatever as long as it fits your calorie and macro goals. When following this I of course would not be eating pizza and candy, but I do like that if I wanted to sneak that extra piece of chocolate cake in once in a while I can. I've had some problems lately with binging at night and I feel like it's because I'm not getting the right ratio of macros, so I am kind of intrigued by IIFYM. The one issue, though, is that I am a runner and am currently training for a marathon. Is this way of eating okay for a runner, or is it more for people who lift/ do less cardio? Also, how would I adjust my macros on days where I have long runs (i.e. 17 miles)? The macros I have would not be enough to cover a day on which I do a run like that. Anyways, my macros are: 1630 calories 225 g carbs 96 g protein 19-24 g fiber 38.8 g fat I'm petite, 5'1" and 96-97 lbs, and am looking to maintain my weight. So what do you guys think about doing IIFYM? Any other suggestions? Opinions? Experiences? Thanks so much!

Nightcrawler_Bamff's Flight Story: Having defeated and accidentally killed his brother, saving the nearby village from Stephan's killing spree, Kurt is not given the opportunity to fully comprehend what had happened, let alone to grieve. The villagers, seeing a "demon" fighting and killing a human, assume Nightcrawler was responsible for the recent string of murders. Nighcrawler looks up from his brother's lifeless body to discover a mob forming, wielding torches and farming tools as weapons heading quickly his direction, shouting something about a demon. Kurt knows they are after him and he will not be given the opportunity to defend himself. His only option is to run! This challenge will be centered around running! This was my normal workout before I discovered gymnastics. Has definitely been a while and I'm excited to start again! Main Quest: Move my round off-back handspring-back tuck and the aerial from the tumble track trampoline onto the floor. Not running related, but the running will (hopefully) build speed and endurance for gymnastics stuff! Missions: 1. Run! Daily except gymnastics days and Sundays (rest day). 2. Splits! Continue working splits daily, twice daily on days off. 3. Food! No movie theater popcorn. Tried this goal out last challenge and was very successful (and difficult!). Life goals: SO MUCH HAPPENING DURING THIS CHALLENGE! 1. Finish NIghtcrawler costume and touch up my old Gambit costume I'll be lending a friend for comic con. 2. HAVE A BLAST AT ROSE CITY COMIC CON!!! 3. Make a mythical woodland creature costume for a friend's themed birthday/house warming party October 4th. Wont have time for anything extravagant...still not sure what to do. I'll have to do some research into what I will be able to pull off with this short amount of time. 4. Make a three tiered cake for a friend's baby shower on October 5th...the day after the costume party! She wants me to replicate a cake she found on Pinterest...should be simple enough: 5. Figure out a Halloween costume and start working on that. And I thought I was busy last challenge!!!

Hey there, So here my adventure begins! Gonna log my past week to start Mon: Long day in college and society business to attend to! So didnt feel that motivated to work out. Some bodyweight workouts for about 25mins and attempt (sorry attempt) at handstand. Tues: College and then 2 hours Ultimate Frisbee training Ladies tournament in 3 weeks! So felt I seriously needed to work on my running. Weds: Rest Day after intense training Tues. Thursday: Was sick Decided to remotivate myself by starting to post on NF Forums. Ate alot of crap and realised I should work on diet too (though I am'nt here for weight loss it would be good to be healthier) Friday: Woke up early and ran 2k (slowly ) with 10s sprint intervals. Had to take 2 or 3 30s breaks Overall happy because Im a crappy runner Also did 30mins body weight workout. Cleaned up my diet, fruit for breakfast and an omelette for lunch, curry for dinner. Only thing is I ate biscuits because my boyfriend brought them over Saturday: Ran 2k again. Had to take more breaks this time Bit of muscle soreness from other day. Again fruit for breakfast, bacon and salad for lunch and then had homemade burger for dinner. Sunday: Missed Jugger training Took today as a rest day to do college work, committee work and to organise gaming tomorrow . Try have a better week tomorrow! Now to finish my study and play Borderlands 2

Challenge 3 - OneEyedWolfie's 30 Rock challenge Hi all! The first challenge helped me get focused. The 2nd challenge really helped with my running. The 3rd challenge I hope, will help me combine running with the gym. That's why I want to join the rangers! I am studying Lean and Six sigma, like my hero Jack from Tina Fey's 30 Rock. So I will throw out some 30 rock references as I go. This is my project charter, there are many like it but this one is mine! Main Quest: Jack Attack! Lean mind, lean body ....be a ranger! 1. Train using a Convict conditioning hybrid. I am following convict conditioning now, but find I can focus more in the gym. I am moving through the steps and using Paul's suggestions, throwing in an alternative workout on top of the training to keep things fresh e.g. as well as push ups, I do dips or bench press. Going to complete C25k ( on week five) and have Run Zombies running at the same time. It's synergy people- don't fight it, it's bigger than all of us! I will then progress to 10k. I will score this using my HEART. Hard equations and rational thinking. A = 3 workouts a week and complete C25K programme for the week. B = 2 workouts and miss a C25K session C = 1 workout and miss 2 C25K sessions F= no training that week. 2. Eat paleo meals twice a day and vary my third meal with carbs. Almost carb cycling to aid in fat loss and muscle growth. I get one cheat meal a week, any more and I take points. I will score this as A = 3 meals a day as described B = 2 meals a day as described but 1 was a 'cheat' C = 1 meal a day as described but 2 were a 'cheat' F= diet went out the window that day 3. Get more sleep and recovery. Remember to relax Last challenge I had an injury that I tried to work around, in the end I couldn't. I learnt a lot which is why my wisdom is quite high. I will aim for 8 hours of sleep. I need to get to the gym for 6.30 for a 45 min session or wake up at 6 for a session at home / outside. My little boy is 2, my wife is 23 weeks pregnant so I need to sneak around like Nixon, the wire tapping bastard. I will score this as A = 8 hrs as described B = 7 hrs C = 6 hrs F= 5 hrs or less Life Quest Get a secondment! I am actually going for a job interview today but my goal is to get a promotion for 6-12 months to get the experience in improvement and innovation within my organisation. To do this I am studying for my black belt in service improvement. I don't see a module for handshakingness though. By the end of each week I want to complete and pass a module. Ok Wolfie, it's the bottom of the 9th. What you gonna do?! Your mommys fancy boy! You're a lion! Take it, it's yours! Wish me luck

New challenge means a new focus. So yeah - new challenge! Woo! I had a heap of good progress in the last one, and I feel really good about it. But, I can't help but feel... "What's the point?" Personally, I think that this strength I've worked up should be put to use. So, I'm finally going to try pursue something that I've always loved and wanted to go for; This challenge, I'm learning/training Parkour. I used to train and practice quite a lot, in Scotland, before moving to Australia. Vaults, climbing, falling off of things - it was fun, and it was good exercise. I've never really continued with that, until this challenge. There's a group of traceurs in Australia - the APA, or Australian Parkour Association - who count among their instructors a member of Nerd Fitness (Hey, hitlionsoul!). So, imma be going to some training sessions and just generally working on parkour movements and techniques this challenge, with a little bit of lifting included so that my progress doesn't go to waste. So, onto the details! Exercise Parkour So, I've planned out 6 sub goals for me to progress with throughout the challenge. The aren't exactly progressive, but they cover what I consider the primary steps/areas of parkour. Of course, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong! Running and Falling - Perform a passable roll over both sides of my body Climbing and Precision Jumping - TBA Vaults I - Side, Monkey Vaults II - Speed, Dash Vaults III - Kong, Lazy Movement - Quadrupedal and BalanceEach sub goal will be performed as well as the previous goals. Ambidexterity is important here - I'm terrible with my left side - but thats just down to practice. Ill also be running at least 2km - 3km as a warmup for this. Lifting and BW Exercises At the advice of those much wiser than I am, I'm going to be using lifting simply as a maintenance thing this challenge around, combining it with body weight exercises for a fuller workout. So, the lifting will involve; Squats - Current working weight of 80kg. Deadlifts - Current working weight of 65kgOHP - Current working weight of 50kg Pretty simple, right? Ill be warming up with the bar (10 reps), then doing half working weight (10 reps), 10kg under working weight (5 reps) then working weight (3 reps) for each lift. The body weight stuff can be found at [insert link here] this link - its a fantastic looking bodyweight routine that I think'll do me a lot more good than the standard NF bbww or abww. Goals Achieve competency in all vaults attempted - +3 STA, +2 DEXMaintain or increase lifting weight - +2 STRAttend at least one APA training session - +3 CHAGet uni off to a good start - + 2 WISSave $1000 - +3 CONTimetable Monday - ParkourTuesday - Lifting/BWWednesday - RestThursday - ParkourFriday - Lifting/BWSaturday - ParkourSunday - Rest Good luck to you all, check back in every week for updates (TL:DR - Parkour challenge with some lifting and bw stuff thrown in. Woo!)

*In a land far away and long ago a great peril fell upon the world, rendering the beloved king unable to protect his people from monsters. As a captive he was held frozen in stone, unable to move or escape, but still to hear and see all that transpired in his kingdom. A mighty power lay dormant while the king remained locked in stone. A great and evil sorcerer had sought this power, and sent monsters forth to distract the kingdom's lesser guardians while it pursued the king. But the sorcerer could not figure out how to steal the king's power, there was a missing piece to the puzzle. So the sorcerer locked the king in stone and sent his minions far and wide to search for the key. Danger crept into the land and much did the people suffer. But in one village, yet untouched by the stain of evil, did live a people who could change shape at will. When monsters began to encroach upon their land, life would go from peaceful to discord...* *Syren awoke that morning groggy and disoriented. Someone was shouting for her to wake up, and hurry. She wiped the sleep from her eyes, then stood to stretch when she caught a whiff of fire. Immediately she was awake and stumbling from the house. It was not her domicile that was ablaze, but one down the street. People had already started a bucket line, sending water to put out the conflagration. Syren stood out of the way for a moment. She looked around for something to do that would help, when she heard a large FWOOOSH! She turned to look and a giant fireball ignited her house! A great wave of heat knocked her down, but not before she caught sight of a giant beast lumbering off behind the village. Villagers scattered here and there trying to put out the new fire that was much larger and could move throughout the town. Syren however moved to follow the beast. It trampled through the woods and came to rest next to another monster. This one looked very different, instead of impossibly huge and porcine like the fire shooter, this one stood tall on goat legs with twisting bull horns above its eyes and the blackest skin rippled with muscles and odd tattoos. The tattoos, like the creature's eyes glimmered with a silver sheen as light touched them through the trees. The monster seemed to be carrying a bundle of rags. Syren gasped when the bundle was tossed about to reveal the young prince who had been visiting their hamlet. The boy was unconscious and a dribble of blood dripped from a slash across his forehead. She ran forward, but tripped on roots and over her own feet. The monsters did not even turn to look back at her as they crashed through the trees. She stood up, and began to go after them again, but her ankle would not support her weight. Against a tree, Syren slumped. She should go back to the village and tell someone what had happened so that a party could be formed and the princeling saved! But she would be so slow, that the prince might be dead before she even got to the village. Still, she would not have been much help to the little prince, she had no defense against those monsters. She put her hand on a knot on the tree, resolved to get some help, when a burst of blue light came shooting from a knothole in the tree. Syren was briefly startled by the creature, but soon determined that it was merely some odd species of insect. But the little creature was insistent and fluttered about her head shouting in a language that she could not understand. She swatted at the fairy, for that is what it turned out to be. It was shouting "Oye! Escucha!" incessantly. Syren shouted back at it for a moment, but that did no good. She grew tired of the bright blue orb on wings, and began to hobble back to the village. She padded through some grass and kicked what felt like a bottle. She picked it up and found that it held some money, not a large quantity, but enough to put away in savings. She wondered if it were the princling's. She pocketed the jar for now, and limped on. When she finally came upon the village, no one was about, and houses stood in covered in soot, or not at all. She called out to the town: "HELLOOOO!" No one responded. She moved to intact doors and knocked, but their were no answers. Slowly she made her way to the village center where the elders would gather. She entered the greathouse and found the townspeople seething within. They were angry, and when she entered, that wrath seemed to turn to her. But the eldest of the elders stemmed the tide of anger by coming up behind Syren and asking if she had seen anything in the woods. She told them of what had transpired, but she was the only one that could spy the fairy. She had given up on it, and hoped that it would scream itself hoarse in the shortest amount of time possible. Another elder brought her a drought that helped to relieve the pain in her ankle, yet another brought her a box, and another a tiny trident. She looked at these puzzled. The eldest elder smiled at her and said, "You must be our village's champion. Go, find our prince and bring justice down upon the monsters that did this to us." A frown grew upon Syren's face and a short stammer of disbelief came from her, but the town's people began ushering her back out the door. She soon stood upon the stoop of the greathouse with the box and trident. She looked at the tools dubiously. "Our village apparently has no sword." Sighing deeply, she set out at a limp back into the forest and after her quarry.* Travel the world in whatever form is required: Run like the wolf, swim like the dolphin, and bike, like a... well, like EPONA! Tri training dayz! But it is dangerous to go alone! Outfit yourself with the tools of lunch box and grill fork for they will come in very handy for long days of travel! Primal/Paleo type choices, about 60% - 70% (mostly cutting alcohol, for while tasty and occasionally mind numbing, it does not help with the belly fat and over weighted issues.) Keep up your strength! Be strong, like bear: get back into the strength training thing, it might only take 10 minutes, do it. ¡Oye! ¡Escucha! Learn how to speak to this fairy so that it stops repeating itself: Spanish learning, because it might be useful one day. Smile Keep those canines bright, shiny, and pointy: by flossing every day. Spreadsheet of Progress!

I'm back! I was a Scout briefly last year. Before spraining my right ankle and my left foot last July, I had been training to run my first 5K in September. Well, I migrated to the Assassins after that, and did achieve my first 5K this past June. My goals were to run without stopping, no matter how slow, and to finish in under 45 minutes. I finished in 43:01, and I never stopped chugging along. I consider myself somewhere between a Scout and an Assassin, a combination that I like to call Bounty Hunter Class. But since my focus right now is on running - I signed up for 3 more 5Ks to run between now and December - I finally decided today that I'd spend some time on the Scout side of my split personality. Main Quest - To weigh what I did back in High School when everyone made me believe I was fat. I have four goals for this challenge, one of them being a Life Goal. They go like this: Clean : Harder Eat : Better Run : Faster Get : Stronger Clean Harder - I will set a timer and clean for 15 minutes minimum, three days per week. The theory is that I can actually get a lot done in 15 minutes, and that once I get started I'm more likely to go for longer than 15. CHA +3 Grading based on 18 possible cleaning days. Eat Better - My goal here is to eat more fruits and veggies. I'd like to do 4 per day, but considering my current track record I'm going to set 3+ daily as the goal. I believe I can do at least 3 and will always try to do more. CON + 2, WIS +2 Grading on 42 days worth of eating. Run Faster - I have a new app called 5K Forever which is supposed to train me to run faster. I'm starting week 2 of the 8 week course this week, so the plan is to not miss any runs, of which there are 3 weekly. STA +3 Grading differently on this since it's critical I not miss. A = 17-18 runs, B = 15-16 runs, C = 14 runs, D = 13 runs, F = 12 or fewer runs. Get Stronger - I have had a crappy success rate sticking with any kind of strength program I've ever started. I tried Yoga for my last challenge and didn't mind it so much, so I now I'm going to try Pilates 3 days a week, which is supposed to be good for strength and flexibility. STR +2, DEX +2 Grading again based on 18 days of 'pilots'. Now I gotta get to bed. Tomorrow I'll start making charts to track all of this stuff. At least today I got my fruits and veggies in, so I'm off to good start.