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Per Request 😉 The Plan.... Conscientious: Make 24 hour plan, eat on plan when hungry, stop when full. Unconventional: Rides, 5k's, events, and any other random stuff goes here Time: Get 7 hours of sleep a night, post at least 3 times a week in my thread. Exercise: Weights 1x week, 6,000 steps a day, 3 days treadmill workout (when no work event) I have a bad habit this time of year of hiding away...I want to go to all the things then when the time comes I make excuses and don't do them...this isn't starting off too well since I've already bailed on two plans this weekend. In my defense they conflicted so I canceled one, then the other got rained out...blame Florida weather 🙄

Hello Nerds! It is good to be back! I fell into work for a few months there. Work life balance kind of completely fell apart, all the good stuff I did for myself went on back burner, and now I am in recovery mode. Beyond me complaining about life, I have to confess to a personal shortcoming. As a nerd, someone who has finished a nanowrimo novel, someone who uses a keyboard for a living, I am a hunt and peck typer. It is ugly. Hackity tap tap urgggh thwack thwack thwack backspace backspace groan. And I am going to change that. I have a keyboard that forces me to type properly. It looks weird, but it makes my bad habit painful enough to drive change. So goals. Wouldn't be a challenge without some goals. Typing: practice 15 min a night. Target number at end of challenge... 20 wpm? My end goal is over a hundred wpm. Pushups: 100 a day. Tai Chi: 3 classes a week, back to daily practice. Good enough for government work as they say. - Murphy's Roomate

New Challenge! Or rather a series of challenges because I am trying to do multi-challenge character arc and it will span the course of 12 months. So, in case I have not mentioned it, tomorrow is my birthday! And also Thanksgiving if you're one of us Yanks. Which means I plan to get some extra stuffing and NOT feel bad about it. I turn 49 tomorrow, which is a weird combination of WHOOOT WHOOOT and holy fuck. I want to make my next few challenges all about getting out of my comfort zone, trying new things, and basically revving the engine so I come screeching up to the starting line of 50 with my tires smoking and my helmet on and some other racing cliche that I cannot in this moment think of. Half a century, baby! Bring me the bifocals and the comfortable shoes BECAUSE IT IS ON. I used my ongoing obsession with the movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty as a framework. In the course of the movie, Walter takes on a whole series of challenges that lead him to the prize and leave him a different person. Or... does it? There's a scene in the movie where Walter, after all his adventures, is sitting in a coffee shop and trying to write his resume - because while he was out having his grand quest, the magazine he worked for folded and he lost his job. It's almost a throwaway scene, but it's always stuck with me, because I watch it and wonder what happened to him after the movie ended. Like, did he get another boring job, and Cheryl get another boring job, and they just went back to being little gray pieces of paper again? I hate that thought. I refuse to believe it. I think - I like to think - that having gotten a taste of life outside his comfort zone, Walter and Cheryl bought an RV, and traveled across country with her kid and her three-legged dog, rock climbing and surfing and selling cupcakes at music festivals, with Walter's mom baking clementine-infused weed brownies whenever they traveled somewhere with legal marijuana. I am 90% sure that Walter's mom makes kick-ass weed brownies. My last couple of years have taken me waaaaay outside my comfort zone, or what I thought was my comfort zone, and I want to build on that and really start to stretch. Think about this: - I started weight training with a 40-pound back squat and a zero-pound deadlift, because I didn't know what the fuck a deadlift was. I now squat 175 for reps (or did, and will again when my knee is back) and my 1RM deadlift is 225. I'm still considering getting that printed on t-shirt, by the way. - I went from 42% body fat to 31%, and I gained 18 pounds of lean mass. I'm heavier, but a smaller size, so I guess I got denser. I'm weirdly proud of this. - I started riding my bike with a 3-mile loop around my neighborhood that was almost enough to kill me. This February I attempted the 52-mile "Brushy Tunnel" ride for the first time (a rite of passage for local cyclists) and was shaking in my shoes because I was sure I couldn't do it. I've since done it 8 times. I've ridden 6 metric centuries (100 kilometers) in the past two years and I have Tyrannasaur quads like Usain Bolt. I never want to wear long pants again. - I planned and did my "Keys Loop" Adventure, I went diving in Hondouras and was not kidnapped by drug lords, and I toured California and spent a week in Yosemite and ate every taco in Los Angeles. I took a sailing class and got certified as a keelboat operator. I bought a decent car. It doesn't seem like much taken individually (just like my resume!) but as a whole it's actually a lot. Now it's time to look ahead and really start to stretch. I made a wish list of everything I wanted to do in the next year, and I'm going to attack a couple of items each month until I get them all. Some will span a few challenges and some will be one-and-done things, and a few can overlap which is good because I am all about efficiency. A few things are goals about accepting my own self, like stopping dying my hair and being embarrassed about my love of nature movies and how much I adore things that are fried. A few are athletic goals that I've been wanting to do but chickened out because I was afraid to fail at them. Some are professional to make my job and my life easier. And some are just things that would give me enjoyment, like starting an instagram for my obsession with street art. But they are all things that have unique meaning to me and will allow me to grow. I'll post a copy of the list on my challenge periodically and cross things off as I accomplish them. I'd put it in my signature but I can't figure out how to make a pretty multi-colored signature with editable items and different fonts like some people have, and godamnit if I can't have the My Little Pony version than I'll just make my own. Given, then, that the challenge starts right after my birthday (I will plug this shamelessly, I am a complete attention whore), here are my items for this month: - 250 pound 1RM deadlift: The Mantis is convinced I can do this, though I find it slightly terrifying. The one good thing about my knee being janked so I can't do squats is that I am really focused on my deadlift and I am frankly kicking some ass there. My most recent workouts were 165 pounds for 3 sets of four reps. - Find a uniform: Like Steve jobs and his turtleneck, or Diane Von Furstenburg with her wrap dresses. I want to have a go-to look that always looks decent so I can stop thinking about what I'm wearing. So far it looks like my winter look is a pencil skirt with knee boots and a long sleeved top, or jeans (actually jeggings; there is no getting my quadzilla thighs in jeans anymore) with the same boots and top. I also promised myself I'd buy a decent pair of winter boots this year; Atlanta is not that cold but it's constantly wet in the winter and I'm always miserable. I want something with traction because I have a phobia of falling. - Revise the side hustle: I had a little ebay business that I ran on the side of my regular job, but it takes a ton of time for some reason and even at it's peak it only made about a hundred bucks a month. I'd be better off finding a different side hustle or just putting in more hours at my regular job. So this month I am going to give myself permission not to think about it or try to work on it. Bonus: more time for gym! Enter a powerlifting meet: I won't actually accomplish this goal over this challenge, but I'm going to attend a powerlifting meet so I can get a feel for it on the 9th, unless I have to work. I want to see how they run and what the competition is like. My gym workouts will continue on the strength end of things because I've discovered that 80 miles a week on the bike and three to four crossfit-style workouts make me want to become one with the carpet. I'm going to be working on my pull-ups a lot because I can't enter the Crossfit Open unless I can do a pull-up (even in the Master's division, where I totally am) and getting back to squatting. I did a couple bodyweight squats at the gym Monday for the first time in 5 weeks and they worked pretty well, just stiff. I'm also going to give myself permission to drop out of the online video bike training program I was using because a) it was killing me and b ) I hate riding the trainer five days a week. I'm going to mix up the trainer and outside. okay this has totally gone on long enough, you're all very patient. Go eat turkey.

Hi there! I want to purchase a list of self improvement books. But I am German. So my question is - do I purchase them in english or german? Generally I think it is easy to read in English, all of the blogs/texts I read are in English. Another thing is that reading about these topics in my native language feels weird. Maybe because I am used to read these kind of texts in English. My problem is that I am afraid that the books will be too difficult to read (for me at this point). I would not want to touch 9 books of Platon or Descartes at the moment Are these books very difficult to read (compared to Nerdfitness, I don't even think that the site is in English I just read it - same with "Level up your life book")? Have you read them as a not native English reader? 1. Rich Dad Poor Dad: http://amzn.to/1VLAklY 2. The 4-Hour Workweek: http://amzn.to/1Qn5DA5 3. How to Win Friends and Influence People: http://amzn.to/1VLAoCe 4. The 48 Laws of Power: http://amzn.to/1VLAoSK 5. The Way of the Superior Man: http://amzn.to/1Qn5EDZ 6. Man's Search for Meaning: http://amzn.to/1Qn5GM0 7. Mastery: http://amzn.to/1VLArOu 8. Mindfulness for Beginners: http://amzn.to/1VLAs4S 9. The Obstacle is the Way: http://amzn.to/1VLAslw (The List comes from This Youtube Channel about self improvement & books, It is possible that it is an affiliate link so he will earn some money for purchasing them by this link) My thoughts at the moment are; Purchase book number 3, 5 and 7 and see how it turns out. But if you think on of this books is very difficult, please let me know! Thanks in advance

Last challenge I started with the theme of doing one challenge for each Color Kid: Here's the backstory for that. Last challenge was Red Butler, and I addressed social and relationship goals and that went about as well as most challenges, started out one way, and ended up really fucking different, but still great! This time around it's LaLa Orange LaLa is very sweet, frilly, and feminine. She can often be found primping and preening until she looks, as she puts it, "just so." She is a vivacious and energetic girl who knows exactly what she wants, and she usually gets it. Though she can be a little pushy and overbearing at times, she means well. LaLa is quite flirtatious, especially with her favorite beau, Red Butler, on whom she has a giant crush. Orange, the color of energy and zest, is hers. (see why I said I have most of her already figured out, lol!) So basically she is me (or how I see myself anyways), but a super girly beauty queen version, which I am able to do, I just don't, but I think I need to find a balance in it, just like everything else. Let's work on that, shall we? Goal 1: Develop and implement a basic daily/weekly beauty routine by week 2, and continue it for the duration of the 6 weeks (dudes like smooth legs and hair that doesn't make you look like Radagast) Goal 2: Get dressed neatly everyday (a questionably clean tank top and pajama shorts, is NOT dressed) Goal 3: Drink at least 100 oz of water a day (its good for your skin) Goal 4: Follow the NFA Dumbbell Level 1 workout (because muscles are sexy)

I think it's about time for me to do a Rainbow Brite themed challenge, don't you? So this is the story behind Rainbow Brite: In a faraway place, right at the end of the rainbow, there is a magical kingdom where all the colors of the earth are created. The kingdom is called Rainbow Land, and living in this wonderful place is a lovable, creative little girl named Rainbow Brite. She uses the colors of the rainbow to make our world brighter and our hearts lighter. . Rainbow's partners are the Color Kids - seven little people with personalities as varied as the colors of the rainbow. They are responsible for their assigned colors. The villians of Rainbow Land are Murky Dismal and Lurky. They hate everything colorful and are always plotting ways to use color for trickery and evil doings so that the world will be just as murky and dismal as they are. Rainbow Brite and her forces of color challenge the forces of gloom, in a struggle to keep the world bright and colorful, and to keep our hearts hopeful and happy. I am going to do at least one challenge with each Color Kid, focusing on improving myself in the areas that are symbolized by those colors and part of the strengths of each of those Color Kids (also incorporating bits of color theory and chakra balancing too). Then I am going to combine all of that into one for a challenge focused on Rainbow Brite herself. Hopefully, by the end of this, I will have a clearer idea of my true strengths in many areas, rather than it being a little Murky Dismal. First up is Red Butler: Red is a smooth-talking, full-of-charm, fun-loving boy. He is always in search of new adventures and is ever ready to rescue anyone is distress. Though Red often bores The Kids with long and involved stories of his adventures and pursuits, his genuine love of being alive brings an uplifting spirit to all. Because his is the color of strength and passion, he is in charge of the color red. So Red is charismatic, outgoing, adventurous, passionate, energetic, goal driven, and persistent. He also gets frustrated and angers easily. I already have persistence and am passionate and helpful, but I am not very adventurous or outgoing and I definitely get frustrated and anger easily. Goal 1: "It's okay to connect." Put in a real effort to get to know and connect with people I come in contact with on a regular basis and be less standoff-ish to people I don't know well. Goal 2: Start working harder on my Yoga Teacher Training goal. Do 2 lessons per week of Khan Academy's Anatomy and Physiology course. Start working on my manifestation and gratitude journals to help me solidify what I really want and need to do to make this successful. Goal 3: Continue working on being less reactive and calmer by meditating daily and using my emotional number scale and taking time out when I need it, as well as continuing with therapy. Goal 4: Try 1 new social activity in the course of this challenge.

Hey all, Im now 35 and had a log here awhile ago and just now coming back on after a year or two layoff. my first venture I lost a bunch of weight and got nice and strong even though I stopped logging. I broke my foot in several places and because of a dvt(blood clot) in the same leg it took over a year to heal. it still gives me pain but some of that is due to me gaining the unwanted weight back on. I now weigh 328lbs and want to paleo and body weight myself down to about 210lbs before I start weight training again and then put on another 10-20 in lean muscle leaving me somewhere between 220-230. I'm a tall bastard at over 6'4 barefoot so even with that weight I am will be a skinny bastard. I plan on doing marches 5x a week and body circuits 3-4x a week until it falls off from the paleo. I blame no one but myself for the weight gain. I got depressed, ate like shit, smoked again, overall just awful health style. I am here to stop crying and keep honest, log workouts, and maybe converse a little bit with folks about the multiverse. I am a single dad to one son who is now 12 and want to be an inspiration to him in all things in this crazy life. feel free to comment and follow along as you will. I will list measurements and stats after tonights trial workout.

Hello, everyone! I'm new to the NF Rebellion, but have been reading NF articles and blogposts for YEARS. I finally decided to work up the courage and take the plunge and join the rebellion, since I feel as if I've been missing out on so much by being afraid! I'm known as exlibrispdb, but you can all just call me Libris I'm not completely new to working out, but I tend to lean towards a whole mind/body/spirit health and wellness as well wanting maximum agility, flexibility and dexterity. I'm still trying to decide which guild I belong to, but I'm hoping you all can help me out! Some of my goals are: 1. Shave off twenty-five (25) pounds in the next year! 2. Learn how to do more bodyweight exercises 3. Learn how to do lift weights! 4. Create my own workout circuit 5. Work in at least one yoga/pilates/meditative session a week! Any guidance that you rebels can give me is much appreciated; I'm seriously extremely excited and honored to be here!

I won't bother with the txtwall introduction. Long story short, I want to become a Wizard, I multiclass, and I recently got this book and I've wanted to become a mentalist since then, which is probably the RL equivalent to being a Wizard. Unfortunately, I don't have the mental abilities required to accomplish this...yet! So I am developing them here. Druids, Wizards, we all meditate, right? My last challenge turned out to be a fail halfway through. I was going for confidence, which is one of the most important characteristics to have if one wants to become a mentalist. Mine happened to be sitting at 1/10. The problem with goals related to confidence is that, well...they're sort of hard to measure, which was probably my biggest goal-setting mistake last time. What if I set goals that are indirectly related to confidence, instead? One of the main things that make me burn up with shame in social situations is my speaking ability...or lack thereof. If I improve this, I'll become more confident, and have an easier time getting a job. Double win. Main (life) goal: becoming a mentalist. I also need to become better at meditating and focusing to accomplish this, so some of the goals from the last challenge are still present. Especially since the last challenge didn't really count anyway ;P 1.1: Meditation: pass/fail. I usually go to the gym at 6:30, get back around 7:50, and then leave for school/work around 9:00. Everyone in the house is (usually) still asleep during that time, so I WILL USE THAT TIME TO DO MY MEDITATION. During the last two challenges in which meditation was a goal, I was often interrupted by family members, or unable to focus do excessive noise. This is going to stop. Also, how does one pick a mantra? "Om" just doesn't seem to be doing it for me. 1.2: Lumosity: pass/fail. Self-explanatory. I should also focus on the attention and problem-solving exercises. Especially the latter, because it's my weakest area right now 1.3: Nax speaks! I loathe the sound of my voice, and the way in which I often mispronounce words, mumble excessively, and fail to enunciate. I used to be in the campus ToastMasters club, an organization dedicated to helping people become better speakers and leaders. It was really fun...until I got on the exec and the club fell apart, but that's another story for another time. Anyway, for a while it seemed that my speaking abilities were improving, and it felt great. This was about 3 years ago, though, and while there are other ToastMasters clubs in the city, I currently lack the time and money to rejoin. I do, however, still have the beginner's manuals... 1.3.1: Perform speaking exercises from the TM beginner's manual...which I just realized I can't find. I'll find it before the challenge begins. Pass/fail. 1.3.2: Record myself speaking on webcam once per week, and post it. The fear of looking retarded on the Internet will hold me accountable for quest 1.3.1. Pass/fail. Life quest: Finish my thesis...or find a job I enjoy. I have no idea how to accomplish this yet. I just know it will have to be broken down into more manageable goals. I'll do this before the 24th. I'm also adding some side quests that won't be graded. These are habits that I (mostly) developed in previous challenges and that I want to keep improving. At the very least, I don't want these habits to go away, so seeing them here every day will hopefully be helpful. 3.1: Reduce nuts/trail mix intake 3.2: Increase vegetable intake 3.3: "Win" the staring contest 3.4: Don't pick at face 3.5: Alcohol on 2 days per week, ONLY