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First time posting or responding to a challenge; it's about time to commit! So, my goals over the next six weeks are: 1. Train Muay Thai (techically Khun Khmer, Cambodian pre-cursor) at least 2X week 2. Take at least two yoga classes a week 3. Drink no more than 2 beers a day (working in the service industry makes this harder than I'd like it to be) 4. Try tango for six weeks; if I don't like it fine but at least try it for six consecutive weeks. I've got some more fitness goals but for now I'm following Steve's advice and limiting myself to these. Let's see how it goes, good luck to everyone else! JamesP

Hail, Adventurers! This marks the beginning of my inaugural Nerd Fitness Six Week Challenge. I am both excited and nervous for it, but that is what makes life worth living; doing something that scares you! My four goals for this challenge include two exercise goals, one diet goal, and a goal to level up my life. They are as follows; 1) Walk at least 40,000 steps per week. The ladies in my office are participating in a 10,000 steps per day challenge for two weeks, and I plan to continue the challenge without pushing myself too far. Working in an office administration position and just getting back to work from a broken ankle makes tacking on extra miles a particular challenge for me, so I came up with an average quota per week. I am awarding +3 Stamina and +1 Constitution points upon successful completion of this goal. 2) Do three body weight workouts per week, with increasing difficulty. I have already been doing body weight workouts so I am going to actively work towards doing ten PROPER pushups as part of the circuit. For successful completion of this goal I will gain +2 Strength, +2 Charisma, and +1 Stamina points. 3) Drink one cup of coffee per day. I usually drink a pot of coffee per day, so this will be a particular challenge! This challenge is mainly to reduce my intake of bad calories, as I put a lot of cream and sugar in my coffee. I do plan to drink tea with caffeine (mate, perhaps?) if I feel a dire need for a pick-me-up. I look to acquire +3 Constitution points at the end of this challenge. 4) Do my homework every night. I am enrolled in an upgrading course (Math 20-1) to meet the admission requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. I have other upgrading courses to take as well, and a long road ahead to meet my goals. Keeping up my marks in my upgrading courses will earn me +3 Wisdom points. I look forward to any feedback and support I can get, and will post my stats and pictures on this thread tomorrow. For the Rebellion!

As the sun rises over the distant city skyline, I know it is time to begin my journey. All the signs point to me getting my a$$ in gear and really pushing forward. Before I really go involved in Nerd Fitness, I made a pact on my own. I spent the 6 weeks of lent transforming myself. I did not give anyting up, per say, but I did push myself to change. I started the lent season with the goals of loosing weight & gaining physical and spirtual strength. I got 2 out three. I did not loose any weight, but I did loose inches and gained strength, but physically and spiritually. I am using this challenge as a way to move even more forward. Goal #1 Strength Train I want to bench 225 by the end of the six weeks. My max right now is 165, so I think it is a do abe goal. A = 2 sets of 5 C = 1 set of 5 F = Not making the goal. Points: +3 STR, +2 CON Goal #2 Weight Loss I want to loose 10# by the end of this challenge. I will do this with a combination of 80/20 Paleo/Primal diet and 16/8 Intermeitant Fasting (LeanGains) A = 10+ lbs lost C = 6 - 10 lbs lost F = <5 lbs lost Points: +2 CON, +2 WIS Goal #3 Move Frequently at a Slow Pace Get out and walk during lunch. Measured on a week to week basis A = 3x+ /week C = 2x/week F = <2x/week Points: +1 STR, +2 DEX Goal #4 Read from the Good Book Open up the bible randomly until a passage "speaks" to me. A = 3x+/week C = 2x/week F = <2x/week Points: +3 WIS Feedback appreciated. Onward and Upward!!!

Hello. I just wanthed to put a little about me before i start. My name is Jono, i'm 27 and i'm tired of being overweight and unfit because of the thing i do to myself. My personal favourite bad habit has been to eat processed cheese slices on toast (half a loaf of toast) and drink Dr. Pepper. All Day. I have had a few successes this last year or so, In january i celebrated a year of not smoking, which feels great, and in october last year i managed to run a marathon, which made me so proud, because i had set a long term goal and achieved it. As far as why i am a warrior: I'm 5'11 and 228lbs (103.3 kg, 16.2 stone) Whenever i tell anyone that, they are always amazed. I look like i weigh a great deal less, because i am basically a "giant dwarf" (in th Tolkein sense, not in an offensive way) wide shoulders, short legs. Built for being fast over short distances. I'm sickj to the back teeth though, of having a big belly. I look like a capital D from the side, and whenever i feel like i'm having a "slim Day" and put on my better fitting clothes, i get a reminder of why i do so much running! I haven't ever posted on the site before (long time listener, first time caller) but it's really about time that i did something where i am accountable not just to myself. So here it is, a public declaration of my 6 week goals. 1: Perform cardio activity 6 days a week (40 mins/day) I've never been very cosistent eith my running, or with cycling either, so for the next six weeks (and further) i'm aiming to build and maintain a base of cardio fitness, the likes of which i've never before had. I want to be able to charge into battle at the drop of a hat. Well, at least run for the bus if i need to. 2:Complete the "Hundered Pushups app" I started this app three weeks ago, then had a nasty cycling accident, and i'm rehabbing(?) my right shoulder, which thankfully isn't painful anymore, but does feel very weak. So i restarted the app from week one day one, in an attempt to build up strength. Today (April 16th) i'm on week two day two level one, and today is a rest day. 3: Pull ups. I've done one good form pull up in my entire 27 years on earth. I want more. By the end of this six week period i intend to have done at least two. Having almost no arm strength though, I need to build up. I've been following Scooby1961 on the 'tube for some time now, and because his video was so eaqsy to understand, and his rules so easy to follow, I'm using his programme of shoulder and arm (and back) strenghening to achieve this goal. Video here: I'm gurrently on phase one of this, and in the aftermath of the bike crash, i'm working my way back to completing 8 of the plank walks. 4: Strength So as you can see, i'm aiming to slim down with the cardio, build core with the push ups, build arms and back and shoulders with the pull ups and finally i want to make myself proprerly strong, and all round warrior. So to that end, I'm going to be doing two major strength workouts a week (gotta fit it in around work, and with other workouts, and recovery required, three more workouts is at best, unrealistic) I've recently invested in some kettlebells, cos they looked like fun, turns out they are, so i'm going to use them as the basis of my overall strength building. I got the "Steve Cotter Extreme kettlebells" DVD, i got my 'bells, and i've got a bit of space, so here goes. Hey, just to finish this post thing off, i want to tank you for reading this, i know it's very long and rambling, and probably filled with spelling mikstases and honestly, i'm boring myself by now, but i needed to add in a word here about diet. I've really got my diet under control these past couple of months, i get a very decent amount of protein every day, and my carbs are always from whole grains and stuff like that. My hydration is something which comes quite naturally, i feel like i'm the only person i know who has ever drunk enough water anyway! So in diet terms, it's just really maintainance, i don't want to add anything new or special to it, i don't feel i need to change so i won't, just keep going, and take each day as it comes. Thanks again for taking the time to look in on me, Jono

Hello! This is my first challenge and my first time here at the monastery. I am honored to walk this path with each of you. *bowing* A bit of background on me: I'm in my late-ish 30s, 5'10", and about 190 pounds. I am a third-degree black belt in Shorin-ryu karate, but since graduating with my MBA and moving into a new more time-consuming position, I've been drifting away from the dojo, which needs to change. I know it's a matter of prioritization. Further, my core and upper body strength are lacking. I can do sets of squats without breaking a sweat, but even a single pushup eludes me. I was so excited to find a concentrated routine that will correct some of that disparity in the NF beginner body weight workout. I despise tracking each and every calorie I eat. I've done it. Paleo makes logical sense to me, so I've been experimenting with it a bit. I really love the idea of having a few general rules to follow and then listening to your body. (I've been ignoring my body's signals for so long, it's going to take some time to tune in again.) I've never really focused on cooking, so moving towards paleo is going involve many, many new experiences. Finally, when I started my new job, I would come home completely wiped and would spend good portions of my evenings tuned out in the television. That habit intensified as I went through a breakup last fall. The escape and brain recovery time made sense at first, but now it's become a non-productive habit and I have things to do! I'd like to take my PMP certification exam by the end of April at the latest, so I need my evenings back. So! To bring in the nerdiness and as I adore Joss Whedon's work, especially Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this first challenge will be the Scooby Gang (Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles) vs. the Big Bad of season 1, The Master, an ancient vampire who had been trapped under Sunnydale for many hundreds of years, plotting his escape. Fitness goals Buffy - Having a proper Watcher again, in season 1, Buffy upped her fighting skills with regular training. Goal: 12 training sessions at the dojo (+3 STA, +2 DEX) Grading: Pass/fail. Train 12+ times for full credit. 11 or fewer means failure and no credit. Xander - While never adept in physical confrontations with the forces of darkness in season 1, Xander contributed his manly strength to the cause as best he could. Goal: 3 beginner body weight workouts per week (+3 STR) Grading: 16-18 workouts for full credit, 14-15 workouts for half credit. 13 or fewer workouts mean failure and no credit. Willow - Magic involves combining strange ingredients in novel ways, which I'm sure Willow first learned in season 1. Goal: 4 paleo meals per week (+3 CON) Grading: 5-6 weeks for full credit, 4 weeks for half-credit, 3 weeks or fewer means failure and no credit. Life goal Giles - How can you read the requisite books if you are a slay-, uhm, slave, slave to the television? Goal: 30 minutes of television Monday through Thursday evenings excluding social events (+ 3 WIS, +1 CHA) Grading: 6 weeks for full credit, 4-5 weeks for half-credit, 3 of fewer weeks means failure and no credit. Starting stats 191.2 lbs. 33% body fat according to the Navy (which seems high) and 23% according to the YMCA (which seems low). I'm going to split the difference and say 28%. BMI (for what it's worth): 27.4 Spreadsheet for this challenge: http://goo.gl/MjBHi

Sheesh! I leave for like two months and you guys redecorate without me! Glad you didn't change the locks. I like the new look, but I hate when my whole post vanishes (which happened to me just a moment ago). Bugger. So ... I sort of took about 2 months off heavy training and I'm getting back into it. I also took about 2 months to realize that I have a seriously freaking ice cream addiction. Tried to quit cold turkey at new years. Lasted a week. Yeesh. So here's my new approach I treat myself on Friday IF my diet was clean the rest of the week. that gives me only one say to have bad food AND it gives me 6 days where I am motivated to keep my diet clean . if my diet sucks that week? I want a week. Fair. So far so good. Meantime, my goals are sort of like this: a: CUBE lifting and MovNat workouts to get back into gains and to train for the Mud Ninja b: Keep the diet clean (as mentioned above) c: keep money saved (the house needs to be evaluated soon and it will require some work) so I'm going to limit eating out to once during the week and twice (tops) on the weekend. This should save me some money to put in savings. So my REAL goals are: 15% lift improvement (from now) 10 pound fat loss (recalculated based on BFP loss, not based on just my weight) Save an extra 250 dollars. Rewards: Let's go with 15% lifts: 3 strepgth (+1 for every additional 5%) 10 pounds fat lost: 2 dex, 2 stamina (+1 stamina if it's more) 250 dollars: 3 wisdom (+1 for every hundred after) That gives me goals plus a reason to exceed them.

Goals 1) Lose 10 lbs by the end of this challenge. A = 10+ lbs. (+3 Dex +2 Cha) C = 5 lbs. (+2Dex +1 Cha) D = <5lbs. (0) I've flirted with weight training and calorie counting at different times, now lets get them together and see what beautiful babies they make! 2) Freeweight workout 20-30 min 3x/week, before work. I plan on using a modified Beginner Body Weight Workout. A = 3x (+3 Str +2 Sta) C = 2x (+2 Str +1 Sta) D = 1x (+1 Str ) I'm not counting instruction/practice time at TKD class. That's just a bonus! 3) Any Suggestions? 4) 15-30 min a night for Bible reading/study/prayer before bed. A =6x/wk (+3 Wis) C = 5x/wk (+2 Wis) D = 1x/wk (+1 Wis) I will have to upload stats and measurements later, I can't really do it at work STR - 3 DEX - 2 STA - 2 CON - 3 WIS - 3 CHA - 2

ROUND TWO, FIGHT! I'm really excited about this challenge. For one thing, my boyfriend just joined the rebellion! So we'll be doing parts of this challenge together (the diet parts). I am super pumped about this. For another thing, I learned a lot from my first challenge. I've narrowed the scope of my goals this time around, and am going to be measuring things a lot more accurately. My only compound goal relates to diet. I think my goals are a lot more reasonable this time -- for example, my strength goal is at a more beginner level, and I dropped the easy reading goal from my life challenge, which distracted me last time from the writing goal. (If I keep up the writing goal for these challenges, maybe I'll actually have a draft of the book this year. Wouldn't that be neat!?) I JUST WROTE THE WORD "GOAL" SO MANY TIMES IT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE ANYMORE. Anyway. On to business! Beginning Stats: Level 2 Half-Elf Druid Height: 5'10" Measurements: (Wow. These are embarrassing) Weekly tracking marked with **, the rest I'll measure at the end of the challenge, just out of curiosity. Neck: 13" Chest: (tape directly under armpits) 34" Ribcage: 29.5" **Bicep: 10" **High Waist: 28" **Low Waist/belly: 36" **Hips: 38.5" **Thigh: 22" Calf: 14" [sTR] - 3 // [DEX] - 6.5 // [sTA] - 1 // [CON] - 6.5 // [WIS] - 4.5 // [CHA] - 3 Fitness Goals: I will be tracking my measurements this challenge, every Monday morning. I don't want to set goals related to measurements because I don't know what a reasonable expectation would be. I want to take some circumference off my middle and my thighs, and I want to gain some circumference around my arms and calves, but I have no idea how much. Let's call this a "side-effect test." The soft goal here is that I want my arms to look a lot more defined and I want my clothes to hang better. (Eventually I want my whole body to be a lot more defined, and I want to be able to spontaneously walk around on my hands like it's no big deal. Also back flips. But, baby steps!) The other side effects I would like to see relate to flexibility. I'd like to be able to do a real forward fold -- head to knees. I'd like to be able to step my foot through downward dog into a lunge without thumping it on the mat and wiggling it ungracefully up to my palms. I want to be able to do crow pose. Overall, less squishy and floppy, more dense and controlled. 1. I am a yogaholic. The challenge: Spend at least 4 hours a week doing yoga. Last challenge I set a goal of 3 hours and didn't quite make it...but I did go from 0 hours to 2 hours! This time I would like to have the same increase. I only get the strength point if I get a B or above. +2 [sTR], +3 [DEX] 2. I am strong. The challenge: 5 full push-ups in a row This weekend I assessed my push-up ability. It was a push-up state of the union. Long story short, I can do one full push-up, or twelve push-ups from my knees. In order to get to 5, I need to do push-ups at least every other day. I only get the stamina point if I get a B or above. +4 [sTR], +1 [sTA] Extra Bonus Awesomepants goals (accumulated along the way)- Post to this thread. Diet Goal: 3. You are what you eat -- I'm healthy, and I know what I'm made of. The challenge: adhere to the "banned foods/controlled substances" list that Roback3 and I are sharing; eat veggies with two meals every day. Adjusted this because the other one was stupid. Banned foods: - Soda - Coffee Drinks - White bread - Ice cream (this one is Rob's. I can't eat ice cream ) - Sweets at work (this one is mine.) Controlled substances: - basically anything with sugar. +2 [CON] Life Goal: 4. I am a writer. The challenge: Complete 30 pages of my book Yep. 30 more pages. Grading: A = 30 pages, B = 20 pages, C = 10 pages, D = 5 pages, F = 0 pages +3 [WIS]

Intro Hi there! I'm SaturnGirl, AKA Ali. I've been lurking on NerdFitness for quite some time, but finally decided to join in for my very first challenge! Ever since I was a kid, I've been into comic books, and my very favorite is the Legion of Superheroes (a team of super-powered teenagers from various planets 1000 yrs in the future). Saturn Girl, my avatar, is one of the team's founders - a badass telepath! When I was a kid, I desperately wanted to join the team... but of course, I am neither super-powered, nor capable of traveling to the 31st century (or fictional, for that matter). But, it's never too late to become a badass! So this is all about my quest to be a superhero worthy of the LSH! The LSH is notorious for their rejections... I definitely don't want to be the next Rainbow Girl, sent away with a consolation prize! Goals 1. Get 20-30 min of physical activity every day. It doesn't need to be hardcore every day (esp since that wouldn't be good for my recovery or motivation), but just getting my blood pumping in some way (and yes, dancing the Shurg counts in my book). Heroes need to be ready to spring into action at any time - no time for slacking off! This will also contribute to my long-term goal of training for a 10 miler in April, so I'll be alternating between running (based on Hal Higdon's training plan) and weight training. +1 DEX, +4 STA A - 7 days of activity per wkB - 6 daysC - 5 daysD - 3-4 daysF - > 3 days 2. Do a proper push-up. Right now I can only do 4 push ups... on my knees. I have weak little T-Rex arms - how am I going to hold up my awesome futuristic ray gun unless I work on my own guns? While I do my weight training several times a week, I plan to follow Steve's tips on how to do a proper push-up - starting with wall push-ups and working my way up to a full superheroic push-up. +4 STR A - 1 or more proper push-ups!B - 10 Knee push-upsC - 5 Knee push-upsD - 10 Incline push-upsF - > 10 Incline push-ups 3. Get at least five servings of fruit and veggies a day. I'd like to incorporate a serving of fruit or veggies into every meal & snack. I rely too much on processed meals when "eating healthy." Instead of taking after Matter-Eater Lad and eating junk, I need to get more whole foods and good stuff into my diet, and this is a good way to ease into it. +2 CON A - 5 or more Servings per dayB - 4 ServingsC - 3 ServingsD - 2 ServingsF - 0 or 1 Serving 4. (Life Goal) - Get the Legion Headquarters (aka my apartment) ready to host a party! My bf and I moved into our current place a few months ago, and we're still not completely unpacked/organized. We're both rather slack when it comes home things, so I'd like to change that. We really want have friends over for a party in the next month or so, so I've identified six items to work on during the challenge that I think will get HQ up to snuff! Who's ready to do the Shug? +3 CHA +1 WIS1. Get on a regular cleaning schedule to keep the place looking nice (using unfuckyourhabitat).2. Clear last boxes out of dining room.3. Procure dining set and/or folding chairs. 4. Get a folding screen for cat litter corner.5. Finish putting up artwork.6. Begin working on organizing second bedroom. A - 6 items completedB - 5 items completedC - 4 items completedD - 3 items completedF - > 3 items completed

SEQUENCE 1 The last few days had been a blur for the young woman. This had all started as she tried to go home from work - when suddenly the world exploded into over-exposed colors. Dirt, concrete and worse flew into the air, contrasted by the strange neon-purple sky. Not being one for sticking around during danger, she ran as hard as she could for as far she could go. Her chest burned as she cursed everything and as she felt something strike her head. She awoke to the comfort of her bed and a new text on her phone. Swallowing thickly, she made her way out of bed as stealthily as she could. After sweeping the apartment, she approached the 'R' marked envelope - weary but at least sure there were no intruders in her home. Begin Training. Take care not to injure yourself, but prepare - you're stronger than you think. - Insanity Fit Test, 4 days a week. Grade based on total sessions.- S Rank: 24. A Rank: 21-23 B Rank:16-20 C Rank: 14-16 D Rank: 12-14 F: Less than 12 Begin Triage. Sometimes the right thing at the wrong moment is worse than nothing at all. -No food past 9 pm. Grade based on total days- S Rank: 42 days. A Rank: 37-41. B Rank: 33-36. C Rank: 29-32. D Rank: 25-28. F: Less than 24. Begin the foundation. You have cut the poisons, but you must flush them out. - 72 oz. water a day aka 3 filled bottles. Grade based on total days.- S Rank: 42 days. A Rank: 37-41. B Rank: 33-36. C Rank: 29-32. D Rank: 25-28. F: Less than 24. Begin Accountability. You have run from even the most basic of obligations, fearlessness is not required - only that you face them with full strength. -Organize finances. Set up automatic payments for all bills that I can, pay all the rest ON TIME- S Rank: Pay all bills early, get rent without using grace period. A Rank: Pay all bills on time, Rent in grace period. C: Late on bills, use grace period. F: Late on Bills, Late on Rent. So, I hope you don't mind the writing thingy ahead of my goals. I'm very excited to be getting into all of this.

So here is my first challenge, lets see what happens. Currently I weigh 65.2Kg. 13 inch calfs 30 inch waist 33 inch chest 11 inch bicep (right one slightly larger, go figure) 19 inch thighs. Something of an elf then. Currently pushing 6 reps of 32 Kg, so lets up those Squat 27.5 Kg, lets up that Deadlift 35 kg, lets up that, but when form is perfect, no point rushing. Pull ups 6 jump and hold and slow release - up those too. inverted rows 10 at the moment, continue until perfect and up Chin ups are 4 t the moment. So, targets/goals.... 1) Lets get weight up to 68 KG, I think this will be achievable. This is based on good weight, not fat but lean muscle (or as much as can be lean muscle). Diet to continue following meats, proteins, eggs, oats, carrots, bananas, chocolate milk (for after exercise calories and much needed fat and protein), rice, full wheat pasta - etc etc. 2) Lets up all of the weight/reps above. I know this isnt exactly smart, but I will need to push more weight or do more reps. This will hopefully be achievable. 3) Gym three times a week and jog twice a week. I want to do this and achieve all this. and an additional extra, bonus point of sorts, lets get 5Km of running done at least. I will do an update once a week, so six updates. If you see me slacking, see me not achieving, hold me accountable. Bitch, Troll and get me moving. Thanks... First challenge, lets start as we mean to go on.