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I've been out of the NF loop for a while, but I'm back and ready to commit to a month of focused adventuring. Goal #1: Lose 10 pounds My weight has been sneaking up over the past year or so, mostly through neglect. Diet needs a bit of maintenance, mainly cutting down on starchy carbs (especially bread). The plan is to try one new vegetable a week, make sure I have at least some fruit and/or veggies every day, and exercise due diligence with high-glycemic foods (did I mention how much I love bread?) Going for more fibre, good-quality protein in reasonable serving sizes, and avoiding stress- or boredom-eating. Goal #2: Outdoors activities every Sunday I've already started this, going snowshoeing or cross-country skiing on Sunday afternoons for the past month. I'm going to continue this, alternating between the two and also looking for one or two new places to do them. Goal #3: Some other fitness activity on Thursdays This could be just a matter of going to the gym and/or the pool, but I want to try out something new. Wondering how hard it would be to learn rock climbing. Goal #4: Travel planning! I need to be in the northwest United States this August for the upcoming total eclipse of the sun. I don't yet know exactly where I'm going to be on August 21, or if I can get the vacation time (already put in a request, but it won't be official till the seniority-phase vacation deadline, which IMO is at the end of February). Regardless, I'm going to be researching possible destinations and chatting with a travel agent, and generally getting this show on the road.

Hit 30.25 miles on my snow shoes for the year yesterday!

Did I ever mention I love alliteration? You may have noticed. Still doing a fat lot of nothing in regards to Challenges this winter. Here's my latest attempt to get off my ass I think I've gained about 5 pounds since Christmas. When I discovered that, I threw out all my leftover goodies (go me!) and started getting my diet back on track. I've been super poor from Christmas and dating, so my food options are a little limited to whatever is left in my house. I'm TRYING to eat as healthy as possible, but when you don't have money for groceries, but you have lots of Gift Certificates to eat out, it can be rough. But enough excuses! That's what a challenge is for. That's the definition of a Challenge. No one said it would be easy. So let's get 'er done! Here's me right now: My Goals... 1. Lose 1 pound per week, for a total of 6 pounds over the course of the Challenge - this will be done as I have done it before. Paleo. Less sugar, less wheat, less processed junk, more good, real, clean food! 2. Go snowshoeing, Skating and Swimming at least once each during the Challenge. There was a NF Meetup planned for a snowshoeing adventure but it was cancelled to due NO SNOW! >.< But I WILL reschedule! It's been YEARS since I've been. 3. Do a workout AT LEAST once a week - I'm starting small, because I've done ONE workout ALL winter. Maybe fall and winter. It's pretty darn sad. So baby steps. My goal is once, but if I can manage two or three, that'll be FAN-freaking-TASTIC. 4. Hike at least once per week - my usual. I always do this one. I think I've only missed one week all fall/winter, and that was near Christmas.. and possibly "slushing" (it doesn't really snow here lol). It's been cold, and wet, but I have been getting out. It's wonderful. I even did a late hike and ended up at the summit at sunset. It was beautiful and I got to use my flashlight! Cooool! Personal Goal: LOVE LIFE Well, my love life has been tipsy turvy for the last..... 5 months, I guess. Broke up with my long-distance boyfriend in August, dated a bit, met someone and had an intense, flash-in-the-pan, heartbreaking relationship in Oct/Nov, and I've been dating ever since. "Dating" is all new to me. I've always been a serial monogamist. I'm trying to actually date, and make good choices, and not ignore red flags this time. I'm insanely optimistic and a hopeless romantic, which has definitely gotten my heart broken and led to a lot if disappointment. So I'm trying to find a balance between being hopeful for the future, and staying critical and being careful with my heart. This time around I'm being picky! I want my next relationship to be my last. Definitely have to find someone active and who eats well, so that I don't get sucked into bad habits again. I've got to find a potential Rebel and convert him! Wish me luck!

Vancouver, BC Holiday Meetup Where: Cypress Mountain When: Sunday, December 29th Who: Anyone! You! That's right, you, right there. You can rent snowshoes on the mountain. Here's the website for more info: http://cypressmountain.com/snowshoeing Post or PM me if you'd like to join us.

Fall & Winter are my Kryptonite. Last Fall & Winter I gained 10 pounds. This fall I said "I won't let that happen again!" and then proceeded to fall off the wagon and gain 5 pounds immediately. Thankfully I've lost the 5 pounds I gained (PHEW!) but that was a close call. I failed horribly in the last Challenge. I only achieved one of my goals (Hiking at least once per week), but barely even scraped the surface of the rest. I stopped updating my Thread and stopped checking the Forums. I really don't want a repeat of last year - back tracking REALLY sucks. So far this season, I have not made Fitness a priority (my heart was my priority and I found an amazing man that I am now in a relationship with! <3 <3 <3). I plan to increase the importance of Healthy Living slowly and surely throughout this current Challenge. And because ya'll know I love photos, here is me hiking in the snow on Cypress Mountain near my house: And here's me being Batgirl on Hallowe'en: I am going on vacation to Salt Spring Island and Vancouver Island (Tofino/Long Beach & Victoria) starting tomorrow, and returning on the 15th or 16th. I therefore will NOT be updating my Thread during that time, but I'll still be working away at my goals. Which are....... 1. Continue to Hike (or snowshoe!) at least once per week 2. Work out at least 3x per week. This can include: Strength Training, Flexibility/Yoga, or Swimming. 3. Clean up my diet. Get rid of all the leftover Hallowe'en Candy! Less breads, pastas and other winter comfort foods. Stop with the Starbucks Holiday drinks! Enough already! Personal Goal: Share my Passion for Paleo and Focus on Fitness with my new boyfriend. Make some workout plans together, take him hiking, go swimming, skating, and snowshoeing together, invest in some new workout gear together, try out some new Paleo recipes on him, show him my favorite NF articles... Oh yeah, here he is... (in a "Comfy Fort I built in my closet, which is guarded by a giant pink baby unicorn. Ok, pictures of the Comfy Fort to follow as well.)