Search the Community

The Muddy Belle the Adventure Continues The Backstory with James having recently undergone her transformation from jtggodqos to the cracked belle, it was time to really push herself to the next step. with her best friend and partner Brian, James made her way towards the land of Mud Monsters. great turmoil was engulfing the land as creatures of all types were caking the innocent residents in gunk, setting up barricades and cages all over, preventing even those who broke free of the muck from successfully leaving to get help. James knew this was going to be her most daunting and most difficult task ever. with a set of thirteen or so fights during the war, James could not let individual defeats prevent her from winning overall. moreover, James was still dealing with injuries incurred in previous battles. she had to ensure that no matter her mood or mindset on a given day, she was going to push hard and train harder. will James's striving for perfectionism get in the way of success? will she be able to overcome her injuries, working to strengthen them while still knowing when to let them heal? will she be able to save the people in the land overtaken by the Mud Monsters? stay tuned to find out!! The Frontstory I used to be very active in NerdFitness and with my fitness improvement process. (if you don't recognise me, it's because I used to hang out with the Rebels or Adventurers.) but so many changes occurred in my life (including moving literally to the other side of the country) that I got off track, and I've yet to get back on. well, it's time. Brian and I signed up for a Tough Mudder in July, and I HAVE to be ready for it. I have three months to train. I can't back out now; no excuses will be sufficient; and I will have to really give it my all. so for the next two months, I will be focused on HIIT, lifting, and jogging practices. (this is a continuation of my previous Challenge.) so let's see how it goes.... The Goals QUEST: Fight (Tough Mudder) 1] INPUT: keep caloric intake paleo-influenced and under 1600kcal, on average - kcal may be edited after additional research and experimentation. - I can't do strict paleo (tried and repeatedly failed), but I can make it the direction in which I aim. 2] OUTPUT: exercise everyday (even just 10-minutes of walking or jump roping) - unless otherwise planned, daily workouts are to occur first thing every morning. - I'm following the fitness routine the Tough Mudder website suggested to prepare for the Half (I'm not fit enough to do the whole 10-miles and 21 obstacles yet). - on the plan's rest days, I will at least do a walk or something. just to keep my body active and to stay in the routine of working out daily. QUEST: Create 3] BLOG: write one article on each Tue, Thu, and over the weekend (Sat or Sun) - I can write about anything - I also need to write up a topic/prompt list QUEST: Learn 4] SPANISH: earn 30pts in Duolingo's Spanish course every day at 1100h - it's really just as simple as that. takes 20-30 minutes a day. The Reminders QUEST: Fight (Tough Mudder) 1] INPUT: keep caloric intake paleo-influenced and under 1600kcal, on average - Reward: - Punishment: any day I go over my goal, I cannot have any snack the following day 2] OUTPUT: exercise everyday (even just 10-minutes of walking or jump roping) - Reward: - Punishment: any day I don't workout, QUEST: Create 3] BLOG: write one article on each Tue, Thu, and over the weekend (Sat or Sun) - Reward: each week I successfully write three times, - Punishment: QUEST: Learn 4] SPANISH: earn 30pts in Duolingo's Spanish course every day at 1100h - Reward: - Punishment: any day I don't earn 30pts,

The Muddy Belle The Backstory with James having recently undergone her transformation from jtggodqos to the cracked belle, it was time to really push herself to the next step. with her best friend and partner Brian, James made her way towards the land of Mud Monsters. great turmoil was engulfing the land as creatures of all types were caking the innocent residents in gunk, setting up barricades and cages all over, preventing even those who broke free of the muck from successfully leaving to get help. James knew this was going to be her most daunting and most difficult task ever. with a set of thirteen or so fights during the war, James could not let individual defeats prevent her from winning overall. moreover, James was still dealing with injuries incurred in previous battles. she had to ensure that no matter her mood or mindset on a given day, she was going to push hard and train harder. will James's striving for perfectionism get in the way of success? will she be able to overcome her injuries, working to strengthen them while still knowing when to let them heal? will she be able to save the people in the land overtaken by the Mud Monsters? stay tuned to find out!! The Frontstory I used to be very active in NerdFitness and with my fitness improvement process. (if you don't recognise me, it's because I used to hang out with the Rebels or Adventurers.) but so many changes occurred in my life (including moving literally to the other side of the country) that I got off track, and I've yet to get back on. well, it's time. Brian and I signed up for a Tough Mudder in July, and I HAVE to be ready for it. I have three months to train. I can't back out now; no excuses will be sufficient; and I will have to really give it my all. so for the next three months, I will be focused on HIIT, lifting, and jogging practices. so let's see how it goes.... The Goals QUEST: Fight (Tough Mudder) 1] INPUT: keep caloric intake paleo-influenced and under 1600kcal, on average - kcal may be edited after additional research and experimentation. - I can't do strict paleo (tried and repeatedly failed), but I can make it the direction in which I aim. 2] OUTPUT: exercise everyday (even just 10-minutes of walking or jump roping) - unless otherwise planned, daily workouts are to occur first thing every morning. - I'm following the fitness routine the Tough Mudder website suggested to prepare for the Half (I'm not fit enough to do the whole 10-miles and 21 obstacles yet). - on the plan's rest days, I will at least do a walk or something. just to keep my body active and to stay in the routine of working out daily. QUEST: Create 3] BLOG: create a blog schedule and stick to it - currently thinking about first one on Tue, a second on Thu, and a third over the weekend. QUEST: Learn 4] SPANISH: earn 30pts in Duolingo's Spanish course every day - it's really just as simple as that. takes 20-30 minutes a day..

Trogdor was a man… I mean, he was a dragon man! Or maybe he was just a dragon… But he was still TROGDOR! MAIN QUEST: Build Better Arms I have a shoulder injury. I have weak upper body strength. I want to be able to do push-ups without being on my knees. I just want to be stronger, in general. My arms also wouldn’t mind looking all sexy and toned like. That’s going to be a pleasant side effect. The goal is to focus on my arms with the new resistance bands I got, as well as getting in my cardio Goal 1: Burninating the Countryside… I’ve long wanted to do some Neila Ray workouts, so this is finally the time. I’m between programs, nothing is inspiring me… so let’s just play a bit, shall we? Monday – Buffy Workout Tuesday – Catwoman Workout Wednesday – Night’s Watch Workout Thursday – Harley Quinn Workout Friday – Mocking Jay Workout Saturday – Hold My Beer Workout Sunday - Rest Goal 2: Burninating the Peasants… I am partaking in the Great Cycle Challenge - an amazing fundraiser for the organization I work for. I bought a bike... I set a goal... I hope to fundraise to meet my modest little goal of $500 to support leading edge research to help treat and cure pediatric cancer. If you can, I'd love your support! My goal is to ride 100 miles in June. We'll be 8 days in at the start of the challenge, but no worries. I haven't ridden a bike in over five years... so 100 miles in June will certainly be a challenge. It's fantastic cardio, though! I'm really excited about this one. Goal 3: Burninating All the Peoples… Build an arm workout plan with resistance bands… and then do it. This is TBD right now. I'll update with the actual plan soon. Life Side Quest: And Their Thatched-Roof Cottages! Duolingo 3 nights a week for 30 minutes for German for a stronger BRAIN! I have been losing so much of my German that I need to do something. I'm going to start light with Duolingo and then hopefully this will get me back on track to use my Rosetta Stone again (level 4). I don't want to lose my language skill. I love Germany! I love the language! I am such a Germanophile it isn't funny. I own three dirndls, for Pete's sake! This will be all kinds of good for my brain.

Note: I am starting this week because it fits the timeline of my other goals better. Deal with it Those who have followed me before know I've been struggling with focus. It's like I made it from Caterpie to Metapod but then I just got stuck. I'd like to be a Butterfree again. I'd like to make it through this plateau and through this challenge without falling off the face of the planet. So I'm setting some goals I know I can achieve because I have been planning on them for awhile and I'm finally determine. I think. Main Quest: Lose 4% of my total starting body weight (152lbs) I need to lose 6.08 pounds to lose 4% of my current body weight. I can do this. It is entirely possible. I have been stuck on the plateau for too long, so I threw some skin in the game and joined Shaun T's DietBet challenge. I am hoping that the $30 buy in is enough to motivate me into really pushing myself these next 4 weeks. Goal One: Complete the 21 Day Fix I am leading and participating in a challenge group for the 21 Day Fix. It's both meal and workout focused and I need that. I need to do both in tandem. It seems like when I do one really well, the other suffers, so here is to daily workouts for 21 Days and daily meal plans. Goal Two: Follow the 21 Day Fix Meal Plan There is going to be temptation to sway off the 21 Day Fix meal plan I have spent many hours creating for myself. I will not do it. I won't. I can't. Our grocery bill is going to be higher these next 3 weeks and I need to do right by our finances and right by my determination to stay on track and eat what I say I am going to eat. No extra snacks, no skipping my meal for a treat at work... I got this. Goal Three: Core Work 3x Per Week I have a little vanity goal for CONVergence and that is to wear my Launch (Dragon Ball) costume without feeling shy. That means I need to focus on getting that ab work done so my tummy tightens enough to feel comfortable walking around half naked Life Side Quest: Finish a Book Self explanatory. I don't take enough time to read lately. I play DCUO and Summoners War and think about reading. I will finish Scarlett (Lunar Chronicles book 2) before the end of this challenge.

Terminus: Sanctuary for all. Community for all. Those who arrive survive. Main Goal: Complete a full 6 week challenge. This has been my main struggle lately, so I am going to continue to focus on just finishing one damned challenge again. It's small. It's simple. It's measurable. I am determined to get something right for once. I'm Doing Stuff... Things... Goal: Complete the 6 week 100 push up challenge. Three days a week, work the sets. My objective is to get off my knees and start doing "real" push ups. Little Ass-Kicker Goal: I don't care what program I do, but I need to break a sweat three times a week. Five has been hard lately. I've been able to keep my calories in control, but I need to break a sweat three times a week. Les Mills COMBAT, PUMP, and even ChaLEAN Extreme or P90x3 when Beachbody On Demand starts next week. Don't care. Just get sweaty. I Hear Nebraska is Nice: Goal: Stretching. It's becoming more and more apparent to me that I need to stretch my hips and shoulders regularly. Desk job is ruining my back and legs and I need to get that mobility and flexibility back. This can be a formal class, a stretch routine, or the 30 Day Yoga Challenge. Don't care. Just stretch. Because it feels so dang good. Spaghetti Tuesdays on Wednesday Goal: Meal planning and tracking.. It's become super obvious to me that I eat better when I track. TwoGrand and MyFitnessPal have been great apps and being able to SEE I am not having enough veg/fruit/fat whatever is really helping me plan my meals better. I try to have a small breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner. We're going to try to keep that up and log everything for 6 weeks. People in Hell Want Slurpees Goal: Get a small project around the house done three times a week before you sit on your butt all night. It can be laundry. Cleaning the cat boxes. Taking care of the hall closest that badly need re-sorting. It can even be vacuuming. Just do it. Winter is making you too lazy and you need to get the house back in a functioning order.

THE QUEST: Into Every Generation, A Slayer is Born To see this challenge through to completion for the first time in three challenges. That's a quest, right? Cause that's my quest. GOAL: I'm Not Done Baking Yet. I need to not be so hard on myself. I need to treat this challenge like a fitness journal. I need to not pull away when things get hard. I need to figure me out so that I quit getting in my own way. I need to turn from cookie dough into cookies. GOAL: It Must Be Really Hard When All Your Friends Have, Like, Superpowers. I work a desk job. I also have hobbies that require me to sit a lot (hey, if anyone knows how to jog and knit, let me know!). This means my hips are ALWAYS super tight. My hamstrings hate me. My shoulders aren’t big fans of my hours are a desk, either. I NEED to work on my flexibility in these areas to not only improve my range of motion in programs like Les Mills COMBAT, but to attack and undo the damage of 10 years in a desk job. It’s been said that people age most gracefully when they workout and are flexible. I need that. I need to work on my super powers. GOAL: I Mock You With My Monkey Pants I have completed two Beachbody programs and I have many more in my library. I may never do them to completion, but I have them for when I am in the mood for something different. After completing two programs, I still have my “trouble areasâ€. My hips and lower abs are SO stubborn! I am taking on Brazil Butt Lift to work on those areas for 30 days with a group of ladies who all want the same thing. Then... I will mock you all with my sexy monkey pants. LIFE SIDE QUEST: The Dance of Capitalist Superiority. Pay off my credit card debt by the end of this challenge. This one may seem pretty darn obvious when it comes to the WHY part, but I’ll still explain. I tend to have somewhere between $400-700 on my credit card and I just chip away at it. In the meantime, something comes up and I am between paychecks, so I just slap it on my card, undoing the payment I just made. My goal this year is to pay it off, then start seriously saving money. If I didn’t have to pay my credit card bill every month, our family savings account would be in MUCH better shape. And I’ll just say it. I want to start a family. Not today. Not tomorrow. But sometime in the next year, I’d like to seriously consider it, and the idea of having a non-furnished savings account going into that just freaks me out and keeps me from even considering it. I want to be able to take care of the things in our home that need fixing. I want to be able to start a family. I can’t do that if I keep living outside my means. Now the HOW. This is the toughy. I have some personal savings I have set aside. My “fun money†for trips and other things. I am going to have to give that up and put it toward this debt if I want to seriously tackle this goal. I will use all my “extra†money from January to March to pay off the debt until it is gone. Then I’m done. I’m done with interest, payments, and not being able to save HEALTH SIDE QUEST: Out. For. A. Walk... Bitch. Cold weather running, here I come. I want to log 24 miles of running in this challenge. That's pretty light, considering it's just four miles a week. That's two runs a week. I bought the ColdGear. I have the equipment... And even if it's a slow shamble, I'm going to do it. I have a goal of 5 races this year and one is in March. Time to get training... since I haven't run since September.

Hello, Monks. This long time Ranger is reassessing and taking on more of a martial arts goal set, so I come to you as a first timer. Pretty nifty, right? I think so. Main Goal: Complete Les Mills COMBAT and take the steps toward joining my husband at his MMA gym. MOTIVATION: Tell me more good stuff about me! Realizing that one bad day isn’t going to suddenly destroy all my progress, or that one unmotivated workout is still better than not working out at all will be key. I need to take that negative ‘you can’t do this’ mentality and kick it out of my life. Fitness and health is very much a mental game as well as a physical. I am human. I have only one life. I need to make the most of it while I am here to enjoy it. He'll join us after he wins the duel. Goal Three: Les Mills COMBAT 5 days a week. The primary reason I’ve switched to a monk class this challenge is because of COMBAT. I am loving the stress relief, the discipline in the mind and body… I am suddenly not nearly as afraid of going to Warrior’s Cove with my husband. I want to. I want to work the bags and get in there. My confidence will only grow if I keep up with the in home workouts so I don’t feel so lost in class. Plus… this program is makin’ my body look like and shiny. Who doesn’t love great legs, killer shoulders, and the start of abs? (1 point for each workout, 30 points possible) …And there's some kind of hot cheese over there. Goal One: Stay within caloric goals for 6 out of 7 days a week. This has been tough for me lately. We’ve been a bit indulgent, but the 3-Day Refresh helped me figure out meal spacing and sizing in a way I think I can maintain without feeling deprived. This challenge will test that. (1 point for each successful day, 36 points possible) Yes, sir, Cap'n Tight-Pants. Goal Two: PiYo Once a Week. Let’s unwind so those pants ain’t so tight. PiYo is a yoga, Pilates, strength, stretching hybrid type program. I love yoga and need it quite a bit to keep my muscles from being to wonky after all that punching and kicking. If I can’t get I a PiYo, I’ll accept attending my friend’s yoga class! (1 point for each workout, 6 points possible) Don't ride in anything with a Capissen 38 engine. They fall right out of the sky. Life Quest: Finish the "Craft Room" The craft room has been the bane of my existence, like I am certain the Capissen 38 is for any ship mechanic. It's just a junk room. My life quest will be to work on cleaning this room to convert it to a craft room/workout room as I had originally planned to do... when we moved in two years ago Personal Assessment Scoring Weekly Grading: 11-12 A 10 B 9 C 8 D 0-7 F Week One: 11 points (A) Week Two: 11 points (A) Overall Challenge Grade: 62-69 A 55-61 B 48-60 C 41-47 D 0-40 F

....

I am cutting out the flashy bells and whistles and just going at this challenge. It will be harder, since I am out of the country for 8 days of it, but I want to do this. MAIN QUEST: Reset myself so I don't burn out and can make a real life change in 2014. Goal 1: Go to yoga at least once a week. I don’t even care where. Go to Alison’s class. Go to the gym. Go to Tula in Saint Paul. Just… find a class and try it out. Goal 2: Stick to the new meal plan. This sadly means no beer Monday – Thursday. Try to make breakfast, lunch and dinner 400 calories each and make sure you sneak a 100-150 calorie snack in twice a day. Five smaller meals total. FILL IT WILL GOOD THINGS. Yogurt, veggies, fruits... nothing processed. Goal 3: Clean and rearrange the kitchen and the craft room. Two rooms, six weeks, you got this. Life Quest: Make something from scratch each week. Almond butter, yogurt, a craft project… Create. Fitness Side Quest: Start the Couch to 10k in preparation for 2014’s running season. Go slow. Take it easy. No pressure. Try for twice a week, but listen to the ankle. It will say when to stop. Grading: Did I go to a yoga class? 1 point (6 available, plus extra credit) Did I use c210k? 1 point (12 available) Did I make progress in the kitchen/craft room? 1 point (5 per week, 30 available) Did I make something new? 1 point (6 available) Total points: 54 available Points earned:

I am starting a battle log because I want 2014 to be a year where things change. I want to be able to journal through times I just can't get myself out the door and celebrate the successes I plan to make. I want a place to track what I am doing right, wrong, and in between. I will post new progress photos each month on the last day of the month. Here are my starting photos: Entries will start on January 1st. January Start: Waist 33.5 Hips 42.5 Thighs 24 Arms 12.75 Weight: 171 February Start: Waist 32.5 Hips 41 Thighs 24 Arms 12.5 Weight: 169 July End: Waist 30.5 Hips 36 Thighs 22.5 Arms 12 Weight: 153

I am going to check in here for the next week and a half. Goal is to get to the gym five times between now and Jan 3rd. Gotta start building up the habit again before the next challenge! Let's do this, mini challenge! ALLONS-Y!

Jitters is an amazing idea man and has decided to plant the idea of a Nerd Fitness Minnesota 5k next spring/summer. Me, being the over organized bitty that I am, decided to get an organization and idea thread going! So here it is. The basic idea is run a 5k, grill and hang out after… and of course, post-race beer. Suggestions? Dates? Places? This totally unofficial 5k will be totally officially fun.

Some of you know I am in a battle with myself right now. I thought the theme with Fight Club for this challenge was perfect. My favorite author, one of my favorite movies, and some really hard-ass looking at myself… THIS is my motivation. I am in my own personal fight club to keep myself accountable, finally make progress, and quit hating myself for everything I am not. I hope this challenge marks a turning point for me. I hope this is the beginning of the end. I am adding positive and negative points in this challenge – something new. The threat of losing points has motivated me in the past… so hopefully this continues to help. Main Goal: Lose 5 pounds. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but it will be the most I have lost in months. I’ve been maintaining throughout the last three challenges, hovering at 162-165. The first step to losing 20lbs is losing the first five. Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken. Goal 1: Talk the talk, walk the walk. Get back to meal planning and clean eating. You can do this. You did this during the summer and it went great. Find hearty clean soups. Low calorie, filling root veggie dishes. Eat what will fill your soul and nourish your body. No more McDonald’s or Burger King because you’re stressed and you need comfort. You will feel better when you eat better. 1 point per planned meal. -1 point for quick options like eating out or vending machine snacks. (126 max points) Recycling and speed-limits are bullshit. They're like someone who quits smoking on his deathbed. Goal 2: Get healthy now. Run. Train. Lift. Do. Make the gym a priority. Three times a week. No excuses. If you are not at the gym three times a week, remember you are paying MORE for your membership. Leave work on time. Go to the gym. Scan that card three times, and no less. 1 point per gym visit. 1 extra point for extra visits. -1 point for each day of the required 3 missed per week. (18 max points, plus extra credit) Generations have been working in jobs they hate, just so they can buy shit they don't really need. Life Quest: Get that damned credit card under control and start moving on. Manage your money better. Make four small payments throughout the month, rather than one big one with each paycheck… and then being broke until the next paycheck, forcing you to use your card again. Quit buying things you think you need. Manage compulsion. Manage impulse. Think about the purchases being made. 1 point per payment. -1 point per use of card. (12 max points) If you don't know what you want, you end up with a lot you don't. Side Quest: Meditate. Journal positivity. Send out the energy you wish to receive back from the world. Knock off the woe-is-me, I can’t do this bullshit. Yes, you can. Yes, you will. Believe it and then be it. Vanquishing the negativity is a MUST. There is no room for it in your life anymore. 1 point per meditation. 3 points available per week. (18 max points) I am Jack's smirking revenge. Goal 3: Track in My Fitness Pal every day. Every day. EVERY DAY. Enough said. 1 point per day tracked. -1 point per day not tracked. (42 max points) 216 Points Total for Challenge 36 Point Per Week A – 27-36 B –21-26 C – 14-20 D – 8-14 F – 0-7 Week One :: 33/A Week Two :: / Week Three :: / Week Four :: / Week Five :: / Week Six :: / Total Points :: / Final Grade :: And remember the first rule of Fight Club:

Just curious! Any Twin Cities nerds out there?