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This challenge is my anniversary as a NF challenger (I was a lurker for about 2 months before) and i've had a wonderful journey so far, learning about myself. I've learnt some really awesome things, but the biggest things i've learnt are my stumbling blocks. Recently I've rediscovered my passion for food - not just eating it, but making it and experimenting with it and the overall feeling of comfort and relaxation that being *active* in the kitchen gives me - which i think has now contributed more than anything to my weightloss these past few weeks. The biggest stumbling block now is: I lack self discipline. Ok! I don't necessarily lack discipline but I get lazy and either don't do something or totally procrastinate until there's just no point in doing it anymore. Also I have this fear-mongering little devil on my shoulder - that has all but beaten my happy angel into pulp - who regularly whispers words of fear and doubt and anxiety into my ear reminding me that it's easier to be lazy than to work at something. How am I ever going to make all the positive changes if I don't learn discipline? The crazy thing is, that the minute I do something, I do it really well. So the Mission this challenge: To accomplish a higher level of discipline in my life through the following quests: 1. Beat the Laziness Demon, by putting boxing gloves on the Discipline Angel. I literally plan on getting into a ring to fight. I've been doing research on gyms/schools in the area that offer Kick Boxing and MMA (I don't know which one I want to do, yet). I think I've settled on a school, but I need to sign up by 4 August and start attending classes at least one evening a week. This will be on top of my 5k running PVP with Nuala that I'm doing and my lifting that I love (don't even think of asking me to stop doing this). Quest Complete: Sign up for classes with a trainer, get the necessary equipment and attend a minimum of 7 sessions Goal: A = signed up + 7 classes, B = signed up + 5 classes, C = signed up + 3 classes Reward: New hairstyle 2. Nurture the Discipline Angel back to health by +50gr daily protein intake and -30gr daily carb intake by 9 Sept. Over the past two challenges, I developed a really good habit of stopping the binge eating and both keeping my calories no more than 5% above/below my recommended daily intake and spreading them across at least 2 meals a day. However, I noticed that I was still not eating enough protein (by a long shot) and eating carbs at a maintenance level. So in order to make this stick, i'm going to gradually increase protein & decrease carbs weekly until i'm at a good level for this challenge (my saturated fat levels are relatively low and the rest are pretty normal). Week 1: Protein +15gr; Carbs -5gr Week 2: Protein +15gr; Carbs -10gr Week 3: Protein +30gr; Carbs -15gr Week 4: Protein +30gr; Carbs -20gr Week 5: Protein +50gr; Carbs -25gr Week 6: Protein + 50gr; Carbs -30gr Quest Complete: Reached weekly goal for at least 4 full different meals. Goal: A = 4 meals, B = 3 meals, C = 2 meal Reward: New Designer Bra 3. Weaken the Laziness Demon by reaching and maintaining a 90-100% snack free day. Sheesh, who doesn't have a snacking problem?! Funny thing is that I don't have a sweet tooth and generally don't like chocolate or candy or cake etc, but towards the end of the last challenge it was like I was possessed and I couldn't get through a day without a cookie and it got worse from there. I didn't recognise this person. I have put in the 90% in order to allow for sharkweek - which is the only time I actually want to eat or enjoy eating chocolate. damn you hormones - and for taste testing my own baking creations on a Sunday night, if the desire takes me (it hasn't yet). All snacks that are banished from my day are on this list and I lose % points for every snack that I consume (as in if i eat 4 cookies, that's 20% gone). In order to actually make this work, I have to have other healthier snacks on hand. I need to get off my lazy butt and prepare these in advance (see, some discipline). I make my own biltong (kinda like jerky but better) and dried fruit and I need to make time to get to the farmer's market to pick up enough nuts for the challenge. Quest Complete: 90 - 100% snack free daily. Goal: A = 90%+, B = 85 - 89%, C = 80-84% Reward: A Pair of Designer Heels Life Quest: Get the Discipline Angel ready to fight by following a set routine It's not surprising that my life goal follows my mission. I feel that I cope better when I have a routine to follow and a lot of the items on my routine are crucial in achieving my quests (packing in lunch and snacks; getting clothes and bags ready for the next day etc). I have a list of routine items that need to be met and I will garner points for each item. Some items are more points than others and that is because they are vital to the mission. Others are relatively low because I already do them or they aren't entirely crucial if missed/skipped. Quest Complete: 85 - 100% routines completed daily. Goal: A = 85%+, B = 75-84%, C = 70-74% Reward: 2x Professional House Cleans Why would I do any of this to myself? It's simple, really! I have an extremely long term goal of being healthy enough to see my nephews grow up and have healthy kids of their own; to be able to slide into a leotard without looking like a marshmallow and (potentially) train other dancers again; to comfortably slip into a wetsuit without looking like a whale and go back to surfing; to just feel physically comfortable when I participate in the sports I love or when I travel around the world; and to outlive my parents (1 month and I beat my mum who had both diabetes and emphysema when she died of meningitis). I don't want to miss out on anything that life has to offer, especially because I already know how sweet it tastes. *THAT* is why I need to learn discipline now!! Starting Measurements: Weight: 127.50kg Neck: 39cm Bicep: 35cm Breast: 131cm Underbust: 104cm Waist: 110cm Hip: 141cm Thigh: 73cm