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So, I'm here? Really? I guess this is a good thing. I did this once before, I should be able to do this again, but my brain and body do not feel like it's a physical possibility right now. I don't think it's because I'm doubtful of myself, I just think that I'm down and confused and probably making excuses. I have been struggling with my weight for most of my life and decided just before my 25th birthday that I was excessively overweight with too many possibly health issues in my family. I went from 218lbs to 170lbs, maintaining at 175lbs in about 1.5 years. It was awesome, I felt great, I looked great (although at times I was still worried about that pudge), and most of all I believed in myself again. Shit (oh no, can I say shit in a forum?!) hit the fan in August of 2013. My boyfriend and I of eight years broke up just after we sold our house, I was diagnosed with endometriosis (sorry men that are reading - you may want to stop here), and I was put on an intensive hormone therapy treatment. Now, one great thing did happen, shortly after breaking up with my boyfriend a great friend (whom I had dated on and off again previously and kept in touch with) also had become single. Things fell into place and we started dating about a week before I was diagnosed. On the day I was diagnosed, I phoned and told him that if he wanted to walk away I wouldn't hold it against him. It still amazes me to this day that someone can love someone else so much to say, "we have never had the perfect time to be together, and now we do, do you think that I'm going to walk away just because you are going through some hard times? That's what love is; in sickness and in health". In a moment of weakness and isolation, I was filled with a reminder that I can still be loved. ... anyway, I digress (or maybe I don't since you don't know me and I'm giving you some context... ramble much?). I was put on Lupron Depot and days before my 28th birthday was sent into menopause. I was left on this treatment for six months and then I was placed on Visanne which caused me to literally go insane. I was getting anxious and angry in a split second, and in the same timeframe I would be crying on the floor. This was short lived (a few months) until I was put back on birth control, THE BIRTH CONTROL THAT I WAS ON IN THE FIRST PLACE. It's been decided that my quality of life was worse while on the medication than it is while i'm writhing in agony a few days of month. The WORST part of that treatment? All of that hard work, all of the weight that was lost, was gained back in NINE months. I gained 37lbs in nine months because of a medication that ruined my mental, physical, and emotional life. The BEST part of that treatment? Gaining all of the weight back? Why you ask? You think I'm crazy, right? Well, in a way, I would agree. I hit every possible low while on this medication. I saw how easy it was for your goals and desires to be ripped from your hands, how easy it is to lose focused and give in. Now, I say above that I gained 37lbs because of the medication, and mostly I'm right, but as I stand back and look in from another perspective I think that I gave up fighting. I ate what I wanted because I was gaining weight anyway. I didn't work out because the medication was making me fat, ugly and alone anyway. The medication partially is responsible for mentally making me feel like that, but ultimately I MADE THE CHOICE. Now, I get to the point, I MADE THE CHOICE. The fact that I made the choice means that I can make the choice again. I can choose to be that person three years ago who was worried about future health risks; I can choose to be that person three years ago that wanted to look and feel great for no one but her; and I can choose to ROCK IT OUT. Okay - so with that short/long summary, I would love to be part of a group who can encourage me to get there, give me tips to understand where I'm going wrong, and to believe in me when I can't seem to find that belief anymore. Six week challenge goals - MAIN QUEST: a) Current weight fluctuating around 200lbs (and have been diligent for about three weeks, losing approximately 5lbs). --> GOAL: Lose 10lbs --> HOW? Make sure that Monday - Friday I continue to use "My Fitness Pal" to guide me and watch my caloric intake Saturday and Sunday can be my 20 rule from the 80/20 guideline. Still be aware of what is going in but don't be as hardcore about it Walk and golf as much as possible (try and walk every day and golf every available Saturday) Workouts normally include cardio of some sort, unless I'm play golf. --> GOAL: Learn how to better include other exercises in my regiment --> HOW? To be honest, no idea except saying "I'll check that out on that interwebs", which we all know will probably just land me at hurting myself. This is where I hope someone here can help me. Tell me how I can do something, relatively inexpensive, to boost my non-cardio portion of the workout.... PRETTY PLEASE WITH A HEALTHY CHERRY ON TOP c) Hydrate, hydrate, HYDRATE!!!! --> GOAL: Consume at least 5 glasses of water/day (this may include decaffeinated tea, because I feel like that is just as good as water, anyone have a reason to disagree?) --> HOW? Make sure wherever I go I have water with me and it is easily accessible to drink. Weekends will be the most challenging because if I'm at home I'm not as likely to drink water. Make a conscious effort to choose water or something that is natural instead of pop or tea. NOTE* DO NOT GET DOWN ON YOURSELF IF YOU CHOOSE WRONG, but make sure it's only sometimes and that you're getting back on the horse right away. SIDE QUEST: a) Learn to appreciate my surroundings more. More specifically, learn how to appreciate myself in those surroundings. I'll try and do this by blogging and writing in my gratitude journal a little bit more. Blogging will include posting to NF. Now, I hope that someone out there will see this and relate to me. I can only believe that the readers and followers of this website have been motivated like I have by the wonderful email blasts you receive. I know my scenario is unique, but I believe deep down that it isn't THAT unique - one of you will sympathize with the scenario because either you are going through it, or someone you know has been through it. All I ask is for guidance and support, the rest can come naturally.

Ok, it seems no one really comes to this page as I only see 2 other threads…..or it appears that everyone is off power lifting, but I will go ahead and post this here to see if it gets feedback. I have spent the last few weeks looking into different bodyweight workouts and have put together what I think is a good whole body workout for 3 times a week. Most all motions will be done using Jungle Gym XL (JG) suspension system Warm up: Dynamic stretching5 min jump rope Workout: (3 straight sets) Inclined Bicep Curls (JG): Focus on isolating Bicep, not pulling with backBox Squats: Focusing on pushing through my heels and straight back, 1-2 sec pause once I touch the box (no weight resting on box though)Inclined pushup (JG): Focus on keeping core ‘engaged’, and not rounding my backInverted Row (JG): same focus as pushup while starting the pull with my back/shouldersPlank: focus on staying straight and keeping belly pulled inBack Squats (JG): using the suspension trainer for balance, focusing on using legs for the lift and not pulling with my armsOHP (15# kettle bell): focus on smooth movement (need to buy bigger kettle bells)Tricep extensions (JG): Focusing on isolating the proper muscles not readjusting to use biceps and shouldersSuperman back extension: keeping shoulders and neck relaxed not straining them Cool down: target streching Plan will be to complete this workout MWF, with the plan of cardio/drill work on TTh and possibly Sat. I will increase the difficulty of each exercise once I achieve 3 sets of 20, and then will make adjustments to only being able to do 3 sets of 10. Example, for squats, will go to non-box, then deep, the Bulgarian..etc. My main focus is to lose weight and I am using the challenges to address my nutrition work, but I have always had a weak upper body and would like to work on that as I try to lose the weight. The goal would be to start lifting once I am done with school and have the time/money for a gym membership…but for now want to do all the work I can. My main questions are: Is there too much overlapping in the movements selected?Are there more optimal exercises I should focus on instead?Is my rep range from 10 to 20 too wide, not enough, completely wrong? (this was an issue I never really found an answer too, everything I read had a different answer to reps)Is there anything that I overlooked? Thanks for helping out, I am always up for any suggestions or help offered.