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Evening NF World, I needed to vent a little, and for some reason I felt this was the place to do it. I have been busting my ass at the gym for the past 3 weeks.... increasing my time spent there, increasing my weight lifted, trying out new machines, increasing reps, and I've even lost 7 pounds. For those things, I was proud. Until some jerk had the nerve to confront me after my workout tonight and state, "Done working out already"? Um, excuse me sir, do I know you? Do you know how many times a week I'm in that gym? Do you realize what I'm putting my body through? Sure, you see an overweight chick who should probably be spending hours running on the treadmill or whatever. But what is really there is a mother of 3, full time student, and chronic pain sufferer giving it all she's got. Your approval is not needed. Therefore, your comments are unnecessary and downright ignorant. What the hell makes people give their two cents? I'm pretty sure I'm not wearing a sign that says "Please tell me your opinions of me" so who the f*ck does he think he is? UGH!! I needed to get that out! Thanks, FitChick_Maybe

Hello all, As a sufferer of chronic pain linked to migraines and fibromyalgia, I personally would like a group that is primarily focused on getting past the pain in order to become more fit. Does anyone know where we Nerds may find a group like this? Or will this suffice to begin one of those groups? I know I am not alone in my struggle against chronic pain and I know others are out here looking for support. Perhaps those that have been in this longer may have some suggestions for getting past the pain and pushing through at the gym. Many of us are looking to meet our fitness goals but aside from the usual roadblocks, we are faced with seemingly insurmountable pain. Any ideas, suggestions, advice, or information is greatly appreciated. Thanks

Hello all, I was recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and I am trying to get my life back in order. Symptoms started about 5 years ago and it took a long time to get an answer. During that 5 years I slipped into a bad cycle of habits and gained quite a bit of weight that I am now trying to lose. Exercise is a huge part of fibromyalgia treatment but I am not sure where to start. Anyone out there with fibro, or know a bit about fibro, that has some tips for good exercises to help me get fit without causing a flare up?

Coping with final Weeks... Better late than never...that has sadly become my motto over the last few months..6 1/2 months, to be exact... Anyhoo...I successfully completed the last 4WC (YAY!), and now for a new one... I ended the last Challenge with the Glucose Screen...and during the break, the results were "abnormal"...so I had to do the 3-hour Glucose Tolerance Test...it will probably come back "abnormal" as well...they have you drink 100 grams of pure glucose (sugar) within 5-10 minutes, then see how long it takes your body to process it. First of all, the stuff is NASTY!!! Second, I don't consume that much sugar in an entire day, much less all at once!! And to make matters worse, what passes for "medical professionalism" in the Navy skew their data criteria..according to the AMA (American Medical Association) and the ACOG (American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology) have "normal" range set as between 140 and 180 (blood glucose levels)...however, here, they say there is no "window"...it MUST be less than 120 to be considered "normal"!! So this may come back to bite my butt this Challenge, and I'll have to make some adjustments... This Challenge will be very similar to the last one...tracking my weight gain, being active, eating right, relaxing, and preparing for what is to come within the next 10 weeks (or so)...however, I'm adding drinking more water...I've noticed that I've been a little lax in that capacity, so I definitely need to work on that... I will also continue the same weekly increments I set up from my Lessons with Dr. Frankenstein 4WC at the start of the year, since those weekly increments keep me on track with my physical progressions. Although each of my weeks actually "start" on Wednesdays, I'll keep with the Sunday through Saturday schedule of the 4WC...so each of the 4 weeks will begin in one progression and end in the next...confused yet? I sure am... Once again, I'm not focusing on much of a theme...I don't have the time, and can't come up with one cute or clever enough... For now, I'm putting down some bare bones...I'll figure out grading scale (do or don't, pretty much), point allocations (based on new NF format), and rewards (besides getting healthier!) and add them in as necessary. I will try to update daily..hey, the key word here is "try"... Quest 1: Controlled Weight Gain... Although technically, I'm well under the "recommended" weight gain..(5 pounds in 29 weeks), but the Dr. says no worries...I'm healthy and the kid's healthy and that's what matters! However, I do need to make sure that I don't gain more than about 1 pound a week and definitely don't loose any, either!! So I'm just going to monitor my weight (which does fluctuate a bit due to occasional large meals and random bathroom inadequacies...) to make sure I don't gain too much too fast nor loose any. <1 point for each week on track> Week 29: 130.5 pounds Week 30: Week 31: Week 32: The Plan for Next Week: I'm going to weigh myself every morning when I get up...after I go to the bathroom (mainly cuz the kid ain't waiting for me!) and before I eat... Quest 2: Don't be a slug... As I get bigger, and the fatigue gets worse (and life gets in the way...), it would be easy to just be a bum and stay in a comfy position...However, that won't do me or the kid any good... I need to get up off my fat ass and do SOMETHING!! So, several things I had planned (hoped?) to do last Challenge didn't happen (or didn't happen as much as I would have liked...). However, some new things are coming about to make it easier to be more active... First of all, Bon O'Dori season is upon us..and once again I have signed up to participate! This will be my third (and final) year to do it (we will PCS before next Summer), so I'm going to take full advantage! Dance practice starts on the 14th, and will be every Tuesday, with performances in late July and August. This will be a once a week goal. <1 point> Second, the Outdoor Pool is now open on weekends, and will be open everyday starting on the 17th. This will (hopefully) inspire me to do better at my "Buoy Training"...I just hope they let me on the water slide! LOL! My goal here is to do this at least once a week. <1 point for each session> Last, but certainly not least, @Alexandrite sent me a great Prenatal Yoga video that she said did wonders for her! I plan to use it at least once a week! <1 point for each session> Last challenge, my goal was to clock at least 15 miles per week on my pedometer (non workout related), but I didn't do so well. It seems that using the handrail for balance (which becomes more and more "off" the bigger I get), or pushing a cart, or carrying something (a bag, arm purse, etc.) seems to keep my pedometer from registering those steps (my pedometer is part of my wrist watch). I've also noticed that when I'm sore or tired, my gait is a little off (I start to waddle more), which also throws off my pedometer... So this round, I may lower that goal to 10 miles per week (non-workout related), until I figure out how to account for all those steps my pedometer isn't counting... <1 point for 10 miles> So as it stands, I have three activity goals per week, plus 10 miles of "extra" walking on the pedometer...and of course there's always room for "extras", like outings, and I do want to work on doing my Belly Dance...I know it will be helpful in the weeks and months to come...I would like to at least try to do some modified Barre and Pilates, since they are both highly recommended. <1 point for each "extra"> Bon O'Dori Practice: <1 point each> Buoy Training: <1 point each> Prenatal Yoga: <1 point each> Extra: <1 point each> The Plan for Next Week: I'm going to attend the first Bon O'Dori Practice on Tuesday, do the Prenatal Yoga video, do Buoy Training (either at the indoor or outdoor gym), and keep up the pedometer tracking and extra walking. This Saturday, we have the JATA BBQ Party, so I figure between Friday and Saturday, I'll be doing a lot of moving and lifting! Quest 3: Necessities... As always, this one's easier said than done...I'm already pretty good about eating healthy and taking my meds with my meals...but I do forget sometimes...or I just don't want to eat when I'm feeling particularly queasy... And when I do eat, I can't eat much..no room with my tummy's downstairs neighbor vying for more living space! LOL! This may also get "evolved", depending on the Glucose Tolerance Test results... <1 point each day that meals and meds are covered> I need to increase my water...recommended is at least 64 oz per day...or 1/2 your body weight in ounces (which puts me currently at 65 1/4 oz). I do have limited precious space in my belly these days...so I may have some trouble getting all that water...much less increasing the amount as I gain weight!! My water bottle is my buddy...I carry it with me pretty much everywhere! It holds 20 oz, is very durable (metal) and keeps my water COLD!! So if I aim to drink three of them a day, that'll give my 60 oz of just water...I think that's pretty darn close enough (especially since we aren't counting tea, juice or milk...)! <1 point for 3 water bottles consumed (60 oz)> And speaking of the gizzard denizen...that's where sleep issues come into play as well...apparently my bedtime is it's party time!! Hell, lately, ALL the time is party time!! LOL!! We've been pretty lax about our bedtimes lately...especially during the week! So my goal is to go to bed at least 8 hours before I have to get up...so since the "regular" alarm goes off at 0600, I need to be in bed by 2200 (10 pm)...but I'm going to try to shoot for 2100 (9 pm), which will give me time to get into bed, situated and comfy (which gets more and more difficult as the days go by...)! <1 point for in bed no later than 8 hours before wake up/alarm> I've been OK about resting, putting my feet up and taking naps when I have the time...it does help...some. But I would like to get better about relaxing, resting and doing little things to pamper myself while I still can...like soaking in a tub, doing my nails, etc. <1 point each pampering activity> Food & Meds: <1 point each> 60+ oz of Water: <1 point each> 8-hour bedtime: <1 point each> Pampering: <1 point each> The Plan for Next Week: I'm going work on drinking more water, try to start fixing dinner earlier so I'm not eating so late, go to bed earlier each night (Hubby needs this one too!)...I will set my phone alarm to remind me when to start cooking dinner as well as gear for bed... I'm going to try to soak at least twice, and see if I can still reach my toes to give myself a pedicure (my toe nails are becoming talons!!)...and, of course, sit and rest with my feet up if I feel too tired or at least every evening after dinner to help reduce swelling in my feet and lower legs before I go to bed... Life Quest: The Clock is Ticking... Here's another repeat...and just like last Challenge, this one's interesting...this will include multiple aspects of preparation...laying the proverbial ground work so that either the action is one that can make life easier later or will provide proper information to be utilized at the appropriate time... One way to prepare is by registering for / taking a class, watching a video or reading a book/magazine/article about what's going on now, and how to prepare for what all happens in the coming stages! I do read the daily articles via the Baby Center and WTE apps on my iPad...but I'm not going to count each article, just that I've read them for the day. Maybe an "extra" point if I am able (and do) actively utilize the information. <1 point each "educational" activity> Another is meal prep...basically stocking the freezer with pre-prepared meals that are "heat and eat"...when I cook a meal that is freezer friendly, make a double or triple batch and freeze the extra for later. And since I cook healthy and from scratch, I know these will be exponentially better that what one might find in a store's freezer section!! I also means that when life gets painfully hectic (in more ways than one) once I get closer to the 40th weekly increment, I won't have to worry about cooking...or relying on Hubby's cooking! LOL! Towards the end of the last Challenge (end of May), our deep freezer had an "accident"...and we lost pretty much EVERYTHING...including ALL the pre-prepped freezer meals I had already done!! So, my ultimate goal is to have at least 30 pre-prepped freezer meals prior to Week 40...that's 10 meals per month (June, July and August)!! <1 point each meal prepped and in the freezer> One more preparation is in regards cleaning and organizing...We've got too much stuff here and our spare room is PACKED!! So for starters, I need to clear out clutter...sell, give away or trash what we don't need/want/love and ship home what we won't need in the next year. Next, organize the "stuff" we do need/use...especially the things that will be useful around the 40th weekly increment and after... I definitely got behind on this between the Freezer Fiascos and PCSing friends "gifting" what they couldn't (or didn't want to) take with them...so now I have even MORE to deal with!! <1 point for each decluttering/organizing activity> I still need to re-examine our budget (with Hubby) and plan for the upcoming expenses...and purchase what needs to be purchased in advance so it can be set up with time to spare before it becomes necessary...I like to have a little wiggle room (read relaxation) before the "have-tos" set in and take over! <1 point for each pertinent fiscal activity> ...and then there's the garden...this will be our last season in this house (PCS due by next Spring)...so I need to downsize what I've got. I also need to stay on top of my succession plantings and weeding so that by the time the 40th weekly increment comes along, it will be pretty much self-sustaining with minimal effort...just harvest and enjoy! And, like most everything else, I'm behind on... I may count the physical gardening as part of my activity "extra", and only the downsizing and organizing here...we'll see... <1 point each garden activity> Prep Work: <1 point each> The Plan for Next Week: There's still sooooo much to do!!! Take photos of stroller and model info... Follow up with company on the stroller/car seat research... Register for July Childbirth Class Confirm date and register for private Breastfeeding Class in July... Discuss and adjust budget with Hubby... Research Breastpumps... Order Breastpump... Add at least one Freezer Fodder Meal to the Weekly Menu... Finish Beef Bone Broth & Freeze... Package and Freeze Chicken Bone Broth... Clear off DR table from friends' PCS "gifting"... Remove JATA "Summer" party supplies & decor from storage room, distribute at BBQ, and trash what no one takes... Work in garden (doubles as activity)... Post sale items on Base Craigslist... Work in Project Room to clear some space... Work on Calendar Pages... Continue NF updates... Finish NF Character Sheet... Support the Assassin's Guild: ~ No Power In The 'Verse Can Stop Us ~ Mini Challenge I may not be as able-bodied as I used to be, but that doesn't matter...I'm here to support my guild!! This Mini's theme is Firefly..which is amuising since Hubby and I just started re-watching the show! LOL! These are always a do or don't, which includes posting and updates as necessary. I'm just hoping I can keep up!! So this week's mini is to choose berthing (sign the "crew" roster) and learn the ship's layout by wandering around (walk or run for a crew cumulative of 100 miles). That's easy enough...I don't know if I'll have the time to go for any formal walks (no way I can "run" while smuggling this beach ball! LOL!)...but I'm sure I can put a dent in the crews required mileage!l Welcome Abooard the Assassin's Pride! Week 1 Mini: Find a Berth and Settle In - Walk/Run: Week 2 Mini: #2: - Goal: Week 3 Mini: #3: - Goal: Week 4 Mini: #4: - Goal: Et Al... No PvPs or Accountabillibuddies, but I have been able to sign up for the Guild Mini this time!! I'm also going to try to be better at lurking, um, I mean, supporting...yeah, supporting Alexandrite and black_daquiri. They are great at giving me pointers and suggestions to help me along the path they have tread before me, I want to do my best to cheer them on as they go the road ahead! I also want to do a Weekly Inspiration...perhaps a little less Fibro, and more to remind me that all this "suffering" is worth it...

Themeless Confusions... OK, so after an unscheduled hiatus, I'm returning to Nerd Fitness to try to get a better handle on the fitness side of the hiccups called life... While I figure out the new format and all the changes that have happened in the forums and with the Challenges, please bear with my renewed newbieness! Since I first joined the Rebellion at NF, my fitness interests (as well as abilities and recommendations from having Fibromyalgia) were kinda across the board...but I quickly found my niche with the Assassins Guild. Despite the recent changes to the Guild classifications, I'm still pretty much all over the place; however, I still consider myself to be an Assassin rather than categorized as an Adventurer. With the new changes to NF, there have been major changes to my world...which intimately impact my fitness abilities (and allowances per Dr's approval)!! Sadly, many of the things I enjoyed about being an Assassin (like Parkour) are now on my no-no list... And to make matters even more complicated, I'm in a place (US Military Duty Station) that does not support the members of the local population in the same predicament as I am (which, ironically, is about 1/8 of the base denizens!!)! So, in addition to figuring out the new NF Rebellion formats, I'm having to figure out what & how I'm going to work "appropriate and Dr approved" fitness back into my life!! I'm going to break down each week of the challenge by continuing the same weekly increments I set up from my Lessons with Dr. Frankenstein 4WC at the start of the year, since those weekly increments keep me on track with my physical progressions. Although each of my weeks actually "start" on Wednesdays, I'll keep with the Monday through Sunday schedule of the 4WC...so each of the 4 weeks will begin in one progression and end in the next...confused yet? For this go around, I'm going themeless...kinda can't think of one that's currently applicable anyway...I may resurrect my last challenge theme next go around...we'll see. Also, I'm just putting down some bare bones for now...I'll figure out grading scale (do or don't, pretty much), point allocations (based on new NF format), and rewards (besides getting healthier!) and edit them in later. Quest 1: Healthy and Adequate Weight Gain... OK, so in pretty much all of my past 6WCs, I was always looking at weight/inch loss. However, I can no longer do that...because I'm actually SUPPOSED to gain weight!! But I'm supposed to gain it slowly and steadily. However, in the last 25 weeks, I have only gained 2 pounds instead of the recommended average of 17 pounds!! At my last checkup, the Dr. said not to worry about it because I'm eating well and we are both healthy. But I do need to make sure that I don't gain more than about 1 pound a week and definitely don't loose any, either!! So I'm just going to monitor my weight (which does fluctuate a bit due to occasional large meals and random bathroom inadequacies...) to make sure I don't gain too much too fast nor loose any. Week 24: 127.5 pounds Week 25: Week 26: Week 27: Quest 2: Find something to do... OK, so I need to find things that are Preggo-friendly and then actually DO them!! Walking, Swimming and Prenatal Yoga are on the OK list...however walking without a destination is boring, I'm not much of a swimmer (and there's no water aerobics class available), and while I'm fine with doing yoga, I'm a bit nervous about doing it sans instructor (no prenatal yoga here either!). So each week I need to do some homework/research to figure out something that I'll be allowed to do and then do it! Right now, I want to clock at least 15 miles per week on my pedometer...non workout related...which means parking at the farthest part of the parking lot, taking the stairs when able...basically...don't be a slug...LOL! There's lots of info out there touting the pregnancy benefits of swimming, but as I said before, I'm not much of a swimmer. So I'm going to "play" in the water...not much for swimming laps, but I could probably walk in the chest level water for resistance...heck, even just "bopping around" will be doing something! I'll go and pick the brains of the people I meet for ideas and suggestions..who knows, maybe I'll find something fun about it...I need at least 30 minutes of this each time I do it. Walking is another recommended activity...one that I tend to find pretty boring...well, unless I'm going somewhere or am walking around enjoying something (a garden, park, museum, etc)...but walking around my neighborhood (or on a treadmill) for walking's sake....BLAH!! But I do have a friend who suggested that we walk the golf course together...hmmmm...has potential. This also has the 30 minute time frame. I want to get back into my Belly Dance practice...it has lots of core, abdominal and pelvic floor advantages..but I'm out of practice. I need to get back into this. Again, at least 30 minutes per session... I also need to work on some Prenatal Yoga...I've already done some research, now I just need to apply it. Yup, you guessed it...30 minutes is the goal. Modified Barre and Pilates are also recommended...need to do more research and play with it a bit...30 mins per session... Hubby read Steve's article about the Green Arrow Workout and wants to try it out once his PRT is over (on Friday)...he also wants me (and others, if he can persuade them) to do it with him! LOL! Well, it looks like I should be able to do the Intro (beginner) level...at least for a while...so I'll try it and see if it's doable...at least until my bump gets in the way... So right there, that's something for every day of the week! Plus a few extras to mix it up! I'll figure out how often, but I'm thinking that I need to do something at least 3 times a week for starters... Quest 3: Eat, Sleep and Pamper... This one's gonna be easier said than done...I'm already pretty good about eating healthy and taking my meds with my meals...but I do forget sometimes...or I just don't want to eat when I'm feeling particularly queasy... And when I do eat, I can't eat much..no room with my tummy's downstairs neighbor vying for more living space! LOL! And speaking of the gizzard denizen...that's where sleep issues come into play as well...apparently my bedtime is it's party time!! LOL!! I've been OK about resting, putting my feet up and taking naps when I have the time...it does help...some. But I would like to get better about relaxing, resting and doing little things to pamper myself while I still can... I'm not too sure on how I'm gonna work this one...need to ponder it a bit more, I think... Life Quest: Prepare for the Inevitable... This one's gonna be interesting...this will include multiple aspects of preparation...laying the proverbial ground work so that either the action is one that can make life easier later or will provide proper information to be utilized at the appropriate time... One way to prepare is by taking a class, watching a video or reading a book/magazine/article about what's going on now, and how to prepare for what all happens in the coming stages! Another is meal prep...basically stocking the freezer with pre-prepared meals that are "heat and eat"...when I cook a meal that is freezer friendly, make a double or triple batch and freeze the extra for later. And since I cook healthy and from scratch, I know these will be exponentially better that what one might find in a store's freezer section!! I also means that when life gets painfully hectic (in more ways than one) once I get closer to the 40th weekly increment, I won't have to worry about cooking...or relying on Hubby's cooking! LOL! One more preparation regards cleaning and organizing...We've got too much stuff here and our spare room is PACKED!! So for starters, I need to clear out clutter...sell, give away or trash what we don't need/want/love and ship home what we won't need in the next year. Next, organize the "stuff" we do need/use...especially the things that will be useful around the 40th weekly increment and after... I also need to re-examine our budget and plan for the upcoming expenses...and purchase what needs to be purchased in advance so it can be set up with time to spare before it becomes necessary...I like to have a little wiggle room (read relaxation) before the "have-tos" set in and take over! ...and then there's the garden...this will be our last season in this house (PCS due by next Spring)...so I need to downsize what I've got. I also need to stay on top of my succession plantings and weeding so that by the time the 40th weekly increment comes along, it will be pretty much self-sustaining with minimal effort...just harvest and enjoy! Et Al... I normally wrap up my quests with any "extras" I'm planning on doing...Guild Minis, PvPs, Accountabilibuddies...but I'm not sure what, or even if, I'm going to do anything additional this go around. I've already got a lot on my plate, both personally and with the 4WC... I'll just have to see..

Lessons from Dr. Frankenstein Welcome to Class... This will be a multiple parter...which has actually already started. The lessons will be over the course of about 9 to 10 months and broken down into thirds, and further into 40 to 50 weekly increments (or "lessons"). These lessons have actually already started during the last NF 6WC. And with the new NF Challege format being 4 weeks, I'll have to make a few modifications. No biggie!! I'll play a little "catch-up" on the previous Lessons, 1-7 here in the "intro" to the new Challenge, then fill in for Lessons 8-11 for the Challenge. Lessons 1 through 6: Recap... Lesson 1: Class starts when?!?... OK, so in keeping with the Monday through Sunday schedule...We'll just say that Lesson 1 began November 17th, 2015 (although it "technically began the 18th, a Tuesday), which was smack in the middle of the final NF 6WC of 2015. So for this week's Lesson, I pretty much worked on that, not realizing that the Lessons had started! Lesson 2: Class can't be starting yet... This Lesson was during the Thanksgiving Holiday, and I was still oblivious to the fact that the Lessons had already started. This was Week 4 of the final NF 6WC of 2015, and that's what I focused on. Lesson 3: Lab and Practical... The Lessons "officially" started this week, with the first Lab and Practical... It was the results of both the Lab and Practical which made these Lessons possible. Otherwise, we'd be waiting to start class in another month or so. Lesson 4: Waiting for Class... This was the final week of the last NF 6WC of 2015 (and later, I would discover, the last 6WC ever!). I passed, barely, but was very tired and busy with Holiday parties and activities around base. So much so, I never quite got around to posting my final scores and updates...but that's ok...no one was following my thread anyway. Lesson 5: Late for Class... Now here's where I discovered that I was actually "late" for class. This Lesson included another Lab, and the results laid the ground work for a week of research, setting up appointments and visiting the local Medical Center. It was here that I met a few of my fellow "students", and received some basic instruction, and the future Lessons got plotted. I also got an inside scoop regarding formal diagnosis, blood and urine tests, and got a flu shot (which are evil!!)...which resulted in me getting the flu for the second time this year!! I also started feeling more and more tired and hungry. Lesson 6: Catch up from Tardiness... Despite the Holidays, this week's Lesson included some more formal instruction, a trip to the ER and extra housework...which was technically unrelated to the Lessons...Hubby sliced his finger & it took over 2 hours to stop bleeding...then we was exempt from chores until it healed. No surprise that I was feeling tired more, but my appetite continued and my chest started to feel sore and heavy. I also noticed that I would feel nauseous before mealtimes...so basically when I needed to eat, I felt nauseous, and when I ate, it went away! Lesson 7: Formal Instruction... OK, so there will be a few public "classes" for me to attend from time to time...This week had the first. It was very informative, but boring. My classmates were pretty blase and not interactive, and thus the class was pretty much death by PowerPoint...although they did hand out a useful packet of information (pretty much everything that was presented, including the PowerPoint slides). I also tried to restart my c25k, but I did it too early in the morning (I think)...I ended up having severe pain in my Right Knee and the outside of my Left Foot...I think I may have misstepped in the low light of the early morn and This week also resulted in me getting extremely bent out of shape (which normally doesn't happen) due to being lied to and over 4 hours of my time wasted!! It actually caused me to loose my appetite!! And I didn't feel nauseous when I skipped meals... But luckily, I found a way around the conundrum, but I remained agitated about the whole ordeal for a few more days... NF 4 Week Challenge: Lessons 8 - 11 OK, so for the next 4 weeks, I'll be working on the Lessons 8 through 11 with Dr. Frankenstein. I'm currently breaking it down much like I have done for previous Challenges. I am still trying to figure out the new format (some info hasn't been posted as of yet), so there may be a bit of adjusting later on as the need arises. I have my grading scale in place, but I may be tweaking the rewards as necessary...I think the new format is getting away from the assigning of points and leveling up (as well as trying to do more of a letter grade scale, whereas I prefer the numerical point system with percentages!). I suppose we're all in the same boat, having to relearn what we thought we knew and revamp everything! Epic Quest: (4 points possible) Defeat My Mortal Enemy - Fibromyalgia in Remission As always, my Epic Quest is to beat Fibromyalgia into remission. This is my ongoing quest. I will put up a weekly inspiration to help keep me motivated and to remind (and hopefully inspire) others that they are not alone! Since this is a once a week thing, I need to post one now for Week 1... Grading: 1 point = posting an inspiration each week (1x/wk => 4 points total) Reward: +1 WIS, +1 CHA Main Quest: (4 points possible) Grow as a Person In the past 6WCs, I've focused on inch loss vs. weight loss. However, in order to create life, I must grow as a person in all ways...spiritually, mentally, emotionally and definitely physically! However, the key is to control the level and rate of physical growth. Some of it will come in the form of gaining more...more tissue, muscles, bone, blood and other fluids. So here, my goal is to monitor how much weight I'm gaining to make sure it's at the proper pace and I don't overdo it! Between Lessons 1 and 12, I can't gain more than 5 pounds, maximum (less is OK, but more is bad!)! Broken down, that's less than 1/2# per week (average estimate). At Lesson 1, I weighed 125 #. By Lesson 5, I weighted 126#. Now, at the beginning of Lesson 8, I'm still at 126#. According to the charts, I'm still currently on track in the "normal" range, even though I haven't gained much, and that's OK (I don't need to try to "catch up"). If I break it down, then I should not gain more than 1.5# every 2 weeks (maximum)... But as long as I don't gain more than 3.5 pounds by the end of this Challenge, I'll be good! Grading: 1 point = less than 1# gained each week (1x/wk => 4 points total) Reward: +1 CON Quest 1: (20+ points possible) Reboot Active Lifestyle I definitely need to be active! It takes a lot of strength, flexibility and energy to create life! Since I don't have the cool, spinny, rolly chair skills of Dr. Franken Stein, I'll need to get a bit more creative! Needless to say, some of my original intended activities are now off the board...rats! So I'm taking a slightly different approach. I'm going to continue with my c25k, but with a twist...I'm restarting it and only doing it twice a week rather than it's recommendation of 3 times a week. Since it's an 8 week program, I won't finish it this Challenge...but it may take me longer than 2 Challenges to complete (if I ever do). My goal here is to work on endurance without over exerting (which was my problem last round). I'll repeat weeks for as long as it takes until I'm not totally wiped out after each run, and if I never complete a 5k, that's OK with me, as long as I'm keep my endurance up. The thing is, I like the way the app does it's intervals. Due to the Fibro, I can't keep up a sprint or hard run...I do my c25k intervals as a walk and jog (and slowly increasing the speed of my jog). All the other intervals apps I've seen have the jogs and sprints as the longest, with only very brief walks. For me, the walks give me a break (so I don't over exert myself), while not being so long as to let my heart rate slow too much (jog gets it up). So unless I come across (or someone suggests) a good walk/jog intervals app (no sprint), then I'll stick with what's working so far! I'm also doing something I had gotten into before (a few years ago), but kinda got away from when I moved. So for twice a week, I'm doing a 30-minute Barre workout (10 minutes each, arms, legs and core). I'm going to do something "extra" once a week. I got the kibosh on doing Body Pump and Body Combat...and pretty much anything that is impact or balance related (bye-bye Parkour)... So I may go swimming (if I have another leg issue, this may replace c25k), do Yoga, bodyweights or perhaps start learning how to strength train with free weights. The thing is, I need to be active 5 times a week for 30 minutes to maintain good heath and lessen the chances of problems arising while creating life. I'm also going to keep my "bonus point" option with my pedometer. My goal here is to incorporate more movement throughout my day. So for every week that I clock 15 miles on my pedometer (not counting c25k), I'll get an extra point! Grading: 1 point each = c25k (2x/wk => 8 points total) 1 point each = Barre (2x/wk => 8 points total) 1 point each = "extra" (1x/wk => 4 points total) Bonus point = 15 miles per week (non-c25k) Reward: +1 STR, +3 DEX, +1 STA Quest 2: (48+ points possible) Proper Nourishment Ok, so I've got a lot of people lecturing me on what is healthy/not healthy for me to eat...and it's driving me NUTS!!! The one that really got to me was in Lesson 7 when I was "informed" that the Federal Government passed a law in 2015 that milk fat is unnecessary and unhealthy for adults and children over the age of 3 and is not to be consumed. WTF?!?!? Let me get this straight, a political agency, not a health organization, is going to determine what we are allowed to eat?!? And considering health professionals and dietitians note that the natural fat in dairy contains vitamins and minerals and is the kind of fat our bodies need verses the unnatural fats found in processed and "junk" foods. Besides that, I grew up on milk straight from the cow...and so did everyone I know, and none of them are obese! OK, sorry about that...I'm still steamed over that whole episode! Anyhoo...I'm going to maintain my healthy diet, and try to incorporate the "extra" recommended foods I normally don't eat (like peanut butter and fortified cereals) as well as increase those I already do (fruits & veggies, beans, eggs and whole milk). I'm also revisiting a previous trend...I still need to clear out more from the food stores (pantry and freezer inventory). On a side note, Hubby is doing the Leptin Diet again this round in preparation for his Command Fitness Leader training at the end of the month. Although I've done this with him in the past (in order to be supportive and not "tease" him by eating what he can't have), I cannot do so this time. I'll have to make smaller meals so I don't get burned out on eating so many leftovers and hope I don't tease him too much with what I'm having that he can't! I also need to be better about taking my daily supplements, so that's on here too... Grading: 1 point = each healthy meal incorporating inventory (5x/wk => 20 points total) 1 point = taking all daily supplements (7x/wk => 28 points total) Reward: +1 CON, +1 WIS Quest 3: (68+ points possible) Routines and Sleep So this will be another reboot...with the Holidays and all the vacation time, I've kinda gotten out of the habit of going to bed early (since I could sleep in). But now, I'm also have more sleep issues...I'm finding it harder to fall asleep, stay asleep and get up in the morning...not to mention all the extra fatigue...Dr. Frankenstein never told me creating life could be so exhausting! Oh well, I guess I need to mention that that should be added to the course description... Anyhoo, I'm going to focus on healthy routines. I need to take better care of my skin and teeth right now...I have a tendency to not do these things on a daily basis...basically I forget (oops!). So far, it's not been a problem, but during the course of these lessons, it could start to pose some issues. Therefore, washing my face and brushing my teeth at least once a day (each) will be essential, as well as going to bed 8 hours before I need to be up (no penalty if I don't sleep well, just as long as I'm in bed on time) for 5 days a week. I'm also going to try to moisturize my skin (entire body) at least twice a week (especially after a soak!)...It's winter, so the air is dry and so is my skin! All that dryness isn't good for my skin and can actually make me a walking Tesla Ball!! Pampering bonus points will also be doable...before bed soaks are always nice! Grading: 1 point each = wash face (5x/wk => 20 points total) 1 point each = brush teeth (5x/wk => 20 points total) 1 point each = 8 hours bedtime (5x/wk => 20 points total) 1 point each = moisturize body (2x/wek => 8 points total) Bonus point = something pampering Reward: +1 CON, +1 CHA Life Quest 1: (88+ points possible) Ready the Laboratory My life quests will be mostly a repeat of past ones...First, I need to ready the Laboratory. In order to do that, I need to stay on top of my Dailies, Zones and Missions as well as doing the Weekly Home Blessing. I also need to work on getting rid of the stuff we don't need/use. With the closure of our base thrift store, donating stuff will be more difficult, so I'll need to post to sell items on the local FB sale pages. I'll post 10 items weekly, and update daily. Whatever doesn't sell by the end of the challenge (or has been posted for more than a month) will get either tossed or dropped off at the other bases' thrift stores (when I'm making a trip to said base). I also need to focus on reclaiming the Project Room. I'm not really sure how I'm gonna do this one just yet...for now, I'll probably just say do "something" in that room once a week. Until I actually get the chance to get in there, this is a good first step. I'm also gonna grant a bonus point for every box cleared and for ever 10 items sold. Grading: 1 point each = WHB (1x/wk => 4 points total) 1 point each = Dailies (5x/wk => 20 points total) 1 point each = Zones (5x/wk => 20 points total) 1 point each = Missions (5x/wk => 20 points total) 1 point each = post/update 10 sale items (5x/wek => 20 points total) 1 point each = something in Project Room (1x/wk => 4 points total) Bonus Point = clear out 1 box or sell 10 items Reward: +1 STA Life Quest 2: (52+ points possible) Havoc Maintenance This is going to be mostly about desk time. I need to stay on top of my schedule weekly and emails daily, post my FB inspiration (mostly for sis and friends) and NF updates weekly, do some Assassin Ambassadoring daily as well as post my Assassin Mini updates...but perhaps that one should be left as part of doing the Mini's themselves... That looks simple enough, right? Grading: 1 point each = Schedule (1x/wk => 4 points total) 1 point each = Emails (5x/wk => 20 points total) 1 point each = FB Inspiration (1x/wk => 4 points total) 1 point each = NF update (1x/wek => 4 points total) 1 point each = Assassin Ambassadoring (5x/wk => 20 points total) Reward: +1 CHA Life Quest 3: (24+ points possible) Franken Studies Yes, I'm very tardy...even though Lessons 1 through 7 have come and gone, I am still behind in my studies. I was bad and didn't keep up on it all over the last few weeks...OOPS! So now I need to get caught up to get back on track. So if I can do at least 2 Lessons per week (shoot for 3), I should be caught up by the end of the Challenge. The goal here is not so much a per week, but a total of 11 Lessons complete. I also need to work on my Herbology and Finance Studies. I will do at least something for each once a week. I will shoot for completing a Chapter in Herbology (that included projects and homework), and some sort of reading or Continuing Education in Finance. I will continue to look at finding a job...but since that hasn't panned out in the last 2 years, I will also include investigating blogging as a business. So for this Challenge, I'll focus on a weekly research for each. If I'm able to do extra lessons (like in Franken Studies or Herbolgy), those can be "bonus" points. If I get an actual job interview, that will be a bonus point. Grading: 1 point each = Franken Lessons (2+/wk => 11 points total) 1 point each = Herbology Lessons (1+/wk => 4 points total) 1 point each = Finance CE (1x/wk => 4 points total) 1 point each = Job Search (1x/wek => 4 points total) 1 point each = Blogging for Business Research (1x/wk => 4 points total) Bonus Point = Job Application, Job Interview, "extra" Herbology Lessons Reward: +1 WIS Support the Assassin's Guild: Mini's and Ambassadoring But that doesn't matter...I'm here to support my guild!! With all the new-fangled changes to Nerd Fitness this year, a lot of people have gotten in an uproar and even more are confused...including me...(confused, not uproar). They have re-defined what each guild represents, and with that, I don't fit into any particular guild anymore!! My fitness style is that of someone with ADOS (Attention Deficit...Ooooh! Shiny!!) on crack!! Since I grew up in the country on a farm, I have a hard time getting into "fitness" in the modern (traditional?) sense...I don't do gyms (don't know how to use the equipment and when I've asked, I've been made to feel stupid), I don't get into a lot of classes (and the ones here aren't very interesting, and the ones that are now are on my no-no list), I am into a lot of sports/sporting activities that just aren't available around here. So thus the conundrum...I bounce around at trying different things to see if something clicks with me...sadly nothing really does (I get bored with the current mindset of "exercise" and "fitness activities"), so I change it up every Challenge (bored now...). With that being the case, based on the new definitions, I would belong in ALL the guilds, except Warriors (but if I end up playing with free weights, that won't apply any more), and sadly my no-no list now kicks me out of the Assassins (bye-bye Parkour <pout, sniffle, pout>)! However, the Assassins are where I started, where I've thrived and where I feel my heart belongs! So despite the re-definitions and personal restrictions, I will continue to support the Assassins Guild! Mini Challenges I haven't checked on these yet...still trying to get my challenge up with all the changes and my own scheduling hiccups... Per usual, they will be posted weekly and with their own reward system. These are always a do or don't, which includes posting and updates as necessary. We'll have to see how the changes to the NF Challenges will affect the minis...I hope they don't get discontinued... Ambassadoring Of course, it's always an honor to help budding Recruits find their way to a Home Guild... However, this round will be especially hard with all the changes to NF, to our Ambassadoring procedures and Mr. Wilies (who spear headed the Ambassadoring changes) going over to the Rangers... My goal is to do a little something in this area 5 times a week. Next Week's Focus... Ok, so I'm getting this thing up a little bit late...ok, a lotta bit late! And I'm already behind in my Lessons. So I'm going to have to work hard this week to get on track... In addition to what's listed for my Challenge, I also have a few extra appointments to juggle as well as put together my Challenge Spreadsheet...that thing keeps me on track so I don't forget (overlook) anything!! Time to tighten all the loose screws so Lesson 8 goes like clockwork...

Bast Assassinates Holiday Horrors Well, it's that time of the year again...when we all go nuckin' futs trying to find, create and give the Holiday Spirit. But I can't help but be reminded of the filk "12 Pains of Christmas", especially after how the last few years have gone for us...all stress with no giving, just taking on the parts of others...it made us (me, especially) feel like everyone around us were taking advantage of our loving and generous natures. I would always end up over doing it...working too hard trying to make everything "perfect"...and end up not enjoying anything. But not this year! I plan to take the baby steps I need to so that I can have an enjoyable Holiday and destroy all the things that create havoc! Epic Quest: Stealing Christmas from Fibromyalgia This will be my first Holiday Season with the Rebellion. So I'm looking at what I can do to keep Fibro at bay instead of ruining what should be a happy and enjoyable time of year. Throughout this Quest (Main and Life) are little things that, if I do them, can help reduce my stress and allow me more time to enjoy the Season. I will continue to post in my updates a weekly Fibromyalgia inspiration, as well as when I feel I need a little extra motivation. I also hope that this helps others who also fight this (or similar) battles. I've contemplated adding scoring to this aspect of my progression, as it is present on each of my Quests for every 6WC...but I'm not sure how to score or award. So for now, beating Fibro is its own reward...it always is!! Main Quest: Baby, It's cold... Since I began with the Rebellion, I've worked on inch loss vs. weight loss. I do pretty well during each 6WC, loosing an average of about 7 inches, but severely falter during each break, regaining an average of 5 inches! And this round was no exception...I had gained back all but 1/2 a pound and 1 inch from my starting stats last 6WC!!! AAARRRGGGG!!!!! I need to work on breaking that cycle!! So this round, I'm going to focus on maintenance rather than loss, which if I'm successful, will come in quite handy during the Holiday Feasting! So I'm going to grant a point for maintaining my beginning inches, with only a +2" fluctuation from beginning stats. Bonus points will be awarded for any loss over 7" (since I tend to loose 7" per 6WC anyway). On an interesting side aspect of this, I'm going to try a little experiment...I read a blurb on Facebook a while back, about freezing fat cells and thinking it was a hoax, I did some research. I discovered that not only wasn't it a hoax (I found several scientific articles and research papers on the subject), there are also companies (mainly stateside) that do it as a non-surgical alternative to liposuction. It's called "cryolipolysis", and there were a couple of the medical reference articles that suggested that similar results could be accomplished by using ice packs a few times a week. So I'm going to try it. Keeping in mind, it's an experiment, so points are for conducting the experiment, not the results! However, ending the experiment before the end of the 6WC due to any ill effects will still result in a success. Grading: 1 point = applying ice packs to "pooch" for 1 hour <3x / week> 1 point = maintain inches with only +2" fluctuation from beginning stat <1x / week> 1 point = bonus for each inch lost above 7" 4+ points possible per week --> 24+ possible total Reward: +1WIS, +1 CHA Beginning Stats: Weight - 124.5 # Ribs - 30" Waist - 30" Belly - 34" Quest 1: Reindeer Games So a few changes this go around...I didn't include yoga last round, and it really showed! I've lost a lot of my flexibility just in that short amount of time! So I'm going to do the Do You Yoga's 30-day Yoga Challenge. If I do it 5 days a week (Monday through Friday), then I'll complete the entire thing by the end of this 6WC. When trying out Parkour Training last round, I discovered one of my issues was endurance...especially in the area of running...but since I'm waaay out of practice, I'm going to take the advice of a Ranger (who's post I read on another's thread) and try the C25K program (couch to 5k), which builds you up slowly, with workouts 3 times a week. My other major problem was that I can't take a hit like I used to, so I'm going to also work on body conditioning...other wise known as "impact training" or "armor building". I'm going to do this twice a week, between the c25k days. I know I'll probably be starting small, so it'll be a do or don't thing, rather than a how much or how long...I don't want to over do it and end up flaring! My hubby wants for us to run together, but he's been running regularly (as part of his PT), and we are at totally different speeds and stamina levels...that and he wanted to do it in the evenings, but that's a bad time for me...my energy is best early in the day, and by the time he get's home, I'm busy cooking dinner and I definitely don't want to run after dinner and before bed!! So we compromised on doing evening walks three times a week. We've tried to do this before, but always peetered out pretty quickly...I'm going to add it for now as a regular point, but may make it a bonus point later (if we only do it once a week or so...). I've also been asked by some potential students for me to teach Belly Dance again...so I'm going to check out the possibility for that. If I do it, it may replace the Hubby walks or just get added to the system. But that'll be a wait and see. Last round, I totally failed on adding a new activity each week...so this time, I'm going to add it as a bonus point. My other bonus point will be the usual weekly mileage. I'm sticking with the 20 miles for one point grading, but that 20 miles will have to be non-workout mileage...between the runs and the walks, that'll be a couple extra miles each week alone! I will be tracking my mileage for each workout...just to see how much (and how far) I'm going! Grading: 1 point = Do You Yoga 30-day Challenge <5x / week> 1 point = Couch to 5k <3x / week> 1 point = armor building impact training <2x / week> 1 point = Hubby walks <3x / week> 1 point = Bonus for new activity/class attended 1 point = bonus for 20 cumulative non-workout pedometer mileage for the week 13+ points possible per week --> 78+ possible total Reward: +2 DEX, +2 STA, +2 STR Quest 2: Seasons Eatings So this will be somewhat of a repeat from last round. We have waaay too much food in this house that needs to be eaten...there's a PCS tradition among Military Families, that when it's time for a family to PCS, all their food gets given to their friends who are staying (movers won't pack the food). This is why we have a deep freezer and a regular freezer full and a pantry that's overflowing...we had several friends PCS during this past year!! It'll be out turn to PCS in about a year or so, and I don't want to continue this particular tradition. I've tried to give away the food that was given to us, some stuff went to others that we knew, but for the most part, it all stayed with us, but it now has to go!! So the challenge will be to cook healthy meals using primarily the current inventory. Shopping will be limited to regular use items (milk, coffee, cat food, toilet paper, etc) and recipe fillers (like onions or seasonings, etc) so long as the bulk of the recipe utilizes current inventory. Once certain aspects of the inventory get used up (like protein or veggies), then they can be purchased and a new inventory list created and kept so that we know what we have and how much of it! I realize that Thanksgiving is smack in the middle of this 6WC and the Holiday Baking Season will wrap it up, but that's OK. By that point, there should be enough of a dent that I will actually have somewhere to put a turkey!! Grading will be for each meal in which inventory is utilized, with the goal of using as much as possible! Hubby was concerned about possible failure here, so currently, the goal is for 5 meals a week...but this may get adjusted if we go way over regularly. A bonus point will be awarded for each area that is able to be cleared, organized and inventoried. Grading: 1 point = each meal utilizing current inventory <5x / week> 1 point = bonus for each area cleared, organized and inventoried 5+ points possible per week --> 30+ possible total Reward: +1 CON, +1 WIS Quest 3: Batteries not included... As slight adjustment on an old classic...Over my past few challenges, I've been really good about getting plenty of rest and relaxation...which is crucial for someone with Fibro...but I've noticed that my before bed routine is a bit lacking. I have on my daily task list as my before bed routine to clean the kitchen (now, I just put away leftovers), put things on the launch pad (get things ready that I need to go out the door with the next morning), wash face, brush teeth and lay out clothes. All of which, doesn't normally take very long, but I just don't seem to get it done... I also find myself getting a bit burned out from doing my self-guided meditations. I figured this would be a great time to do the Do You Yoga's 30-day Meditation Challenge again. And of course, I need to go to bed 8 hours before I need to get up. All three of these I will do 5 times a week (Sunday through Thursday) to get a jump start on the work day the next morning! I'm also going to grant a bonus point for pampering. This will include things like doing a hair treatment, facial, mani/pedi or even soaking in a hot bath. It will not include anything that would be considered maintenance or "special" care due to injury or illness. Grading: 1 point = Before Bed Routine <5x / week> 1 point = Do You Yoga 30-day Meditation Challenge <5x / week> 1 point = go to bed 8 hours before alarm <5x / week> 1 point = bonus for pampering 15+ possible per week --> 90+ possible total Reward: +1 CON, +1 CHA Life Quest 1: Harnessing Holiday Havoc I still haven't gotten these habits down, so this will be an almost complete redux from last round...with one exception...I'm adding the Flylady's Holiday Cruising Missions. Granted, they've already started, and will technically end before this challenge, but there will be a few final missions that will go up until Christmas, plus clean-up missions after. One thing I'm going to work on here (and in cooperation with LQ2) is doing things more timely. It may seem like a lot, but before this duty station, I was able to get up at 0600, do all these things, work 2 part time jobs, fix dinner, and was able to relax a few hours between dinner and bed at 2200! Now I just need to figure out how I did that! I'll probably run a timer during the first week to see how long it takes me to do all my tasking (without getting sidetracked) so I can assess where I need to focus on improving. Grading: 1 point = Weekly Home Blessing (WHB) <1x / week> 1 point = Daily Cleaning Routines <5x / week> 1 point = Daily Zone Missions <5x / week> 1 point = Daily Zone Detail Cleaning <5x / week> 1 point = Holiday Cruising Missions <5x / week> 1 point = Area decluttered and organized <1x / week> 1 point = bonus per box cleared 1 point = bonus for 10 items sold 22+ points possible per week --> 132+ possible total Reward: +1 STA Life Quest 2: The Holiday Line Up... And here's another redux...I'm doing OK with the scheduling, and NF posts and updates, but the daily emails keep getting vastly overlooked. This round, I'm going to work harder on scheduling "a time for everything"...I seriously need to track my time and activities so that I know where my time is being spent and on what...since I'm not getting much accomplished that I would like, and my days aren't particularly any shorter than they were when I lived in Negishi and got all this stuff done and worked 2 part-time jobs!! Grading: 1 point = creating & maintaining schedule <5x / week> 1 point = daily emails <5x / week> 1 point = NF weekly update <1x / week> 1 point = NF minis, posts & ambassadoring <5x / week> 16+ possible per week --> 96+ possible total Reward: +1 WIS Life Quest 3: Deck the Halls with Holly or Money... In case you hadn't noticed, my Life Quests are all pretty much repeats from last round. It's not that I'm unimaginative...I mean, I kinda am (but that's not why), it's just that I still need to work on improving in these areas! For this one, I'm incorporating "practical applications" as bonuses for both Herbology and Finance. It hurt me when I was sick...I was using what I had already learned, but was too ill to actively study (spent an hour reading the same paragraph at one point). And I'll be assisting (possibly teaching or teaching the one who will be the instructor) with a class later this month on Holiday Budgeting, so there's a practical application in Finance. I still need a job, so the same bonuses for applications and interviews/follow-ups will apply. If I am able to procure a job, then this aspect of this quest will be completed and I'll adjust the figures accordingly. Grading: 1 point = Herbology unit completed with passed exam <1x / week> 1 point = Herbology homework / projects <1x / week> 1 point = Financial Continuing Education work <1x / week> 1 point = Financial study (read article, book, magazine, etc.) <1x / week> 1 point = research job opportunities <3x / week> 1 point = bonus for Herbology practical application 1 point = bonus for Finance practical application 1 point = bonus for each application submitted 1 point = bonus for each interview / follow-up 7+ possible per week --> 42+ possible total Reward: +1 WIS For the Guild: An Assassin for all Seasons... I don't think I'll have a choice in whether or not I participate in the minis again this round since it will be Hubby's first time as an Assassin, so this will be interesting. Since the minis always have us divided up, more or less at random, into team, we could be allies or competitors...but either way, we'll still have a lot of fun!! The theme this time is "Super Mario Assassin All-Stars", but only the sign up has been posted so far. Per usual, this will be a do or don't scenario. If I participate, I get a point and whatever the reward that gets allocated by the awesome Guild Leaders! I will be serving, once again, as an Assassin Ambassador, so I'll be doing my part, along with my fellow awesome Ambassadors, to help usher in the latest victims, er, I mean, Recruits! LOL! Grading: No grades, just a do or don't. Reward: TBD per mini Next Weeks Focus... Monday starts the Challenge, so I'll be working on posting my beginning stats and measuring a few things (like time for tasking and mileage staring stats for run, etc.) so I know where I started to accurately chart my progress. We've got a lot to do and only six weeks to do it, so let's get started! See ya'll in the Challenge!! Ready or not, here I come, Week 1...

Bast simplifies and regains her focus... Well, I survived my first 6WC with the Assassin's Guild. It was quite the experience...I still feel a bit overwhelmed!! I learned a few things that I will be applying to this 6WC. Of course some will be carry overs from previous 6WCs that either still apply or simply works well for me. This round will be much simpler, though. My biggest issue during the last 6WC, I discovered, was how much time I was spending just trying to keep up on the posts of others as well as my own, and that I wasn't very good at doing my updates. So this time, there is no theme...for a few reasons, actually...Mainly because I can't really think of something that fits my primary goals/situation this time around. Also because I don't have "google-fu" as Starsapart calls it...I was spending so much time trying to find appropriate gifs and pics that other areas suffered. I'm hoping that I will be able to find that balance between doing and posting. Luckily for me, I always create a spreadsheet and print to fill in each day and then tally it all up at the end of the week. Epic Quest: Defeat my Mortal Enemy... It may be a new challenge, but an Epic Quest is just that...one for the long haul. So as I've stated before, this may seem like an impossibility, but my ultimate goal is to have my Fibromyalgia in total remission!! Since there is no cure and they still don't know everything about the condition, this may seem like a rather lofty and far-fetched goal. But to me, not so much...if it takes my entire life to reach this goal, so be it! I remember that 7 years ago, my doctor was ready to prescribe me a wheelchair, which mortified me! But I worked hard and didn't give up...and this past January, I was able to walk a 5K with no pain during or after!! Since completing my first 6WC, I have had even more improvement. Yes, I still have bad days, but just knowing that the baby steps I take every day get me one step closer to remission and one step farther away from the pain is very inspiring and motivating to me and gives me hope! Main Quest: Inch loss vs. weight loss... It's still Summer, and the weather will be sweltering for another couple of months here in Japan, so once again, my Main Goal is to loose inches...specifically around my midsection...12 of them, to be exact...2 inches lost per week doesn't seem too unreasonable! I didn't do as well as I would have liked last time, so here's to refocusing on this goal... Grading: 1 point = 1 inch lost 2+ points possible per week --> 12+ possible total Reward: +2 CHA Beginning Stats: Weight - 129 # Ribs - 31" Waist - 31" Belly - 36" Quest 1: Do Something, anything, to remain active... In order to achieve both my Main Goal, and ultimately, my Epic Goal, I need to remain active!! But there are soooo many different things to do / choose from at this time of year...and many cost efficient!! Two challenges ago, I discovered the fun of the Nerd Fitness Playground Workouts (FREE!), and was already doing Yoga at home (FREE!). I did some research at the end of that challenge that I used during this last challenge...a Nature Trail (FREE!) and many group classes (several FREE, others for a fee with first lesson FREE). I have already been using the Outdoor Pool (FREE!), as well as doing the Bon O'Dori dance classes (FREE!) and performances; however, those will be ending before the end of this 6WC. During this last challenge, while exploring the "Marauder's Map" for "Nerdworts", I discovered an obstacle course (FREE!) off base. I was also able to join a "Sportsmans Club" on a neighboring base, so I can start shooting archery again! Not to mention vacationing that can include activity... I am also including a bonus point for having a cumulative 15 miles on the pedometer for the week...this will encourage me to take the stairs and park on the far side of the lot when shopping. Grading: 1 point = each activity (dance class, NFPW, swim, nature trail, yoga, class, archery, obstacle course, etc.) <4x / week> 1 point = each weekend activity <1x / week> 1 point = bonus for 15 miles pedometer cumulative for the week 5+ points possible per week --> 30+ possible total Reward: +2 STR, +2 DEX, +1 STA Quest 2: Eat what we have... With the Summer Season in full swing, it's easy for the garden to get a bit out of hand! So this one's partially a repeat of last 6WC...it incorporates labor (activity), diet and organization...I need to be sure the garden doesn't completely explode on me and turn into a forest of veggies and to eat what's harvested...I don't want to waste the nummas or loose them to rot or thieves (pests)...However, if I eat faster than the garden can be harvested, then there won't be a penalty. Farmer's Market purchases can be substituted, so basically, it needs to be fresh local produce, preferably from my garden. It needs to be part of the regular menu, as a side dish or major part of a meal...points awarded for the dish, not number of harvested (i.e. garden salad uses lettuce, tomatoes, onions, carrots, radishes, etc...but only gets 1 point for the dish NOT 1 point each fresh ingredient...1 point vs. 5 points). So here comes the organization part...I've stocked up on pantry and freezer items, as well as "inherited" a lot from friends who have PCS'd (military move/relocation). Many things cannot be packed and shipped, so often it's "gifted" to those who are staying behind. I need to work on cooking based on what I have, which will mean doing some recipe research or getting creative with our meals. This will also cut some of our grocery expenses...I'm going to attempt to only buy "incidentals"...those things we use everyday (milk, cheese, TP, soap, etc). Since I also need to get better at creating my meal plan and sticking to it, this will help me in both cases! Grading: 1 point = each session of garden work <5x / week> 1 point = each fresh local produce dish <5x / week> 1 point = each meal utilizing current pantry or freezer inventory <5x / week> 15+ points possible per week --> 90+ possible total Reward: +1 STA, +1 CON, +1 WIS Quest 3: Give my body time to rest, relax and repair... I need to be sure to take some time to rest and recover from everything! The body needs plenty of good quality sleep, 8 hours on average, to heal and repair itself. Part of having Fibro is dealing with sleep issues, so the body isn't able to heal and repair itself properly, which adds to the other Fibro issues like pain and fatigue. So in order to better my chances of getting plenty of quality sleep, I'm going to take time for myself to help my body recover. I'm going to take some time to relax and wind down from the day...maybe watch a show with the family, perhaps some reading (that's not work related), or even some pampering (like soaking in a warm bath) before I go to bed. Also I need to take some time to quiet my mind and get the day's thought clutter out of my head...meditation is always good for that! However, it's all going to hinge on getting at least 8 hours of that quality sleep!! Many things can thwart getting good quality sleep...most of which are beyond my control...so I'm not going to penalize myself for those. What I can do is ensure that I go to bed early enough so as to get 8 hours of sleep before it's time for the alarm, so that is what gets the point! As a surprise, my hubby and friends "cat-napped" me and took me to an Onsen last week!! It was amazing and close to the base. I was able to get a free membership. So I'm going to give myself a "pampering bonus"...if I do something to pamper myself at home (hair treatment, facial, mani/pedi) or if I go to the Onsen, I get a bonus point for that week! Grading: 1 point = each relaxing evening <5x / week> 1 point = each mind clearing evening <5x / week> 1 point = each 8 hours ensured bedtime <5x / week> 1 point = bonus for pampering myself 15+ points possible per week --> 90+ possible total Reward: +1 CON, +1 CHA Main Life Quest: Learn to Control CHAOS... According to Flylady and the Slob Sisters, CHAOS means Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome...it is the state of living in a cluttered and messy house. So this one is a repeat of challenges past...our house is still rather cluttered...we've had two PCSs, both of which were to houses that were half the size of the one before it, so we're struggling to get things in order! I need to clear out these boxes, decide what to keep, what to send to our family to be put into storage, what to sell/donate, and what is trash. I need to actively sell what we're not keeping and donate what doesn't get sold. I also need to declutter the house and get it better organized so as to utilize areas better. I also need to get back on track with the housework. As I work on cleaning our house...I can declutter as I go through the cleaning process. My goal is to do the Weekly Home Blessing so that the house is company ready, even if I'm still decluttering. I plan to resume my routines with the Flylady Zones (each area of the house is divided into 5 Zones, one for each week of the month) to do my Detail Cleaning and Daily Missions. I will also do the daily cleaning routines (swish toilet, wipe sink, laundry & dishes) to help keep the chores under control. Flylady also teaches us to do a little bit everyday so as to keep everyday messes from getting out of hand, which allows more free time and less "all day or crisis cleaning" episodes. I must strive to let go of my perfection and remember that even cleaning not done "perfectly" still blesses my family! Grading: 1 point = Weekly Home Blessing completed <1x / week> 1 point = Daily Zone Detail Cleaning <5x / week> 1 point = Daily Zone Mission <5x / week> 1 point = Daily Cleaning Routines <5x / week> 1 point = each area decluttered & organized <1x / week> 1 point = each box cleared <1x / week> 1 point = 10 items sold or donated <1x / week> 19+ points possible per week --> 114+ possible total Reward: +1 STA Life Quest 1: Organize our lives via Time Management and Routines... This one is going to be in conjunction with the Main Life Quest. First of all, I need to keep better track of my time and what I'm doing with it. I will put together a weekly and daily schedule for housework, studies, desk work, exercise, and errands. I already have most of my routines laid out, I just need to get back on track with doing them. Since I'm seeking a "desk job", I will work towards setting and maintaining a schedule that keeps 8am to 5pm open for when I do get a job. If I can take care of all my responsibilities at home before 8am and after 5pm, that will make my transition to a new job schedule much easier. This will be a transitional goal, so points will still be awarded even if adjustments need to be made to the schedule. I will also not penalize due to emergencies or unexpected circumstances which negatively affect the schedule. Grading: 1 point = schedule created <1x / week> 1 point = schedule maintained <5x / week> 1 point = AM routines followed <5x / week> 1 point = PM routines followed <5x / week> 16+ points possible per week --> 96+ possible total Reward: +1 WIS Life Quest 2: Study, Study, Study... This one will be another 2-parter. I've been a bit lax regarding my studies as of late. I need to work on completing my Beginner's Herbology Course so that I can take the final and register for the Intermediate Course by the end of September. I also need to stay current on my Financial Certification by doing Continuing Education work. I'm also going to lump employment search into this one....it's kinda related...I'll have to do research and paperwork! Jobs are of high commodity around here...we are on a very small base in Japan, where we have very limited options. Off-base jobs are very rare and difficult to get due to international factors. On-base jobs often go to Japanese nationals first, then to spouses...so for every job there's over a thousand applicants!! So I'm not going to penalize myself for not getting a job by the end of this 6WC. I will just work to ensure that I do research and apply for available jobs that I meet the qualifications. Bonus points will be awarded for submitting an application and for each interview. If I actually get a job before the end of the challenge, full points will be awarded for the remainder of the challenge. Grading: 1 point = each Herbology unit completed & exam passed <1x / week> 1 point = all Herbology homework/projects completed per unit <1x / week> 1 point = Financial Continuing Education work completed <1x / week> 1 point = research job opportunities <3x / week> 1 point = bonus for each application submitted 1 point = bonus for each interview 6+ points possible per week --> 36+ possible total Reward: +1 WIS, +1 CHA Et Al: Fighting along side my Guildmates... Yeah, ya'll know "Al"...I had such a blast doing the Assassin Guild Mini Challenge and "Surprise" Mini's last 6WC!! I'm really excited to see what's in store again! There are lots of opportunities for "a little bit extra"...of course, the Assassin Guild Minis, and Accountabilibuddy groups, plus supporting my friends in the Assassin's Guild and those who are just joining the Rebellion... Grading: No points here...just a do or don't based on opportunity and situation. Any additional awards are based on whatever the mini's grant and the joy that comes from helping others succeed... I'll update later with my starting stats, point allocation and personal rewards... See ya in the Challenge!!

Do Fairies have tails? More than that, do Fairies even exist? Nobody knows for sure. So this Guild is like Them... ...an Eternal Mystery... ...an Eternal Adventure! -- Makarov Dreyar, Fairy Tail Guild Master Epic Quest: Requip as often as necessary to defeat my Mortal Enemy... This may seem like an impossibility, but my ultimate goal is to have my Fibromyalgia in total remission!! Since there is no cure and they still don't know everything about the condition, this may seem like a rather lofty and far-fetched goal. But to me, not so much...if it takes my entire life to reach this goal, so be it! I remember that 7 years ago, my doctor was ready to prescribe me a wheelchair, which mortified me! But I worked hard and didn't give up...and this past January, I was able to walk a 5K with no pain during or after!! Since completing my first 6WC, I have had even more improvement. Yes, I still have bad days, but just knowing that the baby steps I take every day get me one step closer to remission and one step farther away from the pain is very inspiring and motivating to me and gives me hope! Main Quest: Prepare for the cover of Sorcerer Weekly... Well, it's that time of year again...time to wear skimpier clothes or swelter...time for sun, sand and surf (or at least the local watering hole to cool off!!)... Once again, my Main Goal is to loose inches...specifically around my midsection...12 of them, to be exact...2 inches lost per week doesn't seem too unreasonable! Grading: 1 point = 1 inch lost 2+ points possible per week --> 12+ possible total Quest 1: Find jobs on the Request Board... In order to achieve both my Main Goal, and ultimately, my Epic Goal, I need to remain active!! But there are soooo many different things to do / choose from at this time of year...and many cost efficient!! During the last challenge, I discovered the fun of the Nerd Fitness Playground Workouts (FREE!), and was already doing Yoga at home (FREE!). I did some research at the end of that challenge in preparation for this one and discovered a Nature Trail (FREE!), the Outdoor Pool (now FREE!) and many group classes (several FREE, others for a fee with first lesson FREE). I already had planned on doing the Bon O'Dori dance classes (FREE!) and performances. Not to mention vacationing that can include activity... Grading: 1 point = each Bon O'Dori class <1x / week> 1 point = each other activity (NFPW, swim, nature trail, yoga, class, etc.) <3x / week> 1 point = each weekend activity <1x / week> 5+ points possible per week --> 30+ possible total Quest 2: Tame the Jungle... With the Summer Season in full swing, it's easy for the garden to get a bit out of hand! So this one's a two-parter...it incorporates both labor (activity) and diet...I need to be sure the garden doesn't completely explode on me and turn into a forest of veggies and to eat what's harvested...I don't want to waste the nummas or loose them to rot or thieves (pests)...However, if I eat faster than the garden can be harvested, then there won't be a penalty. Farmer's Market purchases can be substituted, so basically, it needs to be fresh local produce, preferably from my garden. It needs to be part of the regular menu, as a side dish or major part of a meal...points awarded for the dish, not number of harvested (i.e. garden salad uses lettuce, tomatoes, onions, carrots, radishes, etc...but only gets 1 point for the dish NOT 1 point each fresh ingredient...1 point vs. 5 points) Grading: 1 point = each session of garden work <5x / week> 1 point = each fresh local produce dish <5x / week> 10+ points possible per week --> 60+ possible total Quest 3: Everyone needs a little well deserved R & R... I need to be sure to take some time to rest and recover from everything! The body needs plenty of good quality sleep, 8 hours on average, to heal and repair itself. Part of having Fibro is dealing with sleep issues, so the body isn't able to heal and repair itself properly, which adds to the other Fibro issues like pain and fatigue. So in order to better my chances of getting plenty of quality sleep, I'm going to take time for myself to help my body recover. I'm going to take some time to relax and wind down from the day...maybe watch a show with the family, perhaps some reading (that's not work related), or even some pampering (like soaking in a warm bath) before I go to bed. Also I need to take some time to quiet my mind and get the day's thought clutter out of my head...meditation is always good for that! However, it's all going to hinge on getting at least 8 hours of that quality sleep!! Many things can thwart getting good quality sleep...most of which are beyond my control...so I'm not going to penalize myself for those. What I can do is ensure that I go to bed early enough so as to get 8 hours of sleep before it's time for the alarm, so that is what gets the point! Grading: 1 point = each relaxing evening <5x / week> 1 point = each mind clearing evening <5x / week> 1 point = each 8 hours ensured bedtime <5x / week> 15+ points possible per week --> 90+ possible total Life Quest: Master Controlled CHAOS... Basically, our house is rather cluttered...we've had two PCSs, both of which were to houses that were half the size of the one before it, so we're struggling to get things in order! I need to clear out these boxes, decide what to keep, what to send to our family to be put into storage, what to sell/donate, and what is trash. I need to actively sell what we're not keeping and donate what doesn't get sold. I also need to declutter the house and get it better organized so as to utilize areas better. Grading: 1 point = each area decluttered & organized <1x / week> 1 point = each box cleared <1x / week> 1 point = 10 items sold or donated <1x / week> 3+ points possible per week --> 18+ possible total Et Al: Fighting along side my Guildmates... Yeah, ya'll know "Al"...There are lots of opportunities for "a little bit extra"...There are Assassin Guild Minis...which I am sooo stoked to do my part...and Accountabilibuddy groups, plus supporting my friends who are just joining the Rebellion... Grading: No points here...just a do or don't based on opportunity and situation. Any additional awards are based on whatever the mini's grant and the joy that comes from helping others succeed... I'll update later with my starting stats, point allocation and personal rewards... See ya in the Challenge!!

This is technically my 3rd challenge, I think. But I didn't finish any of the previous ones and I forgot about this website for 2 years. Depression makes goal upkeep hard. I've recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, hypermobility, and I may have IBS, but I'm kind of sick of doctors, so I haven't gotten a diagnosis. All this on top of my depression, anxiety, and crippling body image issues. BUT being in better physical health is supposed to help with all this, so I want to break my "barely scraping by" inertia, and actually do something with my life. I've been meaning to start Whole30 to address my food sensitivities but keep putting it off because junk food is comforting. There is also a significant possibility that I will be moving later this year, and thus will need to interview for a new job, and thus will need to fit back into my suit, seeing as I cannot afford another one. I've gained a whole lot of weight in the past few months, that is doing nothing to help. This challenge is going to be about getting myself back to being able to function. I'll be working on eliminating inflammatory foods, starting a gentle exercise routine, and establishing a more regular sleep schedule. Goal 1: Diet I already know that cheese makes me feel like I've been poisoned, but it's hard to give it up because it's so yummmyyyyy. BUT I am making the commitment to discovering how I feel with out it, or other problem foods, which I intend to identify, in my system. I've chosen to follow the Whole30 program, which eliminates grains, dairy, legumes, and processed sugar. My house is already prepared. To carry out the program, I need to Meal plan each week BEFORE grocery shopping, so I don't make 10 million and 5 trips to the grocery storeRefrain from eating out, just for the duration of this challenge, since Whole30 is REALLY hard to comply with outside the houseDesignate 1 day per week to be a prep day so I have food to eat even on days when I lack the spoons to cook anything. Or move at all. ​Goal 2: Exercise I'm starting from an extremely sedentary lifestyle. I walk to and from work 4 days a week (1 mile each way. Up a really steep hill on the return. It is death. It makes me want to collapse in the middle of the sidewalk. On bad flare days, I have done just that.) But otherwise, I do nothing. I intend to Start every morning with some sun salutations to wake up my body and mind and center myself to be able to take on the day before moving on to some focused stretching. My hip flexors are constantly far too tight and my lower back is a permanent knot. I've chosen Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday as my workout days. The workout plan I'm following is a slightly modified version of one a physical trainer built for me a few years ago. (Modified to make a little easier on my body.) Goal 3: Sleep My sleep schedule is erratic, at best. I either sleep far too much, or am awake all night (I'm writing this a 5:30 am, for sanity's sake). Sometimes it's because I don't feel like going to sleep, while other times I just can't sleep. I have to be awake by 7:30, so 8 hours of sleep means going to sleep at 11:30. I intend to aim for bed between 10 and 11:30 Current measurements: bust - 44waist - 36"hips - 44butt - 47thighs - 28R arm - 13.5L arm - 14.5

Intro: This is my second challenge as a Ranger and third challenge overall. I’m also leveling up in the NF Academy, which has been great! I’m 1 year into hitting the gym at least 3 times a week (unless under doctor’s orders to rest) and 5 months into a heavy lifting program, which has been 4 sessions per week. Main Quest: To keep on keeping on. I know that sounds a bit glib but I’ve been tracking nutrition and exercise for a really long time at this point and sometimes it’s just exhausting. I took a complete two week break (during the break between challenges) and that was refreshing. I didn’t gain any weight while not tracking my food intake, but I also didn’t make the best nutritional choices, so it’s time to get back to tracking. My fibromyalgia has been kicking my butt lately, too, and I’ve been missing too many fun activities due to fibro and illness, so it’s time to start tracking how I feel to see if there are any new patterns that emerge. Continuing Side Quest: To decrease my body fat percentage to 20%. This will require that I continue to eat properly, even though I don’t have a specific nutrition mission for this challenge. Mission 1: Continue building strength and balance. I’ve been heavy lifting for many months now and I still love it. Last time I incorporated the balance aspect by doing planks and push-ups on medicine balls. I’ll probably still do some of that, but I’m doing something a bit more fun for the balance portion of this challenge! Mission 1a. Perform at least 3 heavy lifting sessions per week, lifting in the 4-6 rep range for 3 sets per exercise. +2 STR Mission 1b. Start handstand training (per the NF Beginner’s Guide to Handstands) for 5 minutes per day, 6 days per week. +3 DEX Mission 2: Track all the things! Mission 2a. Track fibro symptoms and any other symptoms (like illness) twice per day (morning and evening). +2 CON Mission 2b. Track quality of sleep and what I did to prepare for sleep (including taking my sleep meds) so that I can continue to improve my sleep habits. +2 WIS Mission 2c. Track food intake using MyFitnessPal. I’m not looking to hit any particular goals, although I will keep in mind that I do better with a higher protein intake and will stay around my typical calorie intake (1550 per day). +2 CHA Mission 3: Get back on the cardio wagon. After two challenges of specific cardio goals, I’m simplifying things for this challenge. Perform at least 20 minutes of cardio 3 times per week. +3 STA

In March I received my Fibromyalgia diagnosis, after two years of widespread muscle pain and spasms I finally got an answer to the cause. There are three medications that can be prescribed, but they only treat one of the symptoms, and the side effects are brutal. At this point, I'm declining the medication. The only "treatment" is to clean up my diet and exercise - I just have to do it. The irony is that my muscle pain increased significantly when I lost 50 pounds, oh the irony. In May I started my new job. I went from a relatively stress-free job into chaos, this hasn't helped my diet or exercise. So now in December, on National Respawn Day, I am making a commitment to my health. I am 25 years old, I need my health as Fibromyalgia tends to get worse over time. Plus I also have a few pounds that need to vanish. Tonight, I am going to yoga. Tomorrow, maybe Zumba. Thursday, maybe Fit Camp Circuit Training. My new strategy is to take one day at a time - to push myself, but not destroy myself. Best of luck to all the respawns. Aalis

I think I am going to just keep putting my woots in one place... I had put in my 5k woot....then had an injury on the last 5k that has put me into a boot...and because of that pain med issue...I missed this important WOOT... Stat results from the first challenge of 2014! 2/24/2014 weight: 232#(I managed to lose 15# since the beginning of the last challenge) wrist 6.5" SAME forearm 11.5" DOWN 1/2 INCHES Hips 52" DOWN 2 3/4 INCHES Neck 16 SAME USN STATS BODY FAT: 57% DOWN 7% FAT MASS: 132# DOWN 24# LEAN MASS: 100# UP 12# And I've gone from not being able to walk more than 10 minutes to being able, before the injury, to walk a 5k a week. My resting heart rate has been dropping from over 100 to into the 80's My blood pressure is dropping from borderline hypertensive to below 120/85 regularly, with some very excellent readings the shin splint issues have been addressed with a brace the hips are responding to rehab exercises the acl was recovering nicely prior to the foot injury, but awareness will keep the healing going! Since I am disabled because of various reasons, I consider this success story to be a huge WOOT...and wanted to share for those that may need the encouragement. If you are struggling with injury, disability, depression, eating issues - contact me...I'll hold your hand and we can walk this path together!

Hello.. um.. All? My very first post. Big Step for me. So.. First out the gate, I have lurked and received all the new emails etc from NF, attempted some of the beginner workouts and then I found my dragons. Coming in a stride behind, rounding the turn, and... smack right into the dragon, not even half way down the backstretch. In case you can't guess, yep I love horses, of which I have two (one being the rideable full sized version, the other the mini party fun sized). Now to describe my dragons.. they are the big intelligent fiery reds, or the more seductive and elusive blacks. I recently (and FINALLY!) was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. This process start to diagnosis took YEARS because I don't present typically for either condition and throw in some hypermobility of the joints, yep just a bundle of contradictions. Throw in a divorce in the middle, and fast foward to now (age 29). At first I thought I could just workout and maintain fitness or more precisely get back to a good level of fitness, now that is MUCH harder than I believed it would be (slaying the dragon?). All that being said, now for the wisdom requirement.. Does anyone have suggestions on workouts? I can't do high impact anymore, I do like yoga, but not into the whole technical side of it in other words, I understand child's pose not vinyasa something or other, and I did try the beginner's workouts/hotel workouts, but squats/lunges seem to put fire into my knees. I am limited on the arm/wrist/hand movements as my joints bending too far will not let the muscle take the brunt like it is supposed too. I am limited time wise to my lunch hour or whatever time I squeeze from not working with my horses (one I ride the other I taught to pull a cart) in the evening. Thanks all, and Happy Trails.

Where do I start, I was diagnosed with fibro over 20 years ago. It didn't affect too much of my daily life. Zoom forward 23 years, I was miserable, pitiful and generally suicidal, turns out it was a brain tumor sitting on my frontal lobe. Its gone now and I feel great emotionally but through the years my fibro got worse. I couldn't deal with the fact that I was in better emotional health than I had ever been and my body just wasn't keeping up. I decided to explore kicking/curing fibro (I have met with extreme nastiness from fellow fibro sufferers when I use the word cure so.....) and in my research I discovered some promising approaches. I employed them all. I had already changed my diet and was feeling a little better and that really gave me hope. I did a liver cleanse (two at current time), parasite cleanse (it is an ongoing process), raindrop therapy (google it, it is amazing) and a colon cleanse. I was terribly unhappy with the results from my colon cleanse. I thought I was doing everything right as in high fiber, lots of vegetables, whole grains etc but I still had constipation. So I did what I always do, I researched. That research took me to the Paleo Diet (which I knew cured MS) and that brought me here to Nerd Fitness. I had been so successful and had eliminated 95% of my symptoms but I just couldn't deal with the remaining nagging joint pain and the feeling that I wasn't fully cleansed so I searched. Here I am now, pretty much fibro free and ready to go Paleo (I got rid of all my grains and the other no nos yesterday, who knew?). I started the beginner body workout and I am looking forward to the best health of my life. Woot, woot!

Hello all y'all, I just found the Nerd Fitness Rebellion last night and finally found a health site that spoke my language. Even though I'm not into heavy gaming, I do know the terms and the comparisons just make sense to me. A little background on myself. I deal with several health issues and its hard not to get down because of them. I am a Type 1 Diabetic, have Fibromyalgia, Chronic Migraines, and was injured on the job not to long ago. I am what I call a CARBinhaler. I defiantly believe I am addicted to them. Not good for a "normal" person down right dangerous for a Diabetic. Also I am :::cough, cough::: lazy. I have never been driven to cook. It just seems like a lot of work. I like the connivence of prepackaged foods. So why am I here? Lately I have been feeling out of control in how I feel. It's as if someone handed me a Red Shirt and said, "Go join the Captain & Spock down on the planet uhh...Ensign...Whats your name again?" Exercise is a little difficult for me at the moment due to some of the health issues previously listed, but I am going to physical therapy so that's a start. But I decided to stop focusing on what I CAN'T do and focus on what I CAN do. And right now that is what I put into my mouth. Ok that's longer then I had planned so I'll end with that. See ya around the web. Probie

Hi folks! Newbie to this place. Been reading the blog for awhile and decided to finally join. My name is Nicole, I'm 33 and live in Richmond, VA. I was an active kid in playing softball and doing gymnastics, but quitting due my punk rock awesomeness in high school and needing to eschew all things jock. I gained weight and continued on that path until I reached close to 200lbs in my mid-20s. In 2009 I decided to take control and began running. I LOVED running. But I lost no weight until I changed my food intake. Once I found the right pairing (with the help of Weight Watchers), I dropped 55lbs. I've kept that off. Despite the horror of the 2011 Richmond Half Marathon. That is where I acquired IT Band Syndrome. If you are a runner (or possibly hiker or cyclist) you are familliar with the dreaded ITBS. Since late fall of 2011 I have had ITBS and simply cannot shake it. Currently I am in my third round of physical therapy and am deciding to throw in the towel. I need to find something else to do. I need activity. I have had fibromyalgia since 1997. Most of the time it stays pretty mild, but I can easily exacerbate it by not getting enough sleep or triggering my anxiety. Yeah, I have anxiety and depression too. Running was keeping most all symptoms away. Now running is no longer and option. I am slowly watching myself begin to self-medicate with food, which is why I was overweight in the first place. So here I am. For support. For help. To learn. Thanks for reading the short version! P.S. My overall goal is to be a combination of Buffy Summers/Katniss Everdeen/Charlie Matheson/Arya Stark/Tris Prior

6 weeks ago, I committed to going Paleo. I did so at the recommendation of a friend, and after doing some serious research on natural ways to deal with fibromyalgia and migraines. 6 weeks ago, I would curl up,on the couch at the end of every day and cry because my body hurt so much. Think DOMS x 3, only you hadn't really done anything to earn the pain. Something as simple as steam cleaning my carpets would send me to bed with muscle spasms. Some days I could do stuff, some days I couldn't. More and more often, I was telling my kids, "I'm sorry, not today. Mommy hurts too much." I was short with my students and coworkers. I had been on and off at least 7 prescription meds, some with serious side effects. This is what ketogenic Paleo and GENTLE exercise (still working on a single circuit of BBWW until my form is good, then will go to two - DOMS are not good for me, and the flares I have had since starting are generally due to pushing myself too hard, too fast) has done for me: 1) I have had 2 migraines in the last six weeks, both of which turned out to be from bananas. This is down from at least 2 a week, despite being on topomax. 2). I have only curled up on the couch and cried twice. Both times were from pushing the exercise too hard. 3) I did three days of Cub Scout day camp with one son, and kept up. 4) I have taken the kids to an indoor trampoline park (one of the overdo days), the La Brea Tar Pits/Museum of Art (another overdo day), and the water park. I have played WITH them, and not sat and watched. 5) I no longer spend hours playing stupid Facebook games, or engaging in FB drama. 6) I am remembering how much I love cooking, and therefore feeding my family better as well. The pounds and inches part? Icing on the cake. Food IS medicine. At my next appointment, the topomax goes away. I am hoping that as I progress on the body weight work, my muscles will stop twitching randomly and spasming , and then the Klonapen can go away. NSAIDS are no longer required every day. Life is really, really good, and I have a feeling it is only going to get better.