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Hey everyone, I've completed one challenge thus far, but this will be the third that I've attempted. For my second challenge, I got a little bit too overenthusiastic about goal-making, bit off WAY more than I could chew, and ended up choking. So I bowed out of Round 2 but I'm happy to be back here to have the chance to try again This time, I won't make the same mistake--I'm going to keep things nice and simple this time. QUEST: To become happier, healthier, more confident, and more resilient physically, emotionally, and mentally. That's the most important goal, however I am also hoping to either lose some lbs or inches by the end of this challenge. 1. Work out 6 days/week STR +1, DEX +2, STA +2 I will be using the 8 week FitnessBlender.com workout plan (Round 3) as my guide, and for the most part just following along with what it tells me to do each day. However, I'm going to allow wiggle room to accomodate for whatever comes up in my life (substitute hiking if I go on a trip, then jump back into the Fitness Blender plan where I left off). I LOVE Fitness Blender because I NEVER get bored with it. When I was doing Brazil Butt Lift for months at a time, I would start dreading days when I had to do certain workouts, because I'd be so bored from doing it for the hundreth time. Fitness Blender has over 250 workouts for free online! 2. Maintain calorie deficit: 1400 max 5 days/week, 1800 max the other 2 days/week (net calories) CON +2, STA +2 I'm not crazy about counting calories, but it has worked before, so I'm guessing it can work again. I have this Lose It! app on my Android that makes it really easy, and knowing I am logging calories is honestly enough to keep me from making the majority of my bad food choices. Although I threw in the towel for the Paleo lifestyle, I do want to continue to eat predominantly healthy, whole foods, lots of veggies and fruits, whole grains, unprocessed food, and the like. Also, I attempted two goals last challenge that involved being moderate with alcohol and chocolate intake. Basically, I'm thinking that having to log how many *calories* I am drinking (sigh, massive quantities of empty calories) may be more effective than giving myself a cut off of how many drinks I'm "allowed" to have on a given night. We shall see... 3. Meditate for 20 min 5 days/week, and 5 min+ the other 2 days/week WIS +2, CHA +2 I have an account with Yogaglo.com and I love their guided meditations. I also use these Middle Earth meditations that can be found on Youtube. Basically, I've noticed that when I take the time to meditate, I become more at ease with myself, comfortable, confident, and connected with myself. When I don't meditate for a few days, I find myself becoming apathetic, disconnected, and anxious. So meditating basically boosts my chances of being able to succeed in any and every OTHER goal I'm aiming toward. This one is SUPER important. 4. Engage in self-care, creativity, leisure reading, or cleaning for 15 min+ on 5 days/week. WIS +1, CHA +1 I know I know, that doesn't seem like it should be too hard, right? Yet somehow I manage to go 5 days at a time without doing any of these things. I've got this job that is basically sucking me dry of the great majority of my mental and emotional energy, so when I get home I often feel like a zombie. My goal is to force myself to do even 15 min of any of these things on a regular basis. I know I will feel a lot better for it. I made a GoogleDocs tracker to help me keep track of how I'm doing: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Am0PC49Jb9sOdDM1dzV1UXp3X1k3ZXhsczJTZlFiU1E&usp=sharing Feel free to check it and cheer me on! *ALSO* I could really use an accountabilibuddy, please message me if you are looking for someone to keep you on track and feel you could do the same for me! Good luck everyone!!! -Ashcension