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When you first get your Driver and become a Kamen Rider, the path is never always crystal clear. You may win a few battles here and there, but there's an element of struggle. You're not sure how to use this power that you've been given. While you're struggling with that, your battles keep seeming easier and easier until you hit your first hurdle; a new opponent who's stronger than you. That's when it becomes clear; all those previous struggles were meant to prepare you for that first power up in order to defeat said opponent, so you can find your purpose. Sure, I feel like I've won a few of these first battles last challenge, but a few opponents that ran away before have returned, and they brought friends. I'm not at that hurdle yet, but I know it's coming. It's time I focus on what I'm really struggling with this month in order to be ready for my soon-to-come power up. Goals for this challenge are as follows: Continue to attend class a minimum of two times each week and stretch daily. I did well with class attendance last month, but I relied heavily on gaining that sticker to do so. Going to add it again so it becomes a habit that no longer needs a sticker. Stretching didn't go so well, so it's back to get better. Continue to journal daily and track all food and drinks in MFP. I did well with the journaling, but it followed the same as the one above; get dat sticker. I'm keeping it until I don't need it and adding my tracking to it as well. This is something I started recently, but it's been sporadic, and I don't want it to be, so there. Follow elimination protocol for caloric drinks, especially coffee-containing substances. I feel like I got a handle on my treats, so I'm moving on to a sub-par habit that I've picked up. I've been drinking the not-optimal coffee options for caffeine (see this chart for reference; I'm mocha and frappuccino -.-). This usually only happens when I succumb to Big Food, but I'll need to be extra conscious about it for when I do. Typical protocol; toss 1/4 for first two weeks, then progress to 1/2 for the second. Eat a home cooked or prepared meal for breakfast AND lunch a minimum of three times a week. Yeah, I know I was working on vegetables last month, but I really noticed just how badly I struggled with just EATING the food I brought to work and being too lazy in the morning to get up early enough to eat at home. It hurts my gut, waistline, and wallet, so I'm going to focus on this for now. It doesn't need to be squeaky clean, but it should still increase the quality of my food and decrease the quantity. I'm set with my strategy, now it's time to implement! Here comes Week Zero!

So, the last challenge started strong, and then petered out a bit. But I think it petered out a little less than many of my previous challenges, so I guess that's something? This challenge will be essentially the same, since my goals haven't really changed. But I do plan to tinker with my routine in the hopes that I find a better way of doing things so that I feel like I have an appropriate amount of me time. To that end, I'm giving up my habit of having some down-time/nap time directly after work. I'm ok with sitting for a little bit, my feet and legs are genuinely tired and sore when I get home, but I won't lie down, and I won't nod off, I'll just sit if I feel like I need to. I'm also moving my physio to the 'after work' time slot rather than the 'after dinner/before bed' time slot. And so! On to the goals! Goal #1 - Run Run 3x per week This will consist of 4k at least 2x per week, plus the shuttle run once per week. The regular runs can be on the treadmill or outside, but I really want to make a concerted effort to be outside at least once per week. The treadmill functioned as a good way to ease back into running regularly, but the benefits of running outside are greater (especially when you throw hills into the mix), so outside it is! Blizzards and ice storms notwithstanding... Note: I'll be doing practice session for my physical test every Monday through this challenge. Doing the shuttle run during this will count as one of my runs for the week. I don't think I'd be able to fit a third regular run in during the week, and I really don't want to anyway, but if I find I have the time, then I will (read: might). Goal #2 - Physio + Extras I still have fairly extensive physio to be doing daily (it hasn't changed from the last challenge). I found it to be too much to do all of it every day, so on run days, I will do 3 sets of 3 physio exercises (the Freddie Mercury, the Jazzercize, and the One I Don't Have a Clever Name For), plus 3 sets of elbow planks and butt thingys (a mix of an exercise my massage therapist gave me and a superman hold). On non-run days, I'll do 3 sets of my full physio, plus 3 sets of knee pushups and blugarian split squats. Goal #3 - Stretch Simply do it daily. I aim to do a full body stretch every day. That won't always happen, but as long as I stretch most of the things most of the time (and my shoulders always), then I'll be happy. Goal #4 - Eat Well Like last time, I aim to limit grainy or starchy things to one meal per day, and to generally make good choices otherwise. I also aim to plan ahead on weekends so I have something healthy for lunches during the week, to avoid the temptation of fast food when I know there's nothing quick at home. And that's that! Oh, also, Ranger Mini. I didn't realize there was a quiz thingy to give you a wand and patronus, I only did the house sorting quiz, so I made up my own, but I don't care, I'm keeping them: Character Name: obax Race: human Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw Wand description: acacia heartwood, with a core made from a flight feather from the left wing of Huginn, 10", smooth and slightly springy Patronus: red fox 1. History of Magic - read a damn book (this may go through the full length of the challenge, but I want to start it in the first week. Potential candidates: The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King; Gone Away World by Nick Harkaway; that book by China Meiville that I can't remember the name of but has been sitting on the shelf for too long) - started, but I might switch books, dunno if I'm in the mood for Meiville at the moment 2. Double History of Magic - print out all the necessary forms for police applications and start getting things prepared and filled out 3. Charms - go through my closet and dresser, eliminate things I don't really wear and give them to a charity or thrift store 4. Transfiguration - get out the paralettes and see how I feel about the crow pose

Hi there! No, I know that it normally is "One step at a time" but you will understand this not so brilliant pun.. This is my first try on a text like this and my first trys on thoughts like this. Normally I am the one to receive help, but I wanted to share this idea I had with you. So please look past my terrible writing and English skills, i am learning and living These are just thoughts, don't ruin your life because of some advice on the internet So now that I crashed your hopes, lets get started! Imagine taking a picture of your feet every day, to have a picture based diary, so you can remind yourself of the things that happend one day. But now, imagine your hole diary is consisting of pictures of your feet infront of the TV, in the kitchen and maybe in the shower - kind of lame, right? Looks comfortable, but boring! Days like these are necessary but not pretty interesting. Everyday is the same, you don't get things done and feel sore. But now imagine having a diary full of epic pictures, your feet in the snow, the sand, the mud, on top of a cliff, upside down while bungee jumping - your get the idea. Sounds pretty cool, right? Now that looks epic! Okay, in reality it is pretty unrealistic (and probably unhealthy) to have so extreme adventures everyday. But you understand the difference between these extremes. A lot of people (me included) think their life is missing something. That their life is not thrilling enough, that they are missing the adventures - in short they are missing awesomeness in their life.The problem is, that we wait for the perfect moment to happen or for someone coming into our life to 'wake us up' and guide us to the interesting life. The reality seems different, those times and people are most likely not there. You have to get up and take action Instead of climbing the next cliff (and probably falling down - stay safe!) I want you to think. You should start small - and work yourself up, day by day, adventure by adventure. If you are afraid now, by adventure I mean getting out of your comfort zone and doing something new, unknown and a bit scaring. On paper this sounds easy, and it can be easy in reality too! Start small. Maybe go and visit the small park near you. Or get up and explore the forest. You can take a different route to work today or explore your part of the city. Google sightseeings in your city and go there. Leave the big streets and 'get lost' while wandering. Enjoy the sunset while sitting on a bench. Take your old camera and shoot some pictures, no matter how bad they look. Try to cook something new. Try out a new sport. Just do something new, something interesting, something scary - something awesome! Do something you will be happy to remember. It does not have to be big. I think you get the idea I am not going to write to detailed about this process, Steve already did an amazing job with his guide to building habits ( http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2012/06/04/new-habits/ ). Now we have this awesome plan and are highly motivated. But what about next week? Or next month? This is where my idea takes action. Take a picture of your feet every time you do something interesting or something you find awesome - something on your way! Now upload it to facebook, twitter or instagram (or just save it on your pc if you want to have a private journey) and then write something about the activity! Maybe what you did, what scared you and most important what made you happy! Now you can come back and see what you already archieved and what you experienced! To motivate yourself, you need to do it as often as possible, maybe you don't want to break your chain of 10 days of beeing awesome so you just go out on the next day even if you don't want to at first and boom you experience the best adventure so far! Now you wonder "Why on earth should I take pictures of my shoes in the sunset when I could shoot the sunset itself??" - You are not wrong. Just do both! On the one hand, having the same motive in every picture makes it more recognizable. And at one point you can do a cool timelapse of your year and see the changing background You could take a selfie from the same angle too, but a lot of people (me!) don't like showing your face - but hey, do whatever pleases you most! To be honest, 100 pics of feet can be boring to people not interested in the story, but maybe they are interested in your story behind it! If you use Instagram, you can tag your pics with #onefootatatime (or is #onestepatatime better? Have to decide yet) and atleast I will check them out and be interested in your stories But lets be realistic. We are all humans, we have jobs, school, family and other things in our life that don't allow us to have hour long adventures every day. But don't get frustrated (especially in the beginning) and remember, you are doing this to have fun and to have a better life! Enjoy the way, don't do things you don't like to do! And on some days, the best we can to is to cuddle into a big pile of sheets and play Fallout for hours What are your plans for the future? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I hope you liked this post! Any addidionally ideas ( I can add them with credits to this post) or feedback? Do you want to join? Thanks for reading! ~Gurkour

Hello everyone. I have been reading Steve's blog for almost a year. In fact I have been reading a lot of information about the most effective way to lose weight and feel better. I got started with the 4 Hour Body. That lead me to the Primal Blueprint. I have been mostly Primal for over a year, and when doing what I know is best for me, I feel great. Afternoon slump? Gone. IBS? Cured. And like most people around here, my main motivation was weight loss. I started at 220 lbs with a goal of 170. At my best I got down to 180, but then I got cocky. It was so easy that I didn't think I needed to be so particular. BIG MISTAKE!. I am currently back up to 200. A number I never wanted to see again. More importantly, all the new clothes I bought for my new (old) waist are too tight. I will NOT buy fat pants again. I have my nerd membership card. My best time on the original Super Mario is 12:41. I am eagerly awaiting the release of A Memory of Light. And I have an addiction to World of Warcraft. But unlike most nerds, my problem is an over abundance of confidence. I think I can do anything. And That lack of humility has packed a bag of butter on my ass. I know it works. I have lost 40 lbs. I know it feels awesome. What I don't know is why I started sabotaging myself. Well, I am looking for some small compelling habits that will allow me to change for the better. I am really looking forward to the next six week challenge. I have been a warrior in the past but like Caramon from the Dragonlance books, when the war was over, I let my muscle turn to fat. Now the world needs saving, and I have a job of work ahead of me to do my part. I can't wait to start the six week challenge. Expect goals focused on small activities that will prime me for lasting change. It's nice to meet you all. And I look forward to keeping each other accountable to doing what is best for us. Change is coming.