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Hi everyone, As some of you may know, my quest to burn off 90lbs succeeded. Great! What now? One of the things that really helped me begin this quest was accessing myself like a PC, it might sound wierd, but to me it's my way of making sense of everything. What does one do when they've finished counting downwards? (e.g. Xlbs to burn!) Complacency? HELL NO! Well, they find a way to start counting upwards. I've been using the challenge break to find out what worked from prior challenges + the rebellion and experiment with it going forward a.k. Bodyware & OS has to live up to the v2.0 update! It'll have to be a flexible game-changer going forward! I so far have 8 categories for achieving goals and areas on improvement in my life. They represent 8 areas that I would consider living in fulfilment. Here is what my Control Panel currently rating,: GHZ (Efficiency) 0 CPU (Tasks) 0 POWER (Exercise) 2 ENERGY (Healthy Eating/Regime) 55 HDD (Leaning New Stuff!) 0 WLAN (Support) 0 OUTPUT (Facing Fears) 0 EXT (Stoicism aka Consistency) 0 I like numbers when it comes to progress. My approach going forward is that every 6 days a week of maintaining a certain category is worth documenting... for life by increasing that number +1. I experimented with this hypothesis with exercising during my break. I knew I could chillax in this category if I wanted to and maybe exercise 2x a week until the next challenge started. Instead, I exercised all 6x days per week in both of the challenge break weeks. So for me, this worked, I liked seeing my power number increase! I also tie achievements to to the numbers (e.g. celebrating when reaching 5, 25, 50, 75, 100, etc) so it's very encouraging! As tempting as it would be to up every category, we all know here at the rebellion how chaotic and impossible it is to form habits like that. Instead, I'm focusing on the ones I want to for this ... Goal 1: Aim for a Performance Rating of at least '5' for CPU (Completing 6 tasks I set for myself each week, I usually pick 3x hard/necessary and 3x secondary tasks) Goal 2: Aim for a Performance Rating of at least '7' for POWER (3x Workouts + 3x Interval Jogging) Goal 3: Aim for a Performance Rating of at least '60' for ENERGY (Healthy Eating for 6x a week + 2x Fast Variations + 1x Day of Leniency (These vary now. Instead of opening my food choices to many things and excluding a few, I now eating extremely healthily for one Sunday, favouring home-cooked/natural/more-expensive/flavourful foods. The other Sunday leans more towards access to the darker side foods, like allowing myself to have chocolate and more carb-rich foods. Exclusion to any of these rules is if an even comes up, in which I'll just treat that day like the Sunday and resume as normal with the rest of the week. Additional: Every 4 weeks, I document my weigh-in's and percentages as part of maintaining my neutral lifestyle. If it's within my neutral range I receive a 'pass'. if not, I have to ensure that I'm closer for the next assessment. The next one is at the end of this week. Also: Certain foods I'll never touch, fast food and soda/energy drinks! Side Goal: Aim for a Performance Rating of at least '5' for GHZ: Efficiency (6x Early Start-up/Shut-down + 6x Continuous Effort to be Presentable + 6x On top of General Routines) With all that laid out, that basically means I need at least 5 of the 6 weeks for each category in this challenge to go according to plan. LifeQuest/Level Ups: I aim for now is to receive my first/rank rank by the end of the year. If I receive an average of 5 rank in every category, I level up and move from my current rank (random third-party pc) to ATOM. All my upgrade names come from the long list of CPU code/names xD. p.s. In an attempt to focus better on one system, I scrapped my NF LVL system with much difficulty. And yes, I am a total rebel for doing that! (and totally not a traitor/abandoner! xD) It's a great system, but I needed something a little tailored + easier for me to track weekly and comprehend. I made this decision with much difficulty, but reading Kamb's Bruce lee article convinced me I should go full steam ahead on this idea and see how it goes. I reset all stat score from the NF system with the exception on Healthy Eating/ENERGY, because that's the only thing that I've documented and managed to keep on top form. Other categories, I'm starting from the very beginning. Hope the above wasn't confusing, it'll make sense as I go on, promise! Get hype! Looking forward to everyone's final challenge for 2014! Rock on!

This is it. The time has come. It's coming full circle. During the progression of this 7th challenge marks the approximately 1 year into my post-NerdFitness lifestyle! This challenge brings with a high chance of completing one of my biggest life goals: reaching neutral BMI and celebrating all the benefits and capabilities that this lifestyle brings. As someone who's just a hairline away from being morbidly obese for my entire 24 year old life, and with the horrors and limitations it's put on my life, enough is is enough. On October 3rd, 2013 I had 90lbs to burn. Now I only have 3.8lbs. It's been a long road, and as I've pressed on, it's become a tough one too. Due to life being a little wild at the moment, this was going to be the first challenge that I skip, but I can't do that. As with reaching any goal, chaos somehow manages to be at its very strongest. But I'm going to face it head on. I'm going to see this through. 5 weeks v.s. 3.8lbs. I'm going to muster everything I've got in this, whilst facing everything that gets in the way of it. But I need to be strong. And whilst I've been keeping on well with health, fitness and habits practically throughout (with the power of balance!), I've learned that the only real threat any of this had in the first place is every pressure and obstacle around me. I can either repulse or relapse. So as I look for inner strength to see this voyage through, and all the attempts that have been made to sway me off-course throughout this time, I think "What do I need now to do now? What am I missing?" One can end up feeling a little lost preparing and facing things ahead. Which is why I will fight the big fight amongst adventurers, even with the going gets tough, even when everything appears to be relentlessly scary, I will press on and I will find a way. And for that, I need the rebel alliance (a.k.a you guys xD) for the big final push. Coming out of this (hoping that I do) I will forever have changed my history and destiny, and I want to live on in the Rebellion by giving rebels the courage and strength to face their own evil empires, and living the legend. I briefly look back at the last 11 months, and for the first time, see myself for how I looked like back then. Whoah, I was practically a different person! But I also look back and think "When did I have the most strength and courage?" And to my surprise, it's not now, it was the very start. So I will face everything, and come full circle to the person I wanted to be, living the neutral lifestyle. Lets go! Challenge 7: Completing the first iteration of my Bodyware & OS. Challenge 1: Facing the evil empire! I'd list many things I'd want to accomplish within this timeframe, but it's too much to go over and explain, so instead, every-single thing that I need to just do will be represented by using Star Wars enemies! Upexpected Light Tasks/Obstacles: Stormtroopers Enemies in the way: Incinerator Trooper EVO Trooper Stormtrooper Commander Imperial Officer Senate Guard Imperial Guard Jumptrooper Shadow Guard End of Challenge Goal: Defeating the Empire Challenge 2: EXE! Keep up on exercises, 3x workouts and 3x interval jogging (I've been running in the early morning these past few weeks, lots'a fun!) Challenge 3: The Swing of Things This is just keeping up with what I do (which I have been ever since the last challenge concluded. The last challenge presented many obstacles, like weight plateau, but surprisingly, it went after the challenge concluded! Nothing should hopefully get in the way of this, unless the empire overpowers, it's good practice to expect the worst, so that's what I'll do, I'll prepare and be ready! p.s. Hopefully I can keep on top of my posts/availability here if things get on the wild side, thankfully just yesterday both of my sisters are in a much better situation, putting much less strain/time on me. p.p.s. Due to not participating a week earlier, I will be cutting the final scores/stats a bit...

IronGlider Prepares for the Final Countdown! Welcome to my 6th challenge! To recap, I'm 24, from the UK finishing up on University and preparing for big change in my life. Before 03/10/2013, I've always been overweight/obese for my age for as long as I can recall. This isn't my first time I've attempted for change, as in prior years I've struggled from balance, pressure, eating the right things (I'm vegetarian btw!) etc. ...but I've been trying to make this third strike count! So, as of my last 9ish months in my post-NF life I have been documenting my progress + completed five challenges and have currently lost 78lbs and I hope to keep that up in order to fulfil my current main quest, reach my BMI-intended weight range (175lbs - 165lbs) I kid you not when I say that discovering NerdFitness has been the best thing for my health and wellbeing, it's transformed my perspective, my approach... and me! This is well and truly the furthest I've ever gone, and (so far) I already feel great! I just need to slay this dragon and then move to the next! Picture Progress: (Again, instead of posting every single month here, I'll just put the starting and current/challenge picture progress here:) Starting (v1.0) Month 10 (v1.10) Weight Progress Tree: A Nimble Thought... 03/10/2013 264.5lbs The Quarter of Hope: 13/10/2013 260.5lbs (-4.0) 20/10/2013 258.8lbs (-1.7) 27/10/2013 257.2lbs (-1.8) 03/11/2013 254.0lbs (-3.2) (Total=10.7lbs) 10/11/2013 251.8lbs (-2.2) 17/11/2013 249.0lbs (-2.8) 24/11/2013 247.2lbs (-1.8) 01/12/2013 244.2lbs (-3) (Total=9.8lbs) 08/12/2013 241.8lbs (-2.4) F: 35.9% W: 44.8% 15/12/2013 239.0lbs (-2.8) 22/12/2013 239.0lbs (0) F: 34.6% 29/12/2013 237.4lbs (-1.6) (Total=6.8lbs) The Quarter vs. The Empire: 05/01/2014 234.2lbs (-3.2) F: 33.5% 12/01/2014 231.4lbs (-2.8) F: 32.6% 19/01/2014 228.0lbs (-3.4) F: 31.7% 28/01/2014 228.0lbs (0) F: 31.8% (Total=9.4lbs) 02/02/2014 225.6lbs (-2.4) F: 31.0% 09/02/2014 223.2lbs (-2.4) F: 30.7% 16/02/2014 220.2lbs (-3.0) F: 29.7% M: 35.6% 22/02/2014 221.4lbs (+1.2) F: 29.9% M: 35.5% (Total=6.6lbs) 02/03/2014 219.4lbs (-2.0) F: 29.3% M: 35.6% *Halfway Checkpoint* 09/03/2014 217.8lbs (-1.6) F: 29.1% M: 35.7% 16/03/2014 215.8lbs (-2.0) F: 28.6% M: 36.0% 23/03/2014 214.8lbs (-1.0) F: 28.6% M: 35.9% (Total=6.6lbs) The Quarter of Discovering Neutrality: 30/03/2014 214.8lbs (0) F: 28.9% M: 35.8% 06/04/2014 210.4lbs (-4.4) F: 27.2% M: 36.5% 12/04/2014 210lbs (-0.4) F: 26.7% M: 36.7% 20/04/2014 208.8lbs (-1.2) F: 26.5% M: 36.8% 27/04/2014 210.8lbs (+2.0) F:27.2% M: 36.5% (Total=4lbs) 04/05/2014 207.8lbs (-3.0) F: 26.4% M: 36.9% *Over-weight status achieved* 11/05/2014 205lbs (-2.8) F: 25.7% M: 37.1% 18/05/2014 205lbs (0) F: 25.7% M: 37.1% 25/05/2014 202.2lbs (-2.8) F: 24.8% M: 37.5% (Total=8.6lbs) 01/06/2014 199.0lbs (-3.2) F: 24.0% M: 38.0% 08/06/2014 198.8lbs (-0.2) F: 24.2% M: 37.7% 15/06/1990 195.8lbs (-3.0) F: 23.2% M: 38.3% 22/06/2014 196.4lbs (+0.6) F: 23.4% M: 38.2% (Total=5.8lbs) The Quarter of Shaping Neutrality: 28/06/2014 193.4lbs (-3.0) F: 22.7% M: 38.4%*Ramadan Fasting Begins* 06/07/2014 194.6lbs (+1.2) F: 23.1% M: 38.3% 13/07/2014 191.6lbs (-3.0) F: 22.6% M: 38.6% 20/07/2014 188.6lbs (-3.0) F&M%: Unknown27/07/2014 187.0lbs (-1.6) F: 21.1% M: 39.3% (Total=9.4lbs) *Ramadan Fasting Ends* Current Spec: Starting Weight (as of 27/07/2014): 187lbs Current Conditions: Asthma (Vastly Improved) Main Quest: Reach the following Desired Spec: Desired Weight: 175lbs - 165lbs (considered healthy BMI range) Desired Health: No/Controlled Asthma, Fit, In Routine Missions: So, the past 10 months has been great and I've undergone many things. However, I found the last challenge overly hard to manage. I think much of this is because I carried over many of my missions from my first challenge and added on top of them. Considering I was really busy, ill and fasting for ramadan, I'm shocked I'm still (somewhat) managed to keep on top of everything! It all started to come at a cost though, posting on here less frequently. Since I'm still in quite a busy routine, I've decided that my Bodyware & OS thread needed a bit of streamlining for this challenge, dial and tone down a lot of the information (unless I'm struggling and need to report details). I've enjoyed the last 10 months, but a person can change and especially learn quite a lot in that time, and this system is built to flex, so I'm going to place my focus less on detailing every-single-habit but rather, keeping up to date and that everything's going okay. I think it takes some courage to do this as it's demonstrating confidence with what I can do and that I have control. I think it'll be okay. We'll see. Having more time for helping out my fellow rebels and being punctual is a must for this challenge! We're all in this together now! However, I don't want the terms 'streamlining' and 'minimal' to put off the excitement of a challenge. I don't want this to be about endurance or being complacent during challenging times. This can still be fun, exciting and as ambitious as any other challenge I've done. And I have an great idea on how to do this! Mission 1: The Swing of Things! M1 involves ensuring that every habit that I've built from the very beginning is still kept, and that the journey to health, fitness and well-being will one day be achieved. - 2x 17hr Lite Fasts - 2x 19hr Standard Fasts - Implementing 24hr fasts once or twice a week (if necessary) - Eating Healthily and have Fruit+Salad+Nuts when breaking my fast and balanced dinners - Drinking herbal teas - Keeping up with Exercises - Measuring progress on Sundays - Picture progress every month - Restrict Internet Usage with StayFocusd Chrome Extension - Meditation for 5mins morning/evening (Alt) (the above rules are backed by the 'Never 2 a in row' rule, and are followed every Mon - Sat) NOTE: I longer need to detail these habits on a daily basis as long as they are followed. I will only detail anything out of the ordinary. Mission 2: Keeping on Top Form! M2 is about ensuring I get the most of being active 6 times a week! This involves 3x Interval Jogging (with small additional mini-workouts) and 3x Level 4 Renegade Workouts! Mission 3: IronGlider 0verride! M3: Think I'm boring? Sick of tired of hearing I have mushroom fungus everyday? This'll break the monotony! A system error has occurred in the OS! This causes IronGlider to shut-down everyday for a minimum of 20mins for 6x a week to practice a associated routine inspired from a fellow rebel. This is until BW&OS restores itself to its current image for the rest of the day. Failing any of the tasks results in giving permissions to the rebel inspiring the routine to outlay a one-time punishment (subject to fair usage and laws) on IronGlider, lasting a maximum of 20mins. Side Mission: Startup & Sleep Routines This kinda got a little out of hand with most of the last challenge, as I was following a completely different routine to work with, so I willk reattempt now that things are a little more settled than before. - Early Morning Startup Routine (Making bed, Jumping jacks, light clean, getting ready and packed, all within 20mins) - Late Night Shutdown Routine (Getting ready, prep for next day, set/lower lighting, read/NF-catchup, sleep) - Note down something to be thankful for that day, everyday except Sunday (that alone is something for me to be thankful for xD) LEEEEEEET'S GOOOOO!!!

Introduction Welcome, my fellow nerds! I'm 23, from the UK finishing up on University and preparing for big change in my life. Before 03/10/2013, I've always been overweight/obese for my age for as long as I can recall. This isn't my first time I've attempted for change, as in prior years I've struggled from balance, pressure, eating the right things (I'm vegetarian btw!) etc. ...but I'm gonna make this third strike count! So, as of my last 6 and a 1/2 months in my post-NF life I have been documenting my progress + successfully completed three challenges and have currently lost 54.7lbs (over half!) and I hope to keep that up in order to fulfil my current main quest, reach my BMI-intended weight range (175lbs - 165lbs) I kid you not when I say that discovering NerdFitness has been the best thing for my health and wellbeing, it's transformed my perspective, my approach... and me! This is well and truly the furthest I've ever gone, and (so far) I already feel great! I just need to slay this dragon and then move to the next! Picture Progress: Starting (v1.0): http://imageshack.co...4/3571/hjp7.jpg Month 1 (v1.1): http://imageshack.co...1/2290/t58o.jpg Month 2 (v1.2): http://imageshack.co...6/4033/y1ny.jpg Month 3 (v1.3): http://imageshack.co...4/8130/2s62.jpg Month 4 (v1.4): http://imageshack.co...6/2479/msyu.jpg (FYI: Got the timestamp wrong in this pic, it was actually taken on 29/01/2014) Month 5 (v1.5): http://s27.postimg.o...8xu6qr/m5ic.jpg Month 6 (v1.6): http://i59.tinypic.com/2e1egis.jpg Weight Progress:

From the very start (Oct 2013), it's been a dream of mine to post here and join amongst the greats of the Rebellion, and today, this dream has been realised. *PR-Voice-Activated* I'm proud to announce that, today, I've burned off 45.3lbs since starting on the 3rd October 2013, going from 264.5lbs to 219.4lbs! (First Pic from Start) (Picture upon reaching my 5th month in) UPDATE!: Changed it to 6th month in pic! I managed to achieve this by following the principles set by Steve Kamb and his amazing articles (and references!), as well as working my way to embedding new habits into my life, including: - Intermittent Fasting (19hr) 6x a week, with one or two of those days being Extended to 24hrs - Eating Healthy and Balanced/Nutritious Foods 6x a week, and eating more leniently on Sundays - 3 Days of Rebel Fitness workouts a week and 3 Days Interval Jogging (Current Level 3 Outcast) and just so you know, this was all achieved without going to the gym (all done in my room with a dumbbell, a pull up bar and a exercise mat) and without protein shakes (as my body doesn't seem to agree with them). Additionally, I'm vegetarian so I've had to become more reliant on protein rich foods in this time such as quinoa, buckwheat and meat-free soya-based products. It's truly been an amazing experience, upon stumbling into NerdFitness via the ArtofManliness podcast, I didn't think that I would be able to figure out the knowledge and discipline to turn my life around, but what can I say, the Rebellion has allowed for that to happen! I've always been obese for my age for most of my 23-year old life and have failed a, and now with Nerd Fitness, I haven't weighed this amount (219.4lbs) since the age of 16! I'm now also the strongest and healthiest I've ever been, as a product/design enthusiast, I've associated myself with being hardware (bodyware if you will) where it's no different to a computer or gadget, except I have the ability to "upgrade" by discovering and leading, what has been, a superior lifestyle for me. Instead of just dedicating my life to appreciating objects of-the-time, I've turned my attention towards myself and have had the realisation that it's arguably my most important one to take care of. At 265lbs, life was difficult, I had asthma, and I was depressed and didn't think I could progress or even muster the strength to. So from that realisation, I've set everyday to be the "better than the day before", and every month I would "level up" in the form of a firmware update. I'm currently at v.1.5 and the list of improvements that I've experienced have been extensive, from asthma to doing proper push ups! A list of all of them are written in my intro thread here: http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/38293-cmon-people-were-making-now-my-design-4-life-os/ I'm committed to reaching my final goals and getting my asthma to the best it's ever been. Here's the progress weight-tree (star wars references incoming!): Weight Tracker:"Welcome to the Days of History..." A Nimble Thought... 03/10/2013 264.5lbs The Quarter of Hope: 13/10/2013 260.5lbs (-4) 20/10/2013 258.8lbs (-1.7) 27/10/2013 257.2lbs (-1.8) 03/11/2013 254.0lbs (-3.2) (Total=10.7lbs) 10/11/2013 251.8lbs (-2.2) 17/11/2013 249.0lbs (-2.8) 24/11/2013 247.2lbs (-1.8) 01/12/2013 244.2lbs (-3) (Total=9.8lbs) 08/12/2013 241.8lbs (-2.4) F: 35.9% W: 44.8% 15/12/2013 239.0lbs (-2.8) 22/12/2013 239.0lbs (0) F: 34.6% 29/12/2013 237.4lbs (-1.6) (Total=6.8lbs) The Quarter vs. The Empire: 05/01/2014 234.2lbs (-3.2) F: 33.5% 12/01/2014 231.4lbs (-2.8) F: 32.6% 19/01/2014 228.0lbs (-3.4) F: 31.7% 28/01/2014 228.0lbs (0) F: 31.8% (Total=9.4lbs) 02/02/2014 225.6lbs (-2.4) F: 31.0% 09/02/2014 223.2lbs (-2.4) F: 30.7% 16/02/2014 220.2lbs (-3.0) F: 29.7% M: 35.6% 22/02/2014 221.4lbs (+1.2) F: 29.9% M: 35.5% (Total=6.6lbs) 02/03/2014 219.4lbs (-2.0) F: 29.3% M: 35.6% *Halfway Checkpoint* Thank you for reading, and "you know what they say, the THIRD STRIKE is what counts!, and you can get it too" if you're willing to try and be the best you can be! Final note: I want to thank those who've traversed with me onto this journey (Deftona, Ninja_Mermaid, ReachingForTheStars, Rocky555, SillyAnneh) you guys are the best, I could not of made all this progress without you, in addition to all the INFECTIOUSLY INSPIRING members of the rebellion and in the woot thread. NerdFitness is paradise. And now excuse me, I've got 44.7lbs to burn (or if my BMI screws up in progress, then about 15%ish Body-Fat) and I'll see you later! ;-)

So I finally gave in after my Windows 7 key was all used up, and I've downloaded Windows 8. Not really liking the "Start" page/window/whathaveyou, but I've done some research on how to move around without a Start button so I'm not completely lost. Anyone else with any striking revelations about the new OS? I can't say that I've been overly impressed with all the apps (I don't have any reason to use them on my desktop), and the overall feel of WIN8 just.... I dunno, it just isn't convincing me in any way that I'm better off without WIN7. Thoughts?