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Hey, guys! This will be my third time starting this journey! The first time I lost weight through self-teaching myself weight training through YouTube and from help on here. I stopped because of college and marching band. Luckily, marching band was so intense that year that the weight I lost stayed off me all through marching season (football season, for those that don't speak music nerd). I started at about 235-240 and ended up at 210-215. I didn't eat bread or pasta and incorporated more veggies/greens and grilled meat into my diet. I felt AMAZING! But I got into a relationship (which is awesome!) but my partner doesn't have the best eating habits, so I picked up the weight again. I was so sad. And now, I'm at 240 lbs and I feel horrible with myself. I wear the clothes that I had then and think "Wow, this is kinda tight. I remember getting these because they fit PERFECTLY just a year ago!" Then I get a bit depressed. I'm willing to start back because of 3 reasons: 1.) My back has been hurting and I know it's from the lack of exercise. I work at a daycare and since majority of my work requires me to bend down to tend to little ones, I need to be fit enough to deal with it and not have pain. 2.) During the time I lost weight, I didn't get as sick as I am now. My allergies basically CORRECTED themselves, even my doctor was amazed! But as soon as I gained the weight back, I started snoring again and I can only breathe out of my nose maybe twice a week. ANNOYING! 3.) It's about that time to really make that change in my life! I'm 22, almost 23. The time is now!! The only problem will be getting over my anxiety to go to the school gym and getting started with weight training officially!! Any words of advice/encouragement/whatevers will be welcomed!

Introduction: Hey, I'm Josh, and this is my second challenge! I like road bikes, but I live in the city and I own a mountain bike, so it's really more of a mountain bike on a road. I also love bodyweight exercises, but I have a really hard time getting out of bed and consistently doing it. The only time I have available to workout is the morning because I'm still in college (MY LAST SEMESTER!!!) I live an active lifestyle and my job requires a lot of energy, as my career demands physical fitness (I work in the theatre, so actually, my name is currently Jack Raymon. Detective Jack Raymon). I joined the rebellion because I really want a community that pushes me to stay fit and to improve my body. I want to be able to dance and spend an entire day working (for example, at a Renaissance Festival) without being utterly exhausted by the end. I want to feel good about my body and to feel confident in my skin. Main Quest: Be able to do a 15-second freestanding handstand by Graduation (May 24). Quest 1: Handstands Practice for 5 Minutes, 6 days a week. Measurement: 36 workouts by May 24, 30 workouts, 24 workouts Reward: +3 DEX +2 STR, +2 DEX +1 STR, +1 DEX Quest 2: TMNT Workout 30 minutes a day, 3 days a week. Measurement: 18 total workouts by May 24, 12 workouts, 6 workouts Reward: +3 STR +2 STA, +2 STA + 1 STR, +1 STR Quest 3: Cardio Bike for 5 miles or Run for 3 miles, 2 days a week. Measurement: 12 total workouts by May 24, 6 workouts, 3 workouts Reward: +3 STA, +2 STA, +1 STA Life Quest: Wake-up RIGHT after alarm, encourage others and talk about fitness with people! Measurement: 7 days a week, 5 days a week, 3 days a week. Reward: +2 CHA, +2 WIS; +1 CHA, +1 WIS; +0.5 CHA, +0.5 WIS Motivation: I want to be fit and healthy for my job so I'm not always exhausted. I want to have more energy for the day and to do all sorts of fun things without being too tired. I want to look good for my girlfriend and be able to carry her easily. I want to feel good about my body and how I'm taking care of it. I want to feel confident.

Hey all, I'm just putting this here as a place holder for my upcoming challenge. I have a good write up for it, but I don't have it on me at the moment, so I'm just posting this so I can fill out the assassin's phonebook signup sheet. Feel free to drop in a say something (anything) and for now I'll leave you with this:

I'm very excited to starting my second challenge, and I have to say how awesome NF is for getting me to work out like I've been in the past few weeks. I never, ever thought I would be stoked about buying a heavier barbell (or even using a barbell) but I AM. Got a new one yesterday. So excited to start using it. Here are some stats on my goals and current position. I'd appreciate any encouragement - I thrive on words and my family, while supportive, doesn't say much about my fitness goals and it's kind of discouraging feeling like I'm doing this alone. Help me, Rebels! MAIN GOAL Reduce bodyfat percentage and increase muscle. GOALS Get strong enough to do real pushups. I'm astoundingly weak-armed, and can barely pull off one regular pushup, so I will be working on pushup progressions in the next 6 weeks by adding them to my already established strength training workout routine 3x per week. Dance! I will dance 2x per week (alternating with my strength training workouts) for at least 30-45 minutes. I find dancing enjoyable so it's a good way to get in a workout that feels like a reward for having done strength training the previous day. Eat more Paleo. I've been having some stomach problems (mainly killer acid reflux) so I'm going to cut out most non-Paleo foods to see if that will help me. I will also continue drinking lots of water because it's good for me! Specify my career goals. I've been freelancing as a graphic designer for the past year and there are pros and cons about it. I've been considering going back to working at a company but I'm on the fence about it. For the next 6 weeks I will continue to freelance but I will carefully monitor my work habits so I can decide at the end of the 6 weeks if I want to keep freelancing or not. Yikes!

Was looking for a title for this challenge with my goals mostly planned and suddenly the right bit of the song clicked. "Scorn(ed) to live in slavery" THAT is what this challenge's goals are about! I will not be slave to my cravings, emotional eating and bad, mindless habits! I will not be slave to the pain of my arthritic knee! I will not be slave to monotonous conventional exercise! I will not be slave to my own slovenly laziness! Goal 1 : Diet Schmiet : CON 4 I will not be slave to my cravings, emotional eating and bad, mindless habits! There is no point paying for PT if I am not putting in the effort at the other end. I eat pretty well now, but it is the little things that need cutting out. The afternoon biscuits, the lollies lying around at work or the catered lunch, the I'm feeling sooky and want cheesy bready things... So, after the big WIN in Chapter 1 with changing my drink habits, here's the plan - I can eat what I like but I have to log it (I will go with a Google doc again as it worked so well last time). To get the points I have to keep it clean! I am aiming for meat, fruit, veg, eggs, nuts... things that are in a natural state (before I cook them and chop them) with some small exceptions. It will not be strict paleo but aiming for clean. Allowable foods: I am keeping dairy as in cheese and yogurt but will try to minimise. I am keeping dark chocolate in small quantities (Hopefully, only for shark week). Small amounts of condiments and sauces that may contain sugar or flour etc. will be allowable. I will have to choose carefully when to allow myself "treats" as they will decrease my ability to gain points (never mind the bloating, gas, reflux and worse!). So no point eating a handful of lollies or biscuits mindlessly when I could save that "treat" for something I really want... like a parma at the pub with my mates [NB: Have decided that if the meal is gluten free, I can have alcohol with it and call it one occurrence this will save me from a going too overboard in one meal event with any luck]. Scoring: A = 4 CON points for 0 to 10 non primalesque occurences B = 3 CON points for 11 to 13 (this is almost twice a week) C = 2 CON points for 14 to 17 D = 1 CON point for 18 to 21 F = 22+ non primalesque occurences - Every second day does not deserve points! I succeeded in the fluid goal from the last Chapter, I'm sure I can win this one and it will do great things for my health and fitness! ***I need a better word/phrase for going off the plan. I don't want to get caught up in that diet and cheating mindset... ideas good peoples of nerd fitness land?*** Goal 2 : Ice, Ice Baby : STA 2 & STR 2 I will not be slave to the pain of my arthritic knee! This one is pretty simple and follows on from the rolling in Chapter 1. When I ice my knee before bed or at least once a day it feels heaps better. Without popping anti-inflammatories in my mouth like smarties. I can do more exercise without pain and can then strengthen my muscles which again helps manage the pain. I am seeing a surgeon at the tail end of the challenge so it will be interesting to see where that goes. Scoring: Aim is 6/7 days per week. One more than rolling as this isn't as nasty but I don't think I will get every day nailed. Full points = 36, the rest is math! Goal 3 : Time warp: DEX 2 & STR 1 I will not be slave to monotonous conventional exercise! I have tried a few new things at the gym since the cycle class I liked got discontinued. I tried body combat, I tried RPM, I tried boxing... I've done pump and body attack before. I needed something that would stimulate my mind as well as my cardiovascular system. So, I thought back to what I enjoyed when I was younger and where that fitted with my current health and fitness long term goals. It turned out that going back to Taekwondo for the first time in over 25 years was really fun and practicing my juggling seriously will help build strength in my left arm as it really annoys me how much weaker and unco it is. Scoring: Full points is for at least one night training at Taekwondo and 2 juggling sessions with a strong left focus per week. Total over 6 weeks for full points is 6T = 1 STR + 12J = 2 DEX Goal 4 : Kontrol Kaos : Krinkles CHA 2 & Kleaning CHA 2 I will not be slave to my own slovenly laziness! I am such a slob! I could have afforded to have someone clean often enough but I decided to spend that money on Personal Training. So I have to get into a habit of doing it myself. The aim is a twofold habit development... I need to press my shirts and stop looking for ways to put it off or get away without doing it. So going to work with a Krinkly shirt will not gain me points. I want to develop a habit of cleaning at the weekends and alternating the floors one week and bathroom etc. the other. It wont take much time but I can't bring myself to do it regularly. These goals will actually be easier than they seem as I only have 18 work days to be Krinkle free in this time and more time to clean during the 2 weeks of holidays at the end of the challenge. This double trouble goal is achievable. Scoring: Krinkles 18 = 2 CHA Points Kleaning 6 = 2 CHA Points There is a lot more learning to be done to level up my life, but these seem good right now!

Okay, SO...the last challenge didn't go so well as towards the end of it I got pretty overwhelmed with stress due to some family stuff. This time around, if it happens again I'll continue with it and not just give up because the stress of everything around me. Also! I managed to get my boyfriend ( http://nerdfitnessrebellion.com/index.php?/topic/27313-sindrals-first-adventure ) to join in on the rebellion, though it took some bribing with pizza. SO YEAH, it might be a lot more fun and maybe easier if things do get stressful, just because I'll know he's doing this challenge along with me. Another reason I absolutely NEED to do well on this one is because I absolutely hate when I score low on something. When I'm determined I really beat myself up over something if I don't do as well as I'd hoped. The only thing I managed to do well for the last challenge before giving up was the no soda thing. I unfortunately had like maybe 2 cans that entire challenge, which even for me was too much and I felt horrible about it. Once was when I went to an Easter get together with my boyfriend and I ended up having a can because I didn't notice they had water. The second was when I had a migraine when I was visiting, and ended up having a can since I was told caffeine would help. ANYWAY, I'm rambling! ONTO THE CHALLENGE STUFFS! Goal 1: Eating around 1250-1500 calories a day, as well as having at least 1 vegetarian meal a week. (I'll also continue with cutting out soda, as I still had about 2 cans last challenge) (Con. +3) A: No slip ups B: One or two slip ups C: Four slip ups F: Five or more slip ups Goal 2: Run or walk at least 3 days out of the week for 20-30 minutes. (Str. +3, Sta. +4) A: 100% (3+ times per week) B: 85% (2 times per week) C: 75% (1 time per week) F: 25% (0 times per week) Goal 3: Do 160+ sit-ups by the end of the challenge. (As well as doing the sit-ups AT LEAST 4 times a week. More if I can. (Sta. +2) A: 160 or more B: 140 C: 115 D: 90 F: 50 or less Goal 4: Life Goal: Learn 3 words a day in Italian. AND renewing my CPR license. (Wis. +3) A: 126+ words AND rewnewing CPR license. (only 100% if I complete both goals. Only completing one, but not following through with the other automatically is a B or lower.) B: 126 words (but not renewing license) C: 80 words (and not renewing license) D: 30 words (and not renewing license) F: 20 or less words (and not renewing license)

Well hello fellow Rebels! I am a new recruit to the Assassins (having spent my last adventure as.. well.. an Adventurer) and I am looking forward to this challenge! Now that I've already completed ONE challenge I feel like I've gotten a better feel for what sort of goals I should aim for and how to achieve them. Goals- Fitness Goal 1 I need to be able to pull my self up onto that ledge, or through yon window at a moments notice. I may need to do that several times in a row and at the moment I am only capable of doing it three or four times tops. If I falter then I may fail a mission and that CAN NOT be allowed to pass. Life and honor depend upon my success. Therefore I need to be able to do: 15 consecutive pull-ups +2 Str, +1 Sta, +1 Cha Fitness Goal 2 I am going to need more arm strength if I'm to fight off my enemies, scale walls, and cling to the shadows. My current capabilities are only good enough to effect twenty-five push-ups in a row. Therefore, I shall train until such a time comes to pass as that I can do: 45 consecutive push-ups +2 Str, +1 Sta, +1 Cha Fitness Goal 3 As part of my "civilian" life, I am utilizing a set up that others are putting together in order to further train myself. I will be doing a Warrior Dash a mere couple weeks after this challenge ends and I need to be up to the task. My previous goals help to work on the strength needed to surpass these obstacles, but I still need to increase the amount of ground I can cover before needing to rest. This could prove to be a crucial element in future assassin missions. To this end, I will need to increase the distance I can cover in a single run from one mile to: Running 3 consecutive miles +3 Sta Level Up Goal I have decided that I need to work on my disguise skills. I don't have a very good "other self" so I'll need to improve upon one of my personas. My "Drummer" persona is the one I have chosen to improve for this challeng. I need to be able to play well enough to convince someone that I'm "in the band." That means I'll have to: Master basic drumming +3 Dex, +1 Cha Something I learned from the last challenge was to set myself a schedule/plan for how to achieve these feats. Goal 1 - 3 times a week I will be doing 3+ sets of pullups to exhaustion Goal 2 - 3 times a week I will be doing 2+ sets of pushups to exhaustion Goal 3 - Run for as long as I can, minimum 1 mile, 3 times a week (always running more than my previous run) until I reach 3 miles in a single go. Level Up - I talked to a friend who drums for a local band Mumfords here in Ames and he's agreed to help teach me in exchange for letting him play with my microKorg synth. On TOP of these lessons, I will be playing my drums for a minimum of 30 minutes 3 times a week.