Search the Community

Greeting fellow rebels and new recruits! (I know the new challenge doesn't start until the new year, but why not start early? Besides, life is a continuous challenge and you can't exactly put that on hold.) A little bit about me: (sorry for everyone using tapatalk and unable to have spoilers hide the spoilers) As my title says, I am on a journey for self-knowledge. I decided to go down this rabbit hole after listening to an internet video from the school of life titled "The Dangers of Thinking Too Much; And Thinking Too Little." A certain passage really stuck out to me since I personally relate to it and the illustrated person in that little excerpt looks like my internal self. Here's the blurb: we deploy knowledge and ideas that carry indubitable prestige to stand guard against the emergence of more humble, but essential knowledge from our emotional past. we bury our personal stories beneath an avalanche of expertise. the possibility of a deeply consequential intimate inquiry is deliberately left to seem feeble and superfluous next to the supposedly grander task of [insert [insert pompous topic] I'm not sure if it's the posh accent or the large words, but it really struck close to home. I listen to too many podcasts about the past and present social world. And I listen to those at work when it's too quiet at work and I'm too afraid to be left with my thoughts. So this time I'm going to face these inner thoughts head on instead of filling it with non-self-knowledge. Also, I'm really disappointed in the forums lack of mental health section. I notice a lot of rebel mention the words "mental health," but there's no general place within the forum to turn to. I've looked up the phrase in quotations and gone through most of the topics and did the same. Either I completely overlooked it or there's nothing really here. Both of which is a shame. I'm going to be seriously editing my quests before the new years so these are just a rough draft: I'm completely leaving out the phrasing of "goals" since that means an end and physical and mental health are continuous processes. It's not like some master cleanse where you diet for 4 weeks and go straight back to old habits. Quest 1: Nutrition I'm going back to the smoothie drinking since I already know how to make a bomb drink, it's easier to eat than my normal meal prep lunches, and it's faster to consume so there's more time for me to do other things at work like journal prompts or reading a book. no bread or sweets no fast food track food on MFP Quest 2: Workout Last year I was really into my workouts. I really liked the 7-minute workout even though it turned into more of a 28-minute workout with the storyline quests. And the Fit for Battle app was super great at helping me build up my stamina. As much as I want to go to a gym it would be bad timing since the new year is starting Walk dog at least 5 times a week get step count in daily Quest 3: Mental health Maybe I'll start writing journal prompts so I can map those inner thoughts and find those patterns. Or maybe I'll do something with my bullet journal. Or just read a book or online article mention it here and write about how I can apply that to myself or my mental health routine if I can ever settle on one and repeat it long enough to call it one. journal prompt x5 weekly meditate for 5 minutes unlock the hidden mystery that is the counselor Quest 4: Level Up Your Life I'm going to practice Spanish every day and met my exp quota.

Happy Monday, friends! I searched through the forum to find an answer for this topic and didn't come across one . . . Does anyone have recommendations for a good vegan protein powder or other protein source to add to morning smoothies? I have used peanut butter, almond butter, and frozen edamame in the past but I'd love something a little more (plus, I get tired of the peanut butter taste every day). I make a morning smoothie with greens, fruit, and flax seed - but it doesn't always fill me up enough to get to lunch and I'm not always on my game to have another, heartier breakfast ready. It would be awesome to find one that doesn't use sweetener, though I'm not sure that's possible. Thanks!

Hey everyone I am jumping in at the end of this challenge and will continue with it in next months challenge. So here we go. Fitness quest- get back into a workout habit, hitting the gym or yoga class 3-4 times a week. Diet quest- Super smoothie everyday Lifestyle quest- Miracle morning routine everyday

I've always had a problem with eating breakfast but I'm starting to get over it recently. One thing that I really like are smoothies (I just got a blender) and I was wondering what's your go to smoothie when it comes to breakfast. I prefer sweet smoothies (otherwise I crave sugar throughout the day) but I've seen a few recipes for savory smoothies (or blends), not sure how they taste however. Has anyone tried any of them? Thank you

Hello Druids! I'm joining you after some rough (read failed) challenges with the Adventurers and a one challenge break. I needed that time to clear my head and refocus, and I've determined that it is time to make some life changes that I have long put off due to fear. These changes most closely align me with the druids, so I wanted to join you as I start a fresh new challege, this time without fear. 1. Swim 3 times a week. I love the water and swimming is very peaceful and healing for me. My goal this challenge is to go to a lap swim 3 times a week. 2. Do my yoga and meditations daily. I usually do well with daily meditations, but I need to do more yoga to add strength, balance, and flexibility to my body as well as my soul. 3. Switch over to full vegetarian and gluten free. This is where the fear lies. I've skirted around this with my family for a while trying to dodge meat dishes without hurting their feeling and inevitably being guilted into eating it anyway. Part of this will be firmly telling my family that I am a vegetarian, and to not be insulted if I don't eat everything they offer. 4. Smoothie fun! This will be a fun part. I should have some kind of blended beverage everyday, and for fun I should photograph them. I'll have to be creative to give a variety of images (so you guys don't get bored). I look forward to doing this challenge will the druids and becoming a member of your community!

So I just burned out my second blender making smoothies? I use frozen fruit instead of ice and it usually comes out to filling 2/3 of the pitcher. Am I making them too thick? I like eating them with a spoon. Which types do you all recommend? My last one was a cheap Oster 12 speed. http://www.amazon.com/Oster-6812-001-16-Speed-Blender-Glass/dp/B0019MLLCO/ref=sr_1_17?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1371820531&sr=1-17&keywords=oster+blender Ive read that the cheap ones are not menat to be used daily and more professional(expensive) ones are better. Ive read on another post that people liked the Ninja and I can probably spend the $100 for something like that if I know it will last. Any advice would be appreciated.

I know I know drinking juice is bad. Even the "healthy" stuff like Bolthouse and Naked Juice that are supposed to be good for you are loaded with sugar and you don't get the fiber like you would if you just ate the berries and apples etc....HOWEVER, what if I say threw a handful or two of berries and a slash of almond milk or water? Would that be just as bad or would I reap the benefits? Thanks!

I am e-Adora and this is my third challenge. I have finally declared myself to be a Ranger, my secret desire since I started. I've done moderatly well on the previous 2 challenges, but this time I intend to do VERY well. My long term ultimate goal is to finish a Spartan Sprint. I am OBSESSED with it. I WANT to be that girl. Before I can tackle a Spartan Sprint I need to up my fitness level. And I intend to get pregnant this fall, so I gotta do all that before I can do the Spartan Sprint. The races will always be around, but I'm getting older and I want to be finished with having babies before I turn 35 (35th b day will be 2.2.15) My motivation is simple: LIFE. I want a long, high quality life. I work in healthcare. I started this career in a nursing home. I've seen what happens after a lifetime of living the average american, eating S.A.D. (standard american diet), limited range of motion due to placidly sitting and staring at the boob tube instead of moving, and depression due to SAD food and immobility. Now I work in a doctor's office. I'm not kidding, the average patient weighs 200 pounds. No matter what height. Five two? two hundred. six four? two hundred. Even the children I see are fat. Have you seen the HBO documentary "Weight of the Nation", if not, you should, It's downright scary. Children born after 2000 have a 1 in 3 chance of developing diabetes in their lifetime. If you are black or hispanic, raise it to 2 out of 3. A life of obesity starting in childhood can lead to diabetes, hypertension, and DIALYSIS by the age of 30. That's effing scary. That will not be me, that will not be my children. This is how I plan to avoid it. So far, I've lost 50#. It's been hard, it's been long, but I'm doing it. It's time to tighten up again and I've got some very specific goals to get there. I will update this post later, just wanted to get it started. Thanks for reading.

2 C raw spinach 1 large carrot 1/2 C sliced cucumber 1/2 medium avocado 1T Chia seeds 1 T Flax seeds 1/2 C of Plain Greek yogurt (the nutrient info is for nonfat) This, folks, is the "ish" 2 T eggwhite powder 1 C unsweetened almond milk. (Or more, this is THICK. Brick house THICK) Ice if you are like me and everything except hot coffee tastes better cold. Iced coffee, of course, tastes better cold. Pulverize in your favorite machine that does all the pulverizing. I like my Nutribullet. I don't add fruit, because I am keeping carbs low, so it is pretty bland. Knock yourself out if you aren't watching carbs. Nutrients: calories 406 Total fat: 26 Poly: 9 Mono: 9 Sodium: 443 Potassium 1135 mg (WOOT!!!!) Total carbs: 27 Fiber: 16 Sugars : 7 Protein: 29 Calcium 60% (WOOT!) Iron 22% I am proctoring an exam, or I'd look up the magnesium, but it's up there too. One of these for breakfast, and I don't really need to worry about micros for the rest of the day, and it helps bump my calories into the proper range.

I'm back for more! Starting point: I am a tall girl, 5 ft 11 in. Official weigh in - 182.5 lbs (woot woot!) Haven't seen that in over two years! My highest weight post baby was 225 so this journey is going well, a little over half way there! Goal 1 - How Stella got her groove back Sta 2 Str 2 Get back to serious, committed exercising. I was doing work outs 6 days a week. I gave up when things got complicated. Now to get back to where I was and push on when it gets complicated. Goal is to work out 3x per week minimum Goal 2 - Eat well, Live well Con 1 Wis 1 Continue making good food choices. Continue making green smothies for breakfast. Continue eating leafy greens + meat + veggies for lunch. Goal is to eat smoothies for breakfast and salads for lunch. Goal 3 - Total Money Makeover Wis 2 Con 2 Continue biking/busing to work. Continue to plan weekly menus. Continue spending freeze. Goal is to do the 3 previously mentioned tasks and spend no more than $10 per week on a non essential items. and that's it. This time around I am going to keep it simple, but still challenging. Thanks for reading!