Chris Tarly -- 2020

[Stronkey Kong]

 

I am Chris Tarly (formerly Curl Brogo).

 

I have been on the NF Forums for over six years now. My primary goal is and was to lose weight. And I've managed some progress in fits and starts and have been yo-yo-ing for all that time between 240 and 270. I have decided that to kick off the new year (2020) I'm starting over with a a hard reboot, and I'm joining the NF Academy.

 

This challenge will focus on racking up XP points in with the NF Academy, then I have a few other goals that don't fall under that umbrella: writing, meditating, and homesteading.

 

NF Academy: This is my big fitness goal. There's a lot going on here. I've got a lot of missions and quests and tasks dealing with mindset, nutrition, and workouts.

 

I am going to focus on applying the "Never miss two in a row" rule to these three things.

 

Mindset: Never skip morning stretching and Zazen (daily) two days in a row. AND Never miss eating a mindful breakfast (daily) in my mindful eating space.

Nutrition: Never skip bringing a homemade lunch to work (M-F) two days in a row.

Workouts: Never skip a weekday workout (M, W, F) two days in a row.

 

I must keep this up until the end of this challenge.

 

I will allow 3 strikes total. Missing doing a thing 2 times in a row is one strike. And you bet, not getting it the third time around is another strike.

 

If I make it to the end of the challenge with < 3 strikes,  I can open my treasure chest:

 

 

 

That's $50. And I know those denomination actually look a little sketchy, like 2-3 drinks,  $1 tips for the ladies, and a private dance... no.

 

$20 is for two group boxing classes at this gym in town. The rest is for a trip to my new favorite Bar-cade, $20 will get me a couple drinks and the singles are for quarters so I can play the retro arcade games.

 

Fitness Sidequests: For the weekends

NF Yoga Saturday: Do a NF Yoga session on Saturdays

Big Mind Sunday: Do a 45+ min Zazen session on Sunday

Chinup play: Do 20 min of chinup/pullup assistance exercises

 

Clean the Apartment: Todo list, to complete before the challenge is over

 

Clean out wardrobe and give old clothes to goodwill

Clean bedroom including under the bed

Clean THE WHOLE bathroom

Declutter (to GW) and clean the office

Declutter (to GW) the office closet

Declutter (to GW) the living room

Declutter and clean the kitchen

Clean the floors

 

Writing: I'm still working on the novel I started for NaNoWriMo. Heh. I still haven't 'won' Nano. I really want to at least finish Part 1 of the novel which should be done around 50,000 words.

 

Track word count. I wanted to do one hour a day, but I don't think that's doable with work and all the other goals happening. I'm still going to post about is so it stays on my mind.

Starting word count: 42208

 

Homesteading: Right now I'm researching buying a fixer upper in the country where I can garden and have chickens. I'm looking at USDA guaranteed home loans, and am researching lenders. This will be an evolving To-do list. I'll aim to cross one thing off each week.

 

1. Contact Lender A -- I tried a few weeks ago, then they recently tried back... I'll get in touch with them during week 1, then we'll see what's next regarding if I qualify vs. what I need to do to qualify
2. Research realtors/companies
3. TBD

[Stronkey Kong]

Stashing this here for future reference:

 

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following as per usual.

[WolfDreamer]

Those are some good looking goals!

 

Following!

 

[Stronkey Kong]

 

Just throwing this out there in case some Indianapolis Nerds stop by...

 

I created a post in the Midwest meetup section with some ideas for some meetups in Indy.

 

 

 

[Stronkey Kong]

 

So for my New Year's resolution...

 

I joined the NF Academy.

 

I rolled all my exercise/nutrition goals into the NF Academy goal (see first post), then I have a few others for things that fall outside the scope of it.

 

Tonight, I'm ordering a pizza -- I got an email from domino's saying I had a free medium 2-topping pizza, so I figured I might as well redeem it so I don't get more emails like this when I'm buckling down in the Academy -- right? I also ordered some chicken wings for protein.

[WolfDreamer]

30 minutes ago, Chris Tarly said:

right?

 

Solid strategy. And bonus for the wings.

[Sloth the Enduring]

Indianapolis? For some reason I thought you were outside Madison. Can’t pass up free pizza.

[Stronkey Kong]

17 minutes ago, WolfDreamer said:

 

Solid strategy. And bonus for the wings.

 

I ate the pizza in under 30 min. XD

 

14 minutes ago, Sloth the Enduring said:

Indianapolis? For some reason I thought you were outside Madison. Can’t pass up free pizza.

 

I used to live in Madison, but I moved like four years ago. LOL. I don't talk about it much.

[Harriet]

The homesteading sounds like an exciting adventure. Chickens are so soothing. I mean the noises they make, not their empathetic listening. I'm also curious to know what the academy is like and how it works out for you. 

[nianjufe]

On 12/29/2019 at 3:47 PM, Chris Tarly said:

This challenge will focus on racking up XP points in with the NF Academy, then I have a few other goals that don't fall under that umbrella: writing, meditating, and homesteading.

 

I've been digging the Academy, the dopamine hits from leveling up can't be beat 😂. Following along!

[KB Girl]

Chickens smell  doesn't stop me from wanting some either.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

4 hours ago, Harriet said:

Chickens are so soothing. I mean the noises they make,

Provided there are not roosters.

[Harriet]

30 minutes ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Provided there are not roosters.

 

Oh, but their song is so uplifting. What could be more glorious than the dawn of a new day? 

[Harriet]

1 hour ago, KB Girl said:

Chickens smell  doesn't stop me from wanting some either.

 

I hate ibises for their smell. It's a little unfair, but can we really help whom we hate? 

[annyshay]

Hope NF Academy treats you well!

[Stronkey Kong]

NF Academy: I'm getting acquainted with the level up system, and perusing the modules. I have read through the whole mindset module and have checked off as many challenges as I can do "right now". One of the big ones was finding "My Big WHY" and sharing it. So here it is...

 

I don’t want to die young, sick, alone, or unfulfilled.

 

One of the last things my father said to me while he lie sick of cancer, in his hospital deathbed at 51 years old was “Take care of yourself so you don’t wind up like me.” I want to prevent as much as possible the diseases that have robbed members of my family of their quality of life and eventually life itself -- heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and cancer. I want the energy and capacity to seize the time stolen from death and disease. I want to live long, and able to carry myself until I take my final breath. I want the strength and energy to work, to travel, to build things, and spend time with friends and family. I want my body to look good to myself and others, and when I see an opportunity to find a partner, or even just make a friend, I’ll have the confidence and courage to ask. I don’t want to die young, sick, alone, or unfulfilled.

 

That's the essence of it anyway.

 

For workouts, I did my calibration test last night, and tonight I did my first level 2 bodyweight workout: Bodyweight squats, elevated pushups, and dumbell rows, 3x10, followed by farmer's walks 3x60 sec.

 

It was harder than I thought it would be. All was completely doable, but I was more sweaty and winded than I thought I'd be, which is something I haven't been getting from my barbell workouts lately.

 

Tonight I'm going to look at the nutrition module some more, and figure out what level I'm at ( though I may have to redefine some of the levels for myself since the NF Academy levels are quite paleocentric). I think I can start at a solid four and easily work my way up to 7.

 

I'm currently at: Level 3 with 370 XP (Level 4 = 625 )

 

Academy Todo List: (I'll keep a list of little challenges here to cross off as I go)

Find My Big Why

Create Epic Quest

Take Starting Photos

Batcave #1

Share MBW and EQ

Take Starting Measurements

Find Nutrition level (set goal/challenge)

Level 2 Bodyweight Workout Boss Battle

 

========

 

I haven't done anything with other goals today.

 

 

[WolfDreamer]

9 hours ago, Harriet said:

Chickens are so soothing.

 

I can say from experience the same can not be said about guineas. 😬

[Stronkey Kong]

9 hours ago, Harriet said:

The homesteading sounds like an exciting adventure. Chickens are so soothing. I mean the noises they make, not their empathetic listening. I'm also curious to know what the academy is like and how it works out for you. 

 

5 hours ago, KB Girl said:

Chickens smell  doesn't stop me from wanting some either.

 

4 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Provided there are not roosters.

 

4 hours ago, Harriet said:

 

Oh, but their song is so uplifting. What could be more glorious than the dawn of a new day? 

 

My parents raise chickens, and they started the same day I moved in with them a few years ago, so I know what I'm getting into. They are smelly, but I was surprised that the smell doesn't spread far. You'd have to be in, or next to their enclosure to smell it. And yes the little whispering clucks they make, but hens in the act of laying are almost worse than roosters.

 

2 hours ago, annyshay said:

Hope NF Academy treats you well!

 

6 hours ago, nianjufe said:

 

I've been digging the Academy, the dopamine hits from leveling up can't be beat 😂. Following along!

 

It is so far, and yes, I have this giant list of Todo items, and I get points everytime I get one done, and then boom level up. It feels good.

 

Unfortunately, my materia isn't gaining abilities or growing, so maybe I have it equipped with the wrong weapons and armor... Wait. What game are we playing?

[Stronkey Kong]

9 minutes ago, WolfDreamer said:

 

I can say from experience the same can not be said about guineas. 😬

 

I think my Mom got a guinea fowl or hen or two this year. I've heard no complaints yet.

[WolfDreamer]

6 minutes ago, Chris Tarly said:

 

I think my Mom got a guinea fowl or hen or two this year. I've heard no complaints yet.

 

Oh, I'm not complaining. I love them. But they're definitely not as "soothing" as chickens. They are a very noisy bird. But they do have more personality than most chickens.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

5 hours ago, Harriet said:

 

Oh, but their song is so uplifting. What could be more glorious than the dawn of a new day? 

As a not morning person, I hope we can agree to disagree. However, I have been around plenty of roosters who feel the need to crow at all hours of the day.

[Stronkey Kong]

3 minutes ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

As a not morning person, I hope we can agree to disagree. However, I have been around plenty of roosters who feel the need to crow at all hours of the day.

 

Yes. I've only known a couple roosters well enough, but they've all done this. They do make anti-crow collars for them.

 

I plan to keep a dozen or so hens for eggs, then probably grow broilers (meat chickens) in flocks of 24-30 -- which you process as soon as they become adults (and probably before crowing starts).

[Stronkey Kong]

Oof. All the reorganization...

 

I almost made a New Year's Resolution to unplug from social media. I deleted Instagram last summer, and was planning on deleting facebook. I decided to start using these sites in more positive ways.

 

I recreated an Instagram profile, but I'm using my NF alias, and it will be for following other Rebels and posting healthy food pr0n, lifting vids, etc.

 

I made the link in my browser's bookmark toolbar link to the NF Academy page, so I always start somewhere supportive, rather than logging on to see nonsense.

 

I also update my My Fitness Pal profile. The link to my food diary (and my IG and NF Epic Quest character) are all in my signature. Feel free to follow them if you wish. I am also going to ask for some accountability on MFP in coming weeks, so if you're using it please connect (if you can, thanks).

[Harriet]

2 hours ago, Chris Tarly said:

I don’t want to die young, sick, alone, or unfulfilled.

 

That's a big, important big why. I believe you can have long life, good health, and the confidence to do the great stuff that makes it all worthwhile. I think you will do well. 

 

25 minutes ago, Chris Tarly said:

I am also going to ask for some accountability on MFP in coming weeks, so if you're using it please connect (if you can, thanks).

 

Do you want us to cover you with scorn if you eat three pizzas? Or just gently ask how it's going?