Ring Toss, Anyone? (JodiV)

[Jodi V]

I am Jodi, and this is my first challenge.

 

(Hi, Jodi.)

 

I am sad to say that I buried my inner nerd in high school when I was striving to fit into a mold I felt was “normal.† Now, in my 30s, I realize I’ve been fighting my true nature for almost 20 years and I’m tired. I’m on a quest to locate that sweet, sassy nerd again and give her a hug and a gluten-free cookie.

 

Having put my true nerdsoul on ice lo these many years ago, I feel my development in that regard was hopelessly stunted.  I’m not a hard-core gamer.  I’m not entirely sure what a necromancer is.  In fact, I don’t get a lot of the character references I see around here, but I get the feeling that’s all right with most of you.     I have a lot of catching up to do, and I think I’m going to begin in the Shire.  (They have lots of grass-fed dairy for my new primal lifestyle.)

 

My Main Quest

 

Like Frodo, I’m carrying a ring of great power, and I’d really like to get to the place where I can dump it. 

 

My ring is the unhealthy attitudes toward food/eating handed down to me by my family, which until now I have accepted unconditionally as my truth.

 

My ring is the little voice in my head that perpetuates my belief that I am destined to fail.

 

My ring is the diseases, including diabetes, that wait on my doorstep if I don’t change my lifestyle here.  Now.  Today.

 

Evil, all.  This ring has to go.

 

My quest, then, is simple: To get started on the path to Mount Doom so I can throw this blasted ring in the fire and be done with it once and for all.

 

 

Small Missions

 

1.  I will practice daily gratitude meditations and set my intentions every morning.

Daily journal entry/meditation – A

Journal/meditation 5x/week – B

Journal/meditation 3x/week – C

Journal/meditation 2x/week – D

Anything less than 2x/week -- F

 

2.  I will continue my effort to eliminate all grain and processed foods from my kitchen and my life and focus on eating whole, clean foods based on the primal lifestyle.  This means putting in the work ahead of time to take healthy homemade meals to work without exception.

Eat grain/crap <1x/week – A

Grain/crap no more than 2x/week – B

Grain/crap no more than 3x/week – C

Grain/crap 4-5x/week – D

Anything more than 5x/week – F

 

3.  I will continue my habit of working out every weekday morning in a combination of interval and strength training.

Complete workouts 5x/week for entire Challenge – A

Miss 1-2 workouts for entire Challenge – B

Miss 3-4 workouts for entire Challenge – C

Miss 5 workouts for entire Challenge – D

Miss 6+ workouts (one per week) for Challenge – F

 

Life Quest

 

I will find and honor my inner voice in all her glorious nerdiness by journaling daily.  I might even resurrect my blog.

 

Why am I here?

 

I believe the universe conspires to give you what you need, and I obviously needed to find this group.  The “how†really doesn’t matter.

 

I am here to hit the reset button on my life and stop this fat sick madness before I pass it on to my children through apathy.

 

I would also like to share in fellowship with other questers who can support and encourage my journey.  Even so, I alone carry the ring, and it is my responsibility to get rid of it.  The accountability is ultimately mine and mine alone, but the journey doesn’t have to be a solitary one.

 

 

Why am I trying to live a better life?

 

I come from a family fraught with weight-related diseases – high blood pressure, heart issues, diabetes.  I would like to break the mold as well as show my children that they are in control and are the writers of their own rulebooks.  I want to empower them so that they never have to begin their journeys from the place where I now begin mine – overweight, pre-diabetic, and feeling lousy most of the time.  I've had enough of that.  

 

So let it be written, so let it be done. 

[spezzy]

I love how concrete your grading system is!  And I love your daily meditations - something I could DEFINITELY get better at

 

Welcome to the challenge!

[musicalgal123]

No worries on not getting references. Geekiness and nerdiness is an absolute love of something. What it is that you love is yours to love.

 

I like that you gave yourself specific measurements for each grade. It means that when you finish, you'll know exactly how you did. There won't be any questions and that is always helpful.

 

Best of luck.

[Malfurion]

Your mission sounds awesome and inspiring !!!

When on the trip trought Mordor, count on me to motivate you to destroy the ring

[Hero]

“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.â€

 

You're goals are awesome and don't worry about being new to your nerd-dom. I'm an anime nerd myself. I think Wil Wheaton explains nerd-dom best in this video.

 

 

"Don't let anyone tell you that thing you love, is a thing that you can't love. Love them the most that you can."

 

I've found so far this a pretty fostering environment for both things fitness and nerd-dom and everything in between. I expect you'll find no less.

[Bubbette]

I am a huge believer in meditation. It helps center me so I don't have panic attacks, it makes me more aware of myself, it helps me quiet my mind so I can sleep better. Meditation is wonderful.

You're going to do great! Good luck!

[Tefindeno]

I love it, destroy that friggen ring!

I love all your goals! You're going to crush this challenge!

I'll watch your back in case of zombies.

[Jodi V]

Thanks to you all!  Been here 7 minutes and I can already feel the love...  

 

That Wil Wheaton clip is maybe possibly the best thing I have ever seen.  I actually have tears in my eyes!  I just sent the link to my 13yo supernerd son.  It's everything I've ever wanted to tell him and his sister about being exactly who they are!  Thank you for sharing it!

[Hero]

Haha I'm glad you like it! As a 21 year old sailor whose been a nerd since middle school you can tell him it only goes up from here!

[superjenni]

I used to hide it too.  I would never admit to anyone I talked to in person that I played WoW and had all these secret WoW friends or read comics/liked sci-fi/was an adult woman playing video games, etc.  When facebook started becoming popular and I had to merge the various people in my life, I just stopped caring. 

[Meta]

I love your frame story; it's very evocative!

 

What are you nerdy about? It sounds like you might be nerdy your family unit, which is a good thing! I know you said you aren't a hardcore gamer; I assume you mean video games, but do you like board games? They make an awesome family activity when you play cooperative ones. I'd be happy to make some recommendations!

 

Your goals are all great and achievable. Do you have your exercise routines worked out, or are you tweak as you go along?

 

Also, I'd love to see some of your primal recipes if you're game!

[Vixen68]

Love your goals, and i think it will be so much easier for you come grading time

 

Good luck

[lizpirate]

I think you ended up in exactly the right place!  Part of the joy of nerdiness is that you can be a nerd about just about anything.  Love your meditation goal.  Best of luck and I will be rooting you on!

[porchcricket13]

You sound like me lol some of my new goals involve writing again, I would love someone to take on some writing challenges with? It's been a LONG time since I lost my voice. Right now I'm focused on journaling, but poetry and short stories used to be my thing. 

[wideeyed]

Gratitude lists rock my world.

[Jodi V]

 

What are you nerdy about? It sounds like you might be nerdy your family unit, which is a good thing! I know you said you aren't a hardcore gamer; I assume you mean video games, but do you like board games? They make an awesome family activity when you play cooperative ones. I'd be happy to make some recommendations!

 

 

Indeed -- what AM I nerdy about?  That's a good question!  I'm still trying to sort that one out.    I have some really diverse interests, and I'd like to indulge them all in tiny little bite-sized pieces.  I'm thinking of stealing my son's Eragon book to see if I'd like that.  Love reading!  I did mean not a video gamer, but I'd love any suggestions you have for board games!

 

 

 

Your goals are all great and achievable. Do you have your exercise routines worked out, or are you tweak as you go along?

 

 

I have been following the same pattern for a few weeks now:  M-W-F circuit training with light/medium weights, T-Th cardio and abs.  It's getting kind of boring, but I am seeing results so I'm staying the course.  To spice it up for the challenge, I'd like to add more free weights and maybe some medicine ball work with my workout buddy.  I'd also like to change the mindless nature of the cardio (currently elliptical) to be more goal-oriented, like maybe starting the Zombies 5k run training app.

 

 

 

Also, I'd love to see some of your primal recipes if you're game!

 

Of course!  I love cooking, and I think that will be an important part of my accountability in this challenge -- posting my accomplishments in the kitchen as well as the gym.    I'll remember to share!

[Jodi V]

You sound like me lol some of my new goals involve writing again, I would love someone to take on some writing challenges with? It's been a LONG time since I lost my voice. Right now I'm focused on journaling, but poetry and short stories used to be my thing. 

 

Sounds like a plan!  I'd love some company in finding my voice again!

[Godds]

Love the quest theme!  Your goals are well structured and simple  

 

But, please excuse my ignorance but what is a daily gratitude meditation? :S 

 

I rate the Zombies Run app! Its such a thrill when you are running then zombies are chasing you!! 

[Meta]

Indeed -- what AM I nerdy about?  That's a good question!  I'm still trying to sort that one out.    I have some really diverse interests, and I'd like to indulge them all in tiny little bite-sized pieces.  I'm thinking of stealing my son's Eragon book to see if I'd like that.  Love reading!  I did mean not a video gamer, but I'd love any suggestions you have for board games!

My fiancée and I love Pandemic, Last Night on Earth, and Ticket to Ride (links are to BoardGameGeek.com, an amazing site for board game information).

 

Pandemic is a cooperative game where you play a bunch of scientists/support personnel that are trying to cure pandemic diseases before they wipe out the population of Earth. It's really fun and quite difficult, but even when you lose it's really satisfying. You can

of TableTop where they play it to check it out. (TableTop is a Youtube show where minor celebrities play board games - yes, I'm that nerdy that I watch people play board games on the Internet!)

 

Last Night on Earth is a zombie survival game (another thing I'm nerdy about) where some players play zombies and others humans. The humans have a different goal based on the scenario that they have to meet before sun down, whereas the zombies are essentially trying to eat the humans. My fiancée doesn't care for zombies, but she loves the game!

.

 

Ticket to Ride is a great game for people who aren't sure they like board games and who are intimidated by a lot of rules and mechanics. It's something like Around the World in 80 Days where there's a competition to see who can travel on the most rail lines. It's a lot of fun, friendly, and quick to play. We must be good at picking games to play on TableTop because

!

 

I have been following the same pattern for a few weeks now:  M-W-F circuit training with light/medium weights, T-Th cardio and abs.  It's getting kind of boring, but I am seeing results so I'm staying the course.  To spice it up for the challenge, I'd like to add more free weights and maybe some medicine ball work with my workout buddy.  I'd also like to change the mindless nature of the cardio (currently elliptical) to be more goal-oriented, like maybe starting the Zombies 5k run training app.

Sounds like a solid plan to me! I think the Zombie 5k sounds fun too.

 

Of course!  I love cooking, and I think that will be an important part of my accountability in this challenge -- posting my accomplishments in the kitchen as well as the gym.    I'll remember to share!

Looking forward to seeing these!

[Jodi V]

Love the quest theme!  Your goals are well structured and simple

 

But, please excuse my ignorance but what is a daily gratitude meditation? :S 

 

I rate the Zombies Run app! Its such a thrill when you are running then zombies are chasing you!! 

 

My plan for the daily gratitude meditation as I picture it in my head is to spend a few minutes first thing each morning journaling about everything that's amazing in my life -- which is a lot, when I think about it! -- and then quietly focusing on the positive intentions I have for the day for at least 10 minutes.  I'd like the whole gratitude exercise to take about 15 minutes, but if I have a lot to be grateful for that day, I'm open to spending a little more time.  

I've always found that the mindset is the key for me.  If you can't change the situation, change how you feel about it! 

[lizpirate]

My fiancée and I love Pandemic, Last Night on Earth, and Ticket to Ride (links are to BoardGameGeek.com, an amazing site for board game information).

 

 

Pandemic and Ticket to Ride are two of my favorites!  I also love Carcassonne and Puerto Rico.

[WonderNatarella]

Hi jodi!

Living.with the law of attraction?

Gratitude is.really.powerful.and helpful to realise.that.we.are actually lucky to be who we are!

I like your really concrete rewarding system, i might inspire of it to measure.my progress!

I wish you.lots.of.success!

[WonderNatarella]

Hi jodi!

Living.with the law of attraction?

Gratitude is.really.powerful.and helpful to realise.that.we.are actually lucky to be who we are!

I like your really concrete rewarding system, i might inspire of it to measure.my progress!

I wish you.lots.of.success!

[FemHawke]

This is great stuff! I think everyone has a 'ring' of sorts they carry around (or, in my case - I call it 'Head Six/Head Baltar', if your a Battlestar Galactica fan) and we can do so much for ourselves by getting rid of it.

I also hear you on suppressing your nerd. I played 'pen and paper' Dungeons and Dragons in high school, and would dabble in the Neverwinter Nights and Baulders Gate series of PC games while in university; but lately, as my social circles changed, there's been less of an outlet for my nerdy self. Hubbs doesn't 'get' my nerd love (BSG, DnD, NWN and Dragon Age PC games, zombies, etc). He's happy that I'm happy, but doesn't quite 'get' things. I have a good friend that introduced me to the site, so I have some nerdy outlets; but not many...which is why this place is awesome! I'm sure you'll be able to get the support you need, kick butt during the challenge, *and* find which things speak to your inner nerdy self! 

[Wollio]

Indeed -- what AM I nerdy about?  That's a good question!  I'm still trying to sort that one out.    I have some really diverse interests, and I'd like to indulge them all in tiny little bite-sized pieces.  I'm thinking of stealing my son's Eragon book to see if I'd like that.  Love reading!  I did mean not a video gamer, but I'd love any suggestions you have for board games!

 

If you are looking for some epic fantasy book series, Brandon Sanderson books are amazing! Check out the Mistborn series, or if you are okay waiting for more books to come out he just started a 10-book series and the first one was so good I'm currently reading it for the 3rd time! The series is the Stormlight Archives, 1st book is The Way of Kings. He also co-authored the end of the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan which a lot of people may be familiar with. (again, don't start unless you are prepared for some serious reading...14 books averaging somewhere around 800 pages each) I can also recommend the Kingkiller Chronicles, and of course Harry Potter. I really liked Eragon until the last book, which I was really unhappy with. The characters aren't quite as well developed in my opinion as some of the other fantasy series, but the story is still good.