Inspired by NerdFitness

[Tholgar]

Hi there, 

 

This site has been a big inspiration for me. I love how it combines nerdiness and fitness. I'm a pretty big nerd: I love scifi, Wow, Civ V, and the Final Fantasy games. As for fitness, I'm lucky that I have genes that make it hard for me to get fat no matter what I eat. But I used to eat a lot of junk and process food. I never cooked, so every meal was processed. I used to run a lot, but while I only weighed 185 lbs (I'm 6'), I was accumulating belly fat. No matter how much I ran, the fat would not go away. Then I saw a picture of myself on the beach, and I looked pear-shaped! So I decided to do something about it.

 

I always knew processed carbohydrates were not good, but I didn't know why. Back in February I cut out the sugar and cut down on the grains, making sure they where whole grain only, and cooking all my food. I rigorously counted calories with My Fitness Pal. I also mostly stopped running and started lifting weights (haphazardly) at the gym. I lost 15 lbs in two months and the flab was mostly gone, but I was hungry all the time.

 

Then I found this site and started reading about nutrition, which led me to the book Why We Get Fat. That changed my life and I switched to a paleo diet. I stopped counting calories and I'm not going hungry any more since the food is so filling. I actually struggle to eat enough, since I want to gain muscle.

 

This site also inspired me to get more organized about my lifting. I decided to do Stronglifts, since it's so simple. I've dabbled in weights since high school, but never focused on it.  I love the sense of accomplishment setting PRs almost every session.

 

But I was working so hard I did something to my forearm. I took a month off and it still hurts. I think it's tendinitis and I"ll be getting physical therapy. I've started lifting again, carefully. But it's interesting that even in that month of no exercise, by sticking to my paleo diet, I still weigh 170 lbs and look lean! That make me believe that what you eat really is the most important thing. All the exercise in the world will not help if you're not eating the right foods.

 

I'm looking forward to participating in the challenges and lifting heavier. The latest article on this site also inspired me to figure out how to do a headstand. I'm going to practice five minutes a day.

 

Tholgar