Getting Down to Business

[mChex]

Hi everyone!

Amanda here, and I'd like to throw my lot in with the rebellion! I can't remember how exactly I came to discover NerdFitness, but I'm here and that's all that matters now. I'm tired of haphazardly trying to re-tool my health, and I would like to take steps to realize my full potential. To achieve that end, I'd love to be a part of this community and learn more about others in pursuit of the same.

I'm a 19 year old college sophomore in electrical engineering, and am in the process of commissioning into the US Air Force as a developmental engineer. Due to interesting family dynamics, I live my life as somewhat of a gypsy. When I'm not subleasing at a frat house or hopping between friend's apartments, I live in a double dorm room at my university.

At aforementioned frat house in the summer of 2011, I stumbled across the paleo/primal lifestyle when my father sent me a link to Sean Croxton's Underground Wellness blog. This led to oodles of research on the matter and becoming an avid follower of the famous Marks Daily Apple. I was an immediate convert to the paleo life, and experienced all the positive increases in strength, mood, energy and overall happiness. The best part was I felt powerful and attractive to boot! I then shared an apartment with a friend for the rest of the summer, living the life and feeling great.

Then the Fall semester began, and things started to fall apart. I was suddenly confronted with managing an "eccentrically" healthy lifestyle in the context of the typical college environment. And it was HARDER than anything I had yet encountered. Not only that, but my personal life became unimaginably ridiculous. My father eloped with a 20 year old and moved to Texas last November. This has been really difficult because my Dad and I are really close, but this has put somewhat of a divide between this. And as if that weren't weird enough, I received a call from my Mother just a few days ago saying she is in the process of wedding a guy she met on Match .com 4 weeks ago and is moving to Vegas. I'm meeting him this weekend...

I really couldn't make this up if I tried. And this stuff is only the tip of the ice berg, but I'd rather not pour out every oddity of my life.

A sudden lack of control over my food and living quarters, incredibly difficult engineering courses (Data Structures and Algorithms nearly drove me to tears) combined with other extreme family problems dashed apart everything I had worked so hard for. On top of this, I found myself in a seriously unhealthy relationship, and had been forced to give up martial arts (a huge part of my life) because I simply did not have the time or energy.

I have since oscillated in this gray zone. My fitness has deteriorated and I am disappointed in myself. I let my self esteem be trod on as I searched for other relationships that were ultimately fruitless, and used my misfortunes on all fronts as excuses for caving in to leading a destructive, unhealthy lifestyle.

I would like to ask you all for support, because I am struggling to find faith in myself. If you are willing to have me, I'd like to throw myself headfirst into putting my life back together. I would like to prove that it is possible to put yourself back together, no matter the circumstances, so I can help other people who are struggling. But before I can help others, I need to be able to help myself.

So here it goes! I'm ready to start taking steps to put my life back on track. Wish me luck, and I hope to do you all proud. (And apologies for the exceedingly long intro post.)

[Deansy]

Good work, getting it all out on 'paper' is a good way to see the big picture.

Don't worry too much, we have all had a terrible relationship that near destroyed us but have mosty soldiered on and came out the other side.

So far, personally, I have found this community a great place to sort stuff out and get your sh!t together. The support here and the great advice, far outways any naysayers in the real world.

WELCOME TO THE REBELLION!!!

[Kirst]

Good for you trying to live the healthy life at university! I know it's hard, I'm right there with you. Good luck, and welcome!

[mChex]

Thanks Deansy and Kirst! Hope to see you guys around. =)

[Morrigainz]

Ditto what deansy said! I toohad one of those relationships. Welcome and we are glad to have you aboard!

[mChex]

Thanks MirGSS! I like the way you set up your workout logs in googleDocs. I think I'll follow suit.

[ebm1224]

welcome to the community! glad you're here!

[mChex]

Thanks ebm! Glad to be here!