Steve

My name is Steve, and I always wanted to be Superman.

You’d probably think the picture on the right was taken on Halloween…but honestly it couldn’t have been a random Tuesday – that’s how much I wanted to be the “man of steel.”

However, genetics didn’t exactly agree with me growing up; I was always the skinny, weak kid that got pushed around on the playground.

Fortunately, I was pretty quick and managed to stay pretty active throughout middle school and junior high, playing sports with my friends, going on hikes, and participating in Cub Scouts.

Then I went into High School.

I entered high school at 5’0″ tall and probably 100 pounds. By the time I was a Junior, I finally hit puberty (finally!) I shot up to 5’11″…but still weighed around 100 pounds!  My brother and all of my friends were on the basketball team, so I decided to try out, figuring that my dedication and determination would make up for my lack of talent.

Nope.

I didn’t make it past the first cut.

Devastated, I vowed to return the next year with twenty to thirty extra pounds of muscle.  So, I immediately joined a gym…because that’s what you’re supposed to do, right?  I walked straight to a bench, loaded up 45-lb. plates on each side of the bar, and lowered it down to my chest.

….

Crap.

I DEFINITELY didn’t have the strength to raise the bar, so I tilted the bar to the left until a weight slid off (because I was

DUMB enough not to have put a safety collar on there), at which point the bar was so out of balance in the other direction that the right weight flew off.

CLANG. CLANG.

I sheepishly raised the bar back onto the supports, hoped nobody noticed, and sat up….to see forty pairs of eyes staring at me as my weights rolled across the ground.  I have honestly never been more humiliated in my life.  Luckily, I decided that things couldn’t get any worse, so I came back the next the day, and the day after that, and so on.

Through high school and all four years of college, I worked out in a gym, trying to get stronger and bigger…with no results.

After college, I moved out California, signed up for a gym, spent five sessions with a personal trainer, changed my diet and my workout plans, and packed on a bunch of healthy weight and got very strong in 30 days.

From that point on, I became hooked on learning as much as possible about health, fitness, strength, and power.

This site is the culmination of that information and my experiences.

Still reading?

Here are some random facts about me:

• Favorite movie:The Shawshank Redemption (and here’s why).  This is the greatest movie ever made in my opinion, right behind Spice World and Glitter.
• Favorite TV show: Can’t narrow this one down.  Lost, the Wire, the Shield, Friday Night Lights, Ninja Warrior, and Arrested Development are the ones that usually rise to the top.
• Favorite song ever: “If it’s the Beaches,” by the Avett Brothers.
• Desired super power: Flight, duh.  Why do you think I went as Superman for Halloween for half a decade and jumped off my roof holding an inflated trash bag?  Because I’m an idiot mostly, but also because I’ve always wanted to fly.
• Favorite guilty pleasure food: Chicken parm – pasta, sauce, cheese, and chicken. Terribly unhealthy and it does a number on my stomach.  Still though, win.
• Favorite game: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - just epic all around.  Although the graphics don’t hold up too well by today’s standards, the gameplay and story is second to none.  The rest of my top five would be Metroid Prime for the GameCube, Super Metroid for the SNES, Assassin’s Creed 2 for the Xbox360, and Everquest 2 for the PC.  MMORPG’s are my Kryptonite.
• Favorite book: Other than the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Harry Potterbooks (yup, read em all – don’t hate), I’m going to go with the Giver.
• Talents/hobbies: Let’s see…I’m a decent piano player, less-than-decent guitarist, “not awful” break dancer, kinda okay surfer, respectable artist, pretty good golfer, dismal singer, terrible cook, and a Ninja Warrior in training.
• Claim to fame: I once organized thirteen people to spell the last name of Vanderbilt’s Polish center, Dawid Przybyszewski, across our chests.  He checked into the game, we ripped off our shirts, and he had the game of his career while leading Vandy to victory over Kentucky.  He started every game after that.  Here’s the picture, I’m the P.
• Hometown: East Sandwich, MA.  Yes I’m serious. It’s on the bicep of Cape Cod.  Shut up.

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Staci

Who are you, and where are you from?

I’m Staci, and I’m currently living in the Boston area.

You can read a bit about my fitness background and story here.

How did you find Nerd Fitness?

I stumbled upon the Zelda article, and Zelda being my favorite video game ever, I was instantly hooked. I joined the forums the next day and never looked back.

How did you join Team Nerd FItness?

I started off as a mod on the forums back in November of 2011. About six months later, Steve realized he needed a bit more help behind the scenes to run NF, so brought me on part time. Before I knew it, I quit my corporate day job and joined team NF full time :)

What is your “job title” and what do you do for NF?

My official “job title” is “Master of the Deadlift”. Seriously, that’s what it says on my contract. Probably because Steve couldn’t figure out a way to put “take everything from my brain, somehow figure out what it means, organize it, and make sure it all gets done” in a job title. That, and I can deadlift more than two Steves

I basically help run everything behind Nerd Fitness (including housing and mailing every t-shirt, tank top, and sticker from my apartment!).

Oh, and it’s also my job to change all of the passwords when Steve goes to Vegas or Monaco so he doesn’t gamble away the entire website.

What is your current training routine and diet?

I stick to paleo probably about 98% of the time.  I’ve been doing it for almost 3 years now – so it’s pretty much ‘stuck’ by now

For my training routine…I don’t really have one. I’m currently focusing on CrossFit with a heavy strength bias. I normally train twice a day for a total of about 2-5 hours, depending on the day. Usually I’ll start out with some strength, then throw in some skill work (either gymnastics or weightlifting), take a few hours break and then do either endurance or metcon work. The rest of the time I focus on recovery (swimming, sleeping, and eating insane amounts of food) It’s a lot of work and I love every second of it, but I don’t recommend it to ANYONE without having a coach to help them out.

How terrible is it working with Steve?

It’s actually not so bad (until he touches the code, that is)

What is your favorite movie?

Amélie. “Failure teaches us that life is but a draft, an endless rehearsal of a show that will never play.”

Favorite band?

Johnny Cash. No explanation needed.

Favorite video game?

Though I did major in Mario Kart for N64 for a semester (ok, maybe a year) in college, I would have to say The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (though Ocarina of Time is a close second).

Quote to live by?

“I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ‘If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.’” – Kurt Vonnegut

If you could have any superpower in the world, what would it be?

I’m going to have to go with the flying one. Not only because it would be awesome, but because it would seriously help with all of the anger issues I get from having to deal with Boston area traffic

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Taylor

Who are you, and where are you from?

I’m Taylor. I work, play, and level-up in Washington, DC.

When I’m not working on Nerd Fitness, you might find me drinking espresso, reading science fiction, watching NCAA basketball, enjoying a glass of bourbon (1 cube), overthinking the political landscape, obsessively glued to TED talks, or trying to break my addiction from a Blizzard product.

How did you find Nerd Fitness?

I was a dedicated long distance runner, logging about 40-50 miles a week. After years of running, an injury took me out of commission. Slightly depressed with my new sedentary self, I decided it was time to take a healthier, holistic approach. I discovered Steve’s google talk, then Saint’s story, and started with the beginners bodyweight workout. I was hooked.

How did you join Team Nerd FItness?

In March Steve realized that he was just becoming too popular and set out to find some more help. After one kick-ass application and several rigorous interview rounds (thanks Steve), I was anointed Chief Wordsmith.

What is your “job title” and what do you do for NF?

As the Chief Wordsmith here at Nerd Fitness, it’s my job to make sure Steve doesn’t talk about Star Wars EVERY week, ramble on about Lectins for 1,000 words, or accidentally link to his secret musical obsession.

Sick of hearing about Steve’s chia pet? Want some clarification on dairy in weight loss? Dying to see a Pokemon article? Email me at taylor@nerdfitness.com with your thoughts.

What is your current training routine and diet?

Other than copious amounts of greek yogurt and chocolate milk, I tend to eat mostly Paleo, and embrace the Staci-method of pre-cooking chicken for the whole week.

While I used to be a long distance runner, these days it’s only on rare occasion that you’ll find me hitting the streets. Instead, I’m doing weighted pullups, deadlifting, squatting, and trying to break into some gymnastic exercises.

How terrible is it working with Steve?

Steve’s tyrannical rule has become oppressive. Loyalists who question his wisdom are punished ruthlessly, as his sadistic reign has ushered in a new era of cruelty: the pinnacle of schadenfreude.

Nah — Steve’s great!

What is your favorite movie?

Hero is a passionate, visually stunning, intellectually complex, and a truly nerdy movie. If you’ve watched this flick once and think you fully understood it, it’s time for another movie night.

Favorite song/band?

An impossible question! Although presently I’m really digging the eccentricities of M83.

Favorite video game?

Super Smash Bros (N64). Pikachuuu!

Quote to live by?

The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
-James Madison

If you could have any superpower in the world, what would it be?

Flight or invisibility? No thanks. I’ve always gone back and forth between a Jumper-style teleportation and telekinesis like the kids in Chronicle.

In the end, the ability to be anywhere instantaneously is far too cool to pass up (not to mention no more commutes, putting on a killer date night, and travel hacking like a God).