Anything Goes August Step Challenge and Scavenger Hunt

[Baltoscott]

Jaunty July is coming to an end and it is time to start a new step challenge.  @Jotex suggested calling this one Anything Goes August as in the great Cole Porter song. 

Anything Goes?  Like July it’s hot in the Northern hemisphere, but this month we also begin to lament the end of summer and rush to cram in vacations and finish summer projects we should have started in June.  With all that it is easy to forget to take care of yourself so now is your chance to write down your step and a few other goals for the month.  Then you can report in every few days to keep yourself honest.  And in the spirit of Anything Goes, maybe add a few taps to your basic step goals.

General monthly instructions are below, but this month I’m adding a picture scavenger hunt:  

Take your phone or other camera on your walks look for, snap, and post three pics or more of the following: 1 - some sort of Danger or Warning sign or image like “falling rocks” or “slippery when wet,” the odder the better; 2 - a posted map of something like a downtown walking map, or a park trail map; and 3 a movie or theatre marquee.  Just post here as you find them and add a line or internet link about what you are posting.   (Thanks @Ennay for the pic)     

inspiration :                                                    

   
How It Works:

The primary purpose of these monthly challenges is to keep track of your daily step goals for the month; though many of us track other things as well, like body weight exercises, sleep, trips to the gym, logging food, etc. This is not a competition to see who can do the most of whatever, instead it is a challenge to measure your consistency. So whether you do 1k, 5k, 10k or even 40k steps a day, this is measuring how many days out of the monthly total you can hit your goal.

Some might have a constant goal of 10k steps every single day and others might have a variable goal throughout the week, (and some might even plan days off!) for example.
Monday -> Friday = 10k steps a day
Sat & Sun = “6k steps a day,” or “not tracking”

Regardless of how you structure your daily goals, the only thing that matters for the monthly challenge is whether or not you reach what you set out to do.

Suggested Posting Format.       
1) Post either your constant or variable step goal.
2) Keep track of the # of daily goals achieved out of the monthly minimum and or monthly total

Although you certainly don’t have to post daily, you’ll likely stay closer to what you set out to do by updating the thread several times/week

Injury Notice
If you injure yourself during the month and need to scale back due to the injury, then all you have to do is adjust your goal for that period. If you normally do 10k steps a day but pull a hamstring and decide to do minimal walking (2k steps a day), then all you have to do is change your goal.

[Baltoscott]

Good logic in that beer sign @WendyB

[WendyB]

 It's at a brewery we go to 😀

[NellyG]

Wow read the definition of Noob! Sincere apologoes! Was meant in a friendly welcoming manner, not at all as the definition sounds! So I'll  try again. Welcome to the Newbies! 🤣🤣

[Jotex]

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@Baltoscott wrote:

This is the Instapot I got @Jotex.  (It was $30 cheaper on Amazon's "Prime day" sale).

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Thanks a lot, @Baltoscott. So is Instapot also the name of the company that makes them? It would  potentially replace my rice cooker, slow cooker and pressure cooker.

[SunsetRunner]

@NellyG  I'm in rural Victoria. (For the benefit of others, that's in south-eastern Australia.)

Still on track on Day Two of August.

1. Steps=5000 - 2/31

2. 2km walks - 0/8

3. 3 scavenger pictures: still to come.

[CatLover74]

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@CatLover74 wrote:

I'm in if there's room for a complete n00b.  Let's see if I'm doing this right.

Goals for August

10,000 steps a day for at least 20 days of the month.

1 walk per week along the foreshore of my local beach (should be fun in an Australian winter).

At least 7 hours sleep on at least 15 days of the month.

10 wall pushups a day on at least 15 days of the month.

Post 3 scavenger hunt pictures.

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10,000 steps a day for at least 20 days of the month  -  2/20.

1 walk per week along the foreshore of my local beach (should be fun in an Australian winter)  -  1 done.

At least 7 hours sleep on at least 15 days of the month  -  1/15.

10 wall pushups a day on at least 15 days of the month  -  2/15.

Post 3 scavenger hunt pictures  -  3/3.

[GershonSurge]

 

@WendyB,

Remember, it's OK to have a salad with breakfast. It's good to see you setting step goals again.

@Baltoscott,

The Instapot looks huge. You must cook for a week at a time. 

[NellyG]

2 August

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                   2/20         

Swim 2x per week                                         1/1         1/9                 

Dance 6 hours a week                                  -/4         -/26    

One Interval walk or bike ride per week     -/1         -/4

Post 3 Scavenger Hunt Pictures                 -/3

[Baltoscott]

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@Jotex wrote:

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@Baltoscott wrote:

This is the Instapot I got @Jotex.  (It was $30 cheaper on Amazon's "Prime day" sale).

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Thanks a lot, @Baltoscott. So is Instapot also the name of the company that makes them? It would  potentially replace my rice cooker, slow cooker and pressure cooker.

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Right.  I didn't have a rice cooker, so I'm really liking it for that.  I think the first thing I made was steel cut oats.  We've made room for it on the counter now, and I suspect the slightly bigger stovetop pressure cooker and our crockpot won't make it out of their hiding places unless we have a big party and need to have multiple crockpots or pressure cookers going at the same time.

[Baltoscott]

August 2

Use Instapot 4 time	0/4
15K steps/day	2/31
1 pushup/day	2/31
13 weight-lifting days	2/13
post 3 scavenger hunt pics	0/3
Sleep 6+ hours 12 days or more during the month	1/12
Weight loss of 2-4 lbs	0

Today's not a normal weight lifting day, but I thought I might not be able to get to the gym tomorrow so I went today and did a Fitbit Coach work out.  Although it was "just" a bodyweight workout, I wound up doing 79 pushups over 25 minutes, along with body weight dips some side planks, and I don't remember what else, all on top the shoulder workout I did yesterday.  So... I'll count that as one of my weight-lifting days, and if I do get to the gym tomorrow I will abbreviate that workout a bit.  Got to rest too. 

Speaking of rest, I got a sleeping day done.  Just a few minutes over 6 hours, but that is soooo much better than 5 hours! 

Haven't got my scavenger hunt pics done yet, but I sometimes feel like I'm going to get run over by the exercisers on the walking course we have set up in the basement level where I work, so here is kind of a danger sign, and I am just always struck by mushrooms that pop up in the middle of lawns ...

DANGER -- Walkers About!Hello little mushroom ...  

[Baltoscott]

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@lavabelle wrote:

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 But missed my first opportunity to hit my pitifully low 6 hour sleep goal by an hour: 4 hr 57 min.  Zzzz ...

I can't imagine having a sleep goal...I sleep 7-9 hours a day...if I don't...I'll literally fall asleep driving...therefore getting my sleep...lol. How do you function?...looks like you've been sleep deprived for months, or are you one of those people who functions on less sleep...if you are, I envy you 🙂

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I function OK on 6+ hours, and have done so for years, but I know I need more than that.  There are lots of long-term bad things associated with getting less than 7-8 hours of sleep.  The past few months, since March at least when I started the 12 days/month goal, have been particularly bad because I've got a geriatric dog who wakes up barking between 2 and 4 am every morning.  When I get up to let him out, the other two dogs start barking and herding, and its a great big event for about 15 minutes.  If it happens early enough I can get back in bed and get a little more sleep, but if it is kind of close to when I get up for my commute (4:45AM) I just wind up losing another hour of sleep.

[Jotex]

@Baltoscott wrote:

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Right.  I didn't have a rice cooker, so I'm really liking it for that.  I think the first thing I made was steel cut oats.  We've made room for it on the counter now, and I suspect the slightly bigger stovetop pressure cooker and our crockpot won't make it out of their hiding places unless we have a big party and need to have multiple crockpots or pressure cookers going at the same time.

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Yeah, finding enough counter space is always  a challenge. My pressure cooker is in the cupboard with all the pots and pans (meticulously stacked and arranged). The other two are in a cupboard in the living room. Most of the year my little toaster oven is in the same cupboard, but in summer I leave it in the kitchen to use for us two as the oven heats the kitchen up too much. (No AC here.) 

[Jotex]

Anything Goes — August 2

15 x 10,000 steps —0/15 days

10 x 15,000 steps — 2/10 days 

2 x 20,000 steps — 0/2 days

15 x Strength training — 1/15 days 

3 (or more) Scavenger Hunt Photos (as directed) — 1/3

I got up to 18,000 steps yesterday, but as we were out, I had limited options to walk much. We had a lovely time with friends in the Bernese Oberland. And I did snap one ‘Scavenger Hunt’ photo on our friends trampoline! 

Hi 

[lavabelle]

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I function OK on 6+ hours, and have done so for years, but I know I need more than that.  There are lots of long-term bad things associated with getting less than 7-8 hours of sleep.  The past few months, since March at least when I started the 12 days/month goal, have been particularly bad because I've got a geriatric dog who wakes up barking between 2 and 4 am every morning.  When I get up to let him out, the other two dogs start barking and herding, and its a great big event for about 15 minutes.  If it happens early enough I can get back in bed and get a little more sleep, but if it is kind of close to when I get up for my commute (4:45AM) I just wind up losing another hour of sleep.

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AHHH...I understand now, it's not a choice...It remind me of having children...thanks goodness they've grown...being sleep deprived is definitely not a good combo when you as active as you are, long bike commute  body needs sleep to stay healthy...I hope you get more sleep soon. I used to put my kids to bed by 7pm...and go to bed too...is going to bed early an option for you?

[WendyB]

Aug 2

Steps: Goal right now is 7000 Done
Boxing 31 days: 2/31
Bike 31 days: 2/31 Actually did twice 
Weights 14 days: 1/31

Lose 3 Pounds 0/3

250 Steps per hour 2/31
Post Scavenger hunt photos 1/3

@GershonSurge Never had a beer for breakfast. We went out one time to a bar type place and i didnt even think of it. My husband did. If i would of known i would have to. 😁

Increasing steps when I can 😁

[Homefrontgirl]

August Goals

8,000 steps per day 2/31

1,000 calorie deficit per day 2/31

Lose 5 pounds 0/5

Scavenger Hunt pics 0/3

[WendyB]

@GershonSurge My instapot is bigger than @Baltoscott. I do cook full recipes @6 servings even though there is only 2 of us. 

But I take the other 4 servings and divide them into 2 ea and freeze. Makes for quick meals down the road. 

I do this with every thing I cook. Some weeks I don't have to cook and just pull from the freezer and heat.

Makes it easy 😁

[SunsetRunner]

Day Three of August.

1. Steps=5000 - 3/31; 7,695 so far today

2. 2 km walks - 1/8; 3 km walk today, would have got soaked through except for a half decent jacket with a hood. It's been raining solidly 🙂

3. 3 scavenger pictures: 1/3; the map.

A map.

[CatLover74]

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@CatLover74 wrote:

I'm in if there's room for a complete n00b.  Let's see if I'm doing this right.

Goals for August

10,000 steps a day for at least 20 days of the month.

1 walk per week along the foreshore of my local beach (should be fun in an Australian winter).

At least 7 hours sleep on at least 15 days of the month.

10 wall pushups a day on at least 15 days of the month.

Post 3 scavenger hunt pictures.

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10,000 steps a day for at least 20 days of the month  -  2/20.

1 walk per week along the foreshore of my local beach (should be fun in an Australian winter)  -  1 done.

At least 7 hours sleep on at least 15 days of the month  -  2/15.

10 wall pushups a day on at least 15 days of the month  -  3/15.

Post 3 scavenger hunt pictures  -  3/3.

I didn't get anywhere near my step goal today - will probably be lucky to crack 7,000.  I started well enough, but then I got a shocker of a headache and stopped in my tracks.

[Baltoscott]

@GershonSurge @WendyB — they just announced on the radio that today (first Friday in August) is International Beer Day so I guess if you are ever going to have ‘salad’ for breakfast this should be the day. 😏