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.

[lavabelle]

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The weather here has been abysmal! No outside activities for a week or so. It is cold, very windy with wind straight from the Antarctic, and rain rain rain. Oh well, it is winter (grumble grumble)

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I think it's so neat to be able to talk to people all over the world...and in different hemispheres...so cool. I am sure many people in this northern hemisphere are wishing for the coolness of winter right about now, and that during your summers, you are looking at our winter and wishing for a little bit of relief 🙂 We are battling many forest fires in my side of the world...lots of destruction and heat and bad air quality...also grumble grumble 😉

[benvegi]

@GershonSurge sound like you need to move to the Missouri Ozarks.

@WendyB

Little crime, as most homeowners are armed, Dem's and Rep's alike. Good police force, patient, helpful, fair, polite. No gangs here in the country. Marijuana not legal - I have no idea of availability of any of these. Some meth problems here but not much out in the open apparently.

Parking lots are safe as many people are willing to step in and help if necessary.

Doctors and hospitals accept Medicare. (my hernia surgery cost me $45 out of pocket).  

Our propery taxes are low, especially if you own an acreage. Mostly Republicans in charge of our local governments, and here I know a lot of them personally.  In spite of being a Dem.

We have had a growing season change here.... now two seasons, Spring and Fall. Mid summer is too hot and dry.

If you are on a well, water is free. Most ground water is plentiful. In the cities it's going to cost you.

The air is clear here, can still see the Milky Way most nights. 

Our local highways are getting faster, but seldem see traffic delays due to accidents.

Real estate agents here are not smart enough to take over anything. 🙂  Speaking of real estate, land and home prices are very low here - at least compared to most other places. 

No homeless problems.

No bank robberies here in at least the last 27 years (in my county) 

One very nice thing about living here is having everyone in the local bank or store, say "Hi, Ben!" when I walk in. Most other businesses are the same, even in many large stores in Springfield.

We don't often stay in a motel, but the few I've stayed at in Springfield are very safe.

When I walk two or miles up our road people in every passing car/truck wave and smile, or stop to talk. Even had some out of state turkey hunters stop to ask where the National Forest land started.  

[WendyB]

@benvegi Thanks added to list to check out

[Jotex]

Anything Goes — August 5

15 x 10,000 steps —0/15 days

10 x 15,000 steps — 2/10 days 

2 x 20,000 steps — 2/2 days

15 x Strength training — 2/15 days 

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

I was so chuffed (a British word I’ve adopted meaning ‘delighted’) about making the 20,000 step goal yesterday, I wanted to do it again. 🎉 May not get many steps in the next two days as I have two doctor appts. and one ‘simple’ procedure with an anesthetic; but we’ll see! 

Thanks @WendyB and @GershonSurge for your congrats. 😊

@benvegi — your area sounds to me like paradise! 

[GershonSurge]

@WendyB

I forgot to mention we get the occasional tornado here, but you don't have to worry about warning sirens. There aren't any. Usually, they touch down outside of the city. I took this picture standing on my deck. Supposedly, it didn't touch down. 

The local university is highly respected.

[WendyB]

@GershonSurge  I showed my husband your post and he said no different than here

Sides any day know i will die of smoke inhalation due to all the fires going on now. Or an earthquake will take place and my house will crumble.

All places have thier quirks

[WendyB]

Aug 5

Steps: Goal right now is 7000 5/31
Boxing 31 days: 5/31
Bike  2 times 31 days: 5/31
Weights 14 days: 2/31

Lose 3 Pounds .5/3

250 Steps per hour 4/31
Post Scavenger hunt photos 3/3

[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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August 5

10,000 steps a day for at least 20 days of the month  -  4/20.

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  -  4/15.

10 wall pushups a day on at least 15 days of the month  -  5/15.

Post 3 scavenger hunt pictures  -  3/3.

[GershonSurge]

Almost forgot to post yesterday's numbers.

 

@Jotex

I hope your procedure goes well. 

@benvegi

I've always liked Missouri. Even the dogs were friendly when I rode my bicycle across.

@WendyB,

Although everything I said is true, I enjoy living here. I go to bed with the sun and wake up when the drunks start coming home at two. That keeps me out of trouble. 

We have some of the best backpacking in the state not far away. The trails are old and 15 degrees steep in many places. That keeps the people from up north away. Often, we don't see anyone for a couple days and have a mountain lake to ourselves.

Surprisingly, most of the people are polite. Yesterday, the lights were out at the busiest intersection in the city and the traffic moved more smoothly than when the lights are working. Everyone quickly took their turn.

[Baltoscott]

August 5

Use Instapot 4 times	2/4
15K steps/day	5/31
1 pushup/day	4/31
13 weight-lifting days	3/13
post 3 scavenger hunt pics	1/3
Sleep 6+ hours 12 days or more during the month	4/12
Weight loss of 2-4 lbs	0.6

Busy the last few days.  Road trip to the Eastern Shore for a crab feast with family on Saturday, and entertaining a visiting cousin for most of the weekend.  Somehow, my workout schedule got so screwed up that I missed my ONE pushup on Saturday breaking my streak at 365 days.  Yes, 365 days!  So a new streak starts today ...

At the gym this morning I felt something pop in my back while doing my second working set of squats.  Stopped immediately, but it feels like I'll be mostly doing stretching exercises for the rest of my trips to the gym this week.  

On a positive note, I've managed to get 3 days of 6+ sleep days in a row for a total of 4 for the month.  If this keeps up, I may have to up my goal next month!

For the weight loss goal, I'll report my moving average (TrendWeight) on Sundays.  I'm down 0.6 lbs so far.  

Got into the Instapot twice over the past couple of days, once to make some wheat berries, and once for quinoa.  And, one Scavenger hunt pic below ...

Wheat Berries for SaladQuinoa for SaladThe historic Senator Theater down the street from my house

[benvegi]

Now I'm trying to think of some drawbacks to living here.:)  We live in the country outside of a little town on Bull Shoals Lake (think big lake). It is beautiful here, rolling green hills, creeks, lakes, wildlife. Living in the country is quiet and you best have a partner who loves this life also.

On the downside, we are 1.5 hour drive from Springfield where we Dr., Dentist, shop. Springfield also has Missouri State U so there are many programs and plays. We are 45 miles from the nearest movie theater in Branson. Good choice of restrauants in both cities though we avoid Branson "in season" due to the crowds. There are good living choices somewhat closer to Springfield. 

I'm sure you will enjoy any choice you make for home. Good luck and keep us posted.

@Jotex

[WendyB]

We are just making a list now. Then plan to travel and visit. It will be a while before we even decide. At least a year down the road is my guess.

[Baltoscott]

@GershonSurge -- Your home town description reminded me of this Hee Haw classic -- especially the joke at the end after the main skit.

[WendyB]

Lol @Baltoscott that would be me getting run over by the welcome wagon. 😂🤣😃

[Baltoscott]

@lavabelle -- I hope the fires aren't dimishing the Buntzen loop hike.  That looks like a beautiful place.  Ditto @SunsetRunner, your bit of the Australian Alps looks awfully good. And @Dexterity Rosasjon looks like a nice bit of country-side in the city. 

You would never think it for a big east coast US city, but there is a lot good hiking right in and around Baltimore too.

[WendyB]

I think there is good hiking any where. People just need to look 

It's funny where I walk daily. People who live around the ranch are in awe of what I post

 That can't be there.

Ahh yes it is..... 🤣😂😁

[Jotex]

@GershonSurge wrote:  @Jotex  I hope your procedure goes well

Thanks! Today is skin specialist day (rash on knees, calves and top of feet). This afternoon is prep for a colonoscopy tomorrow morning. 😬

@Baltoscott - congrats on your .6 lb weight loss! And using the Instapot twice. I’m still mulling it over. 

@WendyB - I know it is far afield (!), but my town aboit 10 miles outside Bern, Switzerland is on the edge of the most beautiful countryside in the world. Loads of hiking possibilities in summer, and skiing in winter. 

I don’t avail myself of them, however. Being a native Texan (Houston), I never learned to ski. I also don’t like to walk alone — so I have become best friends with my treadmill. 

Anyway, good luck in making your decision. 

[CatLover74]

August 6

10,000 steps a day for at least 20 days of the month  -  4/20.

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  -  5/15.

10 wall pushups a day on at least 15 days of the month  -  6/15.

Post 3 scavenger hunt pictures  -  3/3.

[SunsetRunner]

I have to say how much I enjoy reading everyone's posts. I feel as if I'm visiting places all over the world.

Day Six of August.

1. Steps=5000 - 6/31.

It's been raining almost all day today so I decided to build up steps inside. Thing is, I forgot that the Versa was on the charger when I added around 400 steps or more 😞 

I ended up going for an evening walk in the rain, protected by my trusty rain jacket. It was - umm, brisk, and wet. I easily met my own challenge even without the uncounted steps, so all is good.)

2. 2 km walks - 3/8.

I don't think this evening's walk was quite 2 km so I'll not count it. I'll have to measure the distance one of these days.

3. 3 scavenger pictures: 2/3.

[GershonSurge]

 

@Baltoscott

We used to have a welcome caboose here, but I they closed it because they kept handing out maps for the fastest routes out of town.

There is one good point. It doesn't snow too much, so the kids don't have to carry their older siblings to school in snowstorms so they don't ruin the shoes they are going to hand down.