Contrary February — Step Challenge and REVISED Resolutions

[Baltoscott]

So how did January go?  Are you still holding strong on those New Year’s resolutions?  Or have you completely forgotten about that?  🙂

Well, Contrary February is here. And rather than quit those lofty January goals altogether, how about the contrary approach of just dialing things back a bit? Instead of 6 days a week at the gym, commit to putting on your workout shoes for 3 mornings and walking a couple of miles, followed by some body weight exercises (you can still go to the gym, but if you’ve been missing, change the commitment somehow — less often, switch from morning to evening or vice versa — so it is easier to meet). Whatever it was you committed to in January, if you were not successful, try doing half as much of it in February and see how that goes. (Of course, if you hit your goals in January, YAY YOU! Now keep practicing the goals you want as lifetime habits, and increase effort or time a bit).                                                     

   
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

Picture Scavenger Hunt — 3 pictures

The theme of the photo scavenger hunt for Contrary February is to find the ‘odd duck;’ something out of place; someone oddly dressed; something a little ridiculous; or just unexpected.

Where's Jayhawk?

Posting

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.

[WendyB]

Contrary February Day 24

Steps: Goal 13,000 28 days: 24/28
Boxing 28 days: 24/28
Bike 3 times 28 days: 24/28
Weights DVD 16 days: 13/16
Stomach YouTube 28 days : 24/28
Wall Push Up/Counter push ups 28 days: 24/28
250 Steps per hour 28 days : 24/28
Post Scavenger hunt photos: .3/3

There are about 7 new baby goats where I walk now. They are just so cute specially when they run

Counting for my last  Pic. How many baby goats did you see this month?

[WendyB]

My Thoughts and prayers are with you. Can I help in any way? @SunsetRunner 

[SunsetRunner]

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@WendyB wrote:

My Thoughts and prayers are with you. Can I help in any way? @SunsetRunner 

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Thanks a lot, @WendyB . Thank you for your kind words and offer. I am at a loss myself what to do from this distance (she's in Texas, and I'm in Switzerland); but she doesn't think it's necessary for me to go there. Your prayers are very much appreciated. 😊 

[NellyG]

Oh @SunsetRunner That must be so hard.

25 February

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                                       21/20     

4 days over 15,000 steps                                                 7/4              

1 day over 20,000 steps                                                    1/1

Swim 2x per week (when I'm home)                              5/5                                                

Dance prac 6 hours a week (when Im home)              21.5/18

5 bike rides or interval walks per month                         5/5            

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                                       3/3  

[SunsetRunner]

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@NellyG wrote:

Oh @SunsetRunner That must be so hard.

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Thanks @NellyG . Yes, but I am thankful for WhatsApp, as my sister is there and keep me posted. She is soon going into surgery for repair (not replacement, as we first thought). Praying for a positive and successful surgery and recovery.

[WendyB]

Sending prayers @SunsetRunner Keep us posted. I'm sure she will be fine.

Been there done that before

[WendyB]

Contrary February Day 25

Steps: Goal 13,000 28 days: 25/28
Boxing 28 days: 25/28
Bike 3 times 28 days: 25/28
Weights DVD 16 days: 14/16
Stomach YouTube 28 days : 25/28
Wall Push Up/Counter push ups 28 days: 25/28
250 Steps per hour 28 days : 25/28
Post Scavenger hunt photos: .3/3

[Baltoscott]

Contrary February Day 25

15K steps/day		24/28
1 pushup/day		25/28
12 weight-lifting days		7/12
post scavenger pics		4/3
Sleep 6+ hours 12 days or more during the month		11/12
1 pull-up/day		25/28
Complete Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat		2/4

Dang.  Missed the step goal on Sunday.  Jane got a new stand-up (and down) desk, and I spent most of day putting it together for her.  Made it to the gym in the morning, but just didn't leave enough time to finish steps in the evening.  On the plus side, the desk is pretty cool!

Sorry to hear about your mom @SunsetRunner.  I hope the news is getting better.

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks @Baltoscott @WendyB and @NellyG . for your kind words, and prayers. My sister called as soon as she had spoken to the doctor yesterday. He said the operation was a success, but that Mom is not in good shape. Recovery will be long and very difficult for her. I am afraid her days of living alone in a house and driving may be behind her, which will be the hardest for her to accept. Funnily, she and I already got into a little tizzy last week because I suggested she would qualify to have meals delivered from her community center. She said, "I used to help delivr meals," as though she is not old like those people she helped. She'll be 84 in June.  Anyway, I feel certain I will have to go over soon to help sort everything out...

Worked on getting papers and figures together for my US tax return, so didn't meet a single goal of mine yesterday. Better get back on track today. 

@WendyB - love the little goats!

@Baltoscott - would love a pic of your wife's new desk!

[NellyG]

26 February 

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                                       22/20     

4 days over 15,000 steps                                                 7/4              

1 day over 20,000 steps                                                    1/1

Swim 2x per week (when I'm home)                              6/5                                                

Dance prac 6 hours a week (when Im home)              24/18

5 bike rides or interval walks per month                         5/5            

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                                       3/3  

[Sergiu37]

Another week under this year average for me, will probably fail all of the goals, but still will have lost 4kg by the end of the month.

7300 steps 17/25 goal failed big time.
Exercise 16/25 (goal 20/28)
Sleep at least 6 hours 17/25 (goal 20/28)
Sleep at least 7 hours 6/25 (goal 10/28)

[SunsetRunner]

Contrary February - Day 26
12,000 steps: 16/18 days
20,000 steps: 5:2 days
1-min (or longer) Modified Plank: 12/15 days
Training w/weights: 12/15 days
40 jumping jacks: 20/20 days
Line Dance: 3/4 days
IF5/2 (stay under +/- 600 cal): 1/6 days
Eat a piece of fruit: 20/20 days
Scavenger Hunt Pics: 2/3 pics

[WendyB]

Contrary February Day 26

Steps: Goal 13,000 28 days: 26/28
Boxing 28 days: 26/28
Bike 3 times 28 days: 26/28
Weights DVD 16 days: 14/16
Stomach YouTube 28 days : 26/28
Wall Push Up/Counter push ups 28 days: 26/28
250 Steps per hour 28 days : 26/28
Post Scavenger hunt photos: 3/3

[Baltoscott]

Contrary February Day 26

15K steps/day		25/28
1 pushup/day		26/28
12 weight-lifting days		7/12
post scavenger pics		4/3
Sleep 6+ hours 12 days or more during the month		12/12
1 pull-up/day		26/28
Complete Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat		3/4

Early morning bike commute with no traffic.  Nice.

Baltimore Morning

[SunsetRunner]

Nice pic of your 'traffic-free' commute, @Baltoscott. With March just around the corner, I wondered if 'Madhatter March' had been used as a theme before. Scavenger hunt could be pics of hats 🎩 . 

[WendyB]

@SunsetRunner  March is already up

March

[Baltoscott]

@SunsetRunner — Madhatter March would have been a good theme on its own, but I think it fits in with the ‘play’ theme of photo scavenger hunt on March Madness, so I’ll update the introductory post in that thread later today when I do the formal invite post to all the folks that participated this month.

PS — I’ll take and post some pics of Jane’s new standing desk in a few days.  One really nice feature she added was a couple of screens that hang from the back and one side that are basically large black mesh envelopes we could use to reduce all the cable clutter from her computer, two phones, two monitors usb cables, etc.

[SunsetRunner]

Contrary February - Day 27

12,000 steps: 17/18 days
20,000 steps: 5/2 days
1-min (or longer) Modified Plank: 13/15 days
Training w/weights: 13/15 days
40 jumping jacks: 20/20 days
Line Dance: 3/4 days
IF5/2 (stay under +/- 600 cal): 1/6 days
Eat a piece of fruit: 20/20 days
Scavenger Hunt Pics: 2/3 pics

Daffodils (Osterglocken = Easter bells) are blooming in February!

[Baltoscott]

Contrary February Day 27

15K steps/day		26/28
1 pushup/day		27/28
12 weight-lifting days		12/12
post scavenger pics		4/3
Sleep 6+ hours 12 days or more during the month		12/12
1 pull-up/day		26/28
Complete Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat		3/4

Finished up my 12 weight-lifting days today.  WooHoo!

[Baltoscott]

@CatLover74 @Sergiu37 @Autumn43 @GSaldiveri @benvegi @SunsetRunner @NellyG @Miss_Primrose @Peggy_H @HoosierDaddy73 @BMANintheUP @kschurman 

It is time to think about your monthly goals, and to sign up for March Madness if you haven't done it yet.