Dancing December Step Challenge and Scavenger Hunt

[Baltoscott]

Here we are — the last month of the year, holiday food everywhere you look, all sorts of social obligations ... so .... why not recommit to your minimum daily fitness/eating goals -- and maybe even DANCE a bit around the mistletoe -- just to make sure you don’t lose the baseline you’ll aim to beat next month when you plan out 2019? 

General monthly instructions are below, including the monthly picture scavenger hunt.                                 
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

This month look for and post pictures of at least 3 outdoor holiday displays while out and about.

Union Station - DC 34th Street - Baltimore

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.

[LisefromCanada]

Here are my December Step Challenge and Scavenger Hunt

Results as at Dec 24:

Over 10,000 steps 20 days this month - 21/20  Exceeded Goal!

Minimum 5,000 steps daily - 24/31

Calorie intake at least 400 calories less than calories burned for 25 days - 23/25

Swim/aquafit class for 45 minutes 10 times this month - 17/10  Exceeded Goal!

10 floors daily - 24/31

Lose 4 pounds this month - lost 6.3/4.0  Exceeded Goal!

3 scavenger hunt posts - 5/3  Exceeded Goal!

Plus, the 12 days of fitness...

... I think I'm too old for these, did them with some modifications, phew they were tough! 

... on the 12th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

12  Plank Jacks

11  Curl to Press

10  Renegade Rows

9    Lateral Lunges

8    Push-ups with cross overs (modified, no cross overs and knees on floor, and still find difficult)

7    Alternating V-Ups

6    V-Passes (without the ball - I don't have one)

5    Reverse Lunges

4    Minutes of Jumping Jacks (modified, one leg at a time, because of a poor knee)

3    Minutes of Body Weight Squats

2    Minutes of Plank Push-ups (modified,did them against the wall today)

1    Minute of Russian Twists

[NellyG]

25 December

Happy Christmas or Happy Holidays. Whatever works for you!

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                                  16/20                 

4 days over 15,000 steps per month                         5/4       

1 day over 20,000 steps                                               2/1                    

Swim 2x per week (when I'm home)                          7/5                                         

Dance at the Aussi Open. Hoping for a placing!       Yes yes yes!             

6 bike rides or interval walks per month                   4/6

[WendyB]

Merry Christmas All!

Dancing December Day 25

Steps: Goal 13000 31 days: 25/31
Boxing 31 days: 25/31
Bike 2 times 31 days: 25/31
Weights DVD 18 days: 14/31
Stomach Youtube : 25/31
Wall Push Up/Counter push ups: 25/31
250 Steps per hour : 24/31
Post Scavenger hunt photos: 8/3

[LisefromCanada]

Joyeux Noel everyone,

Here are my December Step Challenge and Scavenger Hunt

Results as at Dec 25:

Over 10,000 steps 20 days this month - 21/20  Exceeded Goal!

Minimum 5,000 steps daily - 25/31

Calorie intake at least 400 calories less than calories burned for 25 days - 24/25

Swim/aquafit class for 45 minutes 10 times this month - 17/10  Exceeded Goal!

10 floors daily - 25/31

Lose 4 pounds this month - lost 6.3/4.0  Exceeded Goal!

3 scavenger hunt posts - 5/3  Exceeded Goal!

Although I did not stop all day, it was just preparing food, visiting and eating.  I did not do any real exercise or physical activity today.  That is just how it goes around here on Christmas Day and tomorrow as well (Canada Boxing Day).  But I will be back to swimming and walking on Thursday.

[Jotex]

Dancing December — Day 26
10,000 steps - 18/20 days
Training w/weights - 15/15 days
40 jumping jacks - 15/15 days
Line Dance - 2/3 days
Scavenger Hunt  7/3 pics

NEW: stay under 500 calories - 3/4 days

Hope everyone enjoyed a pleasant day off with family and friends yesterday. Our daughter and family had us over for a wonderful lunch and time together. I correctly predicted I wouldn’t make even my step goal, so got a jump on my goals this morning before we leave for our dinner invitation this afternoon. 

Flynn (3-½) and Nonnie

[NellyG]

26 December

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                                  17/20                 

4 days over 15,000 steps per month                         5/4       

1 day over 20,000 steps                                               2/1                    

Swim 2x per week (when I'm home)                          7/5                                         

Dance at the Aussi Open. Hoping for a placing!       Yes yes yes!             

6 bike rides or interval walks per month                   4/6

[Baltoscott]

‎12-25-2018 17:45

Dancing December Day 25

15K steps/day		24/29
30 jumping jacks/day		25/31
1 pushup/day		25/31
11 weight-lifting days		10/11
post scavenger pics		10
Sleep 6+ hours 12 days or more during the month		9/12
Weight loss of 2-4 lbs (Dec 10 = 161.3 on TW)	Dec. 23	161.4
No seconds		14/20

We've had an owl in the neighborhood for years and even though he is very vocal, I could never get eyes on him.  But I heard him when I went out for the paper on Christmas morning and spotted him right across the street.  I rushed back in the house to get the camera and got a couple of pics taken before he took off ...

[Baltoscott]

Dancing December Day 25

15K steps/day		24/29
30 jumping jacks/day		25/31
1 pushup/day		25/31
11 weight-lifting days		10/11
post scavenger pics		10
Sleep 6+ hours 12 days or more during the month		9/12
Weight loss of 2-4 lbs (Dec 10 = 161.3 on TW)	Dec. 23	161.4
No seconds		14/20

We've had an owl in the neighborhood for years and even though he is very vocal, I could never get eyes on him.  But I heard him when I went out for the paper on Christmas morning and spotted him right across the street.  I rushed back in the house to get the camera and got a couple of pics taken before he took off ...

[WendyB]

Dancing December Day 26

Steps: Goal 13000 31 days: 26/31
Boxing 31 days: 26/31
Bike 2 times 31 days: 26/31
Weights DVD 18 days: 15/31
Stomach Youtube : 26/31
Wall Push Up/Counter push ups: 26/31
250 Steps per hour : 25/31
Post Scavenger hunt photos: 8/3

Great Pics @Jotex

[SandpiperMc]

I've been very remiss in posting (and achieving most days!) my December goals (12000 steps & 2400 calories) sorry! 😞

However yesterday I scored a little credit (step aerobics with weight intervals, cardio abs and a 3.5 hour Boxing Day shopping expedition) 🙂

[NellyG]

27 December

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                                  18/20                 

4 days over 15,000 steps per month                         5/4       

1 day over 20,000 steps                                               2/1                    

Swim 2x per week (when I'm home)                          8/5                                         

Dance at the Aussi Open. Hoping for a placing!       Yes yes yes!             

6 bike rides or interval walks per month                   5/6

@Baltoscott  Nice owl pis!

Here are some Pelicans on the King River

[Baltoscott]

Dancing December Day 27

15K steps/day		26/29
30 jumping jacks/day		27/31
1 pushup/day		27/31
11 weight-lifting days		10/11
post scavenger pics		10
Sleep 6+ hours 12 days or more during the month		10/12
Weight loss of 2-4 lbs (Dec 10 = 161.3 on TW)	Dec. 23	161.4
No seconds		14/20

This has been a hard month to stay on a routine, and I'm back on the road again this Saturday and will be out for another week -- part pleasure part business.  Still, having monthly goals and posting here is a good way to focus a bit on health even with all the other stuff that is going on.  

I plan to post the January Challenge tomorrow.  Any thoughts on names?  

[WendyB]

Dancing December Day 27

Steps: Goal 13000 31 days: 27/31
Boxing 31 days: 27/31
Bike 2 times 31 days: 27/31
Weights DVD 18 days: 15/31
Stomach Youtube : 27/31
Wall Push Up/Counter push ups: 27/31
250 Steps per hour : 26/31
Post Scavenger hunt photos: 8/3

[Jotex]

Dancing December — Day 27
10,000 steps - 19/20 days
Training w/weights - 15/15 days
40 jumping jacks - 16/15 days
Line Dance - 2/3 days
Scavenger Hunt  7/3 pics

NEW: stay under 500 calories - 3/4 days

[Baltoscott]

@Jotex -- for your 500 calories days are doing one meal of day or are you trying to spread it out?

[LisefromCanada]

I've been unable to do any activity or exercise worthy of mentioning over the past few days.  I did not make it to the Y today for swimming either.  Hopefully I will get back on track soon.

Here are my December Step Challenge and Scavenger Hunt

Results as at Dec 27:

Over 10,000 steps 20 days this month - 21/20  Exceeded Goal!

Minimum 5,000 steps daily - 27/31 on track

Calorie intake at least 400 calories less than calories burned for 25 days - 24/25  on track

Swim/aquafit class for 45 minutes 10 times this month - 17/10  Exceeded Goal!

10 floors daily - 27/31  on track

Lose 4 pounds this month - lost 4.0/4.0  I had exceeded this goal before Christmas, but I gained a few pounds back in the last few days.  However, I did lose 4 pounds since November 30th.  So hopefully I will maintain this until December 31.

3 scavenger hunt posts - 5/3  Exceeded Goal!

[Jotex]

---

@Baltoscott wrote:

@Jotex -- for your 500 calories days are doing one meal of day or are you trying to spread it out?

---

@Baltoscott - I’m spreading it out ... thinly. Low cal, low carb vegetables and lettuce (not iceberg, though). Teensy bit of low cal French dressing with Balsamico vinegar is nice. One boiled egg, sometimes, gets added. 

[Mel9]

I hope everyone is having happy holidays!  

My whole family has been sick... half of us with some respiratory junk and my poor daughter with 10 horrible hours of stomach flu. So, a couple days of not getting even 5,000 steps 😟. I did not track my water intake on 2 days but I feel like I was drinking water all day, so I’m going to give myself the benefit. Anyway, I’m feeling almost normal and I’m back on my activity goals today!

December 27:

5,000 steps a day: 25/31

10,000 steps a day: 2/5

Get 250 steps per hour:  233/315

Water intake of 64 ounces a day:  27/31

Scavenger hunt photos: _/3

Check in and log status: 13/20

[NellyG]

28 December

@Jotex I do 2 low cal days a week and have done for a few years now. I wouldn't say I always stay under 500, but close. I dont obsessively count the calories now like I did when I started. I just stick to mostly very low cal vegetables and I have just got used to eating very little until my evening meal where I have most of the calories for the day. Now Im used to it is it just routine and I dont think about it a lot - just do it.

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                                  19/20                 

4 days over 15,000 steps per month                         5/4       

1 day over 20,000 steps                                               2/1                    

Swim 2x per week (when I'm home)                          8/5                                         

Dance at the Aussi Open. Hoping for a placing!       Yes yes yes!             

6 bike rides or interval walks per month                   5/6

[shawnkp]

Unfortunately, there has been very little dancing in December for me. Between being sick and my knee acting up most of the month; I have been unable to really participate. Thankfully, things have been on the upswing and I am definitely looking forward to the January challenge. 

[Jotex]

---

@NellyG wrote:

28 December

@Jotex I do 2 low cal days a week and have done for a few years now. I wouldn't say I always stay under 500, but close. I dont obsessively count the calories now like I did when I started. I just stick to mostly very low cal vegetables and I have just got used to eating very little until my evening meal where I have most of the calories for the day. Now Im used to it is it just routine and I dont think about it a lot - just do it.

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                                  19/20                 

4 days over 15,000 steps per month                         5/4       

1 day over 20,000 steps                                               2/1                    

Swim 2x per week (when I'm home)                          8/5                                         

Dance at the Aussi Open. Hoping for a placing!       Yes yes yes!             

6 bike rides or interval walks per month                   5/6

---

Thanks for sharing your experience with this @NellyG. Ideally I'd like to do the 5/2 IF a week, and have to try to schedule it in. But it's been tricky with holiday food and leftovers, invitations to friends, and then those sweets! I was trying to consolidate the cookies and fruitcake into fewer containers this morning and ended up eating more than I'd planned to 'do a good job'. {*How's THAT for an excuse?! 😂}

Hang in there @shawnkp. We have to just keep moving forward to get there.