FYI July -- Step Challenge and Photo Scavenger Hunt

[Baltoscott]

FYI July — Step Challenge and Photo Scavenger Hunt

Just a little For Your Information that we are halfway through 2019, and it is time to sign up for another monthly challenge. And a reminder that if you happen to see this for the first time mid-month, jump on in; there is no need to wait for another challenge to start next month.

How It Works

The primary purpose of these monthly challenges is to encourage you to set and hit 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 this month is a parade or other outside event or a famous landmark.  In the US there should be plenty of material on or around July 4.  Elsewhere it might be a market or someplace near you that regular shows up in the paper or on television.

Outdoor JamsFamous Landmark 🙂

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.

[Baltoscott]

Here are my goals for FYI July
       

-15K steps/day
-1 pushup/day (I always do more, but this goal gets me into position!)

-1 pull-up/day
-16 weight-lifting days

-post 3 scavenger hunt pictures

-Sleep 6+ hours 15 days or more during the month

-Physical Therapy Exercises every day.

I've had pain and poor mobility in my left shoulder for about a year. Mostly I've just worked around it in the gym, and I don't do things that make it worse like try to throw a ball overhand.  But I asked my doctor about it when I went in for a different issue a couple of weeks ago and he diagnosed Frozen Shoulder and prescribed physical therapy.  Met the physical therapist last week and she thinks it is an impinged shoulder and sent me home with some exercises and we set up a schedule for me to see her a couple times a week over the next couple of months.  So now I have NEW exercises to do each day.  

Also, she says my posture sucks!

[WendyB]

Posture could also be the problem with shoulder to @Baltoscott  stand up! 😀

Post goals later thinking of adding somethings

[Jotex]

Thanks for the new Step Challenge @Baltoscott. Love those pics you posted! Maybe I'll be a bit luckier to find photos to suit the theme-of-the-month. Like @WendyB I'll be mulling over my goals and will post in a day or two.

[Baltoscott]

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@WendyB wrote:

Posture could also be the problem with shoulder to @Baltoscott  stand up! 😀

Post goals later thinking of adding somethings

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Have you been talking to my physical therapist?  She called me out on that as I was leaning forward with my forearms on my knees and shoulders forward while listening to her during the evaluation last week. "See?" she said, "that right there!  Sit up!"

[WendyB]

Yep Scott she called me

This will be easier to get pics too

July Goals

Steps: Goal 10,000-11,000 31 days: 0/31

Boxing 31 days: 0/31

Bike 3 times 31 days: 0/31

Weights DVD 18 days: 0/18

Stomach YouTube 31 days : 0/31

Wall Push Up/Counter push ups 31 days: 0/31

Leg Exercises 31 days: 0/31

250 Steps per hour 31 days: 0/31

Log food daily 31 days: 0/31

Scavenger Hunt Photos 3: 0/3

Added legs and log food. Leg is for therapy and been lacking some days on not logging food

[Jotex]

July Goals
10,000 steps: 15 days
Train w/weights: 8 days
Reverse Crunches: 15 days

40 Jumping Jacks: 8 days

Scavenger Hunt Pics: 3 pics

I’m paring down on my goals a bit as I leave mid-July for @4 weeks in Texas. I also stopped getting cortisone shots and other meds against arthritic(-like) pain. Some days I have joint (muscle/tendon?) pain, so getting steps is harder. Instead of treating the symptoms, though, I’m trying to find out what causes the inflammation. Gluten, from wheat in particular, is one. I don’t have celiac disease, but a strong reaction to it nevertheless. Anywho, here are my goals. 😊

[CatLover74]

FYI July

5,000 steps on 10 days a month  -  -/10.

10,000 steps on 10 days a month  -  -/15.

15,000 steps on 5 days a month  -  -/5.

*NEW* gym visits per week  -  -/2, -/4

Eat 1 piece of fruit per day  -  -/30.

10 wall pushups on 20 days a month  -  -/20.

7 hours sleep on 20 days a month  -  -/20.

Scavenger hunt photos.

[benvegi]

Hi folks! 

The rains finally tapered off and now the heat is on. I'm back in for July.

Goals:  20k+ steps per day, 25 floors or more. No point in logging miles since steps are up.

Looks like a good scavenger hunt theme.

Just to let you know I wasn't lying around in June, here are my totals.

Step average   22,253,  three days under 20k, three days over 30k. high day 39,393

[SteppingBooks]

July Goals:

15,000 Steps on Weekend Days:  -/8 Days

17,700 Steps on Week Days: -/23 Days

Yoga Twice a Week (4 Full Weeks): -/4 Weeks

Free Weights Three times a Week (4 Full Weeks): -/4 Weeks

Pretty simple this month given the heat/humidity going on, and the major construction/renovation going on in the building I work in.  I just don't do well with the heat and humidity anymore.  Hopefully this will help push me back towards losing weight!  If anyone wants to send me challenges, feel free!  I've lately been averaging between 14k and 20k in steps a week.  

[Jotex]

July Goals
10,000 steps: 1/15 days
Train w/weights: 1/8 days
Reverse Crunches: 1/15 days

40 Jumping Jacks: 1/8 days

Scavenger Hunt* Pics: 0/3 pics

*parade or other outside event or a famous landmark

[WendyB]

July Goals

Steps: Goal 10,000-11,000 31 days: 1/31

Boxing 31 days: 1/31

Bike 3 times 31 days: 1/31

Weights DVD 18 days: 1/18

Stomach YouTube 31 days : 1/31

Wall Push Up/Counter push ups 31 days: 1/31

Leg Exercises 31 days: 1/31

250 Steps per hour 31 days: 1/31

Log food daily 31 days: 1/31

Scavenger Hunt Photos 3: 0/3

[Baltoscott]

FYI July Day 1

15K steps/day		1/31
1 pushup/day		1/31
16 weight-lifting days		1/16
post scavenger pics		0/3
Sleep 6+ hours 15 days or more during the month		1/15
1 pull-up/day		1/31
3 PT exercises		1/31
1 50 mile bike ride		0/1

Decided to add another 50 mile bike ride sometime this month.  Nothing planned yet, though.  And most of this week will be a road trip to New York to visit friends, so that may mess plans up some, but most of my goals can be done on travel 🙂

[Baltoscott]

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@Jotex wrote:

...

I’m paring down on my goals a bit as I leave mid-July for @4 weeks in Texas. ...

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@Jotex  Wait ... What?  So Switzerland isn't hot enough for you, so you head to Texas for the summer?!?  Pairing down your goals sounds like a critical step toward survival!

[CatLover74]

I've been all over the place with trying to meet goals for the last few months.  Let's see if I can get my act together in the second half of the year.  I'm going to the New South Wales Central Coast for almost a week mid-month, so I probably won't be able to do any gym-ing in that week.

FYI July 1

5,000 steps on 10 days a month  -  -/10.

10,000 steps on 15 days a month  -  -/15.

15,000 steps on 5 days a month  -  1/5.

*NEW* Two gym visits per week  -  1/2, -/4

Eat 1 piece of fruit per day  -  1/30.

10 wall pushups on 20 days a month  -  1/20.

7 hours sleep on 20 days a month  -  1/20.

Scavenger hunt photos.

[WendyB]

@JotexDo you have family in Texas?

[Jotex]

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@WendyB wrote:

@JotexDo you have family in Texas?

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Oh yes, @WendyB, I’m a native Texan (JoAnn from Texas = Jotex). We lost my Dad 11 years ago, but my Mom, brother and 2 sisters, a kazillion Smith, Howard, Allen aunts, uncles, cousins are all living in Texas (and a few in Louisiana).

@Baltoscott - you are SO right about it being hot enough here, but several in my family are teachers so have vacation in summer; and the Smith (weekend) Reunion is {gulp!} in August. :fire: Next year I’m going in March = cooler temps and to see the bluebonnets. 

[NellyG]

Ok So July is here (how did that happen?). Heres my goals and progress on 2 July

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                                   1/20

4 days over 15,000 steps                                             -/4           

1 day over 20,000 steps                                                 -/1

Swim 2x per week                                                           1/8              

Dance prac 6 hours a week                                           -/24

6 bike rides or interval walks per month                      -/6            

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                                     -/3 

[SteppingBooks]

July Goals:  EOD 7/1

15,000 Steps on Weekend Days:  -/8 Days

17,700 Steps on Week Days: 0/23 Days

Yoga Twice a Week (4 Full Weeks): -/4 Weeks

Free Weights Three times a Week (4 Full Weeks): -/4 Weeks

Ehhh, first day of the month is always a challenge when it is a Monday.  Hope to make it up today despite already being behind for the day, courtesy of an early morning dental cleaning. 

[BMANintheUP]

July Goals - Day 1  (My Birthday!)

Daily Steps Goal: 6000 Steps - 31/31  I reduced this goal based on my daily average from June.  But will try hard to make this lowest step goal every single day this month.  Even the days where I drive for 6+ hours for the birth of my Grandson sometime this month!)

Extra Step Goals: 10,000 Steps - 4/31

Extra Step Goals: 15,000 Steps - 2/31

I didn't hit either of my extra step goal days in June.  But with my reduced Daily Step Goal, I'm going to put more emphasis on having a few amazingly high days this month.  I know I can do this if I put my mind to it!

Peak Heart Rate Goal: 20 minutes - 20/31

Cardio Goal: 125 minutes - 20/31

I'm going to really try to hit the Peak Heart Rate and Cardio goal every day this month.  But I'm setting it at 20 days just in case my crazy life gets in the way this month.

Yoga Goal - 20/31

Jumping 5+ Minutes - 15/31

Water Fun Goal - 30/31 Since it the height of summer, I shouldn't have a hard time finding something to do with water each and every day.  Some things I plan to do regularly include kayaking, toss balls for dogs at the lake/river, and playing in the sprinkler/rain.  But really anything that includes fun, games, and water will count.  And since I can potentially get more then one water activity in a day, I plan to bank up some points for the few days that I might be distracted by a new grandson!  For example, if I go kayaking and then throw balls at the lake with the dogs this will count for 2 in one day.  🙂

Dog Walking Goal: Walk each dog in my presence for at least half a mile every day - 60/60 I'm not quite sure how to set this number as when I am home I have 3 dogs to walk and when I go see my daughter I will only have 2 dogs to walk.  So the end number will change as the month goes on.  But I'm already behind because yesterday I had 3 dogs, but only walked 1 dog for half a mile due to rain and family activities.

Dog Training Goal: Active training with each dog in presence for at least 5 minutes every day - 60/60 Similar to the walking goal, the end number will change throughout the month.  But my working dogs will love the attention and chance to practice their skills.  Sub goals will be dog dependent.

Cam, my 6 yr old boy, is having a bit of joint pain due to running to hard trying to keep up with the young pup while chasing balls. As top dog, he doesn't like Talia showing him up at his favorite game.  So my training goals with him are to increase his impulse control playing ball in a more calm relaxing manner & include him in on some of my yoga stretching on his off days when he can't chase balls.

Talia, my 1 yr old pup, is in training to be a service dog.  She is doing amazing things already, but this month her goals are to fine tune her retrieve task a bit more, work on calming behaviors around distractions, and refine her off leash obedience.

Isis, my son's dog that I now have since he joined the Army is my biggest challenge.  She has always lived with us as my son did too, so she is trained much like my dogs but she chose my son as her leader so she was more bonded to him.  While she listens to me most of the time, I never played the games with her that I played with my other dogs to make us have a stronger working relationship.  So my goal this month is to bond with her more so we have a happier, more loving relationship instead of the coexisting we have been doing.

And when I go to visit my daughter, I take Talia and have their dog Chip to work with.  Chip is 12 yrs old, and pretty laid back, happy-go-lucky, dog with nothing more then basic training & manners.  But he doesn't get alot of enriching activities that are fun besides daily life on the farm.  So my goal with him is going to be to develop some type of game that my 4 yr old grand daughter can play with him.

See I told you I needed some fun goals for the month!  I think I found some!