January-March 2025 Step Challenge and Scavenger Hunt

[Baltoscott]

Happy 2025!!

We are continuing to combine monthly challenges into a single three-month thread. It’s a new year and time to reaffirm your good fitness habits and maybe to add a few. While the start of the thread is January 1, please jump in at any time.

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

How It Works

The primary purpose of these challenges is to keep track of your daily step goals and commit for a period of time; though many of us track other things as well, like body weight exercises, sleep, trips to the gym, logging food, etc. Try to reevaluate and update your goals/commitment each month. 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

The idea is to find at least three pictures while you out and about based on a monthly theme. For January, street art or hidden pictures. Street art is any graffiti you come across and any art built into architecture.  Hidden pictures are designs in nature that might be there on purpose (someone carved something into or hung something on a tree) or might be something you see in a natural formation (a shoulder or face in a mountain or a cloud). For February, find the ‘odd duck;’ something out of place; someone oddly dressed; something a little ridiculous. Of course, an actual duck or a rubber duck is fair game too.  For March, look for shamrocks (Saint Patrick’s Day), or something that conveys marching (marching band, boots), or the month of March (migrating animals, spring or fall (depends on where you live) foliage change  . (If you have other ideas over the coming months, post to the thread and I can update).

Life Underground. 2001 work of public art by Tom Otterness located in 14 St (A/C/E/L) station (New York City Transit)

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.

[NellyG]

Oh 2025 already! Thanks @Baltoscott 

Goals for January 2025

12 days over 10,000 steps                     -/12

8 days over 12,000 steps                      -/8             

4 days over 15,000 steps                         -/4           

35 exercise sessions (swim, bike, walk, gym, dance)   -/25

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      -/3

[jantonini]

I am Thankful for a new year. Happy 2025 All.

@SunsetRunner -- I am so sorry about the loss of your brother. I can relate in a way losing my grams and a good friend in November.  I am sending positive vibes and prayers your way, and happy that you are feeling better.

@Vidd -- I am in awe of your persistence and send you special prayers for your January visit.

@NellyG --Thinking of you also and I hope your next Doctor visit is a good one.

@Baltoscott -- Thank you for the invite and apologies for my absence last month.

As for me, as mentioned above, I have been absent after a couple difficult losses in November. My Grams was like a mother to me and I miss her a lot.  My good friend, Christie, was in a freak accident involving a semi that didn't see her. A really big loss for many in my community.

I am ready to get back to being more consistent as I know how helpful that can be. 

Goals for January:

10k steps per day (Sundays) - /4 days

Over 13k steps per day - /16 days

Over 16k steps per day - /7 days

Over 20k steps per day - /4 days

Weights - /13 days

Yoga/pilates/stretch - /16 days

90 oz Water every day - /30 days

pics /3

[SunsetRunner]

Happy New Year everybody! Thanks for the invitation to this challenge @Baltoscott. Also, thanks @jantonini and @Baltoscott for your condolences. 

My goals for January

6,000 Steps x 10 days

8,000 Steps x 8 days

10,000 Steps x 8 days

Home Fitness x 12 days

Fitness Center x 8 days 

Lose weight x 2 kg (4.4 lbs)

Visit Castle/ Museum/ Gallery x 4 days

Photo challenge x 3 pics

[Vidd]

Thanks, @Baltoscott for another group of entertaining picture challenges.  

I am deeply touched by the kindness of friends and neighbours, all of whom rally round each other when times are tough.   

That, of course applies equally on here.  We all live miles apart from one another, all around the globe, and yet there is so much empathy and support for one another.

2025 - Mrs Vidd and I are really hoping that this will be turnaround year.

My goals are unchanged - that's quite enough!

JANUARY goals (applying only when I'm at home).

In bed by 11 every day	2/31
5 flights of stairs each day	2/31
1000 steps per day	2/31
5000 revs on the exercise pedaller daily	2/31
3 Scavenger Hunt pictures	0/3

[SunsetRunner]

You’re so right @Vidd  about the people here being supportive. So lovely belonging to this ‘community’.

January - 1, 2

6,000 Steps - 1/10 days

8,000 Steps - 0/8 days

10,000 Steps - 0/8 days

Home Fitness - 0/12 days

Fitness Center - 0/8 days 

Lose weight - 0/2 kg 

Visit Castle/ Museum/ Gallery - 0/4 days

Photo challenge - 0/3 pics

[Baltoscott]

Here are my Dry(ish) January goals, and my numbers so far.

Day 2

17K steps/day for 22 days		2/22
15 floors/day for 20 days		2/20
1 pushups for 25 days		1/25
12 weight-lifting days		/9
post 3 scavenger pics		1/3
Sleep 6:00 hours + 15 days or more during the month		1/15
1 pull-ups for 25 days		1/25
Unicycle: 15 mins/day for 20 days		2/20
25 dry days		2/25
Beat January 2024 bike mileage (209 miles)		14/209
120 active minutes 20 days.		1/20
Log Food - 25 days.		2/25

Maybe it's a stretch for street art, but I see a heart in this mushroom. 

Mushroom heart

[NellyG]

@jantonini thankyou for the kind wishes. Unfortunately my last visit wasn't so great. I need more surgery on my tongue, involving chopping more off, a skin graft from my wrist, and no food for a week so I will have a nasogastric tube. My speech will be affected even more than it is now. Hopefully I will still be able to make myself understood. Such is life!

2 January 

12 days over 10,000 steps                     1/12

8 days over 12,000 steps                      1/8             

4 days over 15,000 steps                         -/4           

35 exercise sessions (swim, bike, walk, gym, dance)   3/25

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      -/3

[NellyG]

4 January 

12 days over 10,000 steps                     2/12

8 days over 12,000 steps                      1/8             

4 days over 15,000 steps                         -/4           

35 exercise sessions (swim, bike, walk, gym, dance)   4/25

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      -/3

[SunsetRunner]

January - 3,4

6,000 Steps - 2/10 days

8,000 Steps - 0/8 days

10,000 Steps - 1/8 days

Home Fitness - 1/12 days

Fitness Center - 1:8 days 

Lose weight - 0/2 kg 

Visit Castle/ Museum/ Gallery - 0/4 days

Photo challenge - 0/3 pics

[Vidd]

JanuaDry goals - Day 4

In bed by 11 every day	4/31
5 flights of stairs each day	4/31
1000 steps per day	4/31
5000 revs on the exercise pedaller daily	4/31
3 Scavenger Hunt pictures	0/3

It's looking like I might have to be busy early tomorrow morning - the only time of day when I can do any work - as we have snow falling, and I will need to clear paths down to the road if Mrs Vidd is to get to Mass, where she is singing the psalm.  

Wow, @NellyG that sounds really tough, what you have gone through recently.  I hope 2025 will see improvement for you.

[NellyG]

Thanks  @Vidd  Me too!

5 January 

12 days over 10,000 steps                     2/12

8 days over 12,000 steps                      1/8             

4 days over 15,000 steps                         -/4           

35 exercise sessions (swim, bike, walk, gym, dance)   6/25

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      2/3

 

 

[NellyG]

6 January 

12 days over 10,000 steps                     3/12

8 days over 12,000 steps                      2/8             

4 days over 15,000 steps                         1/4           

35 exercise sessions (swim, bike, walk, gym, dance)   9/25

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      3/3

 

[NellyG]

7 January

12 days over 10,000 steps                     4/12

8 days over 12,000 steps                      3/8             

4 days over 15,000 steps                         2/4           

35 exercise sessions (swim, bike, walk, gym, dance)   11/25

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      3/3

[Baltoscott]

Day 7

17K steps/day for 22 days		6/22
15 floors/day for 20 days		6/20
1 pushups for 25 days		7/25
12 weight-lifting days		2/9
post 3 scavenger pics		2/3
Sleep 6:00 hours + 15 days or more during the month		5/15
1 pull-ups for 25 days		7/25
Unicycle: 15 mins/day for 20 days		3/20
25 dry days		6/25
Beat January 2024 bike mileage (209 miles)		36/209
120 active minutes 20 days.		4/20
Log Food - 25 days.		2/25

More street art, and this one is pretty creative. The city installed new gas meters in our area last year and had to replace some sidewalk squares in the process. One of my neighbors, apparently inspired by local woodpeckers that pound on some of the metal chimney covers during mating season, decided to draw one in the wet concrete as if it were pounding on the gas line access cover.  

Ratatatatat .....Northern Flicker

[NellyG]

Really neat woodpecker @Baltoscott 

8 January 

12 days over 10,000 steps                     5/12

8 days over 12,000 steps                      4/8             

4 days over 15,000 steps                         2/4           

35 exercise sessions (swim, bike, walk, gym, dance)   12/25

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      3/3

[SunsetRunner]

January - 5,6,7

6,000 Steps - 3/10 days

8,000 Steps - 0/8 days

10,000 Steps - 3/8 days

Home Fitness - 2/12 days

Fitness Center - 2/8 days 

Lose weight - 0/2 kg 

Visit Castle/ Museum/ Gallery - 0/4 days

Photo challenge - 0/3 pics

[SunsetRunner]

January - 8

6,000 Steps - 4/10 days

8,000 Steps - 0/8 days

10,000 Steps - 3/8 days

Home Fitness - 2/12 days

Fitness Center - 2/8 days 

Lose weight - 0/2 kg 

Visit Castle/ Museum/ Gallery - 0/4 days

Photo challenge - 0/3 pics

[NellyG]

9 January

12 days over 10,000 steps                     6/12

8 days over 12,000 steps                      5/8             

4 days over 15,000 steps                         2/4           

35 exercise sessions (swim, bike, walk, gym, dance)   14/25

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      3/3

[Vidd]

JanuaDry update - Day 9

In bed by 11 every day	9/31
5 flights of stairs each day	9/31
1000 steps per day	9/31
5000 revs on the exercise pedaller daily	9/31
3 Scavenger Hunt pictures	0/3

Chilly weather in England at the moment, and I haven't dared walk along the road for the last two days, as it looks very slippery, and a fall would not be good.  I've spent a bit more time on the Cubii instead.  Last January, I found no end of faces in trees and stones, but I'm having to get them indoors.  Here's one - a cheerful biscuit on the arm of my favourite chair at coffee time!