March Madness 2020 — Step Challenge and Photo Scavenger Hunt

[Baltoscott]

It is the third month of 2020 and for college basketball fans in the US the start of three weeks of hoop madness (beginning on March 17).  My Kansas Jayhawks are flawed this year (can't shoot very well other than dunking), but in a one-and-done 64+team tournament the luck of the draw often brings favorable matchups.  You just never know what will happen.  

In the meantime, it is time to commit to another month of health goals.                                                      

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 

March will be the last month of winter for most of us (and summer from some of us).  It is usually a good time for a mini-vacation, or maybe a big vacation, so the task this month is to get out of the house, walk about and find three pics that represent play or relaxation — People, or animals — swimming, skiing, hiking, sunning; or fun places, tourist attractions, playgrounds, circus tents, festivals.  Of course, the spread of coronavirus may result in the cancellation of many public events and if that happens where you are, maybe post some pics documenting how your community is reacting.

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.

[smithwill]

Okay, Nice one

[smithwill]

Stepping forward

[SteppingBooks]

March Madness Day 13-15:

15k Steps/Day: 07/31

600 Cal/Day Deficit: 10/31

20 Squats/Day: 13/31

IF 16x/Month:  9/16

Yoga 1x/week: 01/4

Weights 2x/week: 02/8

Photo Scavenger Hunt: --/3

@benvegi  It's great you noticed this and got in to your doctor early!  I'm sure your doctor will be able to help get you back on track.  

@Baltoscott  It's almost eerie to look at an empty gym!  I know some of the radio shows I listen to mentioned they were skipping the gym these days.  

[benvegi]

Thanks Baltoscott, and yet I waited a month because of disbelief. What
could be wrong!? Exercise all the time, don't smoke, good weight, don't
drink, vegetarian, have a wonderful loving and happy life. So, if you see
changes do not wait to go to Dr.

[benvegi]

Steppingbooks, yes, I've got a good Dr. He didn't waste any time getting me
to experts for testing and opinions. I'm sure they will find and answer and
get this fixed up. It is very difficult to NOT exercise/walk. My dog
just doesn't understand why we are not going up the hills.

[benvegi]

Thanks Jotex! Cutting back is difficult. Good thing I like to read. Jake
could use a good walk up the hills though. Char & I take him on short walks
on what little flat roads we have. He also got to swim in the creek a few
times, loves that!

[WendyB]

@benvegi  So sorry to hear what you are going through. I'm sure it will be hard to cut back. Glad you got to the DR early. Love that shirt!

@BaltoscottWow! thats surprises me about the gym. I guess it shouldn't but it does

I think a lot of people have gone into hiding after they wiped the store out of water and TP  that is 😀

[benvegi]

Thanks WendyB!

[PureEvil]

March Madness Week Two:

10,000 steps a day: 15/31

13,699 steps a day (5M / 365 days...  Yes, I realize it's a leap year): 7/20

Workouts: 23/20

Scavenger Hunt Photos: 2/3

[Baltoscott]

@WendyB @SteppingBooks — I was at the gym again this morning (regular routine) and there were only about 20 people working out as opposed to the usual 80-100.  Looks like that will be my last trip there for a while as Maryland’s governor just announced “the closure of bars, restaurants, movie theaters and gyms effective at 5 p.m. Monday to stem the spread of coronavirus.”

So, I guess it is time to get my basement gym cleaned up so I don’t miss my next workout on Wednesday 🙂

[WendyB]

@Baltoscott  same here from Governor. I have to Canx the reservations we have Thursday for our anniversary. 😢☹️

Need to figure out special dinner for home

[Jotex]

March Madness — Day 16

10,000+ steps: 6/15 days

15,000+ steps:  4/4 days

20,000+ steps: 0/2 days
Exercises & weights: 9/15 days

Stomach exercises: 8/10 days

40 Jumping Jacks: 9/15 days

Eat 1 piece of fruit: 14/20 days

Scavenger Hunt Pics: 2/3

Thanks for your comment about the painting @Baltoscot. I should be able to do more of that now that Switzerland is on lockdown (as of midnight tonight ). Looking for ideas. 

 @benvegi Jake sure is lucky to have you and Char taking such good care of him and letting him jump in the creek! 

[margaretclaypoo]

margaretcclaypool

[WendyB]

March Madness Day 16

Steps: Goal 10000: 16/31

Boxing: 16/31

Bike 3 times : 16/31

Weights DVD 18 Days: 9/15

DVD Has Balance, Cardio: 16/31

Wall Push Up/Counter push ups : 16/31

Leg Exercises: 16/31

250 Steps per hour : 16/31

Log food daily : 16/31

Scavenger Hunt Photos : 4/3

Lose 3-5 Pounds: 2.3/3

@JotexI use to go to a lot of these.Now I just go to the site and get inspiration and paint it at home 😁

Paintnite

[Jotex]

Thanks for the link @WendyB! It looks like a lot of fun. I’ll poke around there for ideas, in addition to youtube and Pintrest. Or some of my husband’s photos. I think this one might look great with a bit of pixie dust. 

Spring flowers in the forest

[benvegi]

Thanks Jotex. We are dog lovers so it's easy. Living in the country adds
many benefits for us & Jake. We don't let him run loose as he seemed to be
a "city" dog when we got him. But he sure loves barking at the deer. Really
like to worry the Armadillo living in our pasture!

[Baltoscott]

March Madness 2020

Day 13

15K steps/day		14/31
10 pushup + shoulder extension /day		15/31
15 weight-lifting days		10/15
post 3 scavenger pics		3/3
Sleep 6 hours, 10 minutes 12 days or more during the month		4/12
3 pull-up + 1min bar-hang /day		14/31
Lose 2 lbs (Start 3/1 at 160.7 lbs.)	3/15	160.5

[NellyG]

17 March

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                                   14/20

12 days over 12,000                                                      12/12

10 days over 15,000 steps                                            6/10

3 days over 20,000 steps                                               2/3

10 lunges a day for 20 days                                          13/20

Swim 2x per week                                                           5/8

8 bike rides or strenuous walks per month                 3/8

3  hours dance practice per week minimum              13/12

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                                    2/3

[SteppingBooks]

March Madness Day 16:

15k Steps/Day: 08/31

600 Cal/Day Deficit: 11/31

20 Squats/Day: 14/31

IF 16x/Month:  9/16

Yoga 1x/week: 01/4

Weights 2x/week: 02/8

Photo Scavenger Hunt: --/3

@Baltoscott Our governor closed things up too in New York.  Restaurants can still do take away/delivery, but at 8 pm last night, all bars, restaurants, gyms, and theaters had to close down.  At least we can still do take away.  I was planning on some good Italian food Thursday!  😋  Parks are still open though!  They're waiving any fees for the parks that have them.  letting us have fresh air at least!

I now am officially to work from home until further notice.  I'm still going to try for my goals as much as I can, though I will admit being home to work is going to be a heck of a lot harder.  As it is, I've been watching a murder mystery for the past hour while trying to pull data.  

[Jotex]

March Madness — Day 17

10,000+ steps: 7/15 days

15,000+ steps:  4/4 days

20,000+ steps: 0/2 days
Exercises & weights: 1015 days

Stomach exercises: 9/10 days

40 Jumping Jacks: 1015 days

Eat 1 piece of fruit: 15/20 days

Scavenger Hunt Pics: 2/3