October-December 2024 Step Challenge and Scavenger Hunt

[Baltoscott]

Yes, the next three monthly challenges will be in this single three-month thread. I’ve been a little busy at work, and will be traveling some over the coming months. While there is a group of regulars, hopefully more of you will join in if the post is up longer. Please don’t be shy. The more the merrier, and you can join at any point during the challenge.

It is fall here in the North. OktoberFest in Munich is winding down (starts mid-September), but we’ve got several versions in Maryland throughout October. Halloween is on the way, and then Thanksgiving and end-of-year holiday parties. Lots of opportunities to put on weight … YIKES. You should definitely enjoy all those good times with family and friends, but too many rich meal days over the coming holidays can really add up. SO … tis the season to start planning out fitness and eating goals for the coming month and check in with Fitbit friends to get support for hitting your goals.  Let’s get started!

General monthly 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. 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.

Post your daily goals for the month here in the thread. (And post subsequent monthly goals in the thread when the next month rolls around). 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 October, seasonal changes (a tree or flower or storefront at the beginning of the month, and again at the end); Halloween decorations/costumes, trick or treaters; German OktoberFEST related.  For November, continue with seasonal changes, but also look for signs that tell you what NOT to do. NO smoking, NO dogs, NO bikes. For December, look for three versions of holiday memes/scenes — 3 Santas, 3 nativity scenes, 3 model train displays, 3 holiday scenes at the same store. (If you have other ideas over the coming months, post to the thread and I can update).

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 challenge 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.

[Vidd]

Thanks, @Baltoscott: I like the idea of being able to plan ahead a bit for the Scavenger hunts. 👍

[NellyG]

Oh something a bit different @Baltoscott . Good idea to try something new.

My goals for October

15 days over 10,000 steps                     -/15

10 days over 12,000 steps                      -/10             

6 days over 15,000 steps                         -/6           

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

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      -/3

[Baltoscott]

First day of a new month. Here are my OktoberFEST goals.

17K steps/day for 22 days		/22
15 floors/day for 20 days		/20
1 pushups for 25 days		/25
12 weight-lifting days		/9
post 3 scavenger pics		/3
Sleep 6:00 hours + 15 days or more during the month		/15
1 pull-ups for 25 days		/25
Unicycle: 15 mins/day for 20 days		/20
15 dry days		/15
Beat October 2023 bike mileage (339 miles)		/339
120 active minutes 20 days.		/20

My bike miles for this month last year are finally low enough that I might be able to beat them this year.

[NellyG]

1 October

15 days over 10,000 steps                     1/15

10 days over 12,000 steps                      1/10             

6 days over 15,000 steps                         1/6           

35 exercise sessions (swim, bike, walk, gym, dance)   2/35

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      -/3

[NellyG]

2 October

15 days over 10,000 steps                     2/15

10 days over 12,000 steps                      1/10             

6 days over 15,000 steps                         1/6           

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

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      -/3

[Baltoscott]

October Day 3

17K steps/day for 22 days		3/22
15 floors/day for 20 days		3/20
1 pushups for 25 days		3/25
12 weight-lifting days		1/9
post 3 scavenger pics		1/3
Sleep 6:00 hours + 15 days or more during the month		2/15
1 pull-ups for 25 days		3/25
Unicycle: 15 mins/day for 20 days		/20
15 dry days		1/15
Beat October 2023 bike mileage (339 miles)		36.4/339
120 active minutes 20 days.		3/20

Some of the mushrooms that have popped up after the past week plus of rain.

[NellyG]

4 October

15 days over 10,000 steps                     4/15

10 days over 12,000 steps                      3/10             

6 days over 15,000 steps                         3/6           

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

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      -/3

[Baltoscott]

October Day 4

17K steps/day for 22 days		4/22
15 floors/day for 20 days		4/20
1 pushups for 25 days		4/25
12 weight-lifting days		1/9
post 3 scavenger pics		1/3
Sleep 6:00 hours + 15 days or more during the month		2/15
1 pull-ups for 25 days		4/25
Unicycle: 15 mins/day for 20 days		3/20
15 dry days		1/15
Beat October 2023 bike mileage (339 miles)		50.5/339
120 active minutes 20 days.		4/20

[jantonini]

Thank you, @Baltoscott, I appreciate your tenacity and the dedication to this group, and I look forward to the next 3 months with everyone.

I am really trying to get my head above water.. sorry for my absences. And..although I am still deep below the surface, I was able to lead 26 observations and 4 classes with my students in the past 2 weeks, and our band played 4 gigs last month that really rocked, and my step count was through the roof!

But...so much for semi-retirement. lol.

I am looking forward to Bradley's 2 day break next week, hoping to catch up on homework and getting closer to the surface--getting my head above water. I also will be able to spend more quality practice with my new keyboard for our Halloween "concert" at the end of this month! 👻  (only 1 gig!!)

October Goals and Day 5

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

Over 13k steps per day -  2/15 days

Over 16k steps per day -   2/8 days

Over 20k steps per day - 1/4 days

Weights - 2/13 days 

Yoga/pilates/stretch - 3/15 days

90 oz Water every day -  5/31 days

Mindfulness/Meditation at least 3 minutes-  1/7 

In bed before 12-   /12

pics /3

[NellyG]

6 October

15 days over 10,000 steps                     5/15

10 days over 12,000 steps                      4/10             

6 days over 15,000 steps                         3/6           

35 exercise sessions (swim, bike, walk, gym, dance)   7/35

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      2/3

Spring is here! The model yacht competition has started and the wild Orchids are coming out.

 

 

[Vidd]

October Challenge Day 6

My targets are almost exactly the same as last month.  I've just now posted in the September thread about my trip down to London, which was definitely worth doing.

In bed by 11 every day	6/31
5 flights of stairs each day	6/31
5000 revs on the exercise pedaller daily	6/31
3 Scavenger Hunt pictures	1/3

This is our dogwood grove, made from four plants that I got with some retirement present money twelve years ago (I took early retirement from teaching).  They're at their most leafy just now, but those will gradually drop off as the autumn makes its presence felt, and then we'll get the lovely coloured stems.  After that, they get cut down pretty low, to produce another good display next year.

[NellyG]

8 October

15 days over 10,000 steps                     6/15

10 days over 12,000 steps                      4/10             

6 days over 15,000 steps                         3/6           

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

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      2/3

[Jotex]

Thanks from me, too, @Baltoscott. Funny, even though Switzerland is neighbors, I don't go to OctoberFEST, though I have friends who do! But I should be able to 'scare' up some seasonal changes and perhaps a sign of Halloween (not really big here, except in the stores).

Just discovered that this was never posted! At least it got Saved! It’s been a weird, wild and wacky month so far, and today is my 70th birthday (threescore and 10 years, as my husband wrote in my card). I’ll be back soon to catch up (as best I can remember) with goals achieved so far. 

Goals for October

6,000 Steps/Day	15 days
8,000 Steps/Day	5 days
10 Steps/Day	5 days
12 Steps/Day	2 days
Sleep 6 hours	15 days
Sleep 7 hours	10 days
Fitness	6
Museums/Galleries	3
Scavenger Hunt Pics	3

[Jotex]

OctoberFEST Goals - Days 1,2,3 4,5,6,7,8

6,000 steps 3/15 days

8,000 steps 3/5 days

10,000 steps 1/5 days

12,000 steps 0/2 days

Sleep 6 hours 4/15 days

Sleep 7 hours 1/10 days

Fitness 1/6 times

Museum/Gallery Visits 1/3

Scavenger Hunt Pics 0/3

[NellyG]

9 October

15 days over 10,000 steps                     7/15

10 days over 12,000 steps                      5/10             

6 days over 15,000 steps                         4/6           

35 exercise sessions (swim, bike, walk, gym, dance)   10/35

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      2/3

[Baltoscott]

October Day 9

17K steps/day for 22 days		8/22
15 floors/day for 20 days		5/20
1 pushups for 25 days		9/25
12 weight-lifting days		1/9
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		9/25
Unicycle: 15 mins/day for 20 days		5/20
15 dry days		1/15
Beat October 2023 bike mileage (339 miles)		103.3/339
120 active minutes 20 days.		5/20

It's a good month for a birthday. @Jotex. Not September, but close. Happy day!

Great Elephant Migration below. They are in NYC right now, over 100 of them, but headed for Miami Beach in December (if there is anything left after hurricane season) and then out west. Seasonal changes. 🙂 

Jane pretending to hava a trunk

[Jotex]

OctoberFEST Goals - Day 9

6,000 steps 4/15 days

8,000 steps 3/5 days

10,000 steps 1/5 days

12,000 steps 0/2 days

Sleep 6 hours 5/15 days

Sleep 7 hours 1/10 days

Fitness 1/6 times

Museum/Gallery Visits 2/3

Scavenger Hunt Pics 0/3

Thanks @Baltoscott.  Love your pics! 

[NellyG]

10 October

15 days over 10,000 steps                     8/15

10 days over 12,000 steps                      6/10             

6 days over 15,000 steps                         4/6           

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

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      2/3

[Vidd]

October Challenge Day 10

I'm going to add one extra line to my targets.  It's just doable.

In bed by 11 every day	10/31
5 flights of stairs each day	10/31
1000 steps per day	10/31
5000 revs on the exercise pedaller daily	10/31
3 Scavenger Hunt pictures	1/3

Wonderful elephants, @Baltoscott!. And congratulations on your milestone, @Jotex!