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.

[Coolbns]

Thank you. I appreciate your help 

[Baltoscott]

December. Day 15

12K steps/day for 15 days		5/12
15 floors/day for 15 days		8/20
1 pushups for 15 days		2/15
6 weight-lifting days		/6
post 3 scavenger pics		1/3
Sleep 6:00 hours + 15 days or more during the month		11/15
1 pull-ups for 15 days		2/15
Unicycle: 15 mins/day for 12 days		1/12
7 dry days		1/7
Beat 1/2 December 2023 bike mileage (180 miles)		46/180
120 intensity minutes 15 days.		4/15
Log food 12 days in December		2/12

One of the fountains at Longwood Gardens.

Longwood Gardens

[mia_davis]

I set myself a challenge to run a few kilometers a day before Christmas and so far I've been successful in fulfilling it

[NellyG]

Hi @mia_davis Good on you!

@Baltoscott gorgeous colours on the fountain.

16 December 

15 days over 10,000 steps                     4/15

10 days over 12,000 steps                      1/10             

6 days over 15,000 steps                         0/6           

35 exercise sessions (swim, bike, walk, gym, dance)   5/35

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      3/3

I definitely won't make my goals this month. I am doing Pretty well tho. I had further surgery a week ago (relatively minor this time but still involved a general anaesthetic) and I managed 10,000 steps today so I am pleased.

[Baltoscott]

Welcome @mia_davis. This time of year a lot of folks wait until January to begin new goals and then get overly ambitious in their plans. A few kilometers a day leading up to Christmas seems like a manageable challenge.  

[Baltoscott]

December. Day 17

12K steps/day for 15 days		7/12
15 floors/day for 15 days		10/20
1 pushups for 15 days		4/15
6 weight-lifting days		/6
post 3 scavenger pics		1/3
Sleep 6:00 hours + 15 days or more during the month		12/15
1 pull-ups for 15 days		4/15
Unicycle: 15 mins/day for 12 days		3/12
7 dry days		1/7
Beat 1/2 December 2023 bike mileage (180 miles)		53/180
120 intensity minutes 15 days.		6/15
Log food 12 days in December		4/12

[Baltoscott]

December. Day 19

12K steps/day for 15 days		7/12
15 floors/day for 15 days		12/20
1 pushups for 15 days		6/15
6 weight-lifting days		/6
post 3 scavenger pics		1/3
Sleep 6:00 hours + 15 days or more during the month		12/15
1 pull-ups for 15 days		6/15
Unicycle: 15 mins/day for 12 days		3/12
7 dry days		1/7
Beat 1/2 December 2023 bike mileage (180 miles)		76/180
120 intensity minutes 15 days.		8/15
Log food 12 days in December		6/12

[NellyG]

20 December 

15 days over 10,000 steps                     5/15

10 days over 12,000 steps                      2/10             

6 days over 15,000 steps                         0/6           

35 exercise sessions (swim, bike, walk, gym, dance)   8/35

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      3/3

Here is the first of my Christmas tree series 🤣

 

[NellyG]

21 December

15 days over 10,000 steps                     6/15

10 days over 12,000 steps                      2/10             

6 days over 15,000 steps                         0/6           

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

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      3/3

My second Christmas tree

 

[NellyG]

22 December 

15 days over 10,000 steps                     7/15

10 days over 12,000 steps                      2/10             

6 days over 15,000 steps                         0/6           

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

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      3/3

[NellyG]

23 December 

15 days over 10,000 steps                     8/15

10 days over 12,000 steps                      3/10             

6 days over 15,000 steps                         1/6           

35 exercise sessions (swim, bike, walk, gym, dance)   13/35

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      3/3

[SunsetRunner]

I just love the fountain at Longwood Gardens @Baltoscott . And a lot of the other photos posted everybody. I’ll try to post a couple of special ones below, too. But Google often blocks them. 
Apologies for being absent for such a long while. I had some health issues, and at the same time in Texas my brother had to be hospitalized and then he passed away less than two weeks later. My health has improved but my heart is broken. 
Thinking of you and your wife, @Vidd and wishing you good news in January. Also your upcoming surgery @NellyG and hope all goes well, and you’re soon right as rain again. 
Rather than try to catch up now, please invite me for the new January challenge. 

 

 

[NellyG]

Thanks @SunsetRunner 

27 December 

15 days over 10,000 steps                     9/15

10 days over 12,000 steps                      4/10             

6 days over 15,000 steps                         2/6           

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

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      3/3

[Vidd]

December update

All apply when I'm at home.  

In bed by 11 every day	28/31
5 flights of stairs each day	28/31
1000 steps per day	28/31
5000 revs on the exercise pedaller daily	28/31
3 Scavenger Hunt pictures	4/3

Well, here we are, nearly at the end of December.  Firstly, @SunsetRunner , I am so sorry to learn the news about your brother:  I can't imagine what a terrible shock that must have been.  

Each day for me is very like the one before, with the exception of Sunday, when I keep in touch with our church by following the livestream Mass, after which I get brought Holy Communion by one of our choir members.  I try to have things to do, while I'm seated on the motorised recliner in our sitting room - these are darning socks on a loom (they had some real heavy wear over the previous few years, when I was doing all those steps), composing psalms (here's a new translation of these, which has just come into use), and doing regular tough sudoku puzzles.  By the end of the day, it's another one closer to getting an answer.

I did promise to do my best about the Scavenger hunt this month, given that I don't go any significant distance from our house, so have had to be limited to pictures from our house only.  We've gone even more modest that usual over the decorations, but maybe sometimes less is more.

[SunsetRunner]

Thank you @Vidd — my husband and I weren’t able to travel from Switzerland to Texas at this time, so we followed my brother’s funeral yesterday evening via livestream. 
i’m glad you can follow the church service, too, and can even take Communion thanks to a choir member. Maintaining these connections with community is so important. 
I like your Christmas decorations. Our tree looks similar to yours, only it’s only got warm white (or golden) lights. I’d show a picture but keep getting error messages when I try to upload. 
I, like everyone here, hope you get the answers you need soon, so the right solution and treatment can be found. 🙏

[NellyG]

30 December 

15 days over 10,000 steps                     10/15

10 days over 12,000 steps                      5/10             

6 days over 15,000 steps                         2/6           

35 exercise sessions (swim, bike, walk, gym, dance)   16/35

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      3/3

Here's my final Christmas tree

 

[NellyG]

31 December

15 days over 10,000 steps                     11/15

10 days over 12,000 steps                      6/10             

6 days over 15,000 steps                         3/6           

35 exercise sessions (swim, bike, walk, gym, dance)   17/35

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                      3/3

[Baltoscott]

@NellyG @SunsetRunner @Vidd @mia_davis @Coolbns @jantonini @feminedgy - Happy New Year. The Jan-Mar 2025 thread has been started. Head on over and post your January goals.

If you were new to the group last month and didn't really get into the post habit, no worries, just hop on in to the new thread and start off the year working a few small goals (big goals are fine, but include a few small daily ones to build on ... it is all about repetition).

[Baltoscott]

@SunsetRunner -- I'm glad your health issues are clearing up, and I'm so sorry to hear about your brother. A small comfort maybe, but at least you were able to attend the funeral virtually. 

@Vidd -- I'm glad you continue to participate in these challenges even though you physically limited right now. Small steps matter too!

The two pics below are of (possibly) the only snow bunting I've ever seen. It is migratory and a few winter in the Baltimore/DC area. (they summer in Canada). I got my first shot in early November, and have been back to the same location (the end of the pictured pier) twice, and each time only saw a single bunting. These pictures were taken on Dec. 28.

Snow BuntingSnow Bunting