OctoberFest Step Challenge and Scavenger Hunt

[Baltoscott]

YIKES! It is the beginning of festival/holiday season. Already! Around here October will be beer festivals with the wurst and schnitzel, probably a trip to the Maryland Renaissance Festival, and a pumpkin carving party at the end of the month. With all that coming up, it makes sense to plan out fitness and eating goals for the month and check in with Fitbit friends to get support for hitting those goals. So lets get started!

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


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

This month’s scavenger hunt is a little more free-flowing than the past couple of months. Tell a story with words and pictures about where you live - your neighborhood, your town/city. Maybe just about a particular building, or maybe the founding of the area, or maybe a famous person who lived in or visited or died where you live. It doesn’t have to be a lot of pictures and doesn’t have to be historical. Most comic strips are just 3 or 4 panels. But it does have to be pictures you take while walking this month. For example, here is a little moralistic story about locking your bike in the Baltimore/DC area from pics I took last month:

1. What is ...2. A well-locked bike frame3. What can be ...4. A well-locked bike frame

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.

[CatLover74]

October 1

10,000 steps on at least 15 days of the month  -  0/10.

15,000 steps on at least 5 days of the month  -  0/5.

4 walks along the foreshore of my local beach  -  0/4.

7 hours sleep on at least 15 days of the month  -  0/15.

10 wall push ups on at least 15 days of the month  -  1/15.

Lose 1kg (SW - 79.15kg).

[Baltoscott]

OctoberFest Day 1

15K steps/day	1/31
30 jumping jacks/day	1/31
1 pushup/day	1/31
13 non-weight gym days	14/14
13 weight-lifting days	1/13
post scavenger storyboard	0
Sleep 6+ hours 12 days or more during the month	0/12
Weight loss of 2-4 lbs (Oct 1 = 160.4 on TW)	0

Day of OctoberFest is done.  @benvegi -- no, that was not my bike in the topic post.  (Though, I've had seven bikes stolen in my life; mostly unlocked when I was a kid growing up in Kansas).  I'm just amazed how often I see stripped bikes at bike racks and yet still see people locking only the frame.  It certainly makes my bike less attractive in comparison!  Here is how I lock up when at the gym for an hour.  When I leave it at the train station on commute days, it is two locks with the seat cabled next to the parking garage attendant area.  @SeleneD -- I will ride through the winter, but right now is perfect bike weather!  Enjoy it!

Frame+rear wheel locked to rack, front wheel cabled

@Jotex -- Zug looks like it has a great little Altstadt.  Love those narrow streets. 

@lavabelle and @Jotex -- Excessive stepping can definitely get in the way of other fitness goals.  When I first got a fitbit, I found I was doing about 18K steps/day (which included what fitbit picked up from my bike commute).  I've gone much higher than that over the years, especially when challenge started, but usually at the expense less bike riding (not especially step effective) and weight training (not at all step effective).  In my case, more steps probably hurt my fitness.  So for me, 15-20K remains the goldilocks area for that part of my activity and I try to make sure that challenges don't get in the way of weights and bike rides.  (I have incorporated @benvegi's tip of walking/pacing while watching TV, though; especially when I'm trying to hit a number).

@WendyB The walks and hikes at Gibson Ranch Park and Auburn look beautiful.  Sure you want to relocate?

[WendyB]

@Baltoscott Problem is we have a 2 story home. No bedrooms downstairs. My husbands knees are not bad but he has some problems going up stairs. When i was having muscle problems i slept on the couch for 3 months because it hurt to much to go upstairs.

To buy a single story home here it would cost 3 times as much money than we paid for this house.

Besides that taxes and everything else is going up like crazy. Its just getting to expensive to stay here.

So thats why we need to relocate. We have some pretty places picked out. 

[stevethenutter]

whilst I always strive to hit a minimum of 10,000 steps a day (have not failed to achieve that since September last year), I upped my secondary goal to a minimum of 100,000 steps per week, I have achieved this every week since the start of last November

[lavabelle]

October 1 Update

7 day average above 10k all month (I will check this daily) 1/31 Current avg 16 581

18 days weights 1/18

4 hikes (3+ hrs) 0/4

10 Runs (decided to add runs, 2/week minimum) 0/10

4-6 lbs loss 0/4

[WendyB]

OctoberFest 2

Steps: Goal right now is 11000 2/31
Boxing 31 days: 2/31
Bike 2 times 31 days: 2/31
Weights DVD 14 days: 1/31

Stomach Youtube 31 days: 2/31
Wall Push Up/Counter push ups 31 days:2/31
250 Steps per hour : 2/31

Lose 2 Pounds 0/2

Post Scavenger hunt photos 2/2

[Jotex]

OctoberFest Step Challenge Goals - Oct 2

10,000 steps - 2/20 days

Training w/weights - 1/15 days

40 jumping jacks - 1/20 days

Lose 2-4 lbs (@1-2 kgs) - 0/2

Scavenger Hunt Photos - 0/0

[CatLover74]

October 2

10,000 steps on at least 15 days of the month  -  0/10.

15,000 steps on at least 5 days of the month  -  0/5.

4 walks along the foreshore of my local beach  -  0/4.

7 hours sleep on at least 15 days of the month  -  1/15.

10 wall push ups on at least 15 days of the month  -  1/15.

Lose 1kg (SW - 79.15kg).

[CatLover74]

October 3

10,000 steps on at least 15 days of the month  -  0/10.

15,000 steps on at least 5 days of the month  -  0/5.

4 walks along the foreshore of my local beach  -  0/4.

7 hours sleep on at least 15 days of the month  -  2/15.

10 wall push ups on at least 15 days of the month  -  2/15.

Lose 1kg (SW - 79.15kg).

[Jotex]

OctoberFest Step Challenge Goals - Oct 3

10,000 steps - 3/20 days

Training w/weights - 2/15 days

40 jumping jacks - 2/20 days

Lose 2-4 lbs (@1-2 kgs) - 0/2

Scavenger Hunt Photos - 0/0

[NellyG]

3 Octoner

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                         2/20          

Swim 2x per week                                                1/2         1/8                          

Dance 6 hours a week                                         2.5/6      2.5/24                        

One Interval walk or bike ride per week            1/1         1/4

Post Scavenger Hunt Picture Story                   -

[Baltoscott]

OctoberFest Day 3

15K steps/day	3/31
30 jumping jacks/day	3/31
1 pushup/day	3/31
13 weight-lifting days	2/13
post scavenger storyboard	0
Sleep 6+ hours 12 days or more during the month	0/12
Weight loss of 2-4 lbs (Oct 1 = 160.4 on TW)	0

Dang. 10 minutes short on my sleep goal on the 2nd.  Crap sleep day last night -- just 4.5 hrs.

[WendyB]

OctoberFest  Day 3

Steps: Goal right now is 11000 3/31
Boxing 31 days: 3/31
Bike 2 times 31 days: 3/31
Weights DVD 14 days: 2/31

Stomach Youtube 31 days: 3/31
Wall Push Up/Counter push ups 31 days: 3/31
250 Steps per hour : 3/31

Lose 2 Pounds 0/2

Post Scavenger hunt photos 2/2

[LisefromCanada]

I have never done a step challenge, but here I go...

Goals for OctoberFest:

• At least 5,000 steps every day.
• At least 7,500 steps on two days each week
• At least 10,000 steps once a week
• Practice T'ai Chi Chih at least 5 days per week
• Aquafit class or swim 45 minutes at least 2 times per week
• Lose 5 pounds

[WendyB]

Welcome @LisefromCanada Its great to have you here!

[NellyG]

Nice to see you here @LisefromCanada. The step challenges are a good way to keep yourself on your own targets. I like them - no pressure and no performance anxiety! Works for me 😊

Here is a photo from one of our ballroom dance competitions. We have a couple of big ones coming up in the next couple of months.

[NellyG]

4 October

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                         3/20          

Swim 2x per week                                                2/2         2/8                          

Dance 6 hours a week                                         2.5/6      2.5/24                        

One Interval walk or bike ride per week            1/1         1/4

Post Scavenger Hunt Picture Story                   -

[Baltoscott]

OctoberFest Day 4

15K steps/day	4/31
30 jumping jacks/day	4/31
1 pushup/day	4/31
13 weight-lifting days	2/13
post scavenger storyboard	0
Sleep 6+ hours 12 days or more during the month	0/12
Weight loss of 2-4 lbs (Oct 1 = 160.4 on TW)	0

Nice walk around DC this morning.US Capital — Early morning

 Welcome @LisefromCanada.  

[Jotex]

OctoberFest Step Challenge Goals - Oct 4

10,000 steps - 4/20 days

Training w/weights - 3/15 days

40 jumping jacks - 3/20 days

Lose 2-4 lbs (@1-2 kgs) - 0/2

Scavenger Hunt Photos - 0/0

First week of substitute teaching done and dusted. Whew! Welcome @LisefromCanada. Love the pic of you and your partner (husband?) dancing @NellyG!!! And your dress... 😍 

[WendyB]

OctoberFest Day 4

Steps: Goal right now is 11000 4/31
Boxing 31 days: 4/31
Bike 2 times 31 days: 4/31
Weights DVD 14 days: 2/31

Stomach Youtube 31 days: 4/31
Wall Push Up/Counter push ups 31 days: 4/31
250 Steps per hour : 3/31

Lose 2 Pounds 0/2

Post Scavenger hunt photos 2/2

Wont make 250 today as I have an appointment this afternoon that will prevent it

@NellyGLove the dress

@BaltoscottGreat Picture!

Here is a picture from Lake Tahoe. Went there 2 weeks ago. Its about 1 hour away.