Stomping STEPcember Challenge and Scavenger Hunt

[Baltoscott]

Stomping STEPcember Challenge and Scavenger Hunt

Anything Goes August is almost over and it is time to start a new step challenge.  So here comes the STOMPING STEPCEMBER Step Challenge and Scavenger Hunt.  Yes, STOMPING because just like kids going back to school, we know it sucks that summer is over (in the Northern Hemisphere anyway), and that it sometimes helps to express your feelings with a stomp or two.

General monthly instructions are below, but we are also continuing the practice started last month of a picture scavenger hunt:  

Take your phone or other camera on your walks and look for, snap, and post three pics or more of the following: 

1 - the oldest structure in your area (of any type, oldest house, monument, school, whatever — tell us what it is and how old it is); 

2 - storm drain or manhole or other utility cover (keep your eyes pealed — there are some very artsy manholes in the world); 

3 - a wild animal.  (Going to the zoo is OK.  The animal need not be alive.  Statutes are OK.  If you use a stuffed animal, put it somewhere usual for the shot).  I found this guy in the DC hood ...

  

Although a picture of your dog/cat other pet won’t satisfy the scavenger hunt, post those anyway.  We love ‘em.                                                           

   
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

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.

[WendyB]

STEPtember 23

Steps: Goal right now is 11000 23/30
Boxing 30 days: 23/30
Bike 2 times 30 days: 23/30
Weights 12 days: 8/30
Wall Push ups 30 days: 23/30
250 Steps per hour 22/30

Lose 3 Pounds 1.5/3
Post Scavenger hunt photos 3/3

[lavabelle]

Happy Birthday @Baltoscott and belated Birthday @CatLover74! 

@CatLover74 we are almost the same age...I will be 44 in February 🙂

September 23 Update

Steps 10k - 19/30 (down from 15k)

Hikes (3+hours) - 5/6

Weight loss 4.3/6 

Scavenger hunt 2/3

[CatLover74]

Happy birthday, @Baltoscott .

[CatLover74]

STEPtember 24

10,000 steps on at least 10 days of the month  -  8/10.

15,000 steps on at least 5 days of the month  -  2/5.

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

7 hours sleep on at least 15 days of the month  -  17/15.

10 wall push ups on at least 15 days of the month  -  14/15.

Scavenger hunt pictures  -  3/3.

[GershonSurge]

@Baltoscott,

Happy Birthday!

[SunsetRunner]

Day 24 of thirty stomps:

• At least 5000 steps every day: 23/30 (missed out one).
• At least 7000 steps on two days each week: 11/8; 3.5/4
• By the end of the month have the 28-day average at 7000 steps: Average = 6601 Day 1 -> 7279
  Day 23 (Showing the average of 28 days to yesterday.)
  
• One or more 2 km walks or longer on ten days in the month (can include running): 8/10 
• At least 6 hours of sleep on 20 days a month: 18/20.
• 3 scavenger pics: 2/3.

I've been needing a lot of sleep the last couple of days. I notice my resting heart rate has risen at the same time, which is usually a sign than all is not the best. I don't know if it's anxiety from an errant family member misbehaving, or if it's just longer than normal recovery from some gruelling travel last week. Whatever - I'm allowing myself to succumb and rest, and hope to be feeling fit by tomorrow so I can indulge in another long walk. (After almost 11 hours sleep last night, I rested/slept this arvo for another couple of hours. Weird, eh.)

This springtime weather is glorious, so I'll try to get out and take my final scavenger pic tomorrow. Here are a couple of photos from travels last week. Had a lovely walk around Albert Park Lake in Melbourne (almost 5 km around), which is a haven for water birds of all kinds, and bristling with walkers and runners. The last photo is from the far north west of the state. Saw hundreds of emus in the paddocks but we didn't stop for a photo, unfortunately.

Swans on Albert Park Lake.

The same swans after getting in the water.

Close to sunset on the road from Mildura (Victoria) to Loxton (South Australia). There was a big dark cloud being chased by pretty pink clouds and blue sky.

[NellyG]

24 September

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

Swim 2x per week                                         -/2      6/8                             

Dance 6 hours a week                                  -/6     23/24                           

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

Post 3 Scavenger Hunt Pictures                  3/3    

[WendyB]

STEPtember 24

Steps: Goal right now is 11000 24/30
Boxing 30 days: 24/30
Bike 2 times 30 days: 24/30
Weights 12 days: 9/30
Wall Push ups 30 days: 24/30
250 Steps per hour 23/30

Lose 3 Pounds 1.5/3

Post Scavenger hunt photos 3/3

Great Pictures @SunsetRunner

[Jotex]

Stomping STEPcember 24

20 x 13,000 steps — 17/20

20 x 40 jumping jacks — 17/20

3 x scavenger hunt photos — 3/3

BONUS *** getting to 20,000 steps — 0

[Baltoscott]

STEPtember 24

15K steps/day	24/30
50 Floors/day 20 times	20/20
1 pushup/day	24/30
14 non-weight gym days	13/14
9 weight-lifting days	6/9
post 3 scavenger hunt pics	3/3
Sleep 6+ hours 12 days or more during the month	9/12
Weight loss of 2-4 lbs (Sept 2 = 162.3 on TW)	-0.6

Monthly floor goal is done.  Started lifting weights again yesterday.  Sore.  

Instapot cheesecake was pretty good.  Cut up and froze six pieces to eat over the next 3-6 weekends.   I don't have that much of a sweet tooth, but I do have a bit of a weakness when it comes cheesecake (and I like it frozen better than fresh), so we will see how that all works out.  

[SunsetRunner]

Day 25 of thirty stomps:

• At least 5000 steps every day: 24/30 (missed out one).
• At least 7000 steps on two days each week: 11/8; 3.5/4
• By the end of the month have the 28-day average at 7000 steps: Average = 6601 Day 1 -> 7220
  Day 24 (Showing the average of 28 days to yesterday.)
  
• One or more 2 km walks or longer on ten days in the month (can include running): 8/10 
• At least 6 hours of sleep on 20 days a month: 19/20.
• 3 scavenger pics: 2/3.

Oh well, I didn't get to take the third scavenger photo today or get in another walk. I was writing up some meeting notes and it took longer than I expected. So these remain on the "to do" list for this week.

[SeleneD]

Hi Everyone, I'm going to try posting more often.

September 19: 11,621 steps

September 20: 5,969 steps

September 21: 11,414 steps

September 22:  3,620 steps

September 23: 7080 steps

September 24: 7050 steps

[GershonSurge]

@SeleneD,

Welcome back.

[NellyG]

25 September

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                  21/20            

Swim 2x per week                                         1/2      7/8                             

Dance 6 hours a week                                  2.5/6     25.5/24                           

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

Post 3 Scavenger Hunt Pictures                  3/3    

[SeleneD]

Thank You, @GershonSurge

[WendyB]

STEPtember 25

Steps: Goal right now is 11000 25/30
Boxing 30 days: 25/30
Bike 2 times 30 days: 25/30
Weights 12 days: 9/30
Wall Push ups 30 days: 25/30
250 Steps per hour 24/30

Lose 3 Pounds 1.5/3

Post Scavenger hunt photos 3/3

Baby Peacocks

[CatLover74]

STEPtember 25

10,000 steps on at least 10 days of the month  -  8/10.

15,000 steps on at least 5 days of the month  -  2/5.

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

7 hours sleep on at least 15 days of the month  -  18/15.

10 wall push ups on at least 15 days of the month  -  14/15.

Scavenger hunt pictures  -  3/3.

[Baltoscott]

STEPtember 25

15K steps/day	25/30
50 Floors/day 20 times	20/20
1 pushup/day	25/30
14 non-weight gym days	14/14
9 weight-lifting days	6/9
post 3 scavenger hunt pics	3/3
Sleep 6+ hours 12 days or more during the month	9/12
Weight loss of 2-4 lbs (Sept 2 = 162.3 on TW)	-1.5

Forgot to update weight loss on Sunday; at the time, my TW was 1.5 lbs for the month.  It has crept up a bit the past couple of days, but hope to reverse that over the course of the rest of the week.  🙂

[Jotex]

Stomping STEPcember 25

20 x 13,000 steps — 18/20

20 x 40 jumping jacks — 18/20

3 x scavenger hunt photos — 3/3

BONUS *** getting to 20,000 steps — 0

Welcome back @SeleneD! 

With time running out, not sure I’ll have a bonus. Oh well. I think I can bear the deprivation. 😅

[CatLover74]

STEPtember 26

10,000 steps on at least 10 days of the month  -  8/10.

15,000 steps on at least 5 days of the month  -  2/5.

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

7 hours sleep on at least 15 days of the month  -  18/15.

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

Scavenger hunt pictures  -  3/3.