Stomping STEPtember 2020 — Step Challenge and Photo Scavenger Hunt

[Baltoscott]

Fall arrives this month — the start of falling leaves cooler temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere (soon I hope - very hot now!), and new green warmth in the Southern.  It is a great time to get outside, stomp around, and get your steps

How It Works

The primary purpose of these monthly challenges is to encourage you to set and hit 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

The theme this month is STEPS (It is Stomping STEPtember, after all).

Pimlico RacetrackSome steps you can hang from ...

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.

[AmandaGeorge]

Day 27 of STEPtember:

10k steps once a week 4/4

7k steps every day 23/30

150 sit-ups every day 26/30

100 leg raises every day 26/30

10 squats a day 26/30

10 seconds of front planks a day 26/30

10 seconds of left side planks a day 26/30

10 seconds of right side planks a day 26/30

[SteppingBooks]

Stomping STEPtember 25-27:

12K Steps/Day:  11/20

500 Cal/Day:  25/25

20 Squats/Day: 13/20

IF (16:8) 25/Month: 22/25

Yoga 1x/week: 1/4

Weights/Toning 2x/week: 3/8

Drop 3 pounds: -/3

Obtain Water Goal: --/20

Photo Scavenger Hunt: -/3

@AmandaGeorge   That's terrible!  While hospitals are there to help, I sometimes feel like there is a trade off and you'll walk out with something else wrong.  I find it interesting you are able to smell the allergen!  It is amazing how the body can adapt to preserve.  Part of me just assumes to cut out liquid types of dairy (I love cheese too much and it doesn't bother my body thankfully).  One suggestion for my mom had been to use goat milk, but oddly enough, I'm allergic to goat milk, but not goats.  So we just don't really keep any of it in the house.  

@NellyG  That's sad about soy because that is in a lot of items, even more so now with the health-foods switching more fillers to soy.  I'll have to try find a (small) container of the sweetened stuff and try it.  I had done the unsweetened because at that point, I had cut additional sugars out of my coffee, so I thought (wrongly) I could handle unsweetened almond milk 🤣  I haven't had actual cow milk in quite a few months now.

@Jotex We found Coffeemate is safe for most lactose-intolerant.  I think International Delight is too.  I'm surprised the cooking doesn't alter the lactose in the milk enough to allow it in foods.  Oddly, the Lactaid pills no longer help my mom, but their brand of dairy products she seems to be able to tolerate.  So true!  I miss 4% milk from the 90s; thick and creamy goodness.  

[Baltoscott]

OctoberFest 2020 is now up.

[stoughjr]

Week 4 Update

12,000 steps per day 28/28
3 sets of 5 exercises every other day 15/15
Lose 1.5 lb/week 2/4
1 hr of exercise each day 21/21
6.5 hr sleep each day 21/28
Lose 1 inch off waist 1/4
Log meals & water daily 28/28
3 pictures 3/3

[Baltoscott]

Day 27

15K steps/day		28/30
10 pushup + shoulder extension /day		28/30
16 weight-lifting days		16/16
post 3 scavenger pics		3/3
Sleep 6 hours, 10 minutes +19 days or more during the month		19/19
1 pull-up		28/30
Unicycle: 15 mins/day for 25 days		28/25
Lose 2 lbs. Start 163.9 lbs	9/27	164.7

[Jotex]

Stomping STEPtember — Day 24-29

6,000+ steps:9/10 days

8,000+ steps:3/10 days

Eat 1 piece of fruit:12/15 days

Scavenger Hunt Pics: 0/3 pics

Have had a hard struggle walking much now that both knees have been ‘scoped’ as my friends call it (arthroscopy). But I reached 6,000 yesterday. Will call today to begin therapy as soon as possible. The orthopedic doctor recommended twice weekly, but with having to adhere to strict social distancing measures, not many can be treated at the same time. Can tell y’all more later. 

Thanks for posting OctoberFest, @Baltoscott! I look forward to getting my fitness regime on track again as soon as my knees allow. BTW, I noticed you have the Charge 4. Are you happy with it? I have the Charge 2 and 3. Mulling over getting  the new one for my birthday gift next month. 

@SteppingBooks - glad your Mom has found something she can tolerate. We don’t have good Coffeemate here (I am assuming you mean the liquid kind, kept in the fridge, right?). The powder form (long shelf life) is available, but I think I’d prefer switching to drinking tea first than that (often what you get on flights). 

[WendyB]

Not even going to figure how many days I missed. But I will be back next month

[Jotex]

Glad to see you post again @WendyB! I only saw your encouraging note after my surgery this morning (still playing catch up). Thanks!

happy birthday @Baltoscott!

welcome back @benvegi — all the best to you and Char. 

[AmandaGeorge]

Day 28 of STEPtember:

10k steps once a week 5/4

7k steps every day 24/30

150 sit-ups every day 27/30

100 leg raises every day 27/30

10 squats a day 27/30

10 seconds of front planks a day 27/30

10 seconds of left side planks a day 27/30

10 seconds of right side planks a day 27/30

[WendyB]

Happy birthday @Baltoscott 

 

[NellyG]

29 September 

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                      24/20

20 days over 12,000                                         20/20                

12 days over 15,000 steps                               14/12

3 day over 20,000 steps                                     4/3           

10 lunges a day for 20 days                            21/20

20 exercise sessions (swim, bike, vigorous walk, dance)    23/20

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                       many/3

[SteppingBooks]

Stomping STEPtember 28:

12K Steps/Day:  11/20

500 Cal/Day:  26/25

20 Squats/Day: 13/20

IF (16:8) 25/Month: 23/25

Yoga 1x/week: 1/4

Weights/Toning 2x/week: 3/8

Drop 3 pounds: -/3

Obtain Water Goal: --/20

Photo Scavenger Hunt: -/3

Got my flu shot yesterday!  My arm is a bit sore.  Definitely going to be a light day for me to get things done.  Not to mention all the meetings today 😥  

@Jotex  The liquid Coffeemate, yes.  Sometimes I have to go to a couple of stores to find various flavors, but the store I mostly frequent has at least Creme Brulee for her.  I think International Delight is like Coffeemate in terms of non-dairy.  She's stolen my Oreo flavored International Delight a few times now 😭.   I recently switched to the Charge 4 from my One, and so far I like it.  I'm just battling the Fitbit App (if I leave it up, it runs CONSTANTLY in the background for hours on end and IT has not gotten back to me about it; the solution has been to force-close the app).  I also bought some third-party comfort bands off Etsy  and I love them (I can look up the store's name if you'd like).  I have one for my ankle (for when I am shopping/dealing with shopping carts) and one for my wrist.  It's stretchy breathable fabric so I don't get those horrible silicone-band rashes.  

[AmandaGeorge]

Day 29 of STEPtember:

10k steps once a week 5/4

7k steps every day 25/30

150 sit-ups every day 28/30

100 leg raises every day 28/30

10 squats a day 28/30

10 seconds of front planks a day 28/30

10 seconds of left side planks a day 28/30

10 seconds of right side planks a day 28/30

[NellyG]

30 September 

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                      25/20

20 days over 12,000                                         20/20                

12 days over 15,000 steps                               14/12

3 day over 20,000 steps                                     4/3           

10 lunges a day for 20 days                            21/20

20 exercise sessions (swim, bike, vigorous walk, dance)    23/20

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                       many/3

[SteppingBooks]

Stomping STEPtember 29:

12K Steps/Day:  11/20

500 Cal/Day:  27/25

20 Squats/Day: 13/20

IF (16:8) 25/Month: 24/25

Yoga 1x/week: 1/4

Weights/Toning 2x/week: 3/8

Drop 3 pounds: -/3

Obtain Water Goal: --/20

Photo Scavenger Hunt: -/3

[stoughjr]

12,000 steps per day 30/30
3 sets of 5 exercises every other day 15/15
Lose 1.5 lb/week 2/3
1 hr of exercise each day 30/30
6.5 hr sleep each day 24/30
Lose 1 inch off waist 1/4
Log meals & water daily 30/30
3 pictures 3/3

😁The end on STEPtember...

[AmandaGeorge]

Day 30 of STEPtember:

10k steps once a week 5/4

7k steps every day 26/30

150 sit-ups every day 29/30

100 leg raises every day 29/30

10 squats a day 29/30

10 seconds of front planks a day 29/30

10 seconds of left side planks a day 29/30

10 seconds of right side planks a day 29/30

[SteppingBooks]

Stomping STEPtember 30:

12K Steps/Day:  11/20

500 Cal/Day:  28/25

20 Squats/Day: 13/20

IF (16:8) 25/Month: 25/25

Yoga 1x/week: 1/4

Weights/Toning 2x/week: 3/8

Drop 3 pounds: -/3

Obtain Water Goal: --/20

Photo Scavenger Hunt: -/3

Not bad, hit at least two goals for September.  😓  Gonna have to better for October 😋

[PureEvil]

....and to finish off the month:

Stomping STEPtember 2020

10k steps per day: 30/30

13,699 steps per day: 24/21

17k steps per day: 18/15

Activities: 6/8

Photo Scavenger Hut: 3/3

Full 'Reminders to Move' Days: 11/10

This is a picture of a spider web in our garden on a dewy morning:

And yesterday I took the opportunity of taking the toy car out for a drive to relax:

[Jotex]

Thanks so much for getting back to me @SteppingBooks. My sisters in Texas use CoffeeMate (or maybe another brand) liquid creamer but they like different flavors, of course. If it ever gets to Switzerland I might try that. 

I am happy to hear about your experience with the Charge 4 (not the App difficulties, of course). The ankle band sounds very interesting! 

About my goals, well, I was disappointed to not meet my goals, except a piece of fruit x days (at least that, right @Baltoscott?! 😂). Now to decide for October goals and post them there. I start physiotherapy on Monday (x2 week), so might wait to see what  is realistic. Stay tuned!