Topiary January 2019 -- Step Challenge and Resolutions

[Baltoscott]

Welcome to 2019!!

It is a new year, and time to get another monthly challenge underway.  It is also an opportunity to try out some resolutions ,,, a diet or exercise change, less drinking or smoking, going to bed earlier, learn a new skill … But in this case, commit for just a month and see how it goes.  You can do anything for a month, and if it still makes sense on January 31, try it again for another month in February. Or adapt it a bit.                                                        

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. That is where the monthly resolution component comes in. Try adding one new good habit and reducing one bad habit for the month.  For the good habit, maybe you'll cook at home more (I'm taking an on-line cooking class for the month).  As to your bad habit, remember it is only for a month.  And it doesn't even have to be all or nothing.  Instead of NO PIZZA for a month, maybe you'll cut your consumption in half.  (Only two Fridays instead of every Friday, for example).  I will be doing a mostly dry January and then go back to my normal dry every other day lifestyle.

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 idea of a monthly picture scavenger hunt started last summer as a way to get people outside to show off where they live. We’ve done oldest buildings, funny street or business signs, sewer covers, holiday decorations, theatre marquees,  animals ….

The theme this month?  It is in the title — Topiary. 

Peace, man ...

That’s gonna be hard for some folks, but go find three pics if you can.

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.

[SunsetRunner]

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@benvegi wrote:

@SunsetRunner  congrats on your Charge 3. If you changed from the Charge 2 what is the main difference between them?  I've been thinking about upgrading from the C2 but don't see much difference on the web site.

weights 4/12

check in 2/8

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Hi @benvegi -- the Charge 3 is waterproof to 50 m, allows notifications from certain Apps, for example, for me, calendar reminders, WhatsApp, SMS and some email messages, and lets me know when a call is incoming (it vibrates). {My iPhone is almost always set to mute...} My Charge 2 got a nasty scratch right from the start, but it seems fitbit made the newer model with better quality glass (so far, so good). It also shows the weather forecast. "These are a few of my favorite things." :musical_notes:

[SunsetRunner]

Topiary January - Day 8

12,000 steps - 6/20 days

1-min (or longer) Modified Plank - 5/15 days
Training w/weights - 5/15 days
40 jumping jacks - 6/15 days
Line Dance - 1/6 days

IF5/2 (stay under +/- 600 cal 2x/wk) - 1/8 days

Eat a piece of fruit - 7/25 days

Topiary Scavenger Hunt - 0/3 pics

[WendyB]

Topiary January Day 8

Steps: Goal 13000 31 days: 8/31
Boxing 31 days: 8/31
Bike 3 times 31 days: 8/31
Weights DVD 17 days: 4/31
Stomach Youtube 31 days : 8/31
Wall Push Up/Counter push ups 31 days: 8/31
250 Steps per hour 31 days : 8 /31
Post Scavenger hunt photos: 0/3

[Ennay]

Monday:11368

Through Jan 7
10000K  5/23

Post here  6/23

Food recording 7/31

Weigh 6/27
Bonus:
Workout video 2/0

I'm struggling with my energy the last couple days.  I don't know if I am fighting depression or tired from rehearsals or low energy because the holiday sugar fest is leaving my system. 

Yesterday I alternated naps with work.  Today I woke up at 5:30, and at 7 I couldnt keep my eyes open and went to lay down on the couch.  I have vague memories of my daughter kissing me when she left for school (only because the puppy was with me) and no memory of my husband leaving at all.  Next thing I knew it was 10 am, was awake for a bit and then fell BACK to sleep.  Forced myself up and into a workout at 1 pm. We will see if this helps.

MTA: I loved the gym - mostly free weights, but I finally realized I am too injured to justify it and too inconsistent.  I am having to modify the modifications to get through a workout video, so I am going to try to get through those first.  The only thing I really miss from the gym is the rowing machine which I know I am both too weak to do more than a few seconds at a time now but also know it was the only thing that eventually does help my spinal injury.  Last time I went they didnt have straps for it and someone said they dont have one anymore so I may not join again.

 
The gym is better for me in that when I start I tend to do more, at home I am more distracted and prone to quitting mid workout to get other stuff done.

[Mel9]

Status update for 1/8/19:

6,000 steps a day on 28 days:  6/28

10,000 steps a day on 5 days: 1/5

Water intake of 64 ounces a day every day: 8/31

Get 7+ hours of sleep on 20 nights: 5/20

Post 3 scavenger hunt photos: 0/3

Check in & log status on 20 days: 6/20

[Autumn43]

January Day 9

10,000 steps: 9/26

Plank: 9/26

Drink 1 litre of water: 9/26

Photo scavenger hunt: 0/3

[NellyG]

9 January

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                                       9/20                                          

4 days over 15,000 steps per month                              6/4                           

1 day over 20,000 steps                                                    2/1                          

Swim 2x per week (when I'm home)  - 6                        3/6                                          

Dance prac 6 hours a week (when Im home) - 18       7.5/18  

6 bike rides or interval walks per month                         3/6

[Ennay]

Tuesday: 9159

Through Jan 8
10000K  5/23

Post here  7/23

Food recording 8/31

Weigh 7/27
Bonus:
Workout video 2/0

Sleeping all day is not a good way to get steps.  Today is my long work day so hopefully I can power through.  Thought about marching out the steps last night but it was after 11pm and I was beat.

[SunsetRunner]

Topiary January - Day 9

12,000 steps - 7/20 days

1-min (or longer) Modified Plank - 5/15 days
Training w/weights - 5/15 days
40 jumping jacks - 7/15 days
Line Dance - 1/6 days

IF5/2 (stay under +/- 600 cal 2x/wk) - 2/8 days

Eat a piece of fruit - 8/25 days

Topiary Scavenger Hunt - 3/3 pics = best I could find, when walking around a gartencenter. 

[Mel9]

@WendyB - I absolutely agree with your comment about going to the gym in January.  However, our weather is not reliable enough to always exercise outside (and while I do it often, I don't like just pacing around my house).  I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and go. 

@SunsetRunner and @WendyB  thank you for the link to YouTube for weights videos.  I always just google stuff and then end up with links to buy or join or subscribe.  I'll be checking out YouTube for sure!

@Baltoscott Thanks for the thoughts on preparing for a 5K.  I'm mapping out a 5K route around my neighborhood and hope to walk it this weekend just to get the feel for doing it all at once.  I'd like to not come in last - that's my goal.  

[WendyB]

That's what I'm going to do @SunsetRunner Cause I'm not finding any

[WendyB]

Topiary January Day 9

Steps: Goal 13000 31 days: 9/31
Boxing 31 days: 9/31
Bike 3 times 31 days: 9/31
Weights DVD 17 days: 5/31
Stomach Youtube 31 days : 9/31
Wall Push Up/Counter push ups 31 days: 9/31
250 Steps per hour 31 days : 9 /31
Post Scavenger hunt photos: 0/3

[Baltoscott]

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@SunsetRunner wrote:

Topiary January - Day 9

12,000 steps - 7/20 days

1-min (or longer) Modified Plank - 5/15 days
Training w/weights - 5/15 days
40 jumping jacks - 7/15 days
Line Dance - 1/6 days

IF5/2 (stay under +/- 600 cal 2x/wk) - 2/8 days

Eat a piece of fruit - 8/25 days

Topiary Scavenger Hunt - 3/3 pics = best I could find, when walking around a gartencenter. 

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I expect a lot of us saw you post and thought, “Ooo, a garden center, what a great idea that @SunsetRunner had!” 

[Mel9]

Status update for 1/9/19:

6,000 steps a day on 28 days:  7/28

10,000 steps a day on 5 days: 1/5

Water intake of 64 ounces a day every day: 9/31

Get 7+ hours of sleep on 20 nights: 6/20

Post 3 scavenger hunt photos: 0/3

Check in & log status on 20 days: 7/20

[NellyG]

10 January

Glad I'm not the only person finding 'creative' topiary! I truely think there is not one proper topiary in the whole of Albany!

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

4 days over 15,000 steps per month                              6/4                           

1 day over 20,000 steps                                                    2/1                          

Swim 2x per week (when I'm home)  - 6                        4/6                                          

Dance prac 6 hours a week (when Im home) - 18       7.5/18  

6 bike rides or interval walks per month                         3/6

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                                       1/3

[Ennay]

Wednesday: 10822

Through Jan 9
10000K  6/23

Post here  8/23

Food recording 9/31

Weigh 8/27
Bonus:
Workout video 2/0

Got a few minutes in to a 3rd video and my spinal injury freaked.  Still pissed today.  Blah.  At least my having to play a 70 year old on stage is a little more believable.

Off to go shopping today because the costumer really dropped the ball.

[SunsetRunner]

Topiary January - Day 10

12,000 steps - 8/20 days

1-min (or longer) Modified Plank - 6/15 days
Training w/weights - 6/15 days
40 jumping jacks - 8/15 days
Line Dance - 1/6 days

IF5/2 (stay under +/- 600 cal 2x/wk) - 2/8 days

Eat a piece of fruit - 9/25 days

Topiary Scavenger Hunt - 3/3 pics

Glad my idea for the pics was popular @WendyB and @Baltoscott. With a newly snow-covered Switzerland, my chances of finding anything 'better' before spring were looking slim.

[WendyB]

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Got a few minutes in to a 3rd video and my spinal injury freaked.  Still pissed today.  Blah.  At least my having to play a 70 year old on stage is a little more believable.

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@EnnayYou crack me up. It must hurt

[benvegi]

Thanks for the input on the C3!

[WendyB]

Topiary January Day 9

Steps: Goal 13000 31 days: 9/31
Boxing 31 days: 9/31
Bike 3 times 31 days: 9/31
Weights DVD 17 days: 4/31
Stomach Youtube 31 days : 9/31
Wall Push Up/Counter push ups 31 days: 9/31
250 Steps per hour 31 days : 9 /31
Post Scavenger hunt photos: 0/3

@benvegiI love my Charge 3. I like it better than any of my other trackers. It does everything they all do but smaller. I do wish they would come out with another model that has GPS on it instead of Connected GPS though