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.

[Baltoscott]

Topiary January Day 10

15K steps/day		9/31
1 pushup/day		10/31
15 weight-lifting days		3/15
post scavenger pics		2/3
Sleep 6+ hours 12 days or more during the month		3/12
Complete Foodistkitchen cooking class		10/30
Dry January (mostly)		7/31

[Mel9]

Status update for 1/10/19:

6,000 steps a day on 28 days:  8/28

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

Water intake of 64 ounces a day every day: 10/31

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

Post 3 scavenger hunt photos: 0/3

Check in & log status on 20 days: 8/20

[NellyG]

11 January 

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                                       11/20                                          

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       10/18  

6 bike rides or interval walks per month                         3/6

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                                       1/3

[Ennay]

Thursday: 10029

Through Jan 10
10000K  7/23

Post here  9/23

Food recording 10/31

Weigh 9/27
Bonus:
Workout video 2/0

Yep once again topped off the day by marching in place by my bed in the dark until the watch went buzz.

Lower back is seriously annoyed.  I havent had it be this bad this long since right after the car accident.  Trying to remember all of my old PT

Completely recostumed myself and one other actress yesterday so successful shopping.  Today - accessories.  I hate costuming.

@WendyB- it is kind of ironically funny.  I was in rehearsal one night and we had done the first act and the intermission notes were about how I needed to work on my physicallity to age up.  While I was sitting there my back and hip started hurting and by the time I was on again I was in so much pain I could barely move.  The director thinks I take direction well. 😛

[Jotex]

Topiary January - Day 11

12,000 steps - 8/20 days

1-min (or longer) Modified Plank - 7/15 days
Training w/weights - 7/15 days
40 jumping jacks - 9/15 days
Line Dance - 1/6 days

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

Eat a piece of fruit - 10/25 days

Topiary Scavenger Hunt - 3/3 pics

[WendyB]

Topiary January Day 11

Steps: Goal 13000 31 days: 11/31
Boxing 31 days: 11/31
Bike 3 times 31 days: 11/31
Weights DVD 17 days: 5/31
Stomach Youtube 31 days : 11/31
Wall Push Up/Counter push ups 31 days: 11/31
250 Steps per hour 31 days : 11 /31
Post Scavenger hunt photos: 0/3

@EnnayLOL Its good the director thinks you take directions well. Too funny

[Mel9]

Status update for 1/11/19

6,000 steps a day on 28 days:  9/28

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

Water intake of 64 ounces a day every day: 11/31

Get 7+ hours of sleep on 20 nights: 8/20

Post 3 scavenger hunt photos: 0/3

Check in & log status on 20 days: 9/20

[Autumn43]

January Day 12

10,000 steps: 12/26

Plank: 11/26

Drink 1 litre of water: 12/26

Photo scavenger hunt: 1/3

This photo was taken outside of a retirement community. 

[NellyG]

@Autumn43 - great picture!

12 January

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                                       12/20                                          

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       10/18  

6 bike rides or interval walks per month                         4/6

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                                       1/3

[Ennay]

Friday: <6K

Through Jan 11
10000K  7/23

Post here  10/23

Food recording 11/31

Weigh 10/27
Bonus:
Workout video 2/0

Back extremely cranky yesterday - ended up doing a lot of lying on a heating pad.  If this doesnt ease up soon I may have to go see someone. Meanwhile back to it today.  I'm supposed to paint sets today but I am going to try to weasel out of it, that might just put me under.

MTA: is there a way to get to this discussion on the app vs. the website?  I would do the pictures more, but last time I ended up with all the pictures in my phone and didnt have the oomph to get them to my computer and then to this site.

[WendyB]

@EnnayYou can use your browser on your phone and go to the Fitbit Community. Then you can add pictures. But its the only way

I email them to myself so I can add on the computer. But sometimes I do it the other way as well

[WendyB]

Topiary January Day 12

Steps: Goal 13000 31 days: 12/31
Boxing 31 days: 12/31
Bike 3 times 31 days: 12/31
Weights DVD 17 days: 5/31
Stomach Youtube 31 days : 12/31
Wall Push Up/Counter push ups 31 days: 12/31
250 Steps per hour 31 days : 12 /31
Post Scavenger hunt photos: 0/3

[Jotex]

Topiary January - Day 12

12,000 steps - 9/20 days

1-min (or longer) Modified Plank - 8/15 days
Training w/weights - 8/15 days
40 jumping jacks - 10/15 days
Line Dance - 1/6 days

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

Eat a piece of fruit - 11/25 days

Topiary Scavenger Hunt - 3/3 pics

@Ennay - I think it'd be cool to access this discussion on the App, but it is only via a browser (and getting email notices). I log in and post to the group mostly on my iPhone, and it's easy to upload photos (when I have any to post, that is). Take care of yourself! Hope you've managed to weasel out of painting today!

[Mel9]

Found out I have pneumonia ... but I got antibiotics, steroids and an inhaler. Starting to feel a little better this evening but we’ll see how the morning goes. 

Status update for 1/12/19

6,000 steps a day on 28 days:  10/28

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

Water intake of 64 ounces a day every day: 12/31

Get 7+ hours of sleep on 20 nights: 9/20

Post 3 scavenger hunt photos: 0/3

Check in & log status on 20 days: 10/20

[NellyG]

Yikes! Hope you are feeling better soon @Mel9

13 January 

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                                       13/20                                          

4 days over 15,000 steps per month                              7/4                           

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       10/18  

6 bike rides or interval walks per month                         4/6

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                                       1/3

[benvegi]

January goals:

Steps 15,000 per day, 20+ floors p/day, 7+ miles p/day

2 sets of 12 reps of dumbbell curls, triceps, shoulder shrugs, and chest flys, 3 times a week.

Three or more pics of each scavenger hunt topic. 

Check in at least 2x a week.

 Topiary! In the middle of the Mark Twain National Forest! 
 Perhaps I can find a natural formation of some sort.

weights 3x a week

check in 2x a week

12/6 steps 26,049, floors 39, miles 12.12  continuing my 4 mile walks with Jake

12/7 steps 24,519, floors 33, miles 11.6

12/8 steps 26,421, floors 42, miles 12.58

12/9 steps 25,016, floors 31, miles 12.15

12/10 steps 23,943, floors 22, miles 11,69

12/11 steps 27,970, floors 25, miles 13.76

12/12 steps 29,424, floors 18, miles 14.27

steps 12/12

floors 11/12

miles 12/12

weights 6/12

check in 3/8

[Ennay]

Saturday: 10139

Through Jan 12
10000K  8/23

Post here  11/23

Food recording 12/31

Weigh 11/27
Bonus:
Workout video 2/0

Did not paint.  Helped with lighting for awhile and then designer was leaving for an extended late lunch so I did some grocery shopping.  The boys are out of town so dd and I had fettucine alfredo and watched "Chicago" last night.  Long tech day today.

[WendyB]

Topiary January Day 13

Steps: Goal 13000 31 days: 13/31
Boxing 31 days: 13/31
Bike 3 times 31 days: 13/31
Weights DVD 17 days: 6/31
Stomach Youtube 31 days : 13/31
Wall Push Up/Counter push ups 31 days: 13/31
250 Steps per hour 31 days : 13 /31
Post Scavenger hunt photos: 0/3

[Baltoscott]

Topiary January Day 13

15K steps/day		12/31
1 pushup/day		13/31
15 weight-lifting days		5/15
post scavenger pics		2/3
Sleep 6+ hours 12 days or more during the month		7/12
Complete Foodistkitchen cooking class		13/30
Dry January (mostly)		10/31

@Autumn43 -- Nice scavenger hunt pic.  

[NellyG]

January 14

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                                       14/20                                          

4 days over 15,000 steps per month                              7/4                           

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       10/18  

6 bike rides or interval walks per month                         4/6

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                                       1/3