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.

[HoosierDaddy73]

• 10,000 steps - 10 / 31 days
• 5 miles - 9 / 31 days
• weight loss - .8 / 4 pounds
•  Scavenger Hunt Photos - 1/3

Here is my first scavenger hunt photo - one of my regular running routes. A local park trail. Occasionally I even get to see a deer or two. 

[Mel9]

Well, I saw this slightly shaped potted tree at the store.  I'm going to call it a topiary...even though I'm not sure it really is.  I was not able to upload the picture from my phone so I want to do it now even though I'm not posting today's update.

Yesterday I didn't post and didn't get my 6,000 steps in. My dear daughter had a serious allergic reaction yesterday and we spent several hours in the ER. The scariest part is that we have no idea what caused it.  We're going to see the PCP today but I know we won't get answers there either.  I'm suspecting we'll be headed to an allergist soon.

[Jotex]

Topiary January - Day 14

12,000 steps - 9/20 days

1-min (or longer) Modified Plank - 9/15 days
Training w/weights - 9/15 days
40 jumping jacks - 11/15 days
Line Dance - 1/6 days

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

Eat a piece of fruit - 12/25 days

Topiary Scavenger Hunt - 3/3 pics

Not sure what's up. I couldn't manage to get 8,000 steps yesterday, nor to 6,000 today, much less 12,000. Fingers crossed I can get back in the groove of things tomorrow. 

I attended a concert yesterday in Bern, and it was dark when it ended. Stepped outside to take a photo of the city and snapped one of the lights in the hotel garden, too.

[Baltoscott]

Topiary January Day 14

15K steps/day		13/31
1 pushup/day		14/31
15 weight-lifting days		6/15
post scavenger pics		2/3
Sleep 6+ hours 12 days or more during the month		7/12
Complete Foodistkitchen cooking class		14/30
Dry January (mostly)		11/31

[Autumn43]

January Day 15

10,000 steps: 15/26

Plank: 14/26

Drink 1 litre of water: 15/26

Photo scavenger hunt: 1/3

[NellyG]

15 January

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                                       15/20                                          

4 days over 15,000 steps per month                              8/4                           

1 day over 20,000 steps                                                    2/1                          

Swim 2x per week (when I'm home)  - 6                        5/6                                          

Dance prac 6 hours a week (when Im home) - 18       12.5/18  

6 bike rides or interval walks per month                         4/6

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                                       2/3

Ok another pic that is close to topiary (though more like a little hedge really 😁)

Topiary?

[Ennay]

Sunday: 10366
Monday:  9214* but had the watch off for 4 active hours so I am counting this as a 10K day

Through Jan 14
10000steps (8K on show days)  10/23

Post here  12/23

Food recording 14/31

Weigh 13/27
Bonus:
Workout video 2/0

I've decided that 8K counts as 10K on the days I have to take my watch off for the show. I think I use 3-4K steps, but no way I am getting less than 2K

Sunday I ended up being the light board programmer because the lighting designer was so far behind there wasn't time to teach him the board.  I hate doing tech on a show that I am performing in, it's a major distraction.  And he is still adding lights.  Yesterday I ran around getting last minute costume pieces.  I think i am set.  I found a new old lady makeup technique and it rocks.

[WendyB]

Topiary January Day 15

Steps: Goal 13000 31 days: 15/31
Boxing 31 days: 15/31
Bike 3 times 31 days: 15/31
Weights DVD 17 days: 7/31
Stomach Youtube 31 days : 15/31
Wall Push Up/Counter push ups 31 days: 15/31
250 Steps per hour 31 days : 15 /31
Post Scavenger hunt photos: 0/3

[Jotex]

Topiary January - Day 15

12,000 steps - 10/20 days

1-min (or longer) Modified Plank - 9/15 days
Training w/weights - 9/15 days
40 jumping jacks - 11/15 days
Line Dance - 2/6 days

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

Eat a piece of fruit - 13/25 days

Topiary Scavenger Hunt - 3/3 pics

Got my 12,000 steps in. A lot of those were added during line dance class. 😇

Our regular teacher was ill so we had a substitute. She picked all dances the class had already learned; but 5 of them were new to me, since I only joined in November!!! I must practice and try to learn them, but I know I'll never know as many as they do. 

[Mel9]

Status update for 1/15/19

6,000 steps a day on 28 days:  12/28

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

Water intake of 64 ounces a day every day: 13/31

Get 7+ hours of sleep on 20 nights: 10/20

Post 3 scavenger hunt photos: 1/3

Check in & log status on 20 days: 11/20

[NellyG]

16 January

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                                       16/20                                          

4 days over 15,000 steps per month                              9/4                           

1 day over 20,000 steps                                                    3/1                          

Swim 2x per week (when I'm home)  - 6                        5/6                                          

Dance prac 6 hours a week (when Im home) - 18       12.5/18  

6 bike rides or interval walks per month                         5/6

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                                       2/3

[Ennay]

Tuesday: 7098*

Through Jan 15
10000steps (8K on show days)  10/23

Post here  13/23

Food recording 15/31

Weigh 14/27
Bonus:
Workout video 2/0

So.very.tired.  Thank goodness I get to work from home today, I got someone else to do the in house stuff.  I have time to got back to bed after the kids go to school for a little bit.  God bless the coffee nap.

I've decided that 8K counts as 10K on the days I have to take my watch off for the show. I think I use 3-4K steps, but no way I am getting less than 2K

Sunday I ended up being the light board programmer because the lighting designer was so far behind there wasn't time to teach him the board.  I hate doing tech on a show that I am performing in, it's a major distraction.  And he is still adding lights.  Yesterday I ran around getting last minute costume pieces.  I think i am set.  I found a new old lady makeup technique and it rocks.

[Jotex]

Topiary January - Day 16

12,000 steps - 11/20 days

1-min (or longer) Modified Plank - 10/15 days
Training w/weights - 10/15 days
40 jumping jacks - 12/15 days
Line Dance - 2/6 days

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

Eat a piece of fruit - 14/25 days

Topiary Scavenger Hunt - 3/3 pics

[WendyB]

Topiary January Day 16

Steps: Goal 13000 31 days: 16/31
Boxing 31 days: 16/31
Bike 3 times 31 days: 16/31
Weights DVD 17 days: 8/31
Stomach Youtube 31 days : 16/31
Wall Push Up/Counter push ups 31 days: 16/31
250 Steps per hour 31 days : 16 /31
Post Scavenger hunt photos: 0/3

[NellyG]

17 January

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                                       17/20                                          

4 days over 15,000 steps per month                              9/4                           

1 day over 20,000 steps                                                    3/1                          

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

Dance prac 6 hours a week (when Im home) - 18       12.5/18  

6 bike rides or interval walks per month                         5/6

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                                       3/3

Yay - last scavenger hunt pic! I can stop scouring the countryside for topiary. This has been a hard scavenger hunt for me!

Not very exciting round tree!

[WendyB]

Topiary January Day 17

Steps: Goal 13000 31 days: 17/31
Boxing 31 days: 17/31
Bike 3 times 31 days: 17/31
Weights DVD 17 days: 8/31
Stomach Youtube 31 days : 17/31
Wall Push Up/Counter push ups 31 days: 17/31
250 Steps per hour 31 days : 16 /31
Post Scavenger hunt photos: 0/3

Missed my 6:00 AM 250 steps today. Was lazy and sleeping

Will get pictures of Topiary tomorrow. Hubby found a winery that is suppose to have  a lot

[Jotex]

Topiary January - Day 17

12,000 steps - 11/20 days

1-min (or longer) Modified Plank - 10/15 days
Training w/weights - 10/15 days
40 jumping jacks - 12/15 days
Line Dance - 2/6 days

IF5/2 (stay under +/- 600 cal 2x/wk) - 3/8 days

Eat a piece of fruit - 15/25 days

Topiary Scavenger Hunt - 3/3 pics

I only met goals today of 1 piece of fruit and staying under 600 cal. Lately I've been getting sick (nauseous) headaches before / when it snows. 😭

[Autumn43]

January Day 18

10,000 steps: 18/26

Plank: 17/26

Drink 1 litre of water: 18/26

Photo scavenger hunt: 2/3

Stoked to have found another photo! 

 

[NellyG]

@Autumn43 Great find (what funny little trees to have all in a row 🤣)

18 January

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                                       18/20                                          

4 days over 15,000 steps per month                              10/4                           

1 day over 20,000 steps                                                    3/1                          

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

Dance prac 6 hours a week (when Im home) - 18       15/18  

6 bike rides or interval walks per month                         5/6

3 Scavenger Hunt pics                                                       3/3

[Jotex]

Topiary January - Day 18

12,000 steps - 12/20 days

1-min (or longer) Modified Plank - 11/15 days
Training w/weights - 11/15 days
40 jumping jacks - 123/15 days
Line Dance - 2/6 days

IF5/2 (stay under +/- 600 cal 2x/wk) - 3/8 days

Eat a piece of fruit - 16/25 days

Topiary Scavenger Hunt - 3/3 pics