Welcome!

Last month many of us set exercise goals for December -- and guess what? It's here!!!

In this forum, we're setting the number of MINUTES we want to exercise for the month -- whether it's walking or swimming or housework! Remember December is really 4.5 weeks long, but full of holidays, so plan accordingly!!


Hope you don't mind, but I started a new thread. When it get to 2 pages, it takes too long to load for people with dialup. So here it is

Barb -- No, I don't mind! (I'm spoiled on my cable modem, so didn't think of that). In fact, I love the graphic! Thanks!

Let's add for any newcomers that we are keeping a running total of GROUP exercise minutes as well!

I managed to get to the gym last night, so add 50 minutes to the group total:

2223 + 50 = 2273 --> closing in on 2500!

BTW, the cutie with me in my avatar is my grandson, Andre. He'll be 3 tomorrow!

elmay -- congrats on getting to the gym -- I'm going to try to go today (it will be my first gym visit!). Happy birthday to your adorable grandson!

2273 -- we can get to 2500 quickly, right everyone??

Okay Elmay, I give up!!! What is "Become Healthy Initiative" Is it some special program? Inquiring minds want to know.

I think you mean me! No special program... I just didn't want to call it my "weight loss" program, as it was about health more than anything else... "becoming healthy" is the goal. And I guess I just like the word initiative.

I think the saddest part of the whole thing is that I don't even know exactly what day I started!

OKay, I am really going to the treadmill NOW!

Okay, finally got back on the treadmill tonight! If I were counting snow shovelling, I'd have more minutes...

So, 300+ exer-goal 2273 minutes + 40 = 2313 total!!!

Let's get moving and shaking and get to 2500 !!!!

I would love to join! What a great way to hold each other accountable, especially the team goal.

I am committing to 30 minutes aerobics 4x/week and 45 minutes 2x/week and 1 hour on the exercise bike 6 days a week. In addition to my 1 exercise free day each week I am going to give myself 2 free days for the holidays and I promise that I will do no more than yoga on those days.

Sooo my goal is 2340 minutes in December. So far, I am at 735 to date. I haven't worked out yet today though.

Rebecca, WELCOME!!!! I think the team efforts have been a lot of fun! Feel free to add on whenever you like... I personally am fine if you want to add the minutes you've already done to the group total, but you decide what feels right to you!

I'm struggling a lot to fit the exercise in, and it looks like you have a real routine going (congrats on your weight loss!)... was it hard for you to develop the routine? Did you build up to what you're doing or start with that much?

I'm fitting in cardio now about 4-5 days/week (I'll have to check), but started at 3-4/week. The length of my workouts seems to be increasing as I have more stamina too. And I'm starting to work in some weight training, but I need a couple more things to fall in place before that really kicks in. So, I'm getting better. But I feel like I don't have a routine and I'm really struggling to do it. Setting monthly goals does help, but any advice about what worked for you might help too!

Adding 35 mins for me.

300+ exer-goal 2313 minutes + 35 = 2348 total!

Wyllenn- What worked for me was really just committing. I started with 5 minutes of cardio each day and would do a magazine workout as strength training (about 15 minutes-I would do each exercise 1x). I would do 5 minutes until it got easy and then move up to 6 minutes. And then up to 8 and 10. I was afraid to hurt myself because walking up stairs would exhaust me, ****, rolling over in bed would exhaust me. I was just carrying around so much weight. After I lost about 30 pounds, I started to feel a lot better and have felt incrementally better and more able with each 10% I have lost.

I have found that working out in the morning gives me super energy and fuels my entire day (plus, you get a rush from accomplishing something that early. gets you off on a good start). I do at least 30 minutes in the am and usually do an extra 15 of Yoga in the am. Then I do an hour on a low-impact recumbent bike while watching TV at night. I love TV and would have extra energy to burn and would get lathargic just watching TV. But, like I said, I started super slow. I still do strength from magazines, but it is usually only 2x/week.

I don't want to get in a position where I can't keep up and my body gets used to it. When I travel, I make sure to stay in a hotel with a gym and I workout in my room and the gym. Also, when I travel, I land...get my rental car and go straight to the grocery store for energetic, healthy snacks. Otherwise, I get in trouble with the food.

I worked out 1 hour and 45 minutes today.

So, the team goal 2348 + 105 = 2453

Adding 60 more water-walking minutes for me:

300+ exercise-total: 2453 + 60 = 2513 minutes

Rebecca -- What you said sounds like what a lot of other successful "losers" say -- make a commitment. I think I haven't fully made that commitment yet regarding exercise. I feel I have made it much more solidly with food, so that's good, but I do think I have to up my commitment to moving it! I mean, I am setting higher goals each month and doing more, but I'm not sure that's enough...

Congrats to you and Leanne for getting us past 2500 minutes! I think I can commit to adding to that total tomorrow!

Wyllenn I just wanted to say thanks for being so encouraging to the others in the group, and did you realise you are 1/3 of the way already to your December goal? You are doing fine!