October Exercise Challenge!!
 

Okay, girls!! (and lurking guys?)

We're into a new month!! :hat: Let's committ to some major exercise as we head towards the winter months. :cheer: :cheer:
I'll add up the totals (if it looks remotely possible) for September, and we'll see how we did! :)

October 1st:
2nd:
3rd: 60 minutes of walking
4th:
5th:
6th:
7th:

Sunkiss: 2000 minutes!!!
Ellis: 1900!!!
Melra:
Melissa:
Manu:
Nutbar:
Fishwoman: 1155!!! (is that about right, hon?)
Anyone Else? :D


Girls, I CAN'T add up your stuff! :lol: You're all over the place. :) Does anyone else have their total for the month of September? :wave:

is there a challenge for october? if so, can I join? what does it entail...like do we list the minutes we work out, what we do, cals we burn...etc.?

let me know! thanks and good luck everybody :D

Welcome, Choirgeek! :wave:

Yes, jump right in!
You can do it however you like, but it's easier to see if you list your progress all in one spot. (just edit the post where you're listing your minutes, etc)
You can write in whatever info you like. Most of us are just doing minutes, but feel free to add any other information that's helpful to you. :)

Good luck! :hat:

Ok, well I am a big doofus! :o I didn't realize we were adding everything up as an official challenge.

It looks like my September time was 810 minutes.

October
1st : 70 minutes - 5 miles
3rd: 35 minutes - 2.2 miles
4th: 30 minutes - stair stepper
5th: 40 minutes - 2.6 miles
7th: 83.22 minutes - 6 miles!! Woo!
10th: 35 minutes - 2.68 miles
11th: 30 minutes - bike ride
12th: 35 minutes - 2.37 miles (hills)
14th: 40 minutes - 2.74 miles
17th: 40 minutes - 3.07 miles *I'm getting faster!*
18th: 40 minutes - eliptical / stair stepper
19th: 35 minutes - 2.37 miles (hills)
21st: 78.22 minutes - 6 miles!! (Next week is 8! :fr: )
24th: 40 minutes - 3.12 miles
24th: 30 minutes - eliptical
25th: 40 minutes - stair stepper
26th: 38 minutes - 2.37 miles (hills)
28th: 106 minutes - 8 miles?

10/01 - 45-minute pilates class; 1-hour step aerobic class
10/02 - nothing
10/03 - 45-minutes total body conditioning class (class includes high-rep/low-weight arms/legs; abs; push-ups/plank)

Ellis - sure! 1115 sounds good - I also didn't really realize we were keeping a running total of minutes! when i have a chance, i will check my fitday logs and see what my actual september total was.

I don't have a lot of time today - i am getting everything done at work in preparation for being out for Rosh Hashana. Happy new year to all!!

good lord y'all I feel put to shame. I racked up an unenviable 620min of exercise in Sept and now that I see everyone else's completed minutes I feel like I should be upping the total for October.

I am also going to challenge myself to get my bum out of bed earlier and do something in the morning instead of trying to cram everything in at night. 2 mornings a week is a pretty big challenge for me--I'm such a night owl!

:lol: Don't be put to shame! We all did great, girls!! :hat: I just thought it would be more motivating to see the comparisons between... not each other... but our own progress over the months.
We are all Queens. :D
:queen: :queen:

hey guys! <3 and you're right, it doesn't matter if you do more or less than any other members!! just getting out and doing SOMETHING is a big accomplishment! (and if we're going to compare ourselves to anyone, how about the millions who don't exercise at all! even 5 mins a day is more than 0!!)

so I guess this is my post for Octoberoberober.

oct 1: 0. the first of the month always sucks for me, huh.
oct 2: 50 mins, 333 cals (2.73 miles on treadmill)
oct 3: none yet but inspired to go do some now!! (no school tomorrow, no harm in running at 9pm, no?)

total for the month: 50 mins, 333 cals, 2.73 miles :)


gooood luck everyone! I hope to see LOTS of posts upon my return!

I had a really good workout tonight! My endurance for running wasn't that great, so I split up a 30min run into two 15min segments and did weights in between. I'm up on my weights with squats and lunges which really surprised me--I'm using 2 20lb dumbbells now. I'll probably be on that for awhile because I've added another set and I can't quite make it through the whole set. My shoulders and upper arms feel really good and during triceps work I could feel my abs working just as hard.

I am going to try to get up early enough to do something, but I'm not going to commit what to...no telling how I'll feel in the morning so could be a walk or could be yoga. I am already dreading the early rise. I really need to do something in the morning though b/c we're having guests for dinner and the house is...sigh.

Wed I can get in either a short cardio and weights again or a long cardio, that's all I'll have time for.

I'm pretty sure some dude was flirting with me at the gym today--and the place that I go is soooo not like that. My husband was like "Of course he was! You're hot!" He loves my sports bra/baggy tshirt ensemble. :o

Sounds like an excellent workout Mel! I bet you do look hot! :cool: I can't work out in baggy clothes, so instead you see my fat rolls under my shorts and tank top. :o Do whatever you can in the morning, it doesn't have to be something big.

I ran my whole 35 minutes yesterday because the big oaf next to me was slamming his feet down so hard I couldn't hear my interval timer telling me when to switch. Then, when he left I was stuck between a big buff guy going at 7.0 and a skinny minnie blondie going 6.2. I, of course, was going 4.2. But the buff guy is impressed I can run 5 miles, so that is a good thing. :D

Today I did the stair climber. I love the stair climber. It makes me feel so in shape and stuff. I also did about 15 minutes of lower body weights. I have dropped my weights by 10lbs so that hopefully my back and shoulder don't freak out again. I will be moving all of last months files across the hall to the storage area today, so that will be more calories burned for me!

Looks like you're back on schedule completely now Melissa! I would love to see the looks on buff boy and skinny mini's faces when you tell them how your half marathon training is going!

Stair machines are a true test of fitness, I think. I've got one of those "portable" stair machine things--just the steps you stand on with little resistance bands to hold onto. It fits under the table in the living room so I'll pop it out while watching tv sometimes. Even with my better fitness it still makes me huff and puff after only a couple of minutes, but I figure anything is better than nothing, esp during tv time!

Melra, I'd love to get one of those! :yes: Oh, what am talking about. :lol: I have a stationary bike, a treadmill, and a rowing machine, and I don't use ANY of them right now! :lol3:

There's nothing like a few flirtatious comments to get you moving your butt, eh? :lol: When I'm on the treadmill at the Y and there's a nice-looking man beside me, it's amazing how fast I can run.

Good workouts, girls! :cheer:

Ok Everyone, Is it too late to join it! this sounds like something that might keep me on track! Hehehe! please tell me how the points are worked out ?

Oct 1-
Oct 2-
Oct 3-
Oct 4-
Oct 5 - 1/2 hour walk, eating well!30 minutes treadmill (fast walk/slow jog)
AND! 10 minutes recumbant bike!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oct 6 - 1 hour light weights (with some cardio) & feeling fine!!!!!!!!!!


HW 275
ST/CW 214
GW 177 (I am 5 11 and this gives me a 25 BMI)

Icedragon, it's never too late! :lol: Welcome! :wave:

We're not competing at all. Only with ourselves. So your post is just perfect. :) Good luck with your exercising!! :cheer:

Ellis-Vanity is a useful motivator for me and I am slightly ashamed to admit it! Ya gotta use whatever works though!

icedragon-welcome! No competition-just taking and offering the encouragement to get it done. What are your exercise goals for October? I've put mine in my signature-it was the only way I'd be sure not to forget.

I didn't get up early this morning--margaritas with my little brother last night (he's 6'2", 220lbs little!) I had two and a splitting headache this morning. I had thought that I wouldn't be able to get a workout in last night b/c I had to fix dinner and clean the house for company, but my dh started everything so I could go out for 45 min--I ran some but not exactly in intervals b/c I was actually trying to run the full 3 miles and couldn't make it. My legs are aching from the weights on Monday, but not so bad that I feel like I injured myself. If I can't use weights tonight then I'll just do cardio and try some abs and back work on my big ole ball at home.

10/01 - 45-minute pilates class; 1-hour step aerobic class
10/02 - nothing
10/03 - 45-minutes total body conditioning class (class includes high-rep/low-weight arms/legs; abs; push-ups/plank)
***
10/04 - 45 minutes on my home elliptical
10/05 - 45 minutes on the elliptical at the gym

Tomorrow i will do cardio and weights.

Melra - I agree with vanity being a motivator! I hope your head is feeling better by now.

Melissa - I think i would rather work out in baggy clothes than tight clothes. But since i have to wear two layers to control the bounce, i usually wear a sports bra under a yoga tank with a built in bra. Then I either wear yoga pants or shorts.

:faint: <-- Me, after 40 minutes on the treadmill doing HILLS! ;)

I did them on a 5:1 interval, it was tough! I was sweating all over!

Good reason not to get up early Mel! :lol: I didn't sleep well last night which actually makes it easier to get up at 4:40am. It will hit me about 2pm though.

Yay for new people! Welcome. :flow1: Let's really sweat today ladies!

I have not idea what goals to set in the excersice department! LOL! I think just getting back in and doing something is better than nothing though. so i will log what i do this month, and try to beat it next!!!
I got inspired yesterday and did 1/2 hour treadmill (part fast walk, a little jogging!) and 10 minutes bike!
Today I am planning a light weights session (don't want to be sore tomorrow!) so I'd better get out of my Pj's and get going! !

Sweet! I just noticed you're in Australia, IceDragon! I was thinking--why is she just getting out of her pj's at 6:30pm? doh! :doh: Glad you got inspired-have a good workout with the weights!

So today for me--15min cardio warmup, 40min weights, small break to take dd to (her very first! ) Girl Scouts meeting and then 30min cardio.

Melissa: great job on the incline!

Fishwoman: You are doing SuperFantastic!

Y'all, I went shopping last night for an anniversary gift instead of working out. I hope he likes it! I will be working out through this weekend though to make up for time.

Mel, when is your anniversary? My 10 year is the 21st. My hubby is always getting lost so I got him a fancy compass that I'm engraving, "I'd be lost without you." That is the romantic present, then I also got a GPS system for his car. He won't tell me what we are doing. He said we have to be somewhere by 5:30 and we aren't coming home that night! :p

10/01 - 45-minute pilates class; 1-hour step aerobic class
10/02 - nothing
10/03 - 45-minutes total body conditioning class (class includes high-rep/low-weight arms/legs; abs; push-ups/plank)
10/04 - 45 minutes on my home elliptical
10/05 - 45 minutes on the elliptical at the gym
****
10/06 - 50 minutes at the gym today! 20 minutes of weight-lifting; 5 of abs; and 25 on the elliptical.

Melissa and Melra - Happy (advance) Anniversary!! My five-year was May 21st.

IceDragon - I think just getting back in and doing something is better than nothing though. that's the spirit! Every little bit is good for you!

Melissa~That is a totally great present, masculine and romantic! Ours is the 13th and we are taking the weekend at a B&B, checking out some vineyards and breweries and hanging out in a hot tub. Oktoberfest! I had hoped to be down another 5 pounds by now b/c we talked our good friends into staying at the same B&B and I really don't want to sit in a hot tub with them...they are both very fit. But I can't wait. Hubby and I have been ridiculously busy and have been looking forward to this weekend since we reserved the suite on last year's anniversary!

I didn't get in the extra cardio last night--I chose to hang out during the Brownie troop meeting (so cute! and sooo glad I'm not the troop leader, poor woman!) rather than go on a run during that time. I worked my legs quite a bit and they were still kind of wobbly feeling anyway. I was able to do all of my lunges/squats with 2-20 pound dumbells and I felt pretty good about that! I don't feel like I worked my abs or upper body as much and I'm planning on doing some light weights at home on Sat.

I'm going to get in a longer cardio tonight and this time I'm going to try to pace myself better so I can hang in there for the full time. I've noticed that I tend to up my speed on the treadmill without really thinking about whether or not I can sustain it, so I'll wait to do a little burst after 20min of running. I'm going to try for 3.5mi tonight and that will probably be all I have time for.

I'm in some sort of plateau right now--I haven't lost any weight for a month now. I did mess up a number of times on my diet and I was inconsistent with my exercise for a week. I'm trying not to get discouraged and my dh told me I needed to push through it and try for a harder workout. I think my bigger prob is the calories I'm taking IN!

Great job everyone on the workouts!

Thanks FishWoman! Great job on the workout yesterday. I really need to work on my abs.

Wow, Mel - your weekend sound like it will be great. I am jealous! My husband isn't a B&B kind of guy. He is introverted and doesn't like to hang out with other people like that. I think it sounds fabulous! I am sure you will look awesome in the hot tub. You are very close to your goal, that much weight doesn't make a huge difference.

At least you have plateau'd, I gained the last two weeks. This week I have a 3lbs loss. I was hoping for more. I want the weight the magically appeared to magically disappear too. I am going to hang tough this weekend because that has been what is killing me. I need to stay on plan all weekend! I need to buckle down or I will never get through the holidays.

So, 6 miles today. It was long and boring! It took me 83.22 minutes (but I burned over 400 calories). I did pretty good. Next week is only 60 minutes, I can't believe how much I am looking forward to running *only* 60 minutes. Hee!

melissa~isn't that your highest mile run so far? That's great! 60 minutes as an "easy" run now, huh? :lol: I'm trying to make the 30min goal (again) so the 3.5 mi one tonight will definitely test my endurance and pacing.

I don't feel close to my goal at all--I haven't been 155 in a very very long time, even when I felt my thinnest. It seems like any weight loss or gain is immediately noticeable on me and I was really hoping that the 155 would have been like wow-you've lost weight-kinda thing. eh. Along those same lines though I can't even imagine what my body will look like once I (eventually) make my goal of 135. My husband thinks I'm crazy, but I've shown him the charts and that weight is normal; it's not like I'm an Amazon. He says I just have a large build, which is true, but I gotta lot more on this build than I need and my jeans (genes) can testify to that.

Yes, 6 miles is my longest run yet. Thanks for noticing! :encore:

Good luck on the run, Mel. I am sure you can do it. I just keep telling myself as I am going only __ more minutes, that is no problem. You've done that before. Goofy stuff like that. It is a good thing I just say it in my head. The people at the gym would think I was nutty.

How tall are you? I don't remember you posting that, but I may have missed it. At 5'2" the high end of normal is 138.5. The lowest weight I can remember being is 157 about 5 years ago, right before I had my daughter. I can't believe I got as close as 160 and then screwed it up. Sometimes I really don't think my head wants me to lose the weight. I get close then *bam* do something stupid. I also cannot imagine what 130 will look like. I am fitting into size 10's now which I have never done before in my memory. Last time I lost weight I didn't strength train so I had a higher fat %. I only got as low as a 12. Well, enough of this rambling, have a great weekend!

10/01 - 45-minute pilates class; 1-hour step aerobic class
10/02 - nothing
10/03 - 45-minutes total body conditioning class (class includes high-rep/low-weight arms/legs; abs; push-ups/plank)
10/04 - 45 minutes on my home elliptical
10/05 - 45 minutes on the elliptical at the gym
10/06 - 50 minutes at the gym today! 20 minutes of weight-lifting; 5 of abs; and 25 on the elliptical.
*****
10/07 - 60 minute ballet workout.

Wow, Melissa - 83 minutes of running?!? That is amazing. Way to go!!!

Good on you melissa, i am trying to work out miles to km? (we are metric and this is hard!!)
I actually started using my treadmill again this week, and after the first 1/2 hour, i couldn't believe i used to actually spend 1 1/2 hours on it. (it gets soooo boring)
but anyway 10/5 30 min treadmill(3km) / 10 minutes bike
10/6 1 hour light weights (with some cardio in between)
10/7 35 min treadmill(4.2km) /20 min bike!
10/8 and 10/9 days off (weekend)

AND!! i bought a decline bench to do decline sit ups (your head and shoulders are lower than you legs) and OUCH!!! 2 days of that (only 5min) and i really know my abs are alive.....

Cheers all
Keep up all the good work!

icedragon~I've been doing those situps at the gym a couple times a week and yeah, they really prove you're working! I can only do 2 sets of 25 for now and I have to take a long break btw the sets. I keep trying to remind myself that it will get easier after I keep doing it for awhile, but wow, so hard!

10/01 - 45-minute pilates class; 1-hour step aerobic class
10/02 - nothing
10/03 - 45-minutes total body conditioning class (class includes high-rep/low-weight arms/legs; abs; push-ups/plank)
10/04 - 45 minutes on my home elliptical
10/05 - 45 minutes on the elliptical at the gym
10/06 - 50 minutes at the gym today! 20 minutes of weight-lifting; 5 of abs; and 25 on the elliptical.
10/07 - 60 minute ballet workout.
10/08 - nothing
10/09 - 45 minutes of pilates.
****
I will post later after i have worked out today.

You all make me feel guilty about my poor sad neglected abs. I have got to find a way to fit abs into my schedule! :o

My run this morning was fun (2.68 miles) for 35 minutes at a 5:1 interval, except I ran the first 10 straight and the last 10 too. Don't tell my coach! :devil: At one point I had the pace up to 4.8! Impressive for me!

Here's to the start of a wonderful, fall week full of exercise! :goodvibes

Well, I got in my longest run to date of 45min--I'm not sure of the distance b/c I accidentally reset it while I was trying to take my pulse (dang!). I think it was like 3.8-4.0 miles. Unfortunately I pushed myself so much on the running that I didn't have enough left in me to do weights. I made it through squats and lunges before I felt funny and decided to quit. I really felt like I had to push through to make my run a good one b/c I went out yesterday morning and couldn't make my body do anything. I ran .5mi and then walked for awhile, then probably ran another third or so of a mile and quit. I walked for 30min at a pretty brisk pace, but I was really ready to just go home. I was outside so I'm blaming it on the weather. (irrationally blaming the weather).

I am going to wake earlier tomorrow and do something. Pilates? A brisk walk? No idea.

Growl! I suck! Didn't get up early enough to do anything, just get the sweet loving morning child (insert sarcasm) out the door for school. Gotta get her to dance class tonight too--I don't know how I'm going to squeeze in a cardio, let alone weights.

Grr. We both *suck* Melra! I did not work out yesterday. I worked until 8:30 p.m., didn't eat, went home and had a glass of wine and went to bed.

Hopefully today will be better for both of us :)

Oh! I am signing up for a 5k for the middle of November! That is one way to make sure i start running again!

I hope i get to the gym today. I want to do weights and a little cardio.

FishWoman & Mel - You guys don't suck! :p Some days are just harder than others. I didn't get up this morning to get to the gym, but I was able to fit in a bike ride at lunch time. I am hoping to stop at the gym for an upper body weights session on my way home.

Great job on the 45 minute run Mel! I hate when I mess up the buttons so I don't know all my stats. I like to know all that stuff.

Hooray! I foisted work off to a paralegal and made time to go to the gym! I lifted weights for 20 minutes, did 5 minutes of abs, and then ran 2 miles on the treadmill (20 min. 51 seconds). I started off way too fast (at 6 mph) and didn't think i was even going to make 1 mile, but after 6 minutes i bumped down to 5.6 mph and had a really comfortable remaining run. I bumped the last 1/4 mile up to 6 mph again and it rocked. of course, it helped that this awesome song was playing on the radio at the same time!

Melra - i never know whether to lift weights first or do cardio first. (usually i just don't lift, but i am seriously trying to incorporate that into my schedule). I decided that on the days i lift (right now 2x weekly) i would do only 20 minutes of cardio afterward.

*****
10/01 - 45-minute pilates class; 1-hour step aerobic class
10/02 - nothing
10/03 - 45-minutes total body conditioning class (class includes high-rep/low-weight arms/legs; abs; push-ups/plank)
10/04 - 45 minutes on my home elliptical
10/05 - 45 minutes on the elliptical at the gym
10/06 - 50 minutes at the gym today! 20 minutes of weight-lifting; 5 of abs; and 25 on the elliptical.
10/07 - 60 minute ballet workout.
10/08 - nothing
10/09 - 45 minutes of pilates.
10/10 - nothing
10/11 - 46 minutes total - 20 minutes of weight-lifting; 5 of abs; and 20:51 on the treadmill.

Awesome FishWoman, you run fast! :cp: I can't get it above 5.0 and that is pushing it!

I got my butt out of bed at 4:35 and made it to the gym before 5! I did my 35 minute treadmill hill routine. I ran the whole thing, no walking. Of course, I kept it at 4.0 because of the hills and stuff. I also fit in my upper/lower body weights this morning because I did not get to stop at the gym last night.

Tomorrow is a rest day for me. Friday is only 60 minutes of running then probably upper/lower weights after work. I am debating doing the run outside around the gym instead of on the treadmill. I love fall mornings. We'll see what the weather is like, I guess.

Originally Posted by sherpamelissa:
Friday is only 60 minutes of running then probably upper/lower weights after work. I am debating doing the run outside around the gym instead of on the treadmill. I love fall mornings. We'll see what the weather is like, I guess.

Only 60 minutes. You're a champ! I still can't seem to make my outside runs match what I'm able to do on the treadmill. Is outside that much harder?

Originally Posted by :
Awesome FishWoman, you run fast! I can't get it above 5.0 and that is pushing it!

Melissa - I may run *fast*, but you are running Looong! I only ran for 21 minutes! If i was running 60 plus minutes, my pace would be more like a 12 minute mile!

Melra - I always have a harder time running on the treadmill than outside. I go a little slower outside, but i can go longer because i don't get bored.

I haven't made it to the gym yet today. I will check back in once i do!

i can't remember if we've already talked about this before, but do any of you get "in the zone" during your run? if so, when does it kick in? I've noticed that I seem to go in and out of one on my runs--usually I have to make it past the first mile and I'm good for a little bit and then I have to get to 2.5mi to feel another bit of relief. I'm wondering how much of that is psychological, you know, just by virtue of setting small goals during the run and achieving them, or if you can get a "runner's high" on such (relatively) small distance runs.

I was thinking about this b/c of your last post, fisherwoman, b/c I don't really get bored when i'm on the treadmill, it's actually seems easier for me to zone out while I'm running. I do a lot of thinking, I even think about what I'll post when I log back on. I love it when I glance down at the timer and realize I've spaced out for a few minutes, it's like freebie minutes of exercise! I know that this kind of zoning out is different from that runner's high kind of zoning, but I think y'all can see my thought process here.