Wow we are all raking in those exercise hours!!!


Shellie: WA is a great place to live!! Some places are better than others, but I'm part duck. I love the stormy weather (although I do hate the leaky roof!) I am lucky, I have lived here all of my life and never want to leave! (Don't believe what you here it doesnt rain 9 months out of the year, recently its been pretty dry!)

Jasmine... I was wondering what happened to you! Wow you are really racking up the exercise minutes... very impressive.

I am finally on an exercise roll... so proud! I am WAY ahead of my goal of averaging 30 mins a day.

November
1 - 15 min brisk walk with dog, 50 minute killer spin class = 65 minutes
2 - 30 min brisk walk with dog, 30 min swimming (1,000 yards/20 laps... a little over a half mile) = 60 mins
3 - 30 min brisk walk with dog = 30 mins
4 - 0
5 - 30 min swimming (1,050 yards/21 laps) = 30 mins
6 - 15 min brisk walk with dog, 50 min spin class = 65 mins
7 - 30 min brisk walk with dog = 30 mins
8 - 15 min brisk walk with dog, 50 min spin class = 65 mins
9 - 2 30 min brisk walks with dog = 60 mins
10 - 15 min brisk walk with dog = 15 mins
11 -
12 -
13 -
14 -
15 -
16 -
17 -
18 -
19 -
20 -
21 -
22 -
23 -
24 -
25 -
26 -
27 -
28 -
29 -
30 -

TOTAL MINUTES: 420/900

:swim: :ebike: :running:

Soljourner: You are doing great! at this rate you will be done with your goal way before the end of the month!!!

Hey thanks... I really owe a lot to this challenge because it has made me accountable. What a great challenge thread!

Hey guys, just checkin' in. Worked out for an hour after work yesterday, but I think I pushed myself a little too hard, because my knee is KILLING me this morning. Oh well, just gotta keep on keepin' on, won't let a stupid injury slow ME down!

I'm digging this challenge too! I probably go to the gym the same as I always did but writing down minutes and miles really keeps me motivated, and proves to myself a sense of accomplishment. I'd like to do this every month. If anyone is interested, my record is on page ONE of this thread, I just keep editting it and adding on when I go. I'm almost halfway there.

So I changed up my routine a bit, one day I didn't feel like getting on the cross trainer at the end so I chose a different machine for my cool down cardio. I never thought much of the stationary bike (no offense, jc, I know you love yours) but I wanted to sit (LOL) and popped on one, and chose cross train as the program and it KICKED MY BUTT! It makes you warm up at 60-80 rpm and every so often kick it up to 100 rpm, at level 5, and I was sweatin! So now I go to that every workout, which to me feels a little like cheating, since you can bike twice as far as you can walk or run. But it feels so good and it is a tough workout. Plus I've been changing up my weight training, varying the weights with each rep.

Well I am off to the store, looking to stock up on produce. Isn't day one after the big grocery shop the BEST salad day! Work tonight, and off the weekend. Oh and this is nice, the hospital I work in rents out the local Toys R Us and opens the door only to the employees, closed to the public, they serve snacks and have drawings and giveaways. So that is on Sunday. I hope to get most of my kids' stuff done there. I think they give us some kind of discount too. It's one of the nicest things they offer us.

Why oh why do we clean our houses every day yet the next day we have to do it ALL over again? Or is that a having kids thing? I need to get off this computer and just get cleaning! Oh and DS doesn't have school today, inservice or something so he and his sister have been fighting all morning. Calgon take me away! LOL

I love this challenge! I like the accountability out there for everyone to see, plus I like seeing my record page and that I have done something everyday! I would love to keep up an exercise challenge every month, It is so good for my morale!!

:) Michelle, I understand about the housekeeping bit. I hate cleaning in general, and I am a terrible housekeeper. Sure I clean, but I still don't like it. (My DH's grandmother HATES it when she comes here and there is a mess SORRY I have 2 kids who pull everything out of the toy box so they can step on their toys!!) I wish I could pogram my bike :( is just a basic fan bike, but Ya I do love it. If I was to count the miles I do on it in a month it would be over 200 (according to the bikes computer) yesterday I did 14.6 miles in 30 minutes (I was booking!)
Shellie: take it easy on your knee!!

I loved the stationary bike at the gym. I surprisingly felt it in my legs in the evening. so much I had to run a bath to help with some of the achiness in my legs and feet.

November 10- 50 minutes treadmill 2 miles/20 minutes stationary bike 4 miles

Newbie
 

Hi.
I just joined the New Year's challenge and it looks like there are a few of you on this challenge as well.

I set up a workout schedule for myself for the month of November which I started last Saturday. My goal is to work out (cardio & weights) every day, but I have gotten in 4 days this week, which is probably more realistic for me as I work full time and have a family.

I am going to make my minutes to include some sort of cardio (biking, walking, DVD) and weights (I have free weights). So far since last week, I have 342 minutes. My goal is 1000 minutes which I feel is easily attainable at this time! I just want to be successful for one month and then hopefully it will become a habit!

My hope is that this challenge will keep me accountable. You all sound wonderful and motivated! Thanks for putting this together and I hope it's ok if I join your challenge at this late time!

Julie

Wow I hit my half way mark and its only the 11th!

November
1 - 15 min brisk walk with dog, 50 minute killer spin class = 65 minutes
2 - 30 min brisk walk with dog, 30 min swimming (1,000 yards/20 laps... a little over a half mile) = 60 mins
3 - 30 min brisk walk with dog = 30 mins
4 - 0
5 - 30 min swimming (1,050 yards/21 laps) = 30 mins
6 - 15 min brisk walk with dog, 50 min spin class = 65 mins
7 - 30 min brisk walk with dog = 30 mins
8 - 15 min brisk walk with dog, 50 min spin class = 65 mins
9 - 2 30 min brisk walks with dog = 60 mins
10 - 15 min brisk walk with dog = 15 mins
11 - 30 min swim (22 laps/1100 yards) = 30 mins
12 - 15 min brisk walk with dog = 15 mins
13 - 2 15 min brisk walks with dog, 60 min spin class = 90 mins
14 - 15 min brisk walk with dog = 15 mins
15 -
16 -
17 -
18 -
19 -
20 -
21 -
22 -
23 -
24 -
25 -
26 -
27 -
28 -
29 -
30 -

TOTAL MINUTES: 570/900

:swim: :ebike: :running:

Welcome Julie! Great job Sojourner!!!

No working out this weekend (well I got a workout packing, lifting boxes, cleaning) but I can't really count those as intentional exercise. But I will do great tomorrow!!

Happy Monday,my workout buddies!!! I worked my tooshy off last week, and I am a little bummed because I ended up gaining a 1/2 lb. My hubby says it is because I am gaining muscle mass, but that's not really what I want to hear. I about smacked him. So, how was everyone's weekend? Ya'll doing your workouts? I have a quick question. I've been working out with weights, enough to push my muscles, but not enough to get man-arms. Did any of you hit a plateau when you started working out with weights? Should I hold off on toning until I get closer to my goal weight? Pleeeease, let me know what works for you guys.

Gaining muscle mass is so much better because muscle burns more calories than Fat. Plus muscle is more compact than fat so you may very well be gaining muscle but losing fat at the same time. Are you keeping track of measurements? I would suggest it because on weeks when I haven't lost any weight, I have lost in my measurements. It really helps keep me going. I work out with weights at least 3 times a week at 20 minutes each time. I am using enough to feel, but not enough to have to struggle with.

It is very difficult to gain significant muscle mass... especially for a woman. Definitely stick with it and unless you are really muscular to start and build muscle very easily (rare for women), go for the heavy weights and lift until failure (meaning the last set of reps is heavy enough that you can't do another). Do not worry about the man arms... its just not going to happen without months of lifting and high protein/low fat diet! Nothing whips your body into shape like heavy weight lifting combined with aerobics. The weight gain could be water retention or any number of things, assuming your eating is under control. A lot of people see a standstill or temporary gain when they start exercising vigorously... be patient! Your body has to deal with changing muscles, fat cells, tendons, joints, hormone levels, etc. and if you stick with it the scale will catch up in a few weeks. Remember increased muscle mass means you will be burning more calories just sitting on the couch watching tv. Gotta' love that! Go check out the Body for Life program if you want to see what heavy weights can do for your body. http://www.bodyforlife.com/

If all goes as planned I should hit my halfway mark today I just need to keep up the intensity. One of my walking buddies is leaving for Hawaii (moving not vacation) and I am so sad. She is the one I could count on to walk with me. Now I think I am going to add in a 20 minute workout after work at home (not a high intensity one, but maybe I will do strength training or pilates).