Welcome to October!

Set some goals and HAPPY STEPPING!

I got in an hour on the treadmill this morning. I set a step goal of 12,000 steps for 6 days a week. It will be a push some days to get the steps in, but I feel good physically at that activity level. My eating was on track yesterday. Today will be a bit of a challenge---cookies at the woodcarving meeting and lunch out with a friend.

I need 12,000 also! Congrats on the eating, its hard to stay on track. I'm trying to find an eating "track". Its been a real challenge.

Hi everyone...I'm back.
Before I can figure out my goals, I need an accurate pedometer. I have one and it just isn't very accurate. Which one does everyone recommend? I am excited to start but I don't want to be thinking that I have done 10,000 steps when I haven't.
Thanks for any help!

Hi Hattie. I use the DigiWalker pedometer (www.new-lifestyles.com), model SW200. It only counts steps. It has a good reputation for accuracy. The security strap is a good idea--saved me from losing it a couple of times.

I calculated that I need to get around 8,000 steps a day to burn off the calories I am taking in, so am going to use that for my "rest day" goal. I updated my step ticker to reflect that correction. I have logged less than 4,000 steps on really lazy days.

My hour on the treadmill and the shopping I did today put me over my step goal.

Hi Hattie! I have the Omron pedometer, which I also recommend. I've never tried any other, so I don't know much about others. The Omron is kinda big, but it looks like there are smaller ones available now.

I only got 5602 steps yesterday! I can't believe it! I worked and felt like I was all over the place. I guess I spent more time at my desk than I thought. I didn't get on the treadmill (hand smack) yesterday, but I've already done 1/2 hour this morning so I'm on a better track.

This is my maintenance month. My weight is 188 and I'm supposed to keep it there all month. Its ironic that I struggled all last month trying to lose and kinda lost my dedication to it. Now that I am supposed to maintain, I really want to lose! Its really hard to resist the urge to try to lose.

Oh well... we'll see where the month ends up. 12,000 steps seems like a reasonable goal for the long term. I have to get on the treadmill or take the dogs for a walk to get all the steps, but that seems like its the life change that I need.

Cat - Lazy days are great. Your goals seem like good ones. I am still struggling with the eating thing. I eat too much when I am at home and not enough at work. I end up getting so busy at work that I can't eat, which is horrible. I stopped and bought a can of Slim Fast yesterday so at least I can whip up a shake when I can't eat. It's got to be better than nothing at all. Otherwise, I get light headed and then eat all the wrong things!

Chat with you all later!

Hello everyone! Well, with the new month I'm going to really try to get at least 10,000 steps in a day. Yesterday was close with 9183. I just get down and frustrated with wanting to get moved and can't do that until the house sells. We did have some people come and look at it Tuesday, they seemed really interested but then who knows??? I got an email from our realtor and she hasn't been able to get back in touch with them and they haven't called her either. So who knows? The listing is up with the realtor on October 11th and then I don't know what we will do. I think I'm going to plan to go back to MO. for awhile though close to the end of this month and spend my Dad's 89th birthday (November 4) with him and my family. I think I am just real homesick and lonely for them!
Well, everyone have a good day and I'll check back later. Welcome Hattie! You will love this group! They are just the best!!

Hi Karen. Glad to see you again. I hope you get your house sold this month. The break to visit your family in MO sounds like a really good idea, no matter what happens.

Sassy: You have a difficult food situation at work if you can't even take 10 minutes to eat half a sandwich. The slim fast is a good idea, better than nothing, but you are still short of calories for a long day. That is really tough. Step totals with daily activities don't seem to get much above 4-5000 without yard work or serious shopping. I will probably need something extra on my rest day like an easy walk, either outside or on the treadmill, which will take about 1/2 an hour to get 8,000 steps. I think that is called "active rest". Or I could eat about 100 calories less. The latter would be a good option if I really needed to veg out.

I weighed 133.2 this morning, so I have gained about a pound. The ice cream would have accounted for half of that. A big piece of the rest came from a monthly potluck last Saturday with some quilting friends. There are always at least three rich desserts. It is a small group (7), so it is hard to say no. I probably took in at least 1000 calories more than I needed right there and then I couldn't sleep that night, so was really torpid on Sunday.

I certainly feel better when I stay on track.

I met my step goal today. I also did OK with my food.

The big factor in gaining back my pound was the fact I didn't count steps or do any kind of workout at all for 8 days or so. I checked things out with a calculator that gives an estimate of caloric needs based on activity level. The difference between sedentary and my estimated activity level for 12,000 step days is about 500 calories. I wouldn't have lost any more weight, but I could have maintained the 132 pounds in spite of the dietary excesses.

Holy moly! I can't believe its 500 calories! I gotta clean real quick, but I'll be back to catch up!

I tried a "hill climb" program on my treadmill today. That got me sweating. I needed to stop every 20 minutes to drink some water. I also found that you can't wander around more than 5 minutes because the program shuts off. I put another coat of finish on a small project during my 2nd break and was surprised my treadmill had given up on me! So I finished with plain walking.

Sassy: There are all kinds of calculators on this web site: http://www.caloriesperhour.com/index_burn.php

The BMR/RMR calculator gives a rough estimate of calories needed to maintain weight for a given activity level. 12,000 steps for 6 days a week should be well above the "moderately active" category, but probably less than "very active". So I used 1.65 as the activity factor to come up with 500 cal. For me the difference between "moderately active" and "sendentary" is 400 calories if I wanted to be conservative in my estimate, but it will be more for you since you are younger. Exercise matters.

I off to the California coast for a few days. Will check back in on Sunday the 12th. I am taking my pedometer. Have a happy stepping week.

Wow. I just got back from a very tiring weekend. I had fun, but I'm worn out and have tons of laundry to do. Steps were OK all weekend. Have fun Cat!

Well, I'm still stepping, though its still tough. I need to go get on the treadmill right now. Blech. I'm trying to wait until a good show comes on so I'll stay on for a while! LOL!

Eating hasn't been a real problem, though I ate Chinese food yesterday and my tummy has been weird feeling ever since. I just don't feel like eating now. Kinda a blessing!

Have a great day everyone!

Hi everyone
I'm back! I bought the Omron Pedometer. I love it! Much more accurate than the other one.

My challenge for October will be 10,000 steps a day. (310,000) right?

Yesterday I did 11,447 steps (5777 aerobic). Since I am new at this, I will ask your advice. Is that a pretty good goal for starters? I am including time on the Treadmill and time doing wii fit. Is that what you do? Is it total for the whole day no matter what you are doing?

Thanks for the support and advice.