"Just Do It" challenge

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  • I thought it would be cool to start a board like we do with the weight loss challenges, but for exercise. I think we should all set our individual goals. Some of us need to begin, and others of us may need to move to the next level of physical fitness. Maybe some of you just want to keep better track of what you are already doing.

    There are 9 weeks until summer if we start counting this from Sunday. So we could make that our goal, or:

    I have read that it takes only 7 days to create a bad habit, but 21 days to create a good habit. So we could have the nine weeks as our ultimate goal, but break it up into 3 week mini goals. That is what would work the best for me. Since I have never created an exercise habit, 9 weeks is over whelming, but if I take it in 21 day increments it won't be so overwhelming. But you choose which way you want to keep track of your own goals.

    That said, I am committing to exercise Monday through Friday (and some Saturdays when possible) morning using the routine I have created for myself. It consists of Ballet stretches, 30 mins. of variations of marching in place with arm weight exercises included, stomach crunches, and I finish with another round of Ballet stretches. I did it this morning, and I feel great.


    Here is what I propose for keeping track. I definitely like it where you come up with some sort of calendar that is edited rather than a whole bunch of posts. But you can do what you like.

    Example :

    Week 1 : M_T_(etc. where you mark the days in either as you exercise, or on the weekend you mark down the days you exercised for that week.)

    Just because I want to track what I've done this week too:

    Pre - Week 1:___Th_F--- the main thing is I started!! Now to keep it going!!!

    I am going to count the last two days as days I have exercised. I didn't intend to, but, due to a friend in the hospital, I did a lot of walking, and now I am exhausted.

    Week 1: Well, I am not off to a good start, but I walked so much in that hospital, that I decided I needed a day off, and I think I will be going back there today. I will be glad when my friend gets out of there.
    ___ Tues. ___ Wed. ___ Thurs. ___ Fri. (I didn't feel like it, but I did; now I am glad I did!)___ Decided I really want to take the weekends off, but I am looking forward to exercising tomorrow!!! Everyone is doing so well.

    Week 2: Well, I am slowly adding more anaerobic exercises to my routine. Today, I went from doing wall pushups to doing knee pushups on the floor. Plus I have added some back exercises I saw on Martha Stewart.
    _Mon. ___Tues. ___Wed. ___ not today ___

    Confession time: Felt like it wasn't doing me any good, so what was the point. But then Friday night, I saw what was the point when I got into a skirt that I couldn't wear a month earlier, at the same weight I am now. I understand, and I will be better next week.

    Week 3:

    Then I will add in my next "mini goal" after I have completed the first. ( I will probably try to include walking to the park with the kids 3x a week)

    I think my final "mini goal" will be to restart practicing Messianic Dance, and teach it to my kids!!!

    Let me know what you think, or if you have any suggestions.
  • Great Idea Lyssa!

    Weekly plan 04-14-02

    Sunday
    Goal: none set
    Actual: No clue - maybe yoga - maybe not (I think this may be when I did denise austin and killed myself - see how useful this thread can be?)

    Monday
    Goal: None set
    Actual: Yoga (for weight loss)

    Tuesday
    Goal: None set
    Actual: 1 mile walk/run in 13 min - almost killed the dog!

    Wendesday
    Goal: 1 mile walk/run alone, 1 mile walk/run with dog, 20 min yoga
    Actual: 1 mile walk/run in 13 min., 1 mile walk/run with dog (slow)

    Thursday
    Goal: 1 mile walk/run alone, 1 mile walk/run with dog, 40 min yoga/pilates (denise austin)
    Actual: 1/2 mile walk/run with dog, Yoga for weight loss

    Friday: Running rest day, Yoga for weight loss
    Actual: 1 mile walk/run in 12:08:67, .6 mile "with dog" in 12:16:10, Denise Austin tape

    Saturday: 1 mile jog, Yoga for weight loss
    Actual: 1 mile walk/run in 12:14:26, Yoga for weight loss, clamming (hard work!)


    * Well, I realized that my 20 min yoga tape is actually Much longer! Don't know how long. Wonder where I ever got that idea?

    __________________
  • I'll join you guys here...

    Saturday & Sunday
    Goal: housework & yardwork
    Actual: no yardwork but tons of housework

    Monday
    Goal: 2 mile jog, 2 mile walk
    Actual: 2 mile jog @ 23 min, 1.34 mile walk, 5 mile rollerblade

    Tuesday
    Goal: 15 min jog, 15 min walk, 40 min weights
    Actual: 15 min jog @ 6.0 (1.5 mile), .8 walk, 40 min weights

    Wednesday
    Goal: 2 mile jog, 2 mile walk
    Actual: 1 mile jog & 1 mile walk (leg is hurting a little), 7.8 miles bike, and 3 miles on elliptical

    Thursday
    Goal: 15 min jog, 15 min walk, 40 min weights
    Changing Goal: 30 min walk, 40 min weights
    Actual: 33 min walk (2 miles), 40 min weights

    Friday
    Goal: 3 mile slow jog, 1 mile crawl, don't pass out
    Actual: 3 miles @ 36 min, 1.3 mile walk, stayed conscious!!
  • Welcome Liz! I will be thinking about you on friday!
    Lyssa: Keep it up! Doin great!

    Weekly Plan 4/21/02
    * Jog 1 mile without stopping, 2X each yoga tape, 2X weights

    Sunday
    Goal: 1 mile walk/jog in under 12
    Actual: 1 mile walk/jog in 10:46:26, kayaking

    Monday
    Goal: 1 mile walk/jog in under 12, Denise austin 20 min yoga 20 min pilates
    Actual: 1 mile walk/jog in 10:47:11, 1/2 mile walk with dog, Denise (ugh!)

    Tuesday
    Goal: 1 mile walk/jog in under 11, Yoga for weight loss
    Actual: 2.5 mile walk, 1 mile walk/jog in 10:38:24, 1/2 mile with dog

    Wendesday
    Goal: Weights, Denise Austin
    Actual: NOTHING

    Thursday
    Goal: 1 mile JOG
    Modified goal to make up: 1 mile Jog, both tapes, weights
    Actual: 1 mile JOG in 11:21 on treadmill, 1/2 mile walk,weights (doubt I will get to the tapes)

    Friday
    Goal: 1 mile jog, Weights
    Actual: 1 mile walk/jog

    Saturday
    Goal: Yoga for Weight Loss
    Actual: NADA

    Welcome Rabbit!
    Liz good luck tomorrow!
    Lyssa you are doing great!

    Well, did well with the "running" program, but not great on the other stuff. Will try for same goals next week, then modify if they seem just impossible.
  • hi all. I like the idea of an exercise thread. I presently keep track of my exercise on the journal thread, but don't list goals.

    My goals for this week: rec ctr. M-F, walking atleast 2 miles/day; back to doing weights 4 days; get back to yoga class; atleast 30 minutes of exercise Saturday & Sunday.

    good luck all.

    Rabbit

    week 1: So far, so good. I went to the club M-F, did my weights as planned, went to my yoga class. Now for the weekend. ~ Saturday done! ~ Sunday done!
  • Weekly Plan 4/28/02
    * Jog 2 miles without stopping, 2X each yoga tape, 2X weights

    Sunday
    Goal: 1 mile Jog
    Actual: 1 mile jog in 10:45:23

    Monday
    Goal: 12 minute nonstop jog (try for 1.2 miles), Denise austin 20 min yoga 20 min pilates
    Actual: 1 mile in just under 11. Could bear no more.

    Tuesday
    Goal: 1 mile run in under 10, Yoga for weight loss
    Actual: TOM self-pitty party, Yoga for weight loss

    Wendesday
    Goal: Weights, Denise Austin
    Actual: 10 min of 12 min nonstop jog

    Thursday
    Goal: 2 mile Jog
    Actual: nope

    Friday
    Goal: 1 mile jog, Weights
    Actual: 2 mile jog in 24 min on treadmill

    Saturday
    Goal: Yoga for Weight Loss
    Actual:
  • Saturday & Sunday
    Goal: wash Jeep inside and out
    Actual: Jeep clean

    Monday
    Goal: 2 mile jog, 2 mile walk
    Actual: 2 mile jog outside in heat, 10 min walk

    Tuesday
    Goal: 30 min walk, 40 min weights
    Actual: 30 min walk (2 miles), 40 min weights

    Wednesday
    Goal: 15 min run, 45 min walk
    Actual: 11 min run @ 6.2, 4 min run @ 6.0, 45 min walk

    Thursday
    Goal: 30 min walk, 40 min weights
    Actual: 30 min elliptical, 40 min weights

    Friday
    Goal: 3 mile slow jog @ 11 min pace
    Actual: 4 mile slow jog @ 12 min pace
  • Hmm. My plan for this week will have to be a little more complicated as I'm leaving town on Thursday.

    Plan: M-R 1 hour workout at healthclub (walking, weights, elliptical, bike). One yoga class. Try to get walking in each day while gone.


  • Go team go!!!!

    Everyone is doing great! Especially Lyssa, since starting is the hardest part (no offense Rabbit and Lizzard, but you guys are already old hats). Keep up the great work!

  • Bailey - Will it ever stop feeling like a chore? I guess if I keep pushing myself, it will at least be more like a habbit rather than a chore.

    But, yes, we are ALL pushing ourselves, and I hope we will all see the benifits of our efforts!!!
  • Lyssa - TOM just arrived. Will be best if I wait and respond to that question at a later date.
  • Lys, I've been working out five days a week for 1 1/2 years and it finally doesn't feel like a chore anymore. I don't know when it stopped feeling that way but now it's just something I'm responsible for doing -- kind of like brushing your teeth. I have terrible allergy and sinus problems so when I used to not exercise it would take me hours to get my head cleared in the morning so that I felt like a normal person. I think that's the main thing I enjoy -- it has really helped me to breathe easier throughout the day. There are still some mornings I hate going to the gym and I whine the whole time I am there but I know that I will feel great as soon as I'm done. I also know that on the few days that I have skipped the exercise I get really mad at myself and feel like crap all day. It's just something I have accepted and incorporated in my life. Wow!! Never thought I'd say that. However, I know that if I don't stay focused I could easily quit going and not think twice about it.

    Does that help??
  • Thanks Liz, it does help. I was thinking recently how unfair it is that we have to exercise to keep fit. But I realized that our bodies were created to do hard labor, and in our modern world, we don't go out and work the fields and do all the labor that it used to require just to survive; so now we have to exercise to survive. That thought is helping me a little, and what you said helps even more.
  • It doesn't feel like a chore to me anymore either. It's the way I start my day & I feel odd if I don't do it.

    Rabbit
  • Here we go again

    Saturday & Sunday
    Goal: lots of housework
    Actual: did all my chores & 2 mile walk on beach

    Monday
    Goal: 3 miles @ 11 min pace & 30 min evening bike ride
    Actual: 3.1 miles @ 10:54 pace (completed 5K in 33 min), 40 min bike ride

    Tuesday
    Goal: 30 min elliptical, 40 min weights & 30 min bike ride
    Actual: 30 min ellipt, 40 min weights, 40 min bike ride

    Wednesday
    Goal: 60 min on treadmill (5 min fast/slow intervals), 30 min bike
    Actual: 60 min treadmill (intervals for only 20 min), no biking

    Thursday
    Goal: 30 min elliptical, 40 min weights & 30 min bike ride
    Actual: 30 min ellipt, 40 min weights, no biking again

    Friday
    Goal: 4 miles @ 11.5 min pace & 30 min bike ride
    Actual: 4 1/4 miles @ 11.5 pace, 3/4 mile walk

    I've got to ride my bike for a little while every night to get my butt ready for a bike event on Saturday. Every year we do a Beach-Bar-Bike-A-Thon to raise money for the cancer society. They get 100-200 bicyclists together to hit ten local taverns. It's totally insane crazy fun!!! I'm going to limit myself to three drinks though instead of ten!! It's an all day activity but we probably only cover ten miles.