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Jan 15 Weekly Challenge: The Missing Piece

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themedalist
themedalist Posts: 3,212 Member
edited January 2018 in Social Groups
Theme: Exercise and Movement
Challenge: The Missing Piece

I love my treadmill. On most days, I use it several times a day. I use it to exercise, to read Kindle books, watch videos, answer emails, and scan MFP and Facebook. There are so many things that I used to do sitting down that I now do while walking slowly on my treadmill. I’m walking on it now, and “writing” our weekly challenge by using the microphone feature on my tablet.

But I also know that I can be too reliant on my treadmill. Yes, cardiovascular health is important , but I don’t want to neglect the other prongs of fitness: strength training, flexibility, and balance. For optimal health, we need a balanced fitness routine. This year, my main fitness goal is to develop a yoga routine that works for me and practice it several times a week.

I think many of us become too silo-ed in what we do for exercise. So this week, let’s branch out and try something different. What’s the missing piece in your exercise regimen? What would you like to try this week that might be a good fit for you?

This week’s Suggested Resources list was challenging to put together. There are so many ways to exercise and an almost endless list of good quality resources that could be included. But I wanted to include some starting points; resources appropriately for beginners. Since I’m no expert, I reached out to a few of my very knowledgeable friends. The yoga resources came from two long-term yoga teachers and the strength training resources were suggested by my good friend, certified health coach and personal trainer Jen Sturm of Get With It for Life.

Please add to these web resources! If you are a yoga practitioner, what websites do you recommend? What was helpful to you when you started strength training? Do any of you practice tai chi or another exercise that helps your mind, body, and spirit? Please chime in and help us all!

And if your missing piece is that you don’t have an exercise routine in place, that’s also a great focus for this week. Exercising consistently by doing things you enjoy has so many health benefits. Dietary changes are huge, but weight loss, weight maintenance, and better health are all closely tied to exercise and sitting less throughout the day. Keep trying new exercises until you find something that you enjoy or is at least acceptable to you. A 10 to 15 minute daily walk is a terrific starting point.

This Week’s Challenge: Identify the “missing piece” of fitness you’d like to work on this week. Then, at least 3 times this week, take 15 or 20 minutes to practice what you’ve selected. The resources below may help you get started, but please ask the group for recommendations on anything specific you are looking for.

I look forward to hearing what “missing piece” you’ll be working on this week. Please share any websites and other resources that you use for your favorite activities. We can all learn from each other!

Make it a great week!

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Suggested Resources:

Walking:
Walking Resources for Beginners:
https://www.verywell.com/walking-beginners-4014313
Leslie Sansone’s Walk at Home Group on MFP (all walkers welcome)
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/335-leslie-sansone-walk-at-home

Yoga:
The Best Free Yoga Videos for Beginners
https://greatist.com/move/free-online-yoga-videos
Online Yoga Classes from Yoga International (30 Day Free Trial)
https://yogainternational.com/classes/

Strength Training:
Girls Gone Strong:
https://www.girlsgonestrong.com
Nia Shanks:
https://www.niashanks.com/
Nerd Fitness:
https://www.nerdfitness.com
You Are Your Own Gym:
https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Your-Own-Gym-ebook/dp/B004GTLFNW

Balance Exercises:
Beginner exercises for balance:
https://www.fitnessblender.com/videos/beginner-exercises-for-balance-15-minute-beginner-balance-workout
Advanced balance exercises:
https://www.verywell.com/advanced-balance-exercises-2696235

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Replies

  • sandra8841
    sandra8841 Posts: 35 Member
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    I think I will try the yoga I tend to be like you and focus mostly on just walking or a stationary bike
  • debk0718
    debk0718 Posts: 16 Member
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    I am going to add some free weight arm exercises while using my stationary bike, and I would also like to give yoga a try. Hopefully I'll be coordinated enough. :smile:
  • SilverSheWolf55
    SilverSheWolf55 Posts: 95 Member
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    I am getting back to strength training this week. Three times a week to start. Eventually I would like to do yoga and/or tai chi. I just need to find the right "fit" for me. Thanks for posting this challenge. I really needed it! :)
  • prgirl39mfp
    prgirl39mfp Posts: 3,154 Member
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    My plan is to keep walking ( that is my quiet time) and add elliptical and strength routines. Also keep working on my meditation. Thanks for the links. My main goal is to take control of my food.
  • 77tes
    77tes Posts: 7,757 Member
    edited January 2018
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    2017 I added yoga to my workout routines and really love it. Here is my favorite beginner yoga challenge. It took me about 3 months to get through the 30 day beginner challenge. I let it slip over the holidays so I want to get back to that. I'll think about what I'd like to add in. The longer I work on health and fitness the moire I appreciate having many different kinds of exercise to use. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zzonBs06mX8
  • themedalist
    themedalist Posts: 3,212 Member
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    77tes wrote: »
    2017 I added yoga to my workout routines and really love it. Here is my favorite beginner yoga challenge. It took me about 3 months to get through the 30 day beginner challenge. I let it slip over the holidays so I want to get back to that. I'll think about what I'd like to add in. The longer I work on health and fitness the moire I appreciate having many different kinds of exercise to use. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zzonBs06mX8

    Thank you for posting this, @77tes. I’m going to check it out!
  • nebslp
    nebslp Posts: 1,648 Member
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    I’ve fallen in love with Classical Stretch and feel like i get a full body workout when I do it so that will continue every day (most days, anyway). I’d like to get back to the basics of when I started MFP 5 years ago so I will dig out my old dvds and give them another shot. I also have a kettlebell that’s been collecting dust since I bought it a year ago.
  • fatbambi2017
    fatbambi2017 Posts: 1,295 Member
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    I used to love doing yoga years ago, cannot think why I stopped, probably time lol! I will dig my Barbara Currie DVDs out, get up a bit earlier and get the show on the road, cannot wait! Love all the positivity of you all!
  • UnicornSmoothie
    UnicornSmoothie Posts: 20 Member
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    It has been really cold here lately, so I haven't left the house much. That's my goal for this week - to get out of the house and do something... anything. Bonus points for that "something" being the gym.
  • Mary407
    Mary407 Posts: 635 Member
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    Thanks for another great challenge, Denise!
    Two things are definitely missing for me - consistency with walking at least 3x a week, and getting back in the pool. So, my goals this week are to take at least three nice walks and to go to the pool once. It's been months since I've been swimming myself (sitting in the bleachers at the pool for my kid's swim practices/meets does not count as 'going to the pool' in this context :p ). And I really, truly have been missing swimming.
  • fatbambi2017
    fatbambi2017 Posts: 1,295 Member
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    77tes wrote: »
    2017 I added yoga to my workout routines and really love it. Here is my favorite beginner yoga challenge. It took me about 3 months to get through the 30 day beginner challenge. I let it slip over the holidays so I want to get back to that. I'll think about what I'd like to add in. The longer I work on health and fitness the moire I appreciate having many different kinds of exercise to use. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zzonBs06mX8

    Thank you for this 77tes! I am going to do this as I am soooo stiff! Tried Barbara Currie DVD but didn't get far, I remember now I stopped doing yoga after a knee injury a couple of years ago so will go at my own little pace with this!

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