2020: Not A Complete Waste

springlering62

Inspired by a Facebook friend, I ran the numbers for 2020.

I’ve walked 6,835,720 steps this year and walked or run 3395 miles.

I squatted 165, benched 155 (coming from zero, so I’m pleased).

I’ve averaged at least one mat class a day in 2020. I love Pilates roll-ups and tick-tocks now. I’ve achieved headstand, many versions of arm balances, several twisted bind variations, and other yoga milestones.

I’ve learned to power walk. I walk so much, complete strangers refer to me as “oh, you’re the walking lady” or “the leggings lady”.

I started the year at 146.6, up because of a month long trip to Germany for a family wedding. I’m ending it at 133. Up because I planned on lots of holiday foods. I ended last year at 29.4% body fat, and was 21.9% on my second dexa scan four months ago.

In between I’ve needlepointed eight pillows, made three large afghans, embroidered a beaded table runner and a beaded bead-box (ha!), and more I can’t remember.

While it hasn’t been all I hoped for (my kids are thousands of miles away, and I’d really just like to hug them and friends I miss), 2020 has been a case for turning lemons into lemonade.

How about you? What have you done or learned from 2020?

Sand_TIger

I love what you've done! Wonderful on so many levels! I know you'll be even more awesome in this coming year.

I have gotten rid of a little over 80 pounds and brought my body fat from around 52% down to 30%. I'm a little stronger than I started and can do waaaaay more squats than before and I'm so close to being able to do a real pushup.

I've also baked pretty much all the bread for the year - and really improved my technique. I've also learned how to make fairly healthy pizza that tastes like delivery - from scratch. Pretty proud of that one! Oh and... I'm so much healthier and happier now. I'm not at goal weight but can see that it's possible!

springlering62

@Sand_TIger 52 to 30% is absolutely amaaaaaazing and inspiring. That is a shining accomplishment right there, right along with those squats. And the bread-ucation 2020 brought with it!

TakeTheLongWayHome

Well done to both of you. Very inspirational achievements.

The thing I am most proud of is that I rode my bike for more than 2500 miles last year. Two years ago, walking up stairs was a chore.

joanl9

Great job! Now I wish I kept better records of my own activity! But I did manage to lose 30 pounds while being healthy at home. If I can lose another 30 this year, I'll be back in the normal weight range.

DancingMoosie

You got that many plates on the bar and it only adds up to 165??? Not "only" like that's all you lift just....the amount of plates looks like a ton!
I was trying to come back to lifting after being out from march-aug and had gotten my squat back to around 140ish and bench 95(boo👎), but then got kicked out again and back to dumbbells at home. Really not sure what to expect for this year. I've been trying to run a little more since I'm not in the gym, so I just ordered an arm band for my phone and new running shoes. I have a goal of running 8.5 miles without walk breaks by the end of the month🤞

springlering62

DancingMoosie wrote: »

You got that many plates on the bar and it only adds up to 165??? Not "only" like that's all you lift just....the amount of plates looks like a ton!
I was trying to come back to lifting after being out from march-aug and had gotten my squat back to around 140ish and bench 95(boo👎), but then got kicked out again and back to dumbbells at home. Really not sure what to expect for this year. I've been trying to run a little more since I'm not in the gym, so I just ordered an arm band for my phone and new running shoes. I have a goal of running 8.5 miles without walk breaks by the end of the month🤞

They’re bumper plates on an Olympic bar. They look heavy but they’re super light for the size. We rotate each week between regular plates, bumpers, and sometimes giant chains that look like they could anchor the Queen Mary.

I hated arm bands. Have you thought about the pocket waist bands? If you’ve got wireless earbuds they work great.

DancingMoosie

Do the waist bands bounce?

DancingMoosie

And you bench 155???

nexangelus

DancingMoosie wrote: »

And you bench 155???

I know, that is dead awesome right?!

That was my last bench PB and I weighed a lot more than the OP...must re-test it at some point. I have just hit 155 lbs push press (overhead press with leg drive) for a couple of doubles recently...

2020 has been full of challenges but it made me refocus and come back stronger mentally and physically....a year on from an abusive relationship and I feel so different....so much more at ease with myself and others...

quiksylver296

2020 has been rough for me - caught COVID, son’s appendectomy during COVID lockdown, getting fired and trying to find a new job.

My sanity has been the gym. I deadlifted 400 pounds (but couldn’t quite lock it out), and squatted 300 lbs. Every time I get mentally down, I head to the gym.

I read 238 books. My goal was 112. 😁

Hubby bought me a used power rack, a barbell, 300 lbs of plates, and a set of dumbbells up to 50’s. That was awesome about 2020. I still don’t have the gym set up yet though. Need to pull up carpet and stuff in the spare room.

durhammfp

DancingMoosie wrote: »

Do the waist bands bounce?

Depends. I use a flip belt and it is very snug on me: https://flipbelt.com/flipbelt. Another advantage of the flip belt is that most of the openings do not have zippers. Anything I have used like this before, the zipper has broken way too soon.

suzij27

I love this thread!

My fitness tracker doesn’t hook into mfp (or any app), so I don’t have a step count for the year. But I am walking with friends outside, no matter the weather, and have worked up to 5-6 miles per day at least 5x a week and 3 miles on the other 2 days.

I got the message this morning that I have logged in for 250 days in a row. I know I have tracked my food/calories since 5/2/20 which is a major accomplishment. I have lost 40 lbs in that time and many inches (I need to take measurements this month).

JGT001

Kudos to y'all!

I consider myself lucky in that I've been able to work full time for the entire duration of 2020 because I have quite a few friends who couldn't. I'm a laboratory supervisor, so it was a crazy time for my team with many long days & anxious nights, but we survived (so far).

That being said, I've managed to get in over 3.2 million steps and close to 1500 miles for the year, not bad considering my go-to walking trails & gym were closed for a few months. I've met a bunch of dogs & cats by walking in my neighborhood (some weren't very friendly) I didn't reach my weight goal for the year, but I still lost about 19 lbs, so I'm not disappointed. I still wish the pool would reopen so I can get some laps in, but till then, just doing what I can to stay active.

Hope we all have a good year ahead of us!

Beautyofdreams

In September of 2019 I joined a clinical weight loss program. Had to leave it for financial issues. Rejoined the program in February 2020 and it was cancelled a week later. Woke up in March and decided that I didn't want to be fat anymore. Since March 8, 2020 I have lost 63.9 pounds bringing me into the normal bmi range. Since I started taking measurements in May, I have lost 8.75" from bust, 9" from waist, 8" from hips, 5.5" from thighs and 3" from calves.

In early December, My boyfriend of 9 years, died of Covid pneumonia. In the past, I would have comfort eaten to numb or sedate my feelings. Instead, I had one package of triple chocolate cupcakes on the day of the funeral and put myself back into a routine. I am still grieving and there are many empty hours but I am not filling them with food. I have learned healthy coping mechanisms. That is a victory of sorts. Though I wish it had not come at such a great cost.

springlering62

Oh, Beauty. I am so sorry. I’m glad you found your strength of purpose, but oh my goodness, tested under such circumstances. I know your heart is broken. I hope 2021 brings you much healing. 😘

estherpotter1

I lost18 ksg,not many.I have more kgs to lose this year.

AwesomeSquirrel

DancingMoosie wrote: »

Do the waist bands bounce?

I too use a flipbelt and it’s great. Doesn’t bounce,and has a little thing to clip in your keychain so they don’t slide out if that’s a feature for you, I like that they give measurements both relaxed and stretched for each size - to ensure less bounce I suggest sizing down into a more stretched size.

I’ve actually just ordered a new one - the XL is sliding around my hips a fair bit now so I’m jumping down to an M.

speyerj

There's a lot that I am proud of accomplishing this year:

I lost 53 pounds
I hit my goal weight
I maintained my goal weight for the last 6 months of the year
I ran 2 half marathons
I learned how to row in a single shell
I went off high blood pressure and high cholesterol medicine
I didn't get sick once (wearing a mask really does make a difference!)
I didn't let injuries derail my exercise - instead, I treated them and got stronger
I made new friends though running and rowing
I volunteered to get out the vote during the election
I learned a lot about myself - that I am stronger than I realize, that I am resilient, that I am determined, that I am beautiful.

Lietchi

Great idea, this year has been tough but certainly not all negative.

So for me:
- I lost 14.8kg (33lbs) and 5.6 BMI points, from just into obese to almost a normal BMI.
- I took 5 246 986 steps, which averages out to over 14k steps per day, a very significant increase compared to the year before
- according to my Garmin (so very approximate) I've increased my VO2max from 36 to 42, I'm now in the top 25% for my age and gender
- a year ago, my 'running' was at the beginning stages: I could jog for an hour non-stop, but only at 6,3-6,5 kph, barely faster than walking. Yesterday I ran for an hour, average speed 7,4kph, with 15 minutes non-stop at 8 kph.
- I went on a hiking holiday and was able to do hikes that I hadn't been capable of for years, and doing them within the time specified in the guides (instead of double the time, when I was still obese)
- I started lifting weights again (after stopping for a number of years) and got an awesome power rack to update my set-up. Which also got my BF exercising again

Overall I'm a lot more confident: in how I look, but also having accomplished so much. I'm not a very disciplined person, I feel, but my journey has been surprisingly easy. So apparently I can be disciplined when I set my mind to it
Next step is to apply that discipline to other aspects of my life (work, hobbies) and I'll be unstoppable, lol.

springlering62

Lietchi wrote: »

Overall I'm a lot more confident: in how I look, but also having accomplished so much. I'm not a very disciplined person, I feel, but my journey has been surprisingly easy. So apparently I can be disciplined when I set my mind to it
Next step is to apply that discipline to other aspects of my life (work, hobbies) and I'll be unstoppable, lol.

@Lietchi i love all of your post, but especially this!!!!! And what a great choice of word!

Unstoppable, indeed!!!!

nexangelus

quiksylver296 wrote: »

My sanity has been the gym. I deadlifted 400 pounds (but couldn’t quite lock it out), and squatted 300 lbs. Every time I get mentally down, I head to the gym.

^^^ so much this! And lush lifts lady : )

Mountainlove

This is such a great thread! I love hearing the successes everyone had last year.

I started out 2020 with one goal: running outside again. I had been using the treadmill since my kids were born (2006, 2008) and never really got back out there. Jan-April were a washout for us - it rained so, so much. 2020 was the second wettest year, since records were kept.

1. I ended the year with running 3 days a week, averaging 5.5-6.5 miles per run.
2. I lost 20 lbs. It was a “side-effect” of running. Once I started running more, I started tracking food.
3. I feel better and feel I’m in a better spot with mental health. I’d really forgotten how much running helps to work through things.
4. I don’t deny myself the sweets - though they are in moderation.
5. Due to COVID, I haven’t been to the YMCA for the pool more than a handful of times since March.
6. In other news: I pulled my sewing machine out of hibernation, learned how to quilt, and made some baby gifts. I finished knitting a sweater and started the next one.

goals for 2021:
1. Keep tracking
2. Keep running - maybe increasing the speed to to FINALLY get below 10min/mi
3. Losing another 5lbs and keep doing weights.
4. Sewing more. And sewing myself a dress out of knit fabric.

rwood566

These are amazing stories. I haven't accomplished nearly as much as most of you but here's what i did last year.
1. I lost 124 lbs. 497-373.
2. I increased my walking from barely 1/2 mile to 3.9 miles every 3 days. i'm now looking at google maps to map out different routes around my area so i can start including hills.
3. I was able to go to the zoo this year. it took me 4 trips to see the whole thing because of all of the hills, but i made it.
4. I went from 2 blood pressure meds to none and my pressure is averaging 122/70.
5. I was able to donate blood for the first time in almost 18 years. I had to stop because of cancer and couldn't start up again afterwards because of my weight. I can give again in a week.

I'm looking forward to see what i can do this year.

riffraff2112

Awesome accomplishments. It was nice to see this thread and I hope many others join in to share some good news stories from 2020.


I have a few
1. Got my second hole in one, almost 20 yrs to the day of my first.
2. I finally was able to do unassisted chin-ups / pullups.
3. I used all the down time from the various lockdowns to teach myself Greek to an intermediate level. I can actually converse about everyday things now, pretty proud of myself for that!

springlering62

@rwood566 I’d like to “disagree” you just because I find your post so inspiring.

WTH are you talking about that you “haven’t accomplished much”?! Just reading your post gives me goosebumps.

That is some incredible work there. That’s work, work, work, combined with effort, combined with fortitude, frosted with more work! Since you won’t shout it to the world, let me do it for you:

YOU ROCK, YOU ROCKSTAR, YOU!!!!!!!!!

CorvusCorax77

WOW! You are AMAZING! I've never been able to bench that much so you're goals for me someday!

corinasue1143

rwood566 wrote: »

These are amazing stories. I haven't accomplished nearly as much as most of you but here's what i did last year.
1. I lost 124 lbs. 497-373.
2. I increased my walking from barely 1/2 mile to 3.9 miles every 3 days. i'm now looking at google maps to map out different routes around my area so i can start including hills.
3. I was able to go to the zoo this year. it took me 4 trips to see the whole thing because of all of the hills, but i made it.
4. I went from 2 blood pressure meds to none and my pressure is averaging 122/70.
5. I was able to donate blood for the first time in almost 18 years. I had to stop because of cancer and couldn't start up again afterwards because of my weight. I can give again in a week.

I'm looking forward to see what i can do this year.

Wow! Absolutely Amazing!