August Fitness Challenge
lemurcat12
Posts: 30,886 Member
Any goals to share for August? I have some--the usual biking and running miles (the main running one is to comply with the schedule in the Runkeeper training program I'm doing), but also a few others:
(1) I keep saying this, but this time I'll make it a real goal--make some progress with a strength training program of some sort.
(2) When I first started this weight loss plan I was journaling regularly and working on behavioral things as well as just food and exercise, and I've gotten away from that. Starting now, I'm going to go back to this through August.
(3) My favorite goal last month was trying something new each week. I'm keeping that.
(4) I usually don't have a problem complying with this (although I may adjust how I interpret it), but related to something we were talking about elsewhere, have a real day off every week.
(1) I keep saying this, but this time I'll make it a real goal--make some progress with a strength training program of some sort.
(2) When I first started this weight loss plan I was journaling regularly and working on behavioral things as well as just food and exercise, and I've gotten away from that. Starting now, I'm going to go back to this through August.
(3) My favorite goal last month was trying something new each week. I'm keeping that.
(4) I usually don't have a problem complying with this (although I may adjust how I interpret it), but related to something we were talking about elsewhere, have a real day off every week.
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Ahhh! It's August! Ok, new month, time for me to get back on track. The whole moving thing really threw off my exercise routine. At first, I was getting of plenty of moving related exercise, but now I'm just being lazy. My August fitness goals:
1) Do yoga daily.
2) Walk at least 7500 steps/day, 6 days/week.
3) Do circuit training class twice/week.
4) Lift weights twice/week.
5) Have as many spontaneous dance parties as possible;)0 -
I said I was in maintenance but I hope you guys don't mind me hanging around !!
Sue, # 5 is the BEST goal I've seen so far. HAHAH. Lemur, I really like your #3. I may think about doing that. My goal is to run! My husband asked me if I wanted to pick a 5k to do with him ion the next few months. I said sure. Yikes! Haven't run in a while. Did 1 mile Saturday and 1 yesterday. Plan for at least one today.0 -
Just saw your question in the other thread. What's your background with running--just starting or used to do it and starting up again? Sounds like you are doing well with a mile already. What are you finding the biggest challenge?
The C25K seems like a really good program, but it sounds like you don't need to start with the walk/run intervals. I didn't once I started running outside this time just because I felt like I was able to pace myself from running in the past. You might like something like the Hal Higdon program (http://www.halhigdon.com/training/50933/Novice-Training-for-your-first-5K). I've used his programs in the past, although now I'm trying a Runkeeper one.
You definitely should do a 5K with your husband. 5Ks are really fun--I bet you'll be hooked!
With one mile right now you should be fine, but one thing I've learned from experience is cross train and don't ramp up the weekly mileage too fast, or it's easy to just feel sore and exhausted or get prone to injury.
Also, the MOST important thing is make sure you have decent shoes. If you are wearing old shoes, you should probably get new ones. A fitting/assessment at a running store is great if you are in the market for shoes.0 -
Well, I've done my share of 5Ks. (I told a friend that I like doing them because you get a t-shirt and free food..ha!) The last one was in March. I outdid my last time that day by 9 minutes. Say what??!? Yes, 9 minutes. hahaha. I think I just about killed myself in the process. I have new running shoes that I was fitted for at a running store. And in-soles and all of that. I was starting to run more with my husband but then when I started working over 3 months ago, I stopped. Just totally. So now I need to start again if I am doing another 5K soon. My biggest problem is..I hate running. HAHA! I want to NOT hate it,though. I was doing ok before the job. It wasn't such a chore. I will look at the link you gave me. Thanks for the advice!! 0
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Heh, I don't deny that the shirts are a motivation. They are what I have traditionally worn to work out in, and because I lost a bunch of weight in the early '00s and was quite a bit smaller when I was mostly doing races before than when I started this, the only shirts I had that fit were some huge ones I got when I got dragged into doing some races in the late '90s (when I wasn't as heavy as I was back in January, but was heavy enough to go for the biggest shirts when asked my size).
So I wasn't only running while super out of shape, but in a shirt that proclaimed my age and made it seem I hadn't been running for 15 years! While I actually found this kind of amusing, I was excited to get some new shirts.
As for how to make it fun, I start thinking of the runs as relaxing or at least a stress killer--listen to good music or a podcast, and pick a fun route. But mostly it gets fun for me when I have a goal to concentrate on, so training might help with that. Also, mixing up the runs, so some are more focused on speed or intervals and some on distance. I've only just started doing that again and it makes it interesting.
9 minutes off is amazing! I haven't run any race for speed yet--I'm thinking about signing up for one now that I'm actually pushing myself to get a little faster and then being able to compete against myself more formally. I'm still irrationally unhappy that my speed is so far from what it used to be (when I was carting around a lot less weight and better trained) that I haven't even checked the official listing of my times, which I used to do obsessively. For some reason the Runkeeper times don't bug me, since it's no big deal to have slower training runs.0 -
Well, i am glad you got to get some newer shirts! ha! I have a pile of them. Don't wear them a whole lot, but I have a hard time giving them up for some reason!
I will try to think of them that way. Right now that stress me out and definetely don't relax me!! I am always thinking-man is this OVER yet?! But yes, I agree that having the goal of the 5k is something to strive for. Otherwise, I probably wouldnt be trying to start back up right now. When i run on the treadmill at home, i watch Big Bang Theory episodes!! I know that they are only 20 minutes long and I know that I can finish my mile before one is over. Which makes it seem like I'm on there a little less time.
I got that 9 minutes, I think bc I was sort of trying to beat someone. I'm still not sure how I managed it. But it was so bad for me. My heart rate got up to almost 200 at one point going up a hill. BAD BAD!!0 -
August goals: Let's see...
1) Stop using extra free time due to summer vacation to EAT more. Need to use that time for exercising more. If I'm not making any money (paid hourly during actual school days- no vacations, snow days, etc) , I shouldn't add to the stress by eating more. ugh. I basically wasted what could have been a very productive month of July.
2) Go to Zumba three days a week.
3) Workout at home with Hip Hop Abs/Walking with Leslie Sansone/ Zumba DVD's.
4) Drink more water...not Crystal Light etc.0 -
August goals....
1) to get under 250
2) running a 5k on August 23rd
3) work out at last 6 days a week
4) continue to eat clean
5) do a 5 minute wall sit
6) Try to get a better attitude about the weight loss thing.....totally have a crappy attitude about and towards everything. Need to work on seeing the good in everything I have changed and done and accomplished.0 -
Great goals, everyone!When i run on the treadmill at home, i watch Big Bang Theory episodes!! I know that they are only 20 minutes long and I know that I can finish my mile before one is over. Which makes it seem like I'm on there a little less time.
When I first got back into exercise I was just riding the stationary bike in my office building's workout room (it's usually pretty empty). There's a TV there, with somewhat limited stations, but of course not Netflix. So I'd time it around when I could go out for an hour (I have a flexible schedule, it's payback for having a job where I stay late a lot) and some episode of Law & Order, didn't really matter which. Luckily they are on constantly!0 -
Haha . It really does help, I think!0
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Hi, Warrior Women!
Just thought I'd check in and say I've been coming up short on my goals, this week. I think that having my adopted daughter here has really thrown off my routine. I'm hoping to climb back onto the saddle tomorrow. I have managed to do yoga twice, walk an average of 7000 steps/day, and have a couple of spontaneous dance parties, but I've mostly been off of my game.
I'm also ravenously hungry tonight and am concerned that I may take another trip to the kitchen, before the night is over. I guess I could eat back my exercise calories and just not worry. My net was pretty low, yesterday.
On a positive note, I'm feeling more and more confident on my bike! I may take a ride tomorrow to get a larger seat, since the one I have is a bit slim for my behind. But, other than that, it's pretty cool.
Jodi, are you seeing the good in everything you've changed and done and accomplished? I hope so!0 -
I was going to say that I know you've been biking, Sue!
I may have to start being stricter with my calories again, which I'm not super in the mood to do. Will try it next week.
At the end of the first week of August the only new thing I've done is start some pilates, which I'm really enjoying and plan to try to do regularly. I'm vaguely planning on trying a new bike path tomorrow, although I haven't picked out which one yet. I've also been really pushing on trying to run longer and a bit faster, although of course the biking and swimming (especially the swimming) have suffered as a result.
And in the garden, my tomatoes are still lagging on getting ripe, but for some reason I've been getting some strawberries all of a sudden. And tons of cucumbers and peppers of all sorts. I'm going to have to come up with some good uses for peppers.0 -
how do you like pilates??
where is everyone???0 -
I really like it. Surprising, because I usually hate core exercises, and good since I really do need to strengthen my core.
I've been going back and forth about whether to forget about weights other than my running-related exercises and do the convict conditioning bodyweight program or to add the Strong Curves program, which is weights and focuses precisely on the kinds of exercises and muscles that are supposed to be good for running and my particular imbalances (need to build my glutes, for example). I think I've decided to give Strong Curves a try and am going to start the program at lunch today and follow the recommended schedule after that--this can be my new thing for this week!
Not sure why it's so quite in here. Sue might be on a bit of a break.0 -
Cool! How long does that program last?0
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It's a 12 week beginner program followed by a 12 week more advanced program.0
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Sounds intense!!!!!!0
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Hey, Warrior Women!
I've been enjoying my diet break! It's such a relief to just eat what I want without measuring and logging. I've still been logging exercise, but only because that's pretty easy. So far, I've lost the 3lbs I'd regained before my break:)
Stephanie, that Strong Curves program sounds cool!
Veronica, I'm here, just not as much until the 18th. I figured a 10 day diet break was in order, since I was only gaining weight and feeling discouraged, while I was restricting my calories and logging everything.
I hope everyone's enjoying this last bit of Summer!0 -
I'm here, kind of. LOL I have been going through some stuggles and I just have not been up to posting.
Doing great with food and excercise. My trainer is awesome and is the neatest support person I have ever had. I am not sure I ever did anything with out him. LOL I see him 5 days a week between training and then he does some cardio classes two nights a week...so I stalk him to those. ha ha
Daughter is doing well and baby....Jovan had to have bone marrow biopsy, the doctors are thinking cancer....now we wait for 3 weeks. Ugh...the waiting is the worst. She actually went back to work last night though. The place where she used to work, called her and asked her if she wanted her job back. AWESOME....what a blessing!!!
Finances are freaking and stressing me out right now. I am trying to figure out how I can justify the training and the classes when we are struggling, but I can't imagine giving up any thing with the training or classes and keeping my sanity.
So.....with having said all the blah blah poor me stuff, that is why I have not posted.
Keep up the great work every one. Sue....I am jealous...mentally I can not wrap my head around the thought of eating what I want. I hate loggin, I hate not eating what I want and I am angry frequently over it....but what I am doing is working and I will continue doing it because it is working.
Steph, sounds like you are starting something new. Good luck and let us know how it goes. I love lifting weights and watching my body change and grow....I am doing a ton of cardio as well.....as a matter of fact....I have asked my trainer if he will run 3 miles tonight instead of staying in the gym. He does 5ks so this will be easy for him, I am slow and it is supposed to be humid, so my breathing will suck....not sure why I asked him that....I have a 5k next weekend and I guess I thought I should run at least once before then. We will see. LOL I hate running, I am not good at it and it is painful...once this 5K is over...then I don't have to stress over it anymore.0 -
That's a terrifying medical situation--waiting must be so hard. Sorry about the stressful times in general, but I'm glad you are committed to prioritizing your health and fitness. It seems like the trainer has been incredibly helpful for you, and so supportive.
The food thing will probably get easier over time, but if there's anything you want to talk about, we are here.
And good luck with the run tonight!0 -
Sue, good to see you posting here (I know it hasn't been that long!). I can't believe summer is almost over, and it's not like summer here at all--fall seems to have come early here. My poor tomatoes won't even ripen. Hope this doesn't mean winter is going to be horrible again.
In addition to the new strength training program and my Friday pilates class, I finally got around to trying a yoga class this week (also at my health club). It was a beginner one, but I enjoyed it, so am thinking about incorporating that into my schedule. After getting used to it, maybe I'll try one of the more challenging yoga classes.0 -
Hey all....
Steph .... Yoga sounds so awesome...I am struggling to find a place around here that does it. The YMCA used to, but not enough people....the other gym I go to no longer has it. I will keep searching.
My run Friday night was ummmm.....enlightening. I am not sure how to describe it. I did the 3 miles in 50ish minutes. I ran/walked almost all of it with a left shine splint and then the last lap my calf did a goofy thing...both still are uncomfortable. But I ran almost the whole last lap. We actually went to the high school track where I didn't have to worry about being around other people. Dan, (my trainer) and his girlfriend were there with me and right along side me. I wish I had done better...BUT...was thrilled with what I did. Dan was very proud of me and his girlfriend is just a doll face and she was right there with him hugging on my grossness...I was just drenched. I sweat ALOT....but two more awesome young people I have never met.
Yes Steph....this trainer is awesome. He is very supportive....literally there for me 24/7 we talk every day whether we see each other or text or email. . . we have now become friends and he is in this for the long haul. He was telling me the other day that if I need to back off on numbers of sessions, he would write out stuff for me to do on those off days from him...which is pretty nice. He and I are birds of a feather...I am pushing him as hard as he pushed me...he is having to go and learn new things and find new things for me to do that will challenge me because I need to be pushed if I want to reach my goals. We really do fit.
I have that stupid 5k this weekend...I can't wait for it to be over with. I would like to start running and not have an end goal.....just to do it.... if that makes sense at all.
Anyway....I hope the silent ones are all doing well. Summer is just so stinking busy it is hard to find time to post. When I have time I am too lazy to get on my computer. LOL and I have not figured out how to get in to the message boards from my posts.0 -
Jodi, I'm so sorry to hear about Jovan's health issues and hope that you and she receive a much milder diagnosis. It's amazing that you've continued your training and logging, during all of this family stuff! You are a marvel! I absolutely would keep doing what I was doing, if it was still working. I'm glad it's all working for you.
Stephanie, that's great that you're staring yoga. It makes such a difference, when I do it regularly. I really notice it in my balance & flexibility. You are also chugging along faithfully, like Jodi. Your progress seems like it's been pretty consistent, since you started. Great for you!
I started logging my food for real again (I'd been doing quick adds), today. I decided to keep my calories at maintenance for the rest of the week, this morning, when I opened my refrigerator to a ton of party leftovers. Lol. The birthday/housewarming party was a huge hit and we had a ball! The friends, family, and food were amazing! Plus, we sang, played music, and did stand-up comedy--all of my favorite things!
Inspired by my party, I've decided to return to stand-up comedy earlier than I'd planned. I was going to slowly ramp up to performing again by the end of the year, but a friend reminded me that Stand-Up for Diversity (an NBC comedy competition which can lead to all kinds of big things) is happening at the end of September, so I'm going to put myself through a sort of stand-up comedy boot camp for 6 weeks to get ready. I've only done 2 sets in the past 4 years, so I'm a bit rusty. I think it'll come back to me, though. I'll keep you posted...0 -
Oh my gosh Sue....tell me more about this stand up comedy? What? I did not know this about you...how fliping exciting. I can not wait to hear more and more!!!!!!!! I am all excited now. ha ha
Huge loss this week....5.3 pounds, which is 16.6 in 4 weeks. HECK YA BABY..... I worked my butt of for this. Literally. HA HA I am noticing changes in my body, sometimes it seems almost daily. I am now at 251.6 almost to the 249 goal. I can not wait to be on the downhill side of the 200's. Oh my gosh. Onederland....I'm coming!!!!!
So, how many of you that were in the 280's plus and are now losing find it gross to look in the mirror? Top half of my body is getting buff pretty quick with all of the lifting that I am doing....I still have a gut, but I can actually look around that. And I am pleasantly surprised that my arm skin (so far) is bouncing back with the arm. I am hoping that continues. Last night when I was doing my Cardio Kickboxing class, we were doing fast feet football thingy and i dared to look in the mirror and just saw the flab on the inner thighs, just a swingin'. Ugh. And I went from feeling mighty to Blugh in a split second. I know all of this takes time, and I am still in the 250's, but I just feel so much stronger and more fit than a person in their 250's I have a hard time looking in the mirror some time. Yes, I am proud of where I came from and where I am going, but the mirror thing. How does one get past this?
Jovan is working full time, we don't know what is going on with the tests, but she decided she did not want to just wait around....so away she went. She is happy to be working again, we will be happy when she starts getting paychecks...we are pretty much being bled dry.
Have a great night every one.0 -
Jodi, you are KICKING @$$!!! Wow, what a phenom you are! I am so happy for you:) If I were you, I'd put more mirrors all around your house, so you can see yourself at every angle and in every light and realize that you're BEAUTIFUL!
That's wonderful that Jovan is already ready to go back to work. That should help with the financial strain of having her family there. I just have the one single daughter back in the nest and my checking account is feeling the pain. She has some gigs this weekend, however, and a job at Trader Joe's coming soon! Woohoo!
I started doing stand-up in 1996, during a particularly dark period in my life. I found it was incredibly good therapy and that I was good at it. In 2005, I started doing it full-time, although that was short-lived. The economic crash in 2008 brought that to a screeching halt and I ended up coming back to California from NY to take a FT job at a homeless youth agency, so my own family wouldn't end up on the streets. I got so caught up in my social service work that I just stopped doing stand-up altogether, but resolved to return to it in my 50's and finally make a national career for myself.
The past few months I was getting itchy to get back on stage and then at my birthday party/housewarming, I had an open mic. A bunch of my friends are comedians, so it wasn't hard to get people on the mic. They told me about a major network audition that was happening at the end of September, so I got inspired to get back on stage a little earlier than planned. I've done 2 shows this week, so far, and it feels great:)0 -
Sue, you need to post a video for us or something!!0
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Sue, you need to post a video for us or something!!
Totally!
That's so cool.0 -
Alright, Warrior Women, I put one of my old videos up on youtube for you!
http://youtu.be/DSLeGsFIA7g
How's everyone doing on their fitness goals? This is my first day back from my diet break and it's going pretty well. I still need to burn more calories, but I'm well below my calorie goal. I decided to go for a 20% deficit & to burn at least 3600 calories/week.0 -
Not too great. Ha! My running goal is still in my mind, but actually doing it isn't working out very well. 5K end of October!0
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August goals....
1) to get under 250 BIG HUGE YES I DID THIS!!!!!!!!!!! Today...weigh in was 249.4!!!!!! HECK YA BABY
2) running a 5k on August 23rd BIG YES I DID THIS!!!!!!!!!!!! Was only 1 minute over my goal of 45 minutes...not bad for having a shin splint and two muscle cramped calfs!!!!
3) work out at last 6 days a week Yup...So far so good
4) continue to eat clean Not happy about it, but only two naughty days
5) do a 5 minute wall sit Not yet...I honestly forgot about this....will get on it!!!!!!!!!
6) Try to get a better attitude about the weight loss thing.....totally have a crappy attitude about and towards everything. Need to work on seeing the good in everything I have changed and done and accomplished. Working on this and I think I am making pretty good strides actually, my trainer is pushing me to take more pride in my accomplishments...there have been a ton in the past 5 weeks for sure.0
