Something I'm thinking about trying...Opinions please

Amatambi
Amatambi Posts: 72
edited January 7 in Fitness and Exercise
I haven't really found any type of physical fitness activity that makes me go "YES I LOVE THIS" besides biking, which isn't a fun thing to do in the winter months for obvious reasons. So I've been slacking off a lot lately but I'm trying to get back into the grove. When I was biking 5 miles from school 2 or 3 days a week I was losing almost 2 pounds a week and it was great. I want to feel that awesomeness again so I'm thinking of new ways to try to motivate myself to be more active.


Step Points

Step Points are a thing I came up with a few days ago and have been mulling around in my head. Basically you write down rewards on note cards, or keep track of them however you want, notecards seem to be the easiest way I can think of. Rewards like a can of soda, or cookies, or even things that aren't food-related like a manicure or new shoes.
After you've come up with several different types of rewards, ranging from small to big, give them point values. Based on my fitness level and how much I walk, I get about 5000 in a day, so I would put a can of soda at maybe 15,000 points. Then, when I walk that many steps, I can "trade" the steps in for the reward. It seems like a fun way of getting a bit more exercise. Maybe even expand it to where Steps isn't the only "currency" :laugh: Perhaps reps of a certain exercise or something? I think I will start with just steps for now and see how it goes.

Replies

  • Amatambi
    Amatambi Posts: 72
    I've decided that when I get to 150,000 steps, I get to get a new nail polish. :laugh:
  • jodfie
    jodfie Posts: 144 Member
    this is a similar concept to striiv's challenges and earndit
  • RekindledRose
    RekindledRose Posts: 523 Member
    That's a great idea!

    Have you seen icebiking? www.icebike.org

    If you do want to venture out in the snow! :D
  • bigfatbino
    bigfatbino Posts: 136 Member
    Hey if you think keeping track of your steps to get a given reward is something you'd like to try, I'd recommend getting a fitbit zip to help you keep track. You'd be surprised at how quickly they add up. I say go for it and give it a shot. It can't hurt =)
  • Amatambi
    Amatambi Posts: 72
    But do you think this kind of thing will be enough to matter? I mean at least until I can get back on my bike when it gets warmer. It seems like a good idea, but somehow I can't imagine walking doing much for me physically.
  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
    Walking is a full body workout. You engage everything from the neck down. It doesn't get your heart rate up as high, so you don't burn as many calories typically, but it is great exercise.
  • narcissus1199
    narcissus1199 Posts: 18 Member
    Walking may not burn the same amount of calories as your bike rides but it keeps you moving. I would suggest you come up with a list of rewards and let someone supportive assign the goal needed to achieve each one.
  • Janelle173
    Janelle173 Posts: 396 Member
    I would say getting more steps in is a great thing...it definitely can't hurt. But I would not use soda as a reward...As a matter of fact, just cutting soda out altogether could help you drop pounds fast. Drink 80-110 ounces of water a day instead. AVOID diet soda if you can...it has horrible things in it linked to cancer and alzheimers.

    There are some dvds you could get, I got one, it was under 15$ at WalMart. It is Leslie Sansone's 5 really big miles. They are 5 different work outs. You can do one (which is like 12-15 minutes) or combine as many if them that you please. I have heard a lot of people have had a lot of success with it.
  • Amatambi
    Amatambi Posts: 72
    I would suggest you come up with a list of rewards and let someone supportive assign the goal needed to achieve each one.

    I really like that idea! Thank you!
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    Brisk walking, almost jogging, is great exercise. Liesurely wandering around, household walking, shopping where you keep starting and stopping isn't good exercise. I wouldn't use food rewards but your idea of a nail polish or something is good. I love biking too but switch out to DVD's like 30 day shred, Jari Love's weight training or Wii for EA Active during the winter to get some calorie burn going.
  • LernRach
    LernRach Posts: 286 Member
    Hey,

    So I'm a teacher and I often suggest during exam period the following:

    Take lots of little post it notes and write down everything you need to do for the exam. Then take a different colour and write down different mini treats. Then stick them on the wall with every 7/8th one the colour of the treat... Work your way through your tasks until you get to the coloured one, and then you can treat yourself.

    I think with weight you can do similar things. I set goals in my head of what I am going to do when I lose a certain amount, even very small amounts, and I don't give in until I have lost that amount.... The fact that it took me 5 weeks to lose 2lbs, meant I had to wait 5 weeks for my new birkenstocks, its as simple as that.
    If you need visual reminders, use the post it notes idea, it really works!!!
  • Zylahe
    Zylahe Posts: 772 Member
    Given that its winter and cold out have you tried working out indoors?
    Some good free thinGs are
    Dancing, ( just turn the radio on and move around)
    Spring cleaning the house ( not fun but you o work up a sweat and have a sense of achievement)
    Theres always you tube, you can find all sorts of workouts. Sometimes i just do a few of them to see if i like the instructor / style. I don't plan on always repeating them.

    And yes rewards are awsome, just make sure its not a hole cake for a 1/2 mile walk :sad:

    Try to go with non food rewards. As they say " you're not a dog , so dont reward good behaviour with biscuits."
  • Amatambi
    Amatambi Posts: 72
    I would say getting more steps in is a great thing...it definitely can't hurt. But I would not use soda as a reward...As a matter of fact, just cutting soda out altogether could help you drop pounds fast. Drink 80-110 ounces of water a day instead. AVOID diet soda if you can...it has horrible things in it linked to cancer and alzheimers.

    I wrote a research paper on diet soda for a writing class, and surprisingly the results for any link to any kind of health disease are inconclusive. Mostly people are worried about the aspartame, which is the artificial sweetener used in diet soda. Our bodies filter everything through our kidneys, and when we start adding things to the water we drink, like dye, sodium, and artificial flavorings, it creates a chance for things to go awry. When one item of food or drink starts to contain upwards of 10 or 20 ingredients, it can be hard to find a specific cause for a health problem. However, it still is not a healthy drink for anyone's body.
  • Amatambi
    Amatambi Posts: 72

    I think with weight you can do similar things. I set goals in my head of what I am going to do when I lose a certain amount, even very small amounts, and I don't give in until I have lost that amount.... The fact that it took me 5 weeks to lose 2lbs, meant I had to wait 5 weeks for my new birkenstocks, its as simple as that.
    If you need visual reminders, use the post it notes idea, it really works!!!

    I like that idea, except I was thinking of it more as currency, to where once you use step points for something, you don't get them back, so maybe I could train myself to save up for the big rewards instead of spending everything right when I get it. Could be useful in helping with money control, too, right?
  • Amatambi
    Amatambi Posts: 72
    Given that its winter and cold out have you tried working out indoors?

    I have tried to do indoor workouts, from workout videos to machines to freestyle dancing and I just can't seem to get into it. With walking and biking, I'm doing it with a purpose you know? To get somewhere. That's part of what motivates me, and I lose that if I'm just doing a workout dvd or something.
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