Exercise challenges?
lexbubbles
Posts: 465 Member
Hey guys.
Just finished up with a 'lose 20 by Christmas' group (though I think it was a different, smaller group than the one many of you were involved with as I don't see any familiar faces?).
Every week I posted an exercise challenge for people to take part in if they wanted. It wasn't anything fancy, mostly just gradually increasing the amount of time you spent moving each week to get people more active. Towards the end I started adding in extra things like 'run or walk x amount of miles' and such.
As an example, a challenge might be something like
Members post each day (or in one long post at the end of the week if you prefer) with what they've done, how long it took them, and how close they are to goal. For example:
The challenges will get progressively more demanding as we go on (more minutes, going from 5 to 6 days a week, bonus mileage stuff etc etc)
Would people be interested in me doing that here? Just a bit of extra accountability with working out, really. And a sense of achievement from hitting arbitrary goals :P
Just finished up with a 'lose 20 by Christmas' group (though I think it was a different, smaller group than the one many of you were involved with as I don't see any familiar faces?).
Every week I posted an exercise challenge for people to take part in if they wanted. It wasn't anything fancy, mostly just gradually increasing the amount of time you spent moving each week to get people more active. Towards the end I started adding in extra things like 'run or walk x amount of miles' and such.
As an example, a challenge might be something like
- Exercise for 5 days, minimum 30 minutes each time (150minutes)
- Exercise for a total of 180 minutes (get that extra 30 wherever and whenever you like)
Members post each day (or in one long post at the end of the week if you prefer) with what they've done, how long it took them, and how close they are to goal. For example:
Sun 28/12: 40minute run, 25minute walk
Total: 65
To goal: 115
Days: 1/5
The challenges will get progressively more demanding as we go on (more minutes, going from 5 to 6 days a week, bonus mileage stuff etc etc)
Would people be interested in me doing that here? Just a bit of extra accountability with working out, really. And a sense of achievement from hitting arbitrary goals :P
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Sounds like a great idea to me. Anything that holds me accountable for putting in the work always motivates me.0
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I think this is a good idea but I would also like to see challenges that we make sure can include everyone. Some might need to start out a little slower as not to get overwhelmed. In our last group we just offered the challenge of doing something and members posted their own personal challenge and how they did weekly.0
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Sounds good to me. I'm in x0
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Sounds great! I'm in0
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Sounds good to me as well. Love the accountability!!0
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Hi, I'm new and this sounds like a great idea!0
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kayjosh2422 wrote: »I think this is a good idea but I would also like to see challenges that we make sure can include everyone. Some might need to start out a little slower as not to get overwhelmed. In our last group we just offered the challenge of doing something and members posted their own personal challenge and how they did weekly.
I think the first one was a total of 150 minutes throughout the week without any particular number of days having to be hit, and stuff like walking to the store DOES count. Moving for a grand total of 2.5 hours per week is do-able for pretty much everyone. People who really honestly don't think they can move for 2.5 hours in one week are still welcome to try and might surprise themselves! After all, it is a challenge.
Also, like, saying '5 days at 30 minutes a day' as part of the challenge doesn't mean 'you have to go workout for 30 minutes straight'. If you go on a 15 minute walk and then later on do something ELSE (or another walk! Whatever!) for 15 minutes that counts. It's just a total of 30 minutes in the day. SOMETHING THAT, as seen below, doesn't even appear until week 3.
And it doesn't ramp up suddenly either. Here's a rundown (mostly from memory, so er...) of all of them from the Christmas group:- Move for 150 minutes
- Move for 165 minutes
- Move for 180 minutes, get in a total of 5 days with 30 mins each
- Move for 210 minutes, get in 5 days with 30 mins each
- Move for 225 minutes, get in 5 days with 30 mins each
- Move for 240 minutes, 5 days x45
- Move for 255 minutes, 5 days x45
- Move for 270 minutes, 6 days x30, do something out of your comfort zone
- Move for 285 minutes, 6 days x30, 5 miles run/walk OR 15 miles bike
- Move for 300 minutes, 6 days x45, 10/30 miles
- Move for 315 minutes, 6 days x45, 15/45 miles
- Move for 240 minutes, 5 days x30, 10/30 miles (Christmas week, less activity)
Although I'll probably tweak it a bit because we have 4 months and not 3. But y'know, if it ain't broke etc etc. The miles and stuff were only ever bonus point rounds anyway and not compulsory.
Of course, you're welcome to start the 'do whatever' challenge up again here, too! By all means. We have a LOT of people. I'll join you and set myself extra targets. You have my sword.
Equally, if someone wants to set up a SERIOUSLY "I'm gonna kick your butt and you're going to hate me" challenge then please do. I'll join you, as well. You have my axe.
But I'll just say if I can get even ONE person from "I don't think I could do 150 minutes! That seems really hard! I'll give it a shot though" to "holy smokes I was active for over 300 minutes this week" in 4 months I'll be a happy bun.
Given that I have 4 months this time, it might be a slightly more gradual progression. Maybe building up from 4 days. Dunno. I'll work it out.0 -
That was a lot longer than I intended it to be. tl;dr
- This one is a gradual progression over the course of several months. The aim is to get you more and more active, no matter what your activity of choice is, but everyone is working towards the same goal and we're accountable to each other for reaching that.
- Happy for someone else to be in charge of an 'easier' challenge with less 'set' goals. That's cool.
- Also happy for someone else to do a super duper hard version for more active peeps. Go for it. At this point I do 8-10 hours a week even with my rheumatoid arthritis (and it's winter now, it takes me 2 hours to get out of bed because my joints don't work) so my own challenge is waaaaay easy for me now. If there are any similarly active members around here that wanna REALLY GO FOR IT then let's do it.
- If you don't think you can, try anyway. No harm no foul, and all that.
Edit: wow, Easter is super early this year. Turns out we do, in fact, only have 12 weeks again. My bad. Last year it was the end of April which would have been more like 14/15 weeks. Oops.0 -
lexbubbles wrote: »kayjosh2422 wrote: »I think this is a good idea but I would also like to see challenges that we make sure can include everyone. Some might need to start out a little slower as not to get overwhelmed. In our last group we just offered the challenge of doing something and members posted their own personal challenge and how they did weekly.
I think the first one was a total of 150 minutes throughout the week without any particular number of days having to be hit, and stuff like walking to the store DOES count. Moving for a grand total of 2.5 hours per week is do-able for pretty much everyone. People who really honestly don't think they can move for 2.5 hours in one week are still welcome to try and might surprise themselves! After all, it is a challenge.
Also, like, saying '5 days at 30 minutes a day' as part of the challenge doesn't mean 'you have to go workout for 30 minutes straight'. If you go on a 15 minute walk and then later on do something ELSE (or another walk! Whatever!) for 15 minutes that counts. It's just a total of 30 minutes in the day. SOMETHING THAT, as seen below, doesn't even appear until week 3.
And it doesn't ramp up suddenly either. Here's a rundown (mostly from memory, so er...) of all of them from the Christmas group:- Move for 150 minutes
- Move for 165 minutes
- Move for 180 minutes, get in a total of 5 days with 30 mins each
- Move for 210 minutes, get in 5 days with 30 mins each
- Move for 225 minutes, get in 5 days with 30 mins each
- Move for 240 minutes, 5 days x45
- Move for 255 minutes, 5 days x45
- Move for 270 minutes, 6 days x30, do something out of your comfort zone
- Move for 285 minutes, 6 days x30, 5 miles run/walk OR 15 miles bike
- Move for 300 minutes, 6 days x45, 10/30 miles
- Move for 315 minutes, 6 days x45, 15/45 miles
- Move for 240 minutes, 5 days x30, 10/30 miles (Christmas week, less activity)
Although I'll probably tweak it a bit because we have 4 months and not 3. But y'know, if it ain't broke etc etc. The miles and stuff were only ever bonus point rounds anyway and not compulsory.
Of course, you're welcome to start the 'do whatever' challenge up again here, too! By all means. We have a LOT of people. I'll join you and set myself extra targets. You have my sword.
Equally, if someone wants to set up a SERIOUSLY "I'm gonna kick your butt and you're going to hate me" challenge then please do. I'll join you, as well. You have my axe.
But I'll just say if I can get even ONE person from "I don't think I could do 150 minutes! That seems really hard! I'll give it a shot though" to "holy smokes I was active for over 300 minutes this week" in 4 months I'll be a happy bun.
Given that I have 4 months this time, it might be a slightly more gradual progression. Maybe building up from 4 days. Dunno. I'll work it out.
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I really llike the idea of setting new goals each week!
I'm definitely in!0 -
I'll join in0
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I'm in.0
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Count me in!0
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I'm in!0
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Yes!0
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Sounds good, I like the idea of anyone adding any challenge they want. My concern was I did not want someone who was not ready to commit to a harder challenge to feel they were not included. So no matter what fitness level you are at there is a challenge for you. I'm all about including everyone. lol This looks good..I'm in
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I'm in. I was just telling a friend we needed to start doing fitness challenges again. We were doing challenges such as, do 5 jumping jacks/push-ups/sit-ups/lunges/squats and add 5 each day. Shorter ones seem to be easier for me to manage and stick with. If you get too far behind on a longer challenge, you can find yourself saying forget about it.0
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I'm in
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I'm in. I was just telling a friend we needed to start doing fitness challenges again. We were doing challenges such as, do 5 jumping jacks/push-ups/sit-ups/lunges/squats and add 5 each day. Shorter ones seem to be easier for me to manage and stick with. If you get too far behind on a longer challenge, you can find yourself saying forget about it.
Ooh adding stuff like "do squats this week" is an ace idea! I'll try and work something like that in as a bonus round maybe
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I'm in I love the idea!0
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Great idea! One thought--all minutes aren't created equal. The AHA suggests 75 min. of vigorous activity is as good as 150 min. of moderate activity. Perhaps the challenges could recognize that as well, for the sprinters and time-challenged among us! Personally, I mix it up, since sprinting is better exercise, but my "aging" joints can't take intense exercise everyday!
Looking forward to sharing this journey with everyone in 2015. 0 -
I love the challenges! Hoping for something other than miles though as my heart can't take running and it's too cold to walk with my toddler in the stroller
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Sometimes its easier to create a challenge for yourself. An example might be to do 20 sit ups for 3 days, 50 jumping jacks or even something like being active for 20 minutes a day for 5 days. People can post their challenge to themselves here and than update if they completed said challenge. Once completed, find another way to challenge yourself.
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kayjosh2422 wrote: »Sometimes its easier to create a challenge for yourself. An example might be to do 20 sit ups for 3 days, 50 jumping jacks or even something like being active for 20 minutes a day for 5 days. People can post their challenge to themselves here and than update if they completed said challenge. Once completed, find another way to challenge yourself.
Think this is a perfect idea. I think I'd like to set my own wee challenges weekly and then post and update.
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CA_Underdog wrote: »Great idea! One thought--all minutes aren't created equal. The AHA suggests 75 min. of vigorous activity is as good as 150 min. of moderate activity. Perhaps the challenges could recognize that as well, for the sprinters and time-challenged among us! Personally, I mix it up, since sprinting is better exercise, but my "aging" joints can't take intense exercise everyday!
Looking forward to sharing this journey with everyone in 2015.
Yes, except taking into account "all minutes aren't equal!" and "not everyone can start off with that much!" and catering to literally every eventuality and every activity range leads to a complete destruction of any sort of structured challenge and it becomes a free-for-all. If we're all doing our own different things and working to different goals then it also loses most of its accountability. To me, anyway. If I'm working towards my own goal and I'm the only person working towards that specific thing, the only person I'm accountable to is me. *sings* allll byyyy myseeeellllf.
Ahem. Sorry. Moving on...
Which is why I said "if you don't think you can, try anyway and you might surprise yourself" and why I ALSO said that somebody else (@KayJosh maybe?) is welcome to set up a different challenge thread whereby we set our own goals for those who can't, don't want to, wish to take a more relaxed approach, or whatever. There are a LOT of people in this group. Two challenge threads isn't totally unreasonable.
Basically, this is a structured challenged aimed at a gradual increase in activity level week-on-week. Everyone involved is working towards exactly the same goal (minutes of activity). How you get there is up to you. Those who prefer the structure and, nay, competitive element* that comes with having the same goal as everyone else involved: this challenge is for you.
Everyone else: this challenge is probably not for you.
*Ok maybe that's just me but the desire to 'reach the goal faster' or 'go more over goal' than everyone else involved resulted in me really pushing myself further these last 3 months. Something I absolutely would not have done otherwise, because I'm nothing if not lazy and badly motivated 0 -
performfully wrote: »I love the challenges! Hoping for something other than miles though as my heart can't take running and it's too cold to walk with my toddler in the stroller
Do you cycle, whether in the gym (even a spinning class) or outside? When I did the miles we had a cyclist in our group so there was the option of doing cycling miles (further than running miles) instead. If we have any swimmers here (do we? Hands up, folks) there could be a smaller swim miles option but I'd need an opinion on how to calculate that to be 'fair' effort wise since I'm reasonably sure swimming 5 miles is a LOT harder than running it, but maybe that's just because I'm a godawful swimmer. ANYWAY, I digress.
The miles really were only ever bonus "kick everyone's butt" dealios anyway. Not compulsory, as long as you get your minutes in somehow.0 -
Yes, I will play.0
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I think doing 30 day challenges for each month is easier for me. I'm doing a 30 Day Beach Body Challenge at the moment. Not excited for tomorrow, as there are 50 burpees to do that day! *cries* I'm also doing a 30 day yoga challenge as well. It's good, since I'm getting some variety this way.
Cheers!0 -
Oh yes this is an excellent idea. Thanks for organising it-i'm definitely in!0
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I use a stationary bike and my challenge is just to get up at 5 am to get on my bike before going to work. That's really the only time I have and I'm not a morning person.0
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