Active April 2017 Challenge: Week 1 (4/1-4/7)
baconslave
Posts: 7,021 Member
It's Active April folks.
Time to get moving.
No need to make your "heart gargle in your throat." Unless that's what you're into.
Active April is about making your goal an improvement in your fitness. Whatever constitutes an improvement for YOU.
So whether you want to train for a 5k or 10k, start HIITing your head off, or just start exercising, period, it's all good.
There will be a sticky at the top of the group with a list of the weekly threads should our thread get buried in this (awesome) group.
Go ahead and post your goals.
Update us daily and receive encouragement and support from your compatriots in the challenge.
Go get it!
Time to get moving.
No need to make your "heart gargle in your throat." Unless that's what you're into.
Active April is about making your goal an improvement in your fitness. Whatever constitutes an improvement for YOU.
So whether you want to train for a 5k or 10k, start HIITing your head off, or just start exercising, period, it's all good.
There will be a sticky at the top of the group with a list of the weekly threads should our thread get buried in this (awesome) group.
Go ahead and post your goals.
Update us daily and receive encouragement and support from your compatriots in the challenge.
Go get it!
2
Replies
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So for me, I have a co-challenge. I have to do a food elimination this month. So I'll be mostly Paleo. If that doesn't uncover my issue, then I'll have to restrict further for an Autoimmune Protocol.
Anyway, my fitness challenge is to exercise every day. 3 days/week strength training and then walking or other gentle cardio. I'm usually all about hardcore, but this autoimmune thing, and the lack of sleep from it, isn't conducive to hard exercise.
I'll be back later to post my exercise.
TTFN4 -
@baconslave thanks for setting up this challenge!
Active April Shape Up Challenge Goals
1. Eat between 20–30 g of carbs per day max
2. Drink 6 to 8 cups of water per day
3. Lift weights 3 to 4 times per week
4. Swing kettle bell 6 to 7 times per week
5. Walk six times per week
6. Record daily
7. Lose 6 to 8 pounds
SW 195
4/1 137 lbs3 -
I'm trying to be a bit more specific with my goals, while still making them attainable. So my Active April goal is to use my hand weights every day...whether it be a few sets of bicep curls while watching past seasons of Archer...or doing some lunges. Maybe I can even incorporate them into some stair exercises when I have to walk up/down 2 flights to take the dogs outside.
I'm finding myself allowing a bit too much leniency lately (especially with calories), and that needs to stop. While I've been successful these first 2 months...I know now is the time when things are going to slow down weightloss wise...and I still have at least 40lbs to go. So I really want to try to buckle down food wise...while I am mostly restricting carbs (50g total daily), I'd like to keep my calories between 1500-1700 too, and there's been too many days where I've been in the 2000's.3 -
15 miles a week and 3 days of body weight work. I'm terrible about strength training. I just dont like it. But....I know its necessary. What better month to focus on it than Active April?!!3
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I'm going to need to hold myself accountable. I keep giving in to cravings (not even hunger, mind) telling myself I'll just start again FOR REAL tomorrow. I'm not doing myself any favors here when I'm not losing, and have gained.
I need a plan. A specific plan for when I'm vulnerable. When I was successful last year I incorporated crutch sweets. I stopped that for some reason, and it's gotten me nowhere. I need to look at my diary back then.
Okay, fitness goals.
I'm making this as easy as possible, as I have the food issues on top. So...I'm going to go with ten minutes per day, crunches, squats, lunges and push-ups. I'm starting there because I can do those things while washing dishes, mainly. I'm already functionally active, I need to focus on recomp.
So those are my challenges I'm faced with. I'd like to go back to choosing sf candy if I'm desperate, or mug cakes. Pork rinds..Etc.
One decision at a time. One NO LORI at a time.
I can do this. I will.5 -
I'm finding myself allowing a bit too much leniency lately (especially with calories), and that needs to stop. While I've been successful these first 2 months...I know now is the time when things are going to slow down weightloss wise...and I still have at least 40lbs to go. So I really want to try to buckle down food wise...while I am mostly restricting carbs (50g total daily), I'd like to keep my calories between 1500-1700 too, and there's been too many days where I've been in the 2000's.
You can do it! Don't quit!
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10,000 steps a day. Husband and I are on day 6 of 30 days Keto and no alcohol. I'm down 5 pounds, water weight but feels great. Husband lost 6. I have a frozen R shoulder and no appointment until mid April so I will google some PT exercises for that and start on my own. Peace.3
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Going to give this month's goal a chance...I was okay about two weeks of March...then nada.
Same with Feb. So, Hopefully, third month will be the charm. Active April it is.
Goal will be the same as the two previous months, cuz that is what I want to develop as my habit:
30 minutes daily - aerobic style.
15 minutes stretches or weights. Bonus.
Moderate intensity. Not above counting total of weekly aerobics minutes if needed...but I really want this to become a "most days" habit. That is the real goal.
Will start tomorrow as I'm already down for the count, today. I'm not doing well. Feel profoundly discouraged and negative. But activity is supposed to help boost mood, so...I'll keep you posted. Never giving up.
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This is the month that I'm transitioning from fat burning to muscle building.
I (unexpectedly) got down to 14.7% body fat today. I started the year at 19.5% and in November was at 21.3% body fat. This is the skinniest I've ever been in my adult life. Yesterday I dug up my old leather motorcycle riding pants that I haven't fit into in 10+ years. I got them while I was in high school 14 years ago & they actually fit perfectly!! I couldn't believe it!!
Only thing is that now I almost look "too skinny" (according to my girlfriend & parents). So I guess the time has come to finally get serious about building some muscle & definition.
For the majority of the month I'm going to focus on using my own body weight for resistance (push-ups, sit-ups, etc) -since I'll be traveling overseas for several days with no weights or gyms. Nothing too crazy though because I don't want to disturb hotel neighbors.
Once the traveling is done I'm planning on doing a mixture of P90X, Insanity, heavy bag & speed bag boxing routines (from YouTube), and just some freestyle stuff on my own.
Unfortunately, while traveling I'm going to be straying from Keto for pretty much the first time ever (want to fully emerse myself & experience the culture difference), but I'm still going to cut back partially on the carbs. Once the traveling is done though I'm going back to strict Keto again. If I feel the need though, I might try Jason Wittrock's Keto Cycle program -depending on energy level & the results that I see.
The goal isn't to look like a body builder. Just to get some muscle & definition to look decent as a skinny person.5 -
Almond butter is WEIRD. But I might get used to it. I started the Paleo-ish thing today. No gluten, no artificial sweeteners (not even gum....wahhhhhhh), no coffee, no dairy, no legumes. I do hope one of those are the culprit, because I might have to shave my head to avoid ripping my hair out if I have to go full AIP. This alone was a huge enough pain in the neck.
Annnnyway...
Workout: Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds-3 mile. I add extra arm movements throughout, the walks and knee lifts are all moving, and I used 3lb weights instead of her 2lb.4 -
I plan on starting my exercise routine again. 60 minutes of cardio, between the treadmill and bike 4x weekly. I need to start strength training too but not too sure where to start. I'll probably use a resistance band. I'll aim for 3x weekly for that.0
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@baconslave. That whole no coffee thing scares me. I dont think its an exaggeration to say I'd probably die having to give it up. Good luck and I hope the diet helps!!1
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Active April goals:
P90x3 for exercise plus additional cardio, stretching, and ab ripper x
Leangains for food plan, and for goodness sake get my protein up to three digits0 -
4–1 this morning I did a kettle bell workout. During the afternoon I took two walks for a total of 6 miles. Then in the evening I did another kettle bell workout. My carbs and calories were good.1
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This month's goals:
Finish Chalean Extreme. I have 4 workouts left. Then move to a new Beachbody program.
Strength train 2-3 days per week
Other exercise 2-3 days per week
Try to get at least one outdoor run or hike per week.
4/1: Did a Chalean strength training workout.
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Hello all!
Calories I raised back up a bit, I'm not making an issue much with quantity, as much as quality. Keep it low carb, baby.
Worked hours today. Have a headache, upped the salt, but it could be sugar withdrawal in addition to sodium.
I feel the diuretic effects working their magic. Water's coming back off, gangbusters.
Happy days,my friends, happy days.3 -
I am dedicating this month to finishing up C25K. I start week 5 (of eight) tomorrow. I have never been a runner but have always wanted to say I could run at least a mile, and I hope this helps. I'll never do a race (I think it would make me too anxious), but I want to feel like I could.
. 3 -
My goals for this month...
1. Keep my carbs under 20.
2. Train for my first 5k.
3. Finish my Beachbody program I am currently doing.
4. Drink a gallon of water everyday.
5. To be happy in my own skin.
Have a great day all! We got this! 4 -
My Active April goal is to do 540km on the bicycle (average 18km/day). While also meeting my carb & calorie goals of course.
I did 22km yesterday and 20km today, so the tally is 42/540. Good start and it gives me some extra km's in the bank for those days when I just don't feel it hehe.
Today is my weekly weigh-in day, and I'm down 4 pounds this week. A bit of a woosh and it was overdue hehe! It's a milestone too, because my 'to go' number has finally gone into double digits. 152 pounds lost, 98 more to go.
And today was also measurement day (that's every other month). I've lost 3 inches off my waist since February. About 19" total!! (my waist was about 70" to start, now 51".)
Needless to say, I'm feeling pretty darn good today!
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My goals are
1) to keep my carbs 20-30 g
2) Make sure i'm getting enough fats too (that's a big one for me)
3) Eat more calories2 -
Steph_Maks wrote: »My Active April goal is to do 540km on the bicycle (average 18km/day). While also meeting my carb & calorie goals of course.
I did 22km yesterday and 20km today, so the tally is 42/540. Good start and it gives me some extra km's in the bank for those days when I just don't feel it hehe.
Today is my weekly weigh-in day, and I'm down 4 pounds this week. A bit of a woosh and it was overdue hehe! It's a milestone too, because my 'to go' number has finally gone into double digits. 152 pounds lost, 98 more to go.
And today was also measurement day (that's every other month). I've lost 3 inches off my waist since February. About 19" total!! (my waist was about 70" to start, now 51".)
Needless to say, I'm feeling pretty darn good today!
You are doing great!!!!
High five and congrats!!!!!!0 -
I'll join in! I have been walking on the treadmill and trying to get atleast 10,000 steps a day on my Fitbit since the end of February. I have managed to commit to 4 days a week on the treadmill, but I would like to up that to 5 days a week this month.2
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I'M doing 10,000 steps a day also.1
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1. Stay with keto woe 90% of the time, with 10% low carb during vacation week.
2. Stay with daily workouts of 60 min swim laps/water aerobics.
3. Add in Callanetics or The Firm 3 time each week.
4. Enough sleep/hydration/electrolytes - daily.
Good luck everybody, we've got this!
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I just began treatment for tuberculosis, and my medicine-induced diet is going to lend itself VERY easily to weight loss (think very few carbs and very little fat), so my goal for this month is, instead of a numbers goal, just to get to the gym 3 times a week. My energy is going to be so sapped, and I am very scared of the next 9 months of treatments, but the gym is necessary for me to maintain some semblance of health =p2
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Mandamanda93 wrote: »I just began treatment for tuberculosis, and my medicine-induced diet is going to lend itself VERY easily to weight loss (think very few carbs and very little fat), so my goal for this month is, instead of a numbers goal, just to get to the gym 3 times a week. My energy is going to be so sapped, and I am very scared of the next 9 months of treatments, but the gym is necessary for me to maintain some semblance of health =p
Great job turning an unfortunate situation into something positive! I'm so sorry you are going through this, but I'm sure you'll do fine.
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Kiwi_Billings wrote: »1. Stay with keto woe 90% of the time, with 10% low carb during vacation week.
2. Stay with daily workouts of 60 min swim laps/water aerobics.
3. Add in Callanetics or The Firm 3 time each week.
4. Enough sleep/hydration/electrolytes - daily.
Good luck everybody, we've got this!
Hey, are you from NZ? I'm married to a Kiwi.
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@motorcyclekopp, I doubt you look too skinny.... after all, 'bulk' is not muscle
. You've obviously lost the fat padding over the muscle you have (from your BF%). Now you just probably look fit. A bit of weight lifting won't hurt you though, lol. 1 -
Fitness goals for the month:
1. Maintain calorie deficit
2. Wendler 5/3/1 4 days a week
3. Cardio 1 day a week
4. Stay active on weekends1 -
Ringbearer2 wrote: »Kiwi_Billings wrote: »1. Stay with keto woe 90% of the time, with 10% low carb during vacation week.
2. Stay with daily workouts of 60 min swim laps/water aerobics.
3. Add in Callanetics or The Firm 3 time each week.
4. Enough sleep/hydration/electrolytes - daily.
Good luck everybody, we've got this!
Hey, are you from NZ? I'm married to a Kiwi.
Hi there-I'm another one who is married to a Kiwi (and living in the US)!2
This discussion has been closed.