How to tell people I'm not joining the step challenge
TarahByte
Posts: 125 Member
At my job, I'm on the Living Well Committee, and we are starting a new monthly step challenge program where you pay an entry fee and the top 3 steppers win cash prizes. Hasn't been completely hashed out yet. It seems like a good way to get people active, being that something like 2/3 of people are overweight these days, probably even more in my office building. But I'm not overweight and I'm doing more weight lifting these days, so a step challenge for me would be a waste of time and money. Being that I'm on the committee that is coordinating this activity, what's a better way to tell people why I'm not joining the challenge other than saying it'll put me on the fast track to skinny-fat? I have this problem where I'm too blunt with people.
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Replies
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Being blunt with people is not a problem. Tell them straight up that your fitness objectives don't include a lot of cardio and leave it at that.
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Well first off, I have to address that walking or doing cardio will put you on "the fast track to skinny-fat". You should definitely not use that line because people will look at you like you're loca because that's not true. Walking or doing cardio does not make one skinny-fat. That's not a thing.
If the entry fee is not financially prohibitive, I would still do it as a team building and moral thing even if it's not my personal fitness goals, and just be content with not winning. You still have to walk places in life, so you'll at least have some steps. But if you don't want to do it, just tell them that doing steps at the moment doesn't fit your fitness goals so you'll be happy to help organize and coordinate it but you won't be personally participating, but cheering for all those who do.45 -
At my job, I'm on the Living Well Committee, and we are starting a new monthly step challenge program where you pay an entry fee and the top 3 steppers win cash prizes. Hasn't been completely hashed out yet. It seems like a good way to get people active, being that something like 2/3 of people are overweight these days, probably even more in my office building. But I'm not overweight and I'm doing more weight lifting these days, so a step challenge for me would be a waste of time and money. Being that I'm on the committee that is coordinating this activity, what's a better way to tell people why I'm not joining the challenge other than saying it'll put me on the fast track to skinny-fat? I have this problem where I'm too blunt with people.
Why would a step challenge make you skinny fat?15 -
Just tell them to step back jk just say it's not for you.3
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I'm saying if I forego weight lifting and then only do what maximizes my steps, I will definitely lose muscle.4
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are steps publicly posted? if it's not a financial issue why not just join to support the effort? and go on with your life as normal (as in, don't go out of your way to actually walk a ton more).
not sure why this thing is only good for "fat people"? skinny people walk too.
you can also walk AND lift (not at the same time...)23 -
You're on the committee; this is your job and your co-workers; you're coordinating the event; what is the cost you're going to avoid and is that savings worth the possible ill will among your co-workers and leaving an opening for everyone to just opt out? Or you could just be blunt and tell them it does not fit in with your goals,13
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I don't see why you'd need to stop lifting to focus on a step challenge. I'm blunt, too, so I agree with @BrianSharpe. I'd simply state that I'm doing a lifting program and not focusing on cardio right now. Nothing else needs to be explained or said.5
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Ditto - joke that you can't figure out how to get more steps during your lifting workouts - but that is your workout.
But no need to insult their efforts.
ETA - more steps while squatting or doing deadlift - should bring funny image to mind.8 -
Can you participate without the goal of winning?
That's probably what I would do, because I tend to enjoy the fun of team contests even when I know I'm not going to win.
Or just say "I'm very focused on resistance training right now and don't have time to get in extra steps."
Like others have said, I would leave out the "skinny fat" stuff because that isn't how it works (and it sounds kinda dismissive).14 -
Yeah I don't think there is a good way to be on the committee promoting something that is ostensibly healthy, and then telling people you aren't participating because it wouldn't be healthy *for you*. You are basically telling them you are too fit for it. I would just join and accept I wasn't going to win. And stay off the committee next time.
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I'm fine with the challenge. I think it's great. I just don't personally get that many steps in on most days. I still walk my dogs but it isn't 10k a day. I just don't want to sound like Chris Farley in Tommy Boy asking about the weight room.6
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Ok I guess y'all didn't catch my mild sarcasm in my original post. Mostly, I'm dealing with older ladies and I don't even want to mention weight lifting because even my own mother scoffs at weight lifting because it isn't a "lady-like" thing to do and I'll get "too muscular". (I am not muscular at all). Basically I want a light-hearted joking way to say thanks but no thanks. Even if it's a lie. Gimme a cute line to say!6
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Avoid the conflict!
For instance: My role is to encourage everyone so I don't want to be biased by competing. (((Then wave your pompoms 🎉)))8 -
funjen1972 wrote: »Avoid the conflict!
For instance: My role is to encourage everyone so I don't want to be biased by competing. (((Then wave your pompoms 🎉)))
This is what I'm saying. I'd even get pompoms if I had to.2 -
Ok I guess y'all didn't catch my mild sarcasm in my original post. Mostly, I'm dealing with older ladies and I don't even want to mention weight lifting because even my own mother scoffs at weight lifting because it isn't a "lady-like" thing to do and I'll get "too muscular". (I am not muscular at all). Basically I want a light-hearted joking way to say thanks but no thanks. Even if it's a lie. Gimme a cute line to say!
Well, in that case, can't you use the excuse that since you're ON the committee you can't participate? Conflict of interest or something like that. Certainly not a "cute" line but that's all I've got right now.4 -
Don't sign up. If someone asks why you didn't, just say you have other personal wellness challenges you are participating in. Leave it at that.
I am on our Wellness team and also the Sustainability team but I don't participate in all of the challenges. I just say, I am happy to help but I won't be participating. Noone has ever pressed me on the issue.5 -
"I follow a fitness program that doesn't involve walking." I don't know why being blunt would be a problem, but I dislike verbosity.5
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I agree with the posters who say just join the challenge, not change anything you're doing and take the opportunity to cheer on the participants who are getting more steps than you.
On another note, depending on the competitiveness of your coworkers, be prepared to referee complaints that people are cheating (by counting cycling steps, running in place, having a family member wear it etc.) This stuff all came up when I participated in a step challange at work once, and there wasn't even prize money involved
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Ok I guess y'all didn't catch my mild sarcasm in my original post. Mostly, I'm dealing with older ladies and I don't even want to mention weight lifting because even my own mother scoffs at weight lifting because it isn't a "lady-like" thing to do and I'll get "too muscular". (I am not muscular at all). Basically I want a light-hearted joking way to say thanks but no thanks. Even if it's a lie. Gimme a cute line to say!
Tell ‘em you have a bum knee you messed up when you were younger and you have to limit your walking or it will swell up like a cantaloupe but that they are so lucky to get to participate!3 -
Forget the Pom poms. Bring the barbell. “Old ladies” can lift too.9
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I'd go with you are organizing the challenge so it's not a good idea to be a competitor.
Kind of like "It's hard to run the circus when you have to play the clown."2 -
monkeefan1974 wrote: »Ok I guess y'all didn't catch my mild sarcasm in my original post. Mostly, I'm dealing with older ladies and I don't even want to mention weight lifting because even my own mother scoffs at weight lifting because it isn't a "lady-like" thing to do and I'll get "too muscular". (I am not muscular at all). Basically I want a light-hearted joking way to say thanks but no thanks. Even if it's a lie. Gimme a cute line to say!
Tell ‘em you have a bum knee you messed up when you were younger and you have to limit your walking or it will swell up like a cantaloupe but that they are so lucky to get to participate!
Ok that's actually not wrong! I do often complain of my geriatric knees. I bought glucosamine earlier this week. It's believable!1 -
"My focus needs to be on making sure everyone else has a great challenge!"7
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I agree with the posters who say just join the challenge, not change anything you're doing and take the opportunity to cheer on the participants who are getting more steps than you.
On another note, depending on the competitiveness of your coworkers, be prepared to referee complaints that people are cheating (by counting cycling steps, running in place, having a family member wear it etc.) This stuff all came up when I participated in a step challange at work once, and there wasn't even prize money involved
Jeez that sounds terrible. This is another reason I don't want to join. That and I don't want to be obligated to send screen shots of my steps every day. Also, I'm poor and that money can go toward dog food. Big dogs ain't cheap! Plus I've already made the joke about putting the pedometer on your dog's collar.1 -
monkeefan1974 wrote: »Ok I guess y'all didn't catch my mild sarcasm in my original post. Mostly, I'm dealing with older ladies and I don't even want to mention weight lifting because even my own mother scoffs at weight lifting because it isn't a "lady-like" thing to do and I'll get "too muscular". (I am not muscular at all). Basically I want a light-hearted joking way to say thanks but no thanks. Even if it's a lie. Gimme a cute line to say!
Tell ‘em you have a bum knee you messed up when you were younger and you have to limit your walking or it will swell up like a cantaloupe but that they are so lucky to get to participate!
Ok that's actually not wrong! I do often complain of my geriatric knees. It's believable!
This is legit me now. Bum knee, it’s been swollen most of the winter. It hurts when I lift, it hurts when I cycle, but it hurts AND swells from walking! I was convinced I was pushing too hard with my lower body workouts, but when I stopped walking and started driving to work - knee is better. Doctor’s appointment on Monday!
Sorry for getting off topic!
I personally like the cold dead heart comment; I wish I could come up with reasons like that!1 -
"My bionic knees/hips are leased and if I go over 4,000 steps a day, I have to pay extra."
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