Active April 2023 Challenge

It's Active April folks.
The word "active" is a loaded word.
Not only can it apply to exercise, but it can also mean "characterized by action rather than by contemplation or speculation."

Time to get fit or act on your goals whatever they may be.
Increase your NEAT, do one of the bazillion YouTube vids and workout streaming services, hit the gym, enjoy the weather and walk or hike (whenever it's actually nice in the Spring, easier said than done!) And for non-exercise goals, start actively pursuing them as best you can with what you have to work with. Don't let "perfect" be the enemy of "better". Improvements, even if they're slight or baby steps, are still progress.

We can do this!
No need to make your "heart gargle in your throat." Unless that's what you're into.

Or to win all the life trophies.
Active April is about making your goal an improvement in your fitness or life. As Elizabeth Benton always says, "Whatever constitutes an improvement for YOU. Do that."

So whether you want to train for a 5k or 10k, sleep better, get more serious about logging, start HIITing your head off, or just start exercising, period, it's all good.
If your exercise is already on-point, but you'd like to increase your daily NEAT burn, that's a great target as well. (What is NEAT, consult this thread from which I have been inspired: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10610953/neat-improvement-strategies-to-improve-weight-loss/p1)

Go ahead and post your goals.
Update us daily and receive encouragement, workout suggestions, and support from your compatriots in the challenge.
Go get it! Make change!

Replies

Megan_smartiepants1970

Welcome new comers ......I am struggling at the moment ... I had my 4th surgery on 3/31... 2 rods and more screws in my foot ... the pain is unbearable .. still not sleeping well ... not getting around very well ... eating is some keto and other days I just don't feel like eating at all .... I really hope I can pull my self out of this funk soon ughhh

swimmom_1

@Megan_smartiepants1970
Sorry to hear. Been there with 2 surgeries from falls. Both on my left leg. Fractured Fibula (plate and 7 screws, 1991) and Tibial Plateau fracture (3 plates and approximately 20 screws, (hard to count there is so many and they crisscross in the Xray) 2015). It gets better just takes time we don't like to wait on. :-(

Megan_smartiepants1970

swimmom_1 wrote: »

@Megan_smartiepants1970
Sorry to hear. Been there with 2 surgeries from falls. Both on my left leg. Fractured Fibula (plate and 7 screws, 1991) and Tibial Plateau fracture (3 plates and approximately 20 screws, (hard to count there is so many and they crisscross in the Xray) 2015). It gets better just takes time we don't like to wait on. :-(

Thank you It sounds like you have been through a lot ... I can't wait until this is behind me ... really missing walking my dogs

swimmom_1

My name is Mary, 65 from Pennsylvania. I'm a RN and work long days. Logging in everyday since I started MFP 5/14/21.
Unfortunately lost my mojo and gained a lot back but not all Thank God! Need to get back on track and focused.

Heaviest weight 255 lbs, twice. :-(
9/14/20-255 lbs
5/14/21-232.2 lbs MFP start date.
4/6/22- 147.6 lbs (107.4 lbs lost) I did NOT have a surgery. Did Keto.
8/1/22- 167.2 lbs
12/1/22-198 lbs
1/1/23- 213.4 lbs
2/1/23- 207.4 lbs
3/1/23- 201 lbs

4/1/23- 207.6 lbs. :-( Struggling lately.
4/2/23- 209 lbs. I need to get my head right and be more accountable to myself in this. I need to get back in control and off the carbs again. Back to my lower level of daily carbs(15g net +/- 3) and FOCUSED on what is best for me! Not short term enjoyment. Elliptical HIIT setting 150 minutes for 10.11 miles today (I do my elliptical like this 3x per week, on my off work days pretty religiously. Thursday, Friday & Sunday this week).
4/4/23- 204.8 lbs Not my usual check in day but hopefully getting myself back on track, FINALLY!!! Was on track Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with my low carbs and it shows! Today I'm on track too!

4/9/23- 203.6 lbs Elliptical HIIT setting 150 minutes for 10.04 miles zones 2, 3 & 4. (Also on Friday & Saturday same elliptical time & mileage). Meat & low carb veggies for Easter lunch today but I had a piece of a Dominican Pineapple cake. OMG! Not rich and a whipped cream icing but moist as a Rum cake. So delicious! Worth the calories & Carbs IMO.

melmerritt33

I’m late joining this but it’s a good time for me to start committing back to regular exercise. I already go walking every day but I used to get a lot of enjoyment out of regular exercise outside of that.

My goal for the rest of April is to do three days of Pilates or Yoga every week.

It’s part of my mental health recovery as well as for the physical benefits. I’ve been recovering from a depression that settled over the last year, triggered by a toxic working environment. I’ve been recovering from the depression after starting a new job last month so now is time to get back to my old exercise routine. The Pilates/Yoga will be the first step with that.

tishsmith101

CW 169.5

Week 2
Saturday - Chores ✔
Sunday - 2.5 mile walk ✔
Monday - strength and indoor bike planned
Tuesday - outdoor walk planned
Wednesday - strength and walk planned
Thursday - spin class at the gym planned
Friday - strength planned

Week 1
Saturday - 40 min walk with a friend ✔
Sunday - Chores ✔
Monday - strength and walking video ✔
Tuesday - 25 min indoor bike ride ✔
Wednesday - 90 min food bank sorting ✔
Thursday - spin class at the gym planned ✔
Friday - strength planned ❌

taylok23

I’m still here. It was a crazy holiday weekend in that having no plans turned into plans with back to back days of adult drinks. Saturday drinks were unplanned but Sunday I made a promise I wouldn’t graze on off plan food and I didn’t. But I also drank way more than planned on drinks I didn’t bring so the sugar/carb content was way higher. Whew, now that is out of my system it’s been back to work this week on following my cycle syncing. Thank goodness the Focus was back to more keto levels and
fasting.

I had a small victory last night in reframing my thinking from wanting a snack to choosing not to snack to meet my goals. Oddly, it worked so I need to be aware of those kind of thoughts and redirect when possible.

lucydarrah

Hello All. Yes, I agree taylok, we need to celebrate small victories and reframe our thinking to meet our goals! Tishsmith - you are amazing with your structure. I like all of the check offs!

I have been maintaining pretty well, keeping my calories under 1,300 but have been lax with working out. I tried the keto a few weeks ago and just can't maintain it. I crave fruits (and not just a few complimentary berries) and they are loaded with carbs. I was able to lose weight a few years ago with a few weeks of keeping my calories low and then a few weeks of being strick about keto. I do lose faster on keto but the fruit cravings get me every time.

lucydarrah

Melmerritt33 - I get the depression situation. Ugh. I struggle with it myself, especially in winter and winters in Minnesota are long! My goal was actually to return to yoga and not be so focused on the poses as the stretching. I have a rebounder pilates machine but seldom use it, thanks for the reminder! Wishing youluck with your new job - change can be good.

lucydarrah

Swimmom - thanks for the detailed description of how you manage your meals. Smart that you make the 4 salads for work on Sunday nights for the week. I have never been into the shakes as it feels like then I am missing out on the enjoyment of eating "real food" Elliptical for 150 minutes - Wow!

@Megan_smartiepants1970 - So sorry to hear about your injuries. I have some hip bursitis but nothing like what you are dealing with. Not sleeping well is the worst. I hope you are on the mend soon. Situations like that are exhausting.

LifeChangz

Hi everyone - so glad MFP is working again!

@Megan_smartiepants1970 ~ hope you are healing well from your last surgery!!! these kinds of things really knock us off our feet? eh??? (ok, bad joke... but honestly, hope this time does the trick!)

We are in the process of moving - and will be offline more than not until we can get phones/internet/tv's figured out at the new place - our old phones just don't work there - so super busy figuring all that out. Hope to be back in May - and chat more then.... hang in everyone!

ps - have a crazy urge to roll out the bbq and go carnivore! May go keto bbq with grilled veggies for summer - really looking forward to summer foods & fun! and chatting here about it! Cheers

tishsmith101

CW 169.5

Week 3
Saturday - Elliptical & yard work ✔
Sunday - 3.5 mile walk ✔
Monday - strength planned
Tuesday - indoor bike planned
Wednesday - strength and walk
Thursday - spin class at the gym planned
Friday - rest day planned

Week 2
Saturday - Chores ✔
Sunday - 2.5 mile walk ✔
Monday - strength ✔and indoor bike ❌
Tuesday - outdoor walk ❌
Wednesday - strength and walk ❌
Thursday - spin class at the gym ✔
Friday - outdoor walk✔

Forgot to weigh in this morning, pretty tired from the weekend. While I still have some healing time left with the facial fractures, I'm really wanting to get back to all activity at full effort. I probably overdid it a little.

Megan_smartiepants1970

lucydarrah wrote: »

Swimmom - thanks for the detailed description of how you manage your meals. Smart that you make the 4 salads for work on Sunday nights for the week. I have never been into the shakes as it feels like then I am missing out on the enjoyment of eating "real food" Elliptical for 150 minutes - Wow!

@Megan_smartiepants1970 - So sorry to hear about your injuries. I have some hip bursitis but nothing like what you are dealing with. Not sleeping well is the worst. I hope you are on the mend soon. Situations like that are exhausting.

Thank you Lucy ...I have hip dysplasia and other things ... I am sooo looking forward to having this behind me and walking my 2 dogs

Megan_smartiepants1970

LifeChangz wrote: »

Hi everyone - so glad MFP is working again!

@Megan_smartiepants1970 ~ hope you are healing well from your last surgery!!! these kinds of things really knock us off our feet? eh??? (ok, bad joke... but honestly, hope this time does the trick!)

We are in the process of moving - and will be offline more than not until we can get phones/internet/tv's figured out at the new place - our old phones just don't work there - so super busy figuring all that out. Hope to be back in May - and chat more then.... hang in everyone!

ps - have a crazy urge to roll out the bbq and go carnivore! May go keto bbq with grilled veggies for summer - really looking forward to summer foods & fun! and chatting here about it! Cheers

Thanks @LifeChangz... still very painful and still not sleeping great

melmerritt33

Well, life has a way of foiling our best plans. After committing to this challenge I hurt my hand and was unable to use it, even small movements were very painful. Everyday actions like showering and cutting food were very painful so any kind of exercise was out of the question! Thankfully I’m finally recovered so planning a lovely Pilates session tomorrow!

swimmom_1

tishsmith101

CW 170.5

Week 3 continued
Saturday - Elliptical & yard work ✔
Sunday - 3.5 mile walk ✔
Monday - strength ✔
Tuesday - indoor bike❌
Wednesday - strength and walk Determined to get this done today
Thursday - spin class at the gym planned
Friday - rest day planned

I've been so tired this week. And hungry, like I've got the munchies. I know my body is in recovery mode but I am impatient. Hubby is making homemade broccoli pizza tonight so I need to move more today for sure.

taylok23

I haven’t checked in for a bit but am still here trying to work on my consistency. I’ve had terrible urges this week to snack after dinner but I have been successful all but once in talking myself out of it. Work is stressful so I suspect I’m reacting to that. I’m in a bit of a stall but need to get a handle on portions and stop when I’m comfortable. I’m eating plan plan, just more than I likely really require.

sugagirl5

I’m late joining since I’ve only recently started back MFP after going on ozempic… my appetite is finally under control.

My April goals are to workout 4 times Atleast a week 2x aquafit and 2x at the gym… so far so good. Just battling nausea and tiredness

melmerritt33

Happy to report I’ve done two days of Pilates this week and about to do my third session. So I’m feeling really good at the moment. It’s also been very interesting as it’s the one activity I’ve done which has made me realise just how much my body has changed with my weight loss. The changes in how my body looks and feels are so obvious while I’m doing the Pilates moves.

tishsmith101

CW 170.5
Week 4 to wrap up the month
Saturday - chores ✔
Sunday - Bowling ✔
Monday - Strength ✔
Tuesday - Strength ✔
Wednesday - indoor walk
Thursday - spin class
Friday - yardwork
Saturday - some kind of cardio
Sunday - Bowling (last week of the league)

Week 3 continued
Saturday - Elliptical & yard work ✔
Sunday - 3.5 mile walk ✔
Monday - strength ✔
Tuesday - indoor bike❌
Wednesday - strength and walk ❌
Thursday - spin class at the gym ✔
Friday - rest day planned ✔

Still tired but sleeping better than I was. Food has been better this week too. 5 weeks into healing from the facial fractures and the numbness is finally improving. Another month before I feel confident enough to ride my outdoor bike.

taylok23

As the month ends, I haven’t lost weight but I do have a non scale victory to celebrate. I stopped in for my annual labs and physical this week. All came back looking good with improvement across the board. So even though I’ve stayed in the same weight range for the past year, I’m getting healthier. My consistency with food hasn’t been stellar this month, but I’m learning to listen to my body more and am focusing on overall health. I’m going in the right direction so can’t complain!

baconslave

Sorry I haven't gotten the next month's challenge thread up yet. My oldest son brought covid home from college, and it has consumed me for the last 2 weeks, first caring for the sick kids as they fell like dominoes, and then coming down with it myself. Oh the brain fog and fatigue. I can't seem to clear it, still testing positive. Lingering congestion and fatigue. And the fog. Ugh. I'm highly distractable most of the time to begin with, like I needed to be worse.

baconslave

Here we are: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10889697/spring-into-a-new-you-may-2023-challenge/p1?new=1

Now I go off to try to figure out what it is I was doing before I noticed it was the end of the month and this needed done.