Fitness Challenge!’s blog

Karen- 38

Emily- 36

Sheryl- 21

I have only gotten results from 2 people so far, I will post more as they are emailed to me.

Lindsay- 41

Emily- 36

Karen- 35

Joey-21

Sheryl-11

Lori- 0 (Or so she says..I think she just doesn't want to add up her points. Add up your points dammit!)

Week 1 of the fitness challenge is wrapping up today. Email me your total points for the week and I will post the weekly winners tomorrow!

You can use this section to post your comments, progress updates, observations, words of encouragement, questions to other participants, etc.  Remember that everyone can see the comments you post!

I will still be creating some sort of spreadsheet for everyone's info to be in one place, but I created a table to help everyone keep track of their points for this week. Print this out and stick it to your fridge! Also...i can't get the lines to show up on here, but i can email you this document lines and all if you send me your email address.

CARDIO FOR WEEK 1 IS WORTH 1 POINT PER DAY. IN ORDER TO EARN THE POINT, YOU MUST DO 30 MINUTES PER DAY. IF YOU COMPLETE THE CHALLENGE FOR 6 OUT OF THE SEVEN DAYS, YOU MAY ENTER 5 POINTS INTO THE CARDIO/WEEK PTS FIELD. YOU ONLY GET THESE POINTS IF YOU DO THE CHALLENGE FOR 6 DAYS.

STRENGTH IS WORTH 1 POINT FOR EVERY DAY YOU ACCUMULATE A TOTAL OF 50 PUSH UPS/SIT UPS/LUNGES. YOU CAN MIX AND MATCH THESE EXERCISES FOR A TOTAL OF 50. (YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO 50 OF EACH) IF YOU COMPLETE THIS CHALLENGE 6 OUT OF THE SEVEN DAYS, ENTER 5 POINTS INTO THE STRENGTH/WEEK PTS FIELD.

NUTRITION IS WORTH 1 POINT FOR EACH DAY YOU DO NOT EAT TAKE OUT FOOD, AND 1 POINT FOR EACH DAY YOU EAT 2 DIFFERENT FRUITS AND VEGGIES. THIS MEANS YOU CAN EARN UP TO 2 POINTS PER DAY. IF YOU CHOOSE TO ONLY DO ONE CHALLENGE, AND COMPLETE IT FOR 6 OUT OF SEVEN DAYS, ENTER 3 POINTS INTO THE NUTRITION/WEEK PTS FIELD. IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO BOTH NUTRITION CHALLENGES, AND DO THEM BOTH 6 OUT OF THE SEVEN DAYS, ENTER 6 PTS INTO THE NUTRITION/WEEK PTS FIELD.

TOTAL ALL YOUR POINTS UP AND EMAIL THEM TO ME ON MONDAY NIGHT, I’LL POST THE WEEKLY WINNERS EVERY TUESDAY.

REMEMBER YOU GET TO CHOOSE ONE DAY OFF A WEEK. IT MAY HELP YOU TO HIGHLIGHT THE DAY YOU TAKE OFF TO KEEP YOUR NUMBERS STRAIGHT.

GOOD LUCK!

Alright everyone, it's day one of the challenge! So just to clear a few things up, I will be putting a spreadsheet up..hopefully by tomorrow..so everyone can keep track of their points. Remember that the points are kept track of by you, and we are using the honor system.

For the first week, you only need to pick one of the nutrition challenges..but you can get points for both if you choose to do both. Just stay away from that takeout and eat those fruits and veggies!

I am going to declare a winner for each week, as well as a winner for the whole month. I think people should post their feedback about the challenge, their struggles, their comments, whatever. All you have to do is sign up for vox (it's free and takes like 1 minute to join) and then we can all share our progress with one another.

Lori had mentioned keeping a journal and posted it each week. I think I may do the same.

Have fun everyone! and let the challenge begin!!

-emily

Here is the outline for the Fitness Challenge!

Week 1: July 1st-July 7th

Strength Challenge: For this challenge, you have to do either 50 lunges, 50 push-ups, or 50 sit-ups per day*. You can mix it up if you want to and do (for example) 30 lunges, ten push-ups and 10 sit-ups per day. You can also alternate which exercises you do on which day. You will get 1 point for every day you complete this challenge, and 5 additional points at the end of the week if you complete the challenge all 6 days!

Cardio Challenge: For this challenge, you have to do 30 minutes of moderate cardio exercise per day. Power walking, jogging, running, cycling, anything that gets your heart rate up and makes you sweat a little bit! You can do this challenge at the gym, at home, or out around the neighborhood. You will get 1 point for every day you complete this challenge, and 5 additional points at the end of the week if you complete the challenge all 6 days!

Nutrition Challenge 1: For this challenge, you have to stay away from take out food! I know we all have busy lifestyles, but try to cook at home this week. It's much healthier, and even cheaper! You will get 1 point for every day you complete this challenge, and 3 additional points at the end of the week if you complete the challenge all 6 days!

Nutrition Challenge 2: For this challenge, you must eat 2 different fruits and vegetables per day. This means a full serving of each, and no duplicating for points! (This doesn't mean you can only eat a vegetable once, it just means that you can't count the same vegetable more then once!) You will get 1 point for every day you complete this challenge and 3 additional points at the end of the week if you complete the challenge all 6 days!

Week 2: July 8th- July 14th

Strength Training: For this challenge, you must use free weights or weight machines to tone your legs or arms. To collect the bonus points at the end of the week, you must do this 3 days. You will also need to continue with your lunge/sit-up/push up rountine, but only 3 days worth. You will get 1 point for every day you complete this challenge, and 5 additional points at the end of the week if you complete the challenge all 6 days!

Cardio Challenge: For this challenge, you need to get outside and do some cardio! Either walking, jogging, swimming, running, cycling, kayaking, hiking, you name it. You need to do this for 45 minutes, 4 times during the week. You can pick your cardio activity, it just needs to be outdoors and something that will get your heart rate up a little. You will get 2 points for every day you complete this challenge, and 5 additional points at the end of the week if you complete the challenge all 6 days!

Nutrition Challenge 1: For this challenge, you can't drink any soda! This means no soda...not even diet. You will get 1 point for every day you complete this challenge, and 5 additional points at the end of the week if you complete the challenge all 6 days!

Nutrition Challenge 2: For this challenge, you can't drink any coffee! You will get 1 point for every day you complete this challenge, and 5 additional points at the end of the week if you complete the challenge all 6 days!

Week 3: July 15th-July 21st

Strength Challenge: Bet you thought you were done with all those lunges, push-ups, and sit-ups eh? Nope! This week you need to do 3 days of that routine, and then 3 days of either yoga or pilates. Your yoga/pilates rountine should be atleast 45 minutes. You can either do this in an organized class at the gym, at a yoga/pilates studio, or in the comfort of your own living room (Tip: If you are a comcast subscriber, the on demand fitness section has some great pilates and yoga routines you can follow) You will get 2 points for every day you complete this challenge, and 5 additional points at the end of the week if you complete the challenge all 6 days!

Cardio Challenge: For this challenge, you must do 30 minutes of cardio all 6 days. You pick how you are going to get it done, just do it! You will get 2 points for every day you complete this challenge, and 5 additional points at the end of the week if you complete the challenge all 6 days!

Nutrition Challenge: For this challenge, you have to stay away from the sweets! No cookies, no cake, no ice cream, no brownies... you get the idea. Try to stick with healthy dessert choices like fruit! This is going to be a tough one for some of us, but it's only for 6 days. You can do it! You will get 2 points for every day you complete this challenge, and 5 additional points at the end of the week if you complete the challenge all 6 days!

Week 4: July 22nd-July 28th

Strength Challenge: For this challenge, you can take any of the workouts from the other challenges and mix and match. You just need to do some sort of strength training every day. If you want, do 6 days or yoga, or 6 days of weight machines, or 6 days of sit-ups. You decide! You will get 1 point for every day you complete this challenge, and 7 additional points at the end of the week if you complete the challenge all 6 days!

Cardio Challenge: For this challenge, you need to either walk or run a 5k. You can choose to do this with a partner or by yourself, either indoors or outdoors. You will also need to do 45 minutes of cardio 4 days. You will get 3 points for completing the 5k, and 2 points for each 45 minute cardio session. You will get 10 points at the end of the week if you complete the challenge all 5 days.

Nutrition Challenge: For this challenge, you need to stay away from red meat, fried foods, and junk food all 6 days. This is a week of general healthy eating. If you think it's bad for you, don't eat it! You will get 1 point for every day you complete this challenge, and 7 additional points at the end of the week if you complete the challenge all 6 days!

The Last Leg: July 29th-July 31st

Use these last 3 days to catch up, or get ahead. You can earn 3 points for every 45 minute cardio session. You can also choose to do some of the optional challenges listed below if you haven't done them already!

Optional Challenges:

Here are some optional challenges you may choose to do during the month. Next to each challenge is a point value, as well as the number of times you can do the challenge during the course of the month. Remember that you can't duplicate points for the same activity...so if you walk to work and it takes you 30 minutes, you can't count that as walking to work points and cardio for the day points. Make sense?

Walk or run a 10k (1x for 8 points)

Participate in a team sport such as soccer, tennis, basketball, baseball (Up to 5x for 2 pts each)

Take a class at your gym that you've never taken before (Up to 3x for 1 pt each)

Walk or ride to work or school (Up to 5x for 1 pt each)

If you have any other ideas for optional challenges, please let me know by July 1st so I can add them to the list!

*Per-day-  Remember that you have 1 day off from the challenge per week. You can pick which day you want off, and it doesn't need to be the same day every week.