Progress Report #4: January 22-28

Please report your "miles" for January 22-28 (Friday through Thursday). Please take a minute to make sure I have your correct total from last week. If you missed last week's progress report, you can just leave your total in the comments below--no need to go back.

PROGRESS REPORT #4

Did you have any triumphs this week? Any hurdles to overcome?

What goals do you have for the upcoming week?

If you have an update on your own blog leave your link in the comments below. (Be sure to also leave your miles in the comments so I don't have to track them down!) Take a minute to visit the other participants and cheer them on!

Guest Posts:
If you would like to guest post (recipes, exercise tips, motivation, etc), please let me know via email at trishsreadingnook[at]gmail[dot]com!

Also make sure that you subscribe (or become a follower) so you don't miss any guest posts or giveaways. Yes, I said giveaways...

Have an awesome week!

Progress Report #3: January 15-21

Please report your "miles" for January 15-21 (Friday through Thursday). Please take a minute to make sure I have your correct total from last week. If you missed last week's progress report, you can just leave your total in the comments below--no need to go back.

PROGRESS REPORT #3

Did you have any triumphs this week? Any hurdles to overcome?

What goals do you have for the upcoming week?

New! If you have an update on your own blog leave your link in Mister Linky below. (Be sure to also leave your miles in the comments so I don't have to track them down!) Take a minute to visit the other participants and cheer them on!



Participant Guest Posts from last week:

**We Can Do This

**It's Not Always Easy but Neither Are Chores

If you would like to guest post, please let me know via email at trishsreadingnook[at]gmail[dot]com!

Also make sure that you subscribe (or become a follower) so you don't miss any guest posts or giveaways. Yes, I said giveaways...

Have an awesome week!

It's not always easy, but neither are chores...

To workout or not to workout, that is the question.

Of course the obvious answer, as we are all participating in a challenge based around exercise and fitness, is to workout. Get moving, be active, etc, etc, etc…

For some of us, it’s just not that easy. For me, at least, exercise is that part of the day I dread. I think about it for awhile, and groan in frustration, wondering why no one has created a way for you to hire some crazy fitness fanatic to exercise for you where they can burn calories for you and love life as they create more and more endorphins.

I know what some of you are thinking. You think I haven’t gotten into the groove or found the perfect fit, but I’m highly suspect of such notions.  No matter how many times a trainer or Bob Harper on the Biggest Loser or some random person on the street tells me, “Once you get started, you’ll totally love it,” I do not find exercise enjoyable. I try new things, I attempt to add in adventure (if you can call a trail in your local park adventurous), and I continue to find that exercise is grueling and evil.  Obviously created to remind humans that we are bad and deserve to be punished.

So why do it?  I do it because I have to. I mean, no one is holding me down to the exercise mat and forcing my legs to kick against my will, but I realize that the key to my goals involves being active. It’s one of those necessities in life like working, paying taxes, and laundry.  Unavoidable unless you want to become a blubbering mess.

Yeah, I make it sound really appealing. I’m like that blind date who starts out with things like “I keep heads in my freezer.”

All of that said, I wouldn’t change the fact that I workout for anything. As much I complain and fret about the hour or two of hell that awaits me with a bootcamp workout or a run in less-than-stellar weather, I do like the positive effects it has on my body and my life. I'm happier overall.  It’s made me more confident in myself. It makes me feel stronger and healthier.  And the best part, I can make it up more flights of stairs without getting winded than my super-skinny friend.

How do I do it, considering how much I hate it?  I have a few small post-it notes with the all the positives that exercise does add to my life, a reminder for those days when I’m really ready to give up or especially cursing my trainer when he says, “Just one more rep.” I suggest you do the same. Prepare one or two reasons why you workout and on those days when your mind is plotting against you, take a look at it.

In the end, feel free to remember me, and know that if I can get up at 6am on a Saturday and get exercise in, anyone can.

Mare
http://destinyisdeafening.blogspot.com/

We CAN do this

It's easy to let life get in the way of taking care of ourselves.

Seven years ago I buckled down and lost 95 pounds. My goal was 100.

I was so close. Then Hurricane Wilma hit my part of the country.

Stress, extra work, restricted access to my preferred places to walk threw me off track and unfortunately, I didn't get back on. I lost motivation.

I regained a big chunk of the weight I'd lost.

Of course I'm kicking myself.

So here I am, determined to lose weight and get in shape - again.

Once you reach your goal, don't let yourself get complacent. If something stressful happens and you fall off the wagon, dust yourself off and get back on.

By luck, I stumbled upon this challenge. I promised myself to walk at least a couple miles daily from now on. I also promised myself to be careful what I put in my mouth.

Then disaster struck. Of course you know what's going on in Haiti this week.

I work for a charity that's been helping Haiti for the past 27 years, that has personnel in Haiti, that still has people missing in Haiti. Since the earthquake, we've been working 13 hour days with barely a break. After coming off such a long shift, all I can do is drive home and fall into bed so I've not kept my promise.

Sometimes life happens. It's inevitable.

But things will get back to normal. When they do, and every time from now on, I will pick myself up and dust myself off and do what is necessary to be healthy. I won't throw up my hands and say, "What's the use? I can't do this."

I CAN do this. We CAN all do this.

I want to thank Trish for motivating us to be the best we can be.

Ashley
http://www.ashleyladd.blogspot.com

Progress Report #2: January 8-14

Please report your "miles" for January 8-14 (Friday through Thursday). I'll update your totals within the next few days, but check your amounts from last week to make sure they are correct. If you missed last week's progress report, you can just leave your total in the comments below--no need to go back.

PROGRESS REPORT #2

Did you have any triumphs this week? Any hurdles to overcome?

What goals do you have for the upcoming week?

New! If you have an update on your own blog leave your link in Mister Linky below. (Be sure to also leave your miles in the comments so I don't have to track them down!) Take a minute to visit the other participants and cheer them on!



Guest Posts:
If you would like to guest post, please let me know via email at trishsreadingnook[at]gmail[dot]com!

Have an awesome week!

Progress Report #1: January 1-7

Welcome to the first progress report. For those of you who are new to the challenge, I will put up a new progress report every Friday so you can report your miles from the previous Friday through Thursday. I might not update your miles until later in the week (waiting until most people have reported), but I'll definitely update before the next progress report.

This round should be easy since we're starting fresh, but I will be using your display name for the tallies. Last time there were several Amandas, Kims, Vickies, etc, so it might be helpful to end your comment with the name you'd like to report with--you can always check the signups to see if there are more than one of you. This way I won't get you mixed up!

That's about it, but please let me know if you have any questions about the challenge. The best way to reach me is email since I don't always check these comments every day.

PROGRESS REPORT #1

Did you have any triumphs this week? Any hurdles to overcome?

What goals do you have for the upcoming week?

Leave us the link in the comments if you have an update on your own blog so we can come cheer you on! (be sure to also leave your miles in the comments so I don't have to track them down!)

Guest Posts:
If you would like to guest post, please let me know via email!

Have an awesome week!

100 Mile Fitness Challenge 2 Sign-Ups (Sticky)

Hi, I'm Trish. I'm a 28 year old gal from Dallas, Texas, and I need some motivation working out.

In October 2009 I proposed an online fitness challenge and had over 85 people officially sign up and now I’m proposing that YOU join the 100 mile challenge with us as we move into Round 2.

Here’s how it works:
In order to complete this Challenge, you will need to “travel” 100 miles from January 1st through March 31st.

Here's how you calculate your mileage:
*Running or walking 1 mile outside or on a treadmill equals 1 mile.

*15 minutes of other workouts equals 1 mile (elliptical, swimming, weight lifting, workout video, workout classes, etc.).

A few "workout" stipulations:
“Workouts” only include activities specifically done for the purpose of exercise. Shopping, house cleaning, walking to and from the parking lot, and other day to day activities should not be included.

Partial miles travelled on different days cannot be combined. For example, if you run 1.25 miles on one day, and .75 mile on another day, that does not equal 2 miles. It counts as 1 mile.

Minutes accumulated on two different days cannot be combined. For example, if you workout 10 minutes one day and 5 minutes the next day, that does not combine to equal a mile.

1 mile on the bike or elliptical does not equal 1 mile, etc. Only walking/running is mile for mile.

Hey Trish!
How do I report my miles to you? On Fridays I will put up a Progress Report. Once you report, then I will put your name in the sidebar and update your miles for you each time you report. Ultimately it is your responsibility to keep track of your total mileage. (I like the putting stickers on a grid method...)

Hey Trish!
I just found your challenge and it’s already February, but I still want to join! Well, then join! Talk to me about how you can prorate your 100 miles.

Hey Trish!
Why can't partial miles or minutes be counted? Well, among other [maybe better] reasons, when rules start bending then there's no stopping them from breaking. You'll thank me in the end. :)

Sign Up Below--No Wallflowers Allowed! (You do not need a blog to participate--just put this blog's URL the URL field if you don't have a blog):

Wanna Help Motivate?
If you are interested in being a contributor to this blog--maybe workout tips, recipes, or other ideas, please let me know via email at trishsreadingnook at gmail dot com.

A few disclaimers:
1. I did not make up this challenge, and I don’t know where it originated from. This will be my ninth month of doing the challege, though, and I find it a great way to stay motivated.
2. I do not guarantee that you will lose weight or win your marathon if you do this challenge.
3. As with any new exercise program, check with your doctor to make sure it's okay you participate.
4. I do hope you’ll have fun and maybe get/provide some moral support by participating.
5. If you have any questions at all, feel free to ask at any time!