The 2017 Exercise Motivation Thread

[Norachan]

This is the thread where we talk about sports and exercise and try to motivate each other to be more active.

I walked for 2 hours today. It was a gorgeous day. Only just above freezing, but bright and sunny. Perfect weather for a walk.

 

[Winchester]

3.5 miles on the treadmill this morning.

OK, people, let's go! Get off your butts and let's rock 2017!

 

[jtbo]

I better move this years exercise to correct topic...

I don't like how Polar's web service sometimes scales altitude stupid way, this time it was ok (I would prefer scale to be locked to 300 meters), same route as in previous post, but I rode only half of it today, altitude graph from yesterday just makes you think that it would be almost flat, when today's altitude graph looks much more real:

bike_ride_1_1_2017.png

• jtbo
• Jan 1, 2017

Older post which I refer to:

Combine these two images, that is nearly perfect bike ride

icy_road.png

• jtbo
• Dec 31, 2016

bike_ride_31_12_2016.png

• jtbo
• Dec 31, 2016

Pulling wheelie on ice? Why not, because it is possible it has to be done!

wheelie_on_ice.png

• jtbo
• Dec 31, 2016

Sadly not all places were quite as fun, there were places where no one had visited during whole winter, but as snow melted quite a bit yesterday it was quite easy to ride on.

 

[jtbo]

To stay warm or to keep cool, that is the problem, this link gives some interesting thoughts:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/sweat.html

So 2400Watts just from sweating when you are accustomed to tropics, I think that body is really good at cooling and it does not burn that much energy to get that kind of cooling power, I need to read all that with thought, but I think evaporation of sweat is a lot from that figure, otherwise I could loose weight just by daily sauna sessions, it really does not happen that way, it is possible to dehydrate that way though.

 

[Norachan]

That road looks really treacherous @JTbo  I think I'd just lie down and try to scoot my way along like a seal.

One hour of yoga and an hour of yard work this afternoon. I got warmed up by clearing out all the fallen branches and raking up the last of the leaves. By then my hands were warm enough to take my gloves off, so I could repair a few holes in the fence.

No snow yet. I'm happy about that.

 

[jtbo]

That road looks really treacherous @JTbo
 I think I'd just lie down and try to scoot my way along like a seal.

:lol3:

One hour of yoga and an hour of yard work this afternoon. I got warmed up by clearing out all the fallen branches and raking up the last of the leaves. By then my hands were warm enough to take my gloves off, so I could repair a few holes in the fence.

No snow yet. I'm happy about that.

:9:

On a steep hill, seal strategy might backfire a bit though!

I got 1100 steps in by carrying firewood next to furnace, might need to double that at coming days as Siberian greetings will bring some very cold temperatures here. Still have to lot of other chores before freeze comes and don't feel like doing anything really, but cat's still refuse to do chores, so I guess it is my part again :lol3:

 

[Winchester]

I wouldn't have the guts try it, JTbo...not on that road. 

 I'd end up on my butt with a broken leg or something! Your tires on your bike look like they have a lot of good tread on them. I guess you need good tread for that ice and snow.

3.5 miles on the treadmill this morning.

My goal this week is to shoot for 9 "active" hours every day. According to the Fitbit, an "active" hour is an hour where one gets at least 250 steps in. That's a little hard to do sometimes when I'm at work because I sit at the computer a lot. I'm still off work today, so it's no problem. I'd like to get a whole week in of 9 "active" hours every day. Those hours are set from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. I can reset them, but will wait and see how things go.....for example, I could set them from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. But that would automatically include my morning treadmill walk. I want to have 9 active hours, in addition to the treadmill.

 

[jtbo]

I wouldn't have the guts try it, JTbo...not on that road.   I'd end up on my butt with a broken leg or something! Your tires on your bike look like they have a lot of good tread on them. I guess you need good tread for that ice and snow.

3.5 miles on the treadmill this morning.

My goal this week is to shoot for 9 "active" hours every day. According to the Fitbit, an "active" hour is an hour where one gets at least 250 steps in. That's a little hard to do sometimes when I'm at work because I sit at the computer a lot. I'm still off work today, so it's no problem. I'd like to get a whole week in of 9 "active" hours every day. Those hours are set from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. I can reset them, but will wait and see how things go.....for example, I could set them from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. But that would automatically include my morning treadmill walk. I want to have 9 active hours, in addition to the treadmill.

Also spikes needed when on ice! You have yak trax when walking on ice, with spikes ice turns from scary to fun

Almost 600 sharp hardened metal studs on two tires together, you would learn to love every icy spot if you get chance to try it. I use Suomi-Tires brand tires, but I guess there are others too, those have served me well though http://www.suomityres.com/eng/home/ :

winter_tires.jpg

• jtbo
• Sep 7, 2014

On snow I'm fine with this tire at rear, it grips really well so no sliding, despite it looks suicidal when one rides on snow with tire looking like this:

rear_tire.jpg

• jtbo
• Nov 9, 2016

Those active hours in Fitbit sounds interesting, it sounds quite motivating, does it show on Fitbit or on mobile your current status or messages to get up to meet the goal!

My polar shows stuff only on website, but if one would have fancy mobile thing, I guess it would show some messages on that, Polar does make little noise if I sit for too long though, so every hour I have to get up and walk around a little so it does not bug me, I guess that is bit similar but yet completely different way to motivate to move more, I really like Fitbit's approach, I get impression it motivates bit more, but I guess that depends from person to person.

This is what kind of activity overview I got at spring:

polar_activity_overview.png

• jtbo
• Jan 2, 2017
• 3

This is most active day for few months, I have been slacking way too much and haven't even bothered to wear activity tracker.

polar_activity_overview_lately.png

• jtbo
• Jan 2, 2017

I guess slowly things are getting better, but takes some time, new year, new attempt, should remember to not let anything or anyone stand on my way.

 

[foxxycat]

ok first sweat of the year not counting the sweating I do in my sleep.

I only get half an hour lunchbreak but I combined moves to save me time. Lunges with curls or pushing weights over my head. Helps with my core. I don't have a good place to do situps so I do standing abs exercises-twists while lifting leg=then try to balance. I didn't hold onto a table this time with lunges to help me learn balance again.

BodyRock - Full Body HIIT


 Full sweat on! This chick has some power! I can't keep up with her!

 

[Norachan]

One hour of yoga so far today. Going out for a bike ride this afternoon.

I think I need a new yoga mat. Mine is looking really grubby and it's shredded right through in some places. 

 

[lonelocust]

I hit the gym for the first time in the year yesterday. It was fuller than usual with the resolution crowd, but luckily not actually crowded. I did about a half hour of weights. I was having some slight muscle pinches in my back; I need to get regular yoga sessions back into the mix. I stretch a lot between exercises, but it's not quite the same.

My daily step goal is 11000, but I got way over my goal yesterday with 18000 because I went on a walk intending to take public transit home, but I'd forgotten my transit card so walked back home again.

 

[tammat]

Happy New Year everybody
I trained right up until the 23rd dec then I had a rest week. I ended up with an ear infection in my rest week. :dk: Not sure how that happened. Anyways I took one extra rest day and then started back on Tuesday. I have a new programme. This one is called continuous tension timed sets. I did legs and biceps today. Rohan has a squat rack at his new gym. I love using the squat rack. I don't love squatting heavy. In the first set I quit and said it was too heavy and he said no it wasn't so then I muscled it out. I'm just a scaredy cat :kitty2: I am however a lesser scaredy cat than I was

Come on everybody. It's a new year. We can and we will get better

 

[Winchester]

Good going, guys!

Tammat, nice to see you back. Sorry about that ear infection. Good luck with the new program!

Lonelocust, give the gym a couple of weeks, til all the New Year resolutions have worn off and it won't be crowded anymore. I keep my step goal right around 11000 steps, too. Most of the time, I end up with more because of just doing things around the house in addition to my exercise walks. Every step helps.

3 miles on the treadmill this morning. Will head out for my walk at lunch.

I mentioned that with the Fitbit Blaze, they have a circuit called Active Hours and you set your 9 consecutive hours that you're to get 250 steps in each of those hours. Now, 250 steps may not sound like a lot of steps and on weekends, I get them with no trouble. During the week, however, I'm stuck here at my desk most of the day. Not a good thing. Well, since I've gotten the Blaze and set it to beep every hour to remind me to get those steps in, as soon as it beeps, I make it a point to get up from my desk and walk around the building. I have it set from 9 to 6 and that works out well for me so far. Anyway, since I've gotten the Blaze, I have made 9 out of 9 every day, That's a good thing.

 

[foxxycat]

Hit the gym yesterday. I got there later because I had to run errands. It wasn't as crowded as I expected.

65 minutes on elliptical 4.95 miles lol. I just didn't have enough power at the end to get that last part in.

This morning I am sore so I know I need to stretch at lunchtime.

Glad to see you Tammat-I looked into that thingy you mentioned=looks like it's adding seconds when you have the weights almost to full position as they said not to lock in at the end of the motion. I can't imagine I would be able to hold it more than 15 seconds. I will try this at lunchtime-I won't get as many reps but It makes sense. It helps build muscle and endurance.

I found this site that explains it better for those who like using hand weights/bar weights http://www.vincedelmontefitness.com...troying-plateaus-constant-tension-timed-sets/

Also I wish Planet Fitness had a Squat rack. We have that smith machine but it just isn't the same. And their molded barbells only go up to 60lbs. I wish they went up to 100lbs. And it's too much of a pain to use dumbbells at that high of a weight.

Glad to see you all back and getting in some motion!

 

[jtbo]

Good going, guys!

Tammat, nice to see you back. Sorry about that ear infection. Good luck with the new program!
Lonelocust, give the gym a couple of weeks, til all the New Year resolutions have worn off and it won't be crowded anymore. I keep my step goal right around 11000 steps, too. Most of the time, I end up with more because of just doing things around the house in addition to my exercise walks. Every step helps.

3 miles on the treadmill this morning. Will head out for my walk at lunch.

I mentioned that with the Fitbit Blaze, they have a circuit called Active Hours and you set your 9 consecutive hours that you're to get 250 steps in each of those hours. Now, 250 steps may not sound like a lot of steps and on weekends, I get them with no trouble. During the week, however, I'm stuck here at my desk most of the day. Not a good thing. Well, since I've gotten the Blaze and set it to beep every hour to remind me to get those steps in, as soon as it beeps, I make it a point to get up from my desk and walk around the building. I have it set from 9 to 6 and that works out well for me so far. Anyway, since I've gotten the Blaze, I have made 9 out of 9 every day, That's a good thing.

250 does not sound a small amount, it makes up over 2000 steps a day and getting 250 each hour would not be easy for me even I don't have to sit behind the desk, I don't understand how you manage to get it, superhuman!


I thought that I had very active day today, carried lot of water around, every hour I had to add firewood to furnace on other building etc. but I still ended up with only bit under 4000 steps with 3 hours and 45 minutes of active time.
I can get over 30 000 steps a day if I do a bike ride, but to get genuine 11000 steps would kill my legs, I'm sure of it.

That is why I think it is really amazing when I see those high number of steps you manage to get just by walking.

 

[foxxycat]

I'm impressed with all your work! I don't think I could get that many steps in. I rather lift something 250 times than walk 250 steps!! LOL.

todays lunchtime jam:

calorie torch 30 min workout.

I ran in place instead of the floor work=the floor exercises he shows are excellent for back issues. Check them out Winchester! I remember my doc having me do those type of exercises when my lower back acts up. Good for the tummy muscles too!!
 

 

[tammat]

Thanks for the welcome back [emoji]128512[/emoji] I've decided to take a week off the weights and I'm going all out cardio to try reduce my body fat. I did 1/4 oval sprints and half oval jogs for 20 mins this morning and then 10 sec sprints with a 2 min rest x10. The afternoon sprints were not very intense I'll need to adjust them. It was a good start anyways.
Keep those steps up everybody.

 

[Norachan]

I've got to start running again. I'm just finding it hard to fit a run in after work while it's still day light at the moment.

30 minutes on my bike today.

 

[foxxycat]

BodyRock LisaMarie Leg Workout

41 minutes long


I improvised with a step out of a toolholder container-didn't do the floor work-I still can't get down and get up without huffing and puffing. Did pushups off the block against the shelf so I was able to get a closer to the ground horizontal plane. Good steamy workout. I am very sore but this really helps loosen up my legs. Ate some potatoes for potassium but it's not kicking in yet. Can't eat bananas otherwise I would.

Got to take pumps to her laser treatment so no gym tonight but I may swing by after the appointment but I doubt I will..once I am home I don't leave for some silly reason.

 

[lonelocust]

My brother has been bugging me to do the "7 minute workout", and I ad a lot to do today, so I tried it. I did 3 variations. It was definitely very tiring for a 21 minute workout even though it didn't really sound like it before I tried. I'm going on vacation next week so probably won't get a workout but will get lots of walking time.