Exercise challenge: 10,000 steps per day for a full year

[anthony]

I never f*cking said or implied that.

Calm. Think of what you read as though someone is saying it to you nicely / with a laugh.

 

[Friday]

Its the same if you live where there is bad winter snow. You won't be doing 10k steps outside... so you need to have a feasible plan, ie. home walker. You can pick those up for under $200.

IKR?!?

Or an elliptical. Or, or, or. My last 3 lofts? Had stationary Fixed trapezes & a 10x10 gymnastics/dojo mats, & ballet barre, & heavy bag, &, &, &.

***

Also, my apologizes to all. I’ve been a BIT of an asshole, because I reeeeally hate the weather I live in, and my circumstances at present. That don’t let me dodge the weather by being proactive, and I have medical shit that’s pissing me off. That’s a me, thing. And not a reflection of anyone else.

@whiteraven Specifically? Nope. Not said, not implied. I’ve been stuck, a few times in my life, not just now, where nooooooo matter what my intentions? They’re simply not practical. Because of weather, injury, etc. So I worry about people who take on things that don’t account for life going sideways. I apologize if that came out assholish, rather than proactive. Intentions. Roads to hell. And all of that.

 

[Defaultxlove]

I walk every day...please like this so I can buy a new Fitbit charger and join the challenge.. I love this @Ecdysis

 

[Ecdysis]

Yes please!

 

[Defaultxlove]

The likes worked I’m ordering the charger now lol

 

[Ecdysis]

So, I have two wins to report re this challenge:

1. I'm still doing it and I'm meeting my targets. I think today I'll be getting 14,000 steps, which is good cos I had one 8,000 and one 9,000 step day this week. All others were 10,000 +. (I'm making sure I get 70,000 steps per week.)

Oh, just realised it's actually 3 wins..

So, number 2: The "gamefication" aspect of this challenge (making exercise like collecting points in a computer game) really "works" for my brain. So, for example, I'll be standing in front of a lift and my brain will be like "Ooh, if I take 2 flights of stairs, that'll be like an extra 200 steps - let's do it!" So that's working really well. Cos my depression-PTSD-fibro brain can't go "Oh, taking the stairs is HEALTHY - let's do that" Nooo... that doesn't convince my brain. Getting an extra 200 Fitbit "points" however, does...

And now for the third - and by far the biggest - win:

After a fortnight of really having to "force" myself to do this and gritting my teeth and hating it and my body saying no no no no all the way...

I've finally turned some kind of corner... My body is starting to say "Oh this... yeah, this is okay".

AND... (!!) On two occasions where I felt stressed I figured I may as well walk/ do exercise cos I'd be earning Fitbit points, haha, I actually had a palpable STRESS RELIEF EFFECT which I have NEVER gotten from exercise before in my entire life, ever.

So, I'm very proud of myself and feeling kind of elated to have cracked this mythical barrier of "exercise can feel GOOD" for the first time in my life.

 

[Teasel]

Cool stuff

 

[Ecdysis]

Well, this messed up... My dad and my dog got a cancer diagnosis, my car broke down so bad I had to replace it and there's currently an issue here locally that makes outdoor exercise a problem for I don't know how many weeks. That plus PTSD, depression and now Aspergers seems to be enough to have derailed this. Which is very annoying, because I could tell it was helpful. Going to have to try and work out a Plan B.

 

[No More]

Well, this messed up... My dad and my dog got a cancer diagnosis, my car broke down so bad I had to replace it and there's currently an issue here locally that makes outdoor exercise a problem for I don't know how many weeks. That plus PTSD, depression and now Aspergers seems to be enough to have derailed this. Which is very annoying, because I could tell it was helpful. Going to have to try and work out a Plan B.

Indoor walking pad? Perhaps if you do it over the average on a longer period? I do mine monthly avg to account for days off or race weeks

 

[anthony]

That plus PTSD, depression and now Aspergers seems to be enough to have derailed this.

Life will always derail things... you have to simply have more positive will power, can do attitude, and do it regardless. PTSD, depression, shit kicks me in the guts all the time, but here is what I know, and I use in my own self-talk to get past all this - I actually feel a shit tonne better after a long walk. Factually, it lowers my depression, helps reduce any PTSD nonsense I have going on, and typically I then go onto do more stuff and remain active for more of the day, because it actually helps me.

I use the facts to slap myself with the facts!

 

[Ecdysis]

So, I ended up in hospital cos my back was so bad... They wanted to do surgery, but I've postponed that for now...

I think this may have finally been the wake-up call to make me realise that I have to address the trauma stored in my body, not just the trauma stored in my brain.

For the past 30 years, my back has been so bad, that there have always been days/ weeks, where I've not been able to walk at all, barely able to make it from my bedroom to the bathroom. This has been getting more challenging with every year, as I age.

With this last really bad phase, I've now got a walking frame and a wheelchair at home, to help me move around the house.

I'm determined to get my 10,000 steps on the other days... My good days... The days where I can walk... So that I can be as-pain-free-as-possible and as-mobile-as-possible for my time left on this planet.