Walking It Off

It's been 19 days into this 20-day challenge. My goal was 10 minutes a day on average, and my REAL goal was 20 minutes a day average. (I just don't like to be disappointed!) As of today, my average is... (drum roll, please...)

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Yes! 19.5 minutes per day average! I like it.

What I've noticed the past two weeks -

• A pattern - walk three days, take a day off and stretch. The days off are not because I "didn't want to" walk; they're for various reasons.
• I've lost weight. Wha?? Yes. I had some to lose, and I lost 9 pounds. Crazy, I know.
• I'm eating better. This is probably because my body is needing different foods!
• I'm sleeping better. I think it's all the fresh air. I only count my outside walks.
• I feel good.

I'll keep this up for longer than 20 days. I'll write one more progress report before I share final results with my students. I know this is a great habit to get back into, and I'm excited that biking in the spring will be so much easier when I keep my body moving this upcoming winter.

Walking Into Fall

Week One Progress:

I started on Wednesday of last week - November 11th - because it was such a BEAUTIFUL day outside! I wolfed down my lunch and then got outside during the school day. I walked for 16 minutes and felt so good! Because it felt so good, I ended up taking my last class outside for the second half of the block. The next day was bitter cold and wet out, so I walked after dinner instead - 30 minutes with my love. We tried to walk off that Chipotle burrito! Friday I did not get my walk in... My lower back / hips were achy. I stretched on Friday. It was a good reminder that my back needs to stretch after exercise. (Gosh, it's been too long!) I had to make a decision then... what was my true goal? Walking 10 minutes a day or just making sure I walk when I can? Saturday we walked for 25 minutes and saw progress on the dam in Busse Woods. Today we have plans to walk to Jewel and the library - should be at least 20 minutes.

On Saturday, I also created my chart to keep my progress. Sadly, my highlighter ran out of juice. I'll have to borrow one from the student station... Don't ask me why I chose a highlighter - it was a split-second decision. I made a line for my goal, and then made another line for my real goal... I really think I can walk 20 minutes a day, but I don't want to disappoint myself, so 10 minutes is more "doable." I still hope my average per day is 20 minutes for these 20 days...

Making this chart made me think of my students - how will they document their progress? I know it depends on what they'll choose to do - and that's exciting to me! I made the simple chart that they can copy and edit if they like. (Click on the link or type in tinyurl.com/GHGraph.) They can share their progress through blog posts, video updates, a Google document "viewable by anyone," a paragraph on paper, or an email to me. I'd like to fill up the bulletin board with updates if they're not published for all to see. We'll keep track of just HOW we'll keep track on this spreadsheet.

Whatever happens, I believe getting outside to walk might stick - because I really want it to. I want to be able to get back on that bike this spring and ride long distances once again.

Time to Get Moving - 20-Day Challenge

My students and I will be embarking on a 20-Day Challenge this year - mine starts TODAY!

Inspired by Matt Cutts...



We're cutting it down to 20 days, so that we can fit it in and share our progress before Winter Break. I brainstormed six ideas, and came up with this one that is DAILY, REASONABLE, and it BENEFITS someone (me and my family):

I will walk every day for at least 10 minutes a day.

This will benefit me and my family, because I will be healthier (I never get any exercise these days!), sleep better, and be less crabby (because I'll sleep better - I hope).

Nothing huge here. Nothing life-changing. Helpful, no less. I'll write more next week to journal how many minutes I've walked each day and how it has affected me and my family...