Lets see how many hours of exercize we can all log within the month of march. Post a goal if you want, and then each week post how many hours of exercize you have done. If you like, seperate out the type of exercize as well. walking, weight lifting, videos, biking, running etc. I will tally each week and at the end of the month for the grand total.

Great idea!!!
I want to log-in a minimum of 20 hours in the month of March.
I'll be doing Yoga, Cardio and Weight Lifting.
I already have 65 min accumulated so far today

Welcome, Trix-
I have decided to aim at an hour daily for a total of 31 hours! So far am at 1 1/2. Keep on moving.

Great goal Ann!
I would have aimed for more, but I am always out of comission for nearly a week during TOM (I get it extremely bad and I'm on powerful muscle relaxants, so no weight lifting allowed until the meds are totally cleared out of my system and the workouts I do on my threadmill trigger cramps and I try to take as little of the meds as possible)... and Yoga is not recommended during TOM, no twisting, no upside down positions, no bending forward positions, etc... might as well just sit and meditate but that doesn't burn calories, so it wouldn't count anyway towards this challenge.
So I basically look at 1 hour a day for 3 weeks out of the month (i.e. 21 days), hence the lower number.
I will aim to get past the 20 hours mark, anything above that is the cherry on top
I logged-in 68 minutes of exercises this morning, so I'm a bit over 2 hours now (2 hours 13 min.) - keep on moving! It's so much fun

40 min 5x a week

Hi girls!
I'm reporting 2 h 13 minutes since March 1st.
TOM started with a vengeance yesterday (early), so I'll be on "rest days" for part of this week.
Keep on movin'

WEEK ONE REPORT:
So far a total for the group of 9 hours and 8 minutes of exersize:
Trix-- 2hours and 13 minutes
Anngo-- 6 hours and 55 minutes
Airforcewife and Agapetos--no report yet. probably too busy exersizing. Let us know when you get the chance.
Anyone else--feel free to jump in and start counting exersize hours for a goal anytime this month.
Keep on moving!

Great job Anngo! I'll be putting in some time today. My cramps are gone this morning, so I'm starting up again today
Keep up the great work!

Hey guys-
I just LOVE challeges and when I read this last week, it made me set a goal for myself (even though I didn't post). I made a really, REALLY ambitious goal of hiking 18 miles this past week...and I made it! I was glad to see you were still offering for people to sign up...
Sooo...my goal this week is to hike 15 miles. 18 was really too much for my current fitness level and I found myself quite a bit more tired than usual this morning. I know it's only 3 miles less than last week, and it doesn't sound like much, but that is one or two easy days for me (or a second day off since I only took one) and I think I need it.
So glad you started this Ann - Thanks!

PS - Geez, I forgot to tell ya'll...good job on your exercise everyone!

I want to join, too. Is it too late?
So far this month I've only exercised 2 hours, but that is going to change. This is exactly what I need to get me back on track.
I'm going to strive for 4 hours per week, so hopefully I'll get 16 hours of exercise for this month since I'm starting late.
Thanks for posting this!

Great job Diana and Sarah! Glad to see you two join-up on this thread!
Let's keep on movin' and shakin'

Thanks for the welcome!
Ok, so I put in three miles today (I start my weeks on Thursday, WI ya know.. ...so that puts me at 15 committed, 3 down, 12 to go!

Hi folks!
I will be tallying up the hours again tomorrow morning. I am curious to see how everyone is doing. I am about an hour behind on my goal and am now trying to talk my kids into going on a nightime very chilly walk with me. Keep on moving.

O.K. ...My total so far this month is 13 hours and 50 minutes. That's before today's workout, so am only 10 minutes behind my hour a day goal.
This has really helped my fitness in just a couple of weeks. I feel so much stronger, and I even ran 4 miles all at once the other day. It doesnt seem to have me losing weight any faster, but I CAN see actual muscles, and it seems easier to stay on the diet.
Let me know how you are doing.

I'm going to finish out the week a little short; today was/is the last day in my 'week' and there's no way to make it up, so in total of a 15 mile commitment, I made 13 of them.
I guess since I start new tomorrow, I will commit to one hour per day next week. It's easier to goal by time than it is by mile in case I switch up to a different workout...so I pledge 6 hours for next week.
Anngo, so glad to see you are still posting and still sweating, lol. Keep up the good work!

Diana-
You did really great this week!! When you say hiking, are you talking about on a trail? So much rain and cold here that would be really difficult right now, but I also like to hike. My Idea of a great vacation is a national backpacking trip with the Sierra Club. Good luck with your new goal this week.

I'm in. My goal--20 hours of excercise for the entire month of March, with primary hours being cardio, or almost all.
Secondary--lots of walking, and stairs.
Park the car far away, and walk..walk.
Brisk walk, when possible. Stretching when possible.
2nd goal--back up to 5000 crunches a day, and lower back excercise to balance.
We can do it. So far log me in for 3 hours.
Good idea.
Change4

Change4-
Welcome. You do 5000 cruntches!!! I am amazed. Good luck on your goal, and let us know how you are doing.

WOW, Change4, GREAT goals! I'm with Anngo, 5000 crunches, I think I would pass out!!!

Anngo, yes, hiking on trails. It's almost time for hiking season in FL to end unless you enjoy bugs spiders ticks and 100 degree heat, but somehow I'll manage. I'm so with you on backpacking w/the Sierra Club, that would be awesome! I keep telling myself that I'm going to do the Appalachian Trail end-to-end for my big Four-Oh but we'll see...no one wants to leave "real" life for six months, lol. I tell them, come with me, I'll show you some REAL life, hee hee.

TTFN!
PS - Even slacking this week and eating out three times, I lost a pound...it's a miracle...but back on track for me. Next stop...180's!

Oops, I forgot about this challenge, sorry.
goal work out 4-5x a week. goal met
3/1-3/17
firm video=225 min
walking=440 min

...and way to go all of you.
I'm getting hiking fever now. but 5000 crunches, I'd be lucky to get in 50. oh the pain

Hi girls!
I didn't have access to my computer for all of last week, so I need to catch up on some posts!
I also suffered an injury (old injury flare up) to my ankle.
So far this month, I have now tallied up 8 hours and 13 minutes out of the 20 hours I pledged to do. 5 of those hours were slow walks (ankle was bothering me a lot).
This week, starting tomorrow, I'll be concentrating on weight training to let my ankle heal up some more. I tried to get back on regular exercises too soon a week ago and I got a set-back with the ankle... so I'm not taking chances anymore.
My consultant dropped me from 1,500 to 1,200 cals for this week given my prolonged injury, so we'll see if that helps while things finish healing up.
Keep up the great work everyone!

Trix- I'm sorry to hear about your injury. Ive had foot problems before, and know that you have to work very slowly back in to exersize. It is so frustrating. I hope it is feeling better soon.
Agapetos- You are really logging some exersize time. Good work.

Hi Anngo!
Yeah, it's frustrating and I realize that I have to take it really slow.
I managed to do my 20 min. of AM Yoga this morning and later on I did 30 minutes of upper body strenght training (while seated on my bench) and I feel much better. I love to exercise.
So I am updating my tally for this past week and since the begining of this challenge, I'm now up to:
9 hours and 3 minutes out of 20...
I've got my workout schedule drawn up for the week

Anngo-I used to do 5,000 that is my goal, I did 1,000 today.
I'm working my way back up to it.
Ocala- you're funny
Agapetos...no pain, no gain...
Trix-I hope your ankle gets better, take it easy. Better to heal first and then come back strong. AM yoga is good.
Today excercise: 50 minutes cardio.
1,000 crunches
light arm circuits, ouch
March total: 230 minute total (almost4)
We are gonna do this, woo hoo!!
Change4

Wow... 1000 crunches! Holly cats mama!!!
Do you do them all in one shot or do you spread them out throughout the day?
I can handle about 300 in one sitting but that's about it.
Do you just do straight crunches or do you also do obliques work, lower abs, etc?
If you like to work your abs this much, then you should try Turbo Jam (kick-boxing moves, capoeria moves, abs moves galore... those obliques workouts are just awesome) by Chalene Jonhson:
Turbo Jam by Beach Body
I did the 20 min. standing abs and floor abs (20 min. total) and it's tough but it feels soooo awesome. My obliques, in particular, have never felt so good and so strong. The music is also the best I've ever heard on any workout videos and I have several hundred workout videos and DVDs in my exercise library.
I highly recommend Chalene's Turbo Jam workouts...

Hi Folks-
At work today, so just a quick reminder...I will be tallying the hours so far this month tomorrow morning. Keep on moving!!

Hi to everyone.
Trix-yesterday I did them all in one shot, I break them down into sets of 100, and do different variations. Now I am able to do a few more advanced ones. I also did 20 bicycles, which are hard. One video/dvd I love is Abs of Steel. I used to do them all the time. The cool thing is that they are broken down into increments of 5 mihutes. When at the 5,00 level I just did them at different times of the day. Oh, I have 5 minutes..ab time. That way it worked well and I felt great about my firm strong waist. You can do it too.
Have not hit the gym yet but I will be back to report to Ann...attn!!! Lol. Take care everyone and good excercising. Remember to be mindful, and not overexert yourself. If you feel bad pain, ease up. Your body will thank you. Bye all.
Change4

Thanks for the reply Change4
I used to have the "Legs of Steel" video (with Gilad) and I have Tamilee's I want that body (she was in the "Arms of Steel" video) - her upper body (arms, shoulders) workout segements are quite effective... but I've never done (or owned) the Abs of Steel video. The Firm used to have a 5-day abs video that wasn't bad either, but I prefer the Turbo Jam's session now
For the abs, hips, butt, thighs area, other than Turbo Jam "Ab Jam", Joyce Vedral's "Bathing Suit workout" video is absolutely top notch to reshape that entire area. You go into rounds (10 rounds) of a series comprising of several exerices and you do 15 reps each exercise and if you can manage all 10 rounds girl, then you're doing great... and then it repeats for another 10 rounds and another 10 rounds... 30 rounds in total.... If you get that far, you're a Champion!!!!
You can visit her site:
Joyce Vedral's website
Joyce has awesome strenght training workouts and abs, hips, butt exercises. I've put her workouts on the sideline right now because of my "iffy" ankle (there's lots of getting up and down and moving around quick with most of Joyce's videos, you need a weight bench, preferably an incline one and various dumbells but it's all worth it).
So I'm sticking to Slim in 6 right now (mainly sqwats galore with all kinds of variations and a few lunges thrown in) for my lower body strenght and cardio as it gets your heart pumping hard but it's not hard on my ankle... and I do Tamilee's I want those arms segments (both level 1 and 2) for upper body strenght until I can get back to Joyce.
It's nice to change things around...
Keep up the great work everybody!

Trix--Thanks that is good to know, I will check it out, although it seems pretty intense and I do not know if I am ready for that quite yet.
Ann: 90 minutes excercise, 50 cardio
2,000 crunches
We can do it, lets do this thing.
Change4

Change4 -- Trust me, I'm nowhere near completing all the rounds on Joyces video and you can stop anytime and aim to do an extra set or a few rounds of the next batch of 10 rounds the next time you put that video on. So it's always a challenge to do a wee bit more every week or every time (which ever you like).
Joyce is a hoot, she's from the Bronx NY and she doesn't do any watered-down exercise routines. She learned everything from professional body builders and she's in her late fifties. She looks just awesome in a bikini!!!
I wanna look like her when I reach her age (she's getting close to 60 now).
She's an amazing and very inspiring woman.
Ann -- Including my workout this morning, I now have 10 hours and 53 minutes out of 20.
I'm back to a full workout schedule, so I plan on meeting my 20 hours for this month despite my injury.
I can't thank you all enough for being here, working out with me. You all inspire me to keep going and I feel that I'm not alone, no matter what challenges life brings on.
You're the best!

Dang, out of state company coming in today. This really puts a crunch in my 4am workout. I'm going to have to be creative because I'm the type if I get off track I have trouble getting back on. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.

I wanted to ask if there are any firm users out there? I have the rotation but am sticking to one tape right now because of the challenge of the choreography. Anyone else feeling this challenge?
(run or walk on alternate days of the firm)

Trix--thanks for the heads up, I would be all about a ciruit at a time. Step at a time.
Apagetos--sorry, do not do the firm, yet.
Bye---Change4

Hi folks-
It looks like everyone is doing tons of exersize. It's very inspiring. I may even start doing some cruntches! I do Joyce Vedrals Upper body workout from one of her books, and really like it, but have to admit I've been too lazy to do the Lower body workout or the abs. Time for me to kick it into gear. Also can hardly wait for the weather to change so I can hit the trails for some hiking. That sounds so great. Went bike riding along the American River bike trail this week with my son. It was a beautiful day.
Here are the totals as I see them so far. If I missed any of your time, let me know and I will add them in. Thanks, Ann
Trix- 10 hours and 53 minutes (even with an injury!)
Change4- 6 hours and 10 minutes ( That's about a million cruntches)
Agapetos- 11 hours and 5 minutes (wow!)
Sarah- 2 hours (at last report) probably more
Diana- 13 miles of hiking (at last report-halfway down the appilachian trail)
Ann- 21 hours and 10 minutes (some running and lots of walking and gentle exersize)

Ann - Thanks for the wrap-up on where everybody's at right now with the exercise challenge!
GREAT JOB EVERYBODY!!!! YOU ALL ROCK!!!!
Agapetos - Sorry, no "Firm" taker here either. I've done a few of the Firm videos many moons ago (The Turtle and the Hare, as well as the 5-Day abs workout) but that's about it. I just couldn't stand the routines and 'girly' dancy moves and little pirouettes (Janet Gretsky was pretty bad for those).
Good luck with your company from out of State - Focus on your plan, and if you get off, just come right back here and get back on right away. I'm much better at "getting right back at it" than I used to be and it makes a huge difference in my progress on all fronts.
We're here for ya!
I did upper body strenght today plus my AM Yoga. Feeeeeels good!

Hello to the March Madness Fitness Challengers: I will be back to report my excercise later this afternoon. Keep up the good work everyone. Change4

40 minutes cardio.
40 minutes yoga
_________________
Total 180 minutes
Goal: 20 hrs.
Now : 16 hrs.
Change4

3/18-3/24 goal 40 min 4-5x per week
actual
80 min firm video
215 walk/run
_____________
total 295 minute
135 min over goal this week

oh yes, I forgot to mention. I ran outside in the pitch dark at 4am, but I didn't let my company get me off track

Apagetos--you go girl!! Be careful...
30 min. brisk walk
30 min. brisk yoga
___________________________
240 min. total
Monthly goal 20 hours
so far. 15 hours
Change4

Wow... great job everybody!
It's so nice to hang out with a bunch of people who enjoy working out
I did my workout this morning again - feeling great... I want to reach my 20 hours this month!
Keep up the great work everybody!

Hey Trix, (1300 crunches hooah!)
30 min. cardio.
30 min. strength
15 min. upper body
___________________
315 min. total
20 hour goal
13 hours, 15 min. left

Change4 c/mon everyone!! Hoo rah!!!

Holly cats!!!! 1,300 crunches! That's just amazing...
You should be the poster-girl for Abs of Steel - at that rate, you must have abs of steel!
Way to go girl!!!

Agapetos- good for you for figuring out a way to keep up the exersize despite life's interferences.
Change4- You are amazing. I did about 30 cruntches the other day and felt like it was 1300, does that count??
Today was my first 5k race! I originally had a goal of less than 40 minutes, but during practice runs, realized I could probably finish it in 37 or 38 minutes. I started out really slow and took several walk breaks, and finished in 36:07 (I think--official times are not posted yet) No walkers passed me (which was my big worry) and I passed a lot of people who gave up and walked, so I feel like I did really well. Running by the water table and getting that little cup of water was cool!!

CONGRATULATIONS ANN!!!!
Way to go on the 5k girl!!! (((( HUGS! ))))
I'm so proud of you!
I was trying to count the crunches during my workout today but I gave up... One of my dogs came to me and figured I was in agony and started licking my face and my eyes... it tickled and I lost count
Did my workout today again, feeling stronger and better every day!
I'm now at 15 hr 52 min. of workout time so far this month (out of my 20 hours goal).
Let's keep it up folks! March is ending this week!

Ann-good job.
Just want to let you all know, I am a little under the weather today but I will be back strong tommorow, woo hoo!
Change4

Change4 -- I hope you'll feel much better soon.
I went to bed last night with a slightly soar throat. I gargled right away and again this mornig. It's better now, but last night I had the chills
I'm fighting this bit of a bug... I managed my exercises today as usual, but if I feel worst tomorrow, I'll switch to a Leslie WATP video and keep things low.
Have a great day everybody! It's almost the end of March... Ann, you'll soon have to start a thread for an April madness fitness challenge

Hi folks-
I'm not going to add up hours this week, but I'll just do it on April 1st. What do you think, Next month It would be April Fools Fitness Challenge?? April Agony??
Chang4 and Trix, I hope you are both feeling better. Trix, I like your rescue dog. I'll have to teach my cat to do that.
Keep on moving, March Madness is almost over.

Thanks Trix, feeling a little better.
Thanks everyone on the crunches. I know I need to add some for the other day.
Ann-April Fools Fitness.
60 min. strenuous yoga
________________________________________
12:15 minutes left total

Change4