Welcome to February, April Bandits! We've rounded the corner of the New Year and our Bandiversaries are just a couple of months away. Woohoo!This is OUR YEAR to make goal! Let's let exercise in February help!

We're upping our challenge for the month in number of sessions (by one). Our ultimate goal is 20 sessions a month for 45 minutes each session, and we'll get there by April. For now, here's February's challenge:

(1) Complete 18 or more exercise sessions (counting only one session per day, if you're the type to do more!); and

(2) To count, each session must be at least 40 minutes in duration (two 20 min sessions in one day still counts).

We can do it!

Thanks for the starting point Julie.

Yep... I will take the challenge and also add for me that I want (so badly) to get to onderland by the end of this month.

I had a great run this morning - did 2.2 k without stopping so I feel energized to take on this month!!!

How about everyone else???

Dawn

Banded april 4th, 2006

Montreal

358/205/179

Exercise this month = 1 session (hey... I am 100% so far this month!!)

hey... I am 100% so far this month!!

Me too! I was tempted to skip lap swim this morning after my yoga class because I'm totally distracted by the fact that I killed my old car in a classic rear-ender and now must shop for another one -- and I have a deadline because I'm leaving on a month's vacation in 12 days. I MUST have a car by then, insured & registered. Then I thought to myself, Well that's no way to start off the new challenge by skipping out on the very first day. So I did lap swim after all, and now I feel both energized and virtuous!

Thanks for starting the new thread, Julie. And I will be cheering you on and sending energizing thoughts your way on Sunday morning, 8 a.m. How long does a race that length take?

April 2006 Bandits February Challenge: ONE day of exercise completed

Julie thanx for the thread? I will try to do my best to complete this challenge!

BLUEhill: Are you okay? Sorry about your accident!

I've done two sessions cos it is the 2nd feb at home already hehehe!!!! I am in San Fran tonite, going out with a friend now, I've just done 1 hr walking/running treadmill and 20mins arm weights !

XX

I have a thought about this latest challenge also, but will have to post when I get back

:biggrin1:

BLUEhill: Are you okay? Sorry about your accident!

Oh yeah, no problem with any injuries. The car was "totaled" by the insurance company because its value, as an 11-year-old, was less than the cost of repairs.

Bluehill: Glad to hear your alright! Why do these things always happen when we have no time to deal with them???

Julie: We will be right there by the sidelines.....we'll be the ones screaming the loudest! Have a great run!

50 min workout this morning.

Bluehill, I'm so glad you're ok. I know you'll get it all done before you leave on your trip.

My first day of the challenge started off well too. I got in 60 min on the elliptical and 15 min on the treadmill. No running, just walking, in prep for Sunday....

Here I am back.......was thinking about the issues brought forth with our Feb challenge and wanted to say something...........I am totally into my exercise but it isn't for everyone and I feel in a way we are shutting out people on this thread that maybe don't wanna exercise but have improved their lives in other ways. I personally wasn't going to go back to gym but have and love it but if I hadn't I was going to at least try to move more........are we excluding these people, it is a very exercise orientated thread!

I don't know.........just a thought, what do you all think!!!

Amourette XXX:D

We as a group decided from the very start the this was going to be a thread that would be dedicated to improving our lives through exercise. We would be able to come here to discuss our fears, gripe, and to be inspired. That is why we view it as a "challenge", so that we might find out what we are really capable of physically. No one should feel pressured here, we all do what we can, when we can. Whatever works for each one of us is what counts and we exclude no one. Anyone who wants to join us is always welcome.

Roberta

Hey and I totally understand and agree with that, but looking from a different perspective when we are looking at our Feb challenge, why shouldnt we focus more on movement, lifestyle etc than what we do..........don't you feel a few members have droppd away because of this?

XX

You bring up an interesting point, Amourette. Thankfully, Roberta invited me to check out this thread. I knew joining in, that there was a commitment involved. That is what I needed, accountability. But what began as motivation to exercise regularly, has become a source of inspiration and friendship. We are helping each other to achieve our mutual goals, and to make exercise a daily regimen.

I love it that we are able to share other personal issues and experiences along the way.

I totally agree that anybody can join us! It was great that Miper70 left a note that we were inspiring her. (That is cool that some of our peers are checking out our progress.)

As far as turning people away, I am the LAST person that would want to be part of an exclusive group. If someone cannot meet the challenge, or wants to adapt the challenge for their needs, I think they should be allowed to do it. The bottom line is that we are setting individual goals, but are challenging each other at the same time.

By the way: I started the month off with 75 minutes on the elliptical and dancing for 30 minutes.

Yahoo...........here we go again. On the subject of joining this challenge.........when I first started I had no thoughts of actually making the challenge............just wanted a little motivation and I GOT SO MUCH MORE...........wow to the point that I need exercise almost every day! Anyone out there who would like to give it a shot............go for it. If we help you to do anything more than you are doing now or even to just keep up with what you are doing now..........how great! I do believe we should keep this an exercise challenge tho vs. something else................that is our goal with this thread that has come to be so much more and the reason we are doing so wonderfully. I hope all that are active now realize that this is not a race (just as the weight we lose is not)..........I look at my achievements in losing weight and whatever numbers I hit in the exercise column as a challenge to myself alone and relish in all of your accomplishments - hopefully I help inspire because my gosh you are all so inspiring..........just look where we all have come from!!!!!!!

Alan and I braved the cold yesterday and walked (Dawn it was 35 deg F here - wow are we brave) and I'm off to the gym soon.

Let's all be injury free and very healthy in February!

Oh, my gosh I just went back and read the last day posts of January! Your problems are over - when you get here you call me and I'll get you a pass to my gym for the time you are here! I'll introduce you to my wonderful NIA class - you'll sweat your buns off! I'm so excited! Don't you dare not spend time with me!

Eva - you are so cute - and wow in one leg! I'm going to make that my next goal.

Well I just got home from the gym - did my marathon today......NIA for an hour, 1/2 hour of core, 1 hour of Group Power (weight lifting to music). This stuff is not for sissies! I'm up this week 1 1/2 lbs - go figure - guess those liquid calories in Palm Springs did not help. I've got to get busy if I'm going to make it to 'overweight' by April 7th!

Dawn, look at you..........."onederland" is right around the corner!

I'm going to the Seattle Splash Band week-end in a couple of weeks (week-end of the 16th). Wish some of you were attending. But, I am going to have a guest in about a month.............Bluehill is coming to Portland and we're going to the gym together!!!!!! As soon as we meet, I'll pass along all the gossip about her to you all! I'm really excited to finally get to meet one of you in person - a real face and body to hug.