33 replies to this topic

[Leslie74]

Welcome to the IDITAROD STEP CHALLENGE!!!

We will post a new thread each month during this challenge.
I am starting this challenge as a tribute to my 3 beautiful Siberian Huskies - Timber, Jasper and Thunder.
CHALLENGE BEGINS: July 1

CHALLENGE END GOAL: December 31

The goal of this challenge is to complete the # of steps it would require to WALK the northern Iditarod Trail. You can log steps by walking, jogging, running, treadmill, or elliptical (no cycling). Along the way, I will throw in some non-step activity that you can "cash in" for steps so that we can keep the spirit of varied exercise alive! This is an individual challenge, not a team one as I have hosted before.

Here is a link to the segments of the trail: Iditarod Trail from Jenny Craig

Every mile = 2025.5 steps

Iditarod Trail = 1098 miles

THEREFORE, your goal is to complete 2,224,000 steps by December 31!! (Keep in mind the sled dog teams cover this ground in an average of 10-17 days! I bow down to the stamina that these dogs have.)

So who's with me? I have created an excel step tracking sheet - if you want a copy, send me a private message on JC online with your email address. OR, you can create one of your own. Here's what the mini-trail goals are:
TRAIL SEGMENT / MILES / STEPS
Anchorage to Willow 49 99,250
Willow to Yetna Station 52 105,326
Yetna Station to Skwentna 34 68,867
Skwentna to Finger Lake 45 91,148
Finger Lake to Rainy Pass 30 60,765
Rainy Pass to Rohn 48 97,224
Rohn to Nikolai 75 151,913
Nikolai to McGrath 54 109,377
McGrath to Takotna 18 36,459
Takotna to Ophir 25 50,638
Ophir to Cripple 59 119,505
Cripple to Ruby 112 226,856
Ruby to Galena 52 105,326
Galena to Nulato 52 105,326
Nulato to Kaltag 42 85,071
Kaltag to Unalakleet 90 182,295
Unalakleet to Shaktoolik 42 85,071
Shaktoolik to Koyuk 48 97,224
Koyuk to Elim 48 97,224
Elim to White Mountain 46 93,173
White Mountain to Safety 55 111,403
Safety to Nome 22 44,561

GOOD LUCK to everyone who joins. I'm looking forward to traveling the trail with you!

[Nieve02]

I am so in!

I took the average number of calories burned for a 200lb person and by the time I finish this I could have close to 31lbs gone. Add this in with watching my calories, I know what I am getting when I finish this challenge - a new New Years Eve outfit lol

[cine613]

Leslie,

Thanks for setting up this challenge. I have brought out my snow shoes... let's mush!!!

Happy 4th everyone!

Francine

[gekko.318]

I am absolutely in!!

July 1 - 9403
July 2 - 13578

[Ladybug 88]

Happy Independance day my fellow Americans (sort of, us Canadians live in North America too!)

I am in. I am struggling so bad food wise. I read what Nieve wrote - 31 lbs down from activity - and thought "now why can't i add some self control to that" and i feel better already!

July 1 - 2244 (ouch) I had my armband off part of the day (vanity). I think I better dig out my pedometer!

I will post my weekly results on Saturday or Sunday for prior week. Thank you so much Leslie for breaking it all down for us, I am still on the outskirts of Anchorage headed for Willow, see you on the trail!

Blessings,
Ladybug

[cine613]

Ladybug, Nieve....... So glad you are both coming along!!!!(Leslie, goes without saying..) I just figured out that if I am going to finish by Thanksgiving I have to do roughly 14000 steps a day. I am not currently doing that so I either need to adjust my goal or step it up. Already 4 days behind! UGH!!!!

Lady- I have learned this is a journey. Unlike a smoker or alcoholic giving up their vice... we HAVE to continue eating! It's a process. Sometimes a day at a time, sometimes a minute or a second. Just keep making progress and you will get there.

I just wanted to Share that this coming Saturday I will officially be at my Jenny Halfway. Just need to lose .8 which according to my scale and the gym scale I have already done. I haven't counted the real halfway which has passed so this will be monumental. That being said, I am scared to do 2 days on my own. I know its key to the program, but I don't want to backslide. Imagine I will be leaning on this group quite a bit in the coming weeks.

I am entertaining becoming a licensed ZUMBA instructor. There is a cut off in Aug for the cheapest rate - think its 225. I am LOVING Zumba right now. I even bought a zumba shirt. I am traveling outside my gym to take classes. (multiple gyms right now actually) I am no where near in shape and the workout kicks my *** but hoping that if I become licensed and continue on my path that I might inspire someone else down the road. This is amusing to me... I HATE to work out. I sometimes DRAG my sorry butt to the gym. Fighting with myself all the way!!! I look forward to Zumba.... time will tell.

Happy Independence day. Both to my fellow Americans and our dear neighbors to the North!

Francine

[Healthier each day]

Hi! I am a few days late but I would love to join. I really need something to motivate me and help kick my tail. I am bored with JC food. I am getting a lot of steps in but not enough. This is great! I will start today.

Eat on plan. 75 oz of water a day. Double my steps per day.

My birthday is mid-November and healthier at 42 than 41 is the goal!

Thanks, Jacqueline

[Leslie74]

Welcome aboard everyone! So glad to see you motivated and ready to go on the trek!

Francine - I haven't tried Zumba yet but really want to. I think I would like it since I used to be a dancer. I find aerobics classes boring because they are too repetitive and need more of a movement challenge. Maybe I'll check my area for a class. Don't have a gym membership right now.

So, I haven't been wearing my armband, so not sure how many steps I've done! Maybe with the summer and the stupid tan line I was getting, I felt the need to take a break. Breaking out the pedometer might be a good idea, since that is what I use the armband the most for right now. I haven't tracked food for weeks. (Also probably why I have been losing SO SLOWLY over the past month too!)

And this heat is killing my motivation to go for a walk. Sigh.

[Leslie74]

Hey Jacqueline - I think you are missing a 0 on the end of your ticker. It is actually over 2 million steps!

[Healthier each day]

Hey Jacqueline - I think you are missing a 0 on the end of your ticker. It is actually over 2 million steps!

You are right! Thank you. The Lilyslim ticker won't count that high so I'll have to keep looping them (or maybe I will look at the tickerfactory ones). Have a good night.

[cine613]

Jacqueline... welcome to our great group! Glad to have you along for the haul.

Leslie, I am addicted. I have cancelled my trainer to just go to zumba. (She is less than thrilled about it. I got the lecture the other day that I am burning muscle by doing so much cardio... ) It isn't hurting my weight loss so I am going with it for now.

I have worked at 65 min of vigorous, 13,500 steps and have FUN doing it. Music is hypnotic, Girls are crazy fun...Can't stop smiling despite dripping in pools of sweat. I have been to classes where the instructors were less than enthusiastic - so if you find one like that shop around. They are an INTENSE work out, fun, and the girls build lots of camaraderie... Girls are literally woohooing and whooping the whole time!! (I have officially joined the ranks!) Our group --3 gyms, 4 instructors are planning a July flash mob (Zumba) for national dance day at the mall! This group is crazy. I am on the list to participate if they can pull it off, so I will be sure to post the video. ought to be fun.

I will update my tracker tomorrow. I haven't been plugging in every day... been more like every 2/3 days. .

Hope everyone is keeping cool!

Francine

[Nieve02]

Jacqueline - Welcome aboard!

Leslie - Break out that pedometer. Everyone needs a break every now in then - maybe focusing on your activity for a while will motivate you get back on track with your food. And if not, at the very least you'll be getting your activity in Definitely check out a Zumba class - it is sooo much fun. It combines the best parts of working out, with great music and dancing - what's not to love?!?

Francine - Go for it girl! If you're loving it this much you're already an inspiration Here in Canada I used to work at GoodLife Fitness (I guess the American version would be 24hr Fitness) and used to love going to Zumba classes. Like you I sometimes had to drag myself to start a workout and counted down the minutes til it was over, but with Zumba I was the first person at the studio door. Touching on your trainer's point about burning muscle - would it be possible to do your own muscle training routine? Again coming from working in a gym (though not a certified personal trainer) you pick up a lot of things and can't stress enough the importance of incorporating a resistance training routine into your weekly schedule. After I left my job there (and started with Jenny) I have started buying Fitness magazine or Shape magazine - they usually have a full body routine in there that you can do 3x a week, in less than 30 minutes, and the best part is when I buy a new magazine BOOM new training program. It's like having a trainer (well almost lol) for $5 a month. Just a thought, but like I said to Leslie, everyone needs a break now and then (PS. Hoping this isn't sounding too much like a lecture - totally not my intention )

[cine613]

Nieve - Great idea you have for Leslie with the pedometer!!! I know what you say is correct. I just don't want to weight train with my trainer. She is suppose to push me but she kills me. Like I can't recover in 5 days kind of deal. I am considering starting up my chalene extreme tapes a couple times a week again. Those were good weight training and I wasn't debilitated.

I hit halfway officially this am. It is funny how things like 199 Wonderland and Halfway don't have me jumping up and down anymore. I think that it has become such a lifestyle change that I am happy about achieving those goals but not obsessive.

Hope everyone has a great week. I am off to Zumba!

Francine

[Nieve02]

Oh that's the worst - the "no pain. no gain" mentality. Glad to hear you'll be taking over your own weight training routine - getting the resistance training but still being able to move for Zumba, and oh, I don't know, daily activities (instead of postponing everything 5 days later lol), is what's most important

Congrats on hitting halfway! I'll jump up and down for you - cause being new to the program - every little thing excites me lol

I had my consult today. I was down 3.2lbs this week, total of 19lbs in 6 weeks, and I am officially out of the 300's. Another 19lbs and I've lost 25% of my starting weight. Trying not to think about it too much - the first(last) time I was on WW I lost 40lbs in 20 weeks and left the program and gained that back plus another 60. Focusing on the step challenges is making me less obsessed with the scales number and more focused on my activity which has me thinking, this time around, I'm gonna get past that 40lb mark

Hope you all have a great weekend!!!

[gekko.318]

I am updated as of last night - 78,000+ steps!!!

[Healthier each day]

Hi everyone -- you are all doing great! I'm working a lot this week and may need to make up some steps on the weekend. But this challenge is keeping me motivated an on plan. Have a good week.

[gekko.318]

Updating as of last night!! 106,000+!!

[Nieve02]

I've made it to Willow! Heading to Yetna Station.

[Healthier each day]

Hello everyone - I hope you are having a good weekend! I am a little slow but I am stepping my way toward the finish line. I think that I may have a wheat allergy. I need to make a doctor's appointment this week. But I have really started reacting to the Jenny food which I didn't realize contains a lot of wheat. We'll see how that works out - in the meantime I plan to keep on steppin'. Have a great week.

[gekko.318]

Updated as of last night again! 130k+!!!