Welcome, fellow couch fauxtatoes, to the "October 2005 Couch Fauxtato Activity Challenge" ! In the words of moderator Maggie:


Not usually into challenges? Don't want to tie yourself to a particular weight or size result? Intimidated by more traditional Exercise Forums? Do you, perhaps, have a treadmill that has clothes hanging on it? ... hmmm? But are you, perhaps, willing to contemplate a modest expenditure of activity with a short term commitment?


Then this is the place for you!

You decide what your challenge is, since you know yourself best. It could be taking the stairs at work, so many times per week, or if you're in the right climate, going for a walk at lunch time. No challenge is too small or too odd! Then we'll check in every so often and compare notes.

Start to tone up for summer! Define your own challenge! Try it for a month!


*****LISTEN, FELLOW SLUGS AND SLOTHS, THIS IS IMPORTANT. A TRUE COUCH FAUXTATO CANNOT JUST LAUNCH HIM OR HERSELF OFF THE COUCH AND INTO AN INTENSIVE EXERCISE PROGRAM! Now, I realize that, for most of us, there's little chance of that. We are often also great procrastinators and most of us will take our sweet time dusting off tapes and/or looking for long burried exercise equipment, and will be adjusting our activity to whatever feels ok, especially to begin with. However, GET CLEARED, MEDICALLY, FOR WHATEVER CHALLENGE YOU ARE PLANNING FOR YOURSELF! Then proceed in a rational manner. Work into it slowly!*****
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Forgot to open a November challenge so the end of October has some november activities.

Too busy today between the vet (sandy's checkup was "Good") and visiting my dad and reformatting my computer and doing a reinstall after it refused to boot in anything but safe mode. So no walk.

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Glad to hear Sandy had a good check up...man am I tired! But I will force myself to do some exercise. Damn candy after efects still hitting me days later.

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Noël


Worry doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strengths.

Noel - those candy after effects should subside by today.

wasn's a slug yesterday but didn't get in a walk. Pup to vet, visit with Dad. computer needed a format/reinstall of windows xp and all the work that entails.

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ok. this month, I really have to do SOMETHING. ANYTHING will do - cause it's more than I have been doing.
We will be moving furniture around in my living room this weekend. but that is a one time thing.
I know I need to motivate myself, just seem to have lost it along the way.

I'll be back.

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Mary Kay
2009 WW - 228 / 199

I want a Christmas Onederland!!

I was not going to rake last night...I was not goin gto rake until next weekend...I raked and bagged 13 bags of leaves. OK to be fair I bagged 13 bags but the neighbor had come and raked or blew some of the leaves from their tree into two neat little piles for me. This is the first time they've done that. It was quite nice so instead of 3 hours it only took my 1 1/2 to get the rest of the yard raked and bag up all the leaves. I still need a new rake but I did OK making do.

So I did not do the bike becuase I did the yard work. My neighbor always comes out and laughs at me doing yard work at 9. But the baby is in bed then and it is quiet so I like doing it then.

And this morning it was quite windy so I am glad I got the leaves raked or the piles they made would have been back all over the yard.

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Noël


Worry doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strengths.

Mary Kay - You'll get back to regular activity soon!

Noel - Yard work does burn significant calories.

I finally found the time for a longer walk than I've been able to get in lately. Did 4 1/2 miles at salem lake yesterday. Felt good afterwards.

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Rob - Thanks for starting a November thread. Glad Sandy is much better.

I'm still having difficulty doing much but did manage to mow the back lawn with the push mower again. It just took me all day as I kept having to stop. But at least it was some exercise. Today I felt quite a bit better and went food shopping at one of the major shopping centres. But I'm still not game to take Lance for a walk.

No?l - I'm lucky - when the wind blows all the leaves end up in a nice pile in front of my garage door. Unfortunately most of the leaves aren't mine, rather they are from houses up the hill.....

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Did a two-mile walk this morning with Hershey. She pulled the leash so hard that I have a red ring around my wrist (try saying THAT ten times fast!).

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April

The face of a child can say a lot -- especially the mouth part of the face.

My Blog

Colleen - I think for me to mow with a push mower (gas powered) uses over 400 calories an hour.

April - Try it with 2 dogs.

Did a very pleasant 7 mile walk yesteday at Tanglewood park. Not fast ebcause a lot of the terrain is uneven but 2 hours isn't bad considering.

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The weather is unseasonably warm recently (77 and sunny today) so walking has been a pleasure. Did 5 miles at Tanglewood yesterday.

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Hey Couchies!!!!! I'm BACK!!!!! Glad I checked to see if there was still a fauxtater thread going!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!

I've been going to Curves steadily with a break every now and then, but mostly been keeping up with it. Last week I decided to get the bike out of the garage and ride it to where they are moving Curves to. It took me 12 mins. So tomorrow it's supposed to be fairly nice out, 60 something, so I will ride up there again tomorrow to see if they've actually moved in and are open for business. They were supposed to move this weekend. Aldi's is right there too, so I need to get a backpack at the very least so I can pick up a few groceries while I'm there. I found a route that isn't too horribly busy with traffic and has sidewalks most of the way. I am going to try to ride until the weather gets too nasty to be able to do it. The other day when I went riding it was about 70 out and man, did I get WARM. So cooler temps are more conducive to riding.

Rob, I can't imagine walking TWO dogs now.

Noel, I gotta get out and blow/rake leave too. But we still have a ton of leaves still on the trees (which surprises me, since we had SUCH a dry summer) so I am waiting til they are done falling.

MK, YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!

April, good to see you here!!!

Dragon, mowing is GREAT exercise!!!!!

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Rob - when I say push mower, I mean one of the old fashioned rotary ones that doesn't have a motor. I'm too scared of the ones with motors. Got part of the front lawn done as well but then lost a nut off the handle which promptly fell off. Oh well there is always next weekend. I was mainly trying to mow down the dandelions anyway as there is a different type of grass in the front yard and it doesn't grow as fast as the variety in the back.

Managed to take Lance on a short walk last night (about 15 minutes) so I think I'm on the mend. Had to keep the gentle leader on him the whole way (this is a bit like a horse halter). He wasn't happy that the walk was so short but at least he got more than three houses away. No walk tonight as it is raining again and now my son has the cold also. I really hope he gets over it quickly as his end of year exams start next week.

Went to work today for the first time in almost a week and annoyed everyone with my coughing but at least I made it through the day. Am way behind in my steps so will need to start doing extra as soon as I can.

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Barb - Nice to have you back. Sounds like you've kept very active. You'll need one of those huge bicycle baskets for aldi's. I never get out of there for under $50 but boy you get a lot for that price. @ dogs is a challenge but that's why i drive 10 miles to tanglewood where i can let them off the leash for 80 to 90% of the time.

Colleen - Ah a real push mower. That's what I used when I was a kid. I call them blister makers. Hope you and son are better soon!

Sandy will have to stay home during our long walks for the rest of the month according to the vet. Just to be on the safe side. But yesterday I took a friend's Golden Retriever and sophie to tanglewood and we did 4 miles. It's more difficult on weekends, especially Sunday since the weather is so wonderful lately. Tons of people who never walk their dogs much were out there.

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Gosh, Colleen, I sure hope you are feeling better soon. DH is battling a cold too. I have my fingers and toes crossed that I don't catch it. So far so good!!!!! He's had two this fall so far and I haven't caught ONE yet, knock on wood.

Aw poor Sandy, she's going to feel left out. I suppose the vet said to not take her out since I'm sure the healing process leaves her weak and susceptible.

LOL @ needing a HUGE basket to shop at Aldi's. No kidding. But it's so close to my house now, I feel I can just run up there for a couple of things. When I am going to do a BIG trip with a long list, I will take the car!!!! I STILL need to find a bike supply place to get a basket/bracket rig. I suppose I will need to bring my stationwagon and the bike with to properly fit it. (which means I will have to empty out the boxes of Halloween stuff we brought back from DS-S's place for the party.)

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