Week Three!

I'm proud of you soldiers! You've rode, pedaled, jogged, pumped up and 'extreme walked' your way into the third week of this challenge. You're feeling flush with success (or is that just the blood rushing to your head?)Some of you are even more limber and are presently contemplating a new Lululemon wardrobe.

Let's not forget this quote about training - "Your training heart rate zone is a critical element in exercise. Taking your pulse and figuring your heart rate during a workout is one of the primary indicators in ascertaining the intensity level at which you and your heart is working."

Check out the Training Rate link and pay attention to heart rate. Being in the 'zone' improves your return on investment by over 100%. If you're going to take time to be active, might as well maximize the benefits.

Now get out there - and be careful.

Week Two!

That first week wasn't so bad was it? (Since all the posts aren't in yet, who knows, maybe we already have money in the pot to celebrate with in the Spring!) Here's what the American Heart Association says are the benefits of daily exercise - reduces the risk of heart disease by improving blood circulation, keeps weight under control, improves blood cholesterol levels, prevents and manages high blood pressure, prevents bone loss, boosts energy levels and helps manage stress. Sunday is the first day of Week Two - have fun!!!

Week One!

The kickoff week is here and I thought an inspiring quote would be timely - but all I could find were these two.

"It's very important to have the right clothing to exercise in. If you throw on an old T-shirt or sweats, it's not inspiring for your workout." Cheryl Tiegs

"I don't excercise. If God had wanted me to bend over, he would have put diamonds on the floor." Joan Rivers

In the future I'll work on finding words of wisdom from people who actually HAVE some wisdom to begin with. So good luck on Week One! And post those results folks.

The Challenge

CHALLENGE 100

Is the wind howling? Snow blowing? It feels like the sun is only out for about 18 minutes a day and the comforting glow of your TV set is calling you to join the couch-potato generation? You can't get up off your duff and you feel your midriff expanding in step with the price of a barrel of oil?

Then Challenge 100 is for you.

Commit to 100 days of activity and feel the burn! Get those endorphins pumping! Fit pants bought before Spring 2005!

The rules:

1) Challenge 100 lasts for 100 days of activity.

2) For each 7 day calendar week of the challenge you must post a minimum of 30 minutes of real exercise per day for a minimum of 5 days within each calendar week.

3) You cannot bank exercise time over days or weeks - in other words, you must post a minimum of 30 minutes of activity on each and every one of the 5 chosen days within each 7 day weekly cycle. Miss a day, and you are out (Exception: see Rule 9).

4) Exercise consists of running, jogging, weight training, biking, brisk walking, swimming, track, aerobics, spinning, coached dancing, jump rope, and any other form of legitimate exercise. (Golfing is an example of an activity that will not count towards your daily minutes. Don't even ask about Miniature Golf.)

5) Challenge kick-off day is Sunday November 13, 2005. We will use Sundays to start each week because that is the standard format used by Microsoft Outlook.

6) Each week will consist of the 7 day cycle (example November 13th - November 19th) and in each given week you must post 5 days of activity consisting of a minimum of 30 minutes within that week to meet requirements. (Also see Rule 9).

7) The Challenge continues until April 1st, 2006 (the last Saturday in the challenge) - for a total of 100 actual days of activity.

8) Each week you will be required to post your activity in this blog by adding a COMMENT (see COMMENTS link at the bottom of this BLOG.) A brief note will suffice describing the type and duration of activity - enough for your team to monitor your stellar activity - or tawnt you if they think you are slacking off. (Hey - walking counts, just don't try to get away with 100 days of it.) Exercise tips and suggestions always welcome. You can post your activity during the week or in the week following.

9) MULLIGANS! Yes! Each participant gets ONE mulligan (and only one) to use at any point over the 20 week program. You must post the use of this mulligan in the week it was used.

10) Your investment - a $50 committment which will be due at the end of the challenge only if you fail to meet the requirements. If there are any participants who drop out, their $50 will be shared by all of those who completed the challenge.