The Couch Potato Challenge (Aug. 24th- Oct. 4th) ** SIGN UPs ON GOING**

I'm sure I am not the only couch potato on this site who cannot fathom the idea of putting away the mouse/remote/video game control to get off their butt. I really would like to start exercising and even join a challenge but some of them seem way too hard for me. This is a challenge for people who get winded going on a 2 minute bike ride, who need a nap after getting the mail, and who drop the dog's tennis ball down the stairs rather than throwing it outside for him (Hey- I told you I was a couch potato!). This is for those of us who decide to go on a long walk, do a one-time 20 minute power walk or jog and are so tired or sore, we lay on the couch for a week "recovering". You know you're out there. I KNOW I'm not the only one.

So, come out of the couch potato closet. No need to be ashamed. This is a 6 week challenge to get us off our butts. We're going to start REALLY slow and work our way up to a 30 minute work out by the end of the six weeks. Hardcore athletes might laugh at us but we know that taking our time and setting goals we can achieve (preferably between commercial breaks!!) is our only chance at reaching our goals. Read the rules and if this is for you, post in this thread with your desire to sign up. The rules are simple:

• We will set a work out goal of 5 minutes/day of cardio + 2 1/2 minutes of toning/weights/stretching for the first week. Our goal will be to work out 5 days/week, allowing for 2 days off.
  
• Each week, we will add 5 minutes to our cardio and keep the toning at half the amount of time of cardio.
• Our 6 week goal will be to work up to a 45 minute work out 5 x / week that will include 30 minutes of cardio and 15 minutes of toning.
• Feel free to do more IF/WHEN YOU CAN but the bare minimum is good enough for this lazy challenge.
• You may either post each day with workout amounts or you may post no later than Sundays with your total workout minutes for the week. Either is fine and I will keep a running total for all participants.
  
• You can determine what is/isn't cardio and judge for yourself. I quit a challenge last summer after being told my power walk didn't "count" as cardio because I wasn't running. You know what gets your heart rate up and what doesn't. I trust your judgment and just want you up and off the couch with me! We'll define cardio as "exercise that gets your heart rate up" (and I don't mean gets your heart rate up in that watching Olympic beach volleyball kinda way). Use the toning time for light weights, sit ups, stretching, yoga and other things like that which probably won't leave you breathless.
  
• Try to do your cardio more or less non-stop but still count it even if you have to break it up over the course of the day.
  
• Remote control or cell phone curls do not count as toning. Water bottle curls do count if the bottles are full, capped, and you're using them in place of hand weights.
  
• Cheering for your favorite football team does not count as cardio no matter how fast your heart is pounding. However, DDR and Wii Fit does!
  
• No negativity, bragging, or discouraging posts. If some "mega-athlete" comes in and starts posting how the first day they did an hour of cardio with no problems, THIS CONTEST ISN'T FOR YOU. You will be politely asked to leave.
  

• Please join only if you are lazy and unmotivated (I mean this!) because we will provide great encouragement for each other without making anyone feel bad for "only" working out 25 minutes the first week of our challenge. Hey- a goal is a goal.
• Feel free to join us mid-challenge. You can either join us where we're at our start at the beginning of the challenge if that's easiest for you!
  

Edit-

Participants: kthompson92, zenasavvy, rpete144057, emily532, hunziha123, lindsaypie74, baubles17, baubie5673

NOW I can LIFT some weights...I am doing it today.. 10 min sofar..and not going to quit for another 20  the cardio---well maybe monday or tuesday

Original Post by zenasavvy:

NOW I can LIFT some weights...I am doing it today.. 10 min sofar..and not going to quit for another 20 the cardio---well maybe monday or tuesday

Weights means not sitting on the couch eating Doritos!!  No guilt or explanations required.  YOU CAN DO IT!!

I'll post last week's totals tomorrow.  Still waiting to hear from a few of you.  Best of luck to all and, remember, just do whatever you can NO MATTER HOW LITTLE!  Every little bit helps so no pressure!!

WEIGHTS/Toning

Aug 31  07 min

Sept 1    14 min lift   + 5 min on stationary bike (avg hr 127) plus

       &nb sp;        Just completed 20 min avg HR 131  Cal burned 137 (bike) + 10 min lifting wts ( avg HR 122- cal burned 60) --this is per Polar 6 did not measure first lift and 5 min bike "ride" was 25 cal

Sept 2:

Rode bike 47.5 min Polar 6 says: 400 cal burned; Max hr 165 avg hr 147 31.5 min in zone

Lifted 15 min

Leaving town today -might be done for week ( have to work thu- Sun night

Sept 3

Sept 4

Sept 5

Sept 6

Sept 7

Count me in! I need all the help and motivation I can get.  I have so far been working out at least 10 in the morning and about 10 in the evening.  I want to increase it if I can. 

Yay!  Will post last week's totals later.  Still hoping to hear from 3 or 4 of you.  We are glad to have you, baubie!

Bike 6 or 7 min--didnt wear the watch...working tonight--haven't lifted