MEN Only -- A.I.M Challenge: Labor Day Challenge OPEN
This is a Motivation/Challenge designed for Men. This is a continuation of the April Fool's Challenge and the July 4th Challenge for men started by pinksalmon.
Pick your personal goal: Weight Loss, Increased Fitness, or Fat Burn. Post it and commit to it. This forum is here to challenge you to meet your goal. The Purpose of the AIM Challenge is to provide:
1. Accountability: Weekly check in to update your progress. Weigh in each Wednesday Morning.
2. Information: We will share our experiences, what is working to get into shape, nutritional suggestions, fitness advice, and best practices for results.
3. Motivation: Encouragement to make and continue life changes that lead to burning fat, increased fitness, and overall health.
Challenges follow a quarterly time frame and are open to any men willing to commit. Do you want it? We are getting it DONE!
AFC Result: 277.5 lbs and 971,250 calories burned off
J4C Result: 172.6 lbs and 604,100 calories burned off
2008 combined total: 450.1 lbs and 1,575,350 calories burned off
Check out our previous challenges here:
http://caloriecount.about.com/forums/post/716 05.html
Want your current BMR? check out Phord's BMR page
Check out our results: AIM Challenge Results
As far as HR monitors, I use the Polar F6, which has most of the features of the F11 (at least all of the ones that I thought were important for me). Meanwhile, I have been tracking data on my Training log on Runners World.
Hey rk1, I have been incorporating lactate threshold workouts since February, and I find that adding them to my workout schedule has helped me with my overall speed. It's a challenge trying to determine your appropriate pace, especially if you haven't done much racing, but after a couple of sessions, you start to get better at identifying what your target paces should be. Just be careful with adding them into your workout schedule--no more than one of these workouts every week (preferably ever other week at first).
CW. 221
LW. 223
Moving in the right direction.
I'm busting my a** at a new business. Don't have time to write much on this site. But I'm keepin' up with the running and I'm on the abs diet. I like it. All clean food. Doing it for 2 weeks an d it has cut down my desire for bad carbs, etc. If interested you can learn about it at www.menshealth.com
Wili: you're doing a great job. AS a leader, runner and as our unelected and underappreciated historian. Thanks.
RK: lets do that race at Christmas. I'm ready to sign up. Do you have the web-site for the run? Please drop me a note. Here's my e-mail address johnbcunningham@comcast.net.
Everyone else: Keep up the inspirational talk and keep your eyes on the horizon.
SRQ 
I decided to try the 3rd day of wk1 of c25k training on a more hilly route. While I finished it got my hr into the anaerobic range, an exertion level of 7, max hr of 121. I walked an extra 10 minutes after the training, did not jog, just brisk walk to keep hr up. HR avg'd 98 over the full 38 minute session. The F4 yielded 182 cal burn, and Calorie King says 221. I'm entering the F4 values into CC to be conservative, but I wish I could get something that would accurately calc cal burn rates... I have to be thankful to be alive and just keep takin' these dang drugs!
Will start wk2 Sunday, but on a more level route than today. Today's route, while shorter, is much harder. If wk 2 gets hr to high, I'll probably repeat wk 1 on the hilly route to improve endurance. But then who knows if it will improve. The drugs I take could prevent it from changing and that would really be annoying. It could mean I might not be able to complete the c25k program. That would piss me off! But then, going slow and thinking positively - Can Do!
rk1/wrm: I checked the web site RK1 listed and using resting hr=50 and max=137 it says I'm working (c25k prgm) out in the lactate range. But I don't know if it means anything because of the drugs I'm on. Only time will tell.
Phord/rk1: thanks for the hrm information. I'll have to see if I can just get the watch. I have a strap so I might need a complete system. I looked at the F11 before I bought the F4. Didn't want to spend the $ until I was able to determine how accurate the extra features like calorie burn would be for me because of the drug regimen I am on. Didn't realize I could upload trend data otherwise I might have gotten it.
Hi All,
I would like to jump in if I can. I would like to loose 8lbs by labor day. I think it's 4 weeks away so if I loose 2lbs a week I can get close. Current weight is 280. That is down from about 330.
azlonerider welcome aboard. You have a realistic goal for Labor Day. Great work on your current loss. Our weigh in is on Wednesday mornings, but check in during the week. There are always questions, information, and updates flying around.
ww
Hi guys, Great thread. I would like to declare my goals.
1) Maintain my weight of 160
2) Run 40km each week minimum
3) Run a full marathon in late fall hopefully in October
Hi Wiliwigi, Thanks for the info.
Welcome aboard muroi & azlonerider the more the merrier!
Well Wk 2 Day 1 of c25k is past me. Felt great. I started with some trepidation because of how high my hr got during the day 3 of wk 1. But I changed routes to be more level, although to my surprise I ran leg 5 & 6 on slight inclines! But hr didn't hit danger zone and I could still talk to myself. On exertion scale I was probably a 7, which is good. I went a new route that surprised me because it had more inclines than I remembered when drivings it... but I did well and controlled my hr. Am feeling more confident that I can complete the program. Next Sunday will be a challenge - will be in Suwanee, GA and running a more hilly route, over a 100 ft incline at the 1 1/4 to 2 mi portion. Will have to jog more carefully when I hit that area. I'm sure I will surprise myself as I did today!
Weight jumped this morning tho. I think its a combo of to much sodium yesterday and reduced overnight dehydration. We went to see Jersey Boys in the afternoon. Wife made meat loaf wraps for us that had 500 mg sodium! Low carb but way to high for me in the sodium dept. 1/3 of my daily target. Then on the way home we went to Pei Wei for dinner and they stopped serving the Soba Miso noodles which is one of their healthier dishes. So we had the Terriyaki bowl with vegtables, Tofu and brown rice. Problem is its high in sugar and sodium. I also eliminated less last night than previous nights. So my body might also be seeking a new hydraulic balance. Could be the Flomax has finally kicked in. Time will tell. Am super positive about how day 1 wk 2 of c25k went tho! Don't want to come off that high!!!
Gentleman - start your engines!!!
I have not stepped on the scale in weeks!
I will later today and see how much I gained.
No excuses, I just stopped doing the things I need to do.
I got the tomorrow attitude going (it is OK that I do this because I will get back on track tomorrow) and I got to change that to today.
Thanks for the welcome Bobev.
Yesterday when I signed up I said I weighed 280. When I stepped on the scale today it showed 279. I worked in the yard yesterday moving mega dirt so I figure that had something to do with it. I excersize at least 3 days a week and on the weekends call it a rest day, but there are always things to do on Saturday, whether it be yard work or out with the family hiking, riding quads or whatever. Lately I have been lax in my excersize, so that is going to change, I can't skip workouts and on my workouts I need to maintain my intesity to keep the HR in the ideal area.
Thanks Bobev, the one thing I have learned since I started running is that your body is an amazing thing. When I did my "learn to run" last September I could hardly run 1 minute without being sort of breath. Now I can run for hours; really I can!. Doing hills really made a difference in my overall running ability. I also use a heart rate monitor to make sure that I don't get over worked. Sounds like to have a good routine going. I find that running new courses and in different areas really keep things interesting.
After declaring my goals here yesterday, I signed up today for a full marathon on October 12th. It is a fairly small race with less than 500 marathon runners. Now all I have to do is complete the last 11 weeks of my training schedule. My goal is to finish with a time of under 4hours 10 minutes. That would be just under 6min per km throughtout the race. On Thursday I did pratice run of 40.5km in 3hours and 53 minutes. That was an average of 5.75. I stopped one mile short as I wanted to keep my distance personal best for the race. It was a really great run. The weather was good and I got to see parts of the City of Ottawa that you can only see on foot.
Welcome new members!
I recieved my F11 friday (Overnight shipping free with the $159 order which was nice). HRM was relatively easy to figure out and only had to refer to manual a few times.
They have an OwnIndex test that you strap up and it does a 5 minute test while resting (Not exactly sure how/what it tests) but supposed to be an accuarte testing of VO2Max. Scores range from <32 (Poor) to >62 Elite Athlete. I got a 48, which is top of the "Good" range for my 35-39 age group...after turning 40 in 9 months only need 3 more points to jump to 51 and Elite for 40-44 group. Resting HR was around 58 which I think is pretty good.
Sunday strapped up for Long run 7 miles and held steady at about 140 -145 ,which according to my watch program was only moderate range but think good rate for distance races. Peaked at 155 when I kicked it last qtr mile. Interesting part was I ran with water bottle and simulated water stops at mile markers (taking 3 slow sips and walking about 25 - 30 secs as can not really drink and run and not getting fluids in my longer runs will kill me) and HR would always go down to around 120 and it would steadily climb abck to 140 over the next 1/2 mile and then steady until next "water station". Last half of run HR seemed to hold higher at 145 istead of 140. I was running steady long run training pace of about 9:45 - 10:00 min miles.
You can upload and track data on a free web based training. You need to buy a microphone and the watch sends out like a fax squeal and transmits the data. Not as detailed as Phords but you get time in each HR rate zone with min/max/avg; min/max/avg for session; Calories Burned; Estimated % Burned (Not exactly sure what this is as 50% ... maybe of the 887 calories burned 50% were Fat??. Can also create training programs based on HR zones, etc.
Overall I think good value and I think will help in training. If nothing else "The New Toy" will keep me motivated for a while.
Weight:
Weight not really going down like I would like given pretty good diet and increased cardio workouts (My between run Elliptical workouts I switched from Fatburn to Cardio and have increased the traget HR from 118 to 140 and usually burn 450 -500 calories in 30 - 40 min pretty tough workout instead of the 118 was a leisure pace. Overall 6 days a week with Sun - Long Rung; Mon - Cross Train; Tue - Short run / Interval; Wed - Cross; Thur - intermediate Run; Fri - Cross; Sat - Rest.
We will see, but as long as busting my hump not going to get too down about it as it just seems Body does not want to get lower then the 185ish lb plataue. I am going to cut back on Upper body lifting and only do toning exercises (that sounds girley!).
All right everyone, I am in....late, but in. I'm a college prof so have a pretty sedentary work life.
Current weight -- 199
Target weight -- 175
Today (July 28, 2008) is day 1. It was a hard freaking day so far! Ate 1800 calories, but I'm finding it REALLY hard to not have my usual 400 calories of wine at night.
Welcome Notthatkindofdoc. Getting started is always challenging but hang in there. Your efforts will pay off.
Hey guys, I think I'd like to get in on this one too if you don't mind. I know I'm a little late, but it's better than never, right?!
I weighed in this morning at 273.4 lbs, down from 292 when I found this site last month. My overall goal is to get down to 200 lbs. by the end of next June when my sister will be getting married.
For this challenge, since it ends on Labor day, I figured I would shoot for an 8-10 lb. weight loss. I also started the Couch to 5k program yesterday, so my second goal is to stick with that program and increase my fitness level as I would like to participate in the local "Snowball Run" (5k) this winter.
Welcome munrori, notthatkindofdoc, and dybo70. I am glad you have decided to join our group. You have set some challenging goals for the next few weeks. Do not worry about joining late, this challenge is designed to roll on from season. If you take a look back you will see that we have been setting our short term goals from holiday to holiday.
Tomorrow is the last weigh in of July giving us only five weeks until the final for Labor Day. These are the DOG DAYS of summer boys where it is easy to put off the work out, indulge in the extra bowl of ice cream, and drink the whole six pack after finishing the yard. Now is the time to press in and have a warrior attitude. What are you committed to?
Life is the race, run to win!!
ww
I'll second the welcome munrori, notthatkindofdoc, and dybo70! the more the merrier!
I shouldn't be, but I'm worried about doing w2d2 of c25k tomorrow morning.... I'm sure it will be fine. Just wanted to vent. Am frustrated by weight fluctuations due to fluid retention (swollen ankles) and frequent nightime potty breaks. have to stay positive and get out there and make it happen!
bobev: Don't worry about the day-to-day fluctuations. You are doing the right thing by paying attention to the daily goals and sticking with the weekly weigh-ins. We are all affected by the water weight. When you spend more time working out and stressing your muscles your body will tend to retain more water for muscle repair. As you know real fitness and true weight loss takes time and consistency. This is why CC has the trend line on the weight loss graph.
Stick with the c25k conditioning. I am with you on the morning run. I have a new distance mapped out and am hopeful to get up and out early enough to be successful.
Hey guys - I have been busy, not paying attention, but working out, trying to eat right ... all that jazz.
Current weight is 230 - which I am pleased with. I have a rough time around the 0 weights. See, my theory is... you eat a little too much on the weekend and go from 233 to 234... that's 1 pound. You eat a little much and go from 229 to 230... that's a whole new DECADE!
I did ride a record setting week last week.... 275 miles on my bike - Almost 17 hours or riding. I think I am feeling it today. I also think my body said "WTF are you doing?" and held on to some reserves... maybe I will see some good loss soon?
Current goal - 222 - then I am just fat, not obese.
Next goal - 199 - leave the 200's behind (that will probably take 3 months! ;-)
Ultimate goal - be healthy. Stay healthy. Probably 180ish, but we will worry about that when we get there. It's still 50 fun loving pounds away!
Scott
Thanks ww! Being an engineer I can easily get into "analysis paralysis!" and get twisted in my shorts!
Just finished W2D2 of C25K training pgm. Again it felt good and once I got past the 1st 2 intervals went easy. I guess I loosened up quite a bit. The last leg was on an incline and hr didn't get hi. HR peaks were lower than W2D1 which was great. The training must be working and the conditioning may be not affected by my meds. I like that! It gives me hope that I can become a runner!
CW: 166.4; LW: 166.4 GW:165 by labor day.
No change since last week. Could make goal once these fluctuations quit! I was enjoying the apparent accelerated weight loss but seem to have plateaued just above goal. Have to fight the frustration. I know the process, but emotion still rules intellect!
Will be in Suwanee, GA next week, so I might not have a comparable weight for next wed. I don't know if my son has a scale that I can use, or how it would compare to my "official" one. Will be interesting to do W3 of C25K in a new area. It has more and steeper hills than my neighborhood.
Want to be a leader?Start your own group!
