Author Topic: The DonationCoder.com 30-Day Healthy Eating and Exercise Challenge! (Read 84,383 times)

mouser · « **on:** May 22, 2013, 05:15 AM »

The DonationCoder.com 30-Day Healthy Eating and Exercise Challenge!

I hope we can do more projects and challenges that improve our lives -- this is the first one that came to mind.

The challenge: Eat healthy (no junk food) and Exercise (every other day minimum) for 30 days.
When: Saturday May 25th to June 25th.

How to participate:

Reply to this thread and declare your solemn oath to participate until the deadline.
Check in once per week on the weekends and report your progress/confess any failures.
At the end of the 30 days, report in on your results and whether you succeeded.

What do you win:
Maybe we can send one random person who completed the challenge something.

mouser · « **Reply #1 on:** May 22, 2013, 05:15 AM »

I'm in

Edvard · « **Reply #2 on:** May 22, 2013, 05:23 AM »

I'm in.
No problem with the healthy eating, my wife takes care of that, the problem is the exercise.

One question: What should be the minimum exercise, and how to measure it? Time spent at your target exercise heart rate, or number/amount of individual exercises (10 minutes bicycling, 50 push-ups, etc)?

mouser · « **Reply #3 on:** May 22, 2013, 05:26 AM »

I think it should be up to each person to set their targets -- but everyone should come up with something concrete they so don't cheat.
Write down your 30 day exercise plan and keep a checklist to keep you on track.

Edvard · « **Reply #4 on:** May 22, 2013, 05:29 AM »

For me, that means anything beyond collapsing on the couch after work.

I'll check in again Saturday... See ya then!

TucknDar · « **Reply #5 on:** May 22, 2013, 08:52 AM »

Great idea! I'm in!

wraith808 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 22, 2013, 02:20 PM »

I'm in! And what we can do if we want to is sign up for a site that tracks this stuff...and give motivation and encouragement to each other.

My suggestion would be Fitocracy or SlimKicker, though there are several others...

https://www.fitocracy.com/profile/wraith808/?feed

http://slimkicker.com/users/wraith808

I haven't been keeping up lately... but if people want to use one or the other, I'll start tracking on that one (though I prefer Fitocracy, even if it doesn't track your eating habits)

allen · « **Reply #7 on:** May 22, 2013, 03:29 PM »

Great timing! I am exactly one week into trying to do this myself, and a support group would be helpful.

I've been using http://myfitnesspal.com to track my calorie intake/use. It's not a pretty website, but the tools work great (and it actually has a Windows Phone app)

tomos · « **Reply #8 on:** May 22, 2013, 06:03 PM »

your Point Motivator might be helpful too mouser:
http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Mouser/PointMotivator/index.html

PS I'll give it a go too (do I really have to make a solemn oath though

) - would be interesting to compare rough lists of what we plan -
to me eathing healthy involves:

eating veg with every meal
also I eat too much bread (it's so good here though)
and FWIW cooked food seem to agree with me better

urlwolf · « **Reply #9 on:** May 22, 2013, 07:27 PM »

I'm in

Edvard · « **Reply #10 on:** May 23, 2013, 01:18 AM »

Quote from: tomos on May 22, 2013, 06:03 PM

your Point Motivator might be helpful too mouser:
http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Mouser/PointMotivator/index.html
...

Ooh, yes, that would be an awesome tool for the more casual among us

Here's hoping it works in Wine...

Joe Hone · « **Reply #11 on:** May 24, 2013, 01:27 AM »

I'm in. Started a gentle running program yesterday, found this challenge today, so now I'm motivated to stay with it! Now if I can just stay away from the junk food. . .

Carol Haynes · « **Reply #12 on:** May 24, 2013, 01:34 AM »

Count me in

Does playing the cello count as exercise (or raising a glass?)

barney · « **Reply #13 on:** May 24, 2013, 02:22 AM »

Quote from: Carol Haynes on May 24, 2013, 01:34 AM

Does playing the cello count as exercise (or raising a glass?)

Cello might count - there's more exercise there than most folk know - but raising a glass only counts if there's a five (5) pound weight attached, and if you alternate hands

.

In (but that might be cheating - do it most every day

mostly wheel & Total Gym). However, diet could be improved - and I'd have to give up ice cream

.

tomos · « **Reply #14 on:** May 24, 2013, 09:57 AM »

Quote from: barney on May 24, 2013, 02:22 AM

... raising a glass only counts if there's a five (5) pound weight attached, and if you alternate hands

let's see, two full ones of those German litre beer glasses would make roughly five pounds weight - one in each hand.
Sip alternately :p

Carol Haynes · « **Reply #15 on:** May 24, 2013, 12:31 PM »

Quote from: tomos on May 24, 2013, 09:57 AM

Quote from: barney on May 24, 2013, 02:22 AM
... raising a glass only counts if there's a five (5) pound weight attached, and if you alternate hands

let's see, two full ones of those German litre beer glasses would make roughly five pounds weight - one in each hand.
Sip alternately :p

Now that's a fitness regime ;-)

allen · « **Reply #16 on:** May 24, 2013, 07:36 PM »

I was going to go down the FitBit route, but I've got to say the stein sipping method sounds more fun.

Stoic Joker · « **Reply #17 on:** May 24, 2013, 08:48 PM »

At 48 I still have a 32" waist ... Which is entirely a genetic accident as I've never been "athletic"..

However, much as I'd like to join in I just screwed up my ankle trying to (wife's idea) run a 5K (like an idiot) a few weeks back. It took me 44 minutes, but for as a guy that smoked for 30 years ... I'd say getting to the end of the thing without dropping dead means I won.

So... I'll just have to go with tomos' stein curls this time.

Carol Haynes · « **Reply #18 on:** May 24, 2013, 09:32 PM »

Starts tomorrow - so tonight ...

Large chicken curry
Lentils and dahl curry
Rice
Bread
Toffee Popcorn
Lager

Tomorrow FA !

Joe Hone · « **Reply #19 on:** May 24, 2013, 10:17 PM »

I need clarification of the rules - does dark chocolate fall under junk food? Or is it heart healthy (per current research)? Just trying to mentally prepare for the 30 day cycle. . .

wraith808 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 24, 2013, 10:24 PM »

Quote from: Stoic Joker on May 24, 2013, 08:48 PM

At 48 I still have a 32" waist ... Which is entirely a genetic accident as I've never been "athletic"..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFN_tBT-xZE

allen · « **Reply #21 on:** May 24, 2013, 10:37 PM »

I think "no" junk food is a silly stipulation, why not take a more general healthy eating... count calorie input/output and balance it that way. That's my plan with MyFitnessPal/FitBit anyway.

Example, I just rode my bike to/from Pizza hut, 760 calories for a 720 calorie personal pan pizza.

wraith808 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 25, 2013, 01:54 AM »

I think there shouldn't be any stipulations, other than to eat healthy for your goals, and exercise for your goals, so that we can be more inclusive than exclusive

Some people can't eat certain foods in order to remain healthy, while others can. Same with exercise.

Edvard · « **Reply #23 on:** May 26, 2013, 02:10 AM »

Wellllll.... Nutritionally speaking, calories from fat, sugar, and protein are all processed differently by the body, so simply hitting an exercise/calorie balance doesn't cut along the same lines, depending on what you're eating. Sugar + fat is a deadly combination in general, but a mostly-protein diet is only recommended for those wanting to build muscle. As always, just take some common sense in what you eat and how much. I mean, how many of us genuinely don't know that a bag of chips and a handful of cookies while watching a Star Trek marathon is NOT good for your body?
Really? $:-\$

barney · « **Reply #24 on:** May 26, 2013, 06:11 AM »

Quote from: Edvard on May 26, 2013, 02:10 AM

I mean, how many of us genuinely don't know that a bag of chips and a handful of cookies while watching a Star Trek marathon is NOT good for your body?

Dunno 'bout that, but what abut a[ny] brew?