2014 Olympic Challenge!

The 2014 Winter Olympics are almost here! I love watching the athletes and cheering them on in their sports.  However, just hanging around the television in the evenings, snacking etc. doesn’t seem to be the best way to celebrate the Olympics.  This year I am challenging you (and me too!) to join along with an Olympic-sized challenge.  

Almost every athlete in Sochi, Russia, will have a considerable amount of travel to get there and get home again at the conclusion of the Games.  As most of us will not be able to be there in person, I challenge you to figuratively journey right along with them. 

We will have 17 days – beginning Friday, February 7^th –to reach Sochi, Russia, and to travel home again.  For our starting point we are using New York City, which is 5,319 miles from Sochi, Russia.  To make it home again, we will travel a total of 10,638 miles.  How do we do this?  Each minute of exercise we complete will be worth 10 miles of travel.  That means we have 1064 minutes of exercise to complete within 17 days.  Sound like an Olympic sized challenge to you?  We will need to average about 63 minutes of exercise each day in order to make that round trip by February 23^rd.  However, I can’t think of a better way to support our athletes and improve our own bodies than to go for such a challenge.

Now, if you are thinking, it is physically impossible for me to exercise 63 minutes a day, don’t just give up on this.  Here is a somewhat smaller challenge: Rather than making the round trip, just make the trek to Sochi.  You’ll need about 31 minutes per day to complete that portion of the journey.

What counts as exercise? The choice of activity is up to you.  However, if you are going for cardio, you should break a sweat! If you’ve never done any strength type activities before, this is a great time to start.  Try a class at a nearby gym, get out a Pilates DVD from the library, or perhaps even set up a workout with a personal trainer for some one-on-one instruction. 

Below are just a few ideas you might try.  If you feel especially inspired by the amazing athletes you are watching, you might even try out their sport! Although I’m not really sure where you can take up bobsledding… =)

• Basketball
• Bicycling
• Cardio Kickboxing
• Crossfit
• Dancing
• Elliptical/Stepper/Rowing Machine
• Group Fitness Classes
• Ice skating
• Pilates
• Rollerblading
• Running/Jogging
• Strength Training
• Swimming
• Skiing
• Volleyball or other sports
• Walking
• Yoga

Just print out the map below and get started!!

December Fitness Challenge -- Let's DO this!!

Every year between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, the challenge to maintain a healthy eating, sleeping, and exercise routine can be daunting.  There are often so many items on our to-do lists and so little time to get them done.  Fitness and healthy choices can easily be shoved to the back burner.   While I cannot attend parties with you (to supervise your eating) or ensure that you turn off the television and get to bed on time, I would love to encourage you to stay on track with your fitness this December.  (Plus, you may hear from me about those other issues along the way.)

My challenge to you:

      1) Enlist a buddy.  Call up a friend, talk to your mom, coerce your spouse, etc. and tell them they are doing a fitness challenge with you this month.

     2) Pick a fitness challenge level (your buddy can choose the same level or a different level).

     3) Post on Mommy Fitness 101 or sign up via mommyfitness101@gmail.com. Registering isn't mandatory, but that extra accountability can make a huge difference. Plus, you'll make sure to receive extra tips and helpful articles along the way! 

     4)  Maintain or improve your fitness this December and enjoy all the benefits of fitness this month – Improved ability to handle stress, lowered risk of depression, additional feel-good hormones, enhanced quality of sleep, and increased productivity are just a few!

 

Fitness Challenge Levels:

Level 1: 

Exercise at least 25 days in December for a duration (minimum) of 15 minutes.

Level 2:

Exercise at least 25 days in December for a duration (minimum) of 25 minutes.

Level 3: 

Exercise EVERY day in December for a duration (minimum) of 35 minutes.

Exercise may be walking, jogging, swimming, or doing fitness YouTube videos or DVDs.  Dancing, lifting weights, attending fitness classes…find activities that you enjoy, can include in your day, and DO them!

Track your fitness days on your own calendar, or print this one out..

I truly encourage you to not skip step #1. You need the encouragement and accountability…and someone you know needs that as well.

Make this December a time of positive change and improvements! Let’s make the time to stay healthy and fit.  Remember, if we moms let ourselves become run down, overworked, stressed, and unhealthy, our families will pay the price.  On the other hand, if we are doing well, making healthy, fit, and wise choices, our families will reap those awesome rewards.  Let’s do this!!