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General health

Week 3 of 52 small changes - getting more active

121 replies

OddSocksHighHeels · 09/01/2016 16:05

Once again this is open to everybody even if you're joining late!

This week is about getting routine activity in each day. My favourite example from it being: don't use hired help where possible - build a shed yourself (I won't be doing any shed-building personally but feel free Grin)

Ways to do it:

  1. walk whenever you can - get off a stop or two earlier on the commute, taking a dog for a walk if you have one, walk to run errands instead of driving, park the car further away from the entrance of shops (so stay away from P&C spaces Grin) and take a short walk before breakfast/after dinner/whenever suits you.

  2. on your lunch break at work - take a walk or use the time to do some errands. If you work at a desk then get up and stretch hourly.

  3. while watching TV - fold the laundry, do some floor exercises, tidy the room up

  4. take the stairs rather than a lift/escalator where possible

  5. twice a week find a way to do a fun activity - ice skating, dancing, going for a walk on a beach, whatever you enjoy!

  6. do things manually eg turn the TV on/off without the remote
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OddSocksHighHeels · 09/01/2016 16:07
OP posts:
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Allgunsblazing · 09/01/2016 16:10

Thank you oddsocks. More active it is then!

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fuzzpig · 09/01/2016 16:33

Thank you OddSocks :)

I'm going to find this one hard, health wise, but need to give it a go both for my sake and the DCs!

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Sirona · 09/01/2016 16:55

Thanks Oddsocks

I'll find this one easy to be honest, I don't have a car so walk everywhere and exercise 6 times a week as I'm training for an upcoming half marathon. Plus I'm a fidgety sort, always on my feet.

Might think of something else to do, any suggestions? Decluttering instead, isn't that what some did last week? My house could dearly use some time sorting out wardrobes and cupboards.

I'm laughing at the building a shed example. I have problems building the dcs toys at Christmas!

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Sirona · 09/01/2016 17:12

fuzzpig, I was on another sort your life out thread with you at the start of last year. My name was some version of Amesthyst then. Sorry to hear you are still siffering health wise Flowers

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OddSocksHighHeels · 09/01/2016 17:33

sirona yep some did decluttering last week so that might be a good one - my phone really wants me to say declittering again! What is wrong with it?!

fuzz baby steps Smile if all of it is too much then just aim to add a few smaller bits of activity where you can and as much as your own health will allow. You can skip the shed building for example Wink hope you're health improves soon Flowers

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Pointlessfan · 09/01/2016 17:49

Thanks oddsocks I'm on my feet all day at work and have a toddler so being active isn't usually a problem. Can't I sit with my feet up instead?!

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gingercat02 · 09/01/2016 17:51

This one will be a challenge. I'm naturally idle Blush but I know I need to move more

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RatherBeOnThePiste · 09/01/2016 17:52

Shed it is then Grin

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HollyBollyBooBoo · 09/01/2016 18:05

Joining!

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Buttercup27 · 09/01/2016 18:51

Thanks for the new thread oddsocks.
So far...
Water is going well
Have made an effort to get up at the same time all week rather than lying in bed on my days off (dc really benefitting from routine)

I've been trying to do 30 day shred while watching TV in the evenings but have missed the last 3 nights, so this challenge has come at just the right time. Looking forward to it!

How is everyone else doing?

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Twerking9to5 · 09/01/2016 19:04

Thanks oddsocks!

Keen to get more active. Just signed up the other day for a six week swimming membership in the hope it'll get my arse into gear! Been three times this week and enjoying it, but aware I get bored of things easily. Really hoping it sticks!

Definitely want to be more active day to day. Pushing the double buggy uphill to the village it is! instead of The three minute drive Blush

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Sirona · 09/01/2016 19:56

How could I forget declittering? Grin Right decluttering it is then. I did a thing last year where I spent 15 minutes a day with stopwatch and black bin bag in hand. Was amazing how much you can achieve and organise in such a short period of time.

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Theydontknowweknowtheyknow · 09/01/2016 20:00

Thanks Oddsocks. I've followed the other two. Water was easy. Getting the sleep one more sorted. But this was the one I was dreading! Shock

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vvviola · 09/01/2016 20:16

Eek! This will be hard, especially with the weather and my work schedule next week. I think lunch time is probably my best bet - bring a salad in and then go for a walk instead of queuing in the cafe...

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DrDiva · 09/01/2016 21:43

This one I might manage...

Blush

Thanks for attempting to keep keeping us on the straight and narrow, oddsocks

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dudsville · 09/01/2016 21:48

Ooh. Week 3 is tougher! I don't drive. I walk my dogs. I do a lot around the house already and it's wet, wet, wet out so I don't see increasing that anytime soon. .. I will give this some thought!

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margaritasbythesea · 09/01/2016 22:41

Good stuff thanks. A good incentive for me to stick to what was my resolution anyway. I am that original. 😊

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BewitchedBotheredandBewildered · 10/01/2016 02:04

Thanks OddSocks Star

I really should be able to rise to this; if I was less energetic than I am I might just slip into a coma!

Staying in a caravan while house is being renovated so no stairs.

I will endeavour to walk round the field that I'm living in.
I should be able to polish off a pint of water on the way.

Does the rehydration count if you absorb driving rain rather than swallow it?
Harder to measure I guess Grin

Duds it's not tougher for you, you're already doing it! With knobs on it sounds like Smile
Just coast through week 3 change, keeping up the water and sleep.

Hope you have a good night out OddSocks and nice lie in tomorrow/today.

I'd quite like to be on the team to build a MN shed GrinWine

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parrotonmyshoulder · 10/01/2016 07:53

I'm being a bit rubbish with the water but am more conscious of it. Trying to have a glass of water each time I'm near the sink!

Sleep has slightly improved and has been okay over the weekend (6ish hours). Anxieties should lessen as we get used to the new routine (new house, school and nursery).

More active - tricky. I'm monitoring steps to make sure I'm doing at least 12000 a day, but that's very easy with my job (and the three flights of stairs in the new house!). But making active choices where possible like walking to town instead of driving etc. I walk the dog every day - I could force myself to make that a 30 minute run sometimes. Okay, I'll do that. I'll aim for one this week while we're still getting used to the new routine.

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Sirona · 10/01/2016 07:54

Gah, dd not well and up crying with a temperature and sore throat several times last night. About 5 hours broken sleep :( Sod the water this morning, I'm straight on the coffee!

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quirkychick · 10/01/2016 07:59

Oh, this I am already doing. I tend to walk more when the dcs are at school as day to day and school runs adds up to 10,000 steps easily. I find my Fitbit shows I can clock up 5,000 steps just being at home, but we have lots of stairs. I am doing the 30 day Yoga Camp, am on day 6, but I would like to restart my weights this week.

Fuzzpig def baby steps. I had a horrible chest infection over Christmas and stupidly tried to do some gentle exercise too soon, I was shocked how little I could manage. You have to listen to your body and any improvement is an improvement.

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Pointlessfan · 10/01/2016 08:47

I just walked back down stairs instead for something I'd forgotten instead of shouting to DH to throw it up. Walking to shop when I've got dresses. Think that's a good start.

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quirkychick · 10/01/2016 08:59

Pointlessfan I'm sure most of my steps at home are from walking upstairs for things. I realise I don't really sit still for very long. Even watching TV or mning, I am seeing to dcs, getting a drink, checking on washing etc. I think that's a good thing, as I'm sure I read somewhere that you shouldn't sit for longer than an hour in one go.

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IWasHereBeforeTheHack · 10/01/2016 10:39

Just checking in for week 3. I've been getting "more exercise" for a year, since I got my FitBit. I don't manage as much every day as I would like should (I'd rather sit and MN!), and too often I spend the last hour of the day frantically running on the spot to reach targets. However, it is paying off as I am losing weight, slowly but surely. My recent efforts have been good and this week's challenge will help me make sure I don't slide! Thank you again OddSocks

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