Week 3 of 52 small changes - getting more active

[OddSocksHighHeels]

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 )

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 ) 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

[vvviola]

I left my office a grand total of twice today - once to get coffee and once to have a big heavy lunch. My packed lunch salad is returning home in my bag for dinner

I think we'll call today not a success!

[parrotonmyshoulder]

My water intake has been awful. Two small glasses I think. And three teas and a coffee.

12,185 steps and have a dog walk still to do. Sleep last night pretty good for a Sunday for me. My vivosmart isn't monitoring it properly but I think it was about 10-3.30 and then 4-5.30.

[quirkychick]

Good steps, parrot. I have managed 14,000 steps today. I might not always make 10,000 but I'm hoping to average it over a week. I over did the water at dinner and almost made myself sick - oops.

Off to bed...

[ICJump]

So after a 24 hour bug I've decided to go back to basics.
Started logging water again rather than guessing.
Tidied and made the bed so my room is restful and will do the head space app before bed.
Being more active in going to fold washing at night. It sounds little but I think will break up the sitting in the couch. I'm also going to put my phone down before dinner and leave it down. I think that will help with both sleep and activity .

Oh and does anyone have a jawbone?

[ICJump]

And by jawbone I mean one of the activity trackers

[quirkychick]

I have a Fitbit, it was one of my Christmas presents. It tracks water, sleep and steps. I used to use myfitnesspal to log minutes of activities, water and I put the hours sleep in the notes. I think the newer version of the app doesn't log water (if it does, I haven't found how).

Sleep better already this week, 8+hrs, and and two lots of 7+hrs. Dd2 woke at 5:30am but went straight back to sleep, as did I. It will take a while to make up for the 4+ and 5+hrs from last week.

ICJump even getting slightly more active is good. I had a nasty chest infection at Christmas, there is no way I could have clocked up 10,000 steps straight after! If you are recuperating, you need to ease back into activity. You want to get healthy, not exhaust yourself.

[RattieOfCatan]

I did alright at work yesterday in walking. Today I haven't even put my fitbit on yet and am still in my PJs despite having a Spanish lesson in 15 10 minutes

I do have to go out to get my charges birthday present though so I may go for a walk along the beach before heading home if it's not pissing it down! Otherwise a walk around Asda's George department might suffice I'm going to the gym later so I can walk there too...

Does anybody on fitbit want "friends"? I need some arse kicking if I don't make 7500, which is my main aim, 10,000 is a bonus!

[Pointlessfan]

I have so much energy today! Most unlike me. I think I'm starting to see the effects of the water/sleep/exercise.
Have been vacuuming, mopping and had another disco with DD. Toddlers are as good as any personal trainer to get you moving!

[quirkychick]

I have averaged 9,000 steps this past week. Will be interesting to see what the end of this week will bring.

[OddSocksHighHeels]

I haven't been for my walk today because I'm being lazy. I'll probably go now for a bit before dinner. It's just so cold!

Everybody seems to be doing really well though does anybody know of a way to make warm water taste nice? I've got my cucumber water still but something hot later would be nice.

[BewitchedBotheredandBewildered]

I can think of lots of things that would make hot water taste nice, none of which would sit well with trying to achieve a healthier life unless you could have a teetotal hot toddy. Not sure how honey fits.

I am doing very well at down-grading my targets!

[Pointlessfan]

oddsocks does herbal or fruit tea still count as water? You could add thin slices of raw ginger.

[OddSocksHighHeels]

bewitched I tend to prefer my booze cold anyway!

pointless yes it does. I've got some peppermint tea actually, might have some of that.

[Velocity]

Checking in: water intake increase going well - more trips to the loo also means a bit more walking to my day . Sleep - big difference with reduced caffeine, avoiding food/drinking after 7:30, 10:30 bedtime and alarm to be pushed back another 10mins next week to get to 6:30 waking. Setting alarm at the weekend felt odd luckily DH is being compliant (so far). No screens 1 hour before bed means MFP updates, mumsnet etc all has to happen before 9:30 cut off point - more books getting read though! Exercise - finally made it to the gym & hopefully I can be motivated to keep going.

Decluttering the office this week ( very satisfying).

It all sounds epic but the weekly challenges are keeping it all fun and fresh. Exercising in the evening not good for the sleep habit but let's see...

[DrDiva]

Drumroll....
I have nearly done the water for today! Proper water!
I got 8 hours sleep last night!!
I walked today!!!

All not enough but a bit more of a start.

Now if someone would be so kind as to pat me patronisingly on the head and say "good girl" that would be much appreciated

[OddSocksHighHeels]

DrDiva well done, you're a very good girl

velocity it does all sound a lot doesn't it? But it hasn't felt like I'm doing loads more either. I'm liking the way this is going!

[Pointlessfan]

Sounds like everyone is doing really well!

[DrDiva]

Ooh, I got a star as well!

Never thought of a pedometer app. I shall try downloading one. Before the nursery run tomorrow.

Just a thought. If I take small steps (I have very long legs) will that get to the target quicker, or will it know I am cheating?

[BewitchedBotheredandBewildered]

Well done DrDiva, can't do the patronising stuff but [fistbump] definitely enough for a good start.

Just thinking about it is a good start.

I shall continue to do lots of thinking

[Allgunsblazing]

Woke up at 2.30!!! I am going to be dead this evening! 12 h shift awaits me!!!

[parrotonmyshoulder]

Oh that's the worst thing about it, isn't it, all guns? Worrying about how you're going to get through a day of work. I woke at 5 which isn't too bad for me. Would just love to be able to get back to sleep after that though. My alarm is 6.15 but I never sleep that late.

Definitely more water for me today. Exercise is good and sleep bearable.

[SpecialistSnowflake]

Every time I see these threads bumped it reminds me to drink water so that's pretty good!

I have also said goodbye to caffeine forever and my sleep quality has definitely improved. I used to wake up several times in the night, but for the last few days I've noticed I wake up in the same position I fell asleep in.

And I've made a promise to myself that this week I will only watch Netflix in the evening from my exercise bike!

[quirkychick]

Not such good sleep last night, dd2 woke at 4am, but we both went back to sleep. She cried out at 6am, so have done 5 3/4hrs. But still much better than last week!

I didn't drink quite enough yesterday, a very weird day with dd2's birthday and a funeral in the afternoon . I didn't manage yoga camp, but will have to catch up later... I did do 10,000 steps, though. 7,000 steps already today.

[fuzzpig]

Aw sorry quirky :(

I had an awful night last night, in too much pain to sleep. Giving a piano lesson later though which means a bit of a walk, it's not far so hoping it's just enough to stretch my legs a bit.