30 Day Challenges

[Millie]

Wow, over 17,000 steps is awesome. One of my goals is to get over 20,000 in a day (so I can get my next badge). I think my highest was in the 16,000s. To continue discussion on steps v. miles... I walked about 13,200 last night and fitbit said I only walked 5.4 miles.... so, I think it is more like 2200 steps a mile for me... Hmmmm..

I am not really focused on the miles, so it doesn't really matter whether exact. I am just focuing on the steps. I just sent you a PM about FITBIT.

[ToddE]

got in a good workout today. Very much wanted a couple sweets. Had some pretzels instead.

I was looking at that fitbit site. That does look like a good package.

[Sally]

I LOVE my fitbit - I bought it at first to monitor my sleep - as I did not feel like I was getting any - and it was an eye opener.

Yesterday I walked 14,748 steps - we are going to try walking every night. It feels good and I still would like to go to the gym and get into a routine, am giving myself until the end of January to figure that one out.

[Millie]

Sally,
I beat you in the steps yesterday, as i got in about 14,888 steps. I was wound up last night and decided to try and get to 15,000, but, alas, the clock struck midnight on me. LOL. I only have a little over 2600 right now, so I am going to have to bust my butt this evening to get my steps in.

[ToddE]

I am thinking of maybe getting one of those fitbits for my wife. If I do I was kind of leaning toward the sleep option one. I sleep like the dead myself, but she always has problems with it.

Decent workout tonight for me. Can't wait for the weekend though. It's suppose to be nice here, so will be able to get some outside exercise in.

[Millie]

I recommend you splurge for the sleep option one. I have the fitbit "classic" which was the first one and it has the option. The new one, called the Fitbit One I think, costs the same as mine did a few years ago, and it has more bells and whistles.. Unlike mine, it also keeps track of steps climbed, etc. I don't use the sleep option all that much, but do sometimes and find the date fascinating. It will let you know how many times you wake up during the night. It is pretty cool.

I got in over 16,000 steps today with the sucker. Guaranteed, that would not have happened but for this little device clipped to my pants..

[Sally]

Congratulations Millie - game on!! Last night we walked all the way around the lake (the previous 2 nights were lead ups to doing that), plus my steps at work --- drumroll please....17,520! Tonight I am taking the night off (my legs are starting to realize what I have been doing - ha!) and we are going to walk around the mall - more my cup of tea..LOL

Todd I bought my fitbit several years ago ($100) when they first came out - wanted to replace the wrist band that I had lost a year ago and the company sent me a completely new fitbit - how is that for customer satisfaction!! I love the sleep option as my sleep has never been the same since having children - it is an eye opener - I am up and down all night. Anyway I love the original one - and really don't need all the bells and whistles...that would just mean learning how to use them...

Have a wonderful weekend everyone...TGIF.

[ToddE]

Day 11. The secret to remembering is it's the same day as on the calendar. Saves me the trouble of scrolling down to look. lol.

I think I will go with the sleep option one then. My wife's birthday is in a couple weeks, so I think I will buy it for her. (Don't yell at me. I will buy her some jewelry or something nice like that, too). I am sure we will all play around with it a bit. The kids will all want to use it I am sure.

[Millie]

I recommend you get one for yourself while you are at it, or another type of pedometer, so you two can compete with each other... My husband motivated me to get my fitbit back out after he had been counting his own steps as part of a program he is doing at work (walking spree). Although we are on different systems.. I am on FITBIT, he is on the Walking spree site, we compare notes through out the day on how many steps we have. He always beats me, but it has been fun just the same. Of course, i am now used to folks kicking my butt, since Sally is also doing it on here.

[Sally]

Millie you are doing GREAT!! I walk 10,000 steps or more just at work - running from room to room - office to office - to the bathroom and back LOL...
yesterday I logged 10,253 steps - and really did not feel like I walked that much since we roamed the mall....

Good for you Todd - I bought my husband a fitbit for Christmas and he is now using it. We are also starting the Readers digest diet together starting tomorrow...it is nice to have someone going through it with you:]

[Sally]

Saturday only got in 7,861 steps....see what the weekends do to me:[

[ToddE]

Got in my work out early today. Will probably take the dog on a nice walk after lunch. It's not as warm as yesterday, but the sun is out, 43° and not raining/snowing.

Yesterday was great outdoors. Mid 50s I think. Got in a good walk, bike ride with the kids and even through on roller blades for a bit. My little one got a pair for Christmas and was very excited to have a chance to use them outside.

[Sally]

Sunday - 9,165 steps - also doing 1 minute short exercises 3x a day with new diet.

[Millie]

Wow,
Yesterday was gorgeous here. It felt like spring. Weird, though, for it to be so warm in January. If it doesn't get cold soon, we may not have any spring flowers... :{

I got my 10K steps in, but barely. I did something to wrench my back and it hurt bad yesterday. I still walked 2miles around the neighborhood with the nagging pain, and then came home and crashed (got the rest of steps walking around doing normal chores the rest of the day). Advil has been my friend. It still hurts today.. don't know what the heck I did to it.

Todd, I bought an interesting cookbook yesterday and thought of you. It was in the sale book bin at the grocery store last night. It is called "Spices of Life, simple and delicious receipes for great health" by NIna Simonds. The cover says it was "winner of the James Beard Award and the IACP cookbook award. She also won the same awards on an earlier book= called a "Spoonful of Ginger"

The book has 175 recipes. The emphasis of the book is on the tonic properties of a wide variety of food, herbs, and spices. She is quoted on the back saying "I truly believe that by adopting a few changes, you can make a difference in the quality of your life and health. Hopefully, with this book, with its pleasurable "prescriptions" will demonstrate that you can have it all ...the pleasures of the table as well as excellent, long-lasting health."

In the intro, she also says "With this book, I hope to seduce the reader with food that is prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients enhanced by vibrant herbs and seasonings, and the provided satisfaction as well as sustenance. Most of the recipes are designed for convenience and simplicity, since we all lead such busy lives. the food also reflects my eclectic personal tastes, which extend beyond the realm of Asian cooking. the recipes are inspired by research as well as my recent travels through Asia and Europe. I also share a number of my family's favorites, the food I cook on an everyday basis."

The author was the Asian correspondent for Gourmet Magazine, so it definitely filled with the Asian influence, but has a lot of other variety as she says above (She grew up in New England and is not Asian). The recipes do not look that hard, but they do use a variety of unusual spices and condiments (star anise, tumeric, tamarind, ginger, lemongrass, rice wine, hoisin, chile paste, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil), but I think most are readily available from local market here (and I live in small town). She also has website called "www.spicesoflife.com.

You had previously mentioned that you may want to pick up a cookbook and cook all the recipes. I think that is a great idea and I think I am going to do just that with this book. I you, or any one else on here, would like to join me, we could compare notes on various recipes we try...

[ToddE]

Day 14 = complete. Nothing extra, but still hitting the elliptical. Endurance is starting to build back a little, so bumped up the resistance level last couple of times.

Tim, Loved that post. That's the reap the rewards work out.

Millie, That sounds fun. I couldn't find the book by the blogger I was thinking about at the library this weekend (checked out already I suppose). I did pick up three others, but haven't had a chance to read them yet. I'll probably just order the blogger one, instead of waiting for it to get back in then. I'll order the one you have too. I checked and they are both $4 including S&H on Abebooks for used copies.
The Spice of Life definitely sounds like a good one to look at and it will be neat to try some from same book and compare notes, even if I don't settle in on that one for the long haul.

I've not done a lot of Asian cooking, but I'm pretty sure I've used all those ingredients before, except probably the hoisin sauce. I don't recall anything using star ansin, but I've had a jar before, so assume I bought it for and used it in something. Who knows though. The store by my house would have all of the ones you listed anyway though, except the tamarind. I had to pick that up a a Latin market before. It must be an Asian ingredient as well it seems. That's good, those markets are closer and more of them where I'm at.

[Sally]

Day 14 only got in 6615 steps...down day for me:[

[Sally]

Day 15 - 15,182 steps...

Millie sorry to hear about your back - feel better soon!

[ToddE]

Right back up there, Sally. Nice.

day 15 also on workout. Nothing special tonight though. Might bump it up a bit soon, but may wait for weekend. Always easier then anyways, to do a little extra.

[Sally]

Day 16 - 21,137 steps - walked around the lake again...still haven't made it to the gym, but I am working on that one...

[ToddE]

good job Sally. Nice mileage there.

Day 15 = check.