I just totalled 2015: 20.0 pounds lost, 595.6 “official” miles cycled (rides for ice cream dropped), swam 23.2 miles (started in September), ran 528.6 miles. 5.58 million steps, 2600 Fitbit “miles” (some of which were run), 12.3K floor, 778K calories torched. Patting self on back.
I did not run a marathon in 2015 (or 2014 for that matter). I ran 13 races in 2015. 4 half marathons, 1 10 miler, 5 5Ks, 1 6K, 1 15K. I won something in my age group in all but the Charlotte Half and the Tom King 5K. Helps to be old and female! Two half marathons fell by the wayside last winter due to ice.
Way to go, dmd. 20 pounds is awesome to lose. Go pick up a 20 pound weight and see what it feels like! Nice variety of exercise, too.
Like my kids. Love my wife. Really love my New Garmin 235.
Have only used it indoors so far. Like that I get a miles/pace measurement now on the treadmill. Although right now it is overestimating miles and pace compared to the treadmill measurement. I think it needs to calibrate running outdoors before it gets a better estimate indoors? I got up to 181 max hr. Maybe will try and get an official max hr this weekend.
Spent an hour last night looking at my resting HR. Guess I need some non physical hobbies!
@MomofWildChild : I actually like to go to the grocery store and look at how much space 20 pounds of butter takes up. Same idea but a better visual for me.
End of years can truly show motivation and progress. For any lurkers, know that if you too added up your movement, exercise, etc. - even if it is much less than what is listed here, IT IS SIGNIFICANT! Wear those totals proudly!
No run today, but might squeeze in a home workout early this evening. We’re on a weird eating schedule today it seems!
Congrats to everyone who posted totals above - and DMD, a special kudos for the 20 pounds - wow!
Here is something interesting if anyone is so inclined. https://www.signmeup.com/site/reg/register.aspx?fid=JZ2VQH7&Source=Flowers
It’s gotten a lot of press in social media. You can run/walk as an individual or do it with a partner or group. I wasn’t interested in trying to run 2016 miles, but I figured that combined with my FitBit walking, I could get there with running/walking. There is access to some online stuff that could be decent.
I did this after a glass of wine, so take this for what it is worth! 
If you sign up and put in the code FELLOWFLOWERS, so can be affiliated with that community, too.
Wishing you all a happy and healthy new year! Congratulations to all of your fitness accomplishments, no matter how small or great 
Thanks for sharing another year of support. Let’s keep it going in 2016!
This Christmas has been such a crush–food, drink, social merry making, and stress. But, I got in a 5K run yesterday and have been maintaining with miles of walking and hiking. I have a few more weeks with travel but I’m really looking forward to a fresh 2016. Off for a champagne toast…
@Pizzagirl, here’s my take on the three. Some preliminary comments first. It’s critically important that the instructor in any of those classes be qualified, experienced and able to scale the class to the ability of each participant. The fact that you are frequently experiencing leg cramps in barre is a concern; if the instructor is aware of this, the instructor should be giving you adjustments or cues that you can follow to avoid the cramping and progressively build leg strength and endurance. Second, in considering the three classes, think about what your goals are.
With the barre class, is it a traditional barre class or one that incorporates additional exercise approaches. Traditional barre focuses on flexibility, isometric holds of positions and very small ranges of motion. You will get the benefit postural improvement, flexibility and muscular endurance but limited strength gains. It will not provide much in the way of functional movement benefits. However, many barre classes are adding body weight strength exercises and some light dumbbell work.
With yoga, a lot depends on the type of yoga that is taught. Some forms are restorative, others are physically more strenuous. With all yoga classes you will gain flexibility, a sense of body positioning and alignment and a focus on a mind/body connection. Depending on the style, you can also develop significant core and distal (arm and leg) body weight based strength gains. But again, it’s important to understand the style of the class to know the benefits you can expect.
Of the three, Pilates is most dependent on external resistance delivered through machines like the Reformer. Machines like the Cadillac also provide a lot of ways to do strength building body weight exercises. Pilates is very focused on understanding and perceiving body positioning and joint alignment, often requiring very subtle adjustments of position or posture to do an exercise correctly. It also focuses on functional movement and strength. With Pilates, it’s really, really important to have a very experienced instructor who can evaluate a client’s fitness level and any kinetic chain issues with a good eye for body positioning and alignment. The external resistance of the machines and the full range of motion, if not administered correctly, can result in injury. Done right, it will provide significant gains in flexibility, strength and functional movement. The downside is that it is dependent on specialized machines that generally are not found outside of a studio (unless you do floor Pilates) and therefore you are dependent on studio based training unlike barre and yoga which can can be dpone anywhere (for barre you can use a chair or a table instead of a barre).
Of the three of them, my personal opinion is that Pilates and Yoga offer a broader range of benefits than Barre. Between Yoga and Pilates, I lean towards Pilates because it is more exclusively focused on functionality while Yoga has too much of a mind/ body and spirituality component for my personal tastes. Others may reach a different conclusion.
Hope this is helpful.
Tonight exercise was dancing!!! The meds are working. I could hear the music… Off to do my 20 pushups!!!
Happy New Year BB. Sounds like you had a fun celebration last night! Glad you are feeling better. But push-ups at 4:00 a.m.? Did you pull an all nighter, lol?
Happy to hear that you’re feeling better BB! I downloaded a Squat Challenge app & have completed Day 1. Now off to meet some run group members for a New Year’s run/walk & a tailgate brunch. It’s so invigorating to have a fresh slate.
Hill Yeah horrific 5K this morning. I did NOT want to go. Overdressed in the older Lulu puff, but it was 32 degrees. Win my age group with 30:16. It was a hard course. Husband was 2nd in his age group and daughter 3rd in hers.
Happy New Year everyone! Early night last night, 6 miles this morning followed by breakfast. Headed to a barre class later today.
Okay, MOWC - signed up for the 2016 challenge. This is going to be a good year.
Running to look at that challenge!
I’ll be setting a year goal today. My running miles for 2015 was right about at 400. That’s about 8 miles a week and I thought I was a little higher than that - I know I was the 2nd half of the year - my first half of the year seemed to slow me down - I think I was stuck inside so much I started doing other stuff to get off the dang track and treadmill. I thought that was a little low, but I also realized that I added in more classes this year - spinning, cardio core, etc. - so in the end, that’s probably a good thing.
Any recommendations for some good, simple upper arms exercises that I can do at home with simple weights or otherwise??? My son’s wedding is in June and while my arms aren’t awful, I’d like to channel some Michelle Obama on my upper arms/shoulders.
Congrats MOWC and family.
Spent the AM taking down the Christmas stuff, but will be going to a 2 hour yoga class this afternoon.
Going to a yoga class later on. Important to ease in the new year
I’ve determined that for me - esp with retiring - I am better off still doing my exercise in the morning and then I have the rest of my day free. So I’ve scheduled at least the first part as such: Mon 7 am Pilates, Tue 5:30 am Strength, Wed 6:15 Orange Theory, Thur 5:30 am Strength, Fri 6:15 Orange Theory. That way I’m done at least one “block” early on and I can choose from other “blocks” (running, yoga, barre, etc.) as I see fit. I HATE getting up that early, but once I’m done I feel really good about myself!
"Yeah horrific 5K this morning. I did NOT want to go. Overdressed in the older Lulu puff, but it was 32 degrees. Win my age group with 30:16. "
I would think I would have died and gone to heaven if I ran a 5K in 30 minutes
I also want to note two recent scores:
- Upscale resale shop - had 2 unworn (tags still on) Lululemon tops in my size - $20 apiece!
- Did receive some Lululemon stuff for Xmas that was nice, but I just didn’t care for - so I returned it - and have a $250 credit that I will be saving to treat myself to something in a smaller size when I get there
Yay, sabaray! We can do the 2016 together!
Thanks, everyone. It was 2 minutes slower than I ran in September and the same pace as my October half marathon, but I didn’t taper and it was really a difficult course. I was just seeking survival! I was chasing a woman who is 71 and a really good runner. I can usually get by her, but not today! She beat me by 30 seconds. Interestingly, I would gain a little on her on the uphills and she would pull away on the downhills. I thought I was really pushing the downhills, but I guess she was better at it! She gained ground in the last half mile, too.