Awright!

So. This week was a hard one for me. Was it for you?

I really couldn't get myself to be as enthusiastic as I wanted to be this week. Yesterday's exercise was kind of cursory, and I only worked myself to a real lather about half the time. I did so. I managed to exercise every day, but only barely.

But! What do we do when we fall down? WE GET UP!

Today, I pushed myself. I shovelgloved, alternated reps of pushups and crunches, played some DDR, then did more pushups and crunches. I was bushwhacked and it felt great.

If you've been sedentary, get back into it! Your endorphins will thank you. You may have good reasons for falling off the boat, you may have reasons you don't think are as good, but all is forgiven today. Join me in this last week (though it may not be your last week) and let's exercise the hell out of the end of July!

So!

The 21 Days Challenge has reached the one-third point. We have exercised for seven days. Here's where things get interesting!

"But Dog," you say breathily. "My resolution is flagging! My schedule is tight! I'm bored!"

"Fear not!" I reply from my vantage point on a picturesque rock as a wave crashes behind me, my shining mane whipping behind me in the wind. "Encouragement is on the way!" In the distance, a unicorn rides a jetski while waving nunchucks around. It's awesome.

Some of you may be doing well on your 21 Days Challenge. Some of you may be keeping up the letter, but feeling like you're flagging on the spirit. Maybe some of you have 'quit', or missed days, or completely forgotten that the Challenge was going on.

I'd like to remind you that the Challenge is for YOUR benefit, and it's here to help you make exercise into a habit. If you've lapsed, pick yourself back up and keep going. If you feel like starting over, feel free.

I'm doing pretty well, myself! Stepmania has been my exercise of choice for most of the week, culminating in a very small DDR gathering at my house on Friday. On Saturday I took it 'easy', spending a couple of hours walking around Somerville's "Art Beat" festival, and Sunday I did a bunch of yardwork (have you ever operated a manual lawnmower? I hadn't. Holy crap, are they hard work).

I'd love to hear from you! What was your week like? How are you doing and feeling? Any ideas for the upcoming week? Is the Challenge working for you?

(also, if any of you 21-dayers are video game fans: if you find yourself feeling like you just can't exercise, just scream "OUENDAN!" and put on exciting music. The cheer squad WILL come out of nowhere and encourage you. It really works.)

Hey there, gang: it's zombie_dog, your lead cheerleader on this arm of the 21 Days Challenge!

I'm currently posting from the Bolt Bus (hooray for wi-fi and outlets on long bus trips), on my way back to Boston from my trip to DC. I haven't done my exercise for the day yet today, but I've got a DDR pad awaiting my arrival patiently. After commuting for 12 hours solid, I imagine movement will do me some good.

I've already had several people post about their progress so far: good on you!

Personally, I went to my old stomping grounds at the North Bethesda Dave and Buster's yesterday, and much as I would have liked to sit around drinking violently colored alcohol, I instead threw myself feet-first at the Pump it Up machine. I seem to have damaged my elbow at some point this past weekend, so I'm going to have to be creative about my upper body exercise.

If you haven't started yet, or got off to a non-start yesterday: feel free to take a late start on your 21 Days Challenge. Remember, this is for YOUR benefit, not mine.

If you haven't posted yet, how was your first day?

This is it!

As of today - Monday, July 13th - we begin our sojourn into the 21 Days Challenge! We will exercise EVERY DAY for 21 days, making exercise a GOOD HABIT that we will carry forward into the chilly months.

Reiterating the rules:

Begin: Monday, July 13th
Complete: Sunday, August 2

Type of Exercise: Your choice. I will be playing a lot of Dance Dance Revolution (Stepmania, actually), biking (when it's decent out) and shovelgloving.

Suggested Duration of Exercise: As with the original challenge, 45–60 minutes for 6 days of the week and 15–30 minutes for 1 day of the week is suggested. Since I'm still traveling, today's going to be my 'easy' day...
This is up to you too, though, as the real purpose of this challenge is to make exercise a HABIT!

To Participate: Just do it!
But if you want to share support and have other people around to help 'keep you honest', please comment here. If you find yourself coming into the challenge late, feel free to start whenever is convenient for you, and just extend your participation by however many days you missed.

I'll make progress posts as we go; feel free to do the same on your end of things. I know that I need all of the encouragement that I can get. :)

(crossposted to _weightwatchers and my journal)

(howling wind, tumbleweed)

Hello? (hello? hello? hello? hello?)

Anybody still here?

Well, here goes.

Some of you may be aware that much of the US's East Coast -- New England in particular -- has been beset by hideous nasty weather. Grey coffin skies, rain varying from gentle to torrential. I've been getting depressed and I'm not the only one. It's July, fer goodness sakes. It's supposed to be sunny! Everybody's spirits have been flagging, and frankly I think there's only one cure:

Endorphins.

I am personally throwing myself back into the 21 Days Challenge; specifically, the original one. 21 Days to a Rockin' Body, exercising every day for 21 days.

Since this community has laid fallow for nearly a year, I thought that it might be nice to invite those of you who are still watching it to come join me. Feel free to comment here or on my journal if you want to participate to any degree and share support.

Because I will be out of town until then, I won't be starting the challenge until a week from Monday; however, this is nice because it gives people time to gear up and join.
Begin: Monday, July 13th
Complete: Sunday, August 2

Type of Exercise: Your choice. I will be playing a lot of Dance Dance Revolution (Stepmania, actually), biking (when it's decent out) and shovelgloving.

Suggested Duration of Exercise: As with the original challenge, 45–60 minutes for 6 days of the week and 15–30 minutes for 1 day of the week is suggested.
This is up to you too, though, as the real purpose of this challenge is to make exercise a HABIT!

To Participate: Just do it!
But if you want to share support and have other people around to help 'keep you honest', please comment here before July 13th!

Provided the mods don't have any objection, I will go ahead and use this space to talk about the challenge.

Do you find it easier to work alone or in partners? Do you think it's easier to clean up other people's stuff or your own?

I find it way easier to work with someone else because i'm easily uninspired. Having that other person there keeps me objective. It's much easier for me to clean other people's stuff because again i can be more objective.

And dish!

I got my stuff done pretty early today! It mostly consisted of changing my sheets, but I can't remember the last time i had a flat sheet on my bed so it was definitely needed.

Have you learned anything about your cluttery habits so far?


I've learned that i'm waay more of a packrat than i thought and i need to realize when it's ok to toss stuff out.


Don't forget to dish!

What's your favorite way to reward yourself after working?

I had myself an ice cream cone, yum.

Don't forget to dish!

I organized the crafty area in my room and now i can actually find things in it!

So, how was everybody's weekend? Get much accomplished?

I sure didn't i'm off to do a hour and a half shift in my room so tell me something inspiring please.

So, what do you think your biggest contributing factor to clutter is: laziness or packrattery?

I am definitely a victim of packrattery. I've still got schoolwork from 8 years ago just sitting around as if i'm going to use it again someday.

and don't forget to update about your progress

Ugh my room looks more messy than when i started working on it, but that's only because we're cleaning out dressers and shelves first. It kinda almost makes me want to just shove everything back in the drawers because at least then it looks like i've made progress.