New December - March Exercise Log

[Catrin]

I've created a new copy of the exercise log here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ptG4VSJtDXDYgW3D3CiM5AeaVJr5XXRG0YdWE2NXKZ8/edit?usp=sharing). I've opened it allow anyone who has the link can edit anything outside of two columns.

While I may change mine, I've filled out my record as an example. All you will need to do is to enter your CUMULATIVE hours in the cell for the appropriate month. There are formula in place to track things properly and I've protected columns E and K so the formula can't be overwritten. Please let me know if there are any other features added to this spreadsheet.

Personally, for me it helps to see other people's activities. I don't feel so isolated as can happen in the winter, especially since I can't really do group training anymore outside of a twice/month T'ai Chi class.

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks, Catrin! I didn't know what you had in mind with the spreadsheet. I guess I was thinking of something where every day of the week/month would have a cell, and we could put in how much we did for each day and the spreadsheet would do the math. But no worries, I can accumulate those on my own and only enter monthly totals.

I just have no idea about what to set as a goal as I've never added up my hours exercising before. Is a goal required?

Thanks!

[Catrin]

Thanks, Catrin! I didn't know what you had in mind with the spreadsheet. I guess I was thinking of something where every day of the week/month would have a cell, and we could put in how much we did for each day and the spreadsheet would do the math. But no worries, I can accumulate those on my own and only enter monthly totals.

I just have no idea about what to set as a goal as I've never added up my hours exercising before. Is a goal required?

Thanks!

A goal really isn't required, I THINK it should be fine if you don't set one. I will keep an eye on it and see, will change the formula if needed.

This is the same basic spreadsheet we've used for the last 3 years or so but I see what you had in mind. If I can make it work without requiring a lot of scrolling for the user then I'm open to trying a new approach.

[Crankin]

Last year, my goal was lower than the year before, but then I upped it. I found out from all of this that I am pretty consistent.

[ny biker]

I think I will sign up for this, to help keep me off the couch when things get cold. Thanks Catrin.

[emily_in_nc]

A goal really isn't required, I THINK it should be fine if you don't set one. I will keep an eye on it and see, will change the formula if needed.

This is the same basic spreadsheet we've used for the last 3 years or so but I see what you had in mind. If I can make it work without requiring a lot of scrolling for the user then I'm open to trying a new approach.

No problem -- I am not trying to be difficult, really. ;-) I should take it as a challenge to set up my own personal spreadsheet to accumulate my monthly totals. I have never had to do much with spreadsheets, but it can't be rocket science, right?! :D

[Crankin]

It's a challenge for me to use the spreadsheet! Just click tab key... don't care what is there, I like seeing the cummulative totals, but do whatever the majority wants.

[Catrin]

Emily - I can't seem to come up with a format that appears far more complicated than this one, especially with a cell for every day for 4 months. Doesn't matter how I split it up, once you get a couple people in it the size of the spreadsheet gets large fast I want you to be able to use this however, so feel free to let me know if there is some other way that I can edit your portion of the spreadsheet to make it easier for you to use as I want it to be helpful..

The secret to this format is just remembering to visit the spreadsheet the day of your activity and add your hours to the existing total for the month. You can either do the math in your head OR set up a formula (something like =5+3+2+4+111) just remember the last character in the formula must be a number, not a plus sign, which enables you to enter every day's activity time for the month in one cell.

[ny biker]

I can't even figure out how to save it. :eek:

Would this include outdoor bike rides?

[Catrin]

No saving required, it's automatic. Just enter your goal (if you wish) and time. You can include whatever activity you would like to include, that's entirely up to you!

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks, Catrin! The only way I can think of to make it work is to have a tab leading to a separate sheet with daily tallies for each participant, which would then be rolled up onto on one master page for all participants at the end of the month. This sounds like the kind of stuff my managers would do when I was working would set up (one tab per project and then one master page for all projects, something like that). But it is not a big deal at all, and I am fine with what you have there, really!

NY, I can't imagine why not. This is supposed to be for ALL exercise activities, right? Outdoor, indoor, whatever. In fact, since I'll be in Florida, I expect the majority of my fitness time will be outdoor bike rides. Sure hope so, anyway!

[Catrin]

Thanks Emily, Google Docs isn't all that easy to work with on my little 12 inch screen and I was trying to avoid a solution like that. If you can work with our usual format then we will call it good :cool: There are a couple different types of formula you can use in the monthly cell if you wish, just send me a PM and we can discuss.

[Catrin]

Annnnnd we're off and running! It's up to you if you choose to post on this thread as well as updating the spreadsheet. Thankfully I managed a (very) little walk today so I will log it.

[emily_in_nc]

I have a question. Do walks count, or only other fitness activities. For instance, today I took a bike ride plus two walks (granted, one was to the liquor store and back...lol!) When I walk with DH, we go pretty fast, so I am thinking it counts, but not sure. Waiting until I put in my time just in case!

[Crankin]

Everyting counts!

[Catrin]

I have a question. Do walks count, or only other fitness activities. For instance, today I took a bike ride plus two walks (granted, one was to the liquor store and back...lol!) When I walk with DH, we go pretty fast, so I am thinking it counts, but not sure. Waiting until I put in my time just in case!

It's entirely up to you :cool: I would count it myself. I've found that this type of log helps me to look at a broader range of what exercise means to me, that's what makes it valuable to me.

[Crankin]

I count walks, hikes, rides, indoor rides, tabata, power class, yoga, snow shoeing, and nordic skiing. I even count stretching if it's for at least 15 minutes.
That pretty much covers anything I might do in the winter.

[Catrin]

Nice range of winter activities Crankin! Sadly I don't have so many, for me it's walking/hiking/KB swings/Tai Chi/stretching and that's about it. 15 minutes is a good threshold. I'm SO glad that I'm finally feeling well enough to get back to my usual exercise, no headaches now for almost 18 hours!!!! Carefully, yes, but normal exercise activities.

[Crankin]

While researching DVDs for a client, I came across one that is supposed to be great for beginners at Tai Chi. I might buy it for myself. Seems like a good way to work on balance and for those winter days I don't want to even walk or drive the one mile to the gym.

[Catrin]

It's been strongly expressed to me that it's really difficult to learn it properly from a DVD. There is a DVD on Amazon that is said to be an exception to that rule - Tai Chi for Arthritis. Apparently it breaks things down really well for a true beginner.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

[Crankin]

I don't think it's the same one, but this one clearly states it's easy to follow and for beginners. It might not be totally real Tai Chi, but is led
by a well known martial arts guy. The pictures were definitely older people! I am not looking to really master this discipline, just do something different.

[Catrin]

Cool, enjoy! My free class I attend is currently teaching a new form, I guess it will take some time to learn it. I think you will enjoy it and if you like the DVD send me the name 😎

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

[ny biker]

I don't think I will count walking from my office to get lunch. But sometimes, especially in winter, I will go out for a walk in the evening expressly for exercise, so those would definitely count. And occasionally I will take a long walk to the grocery store or to run errands, and I would count them too. And walks to and from the gym always count because they replace cardio at the gym.

Speaking of -- last night I did strength training at the gym and walked there and back, with a detour on the way home to make the walk a bit longer. 50 minutes at the gym and 50 minutes walking. Now I will have to convert that to decimals/fractions of an hour -- ugh it's too early for math!


====

Okay I can't edit the spreadsheet from my tablet. Yet another thing the tablet can't do... and I can't access it from this pc right now. Will have to update it later.

[emily_in_nc]

Okay, great. I will definitely count faster/longer walks as well as bike rides and my home-based mixed workouts (yoga, light weights, core work, etc.) Here we go!

[ny biker]

I just realized that I'm forgetting to update the log -- not in the habit yet, I guess. Had a bike ride on Sunday and a gym workout on Monday.

Looking at the long range forecast, I think it's time to get the indoor trainer out of storage. This is going to be a long winter.

[emily_in_nc]

I am liking the way the log works, Catrin. I didn't understand (when you first posted it) that it would automatically accumulate our hours. I thought we had to keep our own logs until the end of the month, then put in the total. As long as I remember to update it daily, it's working well for me. And from my time so far, you can tell I am in Florida. Getting about four longer rides (2.5 hours) in per week really helps, plus not having a car so I have to walk everywhere! I feel so lucky not to be suffering in the cold that is gripping so much of the US, though even here we are going to feel it this weekend. But nothing like most anywhere else. Lows in the 40s and highs in the 60s for a couple of days is about it!

[Catrin]

Glad to hear that it's working for you Emily! It's difficult to describe how it works. It's evolved a bit over the last 3 years.

As for me I've been doing some kettlebell swing workouts and some mobility and flexibilty sessions at home. No TaiChi class for 2 more weeks, I missed the last one due to concussion recovery (it was just 3 days afterwards and my dr voted against it). Looking forward to the next one AND learning more of it so I can do more of it at home. I guess winter is really coming so I don't know that I will be able to walk this weekend but really hope to be able to do so.

[Crankin]

It's so cold out that even I don't feel like an outdoor activity! I think it's mostly because I don't feel that well, though, because I've gone nordic skiing and snow shoeing at much colder than the 21 degrees it is now. I went to tabata this morning. Dragging DH with me, so he does something other than riding!
I've had this sorta sick/headache/ears feeling full, sinuses off thing for 3 weeks. It's not enough to get me to go to the doctor, but I may be giving in, if it doesn't resolve. No fever and no achy feeling, so it's not like what I had last winter.
I don't want to be sick for when my son is here.

[Catrin]

Crankin - I hope you're feeling well soon!

I've been moderating my activities during my concussion recovery (for once). There hasn't been any problems, but yesterday during my 15 minute kettlebell swing interval section of my workout I noticed that my headache was not only returning, but increasing during the swings. I suspect sinus stuff, as this wasn't a problem even just a couple days after the concussion. I DID, however, cap the swing intervals at 10 rounds rather than 15 when it became apparent that it wasn't easing.

I would LOVE to go walking today, assuming the wintry mix misses us this afternoon. Ugh...I'm spoiled!

[emily_in_nc]

Sorry you aren't feeling 100%, Crankin. That would be frustrating!

And Catrin, you are smart to moderate your workouts. Concussions aren't worth playing around with, as you well know.

I feel bad for those of you suffering with the cold. I know not everyone likes Florida, but I sure do feel fortunate to be here this time of year! So far our chilliest night was 49F, and that felt seriously cold with stiff north wind. We're moderating today after the cold front, and the next 9-10 days show highs in the 70s and low 80s and lows around 60-65. I can deal!

[ny biker]

I can think of reasons to not like Florida but right now I wish I could go someplace warm. I'm bracing for the polar vortex that's coming in a few days, and apparently will be back next week. For the weekend we're expecting warmer weather but with rain that will start as snow/icy/mix. I'm already tired of winter coats and hats and gloves!

On the flipside, the gym has been way too warm lately. They send out an email saying that they were working on improving the temperature after receiving a number of complaints, but last night it was too warm again. The locker room is especially uncomfortable, despite the thermostat being set to 55 last night. Clearly something is not working right. This is a problem with bad weather coming, because I can barely stand to do weight training when a gym is too warm, but I can't do cardio at all. I hope they fix it soon.

Meanwhile I continue to forget to update the log when I'm using the only computer that can access Google docs...

[Catrin]

"small" ice storm this morning certainly changed MY plans for the day. It's supposed to warm to 40 today for a few hours, hopefully that will be enough to thaw the 12-foot river of ice between my apt's sidewalk and my car. Given everything I'm far more scared of ice than anything else - can't risk falling again! Looked at Amazon for Yak Tracks - I do need to order them but would have gotten same-day delivery for the very first time ever if I could have. I do need them though so will get them.

So instead of TaiChi and walking/hiking today, it is one of my Kettlebell swing workouts + flexibility/mobility work.

[Crankin]

Catrin, I found the Yak Tracks not to be of good quality. I had 2 pairs and they broke! I got some called Ice Spikes, or something similar and they are awesome. I had an 800 ft. driveway, with a 13% grade at my last house and sometimes, the ice stayed, despite plowing. They worked like a charm, as well as on icy trails.

[Catrin]

Catrin, I found the Yak Tracks not to be of good quality. I had 2 pairs and they broke! I got some called Ice Spikes, or something similar and they are awesome. I had an 800 ft. driveway, with a 13% grade at my last house and sometimes, the ice stayed, despite plowing. They worked like a charm, as well as on icy trails.

Thanks Crankin, that's what I found through reviews. I purchased the STABILicer Hike XP (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015HD01LW/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) after checking them out on different places. I was going to get them directly from the company, but this way I save $9 AND get them tomorrow :) I think they will do well for both the kind of hiking I enjoy AND walking across ice rivers to get to car and work. Pity how many bad Yak Traxs reviews out there - and the reviews for the less expensive STABLicers aren't as good - apparently the cheaper ones do well as long as they stay on your shoes... I probably would have gotten the less expensive version if I wasn't planning on actually hiking.

[Crankin]

Good idea. That's why I got the spikier ones, too.
So... we decided to go out and walk during the snowstorm, which is now over. We live on a private road, which means, our condo association pays a company for the plowing. Thus, i can't tell if the other streets have been plowed. We decided we didn't need snow shoes, and then walked on the little trail to the next neighborhood. When we got out to the street, we discovered the streets hadn't been plowed at all! We could have skied in this neighborhood, lots of small ups and downs. Not sure if this is because it's a Saturday and they were just waiting, or because our experience in Concord is based on living on the top of a huge hill that was plowed immediately and often, as to avoid issues for the residents. So, we walked in the tracks of the few cars that had gone in and out. We had our hiking boots on, should have had gaiters, too. When we got back, we cleaned off our cars, as it was getting close to the time when the snow was supposed to stop. Walked probably 3.25 miles and then a little extra work car brushing and shoveling around the car.

[ny biker]

Thanks Crankin, that's what I found through reviews. I purchased the STABILicer Hike XP (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015HD01LW/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) after checking them out on different places. I was going to get them directly from the company, but this way I save $9 AND get them tomorrow :) I think they will do well for both the kind of hiking I enjoy AND walking across ice rivers to get to car and work. Pity how many bad Yak Traxs reviews out there - and the reviews for the less expensive STABLicers aren't as good - apparently the cheaper ones do well as long as they stay on your shoes... I probably would have gotten the less expensive version if I wasn't planning on actually hiking.

I just bought the LL Bean Stabilicers to give to my nephew, since his job requires him to be out in all kinds of weather. They got good reviews* and have a velcro strap across the top of the toe to keep them from falling off.

* I've since learned that LL Bean only posts reviews from people who have used the product. So if you receive it, take one look and realize there's a problem so you return it, you can't post a review to tell prospective customers about the problem. So the reviews are all skewed positive. Anyway there's still the lifetime guarantee if there are any problems with them. I saw reviews for the Yak Traks on the REI site that indicated various problems with them.

I dealt with our ice storm by heeding the warnings to stay indoors; I stayed up late the night before and slept till noon. It was still only 32 at that point. A few hours later when I left to go see Rogue One, there was still ice on the front steps of my building because it's in the shade. I know several of my neighbors had already gone out at that point but none of them bothered to clear the ice; I was almost late for the movie because I spent several minutes stomping on it with the heel of my awesome new half-price Uggs to break it up so that none of them would fall. Your welcome, self-absorbed neighbors.

But I digress. I've been missing workouts a lot as I try to get all my Christmas shopping finished while also struggling with a bout of laziness and hating the weather. I did manage to get out for a walk last night.

I have a list of 17 things I need to do before I leave town later this week and "pack for vacation" isn't even on the list! And neither is two loads of laundry. Yikes.

[vicyharper]

This is good. Now everyone in the forum can challenge each others goal too.

[Catrin]

Pleasantly surprised about being able to be active daily because of the Tai Chi. It becomes more difficult to separate my mobility work from Tai Chi so I've removed that separate goal to my overall total, and the the accumulated time as well.

So between daily practice of Tai Chi, kettlebell swings twice a week (depending on how my shoulders/neck feels), and walking/hiking as the weather allows I think this will work well for the winter...and beyond.

[ny biker]

Glad the Tai Chi is working out for you.

I'm not getting much exercise this week due to being on vacation. Today I raked leaves which was enough to warm me up on a chilly day but was not strenuous.

[Crankin]

So, I am less than 10 hours from meeting my goal. With about 6 weeks left, should I up it?

[ny biker]

Yes. And congrats!

I have lost track. I can only access the spreadsheet from my pc at home but I only ever use that pc when I am connected to work via VPN (when I can't access it). Also I have some weeks when I get in some good exercise time but other weeks when I don't, for various reasons only one of which is flat out winter laziness.

[Crankin]

I think I will add about 50 hours. I am always conservative in my estimates, and also, I know unless there is good snow, or I am doing longer hikes, most of my winter exercise is about an hour per session, at the gym or at home. But, I have 2 weekends of nordic skiing coming up, and then hopefully, some riding closely following.

[Catrin]

So, I am less than 10 hours from meeting my goal. With about 6 weeks left, should I up it?

That's up to you - I've already upped mine once and may need to do so again (but mind was set low due to my broken bits). If it's helping you then there is nothing wrong with it - and kudos for blasting through your winter goal already!

[Catrin]

Crankin, it looks like we were both posting at the same time. While my activities have certainly changed, it's wonderful to be able to do an hour of Tai Chi daily and walk/hike when I can. Crossing my fingers that I can actually hike this Saturday for the first time since Jan 1! They say it will be 65 degrees...in February :eek: :cool:

[Crankin]

Yeah, it is supposed to be 55 here, but I will be in Stowe, VT. Thankfully, it will be around 40 there, still cold enough that the snow won't melt for skiing, and not the lovely -21 we had last year. It's only a 3 day weekend, as opposed to our previous trips, but I am thankful to be getting up there at all, when I didn't think it would happen. Since we waited so long to decide on this with our friends, we couldn't get lodging in Stowe, as it's school vacation week in southern New England. We are staying in Morrisville, a small town that has some up and coming microbreweries and restaurants. It's close enough for us to ski at Craftsbury, in the Northeast Kingdom, some of the best and reliable trails around. So, I hope we get there and a couple of days at Von Trapp (yes, the Sound of Music family runs a wonderful trail system) and Stowe Mountain x country.

[Crankin]

I just upped my total, again. It might take a little push for me to get 21 hours in 2 weeks, but since I will be skiing this weekend, that should help immensely. I really need a rest day today, after a hard snow shoe, falling a lot when skiing Wednesday, and tabata yesterday. So, hoping to get 6 hours this weekend, and maybe be riding next weekend. Otherwise, it will take a lot of one hour classes at the gym to get to my new total. Might have to throw some hikes in there, too.

[emily_in_nc]

I doubt I'm going to make my several-times-revised-upward goal due to having to go to Ohio for a week (four days of which we'll be in the car most of the day) unexpectedly, but I'll just leave it as is. I'll still have a week here in Florida in March when we get back, and hopefully it will be a good one! We'll be missing what looks like a perfect cycling week here, but c'est la vie. Overall I've had a great winter here with plenty of miles under my belt (somewhere over 1100 at this point), so no complaints.

Thanks for setting up the spreadsheet, Catrin!

[Catrin]

I did up my hours a month or so ago. and I think I will leave it as it is. For me this is very helpful. I DO track on my own, but for some reason it seems to help doing it in this context. Probably my inner competitor that doesn't want to "fall behind" even though we are all working on different goals :cool:

[Crankin]

I am not going to make it, with 2.5 days left and 10.5 hrs. to go. I think I would have gotten to 150, if I hadn't been resting from my back issues. Now I know I can do it and that I need to do more in December.... still glad that I upped it, though.

[Catrin]

I upped mine twice, then lowered it once (before the last time I upped it). I hadn't updated it in a few days so after I updated the last 3 days I only have 25 minutes left. I will certainly do that sometime tomorrow. My overall time has much lower than the other years we've done this, but given my various broken bits, and worsening shoulders, I am happy over what I've done this winter.

[Crankin]

I think i will end up about 8 hours short. I upped mine 3 times, but I was not really sure I'd make 150. When I look at my numbers, I did much less in December than the other months, which truly is a function of it being the tail end of the cycling season (usually ride less than 5 times) and no snow for nordic skiing. So, going to the gym is usually not more than an hour, while outdoor activities, at least on the weekend are usually 2-3 hours. I did hike a bit in December, but I was still trying to baby my foot. I've had more injuries this year, than in the past!

[emily_in_nc]

I upped my goal several times and would have made it had we not had to take an unexpected week trip to Ohio, where we had little spare time and miserable chilly weather (not even fun to walk with a biting wind, so I didn't walk as much as I'd hoped). So, unless I can get in a 17-hour ride tomorrow (LOL!), I won't meet my goal either. Would've met it otherwise, as I get in 2.5 hours each time we ride, plus another .5 every night when we walk Paisley, and sometimes other 20-30 minute walks to the store. And to/from the Saturday farmer's market is an hour round-trip. Plus I do light weights and yoga/pilates on my own when I have time and am not riding -- that's another 45 minutes or so each time. If only February had been a couple of days longer! :D

[Catrin]

I did manage to get in 45 minutes of TaiChi this evening, which took me a little over my goal. 100 hours in 4 months seems little to me, but am pleased that I did make it, what with my various things going on. Thankful for what I CAN do these days!

[Crankin]

I actually got in an hour and a half today; an hour tabata class, slightly modified and 30 minutes of PT, where I worked stretching, and sometimes wanting to scream! He worked on my neck/ left trapezius, something that has bothered me since I started riding, oh, like 17 years ago. One of cervical vertebrae in my neck was kind of locked up and it's so much better, so I guess the work was worth it.

[emily_in_nc]

I fully intended to ride on this, the last day of March, but woke up to threatening t-storms and high wind, so bagged it. Instead, I did a 30 minute yoga "class" on a Latino channel on our TV (very similar to doing yoga in when we were in Mexico, but a lot shorter than those 90-minute sessions), plus another 30 minutes of light weights for the upper body, and ab work. Then the usual 30 minute fast walk with the dog. Not a bad way to end up the month, overall!