Calm Before Storm
Long Live the Challenge!
- Million Minute Month T-Minus A Few
Tonight at midnight, the Million Minute Month begins. That is, our latest new-fangled personal challenge progress page will suddenly flicker on, and you will be able to start logging your minutes in our eight activity categories. Poised at the precipice of this 1,000,000 are 337 fired-up challengers. Should nobody else join us, we merry few will each need to knock off 49 hours of exercise over the month. Bring it! But, um, also spread the word! For, in this case, the greater the number of challengers, the greater the honor!
You might ask: Why should one track and share their "activity minutes?" Nobody's forcing you, baby. But we've found it's surprisingly motivating, and that together we stand a much better chance against inertia than we do alone. Also, it's very entertaining, and, well, it's a safe bet you'll come out feeling good and smiley. Also, should you be interested, we're going to be giving a bunch of prizes for admirable efforts: A couple years of free gym memberships from Crunch (boom!); as well as a variety of nifty things from Jack Rabbit Sports (bam!); and then a parade of mega party favors from our killer Spirit Guides! Time to re-tie your shoelaces....
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Comments
Yayah! So pumped for this month... Feralicious is going to be tough to beat, but this challenge looks pretty darn promising and will probably make for some entertaining posts too!
Submitted by shaynet on 04.14.10 at 03:31.
Finally my 12-minute walk to and from work will count for something. Knowing it will be considered working out, I pledge to light a fire under it.
Submitted by prairieportia on 04.14.10 at 04:33.
Prarieportia, you have answered my one outstanding MMM question: can I count the commute? If you do, I do. Twenty minutes a day. ;)
Submitted by joesgirl on 04.14.10 at 05:01.
49 hours?? that's a little over 1 1/2 hrs a day...
Submitted by Fraidy on 04.14.10 at 05:45.
Hmm, commute is tricky. Judges are pondering. Please file position papers.
Fraidy: Yes, that's why we need to bring along a few more challengers. Get out the vote! We'd like to push that number down a little or we'll all be counting every step we make to our elevator, from living room to bedroom, etc.!
Submitted by Oliver on 04.14.10 at 06:49.
Don't worry gang, I've got your back...but ladies and gents- I personally think in order to count a "commute" you must walk for at least 40 mins at a fast pace- that's a two mile walk for many. Walking 12 mins is great and I'm so proud to hear that you are taking "strides" on a daily basis- but that should be a normal life style choice- we just live in a world where people drive to places and ride trians etc. This is a challenge- and we must remind ourselves to challenge ourselves on personal levels.
Submitted by sassletics82 on 04.14.10 at 07:48.
just to check...machine based cardio doesn't count? so, if i use an indoor rower, that doesn't count? what about ellipticals?
does a TRX count?
and what about swimming?
sorry to bug you guys! :-p
Submitted by moniq68 on 04.14.10 at 08:32.
sassletics82!!!! I totally agree with you. I am so looking forward to this challenge bc I like to take several classes in a day, and then take a day off to rest... and this challenge works well... I wish it started today, oh well....
Submitted by sandella on 04.14.10 at 10:00.
moniq68, check this for more info... http://www.socialworkout.com/million-minute-month-0 swimming counts, exercise counts...
Submitted by sandella on 04.14.10 at 10:02.
Yeah, the commute. The forty minute rule is a good one. My rule of thumb is if I walk 5 miles in a day i count it as a workout. But since we're talking minutes here, I think it's fair if it's in lieu of taking public or other transit not powered by yourself you should count it. Since we're going to be mincing minutes, I think if you get off a stop early from the bus/subway you should be able to count that too. But grocery shopping or making a special trip to the corner post box to mail your taxes -- no.
Hmm.. corrected the typo! I think if you have the option to take the stairs instead of elevator, that should count too, but not if your only option is to take the stairs (my only option is to take the stairs, so I'm not counting it). Sadly, exercise is such a luxury for so many time-squeezed people that the little things should totally count, sometimes it's the only exercise you can fit into a busy day.
Submitted by spindig on 04.15.10 at 11:38.
Moniq68 - I think we're good to go w/ all the exercise you mention. It's all good. All that feral monkeying around was an aberration.
Submitted by spindig on 04.14.10 at 11:03.
I am not suggesting that anyone substitute a 10-minute walk for a rigorous 60-minute workout, but if every ten minutes dedicated to exercising counts, and walking itself counts, then I see no reason not to count folks' commutes. Sass, of course we should all be challenging ourselves, but not every minute of the million is going to be a heart-exploding sweat fest.
Submitted by prairieportia on 04.15.10 at 10:56.
I am not suggesting that people substitute a 10-minute walk for a 60- or 90-minute workout, but since every little bit of exercise counts, and since walking itself counts, I see no reason that folks' walks to work shouldn't count (for me, this means walking with purpose, not eating at the same time, not stopping along the way for errands, but everyone will have their own standards). I believe the very essence of the challenge is seeing how lots of little pieces add up to one awesome sum. We saw from the Feralicious that even knocking out a dozen push-ups in your office whenever you get the chance can really make a difference.
Sass, of course everyone should challenge him or herself, but not every one of the million minutes is going to be a heart-pounding sweat fest.
Submitted by prairieportia on 04.15.10 at 11:12.
Perhaps the walking should be considered by speed more than time or distance? If you walk quickly, with purpose as prairieportia says, then it should count. If I'm window shopping, or delaying the trip back to work, then it isn't a great amount of physical activity.
But walk wise - if you do 20 squats, it takes 5 minutes, do you count it? probably the same amount of exercise.
Submitted by sandyliz on 04.15.10 at 11:48.
This is my theory for where to draw the line for a walking commute: I normally walk to work, and it takes around 35-40 minutes. BUT, if I push the pace, I can make it in 30 minutes. That 30 minutes puts me at a 3.5 mph pace, stretches my legs, gets my heart rate up, has me passing everyone on the sidewalk, and energizes me for the day. So I'm thinking I'll count the commute minutes, but only if I manage it in 30 minutes or less. Thoughts?
Submitted by lizh on 04.15.10 at 12:48.