Hello everyone and welcome. The challenge is simple. Only thing required is YOU, pedometer (to track your steps) and comfortable sneakers or walking shoes.

The challenge is for 15 wks.
Begin today: March 17-July 2, 09

Week 1 Challenge: walk 1,500 steps per day, each week we will add an additional 500 steps per day and at the end of our challenge we will all be walking 10,000 steps per day, *the equivalent for most of 5 miles per day.**

Wearing a pedometer throughout your daily activities will count your steps and All Steps Count

Many of you as you participate may find yourself exceeding the weekly goal and that is fine, it is just a basis to start the walking program and persistance is key.
Log (if you keep a personal home journal) your steps taken daily and see just how many miles you have walked in this challenge for fun!
Some of you may want to make a map and as you go along, track your way around the map and see where it takes you. Whatever motivates you and keeps you moving along.....
Thanks for joining me.
Debbie

Who is with me on this challenge? All I ask is that you post a minimum once weekly and share how your doing and feeling? Up to a little challenge? Come on, give it a try.
Debbie

Oooh, Debbie, I think I will join you on this challenge if it's ok. I love my pedometer!!! I am walking currently about 3 miles everyday but I am not walking today. I have misplaced my pedometer (again) but I know my routes as I have clocked them. I am hoping to reach 199 by Summer so this will help me do more walking and hopefully get to my goal.

Hi Stacy and everyone that follows, good for you Stacy walking your walk, it is so true once we start we get to know our path and can mark our paces along our route. On mine, I know when I reach the windmill in the back of this one house I've gone 800 steps, when at the bridge I have walked 1,000 steps, and so on and so forth, so that if I don't have or misplace my pedometer I still know how far I've gone. So good of you to bring up an interesting point. So today when dear daughter gets out of school we are walking our walk and I am so looking forward to this time with her., and dear hubby says he is going to throw the bikes in the truck and perhaps they will ride while I walk. That's fine too~its a family affair and I'm lovin it!

Hi ladies, I'll join you! I just dug out my pedometer and the battery appears to be dead, but I'll get a new one soon and hopefully I'll be back to post in no time

Hey I am in. Sounds like just what I need to get the walking going again. Guess I am just a little late to find you though.
March 20th is my start date. I brought a junk perdometer last week again but I will get one tomorrow to record my steps.

Welcome Stacey, Jen and Zina and all that follow.
I have bumped up my steps this week. Last week on my walking path I got in on average 3,230 steps, just over 1 mile with my stride, and a weekly today of 9,999 steps, almost 5 mile for the week. This week I am challenging myself to 6 miles in my walking on our local walk/bike path alone.
Got on the scales and maintained but since end of last month I did my measurements and I am down 12 5/8 inches, the biggest drop in inches was in my hips (3 inches)Yippee!!! So the walking is winning my way to a new me and that is my encouragement.

I know that when the inches fall, so too will the pounds, so not letting the fact that I maintained discourage me in any way!!!

Eventually I will make it to my goal of 10,000 steps per day (or) 5 miles a day and so will you.

bbl to see how you are all doing today!
Debbie

Good Morning, Stacey, Zina, Jen and all that follow. Today is going to be 62 and we are so looking forward to going the extra distance on our walk today. Rain is in the forecast for the next few days so will change gears and do stationery bike on the rainy days.

So how is everyone feeling?
How do you measure your success? Do you rely solely on the scales? Have you thought about taking your measurements and checking them monthly?
I do. Yesterday I anticipated a big loss at the scale and only maintained. But it was time for measuring and lost 12 5/8 inches, and 3 of those was on the hips. So walking is working and I am excited. Not always can we rely on the scales so break away from being dooped and look for other ways to celebrate your progress! Just something to think about. Well I'll be back later this afternoon. Have a good day, and Step It Up!!
Debbie

I got a new battery for my pedometer this morning, so I'm officially starting right now. Count me in!

Hey Debbie, so was today (March 24) the start of Week Two, and now the goal is 2000 steps a day for this week? My pedometer says 708 steps, that's from 4-11 pm today, but I don't know whether I've calculated my stride correctly or not and I just posted a question about it on my blog.

I've thought about taking my measurements too, and I will probably start doing that once I get more settled into my diet and exercise routine.

Great progress, keep it up! I'll be stepping it up with you!