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FFYFC Round 2 Week 3
Week 2 is done and here comes week 3! Check in or kvetch about it over in challenge central. The link to the forum angie created is posted in challenge central too.
FFYFC Round 2 Week 2
Congrats on making it thru week 1, week 2 is going on and you can check in or kvetch about it over in challenge central.
Challenge Central
As promised the FFYFC is back!
While it won't be pinned at the top or maintained on a weekly basis, there will be a standing post for anyone playing in Round II. It starts today, 4/9 and ends on 6/17. In this post you can find the downloads, logos for your site and links to the FAQs and later this week a link to a forum for the group.
In this round, the challenge is self paced. Following the weekly guide you downloaded, you can use this post to log miles/minutes done each week. Consider this an open thread for all things Round II.
| Program Downloads | |
| Beginner |   |
| Intermediate |
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| Advanced | |
Welcome to Round 2, 4/9 - 6/17 - Use this post to sign up, check in or kvetch 
R1 Wrap Up
You made it, congrats to the Round 1 Grads!
Use this post for any final checking in you'd like to do. Consider this week a rest week and if you'll be doing round 2, decide which program you'll follow. Have you been lurking all this time and want in? Print out the program you plan to do and get ready to start walking next week. Round 2 starts on 4/9.
Let's see how you've improved:
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Round 1 peeps, I hope your weight loss went well and your stamina improved. Move up a level if you feel ready or do another round in your current level.
FFYFC Week 10
I'm so proud of you all. You made it to week #10. Only one thing left to do, finish. 
Week 10’s goals:
Team Beginner:
This week you'll walk a total of 2 miles or 32 minutes, four days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +2 minutes
Team Intermediate:
This week you'll walk a total of 3.25 miles or 50 minutes, five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +2 minutes
Team Advanced:
This week you'll walk a total of 4 miles or 60 minutes, five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +4 minutes
*5 minute warm up & cool down not included in total walk time. Track yourself by either miles walked or minutes done.
Weight loss goal: 1lb
Tell us these five things:
1. What team you are on
2. State your walking commitment
3. Declare that you will lose 1lb this week
4. Total walks you did last week
5. lbs, if any, lost last week
********
After you've logged your goals, use this post to log your progress throughout Week 10 or you can wait till the end of the week and do it all in one swoop. It will be stay pinned at the top of the site until next Monday. Current entries appear below.
FFYFC Week 9
Two months behind us, many miles walked, the end is near. Don't look now, but you are working out 30 minutes, 3 times a week. 
Week 9’s goals:
Team Beginner:
This week you'll walk a total of 1.75 miles or 30 minutes, four days.
Increase from last week: none
Team Intermediate:
This week you'll walk a total of 3 miles or 48 minutes, five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +4 minutes
Team Advanced:
This week you'll walk a total of 3.75 miles or 56 minutes, five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +3 minutes
*5 minute warm up & cool down not included in total walk time. Track yourself by either miles walked or minutes done.
Weight loss goal: 1lb
Tell us these five things:
1. What team you are on
2. State your walking commitment
3. Declare that you will lose 1lb this week
4. Total walks you did last week
5. lbs, if any, lost last week
********
After you've logged your goals, use this post to log your progress throughout Week 7 or you can wait till the end of the week and do it all in one swoop. It will be stay pinned at the top of the site until next Monday. Current entries appear below.
FFYFC Week 8
Feet don't fail us now, we are walking into month #2. Who knew? 
Week 8’s goals:
Team Beginner:
This week you'll walk a total of 1.75 miles or 30 minutes, four days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +5 minutes, +1 more day
Team Intermediate:
This week you'll walk a total of 2.75 miles or 44 minutes, five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +2 minutes, +1 more day
Team Advanced:
This week you'll walk a total of 3.5 miles or 53 minutes, five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +2 minutes, +1 more day
*5 minute warm up & cool down not included in total walk time. Track yourself by either miles walked or minutes done.
Weight loss goal: 1lb
Tell us these five things:
1. What team you are on
2. State your walking commitment
3. Declare that you will lose 1lb this week
4. Total walks you did last week
5. lbs, if any, lost last week
********
After you've logged your goals, use this post to log your progress throughout Week 8 or you can wait till the end of the week and do it all in one swoop. It will be stay pinned at the top of the site until next Sunday. Current entries appear below.
FFYFC Week 7
Lucky us, here comes week 7. 
Starting this week, the weekly post will include both the goals for the week and stay pinned at the top for checking in.
Week 7’s goals:
Team Beginner:
This week you'll walk a total of 1.5 miles or 25 minutes, three - four days.
Increase from last week: none
Team Intermediate:
This week you'll walk a total of 2.5 miles or 42 minutes, four - five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +4 minutes
Team Advanced:
This week you'll walk a total of 3.25 miles or 51 minutes, four - five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles
*5 minute warm up & cool down not included in total walk time. Track yourself by either miles walked or minutes done.
Weight loss goal: 1lb
Tell us these five things:
1. What team you are on
2. State your walking commitment
3. Declare that you will lose 1lb this week
4. Total walks you did last week
5. lbs, if any, lost last week
********
After you've logged your goals, use this post to log your progress throughout Week 7 or you can wait till the end of the week and do it all in one swoop. It will be stay pinned at the top of the site until next Monday. Current entries appear below.
W6 Check In
Use this post to log your progress throughout Week 6 or you can wait till the end of the week and do it all in one swoop. It will be stay pinned at the top of the site until next Monday. Current entries appear below. If you'd like to join the challenge, please read the FAQs first.
Now that the challengers and check-ins are hovering in the single digits, starting next week I'll do a combo post, combining the current weeks check-in with the goals for the week.
FFYFC Week 6
February flew by didn't it? We've crossed the 1/2 way point. Nice job folks.
Week 6’s goals:
Team Beginner:
This week you'll walk a total of 1.5 miles or 25 minutes, two - four days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles
Team Intermediate:
This week you'll walk a total of 2.25 miles or 38 minutes, four - five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +2 minutes
Team Advanced:
This week you'll walk a total of 3 miles or 51 minutes, four - five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +4 minutes
*5 minute warm up & cool down not included in total walk time. Track yourself by either miles walked or minutes done.
Weight loss goal: 1lb
Tell us these five things:
1. What team you are on
2. State your walking commitment
3. Declare that you will lose 1lb this week
4. Total walks you did last week
5. lbs, if any, lost last week
Week 6’s check in post will be up by Monday night.
W5 Check In
Use this post to log your progress throughout Week 5 or you can wait till the end of the week and do it all in one swoop. It will be stay pinned at the top of the site until next Monday. Current entries appear below. If you'd like to join the challenge, please read the FAQs first.
FFYFC Week 5
Huzzah Huzzah! We've been at this for a month. Way to go! 
Week 5’s goals:
Team Beginner:
This week you'll walk a total of 1.5 miles or 25 minutes, three - four days.
Increase from last week: none
Team Intermediate:
This week you'll walk a total of 2 miles or 36 minutes, four - five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +4 minutes
Team Advanced:
This week you'll walk a total of 2.75 miles or 47 minutes, four - five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +4 minutes
*5 minute warm up & cool down not included in total walk time. Track yourself by either miles walked or minutes done.
Tell us these five things:
1. What team you are on
2. State your walking commitment
3. Declare that you will lose 1lb this week
4. Total walks you did last week
5. lbs, if any, lost last week
Week 5’s check in post will be up by Monday night.
W4 Check In
Use this post to log your progress throughout Week 4 or you can wait till the end of the week and do it all in one swoop. It will be stay pinned at the top of the site until next Monday. Current entries appear below. If you'd like to join the challenge, please read the FAQs first.
FFYFC Week 4
Now that we are in the habit zone, let's make this week count.
Week 4’s goals:
Team Beginner:
This week you'll walk a total of 1.25 miles or 25 minutes, three - four days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +5 minutes, optionally add 1 more walk time
Team Intermediate:
This week you'll walk a total of 1.75 miles or 32 minutes, four - five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +2 minutes, optionally add 1 more day
Team Advanced:
This week you'll walk a total of 2.5 miles or 43 minutes, four - five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +4 minutes, optionally add 1 more day
*5 minute warm up & cool down not included in total walk time. Track yourself by either miles walked or minutes done.
Weight loss goal: 1lb
Tell us these five things:
1. What team you are on
2. State your walking commitment
3. Declare that you will lose 1lb this week
4. Total walks you did last week
5. lbs, if any, lost last week
Week 4's check in post will be up by Monday night. For the sake of a fairly large group, all 5 questions are posted for the duration of the challenge.
Please use this post to primarily reply to the 5 Questions, use n/a for anything that doesn't apply. New to the site? Want to join? Check out the FAQs first and if you are still interested, check in here.
W3 Check In
I'm posting this entry early today because I'm going to be offline the rest of this week. Week 4's kick off post will be up on Sunday at it’s regular time, around 8am and I'll continue the special series of posts for Heart Month on Monday. You can still check in for week #2.
So many people had a great week 2, but I have to give a shout out to Kirsten for her personal best: running 21 minutes without needing a break and to Shevvi who said, “Winter came back to MN, but if I hadn't been part of this challenge I bet I would have got in 0 walks.” despite the fact that she clocked in 3 walks!
Both you ladies ROCK!
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Use this post to log your progress throughout Week 3 or you can wait till the end of the week and do it all in one swoop. It will be stay pinned at the top of the site until next Monday. Current entries appear below. If you'd like to join the challenge, please read the FAQs first.
FFYFC Week 3
Finish this week and you'll be entering the 21 days to make a habit zone. 
Week 3’s goals:
Team Beginner:
This week you'll walk a total of 1 mile or 20 minutes, three days.
Increase from last week: none
Team Intermediate:
This week you'll walk a total of 1.5 miles or 30 minutes, four days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +5 minutes
Team Advanced:
This week you'll walk a total of 2.25 miles or 39 minutes, four days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +4 minutes
*5 minute warm up & cool down not included in total walk time. Track yourself by either miles walked or minutes done.
Weight loss goal: 1lb
Tell us these five things:
1. What team you are on
2. State your walking commitment
3. Declare that you will lose 1lb this week
4. Total walks you did last week
5. lbs, if any, lost last week
Week 3's check in post will be up by Monday night. For the sake of a fairly large group, all 5 questions are posted for the duration of the challenge.
Please use this post to primarily reply to the 5 Questions, use n/a for anything that doesn't apply. New to the site? Want to join? Check out the FAQs first and if you are still interested, check in here.
W2 Check In
Use this post to log your progress throughout Week 2 or you can wait till the end of the week and do it all in one swoop. It will be stay pinned at the top of the site until next Monday. Current entries appear below. If you'd like to join the challenge, please read the FAQs first.
FFYFC Week 2
Yay! You stuck with this through the first week and came back for more 
. You asked for it, here ya go...
Week 2’s goals:
Team Beginner:
This week you'll walk 1 mile or 20 minutes, three days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +5 minutes
Team Intermediate:
This week you'll walk a total of 1.25 miles or 25 minutes, three - four days.
Increase from last week: optionally add 1 more day
Team Advanced:
This week you'll walk a total of 2 miles or 35 minutes, four days.
Increase from last week: none
*5 minute warm up & cool down not included in total walk time. Track yourself by either miles walked or minutes done.
Weight loss goal: 1lb
Tell us these five things:
1. What team you are on
2. State your walking commitment
3. Declare that you will lose 1lb this week (humor me)
4. Total walks you did last week
5. lbs, if any, lost last week
Week 2's check in post will be up by Monday night. I know you said your team last week, but for the sake of a fairly large group, it's just an easy way to keep track of who's doing what and if another team member needs to find a buddy in later weeks, they know who to turn too. So you’ll see that question, and the other 4 for that matter, for the duration of the challenge.
Please use this post to primarily reply to the 5 Questions, use n/a for anything that doesn't apply. New to the site? Want to join? Check out the FAQs first and if you are still interested, check in here.
Challenge FAQs
These are some of the more commonly asked questions I’ve answered about the challenge. If your particular question/concern isn’t listed, leave it in the comments.
What is this challenge about? Why did it start?
What do the levels look like?
How do I get signed up? How does this work?
I forgot to check in or I missed a walk or I didn't lose weight or I missed a week. Will you be mad?
You guys are in week XX, I just found this site. Is it too late for me to join?
I hate walking, do I have to walk?
Do I need a blog, be on the FitRoll, WebRing or listed in the directory to participate?
Should I check with a doctor before I start this or any other exercise program?
Do I have to reveal my weight?
What's the real point of this?
What do I win?
When does it start/end?
Who are you?
Are you a doctor or trainer?
Can you give me specific exercise advice?
Why are you doing this?
What is this challenge about? Why did it start?
After seeing and participating in many one-shot challenges, I decided to start an ongoing one called The Fat Fighters Yearlong Fitness Challenge, FFYFC for short. It runs every 10 weeks and there are 3 levels, beginner, intermediate and advanced.
Roughly 5 challenges will go on this year. Conceivably you can start round 1 as a walker in the beginner program and by round 5 be a walker in the advanced program. Or start round 1 walking in the beginner program and by the end of the year, still working the beginner program but as a runner. It's very flexible.
What do the levels look like?
Read this post for specifics about the challenge and also to see what the levels look like.
How do I get signed up? How does this work?
For the purpose of the challenge, the week starts on Sunday. An entry listing the goals for week will be posted. If you wish, use that entry to check in by telling us what team you are on, beginner, advanced or intermediate. And as a bit of mental exercise, restate (commit) to how many walks you plan to do and that you will lose 1lb that week.
On Monday evening a check in entry will go up and stays at the top of the home page for the entire week. Use that entry to check in when you finished a walk or wait until Saturday to list all your walks in one shot.
I forgot to check in or I missed a walk or I didn't lose weight or I missed a week. Will you be mad?
Um. No. Life happens, It's why this challenge is yearlong. Don't worry about it. As for me being mad, we are all adults, I'm not going to chase anyone down for their stats or demand they check in. It's all optional. That being said, don’t avoid the place if you fell off track, though I understand why you may want to. Contact me offline, and I’ll try to motivate you back on track.
If you feel you have missed too much time and are wondering if you should scrap it all and wait till round 2, my advice would be to keep on going on. Go back to week 1 or 2 of your particular program and do that till the end. Don't let the habit you worked on building go to waste.
When the next round starts, you can synch back up with the group. Say we are in week 6, just keep doing week 1 or 2 for the remaining time of the current round. Something is way better than nothing.
You guys are in week XX and I just found this site. Is it too late for me to join?
Not necessarily. Look over the programs. Either join us in our current week or start with week 1 and follow along until we start the next round. This way you are still working out.
I hate walking, do I have to walk?
No. Some people are running, another will use an elliptical machine. Walking was just the safest exercise for a broad group of people to do. You can modify the exercise to do anything you see fit, swimming, biking, roller blading. The idea is to follow along week by week, if there are 3 walks for 15 minutes, ride your bike 3 times for 15 minutes, if you can.
Use the programs as guidelines. Notice how they increase a small bit each week and tailor those increases to your exercise program of choice. All the walking levels increase a ¼ mile/5 minutes every week or two.
That may be too much of an increase on say an elliptical machine. Instead you can increase it by 1/8 of a mile or 1 minute. Keep it reasonable and realistic and you'll keep at it.
Do I need a blog, be on the fitroll, webring or listed in the directory to participate?
No.
Should I check with a doctor before I start this or any other exercise program?
Yes.
Do I have to reveal my weight?
No.
What's the real point of this?
The point is to get people moving and if a group setting and challenge motivates them, they are in the right place. It's not about being perfect, or trying to keep up with others. Walk whatever level you are at. Stick with it for a few rounds and over time you will improve.
What do I win?
Round 1, your health. In future rounds prizes will be given away. I haven't decided what or how just yet. Round 1 is also a trial for me running a group challenge. No guarantee it’ll be in place by then, but by round 2 I'll have a better idea of how this all plays out and how to fairly give out awards or prizes. I’m not Oprah, you won’t be getting a car 
When does it start/end?
The dates are on the left side of the home page. As well as the week we are currently in. Each round last 10 weeks, there'll be a 1 week break for all to recover and a new round will start that following week.
Who are you?
Me? Why I'm Renee.
Are you a doctor or trainer?
No on both counts. I'll never be a doctor, but I am interested and becoming a certified personal training sometime this year.
Can you give me specific exercise advice?
No and I'd rather not. For one, I'm not certified nor can I evaluate some virtually. What I can do is help you make your goals doable vs. telling you to drop and give me 20. Your major goal may be to run 5 miles a day but you don't know how to break it down so you don't get overwhelmed. I can help you strategize and build up to it over time.
The difference is, I'm not telling you to run 5 miles to lose weight as a professional or doctor would. Rather you are coming to me with your own exercise program and just need help implementing it. Think of it in the same way as how life coaches help people get their personal lives in order.
Why are you doing this?
Over the years I've always had a weight loss blog and/or participated in some sort of exercise forum. I like challenges and group participation. This is a natural combination of the things I already like to do and now that I want to be a trainer, I can practice my motivational and organizational skills, albeit virtually.
More questions? Leave them in the comments, and be sure to check the “notify me of replies” box, as I’ll reply to all questions in the comments section. I'll add them to the master list later on.
Challenge Logos
Graciously requested, so here ya go. Warning, once I got going, I just couldn’t stop. What started as an idea for a single logo morphed into many many many choices, but I'm done. I also made 2 logos for the end of the challenge, but I'll reveal them later. Go ahead and slap 'em on your site. If you need help getting it on your site, let me know, I'll walk (get it? walk! 
) you through it.
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This was my original idea. I thought it was clean, made use of the symbolic shoe and thought I was done. Until I pictured adding… |
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Dates, this way if you do more rounds, you can build on your collection. Made the Round 1 into a tiny logo on the shoe. Ok. That should take care of it. Two logos. All done. Until… |
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Why not add someone on a treadmill? Found a cute spunky
looking chick. Thought I was done. Until… |
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Why not take her off the treadmill? All done. Until... |
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I found this youthful & sassy chick rocking her headphones.
Ok, I'm done. Until… |
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Since it is a group challenge, why not show a group, walking?
Finally finished. Until… |
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One for those dragging their partners to join them in the challenge.
Ok. Until… |
 
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Speaking group, how about having a letter on the T-shirt
to represent each team? Done now? Until… |
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Simple and to the point. Please no more. Until… |
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Must represent the men. ??? Until… |
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Have to finish it up with a very determined looking walker.
All Done! |
Whew!
Now that's why you do not leave me alone with an idea and a computer 
W1 Check In
Use this post to log your progress throughout Week 1 or you can wait till the end of the week and do it all in one swoop. It will be stay pinned at the top of the site until next Monday. Current entries appear below. If you'd like to join the challenge this week, please check in here or come back on Sunday to get in early for week 2.
FFYFC Week 1
Challenge Kick off Post
I’m so happy you all have decided to join the challenge.
Rather than wait till Saturday, on Mondays I’ll pin a check in entry at the top and it will stick there till the next week starts. This way during the week, as you finish a walk you can drop your 
off. You can also use that post to gab about the challenge, post your weigh in, if your weigh in date is mid-week or whatever's on your mind.
This post is chockfull of instructions and I promise in coming weeks, it'll be more streamlined. I'll try to keep it as simple as possible so bear with me if things get revamped over time. By Round II I'll have it down pact. Now let’s walk ourselves thin!
Week 1’s goals:
Team Beginner:
This week you'll walk a total of .75 miles or 15 minutes, three days.
Team Intermediate:
This week you'll walk a total of 1.25 miles or 25 minutes, four days.
Team Advanced:
This week you'll walk a total of 2 miles or 35 minutes, four days.
*5 minute warm up & cool down not included in total walk time. Nice try Track yourself by either miles walked or minutes done.
Weight loss goal: 1lb
I know, I know, you want more, but 10 weeks = 10lbs, and do this challenge two more times, you will have lost 30lbs. Rather than aim for fast and quick, I like slow and consistent. You can still have your own personal lbs lost goal, but for the sake of the challenge, 1lb will suffice.
This is optional, but if you will, on Sundays tell us four things:
1. What team you are on
2. State your walking commitment
3. Declare that you will lose 1lb this week. (humor me.)
4. (The 4th thing will start week 2, here you’ll log if you did in fact lose 1lb or *gasp* more)
I’ll log my goals every Sunday, even if I’m the only one *sniffle* so use my comment as an example.
