The Walk Challenge (HiJacking The Forum)

[Alex]

I'm starting a walk challenge for my readers over at AlexShalman.com by blasting instructions through my newsletter. Since I don't have a forum section on my site, I'm going to steal these forums and invite my readers to post their daily updates here.

Note that this is just an experiment, and I'm not sure about the type of response that this is going to generate, but one thing I know is that Steve Pavlina and Alex Shalman readers are pretty much one and the same so this integration should be pretty flawless.

I'll be posting a link to the online version of my newsletter shortly, and probably just this once, because I want it to remain for subscribed readers only. Of course, anyone is welcome to sign up for free at my site, and receive free goodies in the process.

Repost: I'm posting just a small portion of my e-mail here, so that anyone can follow along and participate without being tempted to leave the safety and comfort of this forum area.

THE WALK CHALLENGE

The fact of the matter is that our discipline can be indefinitely increased. You can even think if discipline as a muscle, so while it might have a cap one day at Arnold Schwarzenegger size, we can live a really awesome life without even coming a quart of the way towards this cap.

The challenge is to both work on our health and to work on our discipline. We'll do this by simple walking 30 minutes, each and every day, with all excuses aside.

You can either wake up 30 minutes earlier, walk in the middle of the day, or walk right before bed. That's totally up to you.

Some tools that will help to keep you going after the initial motivation begins to linger are journaling and accountability.

For journaling just open up a notepad on your computer and label it down 1-30. That's easy enough to do, or you can even use a sheet of paper. All you have to do each day, right after you walked for 30 minutes is record what time you started, how your body and mind felt throughout the walk, and what you were listening to if anything.

The fun part is seeing all the days get filled up. The motivation is not leaving any blanks in your 1-30 list by not walking that day.

The other thing you can do to keep yourself on point is to have accountability. Last month I was on a mission to lose some weight, so I wrote a blog post defining how I would go about it, and wrote a weekly post in order to stay accountable in front of all my readers.

The system works.

Update: Your Free Acess Link

I just launched the newsletter, so now you can access it without signing up for anything by clicking this link.

P.S. Stay tuned for an audio interview I'm doing with Steve Pavlina next week.

[Alex]

I guess I'll be the first one to get this started.

I did end up going for a walk this morning first thing after I woke up. It was actually quite dark out, and pretty cold, so I had my hoody on in this lovely New Jersey weather.

Today I didn't listen to any music, and I was super motivated to do my walk. It was actually during this walk that I got my idea for the newsletter, and for integrating these already available forums to get more people involved.

At around the twenty minute mark I could feel my heart rate rising and my rate of breathing increase, but it wasn't anything my body couldn't handle.

Looking forward to tomorrow's walk, to see what crazy ideas I can come up with, and looking forward to reading your updates throughout this month.

[Angela]

I already walk for 60 minutes every day, so I'll hook my wagon to your star. If anyone can't walk or misses a day, I grant them credit for my extra 30 minutes.

I find creativity bubbles up during my walks, so I've started carrying a tiny little digital voice recorder that Danger Man gave me for my birthday, to catch all my ideas.

This sounds like an inspiring project, Alex, and I wish you tremendous good luck with it!

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Angela

I already walk for 60 minutes every day, so I'll hook my wagon to your star. If anyone can't walk or misses a day, I grant them credit for my extra 30 minutes.

Hahaha, thanks Angela, I like your generous spirit!

That's a great point that you make about recording ideas. I sometimes walk around with a moleskin for this very purpose. I've had great bursts of blog article brainstorming on walks. It's a lot of fun! =)

[Angela]

I tried bringing a pad and pen once, but I ended up with a bunch of scrawly shaky notes I couldn't read!

[Rose of Cairo]

I already walk for 60 minutes a day or more. I'd join you, but I hate being accountable to anybody else!

[WordKeeper]

I'm joining. I've been on the verge of getting going for some time. Just needed some folks to walk with. Thanks. Will work in the first walk early afternoon.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by WordKeeper

I'm joining. I've been on the verge of getting going for some time. Just needed some folks to walk with. Thanks. Will work in the first walk early afternoon.

That's what I like to hear! Glad to have you on board and can't wait to read your entry.

[raji]

I'll join in as well.
I am usual good with exercising regularly but have not done it every single day in a long long time.
This challenge will keep me on track. Thank for starting this Alex.

[raji]

I did a 30 min walk at lunch today. It was gorgeous outside, very warm for mid-November.

[seeker5]

I already do 30 minutes elliptical exercising most days first thing in the morning.

I prefer using a machine then actually walking around so I can close my eyes and visualize and have an amazing time.

P.S. Stay tuned for an audio interview I'm doing with Steve Pavlina next week.

Sweet, looking forward to it!

[Alex]

Originally Posted by raji

I did a 30 min walk at lunch today. It was gorgeous outside, very warm for mid-November.

Sweet, great job getting involved. Which part of the universe are you from?

Originally Posted by seeker5

I prefer using a machine then actually walking around so I can close my eyes and visualize and have an amazing time.

Wow, it looks like you're going on a trip every day huh

[raji]

I am from Colorado, US. By this time we would normally have a bunch of snow. but this year its just snowed lightly just twice so far. I am really enjoying the warm days, but not good for skiing time though. Oh well

[raji]

Got in my thirty mintues on the TreadMill last night. It snowed and was very very cold outside and if I didn't have to update this thread, I would have easily skipped yesterday

[Dev]

Hi Alex, I walk on the treadmill for 20 minutes every day except Sunday. This ritual is part of my taking action in my 'Physical' area after reading PDSP. I am on Day 12.

So I have decided to walk 10 more minutes everyday(on the streets) & for 30 mins on Sunday with the thought that Alex, Angela, Rose, Wordkeeper, seeker and raji are also walking today with me. Since I have read posts of most of you(your thoughts) in this forum, I will try & mentally connect to you while walking. I will keep you guys posted. I will start from tomorrow morning.

[Alex]

I'm going to update to days in a row. I didn't update yesterday since I had a bunch of birthday stuff to do and a big run around. Not too busy to walk though.

Day #2 I walked thirty minutes in my neighborhood while listening to Einstein. My heart rate began to raise again at a similar time. Overall it was a good walk, even though the weather was very misty.


Day #3 Got up as early as one gets up on the morning following a birthday =) Stretched, did a big lion yawn, passed out again for a little bit, and than went for a walk. I didn't have my headset with me, but it was great to visualize yesterday's date and the places where my girlfriend took me out. China Grill NYC for Dinner, and Hair Spray on Broadway.... perfect.

Thanks to everyone who is participating.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Alex

Wow, it looks like you're going on a trip every day huh

Heh yup . Today and yesterday, instead of my usual 30 minutes, I did 1 hour each as I was loving it too much and didn't have any immediate meeting/classes pending.

[raji]

Got my 30 minutes in again on the treadmill.

Happy birthday Alex.

[Alex]

I walked today in the evening, after getting back from the spa. My body was ridiculously relaxed, if you can use that term to describe a state of relaxation. The weather was real cool, and it was so refreshing to complete the whole walk.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by raji

Got my 30 minutes in again on the treadmill.

Happy birthday Alex.

Thanks Raji

[raji]

I went for a walk for about 40 minutes with kids, it was lovely, the weather was perfect and the baby stayed in the stroller for the whole time and I had a nice chat with my son. I even got a complement from my son that I am fun to talk to , so yeeeeyyyy!!!

[Alex]

It's actually nice out today. Nice and cold

No audio today, just walking with myself and pondering about life. Nice brisk pace. Thinking about how I'll be waking up 4:30am tomorrow to eat and get to 6:00am spin class.

[Dev]

Originally Posted by raji

I went for a walk for about 40 minutes with kids, it was lovely, the weather was perfect and the baby stayed in the stroller for the whole time and I had a nice chat with my son. I even got a complement from my son that I am fun to talk to , so yeeeeyyyy!!!

It would have been a really wonderful experience. Try to have more of such outings.

[raji]

Did my half hour Gazelle walking just before going to bed. It was a nice change of pace and was able to finish it easily.

@Dev, I love such walks outside with the kids. They are completely relaxing and wonderful. We do it 3-4 days a week during summer, but in winter not so much. Depends on the weather.

[raji]

Did my walk a lot earlier than usual today. Went with a friend at work for about 45 minutes. Can't believe its already Day 6!!!!

[Alex]

Really enjoying the cold now that I'm totally bundled up. Once again I brought Einstein along with me and the audio tape is getting very interesting. Physically it's pretty easy, so I just up the pace to get the heart rate up.

[raji]

Did my 30 min on treadmill just before going to bed. Yesterday was one of those crazy days where every sec of my day was occupied and hurried. Finally got a chance after 10:30 last night

[Alex]

I got my walk in before going to bed last night. I was too excited to go to sleep after having podcast interviews with Steve Pavlina and John chow for my podcast show (which will be up soon btw, so subscribe )

[Alex]

Walked again, this time without headphones. This was a really great walk because I had a lot of good things to think about.

Got my first dental school interview AND the birth of another baby niece!

[raji]

Got mine in again just before bed. On the treadmill. Watched a bit of 'The Truman Show' movie while doing that. I like that movie.

Congratulations on your niece Alex.