Going Nowhere -- chasing fitness one step at a time

Proudly committed to proving in 2005 that some people never learn from their mistakes.

Going Nowhere is all about those imaginary treks we take on the road to fitness.

Many of us hop on contraptions such as rowing machines, stationary bicycles, treadmills, stepping machines or elliptical machines that tell us we've travelled considerable distances even though technically we haven't budged an inch.

This is a place to record those treks and encourage each other on what can sometimes be a frustrating experience.

Having lived in the northern wilds of Alaska the majority of her life where life requires resourcefulness and the gait of a mountain goat, Angie has spent her last year climbing up many hills and valleys of her great home state. "Have mountain, will climb" could aptly describe her mantra. Angie spends the majority of her time outdoors as a way to get into shape. Her own personal goal for the year includes traversing distant lands and accumulating feet-miles to the tune of 800.

To date, she has logged a little over 19 miles to her name.

Barbara is a glutton for Marn punishment - didn't quite make the goal for 2004, although it was close, very close. And, hey!!! It was a lot more than I had done in 2003, you see. So, my goal for 2005 - 750 miles! We'll see how far that gets me. Off we go into 2005!

Miles as of August 21st: 786.47 walking miles Half way smooch blue ribbon
WOOT!!
PLUS 1576.98 biking miles 10% there biker 20% there biker 30% there biker 40% there biker 60% there biker 70% there biker 80% there biker 90% there biker
PLUS . . . 13 times for biking overages. Yay!
loss of 44 pounds since Jan. 7th when I began The Lord's Table Bible Study!
Watch me as I continue to Come to Size
(updated October 1, 2005)

Bethy (formerly Bones) I've dragged my son into being my fitness buddy (the unexhaustable 10 year old that he is). He rides his bike and I on my rollerblades. Cross your fingers my poor skinned knees. goal for 2005 - 501 miles! (When I get my duckies here, I'm gonna go and go get a REAL one for my bathtub!)

Miles as of October 12th: 360!

CaptainRon is a forty something temporarily unemployed Engineering manager who's thinking he gained a bit too much weight sitting behind a desk and drinking beer watching the sun go down on his sailboat. He's headed to the Caribbean in February and the Mrs. and he are in serious diet and exercise mode. Well, as serious as he can get any way. He could use a place to keep track of the miles and doesn't bite (he promises).

So far since the New Year, he's got 15 miles in on the treadmill, all of it watching bad TV.

Carrie joined Going Nowhere with Marn and the gang in 2003. Though she started out weighing 265 pounds and barely able to walk a mile, she can now walk 4 miles with ease. In 2004, Carrie did 400 miles and lost 15 pounds. Her goal for 2005? To go 600 miles through a combination of biking and walking, and to do at least 50 hours of classes: yoga, belly dancing, anything cardio. She's going to get fit, lose weight and get healthier. Let's Go Nowhere!

as of October 13: Miles: walking: 262 biking: 108 Total miles? 370
Cardio Hours: 34 (Cardio = Belly dancing and DDR!)
Weight Lost in 2005: 25 pounds! Yea!

Milage Ducks! Half way smooch
Cardio Ducks!

Chastity's, work as a full time teacher and childcare director keep her feeling stressed and overworked, but aerobically, her body has been on a long vacation! She graduates from BBC this summer and will be walking down the aisle to receive her degree in May 2006, and would like to shed some serious weight before then!

She plans to reach her goal by way of "water walking". To be sure she succeeds, she's going to set a moderate "going nowhere" goal of 108 miles for the remainder of 2005.

as of may 1st- 3.5 miles & 14 hours of water aerobics!!!

***Dave has given into his OCD with stuff like this by wearing a pedometer everywhere. he ended up with over 500 miles last year, and he's shooting for a ~~1000~~ 1,500 this year -- along with dropping 40 lbs.

Miles to date: 1,503 as of 29 December! W007! Didn't hit the 40 lbs this year ("only" 15), but I hit the miles! Yay!

Dixie is 32 and this year is making an actual concentrated, willful effort to lose weight. She's cut her calories back to 1604/day and started walking on her treadmill five days a week.

She was in very good shape from 1994-1997 and then got lazy. Summers in Texas kill her and she gets tired of wearing jeans. She'd love to wear a summer dress. She hopes that by setting a distance goal she can push beyond the usual thirty minutes on the treadmill. She would like to walk 500 miles by December.
Miles to date: 255 as of October 11th. I've been VERY behind, had a five month low period. Joined a gym last month so hopefully my numbers will increase!

Doug is a repeat offender in the Nowhere Crew proving once again that a college degree is no guarantee of intelligence. He beat his 2004 goals by 10% by biking 3,336 miles, with one century ride and a 782 mile month. Given that he would like to stay married and see his kids occasionally, he'll keep the same goals for 2005 and try to drag them back into the saddle. As an added bonus he'll track elliptical/treadmill miles also (let's say 50 for the year). The plan....3,000 miles with 2 century rides (100 miles) and one month at 600+ miles.

As of Sept. 19th - 2267
YTD Goal - 2700
23 elliptical/treadmill miles.
Way behind last year and this year's YTD goal miles. I'm still hopeful I'll make 3,000, but it'll be tough. 10% there biker

Elaine was part of the 2003 posse, but health problems sidelined her in 2004. This year she's ready to hop back into the saddle again.

I don't yet have my weekly numbers where I need them to be, but am still keeping at it.

Miles as of Mar 1: 50.76 duckage

Fat-to-Thin is a 24 year old library assistant at a large university. She lives happily in Georgia with her brand-new husband and two cats. She is a faithful member of Curves, but has always lamented its lack of any sort of walking device. However, her new apartment complex has its own gym complete with treadmill and elliptical machine, and she's ready to go! Her goal is 500 miles for 2005 in addition to Curves three times a week. She plans to log most of her miles on the treadmill while watching her hubby sweat it out with the weights. Ahhh, scenery.

Miles since March 3:
Curves visits since March 3:

Holly is new to Going Nowhere this year. She's been on the weight loss track for over 2 years, and after enduring a knee surgery last year, this year she's trying to get moving. Her preferred method of travel is her gym's treadmill, and ultimately, she hopes to run in a 3k in the spring and a 10k later this year. She occasionally rides the exercise bike if the 'ol knee starts acting up. Her goal is the standard 500 miles... will she make it?

Miles as of june 30th: 287.40

Last year Ileana lost 55 lbs. She feels incredible and would like to keep that feeling. She hopes that being on this "Going Nowhere and Proud of It" track will keep her motivated. And so with the Elliptical Machine, Treadmill, and Bike she would like to make her goal 2,000 miles.

6.7 Miles In March 2,2005 "second day of spring":

9 miles on Friday 5th, 2005

Jane's a 20ish newly wed living in Idaho. Being a full time student, a 'housewife', a part time "burger girl", madly obsessed with crochet, and taking care of her "babies" keep her quite busy.Nearly married a year, and already has gained a few pounds so she would like to firm up before she trys to concieve in october. She'd really like to tone up for summer as this may be be her very last summer baby-free and would like to enjoy it in style. She works out alongside her handsome hubby Justin, doing crunches nightly before couple prayer and scripture study. She would like to be very fit and healthy from now on so that when she does have babys She wont top 200 w/the baby weight!

She hopes to top 500 miles and earn a ducky or two.(she LOVES rubber duckys!) Miles as of Jun. 03: only 106

Janie is a stay at home mom to 5 kids. She is turning 30 this December and wants to be in shape for the first time in her life. After finding out that just climbing a hill to go tubing left her winded, she knew it was time to get serious and get her sorry butt into shape.

She purchased a treadmill in March of this year. Her "going nowhere" goal is 300 miles. Miles as of October 3: 150

Jenny Lynn posts on diaryland as Thinartist not so much because she is thin but because she is an artist who wants to be thin. She sees herself as a long distance kind of gal, and with her walking companion Toby, has set a goal of 1,000 miles. Jenny Lynn says that Toby is calling her a wimp but we'll see, because she thinks he's talking a big game for such a little pup (miniature schnauzer) Riding the stationary bike is a forgotten event. How can one focus on biking when one's 7 month puppy is attacking everything, eh? On the upside, walking helps curb his desire to destroy... a little.

Miles to date (5-4-05): 160 miles mostly with toby

Jessica is new to the Going Nowhere crew. She decided after putting hours in the gym she might as well track how far she actually goes! Her Goals are to go 300 miles (Bike and Walk/Run) by her b-day (May 10) and see what she can accomplish from there!

Miles to Date: 25.

Liz, a 45-year-old mother of three, has been working out regularly most of her life, but has slipped a little the past year and is looking for inspiration. She wants to step things up as well because she wants to lose the weight she's still carrying from the last pregnancy. The "baby" is now seven so this is not funny. She has started a fitness journal to help her keep track of her progress and keep her inspired. Goal for 2005: 500 miles. Hopefully more so she can get the roadrunner.

Miles as of November 8: 434.38 10% ducky Halfway there and crowing about it!

Loving 30 in the last year started a journey to be the healthiest she can be. This includes staying active and making healthy choices around her diet. Never a yo-yo dieter, lifestyle changes over the years mean she has gone up and down 20 or so pounds.

She wants to cut her wardrobe down so that she has only one size of clothing. Since October last year she lost and kept off 15 lbs, loves her current clothes and has given away the bigger ones. She hopes to reach 500 miles by the end of the year, walking/running indoors for now, eventually moving outdoors as spring comes around. Miles as of August 1 - 275

M.R. spends many of her miles on the street walking nowhere in particular and some of them canoeing to the next takeout. Other mindless movement includes walk aerobics, a Nordic Track ski machine or her brand new rowing machine. Her current goal is 1000 miles. Since M.R. is even older than Marn(!!), this will be one heel of an accomplishment.
As of 12/19/05 -- 1051 miles. Road Runner! 500 mile smooch

Marilynn spent much of last year trying to get into a good exercise routine, but was sidelined by back pain and surgery late in the year. She's trying to come back from it still and although she doesn't feel 100%, she's ready to climb back on the recumbent bike and possibly soon the dreadmill.

She's committing to 500 miles right now but hopes to surpass it by bunches and bunches! Miles as of Jan. 14:20

Marlen successfully gave birth to a baby boy in July '04, but did not even come close to her goal or losing the weight she wanted to last year. So she is back with determination and a goal of more than 250 miles, but no more than 500.

Miles as of 3/31/05: 38. I got my first duck!!

As she enters year three of this project Marn is living proof that as you age your short term memory disintegrates. That's the only rational explanation for putting her body through yet another year of constant sweating and heavy breathing that does not involve the spousal unit and a comfortable surface.

Goal this year: 1,250 miles. I know. This is madness. But the fact is, eight miles can be covered in half an hour on a modern exercise bike. Half an hour is the minimum workout to get cardio benefit. And thus, with tears in her eyes, Marn has upped her ante to reflect new improved ways of going nowhere.

Miles as of Nov. 14: 1252.16 blue ribbon . Done. Now I get a crack at some Road Runners! Wheeeeeee!

At age 53 Marne is returning to school to become an RN. She hopes to master the compassion Marn observed during her recent visit to the hospital.

Recovering from lobar pneumonia means January has been pretty sedentary--a 20 minute walk initiated a two hour nap to recover. But now Marne feels better and with school comes a free, well equipped exercise room. 500 miles over the next 11 and ï¿½ months would be about right. Miles to date:

Mati thinks this group looks like just what she needs in 2005 for motivation. She is 48, married, and no matter what goes askew in her life, she exercises. She says, "IMHO there's not much a good walk/run won't make better." She owns a manufacturing business with her brother, and she has way more hobbies and interests than time, but she is making the commitment to log miles with the Posse this year.

Miles to date: 195.18 as of 02/28/05.

Meg walked 400 miles in 2004, and is shooting for 500 in 2005. She's going to eat right, and get out there and walk (and use the treadmill, elliptical machine and very rarely, the stationary bike)!
Mileage so far, as of 12/26/05: 500.5 Half way there! ~ 250 MILES! I DID IT! 500 MILES!!!

Nicole is back again after a tumultuous 2004 (and less than 200 miles - yikes!). Things started to settle down a bit, and she had every intention of really kicking it into gear with walking and running and some bike rides added in for good measure. What do they same about good intentions...? Now settling down from yet another move, she is woefully not even halfway to her 500 mile goal, but she is looking to rack up as many miles as she can before the end of the year.

As of 12/15/05: 208 miles (41.6% of goal).

OnePotater has decided that the words "fifty" and "fit" aren't mutually exclusive. She doesn't want to have something as simple as a walk to the store leaving her huffing and puffing. With headphones pumping high energy music, she's sallied forth on both treadmill and recumbent bicycle towards a goal of five hundred miles for this year alone. Like Zoethe, she's experiencing the added benefit of dropping some weight while she gets fit. Pounds lost so far = 42
Miles logged since 18 July:
Treadmill: 262
Exercise Bike: 588
Total: 850

Last updated: 29 December 2005
blue ribbon

Peg started her weight-loss/fitness program in 2003, losing 67 pounds the first year. Last year she didn't so well, gaining back about 15 pounds. 2005 is going to be her year. She hopes to lose 5 pounds a month this year with the help of her trusty recumbent bike.

Her distance goal was to ride 500 miles by her birthday, May 13 (oops!) and 1100 by December 31. As of September 9, Peg's ridden 478.68 miles and lost 3 pounds (since January 3).

Pischina tends to take on too much and try to do it all better than anyone. Last year, after deciding she could work full time, go to school full time AND raise two teenagers all by herself, she found out she can indeed do those three things successfully but there was not one minute left to exercise - or clean house or take care of the yard. She did not get to her goal of 500 miles last year AND she gained five pounds.
This year she is determined to somehow add 20-30 minutes of exercise to her schedule. She will possibly add cleaning house to her schedule next year.
Update: Pischina has been a slacker. Too much school and too many family disasters prevented the accomplishment of 500 miles AGAIN (but not the gaining of 15 pounds). However, as of December, school is out and the school load will not be as high. She has joined the YMCA again and is logging miles quickly. 2006 will be the year she finally hits her goal! Miles as of December 18: 75

Rae Lee joined the Going Nowhere gang this year with the goals of 400 miles, 100 weightlifting sessions, and 100 exercise class hours. She just turned 30 this year and has promised herself that she'll quit smoking and lose 20 pounds. She's excited to be part of the posse, even though it means having the Talking Heads song Road to Nowhere on a continuous loop in her head all year long (which has now been replaced with that Walk Five Hundred Miles song - grrr).

Miles as of July 6: 132.25

Weightlifting sessions as of July 6: 26

Class hours as of July 6: 28

Renee is new to the 500 crew. After having an unsuccessful 2004 in terms of weight loss, she gained TONS of knowledge. Her goal is to lose 50 by going for 5(hundred) in 05. Her machines of choice will be treadmill and stationary bike. Weekly progress journal.

500 mile goal completed on 5/15/05 blue ribbon

Since completing 500 miles before the first 1/2 of the year, Renee's new goal is to run/walk another 750 miles by 12/31/05. Renee is pretty sure she can clock another 500 miles in the same time frame, those extra 250 are to compensate for holiday season eating. Wish her luck!

New goal 750 miles. Miles as of 7/24/05: 98.61 (updated on Sundays)

Restlessly is only 25, but sometimes she feels like others think she's 40. Or something. She's struggled with obesity for her whole life - and she's sick of it. Even if she never loses another kilo in her life (God Forbid), she wants to be FIT. With her new pedometer, she aims to walk 500 miles by 31st December 2005.

As of 31 Jan: 35km = almost 21 miles. Must push myself harder!

In 2004, Rune completed 534 miles. She is so proud of herself, and she enjoyed it so much, that she intends to do it all again. This year she has additional incentive to tally the miles. In August 2004 Rune moved to Silicon Valley, California, from Austin, Texas. She has found the climate much to her liking, and the fact that lovely places to hike await within an hour's drive (or less) makes her giddy. This is a land where a person wants to go outside! For hours! Every day! Rune will earn her blisters by taking short strolls in her neighborhood, biking to complete errands, and traipsing along beaches, across fields, and through forests. Go 2005!

Miles as of Feb. 7: 26.84

Sallydallydo is an about-to-be 37-year-old mother of two who has vanished somewhere under the padded armor of motherdom. Thanks to a free treadmill and a larger house in which to put it, she is ready to hatch. Given enough MacGyver reruns, she thinks she could log 500 miles on the treadmill this year.

Her doctor's recent admonition to drop 10 lbs by July and the fact that she's headed for diabetesville hasn't been enough to get her going. The skinny mini moms in her new neighborhood are. Chalk one up to petty jealousies. Plus, she likes the duck. Miles as of Feb. 24:

Sarah Sundae is 29, works full time for a medical company and has lost over 130 pounds since 2001. She went from being a couch potato to a 5 mile a day runner and avid weight lifter.

But 2005 has bee a bit of a slump and she needs to turn that around-especially with her 5 year wedding anniversary in September and 30th birthday coming up in November.

Miles as of June 15th: 74.65

Two years ago, Sharon was healed from Chronic fatigue syndrome. It was so INDESCRIBABLE to have her body back, but she had to start slow - so she started walking --- to her mailbox!

Now she regularly walks 2 miles a day, 5 days a week (either indoors or out), and recently made the two miles in under 20 minutes. It isn't always easy - even though she still has a new found appreciation for her health - and she hopes being part of the posse will help her over the rough spots. Miles as of Jan. 31:

Yvonne is a former certified personal trainer temporarily sidelined by fibromyalgia/myofascial pain syndromes. In the last eight years of being ill, combined with medications to slow her muscle spasms, she gained sixty pounds and lost much of her healthy muscle mass. Having always believed in the essential link between mind, body, soul, and good health, she finally properly prioritized last year and spent nine months in therapy. The result is a new perspective and confidence which allows her to now concentrate on her physical body with a peace of mind she'd never experienced. She has determined that her forties decade is going to be her best. She has weaned herself off the medications the doctors haphazardly prescribed which allowed some weight loss and has begun a wellness program. New Goal for 2005: 1,000 miles.

Miles as of August 31: 1,210.97 miles
Half way smooch blue ribbon

Zoethe is new to the Going Nowhere insanity. She is 47 years old, a full-time paralegal and a fulltime law student (only 9 credit hours this semester). That schedule has made exercise difficult and nervous eating easy, so she packed on the pounds in the first couple years of law school. This is the year that she's working to get back in shape. Her "weapon of choice" for putting in the miles is a treadmill on the weekends and a NordicTrack ski machine on weekdays, which has the added bonus of a book stand - with her schedule, working out is the only time for pleasure reading she has. Her original goal for the year was 500 miles. Now she's changed that to ~~500~~ 1000 biking miles and 500 non-biking miles. Why? Because she's crazy! But as an added benefit, she has lost 81 pounds since the first of the year.

Miles as of December 30:
795 non-biking miles Half way smooch blue ribbon
1,255 biking miles

Over 2,000 miles for the year! Woohoo!!!