WOMAN Challenge - Setting Personal Goals

Here is what others have said about the WOMAN Challenge! "With gas prices so high, my son & I bicycle or walk to run our errands. This makes a tank of gas last two weeks! Thanks for running the WOMAN challenge. It encourages me to set higher exercise goals & gets me to really stick with the program. At the same time, my 3-1/2 year-old son & I enjoy spending time together outside when we explore the area around our new home. We have discovered some cool places we may have otherwise overlooked. Saving money is a great perk as well."
Would you like to stay active all year long? Join the WOMAN Activity Tracker!
19,406 people and 1,263 teams participated in the 2008 WOMAN Challenge!
2008 Team Showcase Team Name: Mountain Climbers Number of Team Members: 11 Team Member Locations: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, West Virginia "We are a group of women from across the country that are looking to improve our lifestyles, and increase our "motion". The benefits of exercise are enormous. Most of us also have weight loss goals we are looking to acheive, so this is just a part of our journey. We met on, and participate in threads on Dottie's Weight Loss Zone, and have set up a team support thread there. Go team Mountain Climbers! We are doing great so far, ladies!"

Setting Personal Goals

As part of your participation in the WOMAN Challenge, you will be asked to set your own individualized goals. You can choose to set your goals in steps (using a pedometer or armband pedometer to measure your activity) or in time duration of physical activity (minutes). Each week, you will choose a goal for yourself to achieve daily. For example, during week 1 of the WOMAN Challenge, your goal may be to complete 7500 steps each day of that week. During week 2, you might set a goal of 50 minutes of activity each day for that week. In this way, you have the option of changing your goal (increasing or decreasing) or changing your measurement type (steps or minutes) each week of the eight-week challenge.

When setting your goals, it is important to consider your current level of physical activity, as well as any mobility impairments that you may have. It is best to set goals that challenge you physically, but are achievable and realistic for you based on your lifestyle. A goal of 10,000 steps a day or 60 minutes of moderate physical activity is the minimum amount needed to achieve an active lifestyle.

For participants with mobility impairments

There are no national guidelines regarding physical activity for people with mobility impairments. As a result, it is important to consider your current level of physical activity when deciding your goals for the WOMAN Challenge. You should assess which goal is best suited to your physical activity level and most achievable for you. Your doctor or nurse may be able to assist you in this decision. We encourage you to challenge yourself by increasing your daily physical activity each week as part of the WOMAN Challenge. (Read More)