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Week 2 Challenge

Physical Challenge

1pt for every 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity ( view definition )

2pts for every 30 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity ( view definition )

2pts for every 30 minutes of anaerobic activity ( view definition )

2pts for every 30 minutes of flexibility exercise ( view definition )

Nutrition Challenge

What’s dark and leafy and green? ANSWER: Dark leafy green vegetables. That is what our challenge is about this week—Veggies!!!

For every 1 Cup of vegetables you consume this week give yourself 1 point. Be sure it is a full cup. For more information use the guide below.

  • 1 cup of most raw or cooked vegetables
  • 2 medium carrots or a dozen baby carrots
  • 1 large sweet potato
  • 2 cups raw leafy green vegetables (like lettuce). Yep, when counting raw leafy green veggies, two cups only counts as one!

However because dark leafy green veggies are so good for you, we’ve decide to expand our point system. Try adding…

  • spinach
  • kale
  • mustard greens
  • bok choy
  • collard greens

As part your diet this week. Every time you consume one cup from the above list give yourself 2 points.

To Summarize
1 point for every 1 cup of vegetables that you consume. However, if you consume 1 cup of dark leafy green vegetables from the list above, you can get 2 points for every 1 cup.

Here are few Bonus Recipes to try:
http://search.myrecipes.com/search.html?Ntt=kale&type=et%3ACooking+Light%3B&x=0&y=0
http://search.myrecipes.com/search.html?Ntt=mustard+greens&x=0&y=0
http://search.myrecipes.com/search.html?Ntt=bok+choy&x=0&y=0

Moderate-intensity Aerobic Activity

Moderate-intensity aerobic activity means you're working hard enough to raise your heart rate and break a slight sweat. One way to tell is that you'll be able to talk, but not sing the words to your favorite song. Here are some examples of activities that require moderate effort:

  • Walking fast
  • Doing water aerobics
  • Riding a bike on level ground or with few hills
  • Playing doubles tennis
  • Pushing a lawn mower or shoveling snow. (NOTE: We recognize that the shoveling deep/wet snow is hard work, but we generally don’t shovel snow at a steady state (non-stop.) Because most people take frequent breaks and shoveling ½ inch of snow is different from shoveling 3 or 4 inches, we cannot give “Vigorous-intensity” points for shoveling snow.

 

ACTIVITIES THAT COUNT

NOT!

Playing with your children in the yard Playing a musical instrument
Raking leaves Dusting
Pushing a lawn mower Riding a lawn mower

View Information About the Benefits of Physical Activity

Vigorous-intensity Aerobic Activity

Vigorous-intensity aerobic activity means you're breathing hard and fast, and your heart rate has gone up quite a bit. If you're working at this level, you won't be able to say more than a few words without pausing for a breath. Here are some examples of activities that require vigorous effort:

  • Jogging or running (non-stop)
  • Swimming laps (non-stop)
  • Riding a bike fast or on hills
  • Playing singles tennis
  • Playing basketball
Anaerobic Exercises

Anaerobic exercise is short-lasting, high-intensity activity, where your body’s demand for oxygen exceeds the oxygen supply available. Anaerobic exercise relies on energy sources that are stored in the muscles and, unlike aerobic exercise, is not dependent on oxygen from (breathing) the air.
Examples: 

  • Heavy weight-lifting
  • All types of sprints (running, biking, etc.)
  • Jumping rope
  • Hill climbing
  • Interval training
  • Isometrics
  • Rapid bursts of hard exercise
Flexibility Exercises

Exercise that increase movement around a joint.
Examples:

  • Stretching before/after a workout
  • Yoga
  • Pilates