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Comment on Discussion Thread 🍰 Tuesday 10 March 2026

I just got back from my morning stroll, the fog burned off while I was out and it very quickly went from pleasant to a bit too hot in the sun. I need a cool down break before I can tackle bringing in yesterday’s washing from the line.

I’ve been thinking overnight about how to plan and track my exercise goals, and think I’ve come up with a system that should work without triggering demand avoidance or all-or-nothing thinking that has led to failure in the past. It’s based on a system that’s been working well for me in budgeting, cleaning and gardening, areas I’ve also had similar issues keeping to a plan long term.

The basic system is to have two levels of goals, with overall success tracked weekly (well, every 8 days because that’s my work cycle, but week is easier to say!). The lowest ‘pass’ level is basically a participation trophy. It will have a steps goal each day that is fairly easily achievable, plus making an attempt at the strength training routine three times a week - but even if I just do one set and then stop it will be a pass. The higher ‘distinction’ level will be to do the strength routines fully and to reach a higher level of steps/cardio on three days.

The way I’m going to track the progress is using a program called Beeminder which tracks ongoing goals. Basically I will start with one week’s buffer, which is maintained every week I ‘pass’ or another week’s grace can be added if I get a ‘distinction’, with a maximum of two weeks buffer allowed. Which means there is a lot of room for failure as long as it is not consistent, and not too much pressure to achieve the higher level constantly - I need it to feel like an achievement I want to work towards, not something I have to achieve.

I think I’ll also do some sort of ongoing chart with stickers too, so I can see progress. Gold and silver stars each week or something like that.

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SaneMartigan@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Start any strength training light so you’re not too knackered. I’ll make going back to it much easier.

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- RustyRaven@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  That’s the plan. I’m starting with some basic bodyweight exercises just to get moving, then I’ll start to add in some weights and things over time. Although I have a lot of bodyweight, so everything I do technically involves a fairly high weight loading to start with!
  
  I’ve had a tendency to over do things when I’m starting out and then burnout and lose interest (with everything, not just exercise). I’ve learned I need to focus on success as being regularly engaged, not on any specific results. “It’s a marathon not a sprint”. Getting the pace right is the most important goal.
  
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  - SaneMartigan@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    Do you have a program? The hybrid callisthenics website has a gentle beginner body weight routine that I used for post surgery rehab.
    
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CEOofmyhouse56@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Or you could get a smart watch and it does all the tracking for you and gives you rewards. It doesn’t have to be top of the range. The basic watches do it.

My watch is what gets me motivated. It congratulates me for moving.

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- RustyRaven@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  I’ve ordered a cheap Samsung one that will track steps for me. I’ve used the trackers in the past and found the way they are programmed to give rewards and things doesn’t really work well for me, so I’m just going to use the data for my own system. Part of my neurodivergence is that most reward/punishment type systems really don’t work for me, which is unfortunate as thats what most systems and programs work on!
  
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  - CEOofmyhouse56@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    You do what works for you.
    
    I love my garmin because it counts my steps, tracks my heart rate, tells me to move when I’ve been sitting too long, tracks how many calories I’ve burnt, guesses my exercise, reps, sets, my sleep, graphs. Turns my music/ pod casts volume up/down. Intensity minutes. I love it and I wouldn’t know what to do without. And I’m absolutely shit at technology and still manage to work it out.
    
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