You do not need a Road ID to use their app. I do have one and highly recommend it. I have never used it, thank goodness. But my bil has and he says it’s invaluable.
I recently switched from the clip-on Fitbit to the HR Charge, and finding the new one not as accurate. I took a 5.5 mile walk with it the other day and it said I’d walked 3.5 miles. Today I ran the exact same route, and this time the mileage was accurate. I’m not looking for 100% precision – but being off by 30% is not good. I like the heart monitor part, because it’s so easy (no straps!), but there again, there is one cardio exercise I do where it doesn’t register my heart rate at all – very puzzling.
No formal exercise today, just lots of walking. I’m at 22K steps for the day. I’m worn out, this has been a tough week. I’m glad it’s Friday!
Welcome to the Fitbit world! I totally love mine. I think getting the Fitbit and using it along with MyFitnessPal for logging foods was a huge help and motivator when I was losing weight. Now I’m just addicted to the numbers and the graphics.
Tomorrow is a long run, I’m glad it will be a little warmer (although I have to run pretty early in the morning).
Jealous of all these warm weather vacations!
I was worried about the horrible food choices I would have on the 3 plus hour ferry from Key West to Ft. Myers tonight. No need. Turns out it is known as the Vomit Comit and we had very rough seas. I threw up for over 2 hours. They walk up and down the aisles with barf bags. I’m alive.
Oh my gosh how horrible! Sounds like they didn’t probably sell much food tonight!
Oh no! Nothing worse than being seasick. Ugh.
^^^Not fun, MOWC.
I’m staying with my D in NYC for a few days while she auditions for MFA programs. We went to a Soul Cycle class–yikes!! Spinning with weights and choreographed moves on the bike and very loud music. It was very challenging. I’m pretty sure I was the oldest person in the class. My ears are still ringing a few hours later, but I did it. D rented a cool loft on Airb&b that is up 5 flights of stairs! Walking up the stairs after the class was almost as hard as the class.
MOWC, that is no fun at all! Been there. Don’t forget to rehydrate!
Ouch, MOfWC! We have a Vomit Comet, too (aka Victoria Clipper). Not a good choice when the seas are rough. 
Ugh.
Killer workout tonight. Parallettes routine followed by 5 X 5 sets of S-L-O-W shoulder stand presses with legs up on a plyobox followed by 5 X 10 second shoulder stand holds. Finished with 4 sets of chin ups wearing a 25 lb weight vest, 3 sets of dips with the vest and 3 sets of db curls. Then had chicken caprese for dinner, yum! Finished up with ordering a complete Surdy Girls racing kit in pink and black; I’ll be so fashionable when riding with the team!
Yay to pink and black racing outfits! 
A bunch of interesting charts…
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-07/how-americans-got-so-fat-in-charts
The charts are interesting. I’ve moved away from percentages in my nutrition plan. Instead, I’ve tried to dial in the amount of calories I need each day to maintain my current weight (about 2200/day during the off cycling season, increasing to about 2400 /day during the cycling season, both taking into account that I don’t ride every day). Then I fill those calories by defining limits on gms of macro nutrients. First I add in protein at about .8-.9 gms per lb of body weight X 4 calories/gm. I do protein first because maintaining muscle tissue that gets broken down from training is a priority. Then I do carbs at 1.5 gms/ lb of body weight (which is capped there because I’m only riding 3x/wk, 2 of which are inside, which will increase to closer to 2 gms /lb on days I am riding outside during cycling season) X 4 calories per gm. I do carbs second to assure that I replenish glycogen based energy sources. Then I use healthy fats at 9 calories per gm to fill in the balance of my caloric needs. I monitor my weight weekly and make adjustments to total calories, but never going below 2130, to maintain my weight within a 1 1/2 lb range from week to week (most of which is water weight fluctuations) and will adjust carbs and fats based on variations in my energy needs. I track all of this using MyFitnessPal and food labeling. Not always precisely accurate but workable.
This type of sequenced macro level approach seems to be working well for me and my weight has been very consistent. It’s a bit complicated because of the need to determine gm levels and then do the math but is a lot more functional for me given my training levels and goals than simply counting calories or using arbitrary macro percentages. Of course, some of my friends think I’ve gone insane, lol. They’re probably right, but oh well. (If they only knew that I periodically measure my body fat % using ultrasound to validate my nutrition plan, they would have me committed ;).)
All of this is way beyond what those just interested in general health and fitness need to do. For general purposes the myplate.gov website offers a lot of good practical info and tools that are pretty easy to integrate into a daily lifestyle.
Sounds like a great racing kit, Michael!
Hello everyone! Long time no check in, as they say. My backsliding on this thread started with the holidays, and somehow the number of unread posts just seemed to get out of control. I can’t keep up with you all!
Here’s the condensed version of my doings since the last time I was here: the holidays at the beach (with a quick side trip to my father’s) were fun and fairly relaxing – although by the end of our stay I was starting to feel like I was running a B&B. Good times, good food, good wine … Not unsurprisingly I gained several pounds. Since returning to Cambridge I’ve been at the gym 5 days a week and REALLY watching what I eat. Fortunately H also needed to get on the “lose some weight” bandwagon, so that has made things easier. I’ve lost the holiday weight and am now working on the extra pounds I’ve been carrying around (and complaining about) for a couple of years. It’s been slow and difficult – clearly this gets harder as the years go by! When the scale said I could celebrate a 5 pound party, I immediately thought of idad.
In other news, H’s plan to take our wacky, carsick prone dog and drive to FL for the month of Feb is not happening. He had assumed it would be fine to stay at his B and SIL’s new house on the west coast – which it was/is, anytime, for as long as we want. BUT, they nixed bringing the dog – if they said yes to us it would mean they’d have to say yes to everyone else who wanted to bring a dog, plus there are wood floors … When H first mentioned this plan months ago, I immediately said his B & SIL may not want the dog there. H apparently thought I was being silly. So, even though H isn’t upset with his B & SIL, he is somewhat bummed. I’m actually fine with it – I had always thought a month was too long unless we had our own place. We are going to FL for 1 week at the end of Feb, though – H has trustee meetings in Cocoa Beach, and spouses are invited. Then we’re adding on a few more days.
CBB, you’ve been away but you’ve been busy and active!! Sounds like you enjoyed the holidays and got right back on the bandwagon full force - that’s admirable!
Bummer on the Florida trip. Our dog is part of the “us” package!!!
I’m impressed with the 22k steps per day C3!
Sorry to hear about the seasickness MOWC, sounds awful.
2 mile walk early this AM with my 83 y.o. Dad. Not sure of this afternoons plans, but if nothing else is going on I’ll be back out walking in the sunshine.
Took a mat class yesterday afternoon, then we all rewarded ourselves with cocktails and sushi. Fun outing! One of my favorite trainers at the gym was leading a spin class this morning, so several from my running group took that. I think Michael would have approved - nothing too crazy, just some intense riding through France. It was fun for something different!
I feel a lot better this morning and did a nice 4.2 mile run here in Ft. Myers. I took it easy. It was cool and dryer. My husband, who hardly ever gets motion sickness and didn’t actually throw up last nit on the boat, still feels a little woozy.
1.5 hours XC skiing. Then the H and I went to KFC, not sure I should put that but that’s what we did lol!
My IL’s are renting a condo in Fort Myers for the month of March. She is leaving her dog at the sitters. We will see how it goes. I think my IL’s really want to do things since they are doing so well. But I know it’s going to be hard without the dog, she’s so spoiled.
The H and I are going to spend a week with them. And even better our D is coming also. We are very excited. Any tips on what to do in Fort Myers, I would love.