I’m so excited. I ordered some new toys and they are slowly arriving. Sold my leg press/hack squat machine and 330 lbs of Olympic plates I didn’t need anymore as a result and with the money I got, I ordered 275 lbs of solid rubber bumper plates, a new high end 6 ft Olympic bar for standing lifts, a trap/deadlift hexagonal bar and a bar jack that holds the bar off the ground for ease of putting plates on it and taking them off. Bumper plates are so cool. No clanging noise, you can drop the bar with the weights on it with no damage to the weights, floor or bar and the good ones are almost indestructible. Here’s the craziest promotional video I’ve ever seen that totally sold me on one company’s bumper plates over another’s. Scroll down to the middle of the page. You won’t believe what is done to demonstrate the durability of the plates.
Fitbit-inspired q. My goal is the 10,000 steps. But is there a specific floor count I should be aiming for? Do any of you target a certain number of floors?
I don’t have a stair goal either. But I raised my step goal to 11,000 for the winter and will increase that when spring comes. I will get lots of stairs when I’m home, but the five days a week I’m at work I jave limited opportunities for stair climbing.
I don’t target floors, but I average 50-60 a day thanks to our City on the Seven Hills. Thank goodness I only have two of them on my way to work/classes!
Mr. targets 40. I think Fitbit’s default is 10, but for me it is too easy.
I didn’t run last night, it was just too awful outside. Fortunately the snow didn’t stick around and thank goodness the wind has died down. Tonight’s run will be with the running club, so it won’t be a long one but it will be nice to get out there with the group.
BunsenBurner-I have found the same issue with Fitbit and HR. It just doesn’t seem to be able to handle rapid changes. This is really apparent when doing a circuit workout at the gym. I think their algorithm either doesn’t sample enough or does too much smoothing so that it can’t pick up the highs and the low very well. But when I do a long run, it matches the data from my Garmin chest strap almost perfectly - on those runs my heart rate is pretty smooth, gradually increasing then leveling off.
abasket - Yum! Enjoy that cake sampling!
I don’t have a target number of floors either. I think the floor data they provide is an FYI kind of thing. They don’t consider the number of floors in determining calories burned, even though the steps from climbing floors (or hills) is clearly a lot more effort than just steps on level ground. But the calories burned isn’t very exact anyway, so it’s probably not important. I will say, though, that using the combination of Fitbit and MyFitnessPal for logging food and getting credit for calories burned through steps and exercise has provided useful data for me. If I am generally leaving a couple hundred calories on the table at the end of the day then I have been able to maintain the same weight for almost 2 years. When I use all my calories, and then some occasionally - like those couple weeks at the end of December and beginning of January - then I put on a couple pounds. And when I have a week where I’m routinely not eating 400-500 of my calories (mostly extra from running or exercise) then I’ll drop a couple pounds. So while none of it is exact, I have found that it is mighty useful in keeping me on track. I like data and charts and graphs. (I’m an engineer…)
I thought of you all this morning - FB showed me some absolutely wonderful looking dessert from Prague - it’s a donut like cone for ice cream! Two of my biggest weaknesses. I think I need to find a race to run in Prague.
Yesterday spent some time in the am on the elliptical (forcing myself to cross train), pup walks and a barre class that utilizes resistance bands in the evening. Really easy to see where my weaknesses are. Spur of the moment decision has me running a ten-miler in a few weeks. Not quite sure what I was thinking other than I enjoy the camaraderie - and the breakfast that follows!
Ha - MOWC, I’m not injured but woke up feeling super sore! Was going to do a DaVinci board (resistance bands/body weight class) but decided it wasn’t worth it. Took a hot bath and feel tons better. Am going to focus on walking a lot today and then I do have Fluid Running first class tonight. I need to remember slow and steady wins the race - and the biggest gain is from controlling eating.
It’s basically just running in the water. You have a belt that tethers you so you stay in place, and you do moves akin to running, x-c skiing, etc. So it’s cardio but not stressful to joints. Fluid Running is the specific brand name at my specific town pool, but I bet there are similar concepts elsewhere.
Didn’t even come to mind that fluid = water! Let us know how you like it. I have an aversion to swimming classes. All my swimming needs to be in a pool or at a beach when the weather is sunny and 80!!!
Did the adult/kiddo swimming classes with my kids but cheered when they were old enough to not need me in the pool at lessons!!!
Two weeks in a row of a mid-week long run (which for me is 6 miles, at this point) with just a little bit of ginger candy while I’m running… and two weeks in a row of it going well and feeling pretty strong when I finished. This is a huge big deal for me, and I’m going to take myself out to Chinese food for lunch to celebrate.
On the Fitbit side, I find myself looking most at the “active minutes.” I have a goal of 12K steps and 45 active minutes every day–and yes, it’s possible to stroll slowly through the day, get the steps and not the minutes, so the incentive of the “active” part matters to me–it takes three fast walks with the dogs, even if I do nothing else.
I am now 5.6 pounds from my goal weight. Suddenly it seems like the end is in sight, after three and a half years (although it’s probably another three months). It’s going to be fun, figuring out what to eat to maintain instead of lose!
I am now 5.6 pounds from my goal weight. Suddenly it seems like the end is in sight, after three and a half years (although it’s probably another three months). It’s going to be fun, figuring out what to eat to maintain instead of lose! >>>>
MOWC - no, you are in the deep end and don’t wear water shoes. I just realized I need to get a new bathing suit since the belt you wear might run up and ruin a good suit, so going to run to Target and buy a cheap one.
Power yoga class and a 3.5 mi walk on the tread mill–it was raining this morning, so I went to my gym after yoga so I could get my steps in.
Dmd77–I have been paying attention to the active minutes on the Fitbit too. Realized that to get the active minutes, I had to walk fast with the puppy.
Congrats on the weight loss DMD! Maybe figure out a “maintenance” plan to lose that last 5.6 (very slowly) that will actually BE your “maintenance” eating/exercising pattern.
