Thanks @MomofWildChild. Anyone have a good suggestion for one that does track stairs, along with regular steps, that’s small and not very complicated? I don’t need a HR monitor. I tend to lean towards Garmin products, if that matters, but would consider others too.
I have the FitBit Charge HR and I like it. Keeps track of stairs climbed, plus heart rate. The HR might not be totally accurate, but I like seeing what my resting heart rate is each day. It does go down as I exercise more, so that makes sense. I also log my weight and see how much sleep I’m getting (usually not enough!). I wear it all of the time, except when I’m showering or charging it. It doesn’t take long to charge, and it doesn’t need charging often.
MoWC is one of my “friends” on FitBit. I can’t keep up with her number of steps, but I’m not doing too badly. My goal is at least 100,000 steps a week - a little over 14,000 each day. It takes concentration to do that! I also like being reminded to move every hour. It’s almost impossible for me to ever hit the hourly goal for an entire work day, but at least I get up more than I would have.
Right now, I’m in a competition for October to walk at least 10,000 steps a day without fail. I paid $20 upfront, as did 15 other people. If I complete the challenge, I get my $20 back plus a portion of the money forfeited by those who weren’t successful.
I like your Fitbit competition, ML. I’m sure you’ll be able to get your $20 back and then some. I wonder if everyone will be so determined to meet the goal that there is no extra money to divvy up?!
Last night’s 5K in the rain went fairly well. It was just a light rain by the time we were running, which wasn’t bad. There were some spots where the course had flooded from the earlier heavy rains, though, so it was impossible to avoid running through some fairly deep puddles. Cold wet feet are not my favorite! I’m glad it was a short 5K, though, because I think I might have ended up with blisters if I had to run many miles with those wet socks. This was the last race of a 5 race series and I placed 1st in my age group. Yay!
BB - it is awesome that you are maintaining your weight with the reduction in exercise. It really shows how disciplined you are with your food intake! With all the walking you do, as well as the exercise that you able to do, I think you are probably still more active than the average person.
sabaray - how is the taper going? And how has your ankle been feeling?
I love my Fitbit charge. It isnt complicated ( I can use it), and love tracking steps. In my case it has made me much more aware of being active and moving every day, not just on the days I run or practice yoga.
H and I walked around Hyde and Kensington parks this AM and am already over 15 k steps for the day.
Currently in the BA lounge at Heathrow drinking champagne and awaiting my flight to Nice. This is not my normal life.
Thought the folks with plantar could relate:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/kellyoakes/just-keep-stretching?utm_term=.jm5qA38Ep1#.jm5qA38Ep1
Congrats on your great racing season, @C3Baker! I keep hoping I’ll turn into you, Bunsen or MOWC one day! Sprinkle some of that fairy dust my way.
I belong to a FB group of MCM runners and it has been reassuring to read many of the posts - many people with the same complaints I have. Heavy legs, tired, anxiety…you name it. Trying to keep a lid on my eating! I’ll do a progression run tomorrow, then just very short runs next week with some strides on a few days. Had to reschedule Pilates from this morning to next week as my trainer is sick, but think I will reschedule for after the race. My legs are starting to feel fresher and I’d like that to continue!
Sounds like a fun contest, ML. I have a Charge HR which I like - it’s interesting to see the changes in my HR throughout the day. I use a Garmin for running - the Fitbit is far more generous in the mileage it gives me!
Editing to add the most important part of this post - @FallGirl, I so want to be you right now! Enjoy Nice! How wonderful!
1214Mom- I would check out the Garmin Vivofit line. I think it is up to Vivofit 3. They are a little bigger than FitBit and the FitBit network is good for having “friends”, but Garmin makes a good product. I’m not sure it tracks stairs. I would always read the reviews on DC Rainmaker on any kind of fitness electronics.
Hang in there sabaray - just a week to go!
I enjoyed my mat pilates course, although I was really bad at it. But actually that’s good - it’s a challenge with plenty of room for improvement! So I think I’ll be running 3 days per week, doing Body Pump 2 days per week, and working in the Pilates where I can.
3rd & final job interview yesterday went OK - the interviewer wanted to do most of the talking & I had to work hard to get some words in. Still ruminating on the whole thing, but I am hoping for an offer next week.
Here’s hoping for an active enjoyable weekend for all!
Good luck, Gertrude!
sabaray- Be careful of the Taper Crazies! Many of us really get, um, testy during taper week.
Fall finally came and there are leaves on the ground. 53 this morning and cooler tomorrow. My son sent me pictures of palm trees from Miami where he is trying to erase the bad taste from Mont Tremblant Ironman with, hopefully, a good showing at Miami Ironman 70.3.
Good luck to WildChild!!! That Mont Tremblant race sounded like a race from hell. Hope those palms will cheer him on when he races past them.
Gertrude - glad your interview went well yesterday. It’s probably a good sign that the interviewer did most of the talking. Keeping my fingers crossed for good news for you next week.
sabaray - Hang in there! I’m glad reading FB posts from fellow MCM runners helps you see that you aren’t alone. You are going to be great!
FallGirl - your trip sounds fabulous! Thanks for checking in with us.
Yoga at home yesterday; today I did a great class in the studio where we have a vacation place. (10 days left in the Sadhana). The summer people have gone, so it was a small class with only five people. Teacher was one of two who led the Panama yoga retreat last winter. Really hard class, but good. After 4 years of doing yoga on a regular basis, I am finally getting to move from pose to pose with more ease and flexibility–starting yoga at 60 is a challenge.
1210mom–I have a Fitbit Charge HR. It gives you steps, heart rate, and tracks exercise and calories. Also gives you active minutes–which is what I work on (getting at least an hour per day). I dont think the stair measure is very accurate. You can also sync the Charge HR with the Mind Body and Fitness Pal apps.
Can someone tell me how to set up the alarm hourly to let me know I should move? I am tech-challenged.
I got a rash from the strap–on the Charge; others have too–reports on Fitbit website. If I keep it really loose, I avoid the skin irritation.
Good luck on the job front, GertrudeM. London, Nice–sounds wonderful Fallgirl. Sending your son winning mojo for his triathlon, MOWC.
Happy tapering Sabaray–when is your marathon?
I have the Alta and I forget how the Charge works, but on my phone app I go to the upper left and click (basically, settings) and then on the Settings screen there is something called “Reminders to Move” and I have it set to “ON”. That vibrates at me 10 minutes before the hour if I haven’t done 250 steps. You can set up for up to 14 hours of the day. Mine is set from 7 am to 9 pm. I might dial it back to 8, because the pacing around the house thing at 8:50 is getting old.
Bromfield, unless it has changed since I had the Charge HR this time last year, it did not have that “steps every hour” feature.
As indicated by my withdrawal last week when I lost my Fitbit, I am pretty reliant on it and enjoy the challenge of it. If you are already walking a lot, gardening, etc. it is a great way to show you the days you are active enough - and when you aren’t. It’s definitely not just for runners!
I feel the steps are decently accurate upon exercising. If I look at my steps before I run, sure enough, one mile later I’ve increased right around 2000 steps. Now, if I’m brushing teeth, mixing some batter - those steps will register but aren’t walking. That’s part of the reason I changed my daily minimum to 11,000 steps - I figure that gives me a 10% leeway.
Left the house before 6 for a 9 am meeting 2.5 hours away in the pouring rain and dark - lovely. Drove back and then ripped off my work clothes and literally ran for my steps. Today I ran 4.5 miles…and this was significant for me because I ran 4.5 miles straight without a second of break! I use my neighborhood a lot for running which means I have to stop to wait for cars, cross streets, etc. I’m pretty proud of myself! I just slowed it down a tad and at no time was I struggling. Slowing down just a bit makes a big difference. 
Nice run, abasket!
Have a great trip, FallGirl. Your life sounds wonderful right now. Hope you enjoy Nice!
More fingers crossed for you, Gertrude. May the job search and interviewing be over ASAP.
Great job on the race season finale and first place, C3B. Ugh, wet shoes and feet are so uncomfortable.
I’m so glad your legs are feeling better, sabaray! You deserve the fairy dust and a set of wings with all of your training and hard work.
1214Mom, I wear a Fitbit Charge HR all day. I don’t wear it at night because I too keep the band a bit loose to avoid a rash which consequently allows the monitor lights to show. Very annoying to me and husband to get flashed by the fitbit in the middle of the night.
DH’s back is improving. He’s been going to PT regularly, walking, and doing his homework exercises from the therapist. I’m so glad to have my walking buddy back again. We’re keeping the pace lower, maybe 3.5 mph, but getting back up to an evening 3-4 mile walk again. I’m taking an easy day in preparation for a longer run tomorrow. We’re having a cold front, and the temperatures should be in the upper 50’s for the run. I’m very grateful for the big reprieve.
Have a great weekend, everybody!
Edit to add a good job to abasket. I hope you had a beautiful fall run with lots of color. I miss those gorgeous leaves in fall.
Congrats abasket!
5 walking miles today. So nice to walk outside before winter gets here. Achilles is a little tender but I will ice tonight.
I also wanted to show some ENVY for FallGirl and Nice - wondering what the weather is like there right now??? Is it fallish???
Fall is a great time for exercise - proven by all of the activity going on!!! Even cooler in Florida! (Though my D1 is in California right now and says its HOT!)
I can confirm that it is HOT here in Southern California. 99 today I think. It should be significantly better tomorrow.
Ack - I just met Meb!! He did a meet & greet at the local Roadrunner Sports. Two of his daughters were wandering around playing in the shoe department. Bill Rodgers was supposed to be there too, but I think I left before he arrived.
So cool, Gertrude!!