I like that article, sabaray. As I sit here, I’m on the phone with FitBit because my THIRD Alta charging cable has failed- since the spring! I treat them like glass and it hardly ever leaves my bathroom counter. If I travel, I wrap it in something. The plastic is much too brittle and it just fails. There are a lot of threads about it. They are shipping me a new free one- my 4th.
My husband felt somewhat better yesterday but was still having some stomach issues and had problems all night again. It was 22 degrees this morning and I just was going to do a short run, so I stayed inside for 2.5 on the dreadmill. My dogs love this weather, unfortunately!
One of my employees brought in good bagels and cream cheese. I had half a bagel (with cream cheese).
It was good for me to read because I basically justified my sitting habit by rationalizing that I had a vigorous workout that morning so I didn’t need to move around 250 steps every hour. Nope! Got to get up and move around. I’ll keep working at that into 2017 and hopefully it will be more of a habit.
Already signed up for two races for next year - I’m determined to be optimistic that 2017 is going to be better!
I think the idea of getting up and moving around every hour is important, for lots of reasons. Just the physical activity is important and I would think it should help with DVT concerns. I think it stimulates the mind a little bit to get up and move around periodically. Of course when you are trapped in a meeting or on a conference call, that just isn’t feasible but I don’t think you have to be 100% to be getting benefit.
I will say that I found the 250 step reminder extremely annoying the day I ran my last marathon. Holy cow, I had run 26.2 miles and had over 45K steps at that point, and there I was relaxing in the recliner watching football and my fitbit was telling me I needed to move. The nerve!
That’s when I REALLY want to get up and move around! I have the Charge which unfortunately doesn’t remind me to move. I haven’t had any problems with it, but I might need to think about a new model that reminds me to get off my rear. Why is it so easy to spend money?
I really like the 250 step goal, and I like the Alta reminder, but it IS frustrating when you are on a plane or in a meeting. I don’t like the thing my Alta does where I get this message on Friday that says “Uh Oh. Friday is usually your least active day!” I was completely justifying sitting on my butt all day by the fact that I ran in the morning/evening. I do think moving around every hour is very valuable. (Unless you grab a couple of cookies on your walk…)
M&K–sending good wishes to your folks and you. It’s stressful helping ailing parents, but it sounds like you are handling it. I"m impressed you got your workout done. Also, thanks for the information on exercises for the stair climb.
I’ve hosted one holiday party and have another one (Sat) this week and am feeling really stressed, which isn’t good. It leads to blowing off exercise (even though I got all my steps in).
@Sabaray You mentioned a challenge site that you use. Is it something that a non-runner can also use? Does anyone have a suggestion for a coaching/challenge fitness site. I do so much better with exercise and diet when I record/track stuff. It helps me stay on track.
Well, apparently my exercise for today is going to be chopping a path through the ice on my sidewalk–we have a corner lot and it took me an hour of chopping with a shovel (which my Fitbit called 6500 steps, I doubt it, but that’s fine). The streets are covered in ice. Our mail carrier came by–chains on his truck and YakTrax on his feet (he says the cable ones are useless, go right for the ones with chains)–he could walk easily so I think I’ll by my D some YakTrax for Christmas–DD had to wrap her shoes in zipties to walk to the busstop to get to work this morning. The dogs won’t even try to walk on the sheet of ice out there.
@Bromfield2, I think it is something you could definitely use, particularly as you prepare for your stair climb event. The Holiday challenge I’m doing now asks you to set a goal for the week - every 10 minutes of exercise counts for 1 mile. I usually set a goal of 30-35 miles for the week - so that includes my actual running mileage plus Pilates. So, I might run 24-29 miles and have 60 minutes of Pilates to equal the 30-35. I usually have two “classes” and the rest running and/or elliptical. I believe the year long challenge will work similarly. Most of the participants include yoga, walking, cycling, Pilates, Crossfit - quite a range of activity as well as runners. A more detailed description can be found here:
I do better when I’m recording and accountable. I don’t want to bore you all to death with “Today I ran 6.05 miles so I’m now at 24.55/30 for the week!” It’s a nice, encouraging, very non-competitive atmosphere, much like the regulars here have created.
Michael, sending wishes for health to your family and friends.
MoWC, is your husband getting better? I hope he’ll sleep more easily tonight.
I’m still not back to running, although I’ve given it a try several times. My sinuses are not cooperating. Grrr. The cold front made it all the way to Florida. We’ll be able to use the fireplace tonight–a treat! H and I hiked in a state park today. Very easy pace with lots of stops for photos. We came home and found that the curbing in front of our suburban house, had been removed, leaving a large chunk of our irrigation system pulverized to smithereens. Not good, in our current drought.
Plantmom- he is not better yet! It’s a rough one. He had another bad night and has no appetite. He’s a little better. I brought him a cherry limeade from Sonic and that hit the spot. It is very cold here- for us, going down to 19 tonight.
Have started my cold weather hiking. Loving my new light weight Eddie Bauer coat with a fleece underneath. My heavier coat will be used when it gets -0 or below. Today with wind chill it was about 1 degree. If the wind isn’t blowing the cold is ok. Used a scarf wrapped around my face and I was comfortable. May have to get something better than that when it drops again.
Kudos to you NM still heading out in the very cold weather! I find I can manage to be outside if the sun is out but when it’s freezing AND no sun - I don’t want anything to do with it!
According to the weather people tomorrow might be the last we see the grass for a bit - 4-8 inches expected Sunday/Monday. I’m SO not ready for this. Temps will be in the teens at best for a week or so so if it does snow it won’t go anywhere.
Yes, there are times I want to tell my Alta to “back off!” I look at it this way - most times, I’m not annoyed with it because when it vibrates and tells me to get up, I can. It’s those not so seldom times - traveling in the car, conference calls, conferences,etc. when you just have to grin and bear it and know that life gets in the way sometimes - and be thankful it’s not too often. On the other hand, it can be REAL easy to burn an hour or more watching tv or surfing on the computer/iPad so…it’s a good reminder of how you can lose track of sitting on your bum time.
And I have been known to stand up at my cubicle desk with the phone in one hand and my feet and body marching up and down to ward off the vibrate!!! No conference call should EVER exceed an hour!!!
I’ve had it work if I have only a portion of the 250 I need to complete! Maybe you don’t get “step for step” but if you’re somewhat close it can get the job done. I make the deal with myself that once I get off the phone I will go for a legit 2-3 minute walk minimum.
Or if I take conference calls at home I use my cell phone and then can get up and move around the room (if I don’t need to have my face in the computer screen at the same time!!)
Did 9 miles of the planned 8- once I got myself out the door at 9:45 or so. It was 28 degrees by then, but sunny. Legs felt tired, but I got it done. Wore my Lulu puff pullover over a Oiselle long sleeved shirt and my fleece tights. I am sweaty now, but stayed warm. Not many people out this morning. I almost fell- badly- at one point. There was some “wet” pavement and it turned out to be ice. I bobbled, but stayed on my feet (shockingly).
Just heard from my son who was competing at the Goodfight Submission Only BJJ Worlds Competition. He had been comped andcsutomstically qualified because he had won Nationals. Took first place in his division today. He was so stoked he tried to register on the spot for the No Gi division but they were not permitting “walk in” registration, lol. This has been such a year of competing for him.
Well, 3 miles before the snow hits and my lovely sidewalks and safety outside end for awhile. Predicting 4-8 - or more - over the next couple of days. It was cold - 27 - and the sun for the most part was gone - but I told myself “no excuses” I had to get out there without the snow. Really wasn’t that bad (the cold) once I got out - I wore my Athleta wind leggings that @fireandrain directed me to last year - they are outstanding for me. And I can’t count how many layers I had on top…I sort of felt like Frosty the Snowman sauntering down the street!
But done - tomorrow’s exercise - likely shoveling. Sad day.
If the wind isn’t blowing the cold is ok. Used a scarf wrapped around my face and I was comfortable. May have to get something better than that when it drops again.
