Short Mileage Monday

I found myself whining when I first started to write this entry, so I scrapped it. Let's just say, I only got two elliptical workouts in and a few very slow bike rides (riding while other people were walking). Hopefully this week will be more productive as far as working out goes. Seems like as soon as I make any kind of plans to exercise at a certain time, somethings pops up, and I need to reschedule it. We shall see what happens this week.

On to the virtual walk pictures that I do have.

Mile 755.6 (elliptical for 1 mile)

(photo credit - http://exercise.lbl.gov/index.html;jsessionid=1F4E2B8269D80C6DF557FB31D1D6D77B)

Mile 756.6 (elliptical for 1 mile)

(photo credit - http://exercise.lbl.gov/index.html;jsessionid=1F4E2B8269D80C6DF557FB31D1D6D77B_

Do what you can when you can is becoming my motto these days. Until then, keep moving!

FitBit One: Experiment Results

(photo credit: Me)

Ok, so I'm done with my FitBit One experiment. I did have varying results, especially with the Leslie Sansone DVD. What I did with the DVD portion of the experiment is I used the 5 Mile Fat Burning Walk DVD. I did mile 1 three times. I wanted to be sure I did the same movements and steps, so I just replayed the same mile.

The first time I ran through it I wore the FitBit One on my shoe. Next time through, I wore it on the waistband of my workout shorts. The third time through, I wore it on my bra. Here are the results.

On Shoe

Mile 1 - Steps: 1,001

Mile 1 - Mileage .44

On Waist

Mile 1 - Steps - 1449

Mile 1 - Mileage - .69

On Bra

Mile 1 -  Steps 1534

Mile 1 - .73

So, as you can see, no matter where I wore it, her "mile" wasn't exactly a mile. Which I've known for a while because I did the test with my FitBit Force. I found it surprising that I got the least amount of steps with it on my shoe. Which leads me to the question: What counts as a "step"? Is it one step per foot (left foot one, right foot two) or is it one step per revolution of both feet (one step every time the right foot hits the ground)? Does that make sense?

I was pleasantly surprised with the waistband number. Considering my initial test, when it didn't register any steps, it was a nice surprise. The bra result isn't too surprising. 

Now, what about the elliptical? I switched the FitBit's position every .25 mile. I do 400 revolutions every quarter mile. Here are those results.

On Shoe

Steps - 602

Mileage- .27

On Waist

Steps - 844

Mileage - .37

On Bra

Steps - 835

Mileage - .36

Interesting results again. The shoe isn't surprising. Remember, when I take a break, I'm still taking steps to walk to my seat. Although with the shoe results, I don't see how I got an extra 200 steps. 

I think from now on, I'll be wearing my FitBit One on my bra. That way I know it won't get squished or fall out when I'm playing ball with the dog on the floor. I will have to be careful if I lay down on my stomach. That's rare though.

This was a very fun experiment, and I'm pleased with the results. The FitBit One is definitely very motivating and helps me get up and move more.

How about you? How do you define a "step"?

Keep moving everyone!

Mileage Monday And Pre-Experiment Thoughts

In my FitBit One review, I told you all about the experiment I was going to do. Well, the Leslie Sansone portion of the experiment is done, and I found it interesting. I'll do the experiment on the elliptical tomorrow and then share all of my findings.

For now though, here are my saved pictures from the virtual walk site. I've now passed through Wisemantown, KY and have about 7.15 miles until I get to Bighill, KY in Estill County.

Mile 749.6 (elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 750.6 (elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 752 (Leslie for 1.5 miles)

Mile 753 (elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 754.8 (Leslie for 1.8)

(photo credit: http://exercise.lbl.gov/index.html;jsessionid=1F4E2B8269D80C6DF557FB31D1D6D77B)

Stay tuned for my experiment results. It should be up tomorrow sometime. I plan on getting my workouts done early from now on. And of course as soon as I say that, something will happen that will make me postpone. That always seems to happen. As soon as I make plans, or tell my readers I'm going to do something, something always makes me have to postpone. Life happens though, so I try not to make "promises" anymore with my postings here.

Keep moving!

FitBit One Review

(photo credit: Me)

Pictured from left to write: charger, dime (for size comparison), One tracker, One clip holder

I've had my FitBit One for about two weeks. I love it! It's almost exactly like the Force, only you clip in to your clothing. You can clip it to either your waist band, your shoe, or for the ladies, your bra. I always have it on my shoe. Since I have cerebral palsy, my balance is so much better when I wear shoes. My lack of balance is not only due to my cerebral palsy, but also my lack of confidence and fear of falling. I'm not as bad as I once was, but I still have work to do.

Back to the FitBit One. The tracker itself is a bit larger than the tracker of the FitBit Flex. The FitBit One can be placed in a clip holder during the day, and slipped into a wrist sleeve at night to track your sleep. The clip holder is made from a silicone rubber material and has a very sturdy clip. It's easy to hook it to your clothing, and seems to stay put for the most part. The opening for the holder is fairly secure. I worry about the tracker falling out of the holder when I'm on the floor playing ball with the dog. Since I clip it to my shoe, the tracker is moving against the floor and can pop out. It popped out on my this morning. That was the first time it's done that though, so I'm thinking the opening of the holder loses it's sturdiness after a while. It gets worn out. I'll keep my eye on that. I might have to be creative if it pops out frequently. Rubber band maybe?

(photo credit: Me)

Pictured: One sleep sleeve

The wrist sleeve at night is secure, but it's a bit large. I got used to having something on my wrist at night since I had both the Fitbit Flex and the FitBit Force, so it's not too bothersome for me. It might take some getting used to otherwise. You slip the tracker into a small slit on the wrist sleeve, and it rests in a little pocket for the night. The sleeve closes with velcro, and so far it's holding up. I've only had it a few weeks, so over time it may lose it's stickiness, but so far so good. Like the Force, press and hold the button until you feel it vibrate. It will then be is sleep mode and you'll see a stopwatch start to count upwards. In the morning, press and hold the button again until you feel it vibrate and it will be out of sleep mode.

The tracker has a display screen just like the FitBit Force. You scroll through all of your goals by pressing the button. The one thing the One has on the display screen that the Force doesn't is a flower that grows the closer you get to your main goal. The flower gets more petals the closer you get to your goal.

Overall, my favorite FitBit tracker is the One. My reasoning is this. While I love the aspect of the wrist band, I find they're not accurate for my step tracking. Because I have cerebral palsy, I sit for most of the day. I do my elliptical and my Leslie Sansone workouts, but other than that, I roll around in my computer chair and the old wheel chair (yes still...stupid fear). So, by keeping the tracker on my shoe, I get a better idea of just how many steps I take in a day. On my non-exercise days, I get between 1,000 and 2,000 steps. Not good. On my exercise days, depending on which workout I do, I get between 4,000 and 7,000 a day. Better, but still not the recommended 10,000 steps a day.

I plan on doing some testing with the FitBit One. I'll wear it on different parts of my body and see how accurate it is. I plan to wear it on my shoe (do that already), my waist band, and my bra. I'll see how much my steps vary from one area to the other. I did do a quick test when I first got it, and was a bit perturbed by the waist band. I did 50 steps marching in place. When it was on my shoe, it registered 61 steps. It registered 0 steps on my waist band. On my bra it registered 81. So, quite a difference. I don't know why it didn't register any steps on my waist band. I'll re-do that test and see what happens.

My step tests will be done with the following:

-My elliptical

-Leslie Sansone dvds

-Straight marching in place

I'll work on this experiment over the next week or so, and will have those results. I'm really interested in the results from the elliptical. I can already say that it is fairly accurate on my shoe. It registered about .9 mile on my shoe. Not too bad. I'd rather it be low than be high. That way I can get more exercise in to fill the remaining mileage.

I highly recommend the FitBit One! They did have issues with the Force, but I still believe in their products. So don't be leery of them. And their customer service is wonderful.

Mileage Monday

Back at it with the Mileage Monday posts. I'm no longer sick, and I'm done making excuses for not getting my miles in. The elliptical is no problem at all for me, and neither is just marching in place. The adult trike however, I need to be careful on. Last Wednesday I went out for an hour for a bike ride. The weather was fantastic, high was only 75 degrees. Pretty much unheard of for April.

In that hour, I did 7.5 miles (or close enough). Let me first say, anytime I'm on the bike, my neck is sore that evening and the day after. Don't know why, but that's just the way it is. Maybe I'm holding my upper back, arms, and neck in the same position for too long. Who knows. Being on the bike for an hour? I trashed my neck. It's still sore and it's almost been a week. Not sure if it's tendons, or muscles or what, but it's sore. Hurts to turn my head from side to side.

When I do get back on the bike, I need to remember to take it slow. Maybe two times around the block, and not ten. The heating pad is my friend these days. I actually think the elliptical will help my neck loosen up, so I'm on it tomorrow (well today. I'm writing this on Sunday.).

I'm got pictures from the virtual walk to share! Been a few weeks since I've done that. So, here we go. Since my last post, I've passed through Irvine, KY in Estill county. I have about 1.8 miles until I reach Wismantown, KY in Estill county.

Mile 743.6 (1 mile elliptical)

Mile 744.6 (1 mile elliptical)

Mile 745.6 (1 mile elliptical)

Mile 746.6 (1 mile elliptical)

Mile 747.6 (1 mile elliptical)

Mile 748.6 (1 mile elliptical)

(photo credit - http://exercise.lbl.gov/index.html;jsessionid=1F4E2B8269D80C6DF557FB31D1D6D77B)

There ya go! Have a great week everyone. I've got a few posts in mind for this week, so stay tuned.