Pages

Friday, March 13, 2015

10,000 Steps and Not Counting

“Walking is man's best medicine”
- Hippocrates


Today my wife had a doctor appointment. She will have to be checked for the next 10 years. For the first few years it will be every 3 months. The doctor was so happy with her weight lost; he drew a smiling face on her chart.

Following this fun and entertaining event (NOT), we went to Costco. My wife needed to get her new glasses adjusted so while she was busy with that, I walked around the store, just browsing. We didn’t need anything so I was not really looking for anything in particular, except, I have been thinking about buying a gizmo like a Fitbit for a while.

I looked at the Fitbit at Walmart but it doesn’t tell time. If I’m going to wear something around my wrist, it might as well double as a watch.

In Costco, there was a distant relative of the Fitbit, it’s a Vivofit! I rationalized that with all the money we saved not purchasing wine and not eating at/from restaurants, I should just treat myself and get this “toy” and I did!

When we got back home, I was in a hurry to set up my Vivofit. It took 10 minutes and it was ready for counting. I had to test it right away. Last week while walking my usual loop on the campground, I literally counted the number of steps it took. I had counted close to 2,000 steps. Now, armed with my Vivofit I let it be the judge and it came to 1,700 steps. I was off by 300 steps, not too bad.

I had 1,700 steps under my belt and plenty of places to go, so I decided to get my numbers up to 10,000 steps; I thought it would make for good blogging (read BRAGGING) material and it would also be nice to get more exercise.

I did it! I busted the “steps bank” on the very first day thanks to my new best friend Vivofit…! However, I’m a little disappointed, I was expecting that when I would reach the 10,000 mark, there would be some happy beeping sounds, confetti’s thrown in the air, or a message: “Congratulations RICHARD you have reached your destination!” but nothing happened it just kept on counting like it was no big deal. Sigh

It was a great walk, the sun was shinning and it was a nice and cozy -6 C (21 F.) and I had a lot of time to think. I realized that now that I’m tracking the number of steps, I do not need to walk the same loop anymore. I took full opportunity of it and walked all over the place, I even found 2 trailers’ door opened (not something anyone wants in the winter).

We are leaving for Florida next week, it’s a 3 days car ride. Every time we will stop, I’ll walk a few thousands steps to reach 10,000, even while traveling. I love to have a routine and this gizmo will sure help me with that.

In the fall my doctor warned me, NO CREAM, he was not drawing a happy face on my chart. I think you folks are going to get me in trouble… There are 11 coaches (followers), but you are the cream of the crop! You guys are the best, thank you so much for your encouragements, it means a lot to me.

This was in the afternoon, it still had the new car smell!

This is my total for the day... almost 13,000 steps. My wife told me to go back outside to get to 13 even, didn't happen. I want to keep room for improvement :)

 Because I broke a couple of steps, I got those 2 merit badges, I'm so proud I'll get them tattooed, anyone has suggestion as to where?

 This is a Vivofit's graph from last nigh sleep 

15 comments:

  1. A new toy! That's great. And yes, once you stop spending money on things that weren't good for you, you can use it to buy fun stuff like this. And it would have been fun to get a congratulatory beep or confetti when you reach your goal. You should write to the company and tell them. Better yet, perhaps you'll invest something like that :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not a toy junkie, don't even have something smarter than me like a smart phone. But the Vivofit, I'm glad I have it. This morning, very early, I went to walk. I just want to keep my steps over 10,000. Now it's 11:00 AM, I'm already up to 9,500 steps. Piece of cake, no wait! I mean piece of apple.

      To congralating myself, I patted my back (as far I could reach) and my wife gave me a high five, and don't forget, I got a merit badge, Youhou! I don't need much more than that :)

      Delete
  2. Hmmm, you get restless at 2-3 in the morning. And you woke up at 4??? Yiiiikes! :D

    - WWE

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't do nothing about this, so I will not be spending too much time stressing myself to sleep faster and not move. :)

      Delete
  3. Good investment. I sure wish you alot of goo times in Florida an I it's a good thing that your wife will be checked every 3 months for a while. Glad to hear that.

    Have a great week-end Richard!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Choco, yes it is money well spend. Are you still walking your dogs out? It's colder but it's much better without slush. If you can't, even walking in a shopping center or in your home a few minutes at the time will be beneficial. Like Nike said: "Just do it".

      Delete
    2. A stressed-out ChocoMarch 13, 2015 at 12:38 PM

      Well I walk around my kitchen set and my dogs are following me, so funny.

      My blood test are already in. I went on March 10 and I received a call yesterday that the results came in. I was given an another appointment for May 20 ???? The treadmill result and the long x-ray are not in yet. I am a bit stressed out.

      Delete
    3. Great job Choco on the walk! If I was you, I would put a timer and every hour, would walk around your home. STOP if you are out of breath.

      It is always stressful to wait for results and they are not in a rush :( , I'm sure if something was really alarming, you would get a telephone right away. Keep positive, it will not bring anything better to worried right now.

      Delete
    4. Appreciative Choco *smile*March 13, 2015 at 7:08 PM

      Good thinking, I will calm down and walk around my home.

      You always have the good word.

      Thanks !

      Delete
  4. I beeping congrats would be wonderful. Congrats on the toy, it's nice that it's given you more freedom to stop counting and just go walk and have fun in the moment.

    Love that.

    PS: Funny about the smile and not smile faces.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Ivy, yes it is really nice, I don't know why I wait for so long, I love it or maybe it's my new found freedom that is going to my head :)

      Yes Doctor can be soooo funny! LOL

      Delete
    2. Freedom is a fun thing to have and wow, now just to be able to breath and walk anywhere without having to count. That's the best.

      Delete
  5. Great job! Go you!
    Sarah
    www.Thinfluenced.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sarah, I'm going, going, going, a real energizer battery!

      Delete
  6. Great job! Go you!
    Sarah
    www.Thinfluenced.com

    ReplyDelete