Motiv ... Maybe?

I've had my eye on the new Motiv ring tracker for a while. Not that I NEED another tracker. I'm still using my FitbitOne (clip-on tracker/torso) and my Fitbit Charge2 on my wrist. I'm already getting double data. Back in December I also wore my son's Alta (trying it out as a torso tracker in a 3rd party clip, just to compare the steps and such "Fitbit One Done? Alta Alternative?")  But hey, I'm always interested in what else is out there, and how it stacks up. 

So before you order the actual ring, Motiv sends you a sizing set. This not only helps you determine the correct size ... but is also the same size/shape of the actual ring so you can get a feel of what wearing the ring would be like. 

I'm NOT a jewelry girl. I wear my wedding ring, and that's about it. When I first ordered the Fitbit Charge, Hubs was sure I wouldn't like having something on my wrist. I don't ... but it's worth it for my Fitbit feedback. 

I was a little surprised at how much I did NOT like the feel of the ring on my finger :( At first, I tried it on my right ring finger. It just rubbed me wrong. I then tried it on my pointer finger, but just couldn't get used to it there either (and I was really giving this a try, over 24 hours in each spot. I'd also tried moving my Charge wristband to my right hand, figuring I'd just put both my big black trackers on the same hand, but I had a hard time with the Charge change-up too). 

I put aside my ring set for a few days, and did a little additional research, reading reviews and online articles. The reviews have been fairly positive, although admitting that the data wasn't as comprehensive as what I was already getting with my Fitbit.  One thing I HAD been looking forward to was the resting heart rate when wearing the ring 24/7. I don't wear my Charge at night. I just can't get comfortable sleeping with something on my wrist (and I still wear my One clipped to my jammies to get my sleep data there). I think my Fitbit feedback on my heart rate comes in higher as it doesn't count my nighttime hours. 

Then I tried taking off my wedding ring and wearing the Motiv ring (plastic prototype) ... and as I am accustomed to wearing a ring on that finger, it felt more natural there. I have always taken my wedding ring off for weight workouts (as the dumbbells rub the wrong way with it on), but whereas I feared the Motiv on my right hand would interfere with racquetball or tennis (I am right handed), I don't think it would be an issue (although I do recall taking off my wedding ring for racquetball ... it's been a while since I played). 

So ... still thinking. Motiv ... Maybe. There is the price tag. $200. To be upfront and honest, I doubt I'd get any additional motivation from the Motiv. I already have tracking and feedback on my activity. For weight loss, I know it's the eating (still waiting for some magic tracker than can count all my calories consumed. If I do go ahead, I did decide on the ring finger size (7 for me), but the color? I know the rose gold is the one aimed at the female clientle ... yet, you know me, I'm a gray black girl.

Motiv? Maybe ...

On the (Pokemon) Go

Several years ago, Pokemon came out with a little pedometer that went with one of it's games ... but that didn't get people moving that way the newly released Pokemon Go app has! This game is the latest craze and it's taking the world by storm!

With five boys, we've been a Pokemon family for years. I've watched the cartoons, I know the songs, we have a gazillion cards, action figures and stuffed critters. We have all the gameboy games, and their guidebooks. As the boys got older and their interest faded, most of the Pokemon got packed away in a rubbermaid tote. I've pulled it out a few times when family has visited, as my young nephews have just discovered the critters.

But a few days ago ... Pokemon Go was released in the U.S. My 17-year (and all his friends) set up trainer accounts and started catching Pokemon. He's gone a bit Pokemon crazy! Of course, my younger son (#4) was interested, so I set up an account on the family phone (as he only has an ipod, and you need cell service for the GPS to work on the go) for him to use. He's a bit of a homebody like me, so often when Dad would head out here or there, he wouldn't want to go ... I'm thinking that may change now!  Not that this particular child needs any exercise incentive (his Fitbit does that, he gets in plenty of steps!) this might help get him out of the house.

On a completely irrelevant side note, we've been raising ducks this year. Our mallard (hatched from an egg) and then an adopted brood of black-mallard mutations, to keep him company. This past week, the ducks have been testing out their flight feathers. Flying across the yard ... a couple of times into the neighbors (but then back into our backyard). This morning, two of them were gone, gone. We have a canal fairly close by, so I asked #4 if he wanted to take a walk (just to see if that's where they ended up ... they should be capable of surviving in the wild, I'd just love to still keep an eye on them). 

While I was looking for actual creatures (our duckies) on our walk ... my son had the phone, looking for imaginary ones. It is interesting to see how they have re-created the actual environment. You can see the sidewalks, cartoon style there on the phone. In the bottom corner, it will show if there are any wild Pokemon around. One footprint means they are quite close, two ... a little further, three footprints, further still. It's a little like the hot/cold game. You're getting closer ... or not. Then, if there is one right in front of you, throw a pokeball and attempt to catch it and add it to your collection!

I guess various public places (parks, stores, churches) are "Poke-Stops" or "Gyms" and by visiting these locations you can get goodies, battle your Pokemon, and more. My 17-year old said the nearby shopping center is filled with fun places (and that is where he and his friends have been hanging out after work). I'm sure some stores love the app, as it brings people in. Others ... not so crazy about it. I read about a police station, listed as a poke-stop now has a sign up saying "you do NOT have to come inside to earn Poke-Go points, please check in from outside" or something like that!

There have been negative situations hit the news ... a child tracking a Pokemon, stumbling upon a dead body. Kids paying too much attention to their phone, so they stumble and are injured in the real world. Thieves waiting for unsuspecting Pokemon fans in secluded spots. People who think kids are already paying too much attention to their phones instead of the world around them.

On the other hand, it's receiving praise for getting gamers off the couch and moving. In addition to going around to different spots, players have to walk to get their eggs to hatch (this is tracked via GPS, not a pedometer, so a treadmill won't work). The GPS can tell when people are in the car (moving at a faster speed) so that doesn't count toward egg activity, and hopefully the game doesn't work while driving (a car accident caused by the game has already made the news though). 

Today, as I left Zumba class (held at a local church building), there was a teen-aged boy on a hoverboard, phone in hand ... I didn't ask, but I'm sure he was checking in with his Pokemon Go. As I backed out and went to leave the lot, another car full of teens ... on phones, pulled up to the church. Pokemon Go!  

Who knows ... maybe my 12-year old will want to come to Zumba with me, just to check in at the church. We'll see. While my kids haven't expressed an interest in their old cards and figures, they HAVE pulled out the old gameboy games and guidebooks. It's a complete Poke-comback!

 I even earned 25 points for answering this survey from Achievemint ... and I actually earned enough points to hit my reward again! Redeemed, and a $10 Amazon Gift Card for me!

( see my Achievemint Update ... Update for details on this program).

Our Fitbit Family Update

What's up with our Fitbit family? 

We're still plugging along, and my 12-year old STILL has me beat on steps!

So just a quick family Fitbit review, in our home we have ...

• Two Zips: Hubs and #2 (17-year old) have the Zip. I think the Zip is the best option for both of them, because it has a replaceable battery - it doesn't need to be recharged every few days, which I think they would both forget to do. The Zip doesn't track sleep, but neither of them wear theirs to bed anyway. 
• Three Ones: I have a One, as does #3 (15-year old) and #5 (the 10-year old). I stick mine on the charger when I shower, and that seems to keep me in business. I have myself set up to receive emails when the kid's devices need charging, and I remind them. #3 only wears a Fitbit for me (he could care less), but #5 was so happy to switch from a Zip to a One a while back, he likes it much better. "It's numbers glow, I can check my stats in the dark!"
• One Charge: Originally purchased for #1, then passed to #4 (12-year old) ... generally worn on his ankle rather than his arm. He looks a bit like a prison convict on house arrest. 
• One Charge HR: My secondary Fitbit (as I do still wear my One), I like the heart rate feedback for exercise and at rest, but I don't sleep in it (as I am tracking sleep with my One, I find the armband awkward to sleep in, and it seems to need daily charging, so I just put it on the charger every night). 

I figure I can have two Fitbits, as #1 doesn't actually have one. My oldest is in Mexico on a mission and doesn't have access to internet to sync a device, so I just sent him with an inexpensive Omron pedometer. He sends me his steps with his weekly letters, and I manually enter them into Fitbit to see where his steps stand with the rest of the family... I wonder which Fitbit he'll want when he returns? There are a couple new ones out, the Aria and the Blaze, that we haven't introduced to our family yet (Hubs DID try the Surge, and my dad and brother have it).

So, we've had some minor issues with family Fitbits of late ...

On my One case, the little black tip flipped off. It's not the first time it's happened. While it is still wearable, with the sharper metal protruding, it has scratched me, and poked holes in my clothes. I was able to find to tip, and used superglue to fasten it back on. So far, it's holding up great! My son clips his One onto his pockets, which are often a bit thick. His Fitbit has stretched out, and then doesn't hold when he's wearing shorts with less material. His Fitbit has slipped off several times, but luckily we've been able to locate it. I had an extra holder around, so I've switched him out, although it's just a matter of time before the new one bends. While Fitbit customer service has been kind enough to send us free replacement cases before, I looked on Ebay and found some inexpensive knock-offs (about $3 each) and ordered a few so we'll have them around for backup. I've received them, and they look identical, but we haven't tried them out yet.

We've also had some issues with the Charge wristband. We originally purchased the Charge in Jan2015. My oldest wore it for a couple of months, then we passed it onto #4. The strap started to break last fall. We contacted Fitbit and they replaced it (it was still under the year warranty). But the strap on the new one failed recently too (photo above. You can see tape remnants where he tried to duct tape it together. Superglue did NOT work in this instance). At this point, we were past the warranty, but, Fitbit customer service is great, and they said they would do one more replacement for us.

I think they may have stopped making the Charge though, with the new and improved Aria model at the same price point. So instead of a Charge, they are sending my son a ChargeHR. Normally, I would ALWAYS recommend the HR over the Charge ... except for my son. As he usually wears it on his ankle, instead of his wrist, the heart rate function won't work (when worn that way). While I love the watch type strap, I think it might be harder for him to manage. Most importantly though, I think the HR's battery life is lacking (most likely because of the heart rate function). So we'll have to see. As mentioned above, I have to charge mine every night. #4 has been wearing his Charge to bed and using it to track his sleep, so we'd miss that if he has to charge it nightly as well.

I've had my ChargeHR for over a year now, and have had no issues with my strap. 

Knock on wood!

Second Opinions w/Scosche

A spotlight on the Scosche RHYTHM plus Heart Rate Monitor Armband

I'm a gadget girl ... and I also like second opinions on any of my stat estimates.  When I updated my basic pedometer for a Fitbit, I still wore my old Omron and compared the steps. I finally gave up the Omron when I added the ChargeHR (keeping my One also, so I still have two step/calorie estimates). I was really interested in the ChargeHR, after struggling with a Polar HRM. I loved tracking my heart rate during exercise, but I hated the chest strap. HATED it! I'd put up with it during my Zumba classes, but then it's accuracy seemed to go wonky after a while. There was a huge appeal to Fitbit's ChargeHR. A heartrate reading without a chest strap. After trouble-shooting the Polar (washing the strap, using a lube, changing the battery) I wore both HRMs for a while and loved comparing the stats. They were pretty close much of the time.

I finally gave up on the Polar though, the chest strap was too uncomfortable, I'd have to remember to put the watch on and start it, and manually record the stats. The ChargeHR was so easy ... but I did miss my second opinion. I also missed the constant display (I have to tap or press a button to bring up the heart rate on the ChargeHR).

A friend would post her Zumba stats sometimes, and I was intrigued by what she was using. It was the Scosche RHYTHM plus Heart Rate Monitor Armband. I looked it up on Amazon, and it had really good reviews. So ... Merry Christmas to me.

Double Duty Armband Attack

I started using the Scosche with the New Year. I hadn't realized that in addition to the Scosche, you needed to have an app on your smartphone to collect the data it sends. Upon my friend's recommendation, I went with digifit, which did require the Pro Upgrade ($8) to work with my device. Everything was pretty easy to set up. The Scosche recommended wearing on it on the forearm, but as I already had my ChargeHR there, I tried moving it to my upper arm (as in the picture up top). 

So I'm back to my backup heart rate readings ...

Here's a look at one class comparison. Scosche (top) and ChargeHR (bottom)

I only wear the Scosche for my longer workouts, like Zumba. I did try it out on my elliptical and bike just to see how it compared as well, but just a time or two (and those workouts tend to be quite consistent). It does come in quite a bit higher than my Charge. Even when there isn't as much of a discrepancy between the heart rate, the calorie burn estimate on the Scosche is way over my Fitbit(s). I go with the lower estimates for my calorie counting needs, but it's still interesting to compare and contrast the numbers from class to class and try to beat my own highs on each device.

So while I do like my Scosche, and I don't regret buying it ... I personally would still recommend the Fitbit ChargeHR over it. While the Scosche isn't uncomfortable, it has pinched the skin a few times. I only wear it when I exercise, whereas I leave my ChargeHR on all day (getting not only feedback on heart rate during activity, but also at rest). But I do like my backup. Second opinions and all. I am a gadget girl!

Hiking Heart Rate

Last "Workout Wednesday" I mentioned resuming racquetball ... but that is not the only new activity we've reintroduced into our routine. Hiking is another "new" activity this summer. 

#2 son (16-years old) has gone on a couple a hikes this year with his girlfriend. I'm not sure if that inspired Hubs or what, but we've now gone on a couple hikes as well. It's been a while! I did a "Take a Hike" post back in 2013, and it was actually a throwback to 2008! That was a hiking summer, but I don't know that I had been back up since ... seven years!

Both hikes we've done this year have been pretty mild and easy. Just over a mile to our destination. Some elevation, but a trail all the way. Both times we took the kidlets ... hike #2 was the ENTIRE crew (aunts, uncles, cousins, Grandma ... pictures were posted on my WeeklyWeighIn #107). It was fun to have my Fitbit ChargeHR, and be able to watch my heart rate rise on the way up, and to catch the elevation changes in the "floors" reading.

 Here's a little screen capture of Hike #1

Hubs lead the way at a pretty quick clip, but I was still a bit surprised at how quickly and how high my heart rate went up. Sometimes I have a hard time getting into the 140s at Zumba. I was a bit out of breath. Then we took some pictures at the bridge, and went back down. Not nearly as challenging. Hike #2 was actually a bit more challenging in actual terrain, but with Grandma along, Hubs was at the back, helping her, so on my own (and corralling kids) we took the climb in a more leisurely fashion, and the heart rate never got quite as high. 

Here's a little screen capture of the "floors" for the month ...

The two hikes are easy to see compared to my daily average.

It was also fun to compare stats to the kids ... happily all of our "floor" readings were quite similar for both hikes. The kids often had quite a few more steps, due to their littler legs and smaller stride. In the picture at the top, there are four people ... and four different Fitbits (Zip, One, Flex and Charge). We are a Fitbit Family! I love to see all the stats (calories, steps, elevation, heart rate, etc.) and not having hiked since I got my ChargeHR, I was really excited to try it out! Hopefully, we'll get in a few more hikes before the cooler weather comes in!  And maybe I need to "practice" at home too, upping the incline on my treadmill and "hiking" away while I watch a show, just in case Hubs wants to go without the kids ... I need to be able to keep up!

Polar Problems, Weigh-inWednesday and a 35K Day

I'm a little tired today. I had a 35k day yesterday ... and that included a 40 min weight session that barely registered any actual steps. I started the day early, as #2 had to get to school early. I got the other kids off, then hit Zumba. Tuesdays, Zumba starts at 8:45, and it's right in my neighborhood. So I'm home by 10:00, often with 10K already. Then I hit the elliptical a few times, mowed the front lawn, did weights. After collecting kids after school, there was a 6:00 basketball game. No sitting for me ... I walk around a bit during the game while I catch video highlights. Then I still went to an evening Zumba class ... not because I felt like I needed any more activity, but because I just enjoy it!  I actually got some housework and laundry done during the day, as well as a couple blog posts up (alas, this isn't my only blog). 

I must admit ... I'm feeling it a bit today. Whether it was all the activity, or simply the weight workout (and DOMS), there is some stiffness and soreness in the body. Not that it stopped me from hitting my Zumba class this morning (and some elliptical and bike, gotta get it in as there are TWO basketball games to video this evening). 

As I headed out the door to Zumba, I happened to look down and realize, I didn't have the watch part of my PolarFT4 on. Duh! I did that last week. A heart rate monitor generally has three pieces ... the watch, the strap, and the transmitter, which attaches to the strap, which you wrap around your chest. You need all three parts for a HRM to work.

Not that my HRM has been working lately! I've been having POLAR PROBLEMS! The issue above is user-error, but the other stuff ... Polar, I'm not particularly pleased! My HRM seems to work almost flawlessly for about six months, but then, even with washing the strap, replacing the batteries, even using an electrode gel, I'm getting skewed readings. A big fact ZERO. Then suddenly a heart rate of 200, when I know I'm nowhere near there.

I mean, at this point, I do have my ChargeHR. 

I bought it because of the problems I was having with the Polar ... but even with it, I'd still use the Polar, because I wanted to see how close the readings were. They have been pretty close. Ironically, after buying the ChargeHR the Polar started working better than it had been in a bit. I wondered if somehow the Polar KNEW it was going to be replaced and was making a last ditch effort to show it's worth! ;)  Because electronics are alive ... (sometimes it seems that way though, doesn't it?)

I do like that the Polar display is ON during a workout. To see my heart rate on the ChargeHR, I have to press a couple of buttons. That isn't that easy as I'm bouncing around in Zumba class. My HRM readings aren't only something I'm interested in after, seeing how I did ... it's motivating to see the stats during class, so see that I'm getting it up there, or not, and knowing I need to push it some more.

But the issues mentioned above aren't the only Polar problems I had. It supposedly has a "comfort strap" ... and a little portion that flips to cover the connection to protect your skin. Still, I would have discomfort with the strap, and downright pain at one point. I finally checked it out a little closer, and it had actually broken the skin. Ouch!

I was able to cover up this traumatic injury with a band-aid, and also switch the strap so the connection was on the other side (of course then this just started happening over there).  Fitness struggles are SO hard, aren't they?

One other "problem" ... which is a good problem, and also a fixable problem (I just have to look at the instructions and see how to change some things) is that in some of my recent Zumba exercise, my "in zone" numbers have been low. It's because my heart rate has actually been TOO high. Now users can adjust this range to their own specifications, so I just need to figure out how to do that. Rather than a specific "in zone" reading, with a high limit, I'd rather move the upper end, so I can get a better accounting of all my minutes above a certain range, no upper limit (as I really don't ever have to worry that I'm dangerously high, I just don't do that! I struggle enough getting my heart rate up!)

I've had a couple wardrobe malfunctions as well, when the strap would suddenly come undone while dancing ... a couple times while I was up front leading of course too! But even with all these issues, I continue to plug along with my Polar.

Have you had any Polar Problems? 

Linking up with Workout Wednesday. 

I also thought I'd do a quick Weigh-In Wednesday mention. I usually don't actually do it on Wednesday, as Friday is my official weigh in. But as I mentioned in my Monday post, I was up FOUR pounds over the weekend. 155.6 to 159.6. Well, after being good on Monday, and my big day yesterday, I am down to 155.8 anyway. Hopefully I can lose a little big more so I can log a loss for Friday. Check back then!

A HRM Hiatus

I own TWO Polar FT4 heart rate monitors. I bought my first one back in 2013, when I first started on my weight loss journey (again). I didn't love it. I didn't even wear it all that much. It took until July of 2014 before I even talked about it on my blog. When I started Zumba last year ... I started wearing it for that hour, and comparing the stats to those my Fitbit estimated (Zumba Stats). I did get a little addicted to the data, and to the motivation during the workout. I'd glance at the watch and check my heart rate, and if it wasn't high enough, I'd try to push myself a little harder.

But ... even though the Polar FT4 has really good reviews, it seems like after about 6 months of daily use, it just doesn't work as well. I'll admit, I'm not that good about washing the strap (it's recommended to rinse it after every use). I know at some point the battery would need to be replaced. I just ended up buying a new one. I'd started with the gray watch, then decided I wanted the pink after all. Sometimes when I'd work out twice in a day, I wouldn't want to put the soggy strap back on and ... a small part of me wondered if perhaps my original Polar was a bit wonky. So many people would say their HRM was giving them nice big numbers for a calorie burn. Mine wasn't. It's so hard for me to get my heart rate up. Maybe I'm super fit? Maybe I'm just a workout wimp? Anyway, I secretly hoped that with a new Polar FT4 I'd magically get better numbers. Yea ... that didn't happen. Pretty much the same.

My pretty pink Polar worked well for ... about six months. Then I started getting wonky readings. It wouldn't pick up a heart rate. It would, then it would drop to zero. It would seem to get stuck on a high or low number and not change. Grrrrrr.  Same as before. I ordered some new batteries and tried installing them in the old one (which had died completely) and got it up and running. Sort of. Still some struggles.

I wore my gray watch portion to Zumba last Friday. Later, when I was back home and went to record my stats from class ... I couldn't find it. Monday, I was feeling sick, and didn't go to Zumba. Yesterday, I went, but still feeling sick, I didn't think I could endure the tightness of the chest strap (I was having enough trouble breathing as it was!).  Anyway ... as I head out to Zumba today. I COULD strap on the pink Polar ... but you know what? I think I'm going to take a short HRM Hiatus. 

As motivating as the monitor can be ... if it isn't working right, it can be SO distracting. As I'm dancing along in class, I look and see it reflecting a big fact ZERO and what do I do? I STOP. I adjust the chest strap. I pause it and restart. I press it the transmitter more firmly into my chest. Then I give up and go back to dancing, but feel discouraged because I know it's not recording correct information.

Today ... I'm just going to dance.

Now, I'm not cRaZY ... I'll still wear my Fitbit of course! Linking up with Workout Wednesday ... wish me luck, I'm still feeling under the weather. I actually felt pretty good during Zumba yesterday and was glad I had gone. I actually really didn't have a choice,  as I had committed to helping out with the class. The instructor had gone on vacation to Mexico and asked me and another gal to take over the class and lead the songs. The other gal didn't show ... it was all me! My first (and last? A Zumba Instructor?) time leading a Zumba class (I actually don't know/didn't have the music for that many songs, so we had to repeat a couple to hit the hour).

Heart Rate Monitors

I've been a pedometer person for over eight years. I discovered Fitbit four years ago. It wasn't until last year (Spring 2013) that I first invested in a heart rate monitor. I wasn't that impressed at the beginning, and I'm always anxious to take it off asap (unlike my Fitbit which I wear 24/7) ... but my HRM has become an integral part of my fitness feedback and tracking.

I had been perfectly pleased with my Fitbit, and wasn't really looking for anything new. As I joined MFP and started reading the forums there, it seemed heart rate monitors were highly recommended for calorie estimates during your workouts. I looked into some, was impressed with the reviews and price of the PolarFT4 and purchased it. 

Originally ... I didn't like it much at all and I very close to giving it away to someone who would appreciate it. Having to wear the strap (and moisten the strap, yuck!) was uncomfortable. I'd have to put the pieces together and put it on before every workout (as I would take it off immediately after).  I had to remember to actually start it (oh the frustration on finishing a workout only to determine I had not done that), and sometimes it had trouble finding my heart beat. Then of course, there were the actual estimates. They were LOW. Lower than the machine readouts, lower than the Fitbit. It seems like everyone else would say their HRM readings came in higher than their other estimates. If they were accurate, I guess that was good for me to know though.

As I'm on and off my elliptical multiple times a day ... I don't put on my HRM for it anymore (after a few times to see that I am pretty consistent, and consistently lower than the machine and Fitbit estimates). Same goes for the stationary bike. I would wear it if I walked or jogged, for my 30DS workouts, and most recently for Zumba. I'd still wear my Fitbit and then compare the estimates.

Beyond the calorie estimate itself ... a HRM can provide you with very interesting data DURING your workout. You can watch you heart rate go up and down, see what it takes to maintain it "in the zone", see how high it gets, see how quickly it can drop if you stop moving. I really use the feedback when jogging or during Zumba, and I purposely try to keep it "in the zone" (between 115-150 beats), increasing my intensity if I see it dropping down. Many will also dial it back if they get it up too high ... THAT just doesn't really seem to be a problem for me (I guess maybe I'm a bit wimpy). 

I am a numbers gal. I would LOVE to know for sure what my calorie burn (and intake) is, but I know it's all estimates (Exercise Estimates). Just to make the matter even more confusing, I keep reading that HRMs, while probably the best estimator for steady-state cardio, are NOT good for tracking other exercises (weight training for example).   Heart Rate Monitors and Strength Training & Heart Rate Monitors and Calorie Estimation. I don't know how "expert" the authors are, but as I try to look into it, it does seem to be supported. I'm always interested in learning more and trying to get my numbers as accurate as possible.

So while I'll never look at my HRM and say "I just burned xx of calories" and take it as fact, I will appreciate any and all feedback. I'll take the calorie estimate with a grain of salt, but if it's higher than yesterday's calorie estimate for the same type of workout, I consider that a thumbs up. I'll watch my max, and my average ... at how fast my heart rate drops back down (that's a good thing, right? Your heart recovering quickly?)  I'm still learning myself!  Here's another article spotlighting the PolarFT4 and another good article about HRMs in general (The Real Facts about HRMs). So much information!  

Do you own a heart rate monitor?

What's your experience?

Thoughts on their calorie estimates?

Linking up with Workout Wednesday and the Hump Day Blog Hop.

Just for fun, going along with my topic today ... I thought I'd share a couple "heart beat" songs that I've been enjoying lately. Both have a great jogging beat (around 160BPM) and both are available for FREE download from Freegal (libraries all over the US participate in this, sign in with your library card and download the MP3s for free!) Linking up with The Thrifty Home.

 Song #1 is "My Heart Skips a Beat" by Lenka
Song #2 is "Pulses" by Karmin (which I couldn't find on Grooveshark to include here).

 

The FitSnap App

Browsing blogs, I came across a recommendation for the FitSnap app. It is a fun way to create photo recaps of your workouts (so many people do the "selfie" shots anyway, it's an easy way to add a little to them and make them more meaningful with documented stats).  I thought this would be a good companion piece to my post yesterday (Favorite Cardio) as I feature my three favorite cardio workouts with FitSnap photos *Ü*

There are different presentations of your stats, and you can personalize, adding text or additional information if you like.

The app itself is free, and there are two in-app purchases for additional themes (running/yoga). I haven't upgraded, as I don't do yoga, and don't run too much (the basic "free" running themes more than meet my needs).  But if you were big on either of those, the $.99 upgrade might be worth looking into.

I'm new to the whole Instagram, hashtag aspect of sharing, but I did post my picture on Instagram, and followed the hashtag to find oodles of other users Fitsnap Photos. It was fun to look through all the great activity others are up to, and I couldn't help but be inspired by it all! If you're not into the whole "selfie" shot, many people used the Fitsnap app without featuring themselves in the photo.

I've really enjoyed the Fitsnap app. I'm sure you'll see it appear here and there in my blog, on my Facebook page or on my Instagram feed. Have you heard of Fitsnap before? Is it something you think you would use? Sometimes a fun new way to feature your workouts is enough to give you some added incentive to actually get that workout in!

That's MY tip this Tuesday.

Linking up with Lisa and Kristin.

Check them out for more tips, and link up your own!

A Fitbit Family

I discovered the Fitbit almost as soon as it hit the marketplace. I remember I placed my order and had to wait several months, as supply could not meet demand. As soon as I tried it ... I was hooked. My first Fitbit isn't pictured above. It was the "Ultra" and I had it for 3+ years. It was starting to crack a bit, and the new One (pictured above) had been released. So I upgraded.

My old Ultra still worked, and I wondered if my oldest son would be interested in wearing it. He was thinking of joining the track team and I thought I would be fun to track his steps. He never did adopt it though. So, I thought I'd offer it to my mom. She doesn't get a ton of steps in, but she has been a pedometer person for many years, and I thought she might be motivated by the Fitbit feedback. I got her set up, and the next morning she forgot to remove it before going for her morning water aerobics. It was dead. But even just wearing the Fitbit for less than 24 hours had her interested enough that she wanted one.

She bought a One (we debated between the One and the Flex, but ultimately decided on the One). She liked it so much, she bought one for my dad too.  As summer hit, suddenly my oldest son WAS interested in tracking his steps, and #2 was as well (I also really thought it would be interesting to see how active my boys were). I authorized a purchase for both boys ... but #1 wanted the wristband style and the newly released Flex was on backorder everywhere. He bought the Jawbone Up instead. Unfortunately the Up went down ... to the bottom of the lake after my son hit the water hard while wave running. I was sad about the loss ... but I hadn't been happy with the Up anyway. I couldn't see his stats, which was one of the things I wanted (to compare/contrast the graphs/numbers with mine and his brother). We did end up getting him the Flex.

... so yes, we are a Fitbit family. My mom ended up getting one for my brother for his birthday, and I think other family members may be interested as well. It's fun for me to get after my boys, telling them that Grandpa is beating them in steps (which he often is!) We're all "friends" on the Fitbit site, so we can see each other's steps and have a little family competition.  I am now a pro at setting up a Fitbit ... I think I did it for everyone!

 I also go ahead and get everyone signed up for the various reward sites (Reaping the Rewards) and we're able to give each other bonus points on Everymove.   When I saw that a $5 Amazon giftcard was being offered, I quickly got everyone signed up (there are limited amounts, and these actual cash rewards are few and far between).  Was it bad when I had my boys turn over their $5 Amazon credit to me once they had earned the reward? I HAD paid for the Fitbit after all.

I'm still watching for the Amazon offering again (until then, we're all just donating to charity) but #2 did snag some Redbox codes another time.

The boys aren't as active now that they are back in school. But it's fun to look at their daily graph and be able to see when they have gym, or basketball practice. Grandpa is always quite competitive ... but no one in the family can beat me (although #2 did have days he did during the summer).

Hubby's birthday is coming up ... I don't know if he's really interested at all. I think it would be fun to add him to our Fitbit Family too though. I've also wanted to buy a Zip ... just to be able to experiment with it (I like to consider myself a bit of a Fitbit expert). I think it would be fun to stick it on the younger boys and see how their activity stacks up to the rest of us.  We'll see ... (update June2014 ... Tracking the Family).

For more information on the Fitbit ... check out my post 

Wondering About a Fitbit? 

 I love my Fitbit feedback!

Ohhh ... I Want One!

I'm a gadget girl (married to a gadget guy).  I'm quite happy with my Fitbit tracker and while I keep my eye on and opinions open about the many similar items out there, I'm not planning on replacing it anytime soon (although I'd LOVE to give some of them a try  and compare if anyone wanted to comp me one! *Ü*) My brother shared a link to this new gadget ... the Airo, and I'm intrigued! Here are just a few links discussing it~ 

• Mobi Health News
• Tech Hive
• Engadget
• Betakit
• LiveScience (this one sounds the most skeptical)

Like my Fitbit, the Airo will track activity and sleep. Ok ... I already have that. But THIS little wristband is also supposed to monitor your stress (tracking heart rate, I do have a HRM but I don't wear it all the time) and a spectrometer to ... track your nutrition!

From the Airo website ... "AIRO is able to automatically track both the calories you consume and the quality of your meals. With a built in spectrometer, AIRO uses different wavelengths of light to detect nutrients released into the bloodstream as they are broken down during and after your meals." The Airo can tell when you start and finish your meals, give you a calorie estimate, and even feedback on your eating habits in general (do you eat meals at set times during the day, or do you graze? You are probably aware of your own habits, but sometimes having them documented is eye-opening).

If that works ... that sounds AWESOME.

All the articles seemed to be released in the past day or so, so this is brand new. It is available for pre-order ($149 + $10 shipping, regularly $199) but it isn't set to be released until Fall of 2014. That is a whole year away! It doesn't sound like anyone has really had one in hand yet to try out either ... I'm really looking forward to reviews. 

I haven't pre-ordered it yet myself... It's not the price that's stopping me, it's the wait. I don't think a prototype even exists yet. But I'll definitely be keeping my eye on this. If it was available right now, I don't know that I'd be able to resist grabbing one. I'm sure I'd still wear my Fitbit and compare the activity and sleep feedback. I love second opinions (and third, and forth ... I've said it before, I like redundancy). I'd still track on MFP and it would be SO interesting to see how closely the calorie count intake would add up... or didn't. I'd buy this for the "nutritional" feedback function alone.  If it actually works.

What do you think? 

Does this intrigue you as much as it does me?

.... and following up, sounds like it was too good to be true. Production was canceled and orders refunded (I'd never ordered, was waiting for some reviews). I read about it here ...

The Wii and Me

I can't remember when the Wii first hit the marketplace. We did end up getting one for the kidlets, but I never got around to trying the various WiiSports (bowling, tennis, etc.)  Then came the release of WiiFit and the balance board. Surprisingly, it was my MOM who was the first to invest in this. While visiting grandma, the kids tried out the various activities and clamored for it's addition to our video game stash. As I was a bit intrigued by the possible workouts ... we got one.

That was several years ago. As with many workouts, it was used a LOT when it was still new, a novelty. I used it, but had to compete with the kids for time (it wasn't always available at my disposal).  It was also out in the main room, so there was often an audience ... or even "helpers" who would come press the balance board to throw things off.

As interest waned, I ended up moving the WiiFit into my gym. It's now always available, I don't have to switch out the disk with the kid's games, I don't have an audience  ... yet I still don't get to it that much. I guess I generally feel I get more "bang for my buck" with my other exercises (elliptical, treadmill, bike, weights, DVD workout).  But I do want to try and keep it in the repertoire.

I like the original, balance exercises the best. Those are the things I feel I don't necessarily get with my other workouts. I think the balance board is a unique idea. While the kids do still come in occasionally to do a little WiiFit, the can't beat Mom at soccer heading, Ski Slalom, Table Tilt, and Penguin Slide. Those are my main "exercises" ... I'll throw in a little hula at times (I bought an actual exercise hula hoop, and it's harder to spin the imaginary Wii one!), bike around the island or pop balloons while riding a segway. Sometimes I'll even fly ... you really don't want an audience for that one!

I have set up a Yoga series ... but I don't do it as often as I should (on or off the Wii). The strength training or simple steps ... I guess I'd rather just do my own thing for those.

I know many people use the Wii for their weigh-ins ... I do always find it interesting to see how it compares to my scale (it's usually pretty close, but I am including some estimation for clothing).

I know there is a ton of other stuff out there - Jillian Michaels, Zumba ... not officially a "workout" but the "Dance" games can get you moving (my mom has a couple of those).  I'm pretty much JUST a WiiFit girl, when I even get that in.

Have you ever tried WiiFit?

Linking up with

Workout Wednesday & Weigh In Wednesday 

My Appy Place

I live in a techno-family (hubby is quite the gadget geek, always anxious for the latest and greatest) ...  yet I myself have a hard time with change. When the Ipod Touch first came out, I didn't need it. I was perfectly happy with my traditional ipod. Little did I know the impact apps would have. While I resisted an iphone for quite a while (just wasn't sure it was worth the monthly service cost) it is something I wouldn't want to be without now. In addition to staying connected (phone, email, texts), my gadget lets me read books, play Scramble (it's my turn, I know, you don't need to nudge me again), follow blogs and very importantly - aid in my journey toward losing weight. 

Last week, I saw an article from Time Magazine with the title "Weight Loss Apps - Don't Waste Your Money". Not long after, browsing Facebook I saw a fellow blogger had linked up to a similar read (Evaluating Mobile Weight Loss Apps) for discussion.  Then I noticed another article along the same lines on the Women's Health Magazine site  (Why Your Weight Loss Apps Aren't Working). 

All three articles were based on a new study published by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. There was much talk of "a list of 20 intervention techniques that have been proven effective as weight-loss methods" used to judge said apps, yet none of the articles included what these techniques were (WH did mention three: calorie balance, stress reduction, and portion control) or a link to the original document. One statement (in the Time article) said "these digitally-based approaches to weight loss may not be as successful as old-school diet and exercise." 

Hmmm ... an app doesn't magically make us lose weight just by pressing buttons? Well dang it!

In my opinion and experience, these apps help me WITH my old-school diet and exercise. They motivate me to move, allow me to more accurately track calories and make educated food choices. They give me graphs and feedback. The app itself isn't making me lose weight. It's motivating me to eat better and exercise more. THAT is what is helping me lose weight. Yes, I could do the same things without the apps (keep a paper food journal, track my exercises manually) but it's so nice for me to have MFP on my phone where I can look up calorie counts and add them no matter where I am. I love syncing my Fitbit app to see my latest steps and activity graph on the go. My Streaks calendar motivates me to work just a little harder so I can put an X on another day and provides me with a quick visual of how I've done this month compared to last month. 

The APP isn't actually doing the work.  It isn't a magic bullet that will make fat disappear. If I don't utilize the app with my actions, nothing is going to happen.  It's up to me, not an app, or a website, or a magic pill.  I am the only one who can do anything about my health and fitness. But if an app can  motivate me, enable me, educate me ... help me, then I say it's a great thing to have!

Of course there are apps out there that I have tried and they didn't click. Different things work for different people. The study asked "do you get what you pay for?" When people shell out money does that motivate more than a free version (the answer was no ... which doesn't surprise me, as even if you pay for an app it's about $3. People shell out MUCH more for gym memberships, DVDs, etc. and are often not using them either). I think I've only paid for a couple of health apps, but  my main apps are available for free.

I'm sure there are many apps out there that do cost a little more upfront, or try to entice you with in-app purchases (I looked at the new Jillian Michaels app that has a monthly fee and passed on that myself. I know I'd do better with a basic video from her for a lot less).  Just like any other health product, you have to weigh the pros and cons and decide you think it is worth the money. Even though this Yahoo article has the title Why Weight Loss Apps Are a Waste of Money the author seems to be siding with me on this one. This article What Weight Loss Apps are Missing was a little more insightful than the first three I stumbled upon.

So the point of my post. The top three articles just bugged me a bit. I didn't like the generalization that "apps won't help you lose weight." They have been SO helpful to me. I'd hate to have someone who WOULD be motivated by apps not use them after reading one of these articles. I would also not generalize and say "weight loss apps work wonders" because it does depend on the individual. I say you need to give things a try (oh, if my husband reads that sentence he will fall off his chair laughing, as I mentioned at the start, I'm NOT one for trying new things myself), and latch onto the things that work for you!

Streaming vs DVDs

I don't SIT and watch TV anymore (ok, there is some snuggle time with hubby some evenings, we watched "The Walking Dead" last night). But if it's just me ... I only allow myself to watch while working out. There is a television in my home gym. It's not actually connected to cable, I can't watch live programming on it. I am hooked up to a DVD player and a Roku (so Netflix and Amazon). Another great product is PlayOn/PlayLater (also accessible though my Roku box), which allows me to watch anything available on the computer (YouTube, what the networks put online, which is actually almost everything if you are willing to wait a day) on my television in my gym. This has allowed me to keep current on some shows that in the past, I had to wait on (until they hit Netflix or DVD). Wanting to watch my shows is not only a nice distraction while working out, but it's also a big motivator ... I want to see what happens next!  I keep track of What I'm Watching, and I did a Let's Talk About TV link up post featuring some favorites. What are YOU watching?

I must admit ... we are a techno family and I've been converted to the convenience of streaming. It is SO nice to be able to easily switch between shows, not having to find, load and go through the pages of copyright warnings and slow start menu. If I'm in the middle of a movie, and I want to do me some Jillian ... I can quickly and easily move between the two in moments. When making a purchase ... streaming offers instant gratification (no waiting!) and often has lower prices.

Now ... DVD can have it's advantages as well. Originally one of these advantages was captions. I must have captions if I'm on the treadmill, as it's quite noisy. The elliptical isn't loud, but I still prefer having the subtitles as otherwise it is so hard for me to catch everything (I think my hearing is fine, there's just a lot of "low" talking on television!). Netflix and Amazon are doing much better now at offering captions on many of their streamed offerings. While new products are generally a bit more expensive, you can often find used DVDs at low prices. DVDs are also lendable.  But DVDs can get damaged and/or lost.

The other advantage to DVDs is they do NOT depend on your wireless signal. I did have struggles a couple weeks ago, TRYING to get in a 30DS workout, and my internet was on the fritz, which was beyond frustrating!

So when I wanted to invest in Jillian's Ripped in 30 program ... I was torn. DVD? Streaming? It was slightly less expensive as an instant download from Amazon ... BUT the four different workouts didn't have separate chapter headings (as 30DS does). For something like this, where you are watching a portion over and over, that was unacceptable.  I actually asked for a refund (and good ol' Amazon did give it to me).  So I've got this on DVD now, which is ok, but not as convenient as streaming if I'm able to access the workouts individually. 

Linking up with Tips and Tricks Tuesday

with Kristen and Kristen

Do you watch during your workouts?

Are you aware of all the streaming options available?

Do you think streaming will ever replace DVDs?

Which do you prefer?

Exercise Estimates - Trying to be Truthful

As I exercise, I get quite a bit of feedback. My machines give me an estimate, my Fitbit has a calculation, my heart rate monitor comes up with another number. At times, I'll even check an internet calculator for an online opinion. Occasionally (but rarely) these numbers are similar, and then I feel fairly confident that the calorie burn is close to correct. But other times ... HUGE variations between the different devices. I've been getting a lot on inconsistent readings from my bike workouts especially.  

First, Fitbit (I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Fitbit, check out my post Wondering about a Fitbit ). Now, the Fitbit should be worn on the torso or waist (wrist only for sleeping, or if you have a Flex). Wearing it on my sock, while biking is NOT how it was intended to be used for an accurate calorie or distance/step count.  I was really only looking at Fitbit's numbers out of curiosity, but it's a good thing I didn't default and assume it was correct ...

So you can see, I have two activities recorded this day. The first was a 1.5 mile jog. The second was a 10 mile stint on the stationary bike. Although the bike ride took almost twice as long (37 minutes opposed to 18 minutes), the step count is similar. So I have no idea why Fitbit estimated the bike ride SO high at 350 (it's often been almost up to 400). It is certainly no where near the same intensity as jogging (I keep my stationary cycling pretty leisurely, reading while I ride).  So I always go in and adjust the calorie count down ... but down to what?

The bike itself estimates a calorie count between 230-250 for my 10 miles.  The bike does ask for my weight, it knows the actual distance and the difficulty level ... so it should be right, right? Well ... not according to my HRM!

My Polar takes into account all my stats (weight, age, sex ... as does the Fitbit). Of course it also uses heart rate to calculate an exercise estimate. Generally, HRM are considered accurate for "steady state cardio" ... but less accurate for other activities. You can see my Polar comes in quite a bit lower (157 calories) than the bike readout. During my ride,  I never  got my heart rate up "in the zone" ...  even at a pretty steady 16mph, it doesn't feel like I'm working that hard.  I'm really using the time for reading, just doing it on the exercise bike so I feel less guilty about spending so much time with my books (Riding and Reading). If I can do both at once, whatever the correct calorie count ... at least it is something!

So as I gather all my estimates ... I most often take the lowest one. That is usually the HRM. The machine readout is generally highest, with the Fitbit somewhere in the middle. For a straight walk/jog on the track, the Fitbit and HRM are usually almost identical. For DVD workouts (cardio or 30DS) the HRM is generally higher than Fitbit. 

When I'm entering an exercise manually into Fitbit, Fitbit also subtracts a little bit to take BMR into consideration (what I would have burned during that time anyway, as Fitbit takes that into it's total estimate for the day). I really TRY to be truthful with my exercise estimates. I know it does me no good to overestimate the numbers ... my body will burn what it burns no matter which estimate I write down.

Do you feel you are getting accurate calorie burn estimates? 

Which devices do you trust most?

How important is an accurate exercise calorie count to you?

It isn't just the calorie count that has me confused ... my "step" count for my bike workouts come in vastly different some days. Generally, my Fitbit and Omron pedometer are fairly close at the end of the day. As I'm averaging 22,000+ a day, variations of a few hundred don't seem bad. But I noticed on some cycling days, I was getting some big differences (2000+). 

Here's a snapshot of a before/after ...

Now I must say upfront here ... pedometers are NOT really meant to track cycling. I know this. For my own personal records though, I like to get step "credit" for the times I'm on the bike. I move my pedometers to my sock (NOT how they are intended to be worn) and get some "step" credit close to what I would have received if I'd spent the same amount of time on the treadmill or elliptical. But you can see (above) ... the two devices can count "steps/revolutions" VERY differently. It's not always the case though, here's another workout ...

... on this day, the counts stayed almost exactly the same!  

I'm not sure if I'm placing them differently or what. 

I guess I'll just have to continue to experiment.

 I found this interesting article.
Fitness Trackers and Calorie Counts

and check out my updated post
More Exercise Estimates