What's With Wednesday Weigh-In?

I'm getting SO close ... so close to moving from "overweight" to "normal" ...

I want to be normal.

I weigh everyday. Friday's are my "official" weigh-in day though. After I've been good all week. Before the weekend starts. It's hard to eat right and get in the exercise on the weekend.  But one of the link-ups I've participated in is Weigh-In Wednesday (see the linkup HERE).  I like the alliteration, but I do NOT particularly like my Wednesday weigh-ins ... What's UP with Wednesdays?

Now I KNOW, when weighing everyday you can't let little fluctuations bother you. But I have to admit, when I stepped on the scale this morning and I was up an entire pound from yesterday I was frustrated! Ok, so I did eat a bit yesterday (calories in at 2400), but I also did uber exercise. My total burn (from Fitbit) was over 3100. I was under my calorie goal on MFP. Oh well, if you look back, last Wednesday was my highest day of the week too. So here's fingers crossed that Friday's weigh in will be on track ... that would be something in the 150s. Just anything to break into the 150s (even 159.9 and I'd be happy). 

My dang weight tile on Fitbit isn't even in color, because I'm not "in range" ...

I'm gonna be thrilled when I hit 153.3, let me tell you!

Up next ... Work Out Wednesday 

More alliteration

... and I'm off to elliptical

My Fitness Pal ... A Good Friend to Have!

I'm not new to this whole "trying to lose weight" thing. I've been working on it for years now. I've got the exercise part down, but I have not mastered the eating yet. I had tried a couple different calorie counters before, but I just didn't stick to them. There was always something that wasn't that user friendly and I'd use it as an excuse. It was just too hard. 

In May, I found MyFitnessPal (MFP) and it something clicked for me. The site was so easy! There were SO many foods in the database. There is a barcode scanner for UPCs. There is an app for my iPhone. It syncs with my Fitbit. There is an active community and supportive people. Most importantly ... it's working for me! Apparently, it's working for a lot of people, as it is currently being featured by Life Hacker as the Best Food and Nutrition Tracking Tool (see the article HERE). 

Just sign up ... give them your stats (height, weight, age) and how much you want to lose (1 pound a week is recommended) and it comes up with a daily calorie goal. If you stick to that goal, you should lose weight. The food diary is so straight-forward and easy and just waiting for your entries ...

Chances are, most foods you are eating will already be in the database. The majority of of foods are added by other users, so it is good to double check the data. If what you need isn't there, you can add it yourself . It's quick and easy. You can save meals when you eat the same things often, or even create recipes. A recipe can help with homecooked items, or even just a simple combo (like my French Toast ... 2 slices of bread, 1 egg, butter and powdered sugar to top it ... not really a recipe per say, but then it is all there at the press of one button).   If you want to personalize the categories you can ... the "Completely Empty Calories" category was my creation. Unfortunately I add way too much stuff there. I'm working on that. You can make you food diary public, or keep it confidential. Someday I hope to feel good enough about my food diary to open it up. That day is not today.

MFP does ask about your activity and will take this in account when giving you your daily calorie goal. I personally set my account to "sedentary" even though I'm not.  My Fitbit is going to credit me for ALL my movement (exercise and daily activity).  MFP then adds calorie credit based on my actual activity ala Fitbit. When I exercise and am active, I am allowed to eat a little more (which is good, because I can't stay at a mere 1350 per day!).  I also love that MFP sends my food data to Fitbit - so I can benefit from the "Intake vs Burn" graph there. The two sites work together so well for me. 

I like Facebook, and when I first joined Walker Tracker, I was fairly involved there. But I never got into the community action on Fitbit or my other calorie tracking sites. I have have enjoyed the message boards, groups and newsfeed options that MFP offers. I was pretty proactive in making some new "friends" and I do probably spend more time there then I should. It is nice for motivation and support.  I'm "scrapjen" there if you wanted to be "pals" on MyFitnessPal *Ü*  All my current weight-loss, my current success, happened the moment I joined MFP.

Have you heard of MFP? Have you tried it? 

What calorie tracking site do you use?

Have You Ever ... (FMM)

Friend Making Monday is a weekly post on the blog AllTheWeigh ... a topic is thrown out (sometimes weight/fitness related, sometimes not) and bloggers answer on their own blogs, then post the link back to the original post (HERE) in the comments section. It's a great way to connect with other bloggers on their own journey, and maybe find some friends and more motivation. Today's topic is ...

Have You Ever?

1. Jumped out of an airplane?  No ... and I'm not planning on it. Ever.

2. Lived alone?  No.  I went from home, to college roommates, to marriage. 

3. Met a celebrity? A friend and I went to see Will Swenson and AudraMcDonald in a fundraiser production at Hale Theater a few years ago. Many consider Will a celebrity as he's starred on Broadway and such ... he's just Will to me (we went to high school together, in fact he took me to prom). I'd seen Audra in the series "Private Practice" and the "Annie" movie, so that was cool to meet her in real life. 

4. Said something to someone that you immediately regret saying? Of course, who hasn't? 

5. Had a manicure/pedicure? I never had until after I lost weight the first time (in 2006). It was part of the whole "new look" ... tanned up, hair lightened and manicure/pedicure. I DO love the pedicures and have gotten several through the years. Sometimes I bang up my toes too much (so the nails are shredded). I actually have my nails done now ... I am considering giving them up. It is a lot of cost and maintenance. 

6. Gotten a hickey? I really don't think so

7. Owned a pet that was not a dog or a cat? I've had hamsters, canaries, parakeets, hermit crabs and of course some goldfish.  No pets currently.

8. Been outside of your home country?  Just barely, across the border to Mexico.

9. Kissed your best friend? Yes I've kissed Hubby.

  

10. Eaten food that fell on the floor?  Considering the cleanliness of my kitchen floor that answer SHOULD be no, but ...

11. Met someone online? I've have a bunch of online pals from my scrapbooking years that I consider great friends. I've found online friends through fitness too (WalkerTracker and MFP). I've actually connected with a couple IRL, but most stay just online.

12. Been on TV? Nope.

13. Had braces?  Yes, but alas ... my twisted teeth returned after I stopped wearing my retainer way too early.

14. Gone skinny dipping?  No ... way too self conscious about being naked.

15. Been to the opera? No, not a fan.

16. Been caught making out by a policeman?  No, but we were apparently trespassing during a date. The driver (not my date) did get ticketed. 

17. Sung in public? I was a singer ... a plethora of performances during my high school and college years. Still some church singing after I was married, but it's been years now since I've sung.

18. Handed out candy on Halloween? Yes, hubby and I alternate door duty and accompanying the kids duty. 

19. Been snowed in? We're tough here in Utah, it takes a LOT of snow before things shut down. But there has been a time or two we did get hit that hard. 

  

20. Fallen in front of other people? A few times I'm sure ... the most memorable was during a performance, a play when I was the ONLY person on stage. The floor is slippery after the fog machine!

21. Cheated on a test? No ... I was an academic over-achiever.

22. Regretted saying “I love you” to someone? Yes.

23. Finished a meal in a restaurant and realized that you didn’t have your wallet? No. One group date the boys PRETENDED they had (they had actually made arrangements behind our backs) and put us girls on the spot (do we dine and dash? do we offer to wash dishes? do we call someone?)

24. Shot a gun? Some target shooting, but I don't really enjoy it. 

25. Heard a song that was written for (or about) you? I wrote some songs back in the day ... I guess they were about me (my life). 

Ok -- it's YOUR turn. Have YOU ever?

Can I Take a Vacation from the Vacation?

"Vacation. All I ever wanted. Vacation.  Had to get away"

 That's the Go-Go's singing. Not me.  

I'm just a homebody at heart. 

We didn't do a lot of family vacations when I was young. I wonder if I'd be different if I'd been raised as a traveler. My first trip to Disneyland was with my choir group in high school.  I'd never been on an airplane until I was in my mid-20s.  I'm not afraid of flying, but the lines, the waits, the cost... just makes it unappealing to me. Of course a car is even worse. I DO have extreme anxiety in cars, even as a passenger. Being on the road for hours is torture to me.

I HAVE gone on vacation ... hubby and I went to a dude ranch in Wickenburg, Arizona where we rode horses, shot skeet and floated in a hot air balloon. We went to Florida where we tried parasailing and swam with the dolphins. We went to Cancun and saw the sites. So ... I think I'm done now *Ü*

I don't have many pictures from these vacations ...

I didn't like pictures when I was overweight.

This was 2005. 

Mexico.

For family vacations, we've gone to Oregon a couple of times (hubby's brother lived there). We've taken the crew to Disneyland twice. There have been smaller trip to Moab and Bear Lake. There were good memories made, pictures taken. But every trip has the inevitable stressful stuff that seriously impacts my enjoyment. I'm do tend to have the rosy glow looking back, remembering the good more than the bad. But during the vacation, I often can't wait for it to end and fade into just the happy memories.

Oregon - 2006

Disneyland - 2009

A couple years ago, when Hubby planned a trip to Seattle (where his brother's family lives now) I just did not have it in me to make the 16+ hour drive there- and that's just one way! I elected to sit this vacation out. Child #4 (mama's boy and fellow homebody) decided to sit it out with me. The others went and had a great time. Back at home, we homebodies kept ourselves entertained and comfortable in our routine. I never regretted my decision. There were plenty of pictures from the trip and I felt I enjoyed it more vicariously than I would have had I actually been there.

Last Fall, we received early Christmas gifts ... tickets to Disneyland. This was to be a vacation with extended family (Grandparents, Aunts/Uncles, cousins - although not all could attend).  Again ... I really debated staying home, but in the end I decided to try it.  The car ride actually wasn't too bad. I planned ahead with a portable DVD player, some audio books, and some Valium from my doctor.  I probably should have taken a pill at the park. The crowds, the lines, the chaos. The "Happiest Place on Earth"? Not for me. I really tried to put on a happy face, but I wasn't always successful. I did regret coming and think it would have been better to have everyone wish I was there, than to wish I wasn't there :(

The whole trip, the stress before, the depression after ... it really affected my eating and exercise. I just gave up a couple of weeks before the trip. What did it matter? I'd be spending hours sitting stationary in the car. While there is a lot of walking around the parks, there is also a LOT of just standing around in lines. My Fitbit Ultra was cracking a bit ... a worried it might fall off, or that it would get wet on one of the water rides. So I left it home. I took my Omron pedometer, but wouldn't you know it, it's battery died the first day. So I got no feedback for the steps I was taking. It was discouraging. Why not indulge in an overpriced churro or two?  Even if I had been trying to eat healthy, it would have been hard when the only options are fast food or snack items stashed at the hotel.  I gained 10+ pounds in just a couple months before/after Disney.

... So, guess what's on the calendar? Another family Seattle trip. What to do ...

I've been doing so well these last couple of months. I feel like I'm just in the habit forming stages. I've tracked every day on MFP for 85 days now. I'm down almost 20 pounds from where I was mid-May.   I wouldn't mind trying kayaking, but I'm not one for jogging on the beach or biking on the open road.  I know I wouldn't get in any "exercise" for an entire week. I NEED my exercise. I'm seriously addicted to it. And I have extreme eating issues, I don't want to have to have everyone plan menus around me ... but I don't want to starve or subsist on granola bars either.  Of course the car ride is the most daunting part ...

Child #3 and #4 have both inherited Mommy's anxieties (I'm SO sorry!). I'm not sure if they are up for the trip either. If I stay home, that gives them a choice.  If I go, they go. If I don't go, would they be ok without me there? If they go ... will I be ok home alone?

"Should I Stay or Should I Go" ... I opened this post with a song, and shall close with a song (it's by The Clash by the way, just in case you wanted to know) ... although I AM singing this one myself.

Does anyone else not like vacations, or is it just me?

Reaping the Rewards

Now for most of us ... FITNESS is its own reward. Just being healthier. Looking better. Feeling more confident. Being able to eat a few more calories. But as I've been actively being active ... I've noticed some programs that give you a little something back for your fitness. Even though I am going to work out for myself, I thought I'd check into what else I could get while I was at it ...

The great thing about these programs, is that most of them are linked with applications or devices you are already using.  For me, it's the Fitbit. I can just connect and forget about it.  All my stats and steps are credited to my various reward programs automatically. If you don't have a Fitbit, many other apps and devices link too ... Runkeeper, MapMyFitness, Garmin, BodyMedia, just to name a few.    Here's what I've been connecting to, my progress and reviews ...

Everymove was the first reward site I stumbled upon. It has many "connections" ... chances are there is something you are already using that will earn you points with this site. Like other social sites, you have a friend list, and you can give a few bonus points to others when you have an active day. There is an app, so you can check in easily on your phone. Now many of the "rewards" are really just discounts in disguise. I didn't find anything that appealed to me personally, so I started earning a $5 donation to the Make a Wish foundation. I've done that several times now. The rewards do change and some nice ones are only around for a limited time. I've been lucky enough to snag a $5 Amazon gift card more than once and my son earned five free rentals from Redbox.  Everymove is limited to US residents.  ( See my EVERYMOVE UPDATE post for my experience with Everymove).

Earndit is another reward site with several connecting partners. Again, many of the rewards are merely discounts, requiring a purchase. But again, there are charitable options as well. See my Earndit Update for my experience with them.

Achievemint offers a cash award of $25. It does take a while to earn the 25,000 points to collect the cash payout. I'm getting close ... I'll update if I actually do get a check!  It doesn't have quite as many connections, but Fitbit, Runkeeper and MapMyFitness apps are accepted. While it looks like anyone can sign up, you do need to be a US resident to redeem rewards. Bummer for those outside the US. (See my ACHIEVEMINT UPDATE post for my personal experience with this program). 

I had a Balance Rewards card from my local Walgreens, but honestly, I  wasn't earning any reward points ... until I discovered that I could get points just for walking! I simply connected my Fitbit, and I earn 1000 points per month (that is the monthly limit for steps, I usually get there about mid-month) ... 5000 points will give me a $5 credit. Since I've been paying a little more attention to their rewards program, I have added some points through purchases as well. If you don't redeem your credit immediately, it will actually grow more. 40,000 points, instead of being worth $40, is actually worth $50. There are a limited number of connections (Fitbit and BodyMedia for steps, Wirthings for weight) but you can enter your workouts manually if you were willing to go to the effort. (See my WALGREENS UPDATE for my review after using it for several months and redeeming my rewards).

These are the four reward sites I've been participating in. I just connect my Fitbit and forget it ... I'm not actually working out FOR these rewards. I'd be working out anyway, but hey, I'll take a kickback if it's offered. I'll donate a little to charity. And I'll keep on walking ...

When I first wrote this post, I said I had looked into GymPact and decided against participating. I work out in my home gym, I often do 20 minute segments (GymPact requires a full 30minutes). While there is reward, there is also risk. You must provide a credit card number and you get charged $5 if you commit, then miss a workout.

In January 2014 ... MyFitnessPal announced they were partnering with GymPact - now simply called Pact, as there were food pacts as well as exercise. At this point, I also saw that Fitbit was now an accepted partner, with 10,000 steps equivalent to a "workout" ... so I joined, and you can see my review here (Pacts and Paydays). 

Another very popular possible reward/challenge is DietBet. I have not personally participated in one of these, but I know of MANY people who have. Again, it is a little more involved then simply syncing my Fitbit. It does require an upfront payment, and pictures/proof of weight loss success. Like GymPact, losing money is as much of an incentive as winning money.

I like the first four reward sites ... there is no risk, just reward. Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy. 

I update this blog post with my reviews of the various programs. Another one out there now is FitStudio, which gives you ShopYourWayRewards which is basically store credit at Kmart/Sears and LandsEnd. Check out my review of that program (FitStudio Feedback).  

** and another update, check out my latest experiences (June2014) Fitness Rewards Update 

Anyone had any experiences with these sites, good or bad?  Any other reward sites out there? Does something like this motivate you more, or is it just a perk to what you would be doing already?

Weekly Weigh-In #4

Woot! That's THREE pounds down from last week. 1.6 down from yesterday, which was actually a new low as well. I'd had a little up a couple days ago and wasn't sure if I was even going to get my 1 pound loss this week. But I did *Ü* yea! It's TOM right now too. I haven't been able to determine exactly how that affects me, I have started tracking it right next to my weight in my excel graph so I can watch for trends.

I had been a little worried about this week ... wondering if TOM and some stress would add up to some emotional eating. I did ok, better than I thought I would. I had my "injury" on Tuesday (shoulder tweak), in which I was extremely lucky again that it wasn't anything lasting.  This next week will be an interesting one~ it could go either way. It has the possibility of being a great week for exercise and eating (absolutely NO excuses) ... but I'll also be in a situation I've never been in before, so who knows.

Ode to the Elliptical

I love my elliptical. We picked up the Nautilus 3000 sometime in 2007 and put it in our home gym. It has gotten a LOT of use from me over the years. Earlier this year... a bolt broke. It was hard to be without my elliptical while we ordered the part and had it repaired. 

Everyone has "their" exercise, one that works for them for whatever reason. Running, biking, Zumba ...elliptical is my exercise of choice. And here is why ...

• It's easy: I guess I need to push it more if it is "easy",  but it's harder to get a comparable burn on other machines without a lot more effort. It's also easier on the joints than most other cardio exercise.
• It's quiet: I can actually hear the TV (it's hard while on the treadmill).
• It doesn't require any prep: I can hop onto my elliptical at almost any time. I don't have to change into my workout wear. I don't jiggle enough to need a sports bra (although I am usually dressed to workout while on it). Best of all ... I do not need SHOES. I hate shoes! I wear slippers on my elliptical ... just another benefit of a home gym. I'm not sure if that would acceptable elsewhere. *Ü*

Now my elliptical has quite a few bells and whistles. It shows me calories burned, average speed and distance. It  shows speed, revolutions, mets, watts. It can track heart rate. It has several levels of resistance. There are a number of different programs.

I'm pretty boring actually. Admittedly, I do get in a routine rut. I pick the steady, unchanging course. I up the resistance to level 8 and try to keep it at an average of 16mph or over. I'll use the arms for a couple minutes, then grab the middle bars and try for a speed interval for a minute ... and repeat. 

The default time on the elliptical is 20 minutes ... and that is about perfect for me. Beyond that, my feet start falling asleep. The default weight on the machine is 150 pounds. Since I've had the elliptical, I've been under that and above that. Instead of changing the weight with my changing weight, I just keep it on the default.  By keeping the weight constant, I can compare my workouts to each other ... my 20 minutes (around 2 miles) will generate a calorie count somewhere between 160-220 depending on my exertion. I just keep the machine calorie count as a reference, and go with what my Fitbit calculates for calorie burn.

I try to get in five 20min sessions on my elliptical every day ...

What is YOUR elliptical experience?

Work Out Wednesday

I've been on the lookout for link-ups lately. They have lead me to some fun post ideas and to other blogs (you can see my blog list to follow has been growing!) It's always inspiring to see what others are up to. So today, I'll share my workout as part of the Workout Wednesday link up. 

Here's my Fitbit burn so far ... you can see I had a SLOW start this morning (and most mornings of late). Ah summer, I have been sleeping in until around 8:00. That needs to stop. I mean it literally needs to, stop. School starts up soon and I have to drive a couple kids to middle school at 7:30, and then get a couple more off to elementary just after 8:00 (my high schooler is wonderful about getting up and off himself). I always want to get in one workout as soon as I'm up, so I have to start it by 7:00... but for now, it's summer.

I've jumped on the ELLIPTICAL twice (20min/2miles) so far today, and I plan on hitting it again at least three more times. That makes an even 100 minutes. I love the elliptical (see my "ode to the elliptical" post HERE), it's my workout of choice. I am in a bit of a rut with it though, I don't know how much it really pushes me. I have been doing this (100min most days) for several years now.

Also on the docket (as soon as I finish this post) is day 27 of the 30 Day Shred. That was actually on YESTERDAY's plan ... I put on my shoes and HRM and started the warm up when WHAM, shoulder tweak! What??? During the warm up? I'm warming up so I do NOT hurt myself.  It wasn't a super intense pain, but it did actually take my breath away. I could breathe, I just couldn't get in a deep, satisfying breath. I didn't get my 30DS in :(   ... I took some ibuprophen, applied some heat (or should it have been ice?) and rested a bit. I felt completely wiped out. And STARVING. I hadn't eaten too much to that point (a banana) but there was a fun sized Snickers sitting around and I grabbed it and snarfed it before I knew what I was doing. I can still feel a bit of a twinge there today, but I'm going to give it a try. I'm so close to the end.

If I have the time, I might try a 40min ride on the stationary bike too.  You can check in on my Daily Doings tomorrow to see what I actually got in for my Wednesday Workout or maybe I'll try to update this later tonight*Ü*   Enough sitting. Off to exercise ...

... and I updated!  It's 9:30 and I'm done for the day. I exceeded my exercise goal for Workout Wednesday. I got in SIX sessions on the elliptical. I did my 30DS and I did the bike. I kept my eating calories under control too. It was a good day ...

Wondering About a Fitbit?

"Should I get a Fitbit?" ... I've seen the question come across various fitness boards a many times. You know I am a fan! While I've done a few posts about the Fitbit here on my blog,  I thought I would do one that I could refer people to when they are thinking of buying one that shows just what you get with this device.

The Fitbit One is small and unobtrusive (unlike my Omron, a HRM or BodyMedia). I wear mine pretty much 24/7 (I take it off for showers and use that time to recharge the battery). It gives you feedback on your entire 24-hours, not just your workouts.  The graphs, available on the computer or app, give you a visual representation of your day.  I find it extremely informative and motivating. Here's a snapshot of a portion of my dashboard from a few days ago ...

• SLEEP. Included on the main dashboard is just a small peek at your sleep. There is more detail provided as you click on the tile or look in the "Log" section of the website (see my post here for more detail on the sleep tracking).
• FOOD: Fitbit does provide it's own food tracker, but many people (myself being one) find that other sites dedicated to this function may be a little more user friendly. I use My Fitness Pal, which syncs with Fitbit (as do a couple others). I personally look more to MFP for food info, but Fitbit does have some graphs and images to help you  calculate and control your calorie intake throughout the day. 
• ACTIVITY GRAPH: This is my favorite Fitbit feature! On the day pictured above ... I did five 20 minute sessions on the elliptical. See the green spikes? Those are my workouts. The orange section early in the day was some shopping. The yellow spike mid-day was a 40min ride on the stationary bike (I moved the Fitbit to my sock). The small yellow spike was a game of ping pong with one of my boys.  You can SEE when you move, you can see when you don't. It's a great motivator!
• INDIVIDUAL STATS: The Fitbit will show your total calorie burn for the day (great function if you want an informed estimate of your TDEE), your steps, your very active minutes, floors and distance. You will see the progression through the day ... here's a snapshot of today (so far) below ...

You can see I need to finish up this blog post and get moving!

The individual statistics move along through the day. The Fitbit is wireless, so whenever you get close you your computer (where you've plugged in the base) it will automatically update. Another WONDERFUL new feature with the One, is that it can sync with the app in my iphone too, I love being able to update even when I'm not at home, and all of the information is available on the app, and also on the device itself (just press the button to scroll through the different numbers.) The color in the dashboard boxes changes as you progress, from blue, to yellow, to orange ... green when you achieve your goal. You can customize your goals to the numbers of your choosing.

Beyond the day to day picture, Fitbit also keeps a 30-day snapshot to help you see trends in your activity. I really like the "Intake vs Burn" graph. This is my second favorite feature! Although, before joining MFP and tracking food calories, I didn't have the second "intake" line. The graph is SO much more informative and helpful when you track your food! I love seeing the average burn and average intake, and the graph to help you see the separation (or lack thereof).  MY goal is to keep those lines from touching or crossing ...  you can see I'm not always successful.  If you follow this blog at all, you'll see me capture and post this graph as I look back at each month.  You can see your steps and activity levels for the past 30 days as well. Can YOU tell which day I was sick last month?

The Fitbit is a STEP tracker ... so it doesn't create an accurate picture of weight training activities, swimming or biking. You can add these activities manually quickly and easily, and they will be added into your graphs and totals. Some people find the elliptical questionable (with any pedometer), but I'm quite comfortable with the results I get. The distance doesn't line up perfectly, but I feel that the calorie count is fairly on-track. You can "record an activity" for any individual workout and get specific stats ... Here's my elliptical workout from yesterday. My machine estimated 205 calories, my HRM said 150, and Fitbit estimated 168.

This is a snapshot of my jogging a couple weeks ago.

My HRM came in at 572.

... a another feature is the FRIENDS section. You can make Fitbit friends to compete with or compare to. It will show your steps for the past days ... one down day and I DROP way down.  You can opt out of being shown in lists if you want, but many people find it very motivating to try and climb a little higher. There is a community on the website for questions, groups and support.

That's just a small snapshot of what the Fitbit does.  The functions here are mainly for the One. I do find it an improvement over the original Ultra (which did have trouble staying on, I'm really surprised I didn't lose it in my three years of wearing it). The One slips into a silicone case which is quite snug. This doesn't mean it can't still get lost. I turn it inward so it presses against my body. So far so good. 

The Flex is a wrist Fitbit. Unlike the One, which displays all it's stats on the device itself, the Flex has lights that will show progression. You can't see the numbers themselves, but would need to check in on the computer or app for more information. The Flex does NOT track stairs, but does track activities and sleep. 

The Zip is a slightly less expensive Fitbit ... it does NOT track stairs or sleep. You can record an activity on the website to see the stats for an individual workout, but you can't record an activity directly from the device like you can on the One or the Flex.  The Flex and One have rechargable batteries (charge it every 5-7 days, it doesn't take long, I stick it on the charger during a shower) while the Zip has a replaceable one.

Updated April 2015 -- Fitbit now has the Charge, ChargeHR and Surge. You can check out my review of the two Charges (Charged) because, being a true Fitbit Fan, I HAD to try it out! 

No matter your device ... you'll also get a weekly report from Fitbit which is a great summary of your week~

There are other devices that do what the Fitbit does (or similar) ... Misfit, Striiv, Pebble. Body Media is one touted for accuracy (taking into account body temperature too, which I would think would be interesting to track). It seems a little bulky to me, and it requires a paid subscription to it's website (Fitbit does have a premium version for a fee, but the basic version is free ... everything shown here is available for free).  The JawboneUp and NikeFuel Band are similar to the Flex. I'm sure they are good too ... but we are a Fitbit family (I've picked them up for my two oldest sons, and my parents are now Fitbitters as well).

Another thing I LOVE about Fitbit, as that so many companies trust it enough to link with it. Fitbit  works with MyFitnessPal (which I also love, and love how they work together), and many different reward programs (Everymove, Achievemint, Walgreens, ShopYourWayRewards, PACT, Eandit ... they all accept Fitbit's steps, automatically linking and syncing. You can read more about the various reward programs here ... Reaping the Rewards).  I've actually earned enough to pay what I paid for my Fitbit! I've also been able to pay it forward donating to charity, just from my activity I would be doing anyway.

So is a Fitbit right for you? Which one? I hope this helped a bit *Ü*

Motivational Monday - Control

When I first lost weight several years ago, it felt great. Feeling fit and looking good was a wonderful change. But even more than that, there was a new confidence, feeling in control. Up to that point, I didn't really think I had what it takes in me to be able to lose weight.  Since then, as the weight has crept back on ... I still knew I had the ability, I just needed to take control. I was a little frustrated that my exercise didn't seem to be enough - I needed to watch the eating as well. Until I did that, I could not complain. Once I committed to counting calories, it has been gratifying to see the changes. I don't know that the eating will ever be easy, or become second nature as exercise has ... but it's nice to feel in control again.