The "E" Word (and some fun with Fitbit)

Yep you guessed it, exercise!  If you're anything like me, this almost feels like a dirty word at times.  It's largely a have to and usually not much of a want to in my world...unless it happens to be a circumstantial sideline to some other fun activity we're doing.  I'm working to change this not-so-great mentality of mine but for now, it's part of my truth.  

That's one reason I asked my family to go in together for my birthday and get me a new Fitbit Charge 2 tracker.  This can be a great way to increase motivation and raise awareness about what you are doing and how you can do better.  In fact, tonight when I realized I was short by about 1,000 steps (despite a rather busy day,) I actually went outside and took a short but brisk walk down the block.  Two weeks ago I would not have had the motivation, energy or interest to do such a thing at 11:45 p.m.     

According to my Fitbit app, today was a great day!  I climbed ten flights of stairs, met my step goal, met my weekly exercise goal, burned more calories than I consumed, walked 2.17 miles and had 48 "active minutes."  Whew!  It seems like a lot but actually I have my goals set at quite attainable levels for my fitness abilities and taking into account the fact that I am still recovering from major surgery.      

 

My step goal is set to 5,000 steps a day for now.  That may seem low to some but it's good for me at the moment.  Part of my story--my struggle--is owning the ugly parts too.  This is one such ugly part:  I have been extremely out of shape and out of touch with the physical needs of my body for quite some time now.  Honestly, I didn't feel good so getting through the days was far more the name of my game than actively pursuing exercise opportunities was.  Walking 5,000 steps a day is a vast improvement over what I have been doing or even what I have been able to do these last months.  After reading this Huffpost article about what science actually says about walking 10,000 steps per day, I decided that is a goal I will work up to over time.  During the school year when I'm at work, I naturally walk and move more than when I'm at home so that's something I'm also going to work on over time.    

The stairs I did today were completely coincidental because we went to a comedy concert at Meadowbrook Amphitheater tonight and there were lots of stairs between us and our seats.  I certainly was a little winded after walking up all those flights but nothing at all like what I would've been like at this time last year--or even a few months ago.  Plus, look at the adorable badge I earned for all my hard work.  Silly but fun and I truly believe that is one key to being able to begin and continue an exercise plan that works, finding something fun.