Fitbit Zip Review

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to buy myself a Fitbit Zip in order to try to further my meager attempts at weight loss.  After two solid weeks of use, I am ready to give my honest opinion about the Zip.

(I got the pink one!) 

I love it.

I wish I had gone ahead and splurged on one of the two "fancier" models that also track sleep patterns, but oh well.  The Zip was in my price range (I think I paid $60), and what I really wanted was a kick in the pants to get myself up and moving.  As a stay-at-home mom, you'd think that I'd be constantly moving around, chasing after the kids, cleaning the house, etc.  You would have been wrong.  I'd fallen into a rather sedentary daily routine as the kids had gotten older, and I am embarrassed to admit that there were days when I spent hours in front of the computer without getting up once.

Run four times a week?  Sure!  Do anything else remotely active?  Eh, no thanks.

Then I got the Zip.  Since then, I have consciously made the decision to be more active.  Knowing that this small device was tracking my movements actually makes me move more.  Seeing the numbers rack up, I'm actually more motivated.  "8,000 steps - BAD day, gotta do better."   Next day -  "13,000 steps before dinner! Yes!"   It's been amazing, this little competition with myself.

Could I have bought a regular pedometer for less?  Absolutely.  Is the Fitbit worth $60?  To me?  Absolutely.  I like being able to log on to the website and see my daily and weekly progress.  I like getting text messages saying "Overachiever! You've surpassed your daily goal!"   You can also see how you stack up next to others who have a Fitbit - so if you're at all competitive, it'll push you just a little more.

And the result on the scale?  I'm down to 150 lbs as of this morning.  That's an official 5 pound loss in the past 3 weeks, and most of that since I started wearing the Fitbit.

Yes, I've been eating less (and slightly better), but I've also been moving more - and I've been feeling better about myself.   I am so glad I decided to get the Zip!

**All opinions are my own and I was in no way compensated for this post, though I am never opposed to doing things for money.  That sounded dirty.  **

Week 1 Recap

This past week was my first week of training for my Oct. Half Marathon.  This was also my first week of following any kind of a real training plan, so I wasn't sure how things would go.  The plan was pretty simple.

• Monday - Rest Day
• Tuesday - 3 miles speedwork (400m repeats)
• Wednesday - Rest/Cross Train
• Thursday - 2 miles Easy
• Friday - Rest/Cross Train
• Saturday - 4 miles
• Sunday - 2 miles easy 

Since nothing in my life ever goes exactly to plan, here's how my week actually looked: 

• Monday - Rest Day
• Tuesday - Rest Day
• Wednesday - 3 miles speedwork (hit my prescribed paces, was very pleased)
• Thursday - 2 miles easy (did not feel easy)
• Friday - Rest Day
• Saturday - 4 miles (blah)
• Sunday - 2 miles easy (felt just fine) 

I got absolutely no cross training done this week (I'm supposed to be doing core/strength work!), and the 11 miles that I ran did not feel spectacular.  But.  I got it done, and that's the important part.  

This week, my parents will be visiting, so I'm hoping that most of my runs will get done in the a.m. (when I prefer to run) instead of in the evening (which is when my last few runs have been).    I'm also hoping that if I tell my mom "I'm supposed to work out every day," maybe she'll give me that "mom look" until I've done so. LOL  

So.  1 week down, 13 to go.  October seemed so far away when I signed up for this silly thing! =)

Walk This Way

This week, my husband has been busier than usual, and has only been home in the evening one night.  So my kids and I have been spending even more time together than usual - and since I'm trying to be healthier these days, by default, so are they.  (Though I did just order a pizza.  Don't judge. It's Friday, and besides - I put veggies on it!) 

Last night, after my husband left to go to a meeting at the Lodge, the kids put on their sneakers and we headed out for a little family walk.  We started these walks this past weekend, in order to "practice" for all the walking we'll be doing at Disney next month.  We've taken a few short jaunts down the street and back, no big deal.  Last night, my son decided he wanted to walk to his school playground.  

Which is a mile away.  Up a rather long hill.  Have I mentioned that my kids are 5 and 4 and my daughter has the shortest legs in the known universe?  But I smiled and said "sure," fully expecting the complaining to begin before we even made it to the hill.  

An hour and 2.36 miles later, we returned home sweaty, giggling, and in need of popsicles.  Not one complaint was issued the entire trip.  I am so in love with these little feet. 

My kids know that I like to run, and that being active will "give you energy," as my littlest puts it, but we have never talked about being fat vs. being skinny.  I have never told my children that I want to exercise to be skinnier - I've always said it's about being healthy, which it is.  There are so many people in our family that are, to be polite, larger, and part of me is worried that my children will end up that way.  

I want them to be healthy and happy - childhood (and adulthood) is hard enough without the added stress of being overweight.  I am hoping that they will stay active, and that it will never be an issue, but at this point I just don't know.  

Are you active with your kids?  Were you active as a child?