I have been reading on many blogs lately about what type of fitness tracker they use. Even though I like the concept I never thought I wanted one because let's be honest, I am not going to do anything different with my workouts based on what a band calculates. I feel like I am very active already and run daily, but.......
1. Last month my sister received a fitness tracker from work. They were doing a challenge between the teachers so I began meeting my sister in the evenings to make sure she would get all her steps in for the day. The tracker she was using was just a basic model that clipped onto your clothing and did not have a screen. But it got the job done by lighting up when you reached your goal for the day.
2. After walking with her for several weeks, I became curious as to how many steps I would log in a day. that prompted me to look into getting my own fitness tracker.
3. I remembered I had a gift card for Dicks Sporting Goods so I thought I would look there for a fitness tracker and get some information about the different ones. The one that I wanted was actually out of stock in the store. But when I arrived home I looked it up online and they had it available, and better yet, for half off the the store price...score!
I knew I wanted one that went around my wrist, because when I was trying out my sister's it had fallen off a few times and I didn't realize it. I also knew I wanted one that had a screen on it, so I could look down and see my progress without having to sync it to my phone every time I want to see my stats. The one I ended up choosing was the Vivofit.
4. So the other day after Yoga I came home to find that my package had arrived. I am not techy by any means, but this was very easy to set up and sync to my phone. All you had to do was put all your information in such as age, height, weight, etc. There was even a spot to put in the time you go to bed and the time you wake up on average so it can calculate if you are getting enough sleep. In addition to your sleep, it tells you your steps, mileage, calories, date, and time.
5. The first day I took it out for a 6 mile run, so I had no problem getting my 10,000 steps in. I ended with about 16,800 for the day. The next day I work up early to get my long run in, 11 miles. I had 20,000 steps before 9 am so I was pretty happy with that. I know I will have no problem getting my steps in on days I run. I think the challenge will be getting my steps in on days I don't run.
So I'm curious to see how far I really do walk during the day when I'm at work. -L
Is their a Fitness trend you've been curious about?
We are linking up with Mar, Courtney, and Cynthia for the Friday 5!
We are linking up with Mar, Courtney, and Cynthia for the Friday 5!
I have the Vivofit too! I am really happy with it, especially compared to my husband's fit bit. I love that I can see everything on screen, I don't need to charge it, and it can get wet. The red lines bother me a little because I might do a long run in the morning and then later in the day I sit around relaxing but I feel like it yells at me to get up and move around! But overall its a great reminder to stay active.
ReplyDeleteOh I had no idea that the red lines meant that. I thought it was bc you were close to reaching your goal...haha.Because like you, I have already done my run with many steps on it and am relaxing when I see the red.
DeleteI am just about to break up with my Vivosmart HR because it's too bulky for summer and I don't pay attention to it's reminders anymore! I will keep using it for the HR during fitness classes though.
ReplyDeleteI knew the HR wasnt a feature I'd use so that's what I didn't get that one. Also this was less expensive:)
DeleteAfter trying out the misfit flash and fitbit zip, I just recently needed a new GPS watch and decided to go with one that "did it all" in terms of steps and also GPS stuff - the garmin vivoactive. So far, I'm loving it, though getting used to wearing a watch all the time is weird.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about getting a new watch too so I'd have it all in one. But they are so expensive!
DeleteI havnen't gotten a fitness tracker yet because I know I get tons of steps on run days and try to walk on non-run days. My Dad though got one and it changed his life! He is obsessed and has lost a ton of weight!
ReplyDeleteThat is great news. My friend got one too and has lost alot of weight.
DeleteI am a little curious about how much I walk minus the running but I suppose not enough to buy or borrow a fitness tracker. :)
ReplyDeleteWell I got a good deal on it, so I could not resist.
DeleteI don't feel the need for a fitness tracker since I'm pretty active - even on days I'm not working out. Hope you enjoy yours, though!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I thought too, but of course curious got the best of me. And I gotta say, so far I have been loving it.
DeleteI love my Vivofit! I just love seeing the steps go up throughout the day and it definitely motivates me to move more.
ReplyDeleteMe too! One day I had 28,000.
DeleteI really love my Vivofit too. My favorite thing? You dont have to recharge it & you can wear it in the shower. I hate I have to remember to charge my Fitbit every few days.
ReplyDeleteGood to know you can wear it in the shower. I didn't know that. The other day I took it off and forgot to put it back on before I left the house for the day.
DeleteThe Vivofit sounds like a really easy fitness tracker to use! It's definitely harder to get my steps in on rest days. I have a Fitbit and I love it! My favorite is to wear it to WDW during race weekends! :)
ReplyDeleteI will definitely be bringing it during Wine and Dine weekend!
DeleteI love my vivoactive! I don't have to worry about forgetting my Garmin when I travel because I always wear it. And I can swim in it. It tracks steps, sleep, and it vibrates when I've been sitting too long.
ReplyDeleteMine does not vibrate, but lights up.
DeleteMy favorite thing about fitness trackers and why I love my fitbit. Sure it doesn't change the way I workout I still do that as I normally would without it. But its what happens between workouts and the friend and family competitions I can have with them. I have a fitbit and oh my gosh the fun we all have each week trying to kick each others butt. I've seen less active family and friends up near midnight running around their houses just to outstep me or visa versa. Its and incredible highly positive tool for friendly yet fierce competition with all the fun people in my life. I love what its done for us in theextra outside of the normal workout parts of the day and the healthy fun it promotes and gives us!
ReplyDeleteOh how fun! I don't have anyone I compete with. I should start doing that.
DeleteI have my Garmin vivofit2 and i LOVE IT! not having to charge it is so important!
ReplyDeleteIt is nice not having to worry about charging it.
DeleteI religiously wore my Fitbit for over a year and once I took it off, I haven't out it back on in months!
ReplyDeleteDie you just lose interest? I'm curious to see how long this last bc you don't need to charge this.
DeleteI love anything involving Garmin! I have a Garmin vivoactive & I love it. Great choice!
ReplyDeleteGarmin is a great product. I have an old gps watch that is Garmin and it still works great.
DeleteI'm not at all interested in a fitness tracker. Mostly because if my pants fit, I know I'm doing something right. ;) I run enough as it is so I'm good without one.
ReplyDeleteGood point! It's just a challenge to get my steps in when I don't run.
DeleteI had a FitBit Flex for a while, but it died & I just got myself a FitBit Charge. You're right. Getting steps on days you run is no problem, but the days you don't it is tough. I try to get up each hour @ work and do at least a bit of walking, but even with that, I'll leave work with only 4-5K steps, about halfway to my goal. Sometimes an evening walk is feasible & sometimes it's not. It all just depends. But it's a great reminder to get my but up & move.
ReplyDeleteYes it is! I have only missed reaching my steps two days since I have been wearing it. But every other day I get well over 10,000 so I'm happy with that.
DeleteSo like you I didn't do anything different while wearing a tracker in the past. I kind of lost interest. I use a watch for running biking and swimming and it all uploads to one place I don't think I need to track the rest of my life.
ReplyDeleteIt's just nice to see how many steps I do not only on my run.
DeleteI am often surprised at the end of a long day and realize I have only gotten in 3000 steps! UGH!
ReplyDeleteIt is alot harder to get your steps in, if I do not work nor run that day.
DeleteI usually am around that man steps a day during the week (if I do my hour of cardio). But I try not to count my workout towards my total.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good way to look at it, like just your bonus steps.
DeleteMy Apple Watch has a fitness tracker but since I'm so active I don't use that feature. Even at my job, I'm on my feet a ton.
ReplyDeleteWell it's still nice to have if you ever want to try it.
DeleteI'm a huge fan of the garmin trackers. I love my vivoactive, and has definitely made it clear I need to go out and get more steps on days I don't run.
ReplyDeleteThere's often various workouts I get curious about, that are often very trendy, but havent ever really gotten around to trying them.
Same here. I love trying new workouts.
DeleteI got a FitBit for the same reasons you did (curiosity). It's fun for me to see just how many steps I take! My husband has one too and we challenge each other every now and then, which is fun. Overall, I think they're useful for everyone! It's one fitness trend worth the hype.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree!
ReplyDeleteI love fitness trackers! I have a Fitbit and it gives me more motivation to get my steps in each day. I really love when I have a ton of steps early in the morning! That makes me feel like I've really worked hard! :)
ReplyDeleteI think you may surprise yourself an find that you will in fact more more to reach that goal. Gadgets seem you have great powers lol. Enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI think you may surprise yourself an find that you will in fact more more to reach that goal. Gadgets seem you have great powers lol. Enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI like using my FitBit to track sleep. It's been great for that. Days I run I can hit steps easily but days I don't I really need to make more of an effort to get off the couch. I'ts been helpful in that regard - bringing awareness to my habits but I workout 5-6 days a week regardless even though non-running workouts don't generate a good deal of steps.
ReplyDeleteThe Vivofit sounds great! For now, I'm happy with the free Strava app.
ReplyDeleteThe data geek in me loves any kind of fitness tracker. It's my motivation when I'm lacking it.
ReplyDeleteThe fitness trend that interested me lately was carb cycling and intermittent fasting. I was nervous to try it, but took the plunge and am so happy with my results! My body needed something new and I needed a coach to lead me.
I have the FitBit Surge, and even though I run a lot I really like it both just for the data and the motivation. On days I don't run I've actually started going for walks during my lunch break or even laps around the house to reach my step goals, so it's handy for me.
ReplyDelete