Commissario
I know that devices like the FitBit don’t get much loving in here and I appreciate that many people see it as ‘just an expensive pedometer’ and to be fair, that’s what it is but the fact that it’s so well connected is what makes it work for me.
I’ve always been a big guy, I’ve tried the occasional diet but I’ve never been motivated or interested in keeping it up for very long. Just over three months ago, I bought a FitBit One and have been carrying it ever since. I have it linked to the MyFitnessPal app on my smartphone and it synchronises nicely with that. I have my daily calorie allowance from my height and weight and the exercise I do by walking is added to that allowance. The more I walk, the more I burn and my food allowance goes up.
I’ve set a daily goal of walking just under 11,000 steps per day which equates to five miles and the fact that it’s all technology and provides me with live info has given me the motivation to reach this goal. The place I used to work at wasn’t really in a good location for getting out for a walk but now my new job is in Ipswich, I find it really easy to go for a walk each day. I arrive early, walk into the town centre and stride up and down the high street a couple of times, then back to the office which is around two to two and a half miles depending on what time I arrive. At lunchtime, I do the same except I walk a bit longer, adding another two and half to three miles to my daily total. By the time I’m back in the office after lunch, I’ve always walked over five miles and I do it at a decent brisk speed. At weekends, I go to work with my wife and walk home. On a direct path, it’s just around two miles but I take a very roundabout route and I normally walk over four miles on the way home.
My eating habits have changed a little. I used to skip breakfast and have a sarnie at lunchtime along with either some crisps or chocolate then my main meal in the evening, with various snacks throughout the day. I now have some Belvita biscuits for breakfast, sandwiches at lunchtime with a fruit bar and a packet of Quavers or Squares and then my main evening meal. I’ve cut out the snacks but my evening meals haven’t really changed. I’ll have fish and chips, steak and kidney puddings, sausages, burgers etc and once a week I’ll have a pizza. Some days if I fancy something hot, I’ll have a Subway for breakfast or perhaps a McDonalds wrap. Once a week, on a Friday I have a big doorstep four rasher bacon sandwich. The only real difference is that I’m strictly calorie counting. Most days I don’t use my entire allowance and I never go to bed hungry. Since I started, I’ve only been over my allowance once and that was on the day of the local beer festival.
So how am I doing?
I said I’ve had it for just over three months and to be more exact, I’ve been using it for 100 days. In those 100 days, I’ve lost 3st 9lb which is 51lb.
All entirely motivated by this little bit of electronics that’s in my pocket all the time.
So yes, it is expensive for what it is but for me, it does exactly what it’s supposed to do.
I’ve always been a big guy, I’ve tried the occasional diet but I’ve never been motivated or interested in keeping it up for very long. Just over three months ago, I bought a FitBit One and have been carrying it ever since. I have it linked to the MyFitnessPal app on my smartphone and it synchronises nicely with that. I have my daily calorie allowance from my height and weight and the exercise I do by walking is added to that allowance. The more I walk, the more I burn and my food allowance goes up.
I’ve set a daily goal of walking just under 11,000 steps per day which equates to five miles and the fact that it’s all technology and provides me with live info has given me the motivation to reach this goal. The place I used to work at wasn’t really in a good location for getting out for a walk but now my new job is in Ipswich, I find it really easy to go for a walk each day. I arrive early, walk into the town centre and stride up and down the high street a couple of times, then back to the office which is around two to two and a half miles depending on what time I arrive. At lunchtime, I do the same except I walk a bit longer, adding another two and half to three miles to my daily total. By the time I’m back in the office after lunch, I’ve always walked over five miles and I do it at a decent brisk speed. At weekends, I go to work with my wife and walk home. On a direct path, it’s just around two miles but I take a very roundabout route and I normally walk over four miles on the way home.
My eating habits have changed a little. I used to skip breakfast and have a sarnie at lunchtime along with either some crisps or chocolate then my main meal in the evening, with various snacks throughout the day. I now have some Belvita biscuits for breakfast, sandwiches at lunchtime with a fruit bar and a packet of Quavers or Squares and then my main evening meal. I’ve cut out the snacks but my evening meals haven’t really changed. I’ll have fish and chips, steak and kidney puddings, sausages, burgers etc and once a week I’ll have a pizza. Some days if I fancy something hot, I’ll have a Subway for breakfast or perhaps a McDonalds wrap. Once a week, on a Friday I have a big doorstep four rasher bacon sandwich. The only real difference is that I’m strictly calorie counting. Most days I don’t use my entire allowance and I never go to bed hungry. Since I started, I’ve only been over my allowance once and that was on the day of the local beer festival.
So how am I doing?
I said I’ve had it for just over three months and to be more exact, I’ve been using it for 100 days. In those 100 days, I’ve lost 3st 9lb which is 51lb.
All entirely motivated by this little bit of electronics that’s in my pocket all the time.
So yes, it is expensive for what it is but for me, it does exactly what it’s supposed to do.
