Thursday, May 31, 2012

New Gadget! Hooray!

So my watch finally died a month ago. The metal strap was broken, it slowed down all the time, and best of all, it turned my skin green around my wrist and made my skin very, very, itchy. I called it my "Itchy Watch".

So I decided if I was going to get another watch, why not get one that will last me more than a year? And then I thought, why not get one that can double as a Heart Rate Monitor? And even after that, I thought, not another one of those crap-ass Timex HRMs. I had 2 in the past few years, they both broke down, and were impossible to fix. Now I have a data collection thingy for watches they no longer make. Suck.

So I decided that I was going to splurge. I was going to splurge on a watch that I have had my eye on for a while. I placed the order on Amazon.ca, after price checking and comparing all over the interwebs. I really wanted to buy mine from Mountain Equipment Co-op, because they are awesomesauce, but they were easily a hundred dollars more than I paid for the online order, including shipping, taxes and duties. Sorry MEC.


ANYWAY. I placed my order on Friday, they shipped it Monday, and I got it Wednesday. Hooray for gadgets with a quick shipping time! It wasn't a terribly heavy box, and this is what greeted me when I opened the package. Another box! So then I opened the second box, hoping perhaps, for a third box?


No third box, but a neato warning that said any problems I have with the HRM watch should be directed back at Polar. And if any problems come up, you can rest assured I will cheerfully bitch into the phone. But I kinda hope I just don't have any problems. Anyhoodles...


It's a pretty easy little watch to set up. The monitor detaches from the chest strap so that a) you can wipe down the chest strap post-workout, and b) save some battery life by not having it connected. So I put it on, followed the setup directions, and followed the "Fit Test" which is basically you lying down and not moving for 5 minutes. Although I dreaded that it would come up "dreadfully unfit", that was all in my head. I am simply at the bottom range for "Average".

The watch then computed a training program based on my goal of improving my fitness score, and presto - I have a plan which involves a gadget. Those are ALWAYS my favourite. Now I put on the chest strap, press one button on the watch, workout, do THIS:


And then I get to see how long I worked out for, how many minutes I spent in 1 of 3 zones, and how many minutes in each zone I left left for my weekly goal. We'll see how this goes, won't we kids?

Monday, May 28, 2012

What's the What

Hello again,

1. I have brought lunch almost every day to work.  I forgot it on the counter today, so I had to dip into my emergency stash of snacks at work. I had a Luna Bar in the cupboard, which I have not tried before. (I bought 3 flavours last week on sale, and put them in the cupboard at work in case of foodmergency.) It was good, but very, very sweet.

2. I put this program, Nexercise, on my Ipod, and have started using my workout minutes in a game format. It's damn fun, and I have had at least one friend sign up for it, and another ask me about it. I tied it to my Facebook and it posts awards that you've won for working out...They know every other fecking thing about me, why not my workout habits? hahahaha

3. I have worked out 5 days since last post. Which was 8 days ago, so I am doing more rather than less. Yay me! I've done a bit of Turbo Jam, some walking, some Zumba, and at work, have a small challenge going with some clients and coworkers centered around the new Elliptical that I put together. We're starting small, so I am not yet counting those minutes as working out. When I hit 15 or 20 minutes, maybe I will count them.

Oh, and may I say that spending 4 hours to put together an elliptical is a workout in itself?

Anyway, water is up, vitamins are on, lunch is usually packed, and I am trying to move more days a week than not.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Spring feels like Summer

Went for two 30-minute walks today, threw on some sunscreen and hit the road with some company. I was a little twitch after the first walk, which I interpreted as my muscles waking up and screaming, "HEY! Long time no use!"

This evening I have been having some trouble walking on my left foot. It's the outside from the joint on the pinky toe and moving backwards. I've popped some ibuprofen after about 8 hours of complaining, so now things are feeling less ouchy.

I got my household calendar together. I've done the meal planning on a 3 week schedule, and I've been trying to track spending on groceries, special events, etc. and I am trying to check it out everyday.  I've not moved up to a consistent workout plan, other than I always take time on Sundays to do something physical. I missed the self-defense class again, and will miss next Sunday, but will then resume my regularly scheduled programming.

This week I am going to bring a lunch to work every day. That is going to be my consistency goal in terms of my health goals. Tomorrow I can bring some leftover rice pasta with a chicken and eggplant marinara sauce. Smells good (one of my roomies cooked tonight) but I am not feeling like eating at the moment. I had a huge breakfast and a nice chicken sandwich in the late afternoon. I know I should do the 3 meals 2 snacks, or 5 small meals, but that is coming later. For now, pack a lunch so that I am not starving every lunchtime at work.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

WorkOut CheckIn

Woke up a little late today (6 a.m.) but still managed to get in a quick 20-min workout. I'm going to aim for another one tomorrow morning as well.

I've been thinking over the consistency stuff. I think I will actually go out and get one of those giant wall calendars and start planning things out properly. House stuff, social stuff, health stuff, the works.