250 steps at a time
2/2/22 12:53![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
CW exercise/fitness
At a conference late in 2019 I noticed a colleague's smartwatch--specifically, that she was getting text messages on it. That seemed cool, so when I got home I bought myself a Fitbit and started getting MY text messages on it. (Honestly, I'm like a baby with toys.)
The device's primary function of fitness tracking was meaningless to me because I couldn't walk. Then I had hip replacement number one, and, six weeks later, hip replacement number two, and, six weeks after that, a pandemic that prevented me from completing all the physical therapy I needed.
Walking around was just about the only thing I could safely do, I couldn't do it--at least, not without pain.
So what with one thing and another it wasn't until six months ago that I finally started paying attention to the Fitbit's little hourly nudge to get out of my chair and take 250 steps.
It took only a couple of successful days (12 hours, 250 steps each) to notice a difference. My brain worked better. I had slightly more energy. Shortly after that, the half-mile walk to the close grocery store became pain-free.
Then the one-mile walk to the farther but better grocery store became possible.
One day while I was out and about somewhere, the Fitbit gave a burst of haptic feedback and pretty colors, congratulating me on 5000 steps. I started trying to make it do that every day. When that got too easy, I upped it to 6000. A couple of weeks later, 7000.
My average is up to 7750, and I can do the 9000-step round trip to my mother's house with little discomfort (though the rest and cup of coffee in the middle is helpful).
Now I just wish it would stop buzzing me about text messages.
At a conference late in 2019 I noticed a colleague's smartwatch--specifically, that she was getting text messages on it. That seemed cool, so when I got home I bought myself a Fitbit and started getting MY text messages on it. (Honestly, I'm like a baby with toys.)
The device's primary function of fitness tracking was meaningless to me because I couldn't walk. Then I had hip replacement number one, and, six weeks later, hip replacement number two, and, six weeks after that, a pandemic that prevented me from completing all the physical therapy I needed.
Walking around was just about the only thing I could safely do, I couldn't do it--at least, not without pain.
So what with one thing and another it wasn't until six months ago that I finally started paying attention to the Fitbit's little hourly nudge to get out of my chair and take 250 steps.
It took only a couple of successful days (12 hours, 250 steps each) to notice a difference. My brain worked better. I had slightly more energy. Shortly after that, the half-mile walk to the close grocery store became pain-free.
Then the one-mile walk to the farther but better grocery store became possible.
One day while I was out and about somewhere, the Fitbit gave a burst of haptic feedback and pretty colors, congratulating me on 5000 steps. I started trying to make it do that every day. When that got too easy, I upped it to 6000. A couple of weeks later, 7000.
My average is up to 7750, and I can do the 9000-step round trip to my mother's house with little discomfort (though the rest and cup of coffee in the middle is helpful).
Now I just wish it would stop buzzing me about text messages.
(no subject)
3/2/22 04:49 (UTC)The trouble is where to walk in these pandemic times, why to walk there, what to do while walking, and how often could I spare the time? Maybe just using the standing desk function of my standing desk would help. I've heard there are little desk treadmills too...
...nah... :D
(no subject)
3/2/22 05:00 (UTC)Yeah, where to walk is hard for me, too - there isn't a lot of sidewalk around ,and I don't care to march along the gutter on Route 66. I don't want to *drive* to the park to walk.
I was going across the street to the middle school and using their track in the summer last year, but once school started, that was a no-go.
My little brother bought me a stationary bike, which is actually pretty awesome. I found out last year, too, that i have arthritis in my hips, so no more jumping on the my wee trampoline (gave it to my brother), no running (as if i would). Biking is a good, low-impact exercise. I wish I could SWIM, but that ain't happening around here.
We do what we can do!
(no subject)
3/2/22 05:04 (UTC)But there again, I need places to ride. I've never been one to just "take a bike ride".
You know, I never thought about just walking around the nearby schoolyard, but that's not a bad idea.
(no subject)
3/2/22 05:07 (UTC)I used to ride my bike as a kid all up and down and around our drive (we lived in the country, it was about a quarter mile) - so fun. Just liked to move and be outside. I miss that.
(no subject)
3/2/22 05:23 (UTC)