Fib Bit vs Bodymedia Fit Link Review Time

Lots of people have done reviews like this, but really, let's face it. I had to see the results myself in order to believe which is better.

The fitbit is a discrete little tool you can wear on your bra, tshirt or pocket of your jeans. It looks like a little black pedometer. It tracks your steps and connects to a database when you come within 15 feet of the stand. As far as accuracy is concerned, it tracks steps very well. As far as calorie burn is concerned, I feel it's accurate about 90% of the time. Also, the calorie intake data seems to skip around on what you can eat and what you can't throughout the day. I don't find this very dependable.

Bodymedia Fit is an arm band you wear, very similar to the Bodybugg. I actually believe they are made by the same company. After a week of wearing it 23 hours a day, I feel I can make a detailed comparison  The Bodymedia also has a website activity  manager that the data can upload to, however you have to remove the device to hook it into your computer. You can track on your cellphone using Bluetooth a few of the features such as calories burned, the current deficit  steps and activity level. It coordinates with MyFitnessPal which is great, considering that is a calorie counting website I really like.

The Bodymedia Fit has allowed me to see that on average I burn between 2300-2700 calories a day just acting normally - without working out!!! Which means that eating a diet of 1200 calories is TOO much of a deficit. Therefore I've upped my intake and am noticing good differences! I am also able to see what times during the day I am most active. It has encouraged me to pick up extra activity by taking the dog for a walk during lunch time. This is motivating! For me, it's beneficial to see the actual math of the deficit so I know when to stop.

I would highly recommend it!

Thanksgiving - My Survival Guide

We made it through Holiday #1... Thanksgiving. How did you do?

I spent the days leading up to the big day reading and looking for additional support on how to survive. Most of the articles and message boards recommended the standard morning workout, don't skip breakfast, continue with your usual eating plan and realize that, while yes, Thanksgiving is the pinacle of all good food coming together - it's not the only time for an entire year you'll have that food. You can  make turkey breast, stuffing, sweet potatoes, peas and everything else any other time of the year. There's no real point to eating like you're never going to see that food again.

Here's how I did it:

• TurboFire Fire 55 EZ - this workout along is a 800 calorie burner. It's an awesome routine, and the more you become familiar with the routine, the harder you bust it out. 
• Breakfast: Shakeology, half a banana, tbsp of almond butter, 10oz of water and 5 ice cubes
• Snack: about two hours later, 6oz of yogurt and 1/4 cup raw granola
• First Thanksgiving meal: These are all estimates. 2oz turkey, 1/4 cup stuffing, 1/4 cup mashed potatoes, green beans, 1/2 small roll, 1/4 mac and cheese. I was able to get little bits of everything - just enough to satisfy my needs. For dessert: 1/4" slice of pumpkin roll. Total: 520 Calories
• Second Thanksgiving dinner: 3oz turkey breast, 1/4 stuffing, 2/3 green beans, 1/2 cup of corn, 1/4 cup mashed potatoes, 1/4 cup Fat Free gravy. Total: 323 calories. 

Not bad!!! Most people consume twice that in just ONE meal!!! I was able to get everything I wanted - good and bad and make it through two Thanksgiving dinners with two families. 

So, it's possible... It's very possible to make it through a huge holiday - centered around food and survive having everything you want. This is an absolute first for me! 

20 Secrets of Fit People

A post I found that I thought might be helpful...use these tips as a daily reminder :)

20 Secrets of Fit People:

• Look at exercise as a pleasure and a privilege, not a burden or chore. Think positively about the changes regular exercise will produce. Rather than obsessing about your next meal, get excited about your next workout!
• Focus on short-term fitness goals with an emphasis on completing daily exercise.
• Work to take your exercise to new levels of intensity.
• Make it your goal to do some form of exercise 6 or 7 days a week. If some days you exercise once in the morning and once in the evening, even better! If you're eating right, exercise will fuel your energy level!
• Create an exercise schedule the day before instead of leaving it to chance or waiting to "find" the time. If the last three Presidents of the United States can make time to work out every day, you can make time too!
• Enjoy contributing to the health of others by having a partner or friends to exercise with, as well as recruiting others who want to feel better and have more energy. Have a neighbor who's sitting on the porch every morning when you walk by? Ask him or her to join you on your walk!
• Avoid monotony by taking up new forms of exercising, or using things that keep you motivated and inspired, like new shoes or great music.
• Invest in the right tools—good shoes, a portable MP3 player or iPod^®, fitness equipment, a new series of tapes, etc.
• Subscribe to fitness magazines to keep focused on health as an overall way of life.
• Eat well-balanced meals and remember that excess calories, even if they're from food that's fat free and high in protein, will turn to excess weight. No matter what the latest fad diet says, extra calories equal extra weight!
• Limit caffeine and exposure to even secondhand smoke.
• Keep a water bottle with you at all times and drink from it often. Water should always be your drink of choice. To kick things up every once in a while, try adding lemon, lime, cucumber, or a few berries to liven up the flavor without adding significant calories.
• Stick with eating plans you can maintain indefinitely. Remember that no matter how hard you're working out, if you're consuming too many calories, you'll never see the muscles that lie beneath layers of fatty tissue.
• Keep a daily log of what you're actually eating. This includes every time you grab a handful of chips here or eat the crust of your kid's sandwich there, and ALL of your snacking.
• Enjoy an occasional (once a week) "unhealthy" treat, but never an unhealthy week or unhealthy vacation.
• If your diet is unbalanced, take daily vitamin and mineral supplements for total health.
• Don't compare your body to others'. Instead, work to be your personal best.
• Move beyond the boundaries of weight loss and into total fitness. Measure success by the way your clothes fit, not some number on a scale.
• Get adequate amounts of sleep, but remember that people who exercise regularly fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly.
• Limit alcohol intake to special occasions

Your goals? Guess what... they take work!

That's right. Change doesn't happen immediately. As with most things, you need to take each day - one at a time.

When I decided to go back to weekly Weight Watchers meetings, I had come to the realization that the 13 pounds I had gained over the last year and a half, weren't going to come off over night. I think most people finally realize they are ready to embark on the mission when they come to some sort of realization, like - the need to buy new clothes because your size is going up, being tired of feeling sluggish, fed up with how you look and feel. When this realization happens, you are more likely to pick a plan and stick with it. Because you realize that results don't happen overnight.

For the past week and a half, in the middle of the night I've been waking up. Why? This morning I realized it's because I am SO excited to get up and do my TurboFire workout that I literally lay awake in bed and think about it. It's helping me get more into a routine with working out in the morning and I LIKE THAT! During my workout when my CD skipped this morning and I needed to take it out - I put in a CD I knew would work. I was so amped to workout, that I was ready to do anything!

Once my workout was complete, I made my breakfast of chocolate Shakeology with two tsp of PB, a banana, 8 ounces of water and 4 ounces of skim milk.

I was in such a great mood that I was ready to begin my day. My mood was so great, that it was noticeable to those around me. What a great start to the week!

Training Run Day -12 miles

Today is a day off from TurboFire and a day on the trail. Back into marathon training mode. Long run today is 12 miles. My 10 miler was pretty poor about two weeks ago, but since then I've been training on the bike and doing TurboFire. I also cleaned up my diet some so I'm hoping I see the benefits of that while I'm out there.

I'm playing with the idea of becoming a Beachbody coach. Actually, I'm about 90% of the way there. Maybe even 95%. Having access to so many great programs at a discount, while being able to help others reach their goal is pretty neat. Also doing it at the same time makes it more achievable because I can speak from personal experience. My only reservation is I'm a little worried I won't be able to bring the business quite like Risa (My coach who would be my leader) is looking for. But hey, I could always give it a try and see where it goes. Knowing me, I put my all into every opportunity.

I have, however, made the decision to go back on Shakeology. After 5 days of drinking it regularly, all cravings are gone. I'm satisfied after every meal. Heck, I was able to eat two girl scout cookies last night and willingly walk away from the box. I also have noticed I'm not hungry every second of the day anymore. Plus, now that I'm back into remission (with my UC) I've noticed it's really help with my regularity.  That, right there, is full reason to keep drinking it!

Today's a beautiful day in Maryland. Hope everyone enjoys their Sunday... and GO RAVENS! :)