Another Really Long Walk

Since my wife was not up to joining me on my walk, I decided to explore some new ground and extend it a bit.  Well, that resulted in a 7.43 mile walk through the streets of northwest Sumter as shown below.

Statistics for Sunday, February 7th

• Steps                                      22,763
• Miles                                       10.28
• Active                                     206 min (New Personal Record)
• Calories Burned                       3,692
• Floors                                      6

Exercises

• Walk                                        7.43 miles (New Personal Record)
• Elliptical                                  50 minutes @ tension 4

Heart Rates

• Maximum                                157 bpm
• Resting                                    63 bpm
• Fat Burn (50-65% Max)             240 min
• Cardio (66-85% Max)                14 min (129 bpm)
• Peak (Above 85% Max)             20 min (165 bpm)

Sleep Quality

• Duration                                 8 hr 41 min
• Times Awake                           1
• Times Restless                         1

Another Stroll with my Bride

I love the weekends because I can get my bride to join me on my walk.  We first went shopping for the week's groceries, which in itself collects several thousand steps. It also meant she was really NOT in the mood for a six mile walk so we settled for the standard 5.25 walk.  The fact it was in the low 30s meant added layers (that we had to carry later in the hike when we became overly warm.)  Walking with her means my heart rates climb from the swifter pace her long legs set.  I'll admit I enjoy the view as she walks in front of me, even after almost 35 years of marriage, and that undoubtedly adds to that heart rate.

Statistics for Saturday, February 6th

• Steps                                   23,015    (New Personal Record)
• Miles                                    10.4       (New Personal Record)
• Active                                  174 min  (New Personal Record)
• Calories Burned                    4,532      (New Personal Record)
• Floors                                   10          (New Personal Record)

Exercise

• Walk                                    5.25 miles
• Elliptical                              50 min @ tension 4

Heart Rates

• Maximum                             157
• Resting                                 63
• Fat Burn (50-65% max)          147 min
• Cardio (66-85% max)              7 min
• Peak (>85% max)                   136 min (169 bpm)

Sleep Quality

• Duration                               8 hr 47 min
• Times Awake                         1
• Times Restless                       2

The Sun Came Out

Friday morning dawned bright and sunny, albeit a bit chilly at 37 degrees. I decided to alter my morning walk a bit and take a longer path through the neighborhood, going along the bank of the duck pond, until I merged with my normal route for a total stroll of six miles. It was a glorious walk, and I had worked up quite a collection of tears from my dying fat cells by the walk's end.

Statistics for Friday, February 5th

• Steps                                  22,258   (New Personal Record)
• Miles                                   10.05     (New Personal Record)
• Active                                 168 min (New Personal Record)
• Calories Burned                   3,630     (New Personal Record)
• Floors                                  5

Exercise

• Walk                                    6.0 miles (New Personal Record)
• Elliptical                              40 minutes @ tension 4

Heart Rates

• Maximum                              157
• Resting                                  64
• Fat Burn (50-65% Max)            3 hr 36 min
• Cardio (66-85% max)               20 min
• Peak (>85% max)                    27 min (157 bpm)

Sleep Quality

• Duration                                7 hr 53 min
• Times Awake                          1
• Times Restless                        2

End of Week 5 and more Rain

As the weather prognosticators said, there was lots of rain all day and that limited me to using the elliptical.  Three times - twice at 50 minutes and once at thirty minutes.  There is a dichotomy between how much time you spend doing exercise and how long the FitBit credits you.  You must achieve a certain level of heart activity before it decides you are exercising, and it must last for a minimum length of time for it to be credited.  For example, my first bout on the elliptical yesterday was 50 minutes long but the FitBit only credited 37 minutes and the second 50 minute ride was credited as 44 minutes. The final 30 minutes session wasn't credited at all other than the steps themselves.  Weird. I really missed my walk, too.

My official weigh-in this morning indicates that I am still losing weight but at a much slower pace.  I guess I burned off the so-called easy part and now must fight for every ounce.  Still, I am happy to be at 215.

Statistics for Thursday, February 4th

• Steps                                      12,106
• Miles                                       5.47
• Active                                     100 min
• Calories Burned                       2,957
• Floors                                      0

Exercises

• Elliptical                                 50 minutes @ tension 4
• Elliptical                                 50 minutes @ tension 4
• Elliptical                                 30 minutes @ tension 4

Heart Rates

• Maximum                                 157
• Resting                                     63
• Fat Burn (50%-65% max)            3 hr 11 min
• Cardio (66%-85% max)               22 min
• Peak (Greater than 85% max)    5 min 

Sleep Quality suffered by being awakened by my dog, who was lonely once my wife left for work so she rousted me out of bed before six am.

• Duration                                   7 hour 53 min
• Times Awake                            1
• Times Restless                          3

Severe Weather in the South

We had heavy rains and winds in the afternoon and night, complete with a tornado being spotted just as my wife and her colleagues were preparing to leave the school.  They were told to "shelter in place" so they sat in her library until the all clear was given.

Knowing it was going to rain, I got my walk out of the way early (8 am).  Since the dog does not like being out in the rain (who does?), I had to add a second interval on the elliptical to make up for all the missed walks I take with her.  The rains are forecast to continue throughout Thursday so I will end up spending a lot of time on the elliptical.

Statistics for Wednesday, February 3rd

• Steps                                         20,386
• Miles                                          9.21
• Active                                        163 min (Personal Best)
• Calories Burned                          3,555     (Personal Best)
• Floors                                         5

Exercises

• Walk                                          5.25 miles
• Elliptical                                     45 min @ tension 4 (twice)

Heart Rates

• Maximum                                    157
• Resting                                        62
• Fat Burn (50-65% Max)                  3 hr 59 min
• Cardio Zone (66-85% Max)             17 min (117 bpm)
• Peak Zone (86% or higher)            12 min (157 bpm)

Sleep Quality

• Duration                                       8 hr 10 min
• Times Awake                                 1
• Times Restless                               4

Groundhog Day

Lots of shadows since it was a bright sunny day with just enough breeze to keep it cool. I needed to alter my route again to stop at the pharmacy to pick up some medication, so my walk ended up being slightly longer than usual, marking a new record length for me of 5.38 miles and that, in turn, led to other new personal bests.

Statistics for Tuesday, February 2

• Steps                                 21,563   (Personal Best)
• Miles                                  9.74      (Personal Best)
• Active                                156 min (Personal Best)
• Calories Burned                  3,451    (Personal Best)
• Floors                                 6

Exercises

• Walk                                  5.38 Miles (Personal Best)
• Elliptical                            40 minutes @ tension 4

Heart Rates

• Maximum                           157
• Resting                               61
• Fat Burn Zone                     4 hr 46 min
• Cardio Zone                        2 min (105 bpm)
• Peak Zone                           0

Sleep Quality

• Duration                             7 hr 48 min (Dog woke me at 6:12 am)
• Times Awake                       2
• Times Restless                     2

A good start for a new month

Hard to believe that it was in the 70s yesterday - a great start to the month of February. I look another 5+ mile stroll in the morning following by a 40 minute workout on the elliptical so I went over 20k steps again.

Statistics for Monday, February 1st

• Steps                                    20,330
• Miles                                     9.18
• Active                                   152 min
• Calories burned                     3,293
• Floors                                    6

Exercise

• Walk                                      5.15 miles
• Elliptical                                40 min @ tension 4

Heart Rates

• Maximum                                157
• Resting                                    61
• Fat Burn (50%-65% max)           3 hr 33 min
• Cardio (66%-85% max)              0
• Peak (>85% max)                      0

Sleep Quality

• Duration                                  9 hr 26 min
• Times Awake                            0
• Times Restless                          2

January Recap

January ended with another day over 20k steps and some revised personal records. What I found eye-opening was the cumulative numbers for the month.  

Statistics for Sunday, January 31st

• Steps                                  20,353   (Personal Best)
• Miles                                        9.2   (Personal Best)
• Active                                 157 min (Personal Best)
• Calories Burned                   3,373     (Personal Best)
• Floors                                  4

Exercise

• Walk                                   5.25 miles
• Elliptical                             40 min @ Tension 4

Heart Rates

• Maximum (220-Age)             157
• Resting                                63
• Fat Burn (50-65% Max)          6 hours 40 min
• Cardio    (66%-85% Max)        0
• Peak       (>85% Max)            0

Sleep Quality

• Duration                              9 hr
• Times Awake                       1
• Times Restless                     3

Now, the cumulative statistics for January 2016:

• Steps                                  393,786
• Miles                                   178.04
• Floors                                  49
• Calories Burned                   717,124

20,000 Steps!

Set all sorts of new personal best records yesterday.  It all began with a 5.0 mile walk, followed by a mall crawl (and bookstore visit), and shopping at Wally World. Of course, myriad dog walks plus 40 minutes on the elliptical didn't hurt.  Topped 20,000 steps just before going to bed at 10 pm.  Crazy.

Statistics for Saturday, January 30th

• Steps                                              20,101    (Personal Best)
• Miles                                              9.08        (Personal Best)
• Active                                            129 min  (Personal Best)
• Calories Burned                             3,497      (Personal Best)
• Floors                                             4

Exercises

• Walk                                               5.0 miles (Personal Best)
• Elliptical                                         40 min @ tension 4

Heart Rates

• Maximum                                       157
• Resting                                            63
• Fat Burn Zone                                 4 hr 4 min
• Cardio Zone                                    40 min (118 bpm)
• Peak Zone                                        0

Sleep Quality

• Duration                                           8 hr 11 min
• Times Awake                                   1
• Times Restless                                 3

Starting Week 5

Friday, January 29th, started at a chilly 37 degrees when I began my walk but the temperature climbed to 45 degrees by the time I finished my three mile trek.  Needless to say, a lot of fat cells wept and my exercise attire went straight into the washing machine!

Statistics for January 29th:

• Steps                                      15,232
• Miles                                       6.62
• Active                                     106
• Calories Burned                       2,720
• Floors                                      5

Exercises

• Walk                                        3 miles
• Elliptical                                  40 min @ tension 4

Heart Rates

• Maximum                                 157
• Resting                                     64
• Fat Burn Zone                           4 hr 24 min
• Cardio Zone                              0
• Peak Zone                                 0

Sleep Quality

• Duration                                    9 hr 40 min
• Times Awake                              0
• Times Restless                            0

I really dislike cold rain

It wasn't raining when I left home Thursday morning. No, the clouds bided their time, waiting for me to get far enough from home that I would be soaked by the time I finished the walk.  It should be noted that I really dislike walking in cold rain. It offers no redeeming quality to offset that cold relentless wet striking your face, obscuring your glasses.

I also learned a valuable lesson this week.  I gave in to temptation and had fried rice from a local takeout.  Ended up eating it for two dinner meals and one lunch. Result?  I GAINED A POUND THIS WEEK! That's right, my weight was 218.4 today.  No one to blame but myself.

Statistics for Thursday, January 28th

• Steps                                      12,506
• Miles                                       5.65
• Active                                     85 minutes
• Calories Burned                       2,780
• Floors                                      3

Exercise

• Walk                                        2.25 miles
• Elliptical                                  40 min @ tension 4

Heart Rates

• Maximum                                 157
• Resting                                     64 
• Fat Burn                                   2 hr 53 min
• Cardio Zone                              2 min (104)
• Peak Zone                                 0

Sleep Quality

• Duration                                   9 hr 43 min
• Times Awake                             1
• Times Restless                           1

Wednesday, Jan 27

Statistics for January 27th

• Steps                      12,591
• Miles                       5.82
• Active                     91 minutes
• Calories Burned       2,798
• Floors                     0

Exercises

• Walk                       2.25 miles
• Elliptical                 40 minutes @ tension 5

Heart Rates

• Maximum                157
• Resting                    66
• Fat Burn Zone          2 hr 34 min
• Cardio Zone             3 min (125 bpm)
• Peak Zone                3 min (145 bpm)

Sleep Quality

• Duration                   7 hr 26 min
• Times Awake            0
• Times Restless          8

Another Day, More Statistics

Statistics for Tuesday, January 26th

• Steps                                     12,408
• Miles                                      5.36
• Active                                    85 min
• Calories Burned                      2,517
• Floors                                     3

Exercise

• Walk                                      2.25 miles
• Elliptical                                40 min @ tension 4

Heart Rates

• Maximum                               157
• Resting                                   67
• Fat Burn Zone                         3 hr 7 min
• Cardio Zone                            3 min (105 bpm)
• Peak Zone                               0

Sleep Quality

• Duration                                  9 hr 18 min
• Times Awake                           1
• Times Restless                         5

Monday, Monday.

I had a profound thought while I was taking an extended walk over a more varied terrain yesterday. "Sweat is merely the tears of dying fat cells."  Not anatomically accurate, but true from a philosophical perspective, especially when said sweat is generated by physical activity.  By the way, that extended walk ended up only adding another quarter mile to my distance and, despite the hills and slopes involved, did not increase my credit for floors on iota. It also added several crossings of major roads since the sidewalks in this town are only on one side of the major streets (there are no sidewalks in our residential area.)

Statistics for Monday, January 25th

• Steps                                  14,462
• Miles                                   6.53
• Active                                 93 minutes
• Calories Burned                   2,982
• Floors                                  2

Exercises

• Walk                                   2.25 miles
• Elliptical                             35 minutes @ tension 4

Heart Rates

• Maximum                             157
• Resting                                 67
• Fat Burn Zone                       3 hr 25 min
• Cardio Zone                          17 min (121 bpm)
• Peak Zone                             4 min 

Sleep Quality

• Duration                              9 hr 47 min
• Times Awake                        0
• Times Restless                     0

End of the Weekend

The weekend is over.  My grandson has gone home, making the house seem ever so empty.  No little voice has asked to "see the train, Grandpa" or if I would play cars with him. Despite having the little guy with us, I still managed both my daily walk and my time on the elliptical.

Statistics for Sunday, January 24th

• Steps                                   12,470
• Miles                                    5.64
• Active                                  78 minutes
• Calories burned                    2,893
• Floors                                  2

Exercises

• Walk                                    2.0 miles
• Elliptical                              35 minutes on setting 4

Heart Rates

• Maximum                             157
• Resting                                 68
• Fat Burn Zone                       3 hr 10 min
• Cardio Zone                          34 min (115 bpm)
• Peak Zone                             4 min (133 bpm)

Sleep Quality

• Duration                                8 hr 45 min
• Times Awake                         0
• Times Restless                       6

A Goal Achieved

24 days ago, I started on this lifestyle change by setting an initial weight loss goal of 220 pounds, which would be a loss of eighteen pounds.  This morning I weighed 217.4 pounds, so I have lost 20.6 pounds in 23 days.  After a moment of feeling a bit of pride, I set a new goal of 200 pounds even by the end of February, roughly 4 pounds a week.  I think I can reach that if I keep doing what I am doing.

Statistics for Saturday, January 23rd

• Steps                                      14,118
• Miles                                       6.38
• Active                                     75
• Calories burned                       2,920
• Floor                                       1

Exercise

• Walk                                       2.0 miles
• Elliptical                                 35 min (Setting 4)

Heart Rates

• Maximum                                157
• Resting                                    69
• Fat Burn Zone                          3 hr 18 min
• Cardio Zone                             13 min (112 bpm)
• Peak Zone                                0

Sleep Quality

• Duration                                  8 hr 13 min
• Times Awake                            0
• Times Restless                          2

And the rain, rain, rain, came down, down, down

What a very dreary cold day for the start of Winter Storm Jonas and the much ballied Snowpocalypse 2016.  Our temperature hovered at 33 degrees for most of the day, dipping below freezing once the sun went down. Just north of us was the ice line, where they dealt with layers of ice coating everything.  With the cold steady rain, all my exercise was indoors on the elliptical - three 35 minute sessions.  I really missed my walk! Even the dog wanted no part of walks in the rain.

Statistics

• Steps                                        9,871 (Below Goal)
• Miles                                        4.46 (Below Goal)
• Active                                       104 minutes
• Calories burned                         2,677
• Floor                                         1

Exercises

• Elliptical                                    35 minutes x 3

Heart Rates

• Maximum                                   157
• Resting                                       69
• Fat Burn Zone                            4 hr 51 min
• Cardio Zone                               0
• Peak Zone                                  0

Sleep Quality

• Duration                                     8 hr 29 min
• Times Awake                              1
• Times Restless                            1

A Change in Plans

A change in plans.  Rather than us driving to NC to care for our grandson, he was delivered to our door.  The airlines cancelled my daughter and her husband's flight to Florida, so they elected to rent a car and drive there.  So they arrived here late last night and will leave after breakfast for Florida.  With a two-year-old in the house, there will be no "deep couch sitting" (as the commercial goes.)

Winter Storm Jonas has brought us a day of cold rain.  Fortunately, our temperatures are warm enough that we haven't gotten any ice from the storm... yet.  This means no two-mile walk for me today so three elliptical sessions are in my plan instead.

Another milestone yesterday, over 15,000 steps in a single day. It wasn't planned but that's the joy of being busy.  Steps Happen!

Statistics

• Steps                                   15,740 (new personal best)
• Miles                                    7.11 (new personal best)
• Active                                  85 minutes
• Calories burned                    3,232
• Floors                                   2

Exercises

• Walk                                     2.0 miles
• Elliptical                               40 minutes

Heart Rates

• Maximum                              157
• Resting                                  67
• Fat Burn                                6 hr 20 min
• Cardio                                   8 min
• Peak                                     1 min

Sleep Quality

• Duration                               8 hr 4 min
• Times Awake                        1
• Times Restless                      3

The end of the Third Week

Here it is, January 21st, the end of my third week at this fitness and dietary change.  The results are good.  My weight this morning was 221.0 pounds, down an incredible seventeen pounds since I began. In fact, I will need to set a new weight goal in my FitBit since I am within one pound of my initial goal.  New goal is 200 pounds.  This weekend will be something of a challenge as we are heading into North Carolina to babysit our grandson while his parents travel to Florida for a wedding.  Of course, we will be doing this while skirting the edge of a major winter storm that is already dumping snow.  Fun, fun, fun.

I didn't post yesterday so I will show the stats for both days.

Statistics                                        Jan 19                       Jan 20

• Steps                                    13,015                      12,071
• Miles                                     5.88                          5.46
• Active minutes                       91                             108
• Calories burned                      3,099                        2,600
• Floors                                    1                               2

Exercise

• Walk                                     2.0 miles                  2.0 miles
• Elliptical                               35 minutes x 2         35 minutes x 2

Heart Rates

• Maximum                              157                          157
• Resting                                  67                            68
• Fat Burn (79-102 bpm)           4 hr 18 min              5 hr 27 min
• Cardio (103-132 bpm)            24 min (127 bpm)     0
• Peak (133 or greater)            12 min (144 bpm)      0

Sleep Quality

• Duration                               8 hr 3 min                 9 hr 7 min
• Times Awake                        1                               0
• Times Restless                      3                               3   

MLK Day

Started the day out with a two mile walk with my wife.  As much as I grumble about her long stride and fast pace, I do enjoy walking with her during the weekends.  I followed that up with a 32 minute elliptical session on a higher setting in the morning and another 35 minutes session in the afternoon. 

I also made dinner - the most amazing Southwestern Steak and Potato Soup. It's a relatively simple dish you throw into a crockpot but the taste is remarkable and it's only 224 calories per serving.

Statistics for Monday, January 18th:

• Steps                       13,302 (personal best)
• Miles                        6.02 (personal best)
• Active                      87 minutes
• Calories burned        3,213
• Floors                      3

Heart Rates

• Maximum                157
• Resting                    69
• Fat Burn Zone          4 hr 43 min
• Cardio Zone             32 min (113 bpm)
• Peak Zone               20 min (174 bpm)

Sleep Quality

• Duration:                8 hr 41 min
• Times Awake           1
• Times Restless         3

Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest

As mentioned yesterday, I began my day by getting up with the dog and letting my better half sleep. Sadly, she had forgotten to turn off an alarm so she was up by 6:30 am.  That just meant we could get an earlier start on our day.  She joined me on the walk, bringing her faster pace and longer stride plus extending the route a little farther so we reached the two-mile mark.  Afterward we headed over to Lowes to get some new shelving for her Loom Room (a room wherein she stores her looms, fiber, yarns, sewing machines, etc.)  Once the shelves were assembled, I left her to her organizing and did a 35 minute ride on the elliptical machine.  It may appear to be a light exercise load, but the numbers show otherwise.

Statistics for January 17th

• Steps                      12,469 (new record for me)
• Miles                      5.63     (new record for me)
• Active                    79 minutes
• Calories Burned     2,541
• Floors                     1

Heart Rates

• Maximum               157
• Resting                    68
• Fat burn zone          4 hours, 27 minutes
• Cardio zone             8 minutes (112 bpm)
• Peak zone                2 minutes

Sleep Quality

• Duration:                 6 hr 42 min
• Times Awake          1
• Times Restless        2

A very busy Saturday

Per our custom, I got up with the dog on Saturday so my wife could sleep (and I did it again this morning since Monday is a holiday).  The result is for that metric, I failed to meet the goal of eight hours of sleep.

However, once she was up, we did the morning 1.75 mile walk together.  It was nice to have someone to share it with, but my wife has a very long stride and a fast pace, so she pushes me without words. I hit the elevated heart rates much sooner and for far longer than when I saunter along at my own pace. The 36 minute walk had me doing ten minutes in the fat burn zone, twenty-three minutes in cardio, and the final three minutes were at peak.  We then went shopping and walked the length and breadth of Michael's, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, and Bi-Lo.  In mid-afternoon, I did a thirty-one minute session on the elliptical machine that zipped through fat burn (two minutes), spent twenty-eight minutes in cardio, and one minute sprint in peak.

The actual stats for Jan 16th:

Steps:                      11,657
Miles:                       5.31
Active:                      82 minutes
Calories Burned:         3,180
Floors:                      2

Heart Rates

• Maximum           157
• Resting               68
• Fat Burn             5 hours, 8 minutes
• Cardio Zone        1 hour 9 minutes (122)
• Peak Zone          4 minutes

Sleep: 6 hours 45 minutes (awake 0, restless 2)

Friday, Jan 15th

A rainy day in South Carolina but I managed to get my walk in before the rains settled in.

Statistics of January 15th:

Steps:                 11,395
Miles:                  5.14
Active:                100 min 
Calories:              3,078
Floors:                1

Exercises

• 1.75 mile walk
• Elliptical 30 min x2

Heart Rates  

• Maximum:         157
• Resting:             68
• Fat Burn Zone:   6 hr 5 min
• Cardio Zone:      34 min 
• Peak Zone:         6 min 

Sleep:  8 hr 44 min  (awake 1/restless 4)