In Search of a New Me

Life on the Bench had an unintended side effect - weight gain.  I became so dissatisfied with my weight that I made a resolution to do something about it.  The first part of the resolution was a change in diet.  Gone are the sweets - jelly beans, M&Ms, cookies, sodas.  Also gone is my beer and alcohol. We already practice portion control, but we'd allowed fast food but that's now gone.

The second part of my resolution is daily exercise. Every day, in addition to the dog walks, I added a walk around the block, which is 1.25 miles.  On top of that, I do two 20-minute sessions on the elliptical trainer. I am slowly adding calisthenics to the mix.  Pushups, situps, crunches, toe-touches, etc.  Have I mentioned the last time I participated in daily exercise was Basic Training in 1970?

My wife bought me a FitBit Charge HR for Christmas, and it has been a blessing at tracking what I have been accomplishing.  The American Heart Association recommends 10,000 steps every day, but I recognize that I have been too sedentary for far too long to just start off at those levels. Active Zone is when your heart rate is above 50% of the maximum for your age.  This is divided into three areas: Fat Burn (50% to 69% of maximum), Cardio (70% to 84% of maximum) and Peak (above 85% of maximum).   I plan to log my progress here.  Note: It also tracks the quality and duration of your sleep.

JAN 1:
     Steps:  6,785
     Miles:  3.07
     Active:  20 minutes
     Calories:  2,489
     Sleep:      7 Hr 21 Min  (Awake 3/Restless 8)

JAN 2:
     Steps:  8,878
     Miles:  4.01
     Active:  21 minutes
     Calories: 2,638
     Sleep:       7 Hr  (Restless 2)

JAN 3:
     Steps:  8,100
     Miles: 3.66
     Active: 55 minutes
     Calories: 2,498
     Sleep:  8 hr 52 min  (Restless 6)