I started out small with my goals, especially my step goals. I quickly found that if I used my Gazelle Edge twice a day, I could hit my initial step goal rather easily, so I increased my step goals. Having a ton of friends who have various versions of a FitBit has been really encouraging. My current daily step goal is 8200, though I think it's time for an increase.
In the month since I bought my FitBit, I've increased my water consumption from pretty much no water at all to around 40 ounces a day. I've reached the point, after only a month, where I can feel a difference in my body when I don't drink water. I've lost 4.6 pounds in just a month. I haven't changed my eating habits aside from drinking more water. I have found, however, that the more water I drink, the less desire I feel to snack during the day.
I really enjoy the social aspect that FitBit offers. I'm having a blast challenging my friends to daily, weekly, and weekend events. It feel super amazing to win the challenges! When I don't, I don't feel discouraged, which is amazing. If I miss my step goal, I know I can start over the next day. I don't feel like I've screwed up the entire week. This is a HUGE shift in thinking for me. I've struggled with my weight most of my adult life. There's always that little voice that whispers that I might as well not even try after eating ice cream because I've blown the entire week with one ice cream binge. Now I can quiet that voice by starting over the next day and getting my steps in. I don't feel like I have to measure up to my friends, either. Some days I win challenges and some days I don't, but I feel empowered to do better, take more steps, and drink more water, rather than discouraged and defeated.
I've also been reading up on the best time to go walking. Now that I've managed to work exercise into my daily routine, my goal for this coming month is to walk about 45 minutes in the morning before eating breakfast. I've done this a couple days this week and I've seen a difference in my daily weight. I do try to set aside one day a week that I don't meet my step goal. It's not a set day. It varies week by week depending on how I'm feeling and what I have going on.
I've earned four badges this month. One for taking 5,000 steps in a day, one for taking 10,000 steps in a day, one for walking 26 lifetime miles, and one for walking 70 lifetime miles. The badges are a cool way to earn rewards. I like seeing them add up on my app.
I was talking to a friend last night and came up with a fun way to reward myself when I meet my weight loss goals. For every ten pounds I drop, I'm going to make myself an Adipose toy. That way, I can look back in a year, or five, or ten, and see all the weight I used to carry. They will be a great visual motivator and also, fun to make!
Time to go work my Adipose off!
