WiThings Body Media Scale

It arrived almost 2 weeks ago, and so far, I LOVE it!  When anyone in the family steps on the scale, it takes your weight, body fat weight and heartrate. 

You can also purchase a similar device for blood pressure, which would be helpful for some to have everything in one place, but for us, this is not an issue at all.  I would be interested to see if WiThings eventually comes out with an integrated blood glucose monitoring system.  They do exist, but having the history stored in one place would be something I could easily justify purchasing for my husband.  Sometimes, you simply cannot escape genetics.  My husband is 6'3", under 200 pounds, pitches baseball (not softball) weekly and is on the elliptical several times a week, eats healthier than anyone I know...and yes, he is still diabetic.  It sucks.

Back to the WiThings scale...based on the most recent weight, your first three initials is indicated in the upper left corner of the scale.  This is the "account" that the stats will be transferred to.  So, lets say I was 120 pounds last week (sure, I'm dreaming) and I get onto the scale and I'm 115-125, its going to assume that the person on the scale is me.  Likewise, my daughter was 66.4 last week and if she steps on the scale, and she is around that same weight, its going to assume its her.  If its wrong or it simply can't identify a user (e.g. houseguest), the data is sent to the device as an "unknown user" so you can manually move it to the right classification.  Of course, this would be intrusive to know your houseguests' weight, albeit this would prove interesting and still be completely unintentional!

The data is transferred seamlessly to your iPhone app.  See below for the main screen.  Its quite easy to switch between users as well, but all of the users are available on the iPhone (except if you specifically hide a user).  This can be quite helpful if you want to keep your personal weight a mystery to your spouse...silly women we are, but it is what it is.

The first section scrolls to data on:

• weight
• fat mass
• BMI
• height

The second section scrolls to:

• heart rate
• blood pressure, if you utilize this additional device (both SYS and DIA are on their own graph)

The "air quality" section scrolls to historical graphs on:

• temperature (min and max)
• CO2 level (which basically tells you when you should open the windows and air out the house)



I love the fact that the house temperature is available.  True, we have the NEST, which I also love, but its a nice little extra to see the temperature in the other side of the house.  I may change the home temperature on the NEST for when we are away, but thats really from the main monitor near the A/C unit.  Since this is the bedroom, far away, it gives a better sense on how comfortable our dog is when the A/C is turned off.  So, I suppose the WiThings scale also helps me monitor my dog's safety :)

Now, the data is also provided in a web interface.  The standard view is seen below.  The auto log-out is quite quick though (maybe 5 minutes) so be expected to sign in again....while this could be annoying, I prefer that the data is not perused accidentally by others on the computer!

The left pane (not seen below) shows all of the family member accounts, so its easy to switch around from one user to the other.    While the data is pretty basic, it does a nice job of showing trends and seeing where you need to increase (eg muscle tone) and reduce (fat mass) to have an appropriate amount of body fat.



Of course, the more data points, the more interesting and relevant the data is.  I think whats also nice is that you tend to look at the trends, more so than just the current day's data.  If I was up 2 pounds over yesterday, of course, I would know its a blip and that it will eventually go down....because I see "the one step back and two steps forward" throughout the graph.  It simply doesn't make you worry or get irratable enough.  Most diets instruct you not to get on the scale more than once a week for this very reason.  With the WiThings scale, you just don't need to be scared of the scale!

All in all, I do like it.  Its simple to set up. The interface is well designed.  It syncs with my UP account and my MyFitnessPal account.  What more could I ask for?  I'm simply pleased.

WiFi Scale: WiThings versus FitBit Aria

When I provided that data feed schematic a few days ago, I had already known that I was buying a wifi scale.  Just don't tell my husband how expensive they are, ok? 

There really are only three wifi scales out there:

• FitBit Aria
• WiThings Smart Body Analyzer
• WiThings Wireless Scale

The FitBit Aria and the WiThings Wireless Scale are very comparable in terms of features.  Pricing on the Aria is slightly more, for no apparent reason other than their brand name.  The WiThings Smart Body Analyzer, however, is superior in terms of features...but its more expensive.

I'm interested in one of these...simply because I love data.  And, what better way than to have the data sent to an online "home" for storage and analysis!  But, they are pricey. Do they work?  Are there network issues?  There really are not that many models out there.  My shopping comparison is listed below (click the image to enlarge) which pulled some basic information from Amazon.

I haven't given it a full run-down quite yet, but will update in a few days....will I really be happy with it?

So, what swayed me towards the pricier option?  Two things really:

• Can I hide my readings from other users of my scale?  WiThings is very clear about this.  I never got the warm and fuzzy from FitBit's site. Yes, you're entirely free to customise your privacy settings. You can create a separate, individual Withings account for your profile so that only you can see your weight data.
• I want to know my resting heart rate.  This is soooo important for determining overall health!  Knowing what that is helps determine overall fitness level.  Knowing changes in that can help identify when you are coming down with something, are under stress, need more sleep, etc.  Its all related!

For more detail of the importance of knowing and managing your resting heart rate, please see this post:

Elevated Resting Heart Rate = Warning Sign

Like everything else, you should be aware of your body.  There are so many "heads up" indicators for poor health.  And, every time something slaps you in the face as being odd, it focuses you more on the goal of health.  Is a wifi scale considerably more expensive than the $29.99 versions that are available everywhere?  Yes.  Is the tracking feature worth it?  Yes.  See changes in your body composition also can give you a heads up when your cycle is going to start...and an extra days notice for me (and most women I know) is appreciated!  But, more importantly, you can see the trends over time.  Its not just a number that will put you in a good mood or a bad mood for a day (trust me, my husband gets pissed off when he thinks he has gained 2 pounds in one day, which we know is NOT possible).  Like anything else, focus on the overall picture and trend, and health and well being will follow.

 

UP by Jawbone

I have to say, I did like my Fitbit, but would always loose it!  Then, when it was attached to my underthings, on the floor, my husband (trying to be as supportive as he can be) threw them into the washing machine...bye bye fitbit.  That was a year ago.  But, for the time I did have it, it made a difference!

I checked out the Fitbit Flex, which is a bracelet version of what I previously had, but eventually decided upon the UP. The bracelets make the mind think about movement more often because its not hidden from view, so you are reminded about it more often.  What were the deciding factors?

• FitBit Flex band....saw numerous mentions of it breaking.  Clasping the Fitbit Flex’s strap shut is tricky.  The UP wristband snakes around your wrist, and takes no effort to put on or remove.
• UP can also fit on your ankle, which is a added benefit if you want to wear it in a more discreet place.  Many of these devices inaccurately track stationary exercise (eg bikes, elliptical, treadmills), but if you can easily attach it to your ankle, problem is resolved!  You may not be moving your hands on a bike, but you are definitely moving your legs!  This isn't related to just stationary bikes, but bike riding outside is often misrepreseted as well.
• I didn't want to burn my battery syncing via bluetooth.  UP ensures a quick sync via the speaker port on your phone.  Takes a second, really.  Sure, I would prefer wireless syncing, but its a small effort and its not a hindrence to me.  I also thought that the process of syncing will ensure that I look at the stats more often, and yet not always be in my face (as with the Flex).  I can appreciate both, however, I don't want to live looking at my steps every few seconds.  I'm inundated with data enough.
• UP battery life is twice as long as the Flex (10 days v 5 days).
• I had some Apple giftcards burning a whole in my pocket, and Apple sells UP :)

Now, both products are excellent...so really, get the one you think you would enjoy wearing more.

Upon opening it, I could tell how simple it was!  The instructions simply tell you to access a URL via your smart phone.  I entered some basic information, and it asked me to plug it into the speaker port.  All set up!  Now, that was easy!

When first opening the app, you see the main screen:

When you scroll down, you will see a "feed" of all of your individual entries.  I can see the ease of adding this, but I don't use it.  Click on the details is just as easy and I prefer the visual of the individual screens.  The "feed" reminds me too much of a facebook feed, but doesn't serve me.  Easy enough not to slide my fingers down at least!

Slide your fingers to the right, you see:

Note: you can manually sync (eg if you modified your goals), but the syncing will occur automatically if you insert the UP into the speaker port.  For me, I just need to be cognizant that the "bumper" on my iPhone doesn't always make this easy, even when it appears that the UP is fully inserted into the phone's speaker port.  So, sometimes I just need to give it an extra push.

Slide your finger to the left, you see:

Easy enough to initiate some auto feeds into other applications (via the "Apps" icon). Yes, very iPhone-like.



The UP focuses mostly on activitity and sleeping.  The interface is very clean, so you can tell that it was initially geared towards Apple fans.  It does take a solid 2 days for you to view the "trends" screen.  Setting up the alarm was easy, and I no longer need my husband to call me at 6:30am (as he is already at work).  Setting up the "idle alarm" was easy as well...it gently vibrates every 30 minutes of inactivity (except if i'm asleep).  It can also log a workout from the phone directly, so if I do something without my garmin (eg hot yoga), I can record this properly.

From the main screen, you can click on three vertical bars.  You basically want to ensure, by the end of the day, that both your steps and sleep icon go all the way "UP" to the top...yes, pun intended.  I had a 96% effective sleep. and thus far, I'm only at 16% of my daily activity goal.

When you click on the "Sleep" icon:

When you click on the "Steps" icon:

When you click on the "Food" icon:

The integration to and from MyFitnessPal seems appropriate.  Syncing is not an issue, and its quite speedy thus far.  The food detail does not come over, but the total calories consumed per meal, and the nutrition breakdown, comes over properly.  In addition, mealtimes are indicated on the timeline on the screen.  So, you can see in the image above, I had breakfast and lunch already.

Note, however, that UP is more focused on physical activity than weight loss. True, one is required to attain the other.  But for weight loss progress, I defer to MyFitnessPal.  That being said, if you want to ease efforts, this will do it....focus on the activity and sleep, and the goal of weight loss will be reached.  If you are a data nerd (like me), you will mostly want to look at the detail on MyFitnessPal.  This is actually a bit backwards, and I realize it.  Again, if you are doing everything right, you don't need to do anything else!  But I simply cannot NOT look at the data if its there.  So, in other words.....UP focuses on the lifestyle, while MyFitnessPal focuses on the daily goal.  I think there is value in both, but once I attain my goal, I cannot say that I will ever visit MyFitnessPal on a regular basis, but I will continue to utilize UP.

All in all, once I gained comfort with UP, I do like it!  I love the flexibility of the band. I love that i can place it on my ankle discreetly when I don't want to be so open about tracking my body.  While I was put back with the lack of weight loss focus on the UP, in the brief time I have had it, I now understand why.  Again, as a culture, we need to focus on the lifestyle....focus on the journey to being healthy, rather than the minutae in MyFitnessPal.

Well, for those on the fence, I hope this helps!

Product Review: Cheribundi

Did I ever give my official Cheribundi review?  If not, here it is!  I received three flavors to test out:

• Skinny Cherry
• Tru Cherry
• Whey Cherry

Skinny Cherry was my favorite, simply because I didn't really taste a big difference between the three...so why have the added calories?  That being said, cherry is quite tart so even if it has added sugar, its always going to have a tartness to it...so if tart isn't your thing, don't try it.

Whey Cherry has the added benefit of 8 grams of carbs.  Considering that its only 30 calories over the standard "Tru Cherry" and has 7 grams of protein more than "Tru Cherry" I think this obviously offers the biggest bang for the buck, calorie-wise.

While not 100% cherry juice, its not from concentrate and it is the result of 50 fresh-pressed cherries per bottle.  It has a fabulous cherry pie flavor...but its clearly not a "juice" type drink as you are always going to get a slight tart aftertaste, but rest assured its because its real flavor and not one made in a lab.  Its not going to sweet and sticky, but rather refreshing as well as offering a quick "wake up" type of feeling to it.

I actually prefer the 8 ounce size.  With most juice drinks, you always always have too much.  Seriously, how many times do you pour 12 ounces of orange juice, drink half and top it off again...tons of unwanted calories here.  8 ounces is perfect to throw in your purse, take it with you, or simply grab a serving-size appropriate drink from the fridge.  But they also offer a 32ounce bottle...just be aware of the calories that any juice packs in!

It is a little pricey though, so you are not going to down these every single day...but on those days when your muscles need some recovery, its going to help...this superfruit is going to speed your muscle recovery.  After attempting P90X2's Plyocide and drinking this the following two days, I really felt great even the following day!

I would either try it out after you up your mileage and/or workout/weights, or try it out before/after a run and compare the difference from a normal routine...see if it makes the cut.  I think you will find that it does.

Cheribundi: How Do I Test Thee?

First...a heads up.  I have a 12-pack of Cheribundi at home right now, and I'll be testing it...will report back...and will offer a 12-pack up to someone!  Everyone loves freebies, right?

Cheribundi is a premium tart cherry juice.  As you may know, tart cherries offer many benefits for runners and other athletes, as well as those suffering from gout, arthritis and inflammatory disease.  Runners, in particular, find that tart cherry juice reduces pain and inflammation and aids in muscle recovery.  Tart cherries also contain natural melatonin, which promotes more restful sleep. You can learn more about Cheribundi, our flavors and the benefits of tart cherries on our web site at www.cheribundi.com.

I am going to test this stuff...Joe has told me that he NEEDS me to start running again now (rather than wait until my son settles down with his issues which is overstressing me to the max), so I'll probably be starting back this week.  Simply because its been awhile, I think I'll need all the recovery help I can muster, so this is well timed!  I'll try to rate my sleep, athletic recovery, aches and pains before/after drinking it for four days straight.  I think this will be a good test, don't you think?

Think good thoughts for me!

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The Weight of the Nation

Fast food, processed food, lack of exercise, lack of funding for physical fitness classes for kids, fear of your child playing outside without parental supervision, government funding of cheaply processed foods...there are a multitude of reasons why the US has an obesity epidemic.  But, we can stop it...we can start in our homes.  We can ensure that our children are insulated from these external factors that negatively influence poor nutrition.  We can also watch this documentary series:

http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/films

HBO (along with the CDC and a ton of other organizations) put together a 4-part miniseries documentary on the state of the nation, quite literally the weight of the nation.  Watch simply one show episode every night, and see if this doesn't move you into making better decisions!

Fortunately, you do not need to have HBO to access this miniseries...so no excuses!

I highly recommend the series, as just maybe you will find information in here that you can use as a tool to encourage better decision making for yourself and your family.

FitBit: A Week Later

So, I've been using FitBit for almost a week.  I've found the device very easy to use.  The interface is great if you are looking at one week or one month at a time.  The daily view is very difficult to interpret, but then again, we shouldn't be focused on hour to hour changes...the interface is great if you are watching your progress over weeks or months!

The communication between MyFitnessPal and Fitbit could be quicker, but for the most part, it works.  I think the key is to use MyFitnessPal solely for recording calories.  Do not enter a goal or a food plan into MyFitness Pal, and then completely disregard any  exercise/net/remaining calories.  If you disregard these, then you base all of your data/plans on FitBit, which works fine.

Then again, you need to realize that the online data will always be behind the device that is attached to you.  This is fine if you are sitting at your computer at home, where the wireless connector resides...but if you spend hours in front of a work computer, don't even bother checking FitBit, unless you are reviewing historical information.  It does do a decent job at estimating calorice burn rate, but it could easily be a couple hundred calories off by the afternoon of a work day.

So, have I learned anything this last week?  First and foremost, I now know why I'm always so disappointed with a lack of results when going on a diet.  I'm amazed at how sedentary my life is!  The graph below (from FitBit's site) clearly illustrates my burn versus eaten.  My burn is easily increased when I exercise, but if I don't I'm shocked at how low it is!

A few realities have already set in:

• During a typical work day, assuming I do NOT do cardio, I burn a mere 1900 calories.
• During a somewhat busy weekend day, assuming I do NOT do cardio, I burn around 2300 calories.

There are no stairs in Florida.  Its so hot that we rarely spend much time outside unless its between Novemebr and April.  I have a desk job....which means I just don't walk much during the day.  All of these play into those low numbers above.

I suppose I've always understood the concept of in/out calorie-wise, but I presumed that based on my weight, my natural metabolism would burn much more than 1900 during a week day!  Just going out to lunch and having dinner typically puts me over that...so in essence, if I indulged over the weekend as well, I would put weight on every single week.  This was definitely an eye-opener.  I was always so discouraged when I wouldn't lose a pound when I went under 1600 calories.  Well, assuming I only burned 1900/day, I would have to do this for 12 days before losing a single pound...and with the changes in water weight that occur throughout a body, this may not even be seen on a scale for a good three weeks.  Wow....maybe I was delusional to think that I burned more than 2000 calories/day. 

So, the Fitbit has thrown it into my face that I need to be more active....not just for "exercise" sessions, but for every day activities.  I need to take the stairs whenever possible.  I need to walk around work more.  I need to do things that don't require me to sit for extended periods of time.  This is very obvious to me now.

On the other hand, I have worn it while sleeping, and the site assigns a percentage to your sleep efficiency...I had one bad night of sleep, but for the most part, I consistently scored above 95%.  So, at least I know I'm getting a decent amount of sleep and a decent quality of sleep.

I think I always had a good sense of my calorie intake, but its this other side of the equation that I was just assuming that the quick-and-dirty formulas were working for me.  And maybe without this kitchen fire which has forced me to eat out for the last 4 months would never required this type of understanding, but I'm glad I did it!

Our kitchen will not be done for a good 3 weeks, so I definitely plan on wearing this at least until then.  Will update you after another week!

My Fitness Pal

So, I mentioned that I was going to be strict with myself.  I was always a die-hard mydailyplate fan, but this time around, I'm counting my calories with MyFitnessPal.com.  Why?  Well, first and foremost its free (even the smart phone app) AND I don't typically need to search for items when listing them on their interface. 

I just grabbed a 1/4 cup fo peanuts and did I have to search to log them?  No!!!  I just scanned the barcode.  This is great!  Perfect for those people addicted to their smart phones, like me.  You can easily add everything from your phone, but if you need to see the whole picture, just log onto their website and check our your summary detail.  For example, on the mobile version, I can see total calorie count and remaining calories....but I cannot readily see total protein for the day.  But, I pop on over to the regular web version and everything is in front of me.

So, again, why is this so great?  So many times I will search for a food item to log.  By scanning this, I'm saving my time and experiencing less frustration because I no longer have to weigh two similar entries in the database that appear almost identical.  Time savings, accuracy and easier entry....what more could you ask for! 

So far, this one is two thumbs up!







Allied Medal Displays for all that blings!

First of all, when I opened it...I immediately fell in love the heft of this medal display. It is solid, unlike some of the competitors that I've picked up and held at various expos (and more importantly it neither looks like a towel rack or a tie rack!). The laset-cut edge is super fine, but won't draw blood. Remember, I was worried about that...I need to be with kids around since I know my kids will be wearing the medals (especially my daughter with the princess medal!).  I've posted a pic below of the edge of the words so you can see how fine the edge is...hopefully it comes through well with my camera in this darkened room (it is evening and I just got it about 20 minutes ago so I had to put it up immediately and write a review).

I have been looking around for one that can hold everything I need (eventually), looks like it fits in with my office decor, and is adult-friendly. I wanted one that was easy to add/remove medals and that didnt cry for attention, but garnered subtle "oohs" instead (after all, I want the actual bling to get most of the attention!).  In other words...I was looking for quality.  Trust me, I've checked quite a few out. So, I knew what I needed...just hadn't found the right thing for me.

Lo and behold, Allied Medal Displays is a unique contender in this market. You don't find them expo-hopping around the country, but they are slowly making a name for themselves by word of mouth. Runners and triathletes everywhere utilize their hangers...and they've even branched out to other sports. They even offer customized options, unlike any other hanger out there that I've seen.

So, I selected the Starry bling holder. I know most would opt for a custom display, but I just wasn't sure what I would put on there that I would love until the day I die. Now, bling and stars? I'll always like those. So, what do I think about my bling holder? LOVE IT!!!

The mounting was simple. The display comes with "spacers" so you basically mount the screens through the front of the hanger, through the spacers and into the wall of your choice. It took maybe 2 minutes once I found the drill....darn husband keeps moving my stuff around in the garage!

That being said, the screws and spacers are perfect for drywall....but of course, the one exact space that I wanted to place it had 2 (of the 3 spacers/screws) required wood drills behind the drywall.  I found optional screws in my handy dandy garage that worked.  It was just a fluke that the space I desired for this required wood drills...really not a big deal, but something to be aware of.  And, of course, the wood nails (if needed) need to be longer than 1 1/4" and definitely skinny so they fit through the bling holder and through the spacer.  If you bring them to Home Depot, it would be easy to match...but again, just something to be aware of.

Overall, the holder (and all of the models by Allied Steel) has a nice sheen to it, but has more of a matte finish so it won't be showing any fingerprints. I absolutely know that my kids will be touching it for quite some time. In fact, as I write this the kids have already decided to re-arrange the bling in order of first to most recent race.

As for the stars, the stars are brilliant! Some of standard and some are wavy. Some feel a bit girly/wavy, but some are so solid that the entire display feels more gender-neutral than originally expected, which means it would fare well in our bedroom, but its destined for the office for me, especially since I seem to keep my running shoes there all the time anyway!  And, I must say that it fits in perfectly!

Now, if you are interested in getting one of these Allied Medal Displays for yourself, check out their options here. Use discount/promotion code CMOTR for a 10% discount (should at least cover your S&H).  Or, you can check back tomorrow and enter my give-away for one of these bad boys!

Coconut Oil

The key to the use of this oil is:

• You must like coconut, as the taste is very present in good coconut oil
• You must only purchase cold-pressed not processed oil
• You must purchase unfiltered, not that clear as can be oil you find in the grocery store which is tasteless and where the nutritional content is questionable.

So why coconut oil? Sure, its a saturated fat...but surprisingly, its the only saturated fat that the body uses like a carb! Research shows that the medium chain fatty acids found in coconut oil boosts the body’s metabolism, raises body temperatures, and helps provide greater energy which can lead to weight loss. Multi-chain triglycerides are high in coconut oil....just like mother's milk. Hard to get a better source for it! 

But, most coconut oil that you can buy from "normal" stores is seriously filtered...it doesn't even have a coconut scent!  Tropical Traditions is my store of choice. So, get on their facebook page and/or get on their email list and wait for a B1G1 coconut oil and coconut cream to show up! When they have these sales, the prices all of a sudden become very reasonable.

So, how do we use it? When we have a kitchen that wasn't destroyed by a fire (by the way, I really miss our kitchen)....at least once a week, we pound out chicken breasts and dredge it in the eggs that my mom acquires from her chicken coops. We then dredge it in a bread crumb mixture that my daughter and I make every 6 months (basically, we make a vaiety of healthy breads in the breadmaker and add some spices to make our own italian seasoned bread crumbs, which we then store in the freezer in an air-tight container). We heat up some of the coconut oil and make coconut chicken cutlets. This is by far my kids most favorite chicken dish (even wins out over the dino chicken nuggets!).

Gotein update

Ok, so I've tried all three flavors...and surpisingly I like the strawberry Gotein one best! I suppose it feels more like a treat that the others. But, maybe its also because it tastes so similar to the Nestle Quick Strawberry syrup? The others don't remind me of anything in particular and the aftertaste is so subtle, but for the strawberry one, I don't sense any hint of an aftertaste.

This is good though, since I always have my chocolate shakeology for breakfast...and I often add vanilla protein powder to that anyways. The strawberry adds some variety!

Gotein

I saw an add for gotein, and a little 3-pack sample was free with just $3 shipping, so I went for it. Basically, there are 3 flavors (chocolate, strawberry and vanilla). Its pre-packaged in a single serving and designed to be easily poured into a watter bottle. Take a 16-ounce bottle, and drink 1/3 of it, then pour the Gotein in and shake...Voila. No shaker bottles. No blenders. Easy. And, the price is about $20-25 for 12, making it a sane price for a protein supplement. Sure, not as cheap as some, but also far less than others!

But what makes this option unique? First, its whey/milk protein, no soy. Great. Second, its potent! Each serving has just 100 calories, but offers 16-17 grams of protein! Thats a serious ratio!

I tried the strawberry this morning, and once shaken, it really looks like nestle's strawberry milk (carmine is added for color). I found carmine interesting....maybe its a little boost of protein? LOL Also, its 500 times stronger than vitamin E as an antioxident, so there is an obvious benefit.
As for the taste, its actually quite nice! My children would even drink this! I'll be trying the chocolate or vanilla this afternoon...and may just order some for later :)

Fit Bit Ultra

You've heard of the Body Bugg...you've heard of the BodyMedia Fit....but now there is another player in this field. The Fit Bit! They just recently came out with a new product, so the older model is called Fit Bit Classic, and the new model is the Fit Bit Ultra.

So, how does this differ from those other models? First and foremost, there is no monthly subscription price. While I was really intrigued by the BodyMedia Fit, I was a bit put off by them "owning" my data and that they can also sell it and sublease it to others, for commercial use. I also didn't like the fact that I needed to invest in a product and (if I only used it on occassion) would have to pay a premium to utilize the device I already purchased.

Now, Fit Bit does a lot of the things that these other products do. It does err on the low side, compared to the BodyMedia Fit, which I prefer, e.g. it estimates steps/calories less than the BodyMedia Fit.

There is also no bulging arm band. Now, for those in northern climates, this may not have been an issue when you always wear thick sweaters or long-sleeve shirts, but for us Floridians, I wear short-sleeve shirts more days than not.

This is definitely a gadget, very unnecessary. But, it does its job. Its not going to yell at you like Jillian Michaels, so you need to have some personal drive already. But, if sometimes you need that extra push, this will do it for you. You will instantly see your progress in the day, calories burned etc (unlike the other devices which you need to sync/upload first), so it will provide a little extra incentive to get moving.

All in all, this is now on my Christmas wish list....hope my hubby sees it! So, if I do get it...I will definitely provide a formal product review afterwards.

iBungee Laces

So, I won a raffle for donating to a "Team in Training" participant for the Tinkerbell Half! Not the grand prize, but 2nd best...needless to say, I was thrilled. There were a few things in this package and one in particular I had no interest in....the iBungee laces. Surprisingly, I received two sets of these 30" (standard length for running shoes) laces.

So, I got my prize package Saturday...and I laced my shoes up last night. Went for my first run in them during lunch today (lunch bunch run) and I really like them! Sure, I have a lot going on down there between my RoadID and my garmin footpod, but these things are neon-y fresh! I received a yellow and green pair, and I must say that they are flourescent colors...really stand out. So, put them on older shoes and all of a sudden, your shoes will look hip again!

I think my shoes are actually more comfortable now. Seriously. Why? There is even tension throughout the shoe now. And, my shoe feels more secure, and therefore, there is less heel slipping going on. Its definitely one of those little products that you don't need...but then when you try them, you really like them and may decide to stay with them for the long run. Hey, its a cheap little experiment, so maybe its worth a gander?

If interested, they are pretty cheap...but you can get free shipping with amazon's minimum here.

Lululemon Outlet Craze

Since we were in Orlando this weekend, I just had to stop by the Lululemon outlet (this has definitely become my exercise clothese brand of choice!). I think it may just be the only outlet they have in the entire country (ok ok, maybe they have two). Regardless, I scored some serious items! I'm loving their products so much these days. For yoga and running, the quality of the fabric simply cannot be beat! The running materials are so light that tissue paper may just be heavier...and the yoga materials are so stretchy that it combines all-over compression and stretch perfectly.

So, what did I indulge in? I'll tell you if you promise not to tell my husband. He saw the bag, and just said "I don't want to know how much, right?" ...so you see, I can't tell him now since I promised :)

Three capris! One was a heathered off-white basic "Wonder Under" gym crop capri which I just had to get because I never see any colors other than grey and black. See, its a necessity, right? I also purchased the "Its a Cinch Crop" which was basic black on the bottom with a teal super-wide waist band that cinches up with two little drawstrings above each hip. I saw this in the catalog and wanted it then, so I indulged. I also got the "Aero Crop" which is just really cool. Its a dark grey, but it was a 3-d feel to it with yoga-inspired design all over the bottome 3rd of the legs that are "grippy" texture...which also cover the knee. Is suppose its not only really cool, but also I justified it because it will allow me not to slip when doing anything on my knees :)

I also picked up a "The Bust Stops here' sports bras. These were similar in construction to the Moving Comfort Fiona. I really wanted a "Ta Ta Tamer" but alas they had none in the store.

I also picked up a hat and a visor...I simply couldn't pass up the $5 price, even if I typically don't wear hats. But, given these two, I may just have to start! :)

Last but not least...I picked up two tops. The "Scoop Neck Tank" is absolutely cute. Seriously, just look at that picture...love it! Its designed for yoga, and has a fairly high cut in the front, but more of a racerback in the back, and I swear I could wear this out and about and even dress it up...loved it in the lavender. I also grabbed the "Dignity Halter" in black....I could easily wear this with jeans as its quite a low-cut, but still somewhat simple...and at $9 it was a steal.

Yes, I should hold my head in shame...but what surprised me most about this visit is the sizing. I know the size 8 bottoms fit great for me, but Lululemon's size 6 are a squeeze. I do have one running skirt in size 6, and its not comfortable enough for me to wear. But, regardless, all the bottoms I purchased were size 6. They were tight, but I'm determined to get to this size within the next few months. Tops purchased were all size 8s...the girls will never fit a size 6, which is more than ok for me. The tops were a tad tight as well, but once I get rid of my back fat, I should be good :)

No running skirts in the store, which was disappointing, but then again, I'm well stocked there. I did think it was strange to see the store arranged by size, rather than item. So, all of the size 6s were together, and all of the size 8s were together and so forth. I don't think they sold anything smaller than a size 2, or larger than a size 10. A smaller mens section was also available. And, no yoga mats were there for sale. I would have liked to check out "The Mat" as I really think I need a thicker one...I'm so tired of folding mine for some exercises.

So, it was a splurge, but its the only store I ventured into! And I love everything I got. We'll go back in January (for husband's baseball tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports) or February (Princess Half Marathon) I think...and maybe we'll see what they have available :)

My Daily Plate at Livestrong

Have you ever tried to track what you eat? Its often a surprise when you do....not only to read how much you are consuming, but also what the macronutrient content of what you are eating. But, the actual process of recording holds yourself accountable. At least once a year, I track what I eat for a few days/weeks....just to see. Sure, I have this high plan of kicking myself into overdrive and doing everything perfectly, and I never live up to that, and thats ok. But, when I do record everything for a brief period, its quite enlightening. I tend to make a conscious effort at making the right decisions. And, if I have a cookie or other delicious treat, I know I need to record that...again, it holds me accountable and instead of admonishing the act, it makes me super focused on getting the absolute best nutrition for the rest of the day.

I discovered mydailyplate.com way before Livestrong bought them....fortunately, when they did buy them, they didnt change a thing and just folded it into their current offering of health-conscious products. It was a near perfect online tool and continues to be just that. The tracking tool is available here.

If you have any inclination just to see how much protein and sugar you consume in an average day, I fully encourage you to give it a go....the entering of data is so painless. All you need to do is type in as much as you know of brand/description and it searches its stellar database to find the proper item...you simply then add the serving size consumed and the "meal" it was consumed in. Daily Plate does all the rest!

Of additional benefit is that it adds up everything consumed and summarizes the following:

• Calories


• Fat


• Cholesterol


• Sodium


• Carbs


• Fiber


• Protein Sugar

I'm not a big fan of "RDA" but it also provides you guidance on how well you compared to the RDA for an average caloric diet...somewhat useful, right?

So, I'm logging...a few days a week now and also probably throughout the upcoming Shakeology Challenge. I'm simply curious to see how well it correlates to a weight loss. Its always been pretty much accurate, but I want to confirm that I'm making good decisions and balancing my weekly nutrition properly, and I simply cannot do that with pen and paper.

Supplements Galore

Ok, I've mentioned CLA, Kelp and Mercola's B-12 Spray, but I thought I'd give you a run-down on other supplements that may be beneficial to you for health and weight management...no reason not to fight aging beauty while still improving your physical performance!

• Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA): provides continuous energy to the cels and prevents free radical damage..an anti-aging all-star!


• Fish Oil: pure form of DMAE and Omega-3s. Supports overall health, helps elevate mood, improves cognitive function and supports healthy weight loss


• Acetyl-L Carnitine: anti-oxident that is central to the production of cellular energy. It supports a healthy metabolism and is also known to improve memory


• DMAE: Great for mind and skin. It helps to lift and firm your skin's appearance, while enhancing facial contours and addressing sagging skin. It also helps memory and problem-solving abilities.


• Evening Primrose Oil: Healthy weight loss and supports a healthy metabolism...also regulates a cycle wonderfully.


• COQ10: Fights against free radical damage, making it indispensable for anti-aging....and it plays a critical role in proper cell energy function.


• Calcium Pyruvate:


• Green Tea Extract:


• Chromium Picolinate:

Supplements: CLA

So, there is also another supplement that I've been taking, but its pricey by comparison of Kelp. For $40, you can get a 180-day supply at GNC for Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA).

CLA is a polyunsaturated, conjugated fatty acid that is a natural part of the human diet, found primarily in meat and dairy products. CLA is a trans-fat (which are thought to increase the risk of coronary heart disease). However, it is claimed that conjugated linoleic acid is not harmful in the same way as other trans fatty acids, but rather is beneficial. CLA is primarily found in the meat and dairy product of ruminants (i.e. cattle, goats, sheep, etc.).
CLA is thought to be a natural dietary supplement that induces a combination of fat loss and muscle gain. The benefits of conjugated linoleic acid are believed to include:
Decrease in fat
Increase in muscle growth
Increase in metabolic rate
Protects against fat gain following weight loss, thus maintaining initial reductions in body fat and weight, in the long-term.
May lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels

“CLA doesn't make a big fat cell get little. What it rather does is keep a little fat cell from getting big.”
It is hypothesized that conjugated linoleic acid helps glucose pass into muscle cells more effectively, thus preventing glucose from being converted into fat. It is also thought to help fats enter the cell membranes of muscle and connective tissue, where the fat is burned for fuel.

Pariza's research did not find weight loss in his group of 71 overweight people, but what he did find was that when the dieters stopped dieting, and gained back weight, those taking CLA "were more likely to gain muscle and not fat.'' In a separate study conducted at Purdue University in Indiana, CLA was found to improve insulin levels in about two-thirds of diabetic patients, and moderately reduced the blood glucose level and triglyceride levels.CLA has been the subject of a variety of research in the past several years, and findings also suggest that some of the other benefits of CLA include the following:
Increases metabolic rate -- This would obviously be a positive benefit for thyroid patients, as hypothyroidism -- even when treated -- can reduce the metabolic rate in some people.
Decreases abdominal fat -- Adrenal imbalances and hormonal shifts that are common in thyroid patients frequently cause rapid accumulation of abdominal fat, so this benefit could be quite helpful.
Enhances muscle growth -- Muscle burns fat, which also contributes to increased metabolism, which is useful in weight loss and management.
Lowers cholesterol and triglycerides -- Since many thyroid patients have elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, even with treatment, this benefit can have an impact on a thyroid patient's health.
Lowers insulin resistance -- Insulin resistance is a risk for some hypothyroid patients, and lowering it can also help prevent adult-onset diabetes and make it easier to control weight.
Reduces food-induced allergic reactions -- Since food allergies can be at play when weight loss becomes difficult, this can be of help to thyroid patients.
Enhances immune system -- Since most cases of thyroid disease are autoimmune in nature, enhancing the immune system's ability to function properly is a positive benefit. If you're interested in taking CLA to help with weight loss, keep in mind that it's not a magic pill, and you will need to start a program of diet and exercise in order to successfully lose weight and keep it off.

Supplements: Kelp

So, over the years, I've had my thyroid checked a few times. See, I can do the same amount of work that anyone else can do, but my weight just doesn't drop off! My thyroid has always come back as ok, so its always been very disheartening. But, strangely, I had my T3 and T4 Free checked earlier this year. While I still found it a bit complicated, basically T3 and T4 are the outputs of your thyroid...so even though your thyroid is operating properly, your T3 and T4 are what drives your metabolism. And those? They were operating at about the farthest from the bell curve as possible without being considered atypical.

Now, what does that mean? Quite simply, you take 100 people and find out their levels....you throw out the lowest 5 and highest 5 as outliers (basically just because they supposedly don't represent the norm and medically-speaking probably need medical intervention). Every other person is considered a normal and healthy range. But, give where I fell on that bell curve...I was like #7 from the bottom of T3/T4 volume. So, while I technically do not have a medical problem, I certainly have to work much harder than most people out there!

So, what do you do? Since both T3 and T4 are hormones produced by the thyroid gland that help the body's metabolic function, you may want to supplement. There are some synethetic ones out there, but those have side effects. There are also some T3 and T4 supplements out there by Armour Thyroid which I did try...these are not synethic, but typically not covered by insurance. A 90 day supply runs you about $80. I gave it a go....but won't use it again.

After doing some more research....I summized that if my T3 and T4 output is low, and my thyroid is operating properly, why not adjust my input! Iodine works to regular your thyroid output and hormone production. Remember, the thyroid is a gland that regulates many body processes, including weight, metabolism, and energy. Iodine is basically the fuel for your thyroid. And, iodine is cheap! The more clean form of iodine is kelp. Kelp and iodine has a normalizing effect on the thyroid gland. Naturally underweight people can gain weight with kelp, while naturally overweight people can lose weight with kelp. Of course, if you ask 20 people their opinion, you will undoubtedly get 20 answers...so do your own research.

So, kelp is a naturally rich with iodine. Its also full of phytochemicals and is basically seaweed. Seaweed is well known for its beneficial effects - one type contains ten times more calcium than a glass of milk and others are rich in protein and essential minerals. Since the key ingredient in kelp is iodine, it is linked to your metabolism, the process by which your body breaks down food into energy. Again, its used by your thyroid to produce T3 and T4 hormones, which, help regulate your metabolism, so if you are low in iodine your metabolism may be sluggish. This means you will put on weight. Taking kelp supplements can boost your iodine intake which may help regulate your metabolism.

Has it been proven? Its found to be beneficial in several studies, but the jury is still out. I will be getting a full physical later this year, so I definitely want to have them check for my T3 and T4 levels to see how they compare to earlier in the year....that will really be the test!

Is there any harm? Considering the average Japanese person gets so much seaweed in their body compared to the average American, its certainly safe levels...even one capsule a day is significantly less than the average Japanese person ingests, but still could make a difference.

Is it pricey? As far as supplements go, this is a CHEAP one! Nature's Way brand is less than $9 for 100 capsules. We certainly ingest a lot of things into our American diet that have adverse effects, and there is only a potential upside with this one....so its $9 well spent, I think.

Flaxseed Meal for Runners

So, I've altered my daily breakfast slightly. As I mentioned before, I was using Shakeology for my breakfast. Shakeology is a combination of multivitamin, meal replacement and protein drink all in one (if interested, you can read more about it here). I prefer the chocolate one, and what I've been doing is adding a banana to it, as well as 2 tablespoons of PB2 (which I still love as much since I tried it that very first day!). Because the flaxseed has a slight nutty taste, I don't even notice it as the PB2 more than covers up any unusual flavor (honestly, I doubt it would matter to me anyways, but for those that don't like unusual tastes, this may be an issue). I blend it with water, then add crushed ice via our margaritaville maker for a nice breakfast frappe. This would basically result in two 16 ounce glasses to drink for the morning, so you can tell I'm getting a ton of water in there as well...at least 28 ounces, I estimate! Its so easy to drink that I have no problem gulping down two glasses of this in 15 minutes (the only amount of time we can dedicate to breakfast during the week in our crazy household!).

So, what have I changed up? I've added two tablespoons of flaxseed meal. Bob's Red Mill is my go-to brand for this product. They are easy to find, and they also offer an organic version for just a few cents more. I personally don't like the full flax seeds as they are just too hard for me, but the meal is pre-crushed so it blends quite nicely into the shake (but it still retains all the parts of the seed). I could have simply used Flax Oil, but it spoils faster than the meal, and I prefer the extra fiber that the meal offers.

Note: Both flaxseed oil and meal must be refrigerated. Even better is keeping it in the freezer if you can find a sealed container for it that doesn't let anything in! I love the Lock-n-Lock brand for these, as no freezer smells get in our out of these containers. Lock-n-Lock comes in so many sizes that I keep all of my oatmeals/grains/flours/baking goods in these and then they are in the freezer in my garage so they last extra long.

So, why flax seed? It contains an abundance of essential fatty acids, B vitamins, potassium, magnesium, lignin, protein and zinc. Some nutritionists now think that its the 2nd most vital supplement after a multivitamin, as it helps every major system in your body (cardiovascular, immune, circulatory, reproductive nervous...even your joints!)

Flax seed has been shown to be specifically beneficial to:

• lower breast/colon cancer risks, due to its high lignan content (Flax is 100 times richer in lignan than most other grains)


• The Omega-3 fatty acids help lower cholesterol and triglycerides


• Reduces risk of high blood pressure, water retention, inflammation (inflammation....the runner's worst recurring issue)


• Shortens recovery time for post-exercise muscles (runners remedy)


• Increases energy and stamina (runners remedy)


• Speeds healing of sprains/bruises (who knew you could do something to get rid of bruises!)


• Helps fight obesity by increasing metabolism (sure there are 60 calories per 2 tablespoon serving, but lets keep our eye on the big picture here)

Now, if you are adverse to having this in shakes, the oil is great to add in your salad dressings...not even noticeable. Others prefer to use the meal in pancake batter, or in baked breads, or even in their outmeal. Some people prefer the whole seeds on top of their salad as well. In other words, its very versatile!

So, for $4 for a one pound bag (which will last a very long time), it sure looks worthwhile! And for those that limit their grains, this is a great supplement because you get everything you need from grains without the bad things!