Little One was snuggling in bed with me one morning a few weekends ago. She leaned over and said, “Mama, I want you to be fit and healthy just like me.”
Those words from my tiny six year old were powerful.
My promise to my child
What else could I do but to honour my promise to my child?
We’re an active family. We are always doing something on the farm. We’re outdoors a lot. We eat healthy. Most of our food is from our farm. The vegetables and fruit we grow in the Spring and Summer are either preserved or frozen so it lasts us the Winter. We don’t eat much processed foods and we do #halfyourplate (half plate filled with veggies and fruit). Diet and servings are not the issue. Though we are active, I need to dedicate more time to just exercising.
One thing I’ve found extremely helpful on my fitness journey has been the introduction of wearable technology into my fitness regime.
Every step counts
As the saying goes, “Every step counts”. It’s so true. It takes but a single step to begin a journey.
I decided to participate in a fitness challenge (from Monday, February 2 at 8 a.m. EST to Monday, February 16 at 5 p.m. EST). It’s the #everystepcounts challenge with @TELUS. Though I started later than the initial start date, the challenge has been motivating. Because I made my promise to my child, I had extra incentive. She has been my little cheerleader and has been joining me so I can get my steps in every day. After school dance parties at home where we just rock it out to her favourite songs, playing outside in the snow for a few extra hours (and not worrying about a late supper), and just being more active together all have been instrumental in getting those steps in and keeping motivated.
I’ve even found myself setting the silent alarm on my Fitbit Charge so that I can be reminded every hour to get up from my desk and take a break from work and do a bit of exercise. I’ve found that I cannot really stand still now! My husband laughed because he saw me jogging in place while reading a work document on my mobile device. We were watching something on Netflix and I was jogging. Any way to get those steps in!
In my first week, I aimed for at least 10,000 steps a day. When I hit 11,000, I wanted to reach 12,000. Now that I’ve reached 12,000+/day, I want to hit 15,000 steps/day!
Getting technical
I even had a session with Kris, my TELUS Health Tech Trainer. Kris answered all the questions I had about my issues syncing my Fitbit Charge and the app on my phone. He also answered questions regarding how to maximize use of my Fitbit. I mentioned forgetting to log in food that I had eaten during the day because a lot of the food I eat doesn’t have a QR code because most of the food we eat is homemade. I also kept forgetting to track exercise. Thank goodness the Fitbit tracks calories burned, steps taken, hours slept, etc. I love that the Fitbit Charge tracks so many of those things and that I can see all the data on my phone and on my computer.
I have to say that there were some technical issues. There was human error, largely attributed to me. There were a few days where forgot to log in food, water consumed and exercise and there was one day that I completely forgot to put my Fitbit back on after plugging it in to charge. The other technical issues came from my Fitbit device not syncing properly with my mobile device, but that was an OS issue. I’m on 10.2.1.3062 and it would sync properly on 10.3.1. A simple solution from Kris was to sync the Fitbit to my computer using the dongle included with my Fitbit Charge.
I joked to Kris that I felt robbed of steps (because every step counts!) when my Fitbit was showing over 11,000 steps and my mobile app was showing only 7,000 steps!
All in all, the learning curve wasn’t so steep and by the end of the week I was getting the hang of things. For me, it’s just remembering to log certain things in daily that I forget to do.
This was my first phone/remote session with a TELUS Health Tech Trainer. Thanks so much, Kris for answering all my questions and giving me useful tips on using my Fitbit Charge. I feel more confident (and competent) using my device now. I also really appreciate TELUS having these kinds of sessions available to their customers. I keep joking that TELUS is my longest relationship (15 years strong!), but there are so many reasons I’ve been with them for so long. This is one of them.
Friendly challenge
Another great thing about the #everystepcounts challenge with TELUS is that it’s been a great support having friends participating on social media as well. We’ve been keeping up with each other’s progress and motivating each other.
Even though the challenge ends on Monday, I’m incorporating this into my lifestyle. This is my promise to my child, but it’s also a promise to myself.
If you’re looking for a Fitbit, there are a variety of models to choose from. I have the Fitbit Charge from TELUS.
Giveaway!
Do you want a Fitbit Charge? Do you have fitness goals and want to track steps, stairs, calories, food, sleep, etc? Great news! The amazing people at TELUS are giving one lucky Life on Manitoulin reader a Fitbit Charge of their own! To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below. Open to residents of Canada (excl. Quebec).
I want a Fitbit Charge to monitor my fitness and exercise routine.
I want a Fitbit charge so I can put myself to shame daily with it’s stats. That will smarten me up!
monitoring my sleep habits
Two of my sisters own one and many of my friends do to and they are doing amazing! I think this gadget will give me that extra little push I need!
I am on this weight loss journey to lose 100 lbs or more if I can. I have lost about 60 lbs so far and have hit a lull in my weight loss and with this FitBit I could monitor my physical activity. Thank you for the opportunity
I would love one to see overall how many steps I take, and to encourage myself to walk even more when I notice that I haven’t walked enough on any given day!
Making the same promise to my 11 year old son Evan. I owe it to him, to be active/healthy/fit. My inspiration to set a goal and make it happen.
Eva Mitton-Urban
I’d love a FitBit because I’d love to monitor my sleep patterns!
Would love to monitor my sleep.
I’d love to have a FitBit Charge to see my count and for motivation.
thanks.
Aw man, I want a Fitbit so badly. My dad passed away last year and I’ve spent a lot o fthe time since depressed and comfort eating…so now I’m 40 lbs heavier than I’d like to be and just starting to kick the fog and get motivated to lose it. I’ve been going to step classes twice a week for a month now. I’d love even more motivation in the form of a fitbit!
I sit for long periods through the day, I’d love a FitBit to get me motivated. And to remind me to walk around every so often!
I would love to have a fitbit as I work at a desk job and need to be motivated to become more active! I have heard such great things about Fitbit and I love Telus too!
I would give this to my sister if i won, she has always wanted one
I would love a Fitbit! I’ve heard so many great things about them, I would love it to keep track of my steps and calories burned each day. The machines at the gym are never accurate and I know the Fitbit is.
I want a Fitbit Charged because of all the different things it tracks, including active minutes. It would be nice to have some idea how long I really sit during the day so I can make a real effort to change it.
I think it would help me to do more steps it day when I can see what the count is.
while I would love one for myself (I find seeing my progress is always motivational) I’d like to win one for my sister too. she’s set some big health and fitness goals and I think this would be a wonderful tool for her.
id love this to keep track of my progress and to help me stay on track
I need one to keep my motivated
I would love a fit bit to motivate me to get my butt up and take more steps.
I would love to have a fitbit so that I could have a constant reminder to move more.
I love that you can monitor your progress. I would love this to help me with my fitness goals
I would love to keep track of my fitness progress and my sleep patterns. I think this would really help motivate me to work out more and be more healthy in general.
to keep track of my count
I would love to win a fitbit charge to get me motivated to get in shape Wouldbe great to be able to track calories,steps,,sleep etc!!
I’d love to win a FitBit Charge because receiving call notifications on the Charge interrupts a workout less than constantly carrying your phone or going to check on it.
I would like the motivation to stay active
I’d love to have a FitBit Charge so I can see how many calories I burn each day
I would really like to stay in shape and keep track of my count! Such an easy-use! 🙂
I am currently training for my first 5K and would love to have something that helps me track not only steps, but also my running stats to help me perform better. This looks like the perfect tool to help me achieve my goals and get me moving more!
I would love a fitbit to help me keep track of my steps – I walk to work every day – and I also do some running. But I think this might push me to do more. I also would love to learn more about how it monitors/reports on sleep patterns!
what an awesome gift. I always thought that when my babies got older that exercise would be easier, but with their activities and comittments, it is just as hard as ever! Something that I could use to encourage me and keep me on a good path to health would be awesome!
I have a Flex and I couldn’t be happier (well… actually, I would if there was a better screen. Coming from the Ultra and a One… I do have to say that when it used to track stairs, it kept me a lot more motivated to take the stairs) . I love it, and I love how knowing how many steps I take (again, a screen would be better than lights indication). I admit I haven’t been as active in the past weeks as I have been this week when I (28) challenged my 53 yr old aunt… because of this, I have finally been getting closer to my 10,000 steps a day. I will admit to running back and forth in the house for half an hour just to keep up with her steps! The other day I hit 14,000, an all time record for myself. And my fitbit also keeps my toddler active with me 🙂
Now if only I could get my stairs tracking back up… and my heart rate, I would be set! Our recent Aria purchase has been well worth it too!
I know that having a tracker like shit will really help motivate me to hit my goal of 12,000 steps a day.
OMG, I mean “like this” LOL
I would love to be able to track my sleep and see how I am doing on my fitness goals
I currently use a Nike Fuelband. The clasp is worn out, so it comes undone when I wear it on my wrist. I now keep it in my pocket. I need a new one. We’ve been looking at the Fitbit Charge, and it does everything I need, and more. I like the integration with MyFitnessPal and the community interaction. Would love to win this!
As I sit here with a thrown back (lol, owwie,) I am curious about how much I walk around (or don’t walk around) during the winter months. I hole up at home as much as possible, ’cause even after living 30+ years in it, I hate the cold. 😉 I would say I accomplish the 10,000 steps a day most days during the summer, but not so much for the cold months. Would love to get a accurate idea of what staying indoors and lack of movement does.
I would love to be able to track my fitness
So it could keep track of everything that I do
I have a fitbit and I love it! I’d like to win one to give to the girl I work with. She really is working hard to have a healthier lifestyle but she said she finds tracking her steps is a challenge. I think this would help her!
I would love to track my work outs and see my sleeping patterns
I would love to be able to track my steps. I need something to motivate me and I do better if I can have something visual to use. I would also like to track my sleep since I seem to be having issues with that.
I would love to keep track of my fitness and cardio. There are so many amazing things that its hard to just pick one. Thanks for the chance at this great giveaway. 🙂
I would love this to track my fitness, Would be a great motivational tool 🙂
i have wanted one of these since they came out, it would help with fitness tracking
I really need something new to motivate me in the area of exercise. I think FitBit is it, the latest technology to challenge yourself & set real goals. I love how it tracks steps, distance traveled, calories burned, stairs climbed, sleep, & more. Thanks to Telus for sponsoring this giveaway!
I want to track my fitness and set goals
I would love to know how many miles I walk in a night at work. I definitely have fitness goals.
It will encourage me to be more active!
I like that its simp[le to use and I can track everything, it will be great for helping to hold me accountable.
Love how you can track how you are doing – you can see if you need to do more or if you just done enough!
I would love to finally own a product that will keep proper track of my progress.
To track my progress online and against friends
Two weeks ago I almost bought one at Chapters, however I saw it after I had already paid. I’ll enter this contest with my fingers crossed!
You can share and compete with friends and family in challenges and on the leader board which would be great motivation. This would have been a great start as a new year’s resolution aid! 🙂
I would love to win the FitBit Charge to monitor my sleeping habits
I would love a fitbit to help remind me to get up from my desk and take a break. The additional motivation it would provide by tracking my progress would be just the incentive I need to start exercising more!
I’d like one to monitor my sleep.
I like that you can set goals love itb
I would like to be more active and believe that this will be a great motivational tool to help me reach my goal every day.
Need this to get back into walking …
I love that it keeps track of your fitness stats and that it isnt bulky and more like a watch on your wrist so it doesnt get in your way and you can wear it all day
Id live to challenge my hubby!
This Fit bit would show me if I need to do more Such a handy tool
I like that you can set goals and see progress. That’s so helpful to me.
I would definitely appreciate having the FitBit to help me in my trudge towards better health.
love everything about it, but also interested in monitoring how long and how well I sleep
I would love the Fitbit Charge because I had the Fitbit Force (which got recalled) and I loved being able to see my progress on my wrist and also because it had a clock so I didn’t have to always pull out my phone to check the time when a clock wasn’t nearby. I have since switched to the Jawbone UP24 but I’d like to go back to the Fitbit because most of my active friends are on there and I love the encouragement and community. 🙂
Also, you are doing great! I remember when I first hit 12000 steps, it became my goal to hit 15,000 after that as well. I don’t remember if I ever did it though lol
I would love a charge to keep my on track with my fitness goals!
I would like one to help keep me honest and on track with my walking goals
My husband loves counting his steps everyday so this would be the perfect gift for him!
My husband has one and I just love it! I want one too so we can share our steps together!
i would really like to monitor my sleep, its the one thing that i’m unaware of.
I’m in love with my FitBit Flex, but am already wishing I’d gotten the Charge! My daughter wants my Flex when I am able to upgrade, so the fitness bug is catching 🙂 I’ve lost 12 pounds in 5 weeks with my Flex, but would love the display of the Charge – the more information available on my wrist the better- and I also want to count “floors”. I’m sure I’ll want an Aria next – totally hooked!! Fingers crossed! 🙂 Thanks!
I want a fitbit because i think if i can track my progress than i can strive to do better every day and the data it records would help me to do that!
I would love a fitbit to track my fitness stats, and it will definitely motivate me to beat my previous records.
I just started to get healthy. This would be a welcome addition for my road to fitness
I would love to be able to get it better shape again. Since having kids, I’ve made myself low on the priority list.
Know what my stats are will keep me motivated.
i love that it tracks the stairs climbed. one day i hope i can do many many stairs!
I just love how you can set goals ! That would really help inspire you I think
What a wonderful give-a-way! This would be a great tool to fine tune your fitness and motivate you to move – especially on those cold winter days when the windchill (-34 C here today) just makes you want to curl up on the couch! Thank you for the opportunity to use technology to challenge myself a little more!
I want a fitbit charge b/c I have the flex and love it, but I wish it had the number on it so I could see it easily without checking my phone.
I like that it gives real-time fitness stats.
I would like to be able to monitor how long and well I have slept.
I actually want one to gift my mother-in-law. She had a knee replacement 1 year ago, has diabetes, already uses a pedometer and I know she will love knowing even more about her steps, activity and calories burned. It would make for a great Mother’s Day gift!
To Monitor how long and how well i sleep, and wake with a silent vibrating alarm but mostly to track my goals.
I would love the challenge to hit the 10,000 steps a day and the amount of floors each day!!!
I would love one to keep me motivated and to help me keep track of my stats!
i would like to one to keep me motivated.
I think this might just be the motivator I need !!! 🙂
i like how it shows your stats in the display
I would like a Fitbit Charge to track the progress of my goals!
I would love one because my free cereal box pedometer is so inaccurate. A bunch of girls from work have challenges every day to see who can get the most steps. I’d love to join!
I love that it can monitor my sleep
I want one of these to help motivate me, I feel like if I knew how little/ much I moved a day it would push me to work harder! Plus my friend swears by hers! I love that they track sleep too, I’m really curious how much (little) I sleep!
I would love this! Of course, I will need someone to remind me to charge it and wear it, but I am sure I could find a short, very vocal helpful person to remind me!
I like that it can monitor my sleep and see how irregular it is.
I would love to record my steps and this would also be a great way to get me moving more. I love a challenge.
My daughter is very much into running/excersizing. I would love to win this for her.
I like the tracking of my day stats. While doing things I do daily, I can see in numbers how I’m doing and see where I can improve or increase my physical activities. FitBit sounds like a great idea!
i would love one to be able to track my steps correctly.
Would love a new fit bit.
they’re great – plus they can monitor your sleep!!
I would love to have one to track my fitness!! Thanks!