My Sedentary Life

For years I have struggled with my weight.  I know some of it is a hand to mouth problem.  But, I also know some of it is due to Hypo-Thyroid, repeated respiratory infections and rounds of steroids, and other health problems.  But, I also felt like I was fairly active.  Sure I didn't work out on a regular basis...or at all. But, I am a busy person. I work in a retail environment, I walk a lot.  Well...

Early 2014 I purchased my first activity tracker.  I was doing weight watchers at the time and I purchased their ActiveLink product. I used it while swimming and I felt it was very inaccurate. It just wasn't giving me credit for all of my activity.

So, in the summer I purchased the Misfit Shine.  I set my goals, and I'd watch the dots go around the face as I did my activity. Well, maybe my goals were set too high since I was only maybe getting 1/4 of the way around the dial. So, I adjusted my goals and I would get 1/2 way around.

Surely I was more active than this.

A week ago, I decided I wanted something more accurate.  I was starting P90 and wanted to be sure I had something that gave me credit for all my calories burned. The Fitbit Charge HR was the answer. It tells me exactly how many steps I have taken, how many calories I have burned, heart rate, etc. My first workout with the Fitbit, I burned 229 calories.  How is it possible that I worked so hard and only burned 229 calories? In addition, I only walked 5400 steps?? Okay, maybe I need to look at a workday, when I am in the field. I walked 5700 steps.

Suddenly, it was so obvious to me. I wasn't burning enough.  Even with calorie reduction, I wasn't burning enough calories to really make an impact on my life.  I had no idea I was that sedentary.

So, now that I knew what the problem was, I had to make a big commitment to myself.  I had to get up and move. I now treat conference calls as Walk-A-Thons. I had to get up during commercials (instead of fast forwarding through them) and walk, step, squat, run in place...anything that could count as activity. I increased my step goal, my calories burned goal and lowered my calorie intake goal. And, I am finally seeing results.

We need to evaluate our perception of our own lifestyle and activity. Are we being honest with ourselves.  I surely wasn't.  I was leading a sedentary life. But, no more.