Oh yes, I got a BodyMedia Fit armband and it records steps, heart rate, calories burned, duration of activity and you can input your meals for calorie comparison as well...

It keeps you honest!

Thanks for the tip saved! I imagine that's very true with everyone and their new year's resolutions. Hopefully I won't every get squeezed out of a class, and there'll always be a spare treadmill there.

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"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." ~Immanual Kant~

I don't have the heartrate or meal comparison feature, but that sounds like you've got everything covered. Honestly, I never take my heartrate, just started noticing it on the treadmills at the gym. What is your highest number value when you're working out hard?

I really liked using my pedometer. It was a fun tool to work towards walking 10,000 steps - 5 miles. I'm starting...just starting....to crave working out again....

Earplugs???? I must be getting old. I use to LOVE energetic music but now....not so sure.

Any workouts tonight? Anyone????

I walked around the block and it was a lovely start.

I took one of our furkids for a 2 mile walk in the park, that's about it for today. I agree, using a pedometer is being able to see efforts in black and white, and can be fun and encouraging.

Last night was my first cycling (spinning) class, didn't think I'd make it for the whole hour. I stuck it out, but didn't follow all the instructions, and used lower tension a lot, good reminder of how out of shape I am. Nice part was after the class, worked up a good sweat and felt great! They said over 600 calories can be burned in that hour if you do it the way they say.

Tonight was pilates, not crazy about that, seems I have no core muscles at all, LOL. I prefer a more active workout, but I'll give my body a chance to get used to it.

I'm not sure what the highs or resting are, the little device I wear on my arm records it but doesn't tell me...! when I download the information to my computer it shows me, within a range on a bar graph, if I did moderate (brown) or vigorous (yellow) excercise and for how long...

Most of the time I aim to be able to have a convesration, as that is the fat burning zone, but during spin classes sometimes I can't even sing along!

I had a flare up recently from colitis, and was so sick that I lost 20 pounds. When I was better, I was put on prednisone and then came weight gain. So right now I would say I'm working out to lose the weight that I gained.

Hi pixiequeen, welcome to the forum. I'm glad you're feeling better, and good for you that you're taking care of that excess weight.

Ohgood, you tried spinning! It is tough, isn't it? You will soon get better at it and use the resistance - one of the instructors at my gym uses the % method, she tells us to work at say 10% of our max, then 50%, etc... rather than one big turn, or quarter turn and so on - it makes it so that everyone is on the same "page" so to speak...

Last night I did a spin and a body pump - tonight I'm torn (ha, torn...) between a legs bums and tums class or spinnning

I haven't tried pilates yet, I get the impression you have to be very flexible?

Funny girl, LOL! What is a body pump, is it using weights? Pilates to me is a lot like the yoga was, yes you need to be very flexible, there's certain moves where if your stomach/core muscles aren't strong enough, you really feel it in a bad way in lower back and neck. Last thing I need is an exercise related injury.

The body pump class is like calisthenics with dumbells - we do squats, lunges, bicep curls, shoulder presses, crunches, leg lifts, etc etc... I started with 4 pound dunmbells and now I'm up to 10lbs in each hand - except for the shoulder stuff, use 5 pounds for those...

Today we had a 'substitute' teacher and she introduced jumping jacks... jumping jacks! haven't done those since middle school, I think - but great cardio

Ten pounds is awesome! That's a lot for me, I tried using 8lb. weights but just for a few reps. I'm still on 5 lb. Jumping jacks are great cardio, I can't do more than a few of those at a time without a break.

Did a cycling class tonight. It's my second time there, and around ten minutes into it (just like last time), I felt like getting up and leaving, felt like my legs had no muscles at all.

But...I stuck it out and completed the class even though I had a lower tension and slower pace than the others. As usual, when it was over, after the cool-down stretch, it felt GREAT!

Part of the problem is that yesterday's class was a "semi" boot camp cardio and core, and I was still sore from that.

Ah, see, that is exactly why I love going to group classes, I would never walk out!!

I hit the wall at 20 minutes usually and push myself through it, it only takes me about 3 minutes to get back into it... then like you say, feels great!

I have started taking my 3rd borojo capsule of the day about 1/2 hour before I go to the class, and I find it gives me extra energy to even do a second class right after...



Sore is good, embrace it!

I do brisk walk for about 4km 5 days a week. Brisk walk for 30min a day for at least 5 days a week can reduce the risk of heart disease. I also do push up and bench chair dips to tone the arm muscle.