I love my heart rate monitor

 

My Polar F11 arrived in the mail last Tuesday night, and I took it for a test drive starting Wednesday at my one hour spin class. I ordered it from http://www.heartratemonitorsusa.com/ which was recommended by community members on the Weight Watchers website.

It comes with 3 pieces, a wrist watch unit, a chest strap with electrodes, and a transmitter that snaps onto the chest strap.

I picked this particular model because it works with my Virgin HealthMiles, plus the reviews said the strap was more comfortable than the F4 or F6, and the transmitter had a changeable battery unlike the other models. I choose the pretty blue color too.

The set up was super easy; I just entered the date, time, my weight, age and a few other key pieces of information. I also had to take a Fitness Level test which is similar to the VO2max test and scored a “Good”.

I then figured out how to start recording my workouts and was impressed with the amount of calories I was burning. I think it also made me work out extra hard, plus I kept looking at my wrist to see what my number my heart rate was at.

After the workout, I needed to figure out how to download my info to the computer and put it on Polar Personal Trainer. I’m used to downloading my steps on the pedometer with a USB cable, but this little sucker was different. I got the software, and just hold up the wrist watch to my microphone, and it chirps, beeps and hums the info across the net.

Polar Personal Trainer keeps track of all my info including my time, calories burned, percent of fat burned and heart rate zones. Here are my results from a week’s worth of workouts:

Day	Activity	Time	Calories	% Fat Burned
Wednesday	Spin	1:03	655	45%
Thursday	Step	1:00	515	55%
Friday	Body Pump & Elliptical	1:12	595	55%
Saturday	Boot Camp	1:01	720	40%
Monday	Boot Camp & Treadmill 2 mile walk	1:36	811	55%
Tuesday	Cardio	1:00	363	60%

I then learned how to calculate my calories burned and turn them into Activity Points (AP) so I can eat extra points on WW. It’s not official, but some WW members told me 100 calories = 1 activity point. They also said I must eat my AP’s the same day I earn them.

I’m in love with my monitor. It even gave me a trophy at the end of the week. I’m not sure why, but hey, I rocked on my workouts last week!

Take the Diabetes Risk Test

Today is American Diabetes Alert Day.  You have a greater risk for Type 2 diabetes if:

• You are overweight.
• You are age 45 and older.
• You have high blood pressure.
• You have a family history of diabetes.
• You get little or no exercise.

Go take the free risk test at the American Diabetes Association web site to find out if you are at risk. You only have to enter a few pieces of information which include your age, height, weight, lifestyle and family history.

I scored a “5” with a low to medium risk, mainly because I’m overweight. It suggests I keep my weight in control or lose weight, stay active most days of the week, and eat a diet of low fat meals high in fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods.

Check it out at www.diabetes.org/risk and view the at risk weight chart too.

Love Your Body Day

It’s not always easy to love our bodies. Especially if you are overweight and the world tells you that you should lose weight.

I do not love my body when it steps on the scale and even though I’ve been working out hard and eating right, the numbers fail to go down.

But today is Love Your Body Day, so I’m going to tell you what I love about my body.

I love my womb which made and carried my daughter for over 9 months, and my breasts which fed her nearly 9 months after she entered the world. I love my arms to hold her and my hips which still carry her occasionally.

I love my long legs and feet; they took me for an 11,000 step 2 hour walk this morning, two 3 mile walks, plus three workouts at the gym this past week.

Go take the I love My Body Pledge, it’s good stuff:

I, (Name), pledge to speak kindly about my body.

I promise not to talk about how fat my thighs or stomach or butt are, or
about how I really have to lose 5 or 15 or 50 pounds. I promise not to call
myself a fat pig, gross, or any other self-loathing, trash-talking phrase.

I vow to be kind to myself and my body. I will learn to be grateful for its
strength and attractiveness, and be compassionate toward its failings.

I will remind myself that bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and that no
matter what shape and size my body is, it’s worthy of kindness, compassion, and love.

What do you love about your body?

Fight Diabetes

My friend Bob says, “No one feels sorry for the big fat guy with diabetes.”

I have several family members with Type 2 diabetes, and two friends who have Type 1. Type 2 is linked with obesity in some cases, and although I don’t have diabetes and am not pre-diabetic, I know how hard it is to lose weight and exercise (which doctors strongly recommend for people with pre-diabetes as well as newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes).

I hate asking for money, but I’m asking for money for a great cause. The last time I solicited friends and family I did a walk for the March of Dimes in spring 2006. I walked with my husband and daughter in a stroller, but this time I’m going solo and walking with Bob and my team. Daughter is too big for a stroller, and too impatient for a 6 mile walk.

I’m walking in DC on October 27th for Step Out to Fight Diabetes, and I need your money to help find a cure. I’d love to have you walk with me or help me walk 6 miles by making a donation. There are two walk paths, a 2 miles or 6 miles. If I exceed my goal, I’m going to do the whole 6 miles.

Donate now, or sign up to walk with me. You’ll get a free t-shirt if you walk, although the t-shirts you get for events like this are not all that comfortable, flattering or fashionable. The neck is always too tight, and they are made for a man’s body, not my curvy frame. It’s too tight over the chest and hips, and too big in the shoulders (see picture).

I’ll post an update and photos here after my walk. Here are a few quick diabetes facts:

• Over 21 million American’s have diabetes
• An additional 54 million have pre-diabetes
• Diabetes is the 5th leading cause of death by disease in the U.S.
• Complications of Diabetes includes, heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, blindness and kidney disease among others