fitbit

Sleep Tracking

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Alrighty then. Since starting the other day with a Fitbit once more- (check out Avoiding 2021) I have been watching how active I am. My daily steps are still a couple thousand shy of the 10,000 that the app recommends. I even get a buzz on my wrist every hour telling me to walk.

That makes me feel a tad bit guilty.

Is that what Fitbit is meant to do? Bring out guilty feelings?

But the app also shows my sleeping habits. Which is Totally Something I Can Get Behind! Honestly- just search up the keywords “Sleep” or “Nap” in my blog and you will find tons of musings about the subject. Now that I have a reason to look at the app, it makes me happy.

I don’t like have a piece of tech telling me I’m not doing something. It pushes my emotions into a downward trend, which I don’t appreciate. It doesn’t motivate me to do more. Quite the opposite. It reminds me why I stopped wearing a Fitbit the first time around.

How do you feel wearing a Fitbit or smart watch that tracks your movement? Perhaps your experience is a positive one. Please share how that works for you.

Let me know in the comments.

Avoiding 2021…

Posted on by Josef Havelka

My year is starting off great. I have been avoiding the first day of the year and almost completely missed it.

A late night of watching movies meant that I was going to sleep in. And did we ever. We were out of bed at 1:30pm. And had no ideas for what to do on our first day of the New Year. But losing half of it to sleeping was a great way to avoid it.

I figure if I sleep more, less bad stuff could possibly happen. That’s sound logic right? Perhaps tomorrow I can really get motivated. My wife has given me her old FitBit (again). She tried this almost five years ago and I shared in How exercise is going to kill me. But five years later, I’m really feeling old.

In all honesty I am proud of my hardest accomplishment- no drinking. I made it through one of the toughest seasons by remaining sober. That is not like the old me- previously I would’ve shared a bazillion photos of booze and fake smiles. Maybe this new me will get better use from his FitBit. Considering I put it on at 3pm, I did get 6665 steps in. A bit shy of the daily 10k but it’s a start.

The Dystopian Now

Posted on by Josef Havelka

I have always loved Dystopian Future stories, shows, and movies. Books such as “1984” and “A Handmaid’s Tale” were great reads and I wrote a bit about it here: Dystopian Life.

Movies like “The Matrix” , “Brazil” , “Blade Runner” and even “The Fifth Element” show a technological gritty society. Always gloomy and wet with momentary rays of sunshine that bring forth a quick smile on one of the characters. I’m currently in the process of watching “Altered Carbon” on Netflix. Darker than most dystopian shows, but still very riveting.

Here we are, on the cusp of the new millennium, and I feel we are already in a Dystopian world. I drive into Vancouver for work and home again- a dreary wet world stuck in traffic. My vehicle’s dashboard has a screen showing me the radio station I am listening to or I can switch to navigation or many other options. My cellphone connects through my car as well. I can use voice commands to send and read messages or actually talk to people. My car warns me if I’m too close to another car or if one is in my blind spot.

That’s just my drive home. At home, my phone controls the music and media I play in three different areas around the house. Music from anywhere in the world can pump through my home. Nearly every electronic device can be connected. My wife has a Fitbit and it watches her heart rate and counts her steps. It connects to her cellphone and connects with other people as well.

So yes, I think we live in a Dystopian world. The future is now. Rain and technology- that’s my daily life.

Happy wife, happy life?  Or “How exercise is going to kill me.”

Posted on by Josef Havelka

My wife is forcing me to become more active.  Ugh.  She absconded my cellphone and proceeded to set up a new Fitbit for me- while I was napping.  Her excitement about this new device for me is uncontrollable.  She woke me from my nap and told me to go weigh myself.  I haven’t stepped on a scale in months.  I don’t think of myself as unhealthy, all I have is just a little beer gut.  It’s called a “Dad Bod” all the celebrities are rocking it.

Exercise? You mean punishment.


I have never devoted time to exercise.  My wife wants to challenge me to walking goals and stair climbing.  This may not end well for me…  I walk where I need to get to and go up or down stairs as required.  I am afraid that I will be aimlessly wandering my home because my wife will think my step count needs to be in the tens of thousands!  Ain’t nobody got time for that.

Pie chart truths of Mario Kart.


My wife is very competitive as well. These step count goal are sure to lead to some cruel taunting-as if going on forced marches up and down the stairs won’t be bad enough.  I may have to get sneaky and turn on Mario Kart to get her to sit her butt down.  She knows she can beat me at that game, so if I get a few rounds started then get up to leave, I should be able to nap again.  Our kids will gladly play that game and keep the exercise drill sergeant occupied for me.


Maybe I’m just being paranoid.  Maybe I’ll find some value in seeing how active I really am in my daily routine.  Plus, if someone actually calls me (who makes phone calls anymore?) my wrist will display their name.  So that’s kinda cool.  We’ll see how this turns out.  A bit more of a focus on being active won’t kill me.  I can forgo a nap or two each day.  But, I’m worried my deep fryer is next to go…

Exercise

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Hahaha.

I don’t actively go out and do crunches, sit-ups, running or weightlifting.  It’s never been my style.  Kudos to those that are adamantly hitting the gym everyday.  You have a drive and a passion to perfect your body.  I can fully respect that.

 

Always remember to rest.

 
For me, exercise is the yard work I do, it’s the gardening, home renovations, walking around my favorite stores, or conventions or Disneyland.  I love walking.  Most of the jobs I’ve had all my life have had me walking from place to place until recently.  Now I sit at a desk and stare at a computer.  What I found?  I missed walking.  Getting fresh air, seeing nature, and clearing my head.  So, I take my dog for a walk more now than I ever did in the past.  Not everyday, but when I feel the need- we head out for some time together.  He likes it.  I like it.  I don’t need anything or anyone telling me I need more exercise.  My mind and body are in sync and I go out as needed.

This past Christmas, I gave my wife a Fitbit because I knew she’d wanted one.  To my surprise, she is still focused on it and how active she is.  It has made her more aware of how many steps she takes in a day.  The Fitbit has her setting goals of how many flights of stairs she needs to get done before midnight.  When she is sitting at the table or on the couch, she no longer asks me or the children to get her something that she needs, she walks over and gets it herself.  It may have been just as easy for one of us to bring it over, but now every step counts.  My wife’s goals aren’t intended to beat the other Fitbitters she is friends with.  They may have daily challenges between each other, but it’s not a contest.  The way I see it, they are promoting a healthy lifestyle, with each other as a cheerleader coaching them every step of the way.

 

I’m always thinking about my next nap.

 
My wife thinks I should get a Fitbit to push me a bit more.  As much as I love technology and gadgets, this one doesn’t appeal to me.  Aside from my wife, the friends that I know who have a Fitbit, tend to not use it as much as they did when they first got it.  Essentially like a treadmill being used as a clothes rack after the initial first wave of good intentions.  Just gathering dust until the next resolution or need to look good because summer is approaching.

This is why I don’t go out and spend money at the gym.  Or buy expensive exercise equipment.  I know my limits.  I know my human nature.  I know I wouldn’t be happy being forced to exercise.  I am healthy according to my last visit to the doctor a few months ago.

I enjoy walking on my terms.  I just need to get some better shoes.