Hello Readers, I'm here to tell you "retirement" is exhausting!
I made it through week one expecting this to be the "Week of Diane", but my husband had other ideas. He's been retired for almost 3 years and routinely walks about 7-8 miles a day (5) days a week...yes, I know you hate him already --me too LOL.
While I was working, I walked 1.5 miles Mon-Friday most weeks and called that exercise. I've had a Fitbit One for (1) year now and, although I came close, never hit 10,000 steps in one day. This week I walked my retired butt off because of him, Granted he toned it down a bit but my Fitbit has now seen over 13,500 steps in one day, and I didn't kill me. I did comment constantly how bored I was, so on subsequent days I listened to an audio book and we even walked some trails at a state park one day.
Do any of you have Fitbits? Well, as I mentioned I've had the Fitbit One --shown here (clip it on my bra) and wear it every day. You really have to move to get credit for each step. I love how it syncs to my iPhone and I can track calories etc. I do work for each step I get.
I regret the day decided to buy my husband the Fitbit Charge though ( Father's Day gift last month) - the model he has is what I call the "cheater's model"---shown here ---
He hit 20,000 steps his first day wearing it on his dominant wrist, I then changed the setting to account for the dominant wrist and, he walked basically the same distance and still got about 18,000 steps, when his tracking prior to Fitbit, walking the same route each day was about 14,000 steps. ---Opinion --- he's getting step credit for sitting on his butt clicking the remote, writing checks, flipping pages ------Call me a sore loser, but I'm annoyed, and have threatened to cut the Fitbit off his wrist as he sleeps.
Honestly, I'm not crazy - I found this statement several times online ---Clearly, sensitivity to arm movement is still something Fitbit, and other builders of fitness trackers, have yet to perfect.
Trust me -- there is a difference in how these 2 Fitbits track movement. This week when we walked the same distance together and then did little else (stayed in afterward) he had nearly 2,000 more steps than me at the end of the day.
Seriously, I'm ticked off, but happy to be moving my butt a whole lot more. I also joined the YMCA (he already had a membership) for those hot and humid or snow and ice days.
When I wasn't in constant motion, we went out for lunch several times --seniors do that now and then, saw the little ones one day, and ordered a new car now that I don't have to worry about the ridiculous parking situation at work. I also hit the library twice, caught up on some book reviews, read (of course) and did all that other house related things that working people cram in on weekends. All is good - I can handle retirement I decided!
New Books this Week
- God Help the Child; Toni Morrison (paperback swap) - Knopf
- Second Reading; Jonathan Yardley (purchase) - Europa
- Consequences; Penelope Lively (purchase) (Penguin)
- This is Your Life Harriet Chance; Jonathan Evison (Algonquin)
- The Promise of Home; Darcie Chan (Ballantine)
- How to Write a Novel; Melanie Sumner (Vintage)
Have a Great Week Everyone!
