hadouni

Just make sure your iPad is new enough. I have a 1st generation iPad and an iPhone 4 and neither will sync my flex. There are lists of supported devices on the fitbit page. I think it needs the iPad 3rd generation at least and iPhone 4S or newer. There are many android options.

I have a fitbit flex and have been wearing it about two weeks. Last night it buzzed that I'd hit 10000 steps when I was rocking my my overstuffed chair, reading my kindle so I'm not too sure how accurate it is! It seems to measure rocks in the chair with steps. I need to look into that a little more because it was very random. I like that it works with Myfitnesspal though it took me a little time to figure out how to make that happen. (go to myfitnesspal and hook to fitbit from there, not from fitbit to MFP) I'm now messing with my iPhone to see if I can get it to sync with the phone - woo-hoo, it does! My iPad is too old for sure. Why doesn't it have a heart rate monitor? That seems like a huge oversight to me. Maybe I'm overestimating how simple (I think) that should be. If there was a way to get heart rate readings with it, I'd like it much more. I think I'd also buy the clip-on version over the bracelet in the future because it would be nice to be able to hide it at times. I'd like to get the different colored bands at least. I bought mine at Best Buy and was lucky to walk in and find one on the shelf. The kid helping me find them in the store kept trying to tell me what I was holding was only the bracelet part and not the device... so I told him to go price check it and it was the actual device.

Good luck with it. I did well with it. It motivated me to see if I could do the next day. I woujld have never expected to begin running at 41, but wonders never cease! Happy running!

I need to do this! I've had the flex for about five days now and need to get these talking to each other! How do you do it? UPDATE - I got it to work... go to Myfitnesspal first!

I got my running shoes at DSW on the clearance rack for $25. They had the exact same shoe in a more fashionable color for $80 or a slightly less fashionable color for $35. Being the cheap-o I am, I went for the orange $25 pair and love them!

I never would have thought I'd wear skinny anything... and now I have several pair! Life is good!

I think I'm mad at you, Bean... I'm cranky about having to run on the treadmill! after a crazy weekend and stressful start to the work week, I'm finally back to my run. Feels great even if I did have to do it inside! As for shoes, I have some weird bone structure. I have a really high knotty bone on the top of my foot/feet and huge "pump bumps" on my heels even though I've never been a high heel wearer. I love asics, like new balance and Adidas and can't wear Nike or reebok as a general rule. I also try to avoid shoes with a higher back on the heel because it'll usually make me blister. Good socks help with that though. Next time I buy shoes I may go to a running store to be fit. I've had good luck so far but am interested to see what the experts would suggest.

Carols- So sorry for your loss. I hope you have many happy memories to help you through this most difficult time.

Itchy skin can also be a sign of thyroid issues. I'd self-medicated with homeopathic thyroid supplement starting in summer 2007 when I knew I was going to try and get pregnant soon. My Ob had me continue through my pregnancy because my thyroid was testing well and he didn't want me to change anything. After my son was born, I had issues with milk shortages and the lactation Dr sent me to a PCP who wanted me to stop taking the OTC thyroid supplement so he could test my thyroid untreated. The first thing that I noticed after quitting the OTC was dry, itchy skin. I had a spot on my lower shin that I scratched until it bled. They tested me again, and what do you know - my thyroid was low! Doh! So, now I'm on a regular Rx and it's fine.

Last night should have been a walk-only night for me but I was interested in trying the run-walk format so I did a little running (jogging!) too (treadmill). It was nice and totally manageable. I did 4:2x3 and then did another 2min of run before cooling down. My son decided he was hungry about half way into my second run cycle so I cut things a little shorter than I would have but it was still decent. I think the run/walk might be a good way to go for me. I need to rest (not run) today because I'm still feeling the time I spent Sunday at the trampoline facility...

Bean!?! Beyonce? I love it!

isn't it great? i can even flip over onto my stomach in the bath. Not sure why I like to do that so much other than it gives a really nice back stretch... maybe it's just because i CAN?

scissors would be a great way to get back into the saddle (sorry, i couldn't resist...) or with you both lying on your side with him behind you.

Trust us! We've all been there... stalls are no fun but they do pass. It's possible the 3 week stall is some sort of natural body cycle because its such a common occurrence among folks here. I lost quite steadily in the first six months and then it s-l-o-w-e-d down. I'd loose 2-4lbs per month and it would all of a sudden drop off after my period started. I'd stalled for almost two months (11-13 months post-op) and started some jogging that helped me drop another 5lbs. Now I'm stalled again and know I'll have to do something pretty different if I want to kick the last 20lbs. You ARE doing GREAT. Just stick with your Dr's plan and keep exercising.

I have had friends and acquaintances tell me I don't need to loose any more weight as well. Sometimes it can make me pretty uncomfortable - especially if it happens to come along with someone observing and commenting on what I eat or how much I eat. I had a male acquaintance (with his wife right there at the table too) ask me if what I was eating was all I was going to eat and then go on about how I didn't need to loose any more because I'd be too thin. I'm a size 14... at 5'7" so it's not like I'm skinny, just more averaged sized than when he met me and I weighted 240! AND, I'm still technically overweight! I think I need to get down below 160 to be considered in a healthy BMI range. I will say I'm getting better at redirecting conversation! You are the only one who has to be comfortable and live in your body in the end. So please yourself and find a place where you're happy and confident. That's my two cents at least!

Good for you all! That's so fantastic! I'm trying to work myself up to one in June... we'll see. Bean - I think crawling will be me!

Good for you! The app I used is the free app from Zen Labs and it has a breast cancer pin (pink ribbon) on it. I second Bean on the compression clothes. I wear two bras to run and bought some compression pants on sale at Target. They are really nice for keeping my thighs, belly & tush contained. I wear them when I run outside on pavement. When I run on the treadmill where there is a little less impact, I wear other fitness clothes, but the compression pants are a must for me outside.

Running at 5mph on the treadmill is going well, thanks! I do need the little quick breaks I get along the way (working the c25k earlier weeks) but so far so good. I try to the first half at 1% incline and will usually back off to 0.5% incline for the second half. I feel like I really need to get a HRM because I probably am working harder than is best. I ran outside Sunday morning. It was glorious weather in sunny CA and I had a great run. I used mapmyrun and the distance was 3.2 miles. I did a little walk warm-up and then ran a mile, walked a little and ran around a half mile walked a little more and then ran almost to the end. I think I ran at least 2 miles of it. I'm not real savvy with the mapmyrun app so I'm not sure if it can give me info about just the running portions. Sunday afternoon I attended a b-day party with my son. The party was at an indoor trampoline facility and it was SO FUN. My muscles were a little achy from my morning and after bouncing for 40 minutes or so I knew I'd feel it today. At least I worked off the b-day cake before I ate it, right?

I think I had red meat earlier than that too, but honestly, I have the most consistent issues with white-meat chicken. The dryer the meat, the harder it is to get down & keep down. Chew forever (hard to remember sometimes when you feel hungry) and wait at least a minute between bites of denser Proteins would be my advice.

I did week 5 day 3 yesterday jogging at 5mph. I got a quick break when my son wanted something to drink but it wasn't bad overall.

Ms. A - my mind wandered to the SAME place...

You look like his SISTER not his mom! My son is a preschooler and my favorite moment so far was the first time I realized his arms went all the way around me. Best. Hug. Ever!

Very happy to hear you are improving but what a scary experience! My heart goes out to you!

Ok, my response is going to be different from others, but my surgeon doesn't push protein drinks, in fact he doesn't want his patients using them. Ever. He wants people to work on getting their protein sources from food. When I asked about the lack of protein in the first few weeks, he told me my body had enough stores to last me and not to worry about it. They didn't start talking protein with us until we start solid foods at the beginning of week 5 post-op. Someone mentioned hair loss and protein. I will say I lost a LOT of hair and I don't know if that would have been any different if I'd been on protein drinks for the first few weeks or not. I am very happy with my surgery and recovery experience. I'm happy with my pixie haircut...

Ok, this is random but if you're in an urban area (where there tend to be more varied activities) find a capoeira class. Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art and it will work your whole body but especially your core, legs and backside. I trained quite a bit in the late 1990s in LA and after the first class, it took me a few days for my muscles to relax and for me to try again. Second class, I made it through 30 minutes and had to sit down and watch. Unfortunately, I stiffened up so much I needed help up off the floor and could barely sit down or roll over in bed (NO JOKE) because my abs were so sore for the next 36+ hours. That was a Friday night. Sunday I MADE myself go out walking and then for a bike ride to try and loosen up my muscles. I went back a third time and was totally hooked. I ended up training 9+ hours a week and was in the best shape of my life. It's very much a whole body sport.