It's here

Fitbit Flex is now available for purchase. CNET has a very positive review. It is interesting to see so many comments asking for a heart rate monitor, which is more accurate way to measure your work out & calories burned (I guess?)

The Wired article has some funny comments, like this one by penguinstorm "Non-athletic types overanalyzing data from their daily activities is going to be the worst trend of 2013." Plenty of funny rebuttals, but can't disagree with the sentiment. 

I think next it will need, music & a camera. I think Apple is probably in the best position to release such a device. Which all rumors point to being in the works. If they nail it, it could be massive.

But, for now if I had a Fitbit Flex, I would enjoy playing with it for sure. In the meantime, given my budget I have been looking for heart rate/gps watches on eBay lately...

Walking and Technology

When I first started to take my walking seriously a few weeks ago, I totally geeked out learning about the latest gadgets available. Luckily the Fitbit Flex isn't out yet, because I probably would have bought one. Not that the Fitbit Flex doesn't sound cool. If I had one I would be really into it. But since I don't. I'm not sure I'll spend the extra money for another gadget.

Lately, I've been turning to my old iPhone, which is now just an iPod touch (since I don't have service.) Music is great company on my walks and I can take pictures if I see something cool. Like this tiered planter box I saw the other day.

One hour a day

I keep reading that we aren't getting enough exercise. I'm finally realizing how badly I needed more. I've been keeping up with one hour per day on my own, and bonus walks with my dog most days. I picked up something at the supermarket that said we should be active for one hour a day. It's so weird, I think of exercise as a luxury and sometimes think I can't afford it. Now, I'm making it a priority, like I need to do one hour a day forever.

This next week will be busy, but my goal is to make sure I stick to one hour. I would like to add in one or two hour treks like I did last week. We'll see.

I feel like I'm getting toned in various places. I don't expect anything to happen quickly. One pound a week would be fine with me. Saw this cute cat on my way home yesterday. Walked right up to me and let began rolling on the grass, begging for a little attention. I played with her for a little bit. I got her to chase a stick which is something my dog doesn't do. He will however chase rocks, when we are at the beach.

<- Mojave

Quick 40 minutes with my dog (slow walk) then an hour faster, on my own. I've passed this sign on a few of my walks & I just love it.

Other than that a busy day.

Thinking of the PCT hikers & the socal fires...hope they are safe.

I was remembering the Silver Lake Waker last night. He was one of the first familiar sights when I moved to the neighborhood. A few years later someone painted a mural of him. Included in that write up is a link to the LAWeekly article about him. Reading it last night for the first time I'm blown away that he not only did 4,000 push ups a day, swam 2 miles...dude also walked 20...and even more on certain days.

I had no idea. He was always cruising along, reading...the newspaper or his phone. Usually shirtless, once I saw him in a raincoat when it was raining.

As I remembered him (he's since passed away) I realized turning the streets of LA into my own work out routine isn't crazy. It's actually quite economical. I did realize as I was starting my walking routine that I'd much rather be walking outdoors than driving to a gym to workout there. Plus, that would cost $.

Today I walked my dog, .7 miles then did 4.7 on my own in an hour and forty minutes...so about a 2 hour day. My goal is just to stick to 1 hour a day, but I think I'm excited to loose some weight. Once I get there, maybe 1 hour will be my maintenance walk. Still learning!

The picture above is of a building I passed today...I had to capture the address number. That's 1234 Sunset Blvd. if you are curious.

Two hours

Today I doubled my normal walk. 6 miles in two hours (plus about another half mile with my dog). I'm curious how I will feel in a few hours. Will I feel like, doing 10 more miles? (Probably not.)

I really am impressed with the PCT thru hikers that log upwards of 15 miles a day, with a pack.

I wore my Merrel Moab hiking shoes today instead of my New Balance 574.

Including the walk with my dog, the pedometer says it was 14,449 steps and 450 calories.

Saw some new amazing things here in my neighborhood. I've lived here for 6 years and saw some cool new stuff today.

Walked over the freeway on this bridge.

Walker Hydration

Since my walks are only around an hour right now, I don't need crazy hydration. But since this is Southern California, when I do walk in the summer I think I'll need to carry some water. Lately I've been carrying a few dollars in my pocket, just in case. I could always buy a bottle of water somewhere. But, to carry music, my keys & water...maybe I will try out a hydration "waist pack" or fanny pack!

I went to REI today and looked at what they had. Nothing totally grabbed me, but now I'm thinking something like this: Amphipod RunLite AirStretch Hydration Belt would be perfect. Being inspired by all the PCT Thru hikers I'm thinking, keep it simple & light. I am also thinking, is there a way I could make it myself???

I don't need a ton of water, and if I decided to only take one, it seems like the holster wouldn't been intrusive in it's absence. I'll probably order it and give it a go.

Inspiration

A few months ago I drove past Mt. Whitney on my way to Mammoth Mountain. When I got back home I searched around and read about what it's like to hike on a few blogs. One of them was part of a bigger blog describing the hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. I don't know if I had ever heard about the walk, but I was familiar with long hikes. I grew up near the Appalachian Trail.

Nonetheless, it's springtime and I think the energy of the season just inspires me to want to get in shape. But reading about the PCT is so inspiring. I've read a lot about the trail here: http://postholer.com/

I'm kind of addicted to reading about the treks on everyone's journal. The kickoff was last weekend and now lots of people are on the trail.

I only walk an hour a day. It's amazing to think of doing that for 5 - 7 or more hours / day. I don't know if I could. I was thinking, what if I walked 100 miles of the PCT each year. It would take me 26 years to finish the trail. It's mind boggling. You thru hikers are an inspiration.
 

It's time to get in shape. I've started walking, daily for exercise. I started by increasing the length I walked with my dog. But since he's slow and 40 minutes is his max I've started longer walks without him.

So far my walks consist of 1 hr/day + 20 minutes with my dog.

I've used a $20 pedometer to track my distance and quite consistently, 1 hour equals 3 miles.

I'm looking into all the fun new gadgets on the market to track my spring fitness plans. The Fit Bit Flex looks really cool. But it hasn't been released yet, and I can't tell when it will. The Jawbone UP looks really cool, but it sounds like it's plagued with problems. Maybe taking a piece of technology and making it wearable is harder than it seems. Is that why the Fit Bit Flex is taking so long to get to market? Which lead me to look at simple GPS watches and a lot of them look cool (Nike Tom Tom version).

So, I'll be looking around at these devices, tracking what I learn and tracking my fitness here on this site.

Right now I'm about 150lbs and I hope to get down to 135lb. I hope to do it through daily, long walks. I'll keep you posted here.

Oh, I live in LA, hence the name...a nod to the classic Missing Persons tune, Walking in LA!