Public Transit Systems Contribute to Weight Loss and Improved Health, Study Finds

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100628203756.htm

Telemetry, Data, Metrics, steps and heart beats

NASA has nothing on me when compared to the telemetry collected during one of my typical workouts. Besides my iPhone there are two specific tools that have helped me get started with exercise and how to optimize the amount and exertion level of exercise as I progress from couch potato to fit person. The first is a pedometer, the second is a heart rate monitor.

My Kaiser program came with this Omron pedometer. I highly recommend it for one simple reason - there is no reset button! I have owned many pedometers and there is nothing more frustrating than walking 9,998 steps only to check your meter and find out you accidentally hit the reset button sometime during your day "I know I walked more than 350 steps today!". This Omron tracks 7 days worth of steps. The key takeaway here is to start walking! Monitor (write down) every day how many steps you take and try to add a few more each day until you are comfortably getting close to 10,000 each day.

After you have been walking it won't be long before your ready for more strenuous exercise. That might be in the form of a faster walking pace, a bike ride, run or aerobics class. I found that in past weight loss attempts I would soon be going overboard with the physical activities and found myself over trained, exhausted and so sore I could hardly function.

Enter the Suunto Heart Rate Monitor - Specifically the Suunto T6C. (Link is to the T6D, C model has been updated) I researched heart rate monitors (HRM) and this is what works for me and there is one specific reason. Suunto calculates and displays whats called a Training Effect. Essentially a number from 1 to 5 that indicates how effective your training is. A "1" is telling you to get off the couch. A five is telling you to back off before you blow a gasket. How the Suunto calculates TE is mystery to me. It definitely looks at how frequently you exercise and your heart rate during exercise. When I first started I could shoot up to a TE 4.2 with little effort. Now getting into the 3's takes a focused intense effort.

Read more about TE here.

Now get off the computer and go for a walk!

"Did You Have Surgery?"

This is the number one question I get from people that knew me 120 pounds ago. The answer is NO. The next question is "So than what are you doing" The answer when I am in a rush is "Eating less and exercising more" It really is that simple.... errrrrr no it is not. The long answer is that some incredible people from the Kaiser Permanente Medical Weight Management Program have led me to behavior change. It starts with "Living Smart" Five Essential Skills to Change Your Health Habits Forever. With this book and the leaderships, teachings, discussion and soul searching with my fellow weight loss soldiers I have learned (discovered, found???) a new relationship with food and hunger.

I highly recommend the book for any healthy living habit (taking medicine, stopping smoking, weight loss) Only YOU can do the work but this book is the road map that will show you the way....

Whats with Running the Line?

I am starting this blog as a place where I can talk about my journey to find fitness, weight loss and healthy living. As of this writing I have lost 105 pounds but more importantly I have found a way to live my life in balance. How I view food and exercise has changed.

So why "Running the Line"?

A major element of my fitness is exercise, specifically running. I am running nearly every morning. Several days a week the end of my run brings me to a pedestrian bridge with a line running directly down the middle of the bridge. As I complete my run for the day I "Run the line". The bridge and the line on the bridge symbolize my journey to find fitness.

The bridge represents crossing over from obesity, from pain, lethargy, depression and running to reduced weight, lower stress, better cardiovascular fitness.

The line on the bridge represents the balance necessary to lead a fit, healthy life.

Over the next several days, weeks, months I will share what I have found that is working for me. I will post ways that you can help me and I hope if there is some way I can help you that you will ask...

First the disclaimer

DISCLAIMER

I am in no way claiming success. I decided to go public because I want to ask my friends for their (Continued) support. I have lost weight before and gained it back plus more. and more. and more. and more. I know that the jury is still out. I know that any day I can fall off the wagon and start gaining again. In this blog I will share what has worked, what is workings and what doesn't work FOR ME.

I am asking you to hold me accountable. If you see me swimming in the fast food pool or not working out at least 5 days a week then you are hereby empowered to smack me up side my head and remind me how miserable life is when your carrying 200 extra pounds around...

On with the show