Watch, The Competition

Desert Lily · ‎06-24-2011

I have an "open concept" house in which I do power walking laps, arm pumping, & I go upstairs 15+ times during my exercise. I've been doing this 3-3.5 miles power walking exercise on a regular basis for 6.5 months now after starting slowly.

I've lost weight, nothing fits, & I still have arms like bat wings.

I had been wearing my Apple watch while exercising in case I keel over from over-doing it (health & emergency info are on the watch), but I found myself competing with what the darn watch was telling me.

I kept walking even faster & longer. The watch data kept ignoring the 15+ times I climbed the steps to upstairs. And Siri never stopped timing the workout when I was done & told her to stop, which increased my mile-time.

My competition with the watch was on.

Recently, I added music to my hour-long exercise routine. I found some old CD's in a closet that I play. Most of the time the music gives me pep to keep going, but on occasion a song brings back memories & I power through some tears until that tune is over.

Then I found a way to trick Siri and decrease my mile-time from 18.5 minutes to 16.5 minutes - I do Not recommend it. The watch calculations include arm movements, so I waved my watch arm double-time; - a kind of a cheat to get back at Siri for ignoring the stairs & not stopping the timing right away.

But, my heart rate went up to 195 with all that waving. Yikes.

I finally realized that it was time to take the watch off while I exercise & chill a bit on my routine.

cjm61 · ‎09-07-2014

Haha @Desert Lily , I totally relate. My fitbit doesn't accurately measure my distance. It cuts me short about 15% of the distance. My husband's is correct though. Plus, we have measured distances with three different methods and they all measure the same but mine, I'm always shorted.

Even though I know I did 5 miles, I get annoyed that my fitbit says 4.25 miles. So, I finally figured out what to do. Instead of my correct height of 5' 2", I put in my account I am almost 6'. It now measures ALMOST correctly.

Good for you for being able to keep up your walking when it's only around the house. I couldn't do it. I get too bored and have to walk outdoors and change my route every once in awhile.

cindyNC · ‎08-01-2019

@Desert Lily I keep toying with the idea of getting an Apple watch. Usually I only wear a watch when I'm going out.

Are you happy with it, otherwise?

bmorechick · ‎03-11-2010

@Desert Lily Applause 👏 to you for doing what you do!!! Amazing effort.

I have an Apple Watch and have the activity app on at all times. Most of you who read my posts know I run and bike, so I need that app for heart rate, pace, distance, etc. I love it.

When I run outside, I use my apple EarPods and love listening to my music and it takes my mind off the run. Even though the Peloton bike and tred keeps my metrics, I still compare it with the apple watch and it's pretty accurate.

Maybe incorporate lifting weights to target your arms. I am 69 and am tall but small, so my "bat wings" are real small and lifting has probably helped there. Not a lot of weight- my maximum is 10 pound free weights. But again, I've been doing that for years.

You sound pretty savvy on what to incorporate so I'm sure you will figure it out!

LizzieInSRQ · ‎12-27-2010

@Desert Lily this is one of the most real posts with truth in humor as ive read here. Thank you!

Franklinbell · ‎01-04-2015

@Desert Lily @Oh girl I feel you pain, I have a cousin that calls them angel wings!

Shanus · ‎05-17-2010

I had to slow down my walk a bit since Molly is now 12 and I don't want to wear her out. I used to walk really fast for 3 miles. I do it the old fashion way and just drive differnt "walks" until I see a 3 or 3 1/2 mile route. Now I have about 4 paths to go. I wait until 6 since I'm basically alone and there have been a few attacks over the years of women walking alone. The neighborhood walking group doesn't allow dogs along for the walk.

At my new "home" (feels better calling it a home than apartment) there is a dog walking group that begins at 6:30, another at 7 and another at noon. It's a large complex and just staying within those confines, we can do at least 4 miles.

The reward? Starbucks is at the end of the 3 mile mark and they give the doggies a tiny cup of whipped cream or foamed milk. I'll have an Americano please.

I don't have an Apple watch, but we go by the old fashioned way...If we can still talk without being out of breath we keep going. Moving in some furniture last week, I joined the noon group and most of the women didn't use their watch either.

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

@Desert Lily wrote:

That's why I stopped wearing my apple watch when exercising. I'm elderly and can't keep up like a 40-50 year old anymore.

lynnie61 · ‎04-28-2010

@Desert Lily I try to get 8-10k steps a day. Doesn't always happen, but I really try to get my 250 steps during my core hours. I get annoyed when my watch says I got the steps, and sometimes the app skips an hour. It's not a big deal, but why is the watch different than the app on some hours?

Kudos to you on all the flights of steps and your dedication to exercise.