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This past summer I started running. It felt great, I had more energy, and I really enjoyed the experience. Then came the winter. Our “snowmageddon” here in Massachusetts pretty much killed any aspirations I had for exercising. I stopped moving and started bundling up and sitting….and sitting. All I wanted to do was curl up and hibernate like a bear.
When Omron contacted me about trying their new Alvita Wireless Activity Tracker I had to take a moment to think. Could I do that…now? Did I want to? Of course I could and yes I did. The snow wasn’t going anywhere, but neither was I. I needed to change that.
Not the ideal afternoon walk…
It wasn’t easy. The first few minutes you step outside in 20° with a windchill that makes it “feel” like -2°…. yeah, that hurts. I bundled up in layers, knowing I’d be warmer at the end than I was at the beginning. My first challenge? Just walking to the school to pick up my son. It’s roughly 1 mile round trip and I was eager to see how many steps it would equal. I have many friends who count their steps and report online, so I was looking forward to logging my first number. I slid my Omron Alvita Wireless Activity Tracker onto my pants pocket, pulled my hat down tight and got started.
Not your typical walking shoes…
The Verdict: It wasn’t bad at all. Okay yes, it was cold. I had moments when the wind kicked up and I had to stop walking and just brace myself for a few minutes. But, the more I walked, the better I felt. I also had the goal of counting my steps. It was like a living video game. What would my high score be? Could I beat it the next time? My walking suddenly became very goal driven. Not just the fact of retrieving my son that day and having our own snow adventure walk on the way home, but the count itself became another thing to strive for. I could actually see my progress and that really does have an affect on motivation.
By the way… that ‘short’ walk to the school? Over 2,200 steps! Now I just need to find a walking buddy!
Will You Walk Out on Wednesdays?
Our weeks as parents are full of moving from here to there. We’re usually in the car – driving to the store, to school, to sports practice, to dance class… we shuttle our family all over town and beyond. Sometimes it’s hard to just get some time away to focus and breathe, much less exercise. Omron wants to unite Moms (and Dads) to “walk-out” every Wednesday to grab some time to both recharge your mind and your body. You can grab a friend for #walkoutwednesdays and make a regular meet up with your walking buddy.
Walking with a friend can not only provide you with some much needed time to catch up with other parents, but it can also help you stay on track and motivated. You can make an appointment to walk your kids to school, to visit your favorite coffee shop or just around the block.
More About the Alvita Wireless Activity Tracker from Omron Healthcare, Inc
Their most advanced tracker yet, the Omron Alvita Wireless Activity Tracker (HJ-327T) is conveniently small yet brilliantly powerful. Your fitness data transfers wirelessly to your smart phone via the free Omron Fitness App. Record several dynamics such as: steps, aerobic steps, distance and calories burned.
Features of the Omron App & Website:
- Wirelessly upload and store months of data
- View progress charts and graphs
- Set personal goals related to steps, miles & calories
- Download & share your fitness activity *
- Participate in fitness challenges *
* available when you sign up for a free account at www.omronwellness.com
Where is your favorite place to walk? Do you walk alone or with a friend/family member?
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Omron. The opinions and text are all mine.
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