I kind of miss that.
I don’t remember the details, but one day my faithful old Fitbit died. For almost a decade, I used it off and on. Off during maternity leave because I needed the freedom to do only what I was up to doing. And on pretty much all other days.
I chuckle, recalling how I used to do step competitions with some friends who were connected through the app. (Of course, there was an app for that.) I was a secretary at the time with lots of filing to do, a couple of floors above my desk. I remember the thrill of seeing how many trips I could make from a stack of folders. But if I’m being truly honest, exercise is a very personal thing for me. Because I’m super competitive, as in: I fight to be better than I was yesterday. So when other people get into the mix. It just gets awkward.
Lately, during the longest parts of my days, I have been keeping my eye on the clock–but not for the reason you may think. It’s to remember to go for a walk. And I do this a few times a day. These short, regular bursts of energy help me not nod off too readily as the clock ticks by.
The only “challenge” I’ve come across in this experience is staying fresh. I’ve learned that going up flights of stairs should be limited to two times per walk, else I’m pretty much drenched in sweat. I’d so much rather take a lap around the outside of the building, but with the unpredictable weather and the unnecessarily intense humidity, I’ve opted indoors. The stairs have been a great adventure. And it only takes about 10 minutes–which is what ye ole Fitbit would suggest moving at the top of each hour.
I’ve been postpartum for at least eight years now and pretty self-conscious about odors. Haha. Took me a while, but I found a deodorant that is natural and keeps me smelling like heaven—avec said walks.
Some time between the passing of my Fitbit and now, I inherited my husband’s Apple Watch that he had set aside. I wore it religiously and then realized how unwise it was to always have it on, like when I’m sleeping. And it had rough edges that I didn’t want to hurt my child’s head when nursing them or even when they were just asleep in my arms.
Once in a while, though, it’s neat to know how many steps I’m actually taking in a day and how many calories get scorched. So, in a while, I’ll set this aside again unless I’m actively (ha, see what I did there?) keeping track of new goals. I don’t want to be obsessed, but that’s where we are this week as I am measuring my activity. I will say the biggest perk so far is the energy I get that keeps me from dozing off at my desk. The struggle is real!
What was I saying about exercise being personal . . . ?
Oh yeah, the Lord saw it, knows the details, and meant it for my good, but I foolishly brought my personal goals (more like survival) into a more public space and made some people uncomfortable and a bit catty. One uninformed choice after another was made, resulting in the loss of this opportunity. I feel like I’m speaking in code because if I share all the details, individuals will be cast in a poor light–and that is not the point of my writing, like, at all. It was an unfortunate experience, causing me to lose a bit more faith in humanity–but I know that God is teaching me something and making me even stronger because of it. At the moment, I don’t know what I am learning just yet because I get reminders of the silly situation every single day. And I am oh so sick of it. But I determined to take back what was lost and this time keep it close to my chest.
As I’ve been enjoying these little escapades that get me through the days, I was reminded of how so many of us got up in unison when our Fitbits buzzed on our wrists. It was a past era that I am reliving this summer. And I’m okay that it’s just for me right now.
Thanks for reading along!
Some of the shoes I’ve loved:
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