Left to my Own Devices

Marlin's been working out of town a lot since the flooding a few months back so I've been left home alone to work and look after the pups... and to shop online.  :)

Not too long ago I became obsessed with dog activity tracking devices.  I blame Pack and the newsletter I write for them. The newsletter makes me browse the internet to find cool stuff for dogs and it seems to result in me buying stuff.  :)

Anyway, a few weeks back I mentioned activity tracking devices in the newsletter.  There are quite a few out there and they all look pretty cool. Some have GPS so if your dog accidentally gets out of the yard, you can track them and find them again (this only works in the states at the moment - something to do with cell phone carriers).  These also tend to have monthly fees that I didn't like.  Then there are ones that only track their activities but not their location - like FitBark and Whistle.

I figured a device like this would be great at tracking my dogs' activities as they age.  I think some times changes are so gradual you don't really see them but these devices would help you see things in black and white.  I also thought they would be good at tracking how much is too much, and how much is too little, when Coulee's feet aren't doing so well.

And well... I like gadgets.  Gadgets are fun.  So I decided to back FitBark on Kickstarter.  It was my first Kickstarter "investment".  To be honest, if I had discovered Whistle before I had done the Kickstarter, I probably would have gotten that one - I like stuff to arrive NOW, not later, although I'm trying to be patient. :)

As I browsed the internet looking at reviews of these different gadgets it was impossible not to stumble across similar gadgets for people and I managed to talk myself into one of those as well.  (Too much time home alone is never a good thing!).  I've signed up for an exercise program starting in September and I decided it would be cool to see what my activity levels were like before, during and after the program.

Earlier this week I received my FitBit Flex.  At first I was just going to track my activities but then I decided I wanted to see how easy it was to track what I was eating too.  So far, I've done a good job of not eating more calories than I've burned but I'm eating too much to reach my "weight loss goal" that it helped me set.  It has definitely helped me decide to pass up desert or an evening drink that I don't need though. :)  It is also making it extra clear (I already knew this) that if I could stop drinking Chai Tea Lattes, I'd have lots of extra calories to "spend" somewhere else.

The activity information above is from yesterday.  It is a pretty typical work day, minus a dog walk. (Coulee's limping at the moment but we are going to see a rehab vet today to hopefully get that all straightened out). I worked a split shift and was off between 10 and 1... which is obvious by the lack of movement during those times.  :)

It also tracks my sleep but it pretty much told me what I already knew - I wake up a few times each night.  It's funny to see the consistency.  Something happens at 1 a.m. each night to wake me up. I don't remember Coulee barking at the train this past week, but maybe she has been.

I will try not to become an exercised obsessed, food tracking fiend - at least online. ;) I'm excited and scared for the exercise program to start in September.  Because of my work shift (and the lack of showers at the facility) I had to sign up for the 5 a.m. class.  UGH.  There were so many class options but that was the only one that worked for me other than the 7 p.m. one. By the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is exercise so a morning class was better.  I just wish it didn't have to be quite so early!