A dog or a Fitbit?

my ol' fitbit
@bounce58 (17387)
Canada
April 3, 2016 8:17pm CST
I am not a dog person. Not because I don’t like dogs, but I can’t afford the financial and emotional investment needed to take care of one. But I always hear from dog owners that their dogs keep them healthy, and motivated to be active because they have to walk them every day. So, I got the next best thing – a fitbit. It does get me motivated to be active. I try and achieve the recommended 10,000 steps per day. I must admit though that the days I fall off the goal-line are still greater than the days that get my goals ‘green’, but I’m getting there. So, do you have a dog or a fitbit to keep you active? Do you meet the health goals you’ve set for yourself?
8 people like this
16 responses
• United States
4 Apr 16
i've no gadgets to keep track'f what i do daily. i've pups, neither require walkin', they jest run amok'n the pasture. i used to stay extremely fit - workin' cattle 'n horses, haulin' hay, cleanin' corrals. these days, i jest do what i can 'n call't a day.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
4 Apr 16
Loved how you frame your response! I bet that how you go about in the "pasture" keeps you fit already. Even if it's jest doing whatever.
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@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
4 Apr 16
@crazyhorseladycx Why didn't she come back?! Did she realize she's met her quota, and is done walkin'?
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Apr 16
@bounce58 thanks :) yepperz, tendin' the pasture 'n lands brings'n lots'f miles. i do recall a friend came out many years back with one'f those pedometer thingies. she was quite shocked to find that she'd walked nearly 8 miles that day. nah, she ne'er came back 'xcept fer short visits 'fter that, lol.
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Apr 16
I'm not a dog person either and it's much more to owning a dog than I can afford right now (vet bills, food, caring for a pet) etc. Instead my boyfriend and I pay for a parking pass to go hiking on our free time.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
4 Apr 16
Hiking is a great form of exercise! It's great if you can hike to beautiful trails with magnificent views. I've done the same. The longest trail I've been was over 4-hours one way. At the end of it was a quiet lake at the top of mountain. It was great!
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@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
4 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby It was! There were a lot of people in that hike too. And a lot took a dip in the lake. I didn't though, because it was ice cold!
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Apr 16
@bounce58 Wow thats a long hike but that's very motivating to see the other side a magnificent view.
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@maezee (41988)
• United States
4 Apr 16
You are funny. Ha. I have heard so much about fitbits that I am tempted to buy one. My sister has one and showed me this part of it where you cab essentjally track your sleep - and see when in the night you were restless and so forth. Im not sure how that helps you in a productive way but it seems cool. Let us know how the fitbit goes.
1 person likes this
@maezee (41988)
• United States
5 Apr 16
@bounce58 I am considering it. First I am working on motivating myself to go to the gym a few times per week. Once I bet back into that I may reward myself. Glad that you are taking charge of your health. Any cool features on the fitbit?
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@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
5 Apr 16
@maezee I like the 'Active Minutes' feature. It forces me to get active for at least 30 minutes a day. I also like the Calories burned, which is the other feature which I always fail to complete if I just walked instead of jogged (to complete tha Active Minutes).
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
4 Apr 16
@maezee It does show sleep patterns, among other things. But it's the category that I always fail. I have trouble sleeping at nights, and I (think I) am a morning person because I try to wake up early everyday. You should get one!
@much2say (55318)
• Los Angeles, California
4 Apr 16
Hubby doesn't have a fitbit, but he uses some app on his phone to count the 10,000 steps a day. We don't have a dog either - but my sister just adopted one. They go on walks twice a day (she isn't working nor do they have kids), so her dog definitely keeps her active. Me - I like to shop, so I say shopping around in stores get me to walk a lot . Actually, we've been walking/hiking outside as a family a lot during the weekends - getting that Vitamin D in as well. Knowing that we're staying active together keeps me motivated - that we're doing good for all of us .
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@much2say (55318)
• Los Angeles, California
4 Apr 16
@bounce58 Hey, can't beat a free fit bit! I only wish I were raking in the dough . . . I should have clarified that I window shop!
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
4 Apr 16
I did have those apps on my phone too before. But when the opportunity to get a free fitbit (even though it's an older model) came along, I got one! You @much2say must be just rakin' in the dough if you are considering the walks you get from shopping as a form of exercise!
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (50857)
• Canada
4 Apr 16
Your titled reeled me into reading this. We bought someone a fitbit for a Christmas gift. She's not really a disciplined exerciser, but she is very competitive. She was in a competition one day and was exhausted after work, so put the fitbit on her puppy's collar and played fetch with her. She won the competition, so don't you be fooled with these antics!
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
4 Apr 16
I know what you mean. There's a similar competition at work. And there's a forum regarding the competition. A lot of the discussion is centered about how some people could cheat the system. Some by just chopping onions!
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (50857)
• Canada
4 Apr 16
@bounce58 How does chopping onions cheat the system?
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
4 Apr 16
@Juliaacv You actually get rewarded with "steps" when you do a few things with the arms. So if you're chopping with the arm with the fitbit, you might get extra steps.
1 person likes this
@TwixTwinz (169)
• Philippines
4 Apr 16
Having a dog is not that complicated, for me its really not nocessary to walk them every morning. At least once or twice a week is enough for them. The only hard is when they are having illness or sometimes they dont like the food that tou give to them, otherwise its much enjoyable when it comes to other activities when you and your dog are with.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
4 Apr 16
That's one of things that discourages me from getting a dog. I've also heard stories about how expensive it could get. Just not in the financial range of affordability right now. Maybe when I'm old and gray. A dog would be a welcome companion.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
4 Apr 16
@bounce58 yes prepare some budget away from your pocket because having a dog is really mess sometimes to your budget because additional expenses for foods and sometimes dog feeds is more expensive than ours. And few vaccinations is needed every year . Our dog had a 5 different vaccine this year
@shaggin (72021)
• United States
4 Apr 16
I don't think either one would motivate me to do anything. Dogs are too much care for me and a fitbit I would probably just ignore lol. I wonder how many steps I did today with all my pacing the house.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
4 Apr 16
Walking is good exercise, even if it's just around the house. But pacing because you're going through something difficult is never good.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
4 Apr 16
Neither, I just get up and take walks and go to the gym (not often enough).
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
4 Apr 16
I wish I had that motivation. I need the symbol.
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
5 Apr 16
@bounce58 so how many pounds have you lost so far?
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
5 Apr 16
Sadly not enough. It's only been a week and a half since I've jogged every other day (been a couple months since I've had the fitbit and I have reached the 10,000 steps maybe a dozen times). My goal is actually not to loose a certain number of pounds, but to loose a pot belly.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
6 Apr 16
@hereandthere Oooh! That's not good news! Maybe even if I exercised myself until I'm blue, I still wouldn't lose the belly.
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• Philippines
6 Apr 16
@bounce58 i have a relative who started with cycling then running, as in joining races. he's slim now and off medication, just like when he was single, but the slight belly remains. he's mid 40s.
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@Gina145 (3949)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
4 Apr 16
Sadly I don't have either, and I don't keep as fit as I should.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
4 Apr 16
One user here gave me an advice which I try to follow: just take one little step at a time.
2 people like this
@Gina145 (3949)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
4 Apr 16
@bounce58 That's good advice, and not just when it comes to exercise.
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@marlina (154131)
• Canada
4 Apr 16
@bounce58 That is a good advice: one step at a time.
@marlina (154131)
• Canada
4 Apr 16
I have neither.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
4 Apr 16
You have a good taste in music though! -- I noticed!
1 person likes this
@marlina (154131)
• Canada
4 Apr 16
@bounce58 Well, not everybody would agree with this one!
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@marlina (154131)
• Canada
5 Apr 16
@bounce58 So, did you double up your exercise time after that big slice of cake?
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@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
5 Apr 16
Not yet, but I intend to today Unless of course a bout of procrastination, or laziness hits me first.
@just4him (317004)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
5 Apr 16
No and no. I plan on getting another dog. Yes, they are an emotional investment as I had to put mine down in January. It was very hard, but I'm a dog person and as soon as I have a green light, there will be another one in my life. I already know what she's like and active is an understatement, so I'm looking forward to it and losing the weight and getting properly fit.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
5 Apr 16
Sorry to hear that you've had to put one down. That would be very tough for me. Investing on one emotionally and then having to go through something like that. You are way tougher than me! Good luck with then new one!
1 person likes this
@just4him (317004)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
5 Apr 16
@bounce58 Thank you. I only need to know if I'm staying or moving from my home. My home is in foreclosure and I've been working with the bank for options. I hope to know soon, and when I do, if favorable, I will have my new dog.
1 person likes this
@db20747 (43440)
• Washington, District Of Columbia
5 Apr 16
A fit bit. Is this something new. It looks like new technology. I'm not sure what it is but I'll take the fitbit. Dogs can be fun, but picking up their poo is over the barrel for me. Don't have time to walk them.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
5 Apr 16
Yes a bit of new technology. But something people don't really need if they are motivated enough to get healthy. I just need it because I'm not as motivated. I need the reminder. Plus I got it for free.
@sol_cee (38219)
• Philippines
4 Apr 16
I saw this Fitbit thing on the Amazing Race.
@lilnana1111 (2305)
• United States
5 Apr 16
I have to dogs, love them both :)