This
is the age of technology. If I picked up and mastered every tool
that comes by I would not have time to live life. That being the
case, I am a little cautious on what I pick up, because each tool
takes time to master.
A
couple of weeks ago, I stopped in to visit Jackie Keller, my health
coach, who supported me as I lost more than 100 pounds. She showed me
a new tool for health support that she had been using for about three
weeks, called the "Jawbone Up." As I left she said,
"You should get one, because I know it will help you. When you
have it set up, let's team up and use it in our coaching sessions."
I
must admit that I struggle with food when I travel, hence a few
pounds have crept on and I want to get them off. When I got back from
South America I purchased the Jawbone Up. It is like the dashboard in
my car. It gives me up-to-the-minute information about the three keys
to weight loss — my exercise, my sleep, and what I eat. To use
it, you will need an Ipad, Iphone or Android device.
The
Jawbone Up is a band that you wear around your wrist. When I want to
update my data, (which I do often,) I have to take it off and remove
the cover to a plug in that goes into the speaker port of my Ipad.
When the app for the Up is selected, it downloads all my information
and updates my profile for the day. Then I can check in all through
that day and see how I am doing.
When
I got the device I went into the settings and set my goals. I set my
sleep for 8 hours and my exercise for 12,000 steps. I know from
working with Jackie that 10,000 steps per day is what the U.S.
Surgeon General recommends for maintenance — so I decided to
set my goal higher. Then each time I eat I input my foods. The food
part is a little complicated, but once I got it down I found it easy
to enter what I eat. It gives me the nutritional breakdown for each
item I enter.
The
areas that it tracks are: calories, fiber, unsaturated fat,
carbohydrates, proteins, sugars, saturated fat, sodium, and
cholesterol. You have a graph, which keeps track of your total daily
intake.
Jackie
and I have discussed what my goals should be for weight loss and
health. By dinnertime yesterday, it told me to quit eating
carbohydrates since I had reached my limit. When I put the cheese on
my salad I learned that I had 8 portion sizes and that I must cut
that down.
Yes,
I know that it is the little things that I eat mindlessly that often
keep me from losing the weight that I would like. This device has
really shown me where my daily habits are deviating from the goals
that I've set!
It
is motivating to have something that tracks every step. It measures
the energy output for exercise, so when I went on my bike ride and
came home it gave me a graph of where I worked hard and where I was
not working so hard. What I realize now is that I have to get going
on my exercise early and do it all through the day. Right now I am
off to water aerobics and will log that in separately when I get home
since I cannot wear the band when I swim. It is water resistant, so I
don't have to worry about a little water once in awhile.
The
sleep has also been very interesting. It tells me how long it takes
me to go to sleep and how many hours I had light sleep and how many
hours I had deep sleep. I've learned about the importance of good
rest for weight management from Jackie, and now I can really see
what's happening with my deep sleep, light sleep and total sleep.
Finally
I have found a tool that can really support me in knowing exactly how
I am doing each day. Here is a big thanks to Jackie for
recommending it to me. I've teamed up with her so she can see my
results as well, and it really helps keep me accountable knowing that
I'm sharing the data with her.
Yes,
it has taken me a little time to learn but it shows me exactly where
I am at all through the day without extensive calculations. For this
tool, a little time investment has paid off in a big way and after
just a few days I can see that it will be a huge key to keeping me on
track.
Dian’s
Book Tipping the Scales in Your Favor
shares her weight loss journey. For years Dian tried to lose weight,
but it was not until Jackie Keller said to her in California, “I
can help you lose weight,” that she caught the vision and lost
more than 100 pounds. Most important, she has been able to keep it
off. Get Dian’s book today and begin the journey to healthy
living. Go to www.DianThomas.com
to learn more.
Dian
Thomas’s Library:
You will never run out of ideas when you have this wonderful set of
books. Check out Dian Thomas’ Creative Books Library Special:
She now has a special offer to save 60% on 5 books and 2 DVDs. Get
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Want
to travel with Dian?
Join one of her trips to China or Vietnam this fall, where you will
enjoy a cultural feast and fun adventure. Email Dian at
Contact@DianThomas.com
or call 801-277-4332 for more information.
Dian Thomas was blessed with the good fortune to be born near and raised in
the remote, breathtaking Manti-La Sal National Forest in southeastern Utah,
where her father was the forest ranger. She took the skills she learned in the
outdoors and turned them into a New York Times best-selling book, Roughing It
Easy. Her appearance on the NBC's "Tonight" show with Johnny Carson
boosted her into the national media scene, where she became a regular on
NBC's "Today" show for eight years and then ABC's "Home Show" for six years.
After more than 25 years of media exposure and 19 books, she now shares her
practical insights and wisdom with audiences who want to savor life.
A former Relief Society president, Dian is currently serving as a visiting
teacher. Visit her website at www.DianThomas.com