Intimate Portrait: Bonnie

I had a few of you ask me about "Bonnie" - so I figured I'd do you a solid, and type up some information - as I see it - about her.

A Body Bugg works great for me, for what I was looking for. It tracks calories burned (after you enter information about you), steps taken and activity minutes (it is the amount of time your heart rate is 3x your resting rate). It doesn't tell you your heart rate - so if that is something you're looking for, Bonnie isn't for you. When I was deciding what to order, I looked at the "Polar" straps (they sell them at my gym, and appear to be somewhat required for the group T.E.A.M. classes because it monitors your heart rate), but you had to keep the strap damp in order to track your daily calorie burn. Great for during a workout, but not so great for all day. Plus, the strap goes around your body right under your boobs. It just wasn't ideal for me. I thought the BB arm band seemed much more manageable for me.

Now....Bonnie was a bit spendy...there is just no other way to put it. But - she does come with a computer program (some months free with purchase, then it is $80 for the annual fee) manages everything for you (if you use it - which has been the hardest for me). There is a cord that you connect to your BB and computer, and it loads all of your burn/walk/activity info into the program. Then you manually load your food intake in (you can build recipes, and add additional food items). It charts everything for you.

my BIG arm

When you first start using it, it walks you through entering your weight, resting heart rate, and some other info that will help your BB track your personalized burn info. Obviously I burn more calories than most because I am beefy. You can also track your body measurements in their program (which I haven't done yet - but will be doing Tuesday). You can update your info (weight, etc) weekly, so Bonnie will continue to track your output accurately. It comes with a large strap (for extra beefy arms like mine) and a medium strap. You can also order replacements as frequently as you want/need to. After wearing it for so long, I honestly don't even notice I have it on.

You can also buy a display unit. It can be worn as a watch or clipped on your clothes. It tracks your daily burn/steps/activity. It also stores your info for the day before, and your goals - so you have them available at any time. There is a "trip" feature on it - so you can zero it out before your workout, and then see how many cals you burned during your workout. The only issue is that the display can sometimes get "out of sync" in wi-fi areas (at least that's what they told me caused it) - so then your "trip" numbers won't be accurate. That is the only annoyance I have found so far.

The program also helps you set goals. You enter how much you'd like to lose, and it what time-frame, and it tells you what you should burn and how many calories to eat. There are probably additional sweet things about this program - but I haven't found them, yet. I haven't really been using Bonnie to her full potential - but I am working on turning that around.

So here is the breakdown of the 2 place I found to buy them. I got mine from QVC with a 12-month subscription to the program, but they no longer sell them. Click on the links, and it should take you right to the pages on these sites.

• Amazon.com - it lists the BB and a 12-month subscription at $275.99 - but makes no mention of the display. I don't even see where it is available on this site? But I left Amazon on here because they also have some different options for this type of tracker. I can't vouch for them - but they are cheaper. Maybe worth checking it out?
• 24hourfitness.com - I think this might actually be the brain-child of 24 hour fitness, so they've probably sold the most! They have a couple of different options. 
• If you want to use it with your iPhone (or a limited type of Android) - please go here: Body Bugg SP . With this one, you wouldn't need/want the display, because your phone will be the display. The BB is $189, and I don't see where that comes with any of the online program subscription - so you're looking at $189 + $49.95 = $238.95 +s/h for your first year. (**NOTE: this BB will not work with the regular display, so if you decide to switch phones it won't work with a display)
• For the regular BB with the display, you'd want to look at the body bugg v3 . They have the band available for $159.00. It also comes in different colors and designs (right up my alley!!). You have to buy the display separately (the display is not required), and that is $69.00. This band comes with a 6-month subscription to the website, so you're looking at $159 + $69 + $49.95 = $277.95 + s/h for your first year.
• They also have a bundle that has the band, display and 12-month subscription as one package. I wouldn't go for this, however, because they are charging $348.00 for it. As you can see above - you can get the same, purchased separately, for much less. Silly 24-hour fitness.

I hope this helps...at least a little bit? If you have any other questions, please comment here or send me a note on FB or email. I am pretty sure BodyBugg should make me a spokesperson! =)

Happy burning, everyone! Have a great weekend!

out with the pyramid, in with the plate

I'm sure all of you have seen the food pyramid at one time or another. I learned at FC that it had been updated since I was in school - - something that had completely escaped me. But even though I just saw it a little over a year ago, I couldn't tell you what it said. Apparently, I am not alone in that.

On Thursday the USDA tried to simplify it a little bit. They now have "My Plate". Although it is missing one of my favorite sections - fats - it does seem a little easier to understand...a much easier thing to visualize than trying to remember where things fit on the pyramid, and how many of each you should have. I also love that it hits on everything! As a person who doesn't have any interest in limiting my diet to a few categories, this is ideal.

A small issue I see - from the girl who can rationalize herself into just about any destructive food decision - is: what size is the plate supposed to be? they may cover this somewhere, and I just didn't see it. But a slightly less than 1/4 of a plate serving of meat could be 3oz on the size they want us to use, or 10oz on some of the serving platters some people now use as dinner plates.

Basically, I could use better parameters. Now I am guessing they were just trying to dumb-down the chart in order to hopefully reach the masses. Not everyone is going to be a jackhole like me and try to find a way to make it difficult. The website I linked to above will also help you learn what fits into what category. I am sort of looking forward to trying this out, now that I'm actually trying to eat better again.

Bonnie's doppleganger

On a completely unrelated topic - you guys might know how I like to name my things....my car is JaLisa. My fat is Remus. You get the idea. Well now that I am going to be working out more, I have decided that my Body Bugg needs a name. I've thought about it - and determined her name is Bonnie. Yes - she's a girl. She shoots me straight. She tells me exactly how hard I've worked...or haven't worked. I can't fool her. She's a tough bitch.

How do you feel about the plate? Do you like to name your objects? Please share!!

My Day in Pictures: Snow-nami

Let me start by saying: I know it is winter, and snow should be expected. That does not, however, prepare one for what I woke up to today. Complete and total snow domination! Every surface was covered with 1-5 feet of snow, depending on how the ridiculous volume of wind dealt with the obstacles on your yard. It did not make my flower flourish. I thought I would describe how my day went by using some photos I took of this day.

I looked out the front windows, and this is what greeted me:

This is what it looked like at the front door. Yes - that is Ja Lisa (who proved to be a complete beast later in the day) almost completely buried. Where is the sidewalk, you ask? Your guess is as good as mine.

Looking slightly right out the front door....yes, there is a sidewalk somewhere down there, too. The plows are nowhere in sight, and my neighbors hadn't ventured out yet either.

Here is a look at the back yard. I know it is hard to see by these pics (I took them with my phone, and tried to blow them up so they are kind of fuzzy. You would never guess I got blue ribbons on my photography projects in 4-H!) but that is a 5' drift against the garage of the lady behind me. The snow is basically 2-3 feet deep in the whole backyard/alley.

After seeing all of this, I texted YC to cancel our appt. He said he couldn't get out of his garage, so it was no problem. This storm was ridiculous.

I got to use the baby shovel to get through the waist-deep snow out to the road. It was at that time that John - the neighbor with the snow blower - returned home. SHOUT OUT to John. He did the front (perpendicular) sidewalk for me.

I found the rounded sidewalk around the house! What was awaiting me, there? A drift up to my boobs/pancakes. That was super-fun. It also helped me understand why I couldn't get out the side door.

I finally dug my trench through the back yard!! When i got to the alley I was greeted by my second hero of the day: Joel. SHOUT OUT to Joel for using his snow blower to help John clean out the alley! Diane, Katie and I shoveled off one of the parking pads, and did the edge shovel work. Our "team" was the first to have their section of the alley cleared out. I would still be out there if it wasn't for these guys. SO GRATEFUL.











After spending 2 hours on these areas, I went inside for about an hour until the plow went through. Then I got to dig JaLisa out  - the freshly plowed snow was up to the bottoms of the windows. I was too irritated at this point to continue with my photos. Thirty minutes later I was ready to try and drive out of my spot - enter "the Beast"! Got my car out on the first try! I decided to check my body bugg for my calorie burn when I got back in the house. 3500 calories burned! It was like 3:30pm! I thought I was done. But the City of Milwaukee had another surprise for me.

We had all moved our cars, so they did that side of the street now. They completely buried my sidewalk to the street. I went back out to shovel. For the third time. At least the sun was out. I was delighted to see that the snow plow had pushed snow over the mound on the boulevard, and onto the sidewalk. Another 20ish minutes to clean out my path to the street, John's path to the street (I owed him!) and our front sidewalks. Then I was done. Officially. Now I wait for the zero degree temps.

Have I mentioned how much I loathe winter? I have? OK.

NOTE: my post for yesterday didn't post until after 8pm. I am having a hard time getting the "schedule" feature to work. Incase you want to read about my crankiness! =)

Immediate Gratification

My trigger finger got a little itchy!  This was supposed to be for Wednesday morning.  Oh well - enjoy!

I am fairly certain that one of the contributing factors to my current size and lovely shape is my never-ending need for immediate gratification. I am hungry now. I don't want to have to wait until I cook something. I'll just run through the drive-thru. Maybe if someone could figure out a way to immediately remove some of my rear when I do squats, I'd be more compelled to do them? I'm making a note to talk to someone about that.

I think I may have discovered my fitness answer to satisfy my need for immediate gratification. I finally took the leap and bought myself a Body Bugg. They are the black arm bands that the contestants wear on Biggest Loser. They are a pedometer, and track your activity minutes for the day, and total output of calories. They have a computer program that you enter all of your info into (age, height, weight, resting heart rate, etc) and then when you wear the band, it tracks your activity. I have been wearing it for a few days, but finally worked out with it on Monday and Tuesday. It is awesome to see how many steps you took, and how many calories you burned, right away!  I think I may become somewhat addicted to getting this information! When I do my weights and cardio (which I have to do Monday-Friday) I am at the gym for 1.5-2 hours. It is so much easier to do that when you walk out having burned over 1,000 calories. I do realize that I burn way more than the average person because of my sheer volume, and it is awesome to see something concrete right away! The only negative I have discovered in the first few days is that when you have a big, loose, fat, granny, flapping arm (see photo) - the strap leaves an visible/attractive indent when you put it around your arm. Other than this smokin' hot look, I am a bit in love. I do realize it is the honeymoon phase, but I am hoping our loving relationship will last for years to come. 

This gadget may be a bit more involved than you guys want, or need. (I love gadgets!!) I think they make pedometers now that will track the calories you burn, also. I think I remember setting them up for a couple of guys at FC. If your goal is to reach a certain calorie burn, or get a certain number of steps in a day, it might be worth looking into this. They got theirs at a sporting goods store, so you may need to go there to find them.

Random Question for the Day: Have you seen the NutriSystem commercials with Marie Osmond in the yellow sweater? My question is: did they take the 50 pounds she needed to lose, and put it in her boobs?!?!? They are huge.

 What do you use to keep yourself on track?