Fitbit ChargeHR (first impression)

I have finally succumbed to popularity of the FitBit. Up to this point, I have been using Google Fit on my phone which can be kind of hassle to carry while running.

Why FitBit?

Why FitBit over the other brands? Mostly because my circle of influence use FitBit. That was basically the only factor with the assumption that the top smart-pedometers have similar features. I do like the ability to track how much activity I have during the day.

The price has been keeping me from buying FitBit. Is it worth $120+? This will have to wait to see.

I decided to go with the HR because I am curious about my heart rate history but more for the sleep tracker.

Setup

Setup is easy. Install the app on the phone. Follow instructions. This took 15 minutes.

Comfort/Style

It's simple but stylish enough for my needs. The band is comfortable and wears like a watch. I kind of wish the button was on the other side (or I suppose I could also wish I was left-handed). It would be cooler still if I could just tap the screen.

Accuracy

I did not do not super scientific test for this. My test is just an approximate accuracy with Google Fit. I check how many steps before an activity, then check the steps after an activity. I know Google Fit is not completely accurate due to the way it sits in my pocket (which I keep in the front pocket of baggy shorts). Overall, the steps were pretty aligned. Over 500 steps, FitBit registered 8 more steps than Google Fit. With over 7000 steps, Fitbit was around 50 more steps.

I typically run on the treadmill, so I have done some tests with the heart rate monitor. Most of the time, they seem to match within 1-2 bpm. When the FitBit does not sit very securely on my write, the readings could be off by quite a bit, the difference around 20 bpm (treadmill reading 140 bpm). I do not know the accuracy of the treadmill, so I cannot say what those numbers really mean.

More importantly, the numbers go up with I feel my heart rate going up and down when I'm resting. For me this is good enough to track. Especially since the target bpm is an estimate anyways. As long as it is consistent, I mostly just want to watch my efficiency increase as I get more fit.

I've worn it for two nights of sleep. I find it interesting how often I move around while I sleep and how consistent I am. I seem to move around almost every hour. Unfortunately, I haven't been getting a lot of sleep due to work.

Reporting

Looks nice. There is a charge for the fancier reports. The basic reports are standard and has more than Google Fit.

Overall

I'm pretty satisfied with the FitBit.

Survivor Bias - logic and statistics

I've had to explain this to many people but never knew there was a name to it. And now I know... and feel a little dumber because it took me so long to learn about it. :D

Reference

https://youarenotsosmart.com/2013/05/23/survivorship-bias/

What do I want to be when I grow up?

"I want to be what every grown-up wants to be... a kid." James Aubrey (Bones, ep 11.18)
"Someone that has given more than they've taken." Seeley Booth (Bones, ep 11.18)

Other References

http://www.buddytv.com/articles/bones/best-bones-quotes-from-the-mov-60199.aspx

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2016/06/04/bones-season-11-episode-18-review-the-movie-in-the-making/#7f8c7fb33d64

Learned about Side Stitches (pain right below the right ribcage) - Running Symptom

It has been a while since I had this sharp pain where it feels like on the right-side of my body, right below the rib-cage. For as long as I can remember, I have had these cramp-like pains every so often in the middle of my runs. And today, I finally decided to look this up and learned that they are called side stitches (or more scientifically, “exercise related transient abdominal pain” (ETAP)).

I am actually kind of relieved to know that this is kind of normal. For me, slowing down or focus on breathing helps me through the cramps.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Side_stitch

Trading Endurance for Burst Speed (running)

Although I feel more fit from training to run 5k races, I am noticing that I am not moving as fast for sports like volleyball. I feel slower but not in a reflexive way. I see the ball moving but my body does not move as fast as before.

Executive vs Associates Emails

This comic was not so interesting until I read the comments. What I found so interesting is how quickly everyone jumped onto the idea that the ideal email is to be brief and to the point.

Yes, that the associate email is a bit lengthy but there is no way they could get by with the executive message. The lengthy version is very much the safer route than being too brief for an associate.

People should know their audience even among peer-to-peer messages. Some people need to have the flowery-words, and some people don't. Some people are easily offended if not enough proper respect is included in the email. And quite easily, someone like an executive gets thousands of emails and simple message of "please see below" will be quickly forgotten (intentionally or not).

Even for such a message from an executive, I have listened to many colleagues confused on what the message even meant in the first place. What thoughts? Grammar? Content? New idea? On every single bullet point or a subjective top 10 list? You're the executive what did you not like about that email?

It saddens me that even the experienced professionals make such simple, over-simplified comments. Yes, some messages could be more brief and some could be more descriptive. Most messages need to be tailored not only by who it is written to but also the author's experience/rank.


https://image-store.slidesharecdn.com/8b670d02-0525-40e8-9d57-735086deefdf-original.png