Fitbit ChargeHR (2 months)

I've been wearing my Fitbit for just under 2 months.

The Fitbit website does track the number of times you hit certain goals (ie 5k steps, 10k steps, etc.). I'm not sure if this is new since my last post, but most likely I just didn't notice since I use my phone to check most of the stats. So, that is pretty cool.

Another ask was to compete with other types, and Fitbit does have their data available to download so this is possible if someone developed such an interface with other devices.

I have been on an exercise tear, averaging about 20k steps per day so I have been crushing my challenges for a pretty long time. I think this may have discouraged some of the bottom steppers or "more"-competitive people. I would really like some challenge that would help encourage people to move more. I try to get people to go out more, but "unfortunately" that also means that I'm out more thus getting more steps too.

Sadly, I could not come up with any good ideas that would motivate people. The best idea I could come up with is some challenge based on improvement from the previous week. Or maybe some sort of handicap, like they would get 1.5 step points per step.

I have forgotten to take off my Fitbit a couple times when I showered. It did get soaked for a second or two. I have had no problems at all.

It is not comfortable to wear while playing volleyball, but is still playable. I prefer not to wear the Fitbit. I've only tried a couple times. It does not really impact my actual play... just uncomfortable when I bump.

Overall, I am still quite satisfied with my Fitbit. It has pushed me to be more active.


Reference
http://douglastclee.blogspot.com/2016/07/fitbit-chargehr-two-week-impression.html
http://douglastclee.blogspot.com/2016/06/fitbit-chargehr-first-impression.html

Human Spirit - Always looking for a way (transcribed)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgYZ32_5iOQ

http://www.lesbrown.com/

Les Brown
One of the things that we know about life

  is that it is always changing. 

Sometimes you’re up,

  sometimes you’re down.

Sometimes things go real well, 

  and sometimes they don’t. 

Sometimes you’re happy, 

  and sometimes you’re sad. 

Now that's that thing called... life. 

And when we begin to understand and know that, accepting that reality, that... 

that we will never ever have things just on an even keel all the time. 

That you are going to have some ups and you’re going to have some downs.

But during those down moments, 

  that's where the growth takes place… 

  that's where the work is. 

Anybody can feel good when they have their health, their bills are paid. 

Anybody can be positive then, 

  anybody can have a larger vision then, 

  anybody can have faith under those kinds of circumstances. 

See... but the real challenge... 

The real challenge of growth, 

  mentally, emotionally, spiritually, 

  comes when you get knocked down.

It takes courage to act. 

Part of being hungry when you have been defeated. 

It takes courage...

  to start over again. 

The power... to hold on in spite of everything, 

  the power to endure. 

This is the winners' quality. 

This is an opportunity for you to grow. 

You’ve got to be so relentless, 

regardless of what comes down the path, 

that you are always looking for a way to get over, 

Always looking for a way... that you can break through. 

Always looking for a way... that you can win.

Always looking for a way... that you can strike a telling blow. 

Decide that you are going to push yourself.

Most people won’t do that. 

Most people give up on themselves easily. 

You know the human spirit is powerful? 

There is nothing as powerful, 

it's hard to kill the human spirit. 

You have got to be willing to go against the tide, 

you’ve got to be willing to harness your will, and say 

“In spite of this, I’m in control here, 

I’m coming back, 

and I’ll be stronger 

and better because of it.”

Life: Watching American Ninja while Working Out is Very Motivating

I have been trying to be better with my workout. I have been pretty bad since my last update (in that I have gained weight... yet again). Eating unhealthy and not working out are always bad for a healthier lifestyle. I have just been super busy with moving out, moving, moving in, and more moving in.

Normally at the gym, I watch food network when I run on the treadmill. Usually a very standard run. One evening, American Ninja was on. Just watching them struggle through obstacles made me want to run harder. I find myself running faster than the speed set. The more they struggled the easier I found to run faster. Somehow I imagine that me running harder will transfer that effort to them.

Then there was one person that hurt his calf or ankle. I think I almost wanted to fall down too as if I also sprained my ankle. Each time they showed the replay, a little part of me cringe.

On a side note, I feel that I run more easier to the pace of music that is playing. The faster the beats per minute, the faster I run. Interestingly, the effort level does not feel different within a short period of time (usually until I run out of breath). When the song changes to a slower pace, I try to motivate myself to run at the previous pace but for some reason it just seems harder.

Life: Learning from the negative (Take 2 of infinite)

"Be thankful for the difficult people in your life, for they have shown you exactly who you do not want to be."

I was taught that you could always learn something from anyone. I was constantly reminded in my youth that no matter who I was around, I should learn the good things from good people while learning to avoid bad things from bad people. Of course a little generalized, but the point made it through to me. So stumbling across this quote one day just reminded me the many advises my mother gave me that I did not really take to heart in my more immature days.

I cannot say that I was fortunate or unfortunate. Compared to the friends I have made, I say that that I may have been more unfortunate; but compared to most of the world, I am quite fortunate. Of course, I have jumped between these two things quite often without a satisfactory answer. One day after conversing with a friend about his inability to identify his passion in life, I thought on some of the things I said that helped me enjoy life. I found that there really is no need to identify if my past was fortunate or not. I learned from my past and the only waste is if I didn't take anything positive or negative out of the experience.

There is no reason for me to compare my past life with others. We have all walked different paths. Paths that no other person can fully understand. I look at my friends, each with their own goals or lack of goals. Friends with a harsher life who enjoy life; friends with an easier life who are lost; friends with harsher life living in self pity; friends with a good life still continuing the good life. The only commonality is that the ones doing "well" are those who have embraced their past. Albeit, the last part may be more difficult for some than others. But you cannot change the past, so you cannot just be stuck in self pity.

I digress from a couple points I wanted to make. To the parents, no matter how much I complained about my mother repeating herself and mocking her by repeating the same thing but with a different attitude, I was still listening. Do not give up on keeping your stance. You do not need to answer why or how. The constant nagging, reminder, and repetition are what drove me to understand the full weight of such values when something in myself just clicks with realization that truth behind such values. Someday, I imagine I will also be repeating these same things to an immature version of myself and wonder how my mother ever had the energy to put up with me.

The other point that I constantly wonder about is if I can learn the empathy and kindness that I have without such experiences with "difficult" people. Compared to most people that I am around, I have probably more than average share. I also notice that people in similar situations also tend to have higher empathy. Can someone have the same level of empathy without such "difficult" people? Do these "difficult" people come from the lack of others like themselves? Can I teach them empathy without the use of another difficult person?

Bored: The surprising truth about what motivates us

RSA Animate - Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us

I can relate to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=u6XAPnuFjJc

The question is how does this relate to the top 1%? Sports players and CEOs? I would think those types of roles require quite a bit of cognitive skills.