Who am I? Who are You?

     The eternal question we all ponder, who am I?  Who are any of us?  Where do we come from? What makes us who we are?  Well at it's very essence we are made up of 23 and me.  Those are the 23 pairs of chromosomes in a normal human cell.  23 and Me (https://www.23andme.com/) is a privately held personal genomics and biotechnology company based in Mountain View, California that provides rapid genetic testing for as low as a one time fee of $99. The $126 million genetic-testing company can tell you how to live smarter, better and longer.

AnneWojcicki, founder of the company had long dreamed of such an idea.  A former Wall Street executive with a degree in biology (very similar to myself - from pre med, wall street now to IT nerd), she has taken a personal interest in wellness into a thriving,

potentially groundbreaking business. Since founding 23and­Me in 2006--with the backing of an impressive list of investors including her *then husband, Sergey Brin, and the company he then ran, Google--she has been working toward two goals: "bringing the power of genetic testing to everyday consumers so they can better manage their own health care, and using the aggregated data from those tests to help doctors, scientists, hospitals, and researchers discover new cures for diseases that emanate from troublesome genetic mutations"- Fast Company. (Wojcicki and Brin announced their separation in August. A 23andMe spokesperson says, "He remains committed to the company.")

I first learned of this while watching Ann on Oprah five years ago. I was intrigued to say the least but at the time the price was $499, a bit steep for my blood.  When  I went on one of my first dates with Jay, my now husband. we started talking about.genetics (I know, we were meant for each other) and I brought up 23andme and he told me he had done it!  He showed me his results, and it was just as fascinating as projected.  At that point they had dropped the price down to $199 with a $20 monthly charged- much more feasible, so I gave it a whirl. Even more impressive now at the low one time fee of only $99!

Now, I cannot speak to other's results- but as for mine they were spot on, intriguing, and very impressive.  I spent hours looking over all the ways to slice and dice my genetic data.  As for my husband- he recently toted about the wonders of 23 and me in his most recent blog 5 life hacks you should be using today.  He knew his lineage down to the town, as his entire family has been tracing for decades.  He says, "The most interesting thing is seeing where your mother and fathers lineage was 500 years ago (before mass travel).  Mine was 100% correct - Inverness, Scotland and Nottinghamshire, England.  Yes, I am the direct descendant of Robin Hood and the Loch Ness monster"  Spot on accuracy, kudos 23andme!  As for me, ironically I grew up believing my mother was Polish and Italian.  Right before taking my test I had traveled to South Africa and everywhere I went, I was asked, "are you Portugese? Spanish?" .  Well, you can imagine my surprise when the test confirmed in fact I was...  Surprise mom :). 

An unfortunate side note, as a female, having two X chromosomes I am unable to see my paternal side (unless my estranged father or my half brother get tested)- therefore, I think women should only have to pay half price ;) Nevertheless,  it is a fantastic way to map your genome: test your lineage, check for potential health conditions, and fun facts all based upon your DNA, all from a saliva sample. 

You know how you hear those stories of a runner who goes out one day, and dies suddenly of a heart attack, never even knowing they had a heart condition?   What if that could have been prevented, or treated?  I was born with a atrial heart condition called a Mitral Valve Cleft, and have to go to a Cardiologist annually knowing someday I would need surgery... but what if I didn't know that?  Well, thanks to my health report on 240+ health conditions and traits I was able to see clear as day my condition (and other potential genetic conditions I may or may not be at risk for).  To me this is a true blessing because prevention is key, and can save lives, especially knowing you are prone to something or have a greater risk.  Now, recently I have read some countering arguments which loosely state "facts" of cases which they were not spot on, such as a man low risk to heart disease but had heart stents.  We have to remember, there is nature vs nurture, and although you may not be genetically prone to be high risk to something, however, if you eat poorly, are overweight, do not exercise, smoke etc these things could heighten your risks of course- and the test is not accounting for that. As for people who get the results, and make drastic decisions- they are not confirming you have, just stating you might be at higher risk- a smart person would check and get a second (or even a third) opinion! You should always do that no matter who tells you what, it is our job to fact check to protect our body.

Other interesting tid bits are the fun traits we may possess which mine were pretty darn close, if not exact.  What more?  you can compare against friends and loved ones?  For ex, I can see how I rank against my husband Jay:

Moreover, now that we are expecting our first baby, we can see our potential genetics we will pass on to our wee one thanks to their neat feature called "inheritance calculator":

It appears that McBainby will be a bitter tasting, wet ear wax having, 100% sprinting, no flush alcohol drinking (not till your 21 kiddo), lactose tolerant baby girl.  Eyes yet to be determined  for certain ;) Coming soon April 3.

<Our Baby Girl :)

Another bonus I was able to know for a fact Jay and I were not related prior to our marriage (no offense royal family), thanks to my ancestry finder.  I did however find 999+ relatives who share my DNA, a fond introduction to my 1-5th cousins from all over the world.  

We get to share lineage, common genetics, stories on our ancestors, and ways to maintain, treat, or  deal with some common traits and potential risks.  

So where do all of these ancestors live now a days, well we know that too- thanks to the geo mapping, I like to call this section, "Where in the World are Michelle's Relatives?":

The more people tested, the more information they collect, the more relatives I get to meet,  and the more we can learn about each other. Also, it inspired me to trace back my direct lineage as well, and now as I become a mother, what better gift to your future but then to share with them their past?

You can do a lot with $99, but why not try using it to find out a bit more about who you are, where you came from, and what the future might have planned for you?  There is one CATCH,... on November 22, 2013 the FDA sent a letter ordering them to stop selling and, shut down, or limit this wonderful and helpful health site: read the FDA Ban here.  This really made me upset, because I personally found this site intriguing, helpful, and informative.  I felt empowered having MY history and DNA in my hands, and don't feel it is fair to take that opportunity away from others who are intrigued to learn more about themselves as well and choose to participate.  If interested, I encourage you to please sign the petition to restore 23andme:  Sign Petition Here!

ZUMBA!

ZUMBA IN ACTION

Picture it, you enter the hallway of the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, Florida and are swarmed by a sea of people clad in neon colors and flamboyant styles.  The music is pumping from the hotel bar and it rings through the lobby as masses of smiles greet dancing strangers who are suddenly friends.  Who is this energetic mob affectionately joked as being "dressed by Ray Charles"? This mass of 7,000 people representing 79 countries from around the world could only be one thing- Zumba Instructors at the National   Zumba Fitness Convention   the largest fitness convention in the world!

I have witnessed two extremes.  Those who have potentially been living under a rock, and have never even heard of the word "Zumba", and those die hard fanatics who do not miss a single class.  In the essence of everyone in the middle, who might have heard of it, but still don't know what exactly Zumba is- here is your quick schooling:

Zumba is not just "another fitness class" it's key quote best described as "ditch the work out, and join the party", combines dance and aerobic elements to form "fun fitness". Zumba's choreography incorporates a diverse array of International dance styles from Hip-Hop, Soca, Samba, Salsa, Serengue, Mambo, Martial Arts, African, Bollywood, Swing, Belly dance, and more!  They also manage to sneak in some Squats and lunges, along the way.  

Zumba is a Colombian dance fitness program created by dancer and choreographer Alberto "Beto" Perez during the 1990s.  Alberto Perez started out as a street performer and then an aerobics teacher in Colombia, making extra cash on the side teaching the wives of businessmen how to dance in nightclubs in his hometown.    

One day the owner of a nearby gym called and asked if Perez could stand in for an injured aerobics teacher. He agreed - but didn't mention he had never done aerobics and rushed out and bought a copy of Jane Fonda's Workout Book.  His fitness career was born.                                       In 1986, Perez forgot his tape of aerobics music for a class he was teaching. He took the tapes he had in his backpack—consisting of traditional salsa and merengue music—and improvised a class using this non-traditional aerobics music, today known as Zumba! 

 It proved to be a hit and he quickly developed a loyal following before he moved to Bogota, where he briefly worked as a choreographer with pop star Shakira.  In 1999, Perez packed up and headed to Miami, speaking no English but hoping to make a breakthrough in the Latin-flavored U.S. city with his new dance exercise class.  He struggled before eventually building up a large, adoring fan base of mostly Colombian expatriate women, including the mother of Alberto Perlman.

Perlman who was then a technology entrepreneur, lost his job in the dot-com bust two years later and was struggling with what career move to make next. He co-founded Zumba Fitness and is now its chief executive.

"My mom had been taking his classes for years," he said. "She would tell me about this amazing class but I never paid attention. When the bubble burst, I went to have dinner at her house and she kept saying 'Talk to Beto, maybe you guys could start a gym.'"               "I said I'd meet with him but I wasn't sure what I was going to do with him," Perlman recalled. But after watching a class, he came up with the idea for a new fitness video he hoped could be an infomercial success.

The men sought to put a name on the exercise, first thinking of the Spanish word rumba, which loosely translates as party, but realized it was already trademarked.  So, they went through the alphabet to see what rhymes with rumba. "We were getting nervous by the end, nothing sounded good - bumba, kumba. Then we settled on Zumba, it was perfect."After finding initial success in Colombia, he moved to the United States in 2001, where he teamed up with cofounder Alberto Perlman and a childhood friend, COO Alberto Aghion. The trio of Beto's produced a demo reel, and the concept was discovered and licensed by a company called Fitness Quest to create a direct marketing campaign and a line of home videos.

Zumba has exploded from a Miami gym phenomenon to infomercial and DVD smash hit into a global craze with some 12 million people taking classes every week  in over 110,000 locations across more than 147 countries around the world.  Zumba Fitness now boasts being the largest branded fitness program in the world.

What began as a company focused on fitness has evolved into a lifestyle and entertainment brand combining e-commerce, apparel and music, and a sought-after outlet for stars like hip-hop artists Pitbull and Wyclef Jean and reggaeton singer Don Omar who have turned to Zumba to promote their music.  What more this marketing behemoth has cornered the fitness market:  Zumba began selling DVDs via infomercials in 2002. In 2005 The Zumba Academy has been launched to license instructors for teaching Zumba classes. In 2007 the company launched a clothing line called Zumbawear. In 2010 Zumba released its first fitness video game, Zumba Fitness on November 30, 2010. As of August 2011, it has sold 3 million copies.  In July 2012, it released the compilation album Zumba Fitness Dance Party. 

Zumba has appeared in multiple magazines and news articles such as Shape, Fitbie, Washington Post, Bride Magazine, USA Today, Fox Business, Reuters, Aging Well, and most recently Men's Fitness with our very own Beto on the cover!

The company has also launched its own line of brightly colored clothing, Zumba footwear and a glossy magazine named "ZLife", all designed in its Miami office. But it is also focused on developing TV shows, pushing into global markets, particularly Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America, and exploiting a new business opportunity: fitness concerts.  "I see Zumba Fitness also as an entertainment brand," Perlman said. "It's becoming a music, TV and concert platform."  

You can pick from a variety of shades and options to find the best fit for you. There are eight different types of classes for different levels of age and exertion. These include Zumba, Zumba Gold, Zumba Toning, Aqua Zumba, Zumbatomic, Zumba in the circuit, Zumba Gold-Toning and Zumba Sentao. Zumba Gold mainly targets the older population, beginner classes, or those with injuries who want a more low impact work out.  Zumba Toning is for the people who do their workouts with toning sticks. Zumba Toning will target the abs, thighs, arms, and other areas. Aqua Zumba is Zumba in a swimming pool- imagine you are in an exotic location as you splash and dance. Zumba in the circuit is the dance combined with circuit training, at Curves. ZumbaAtomic is geared towards kids who rock out while they work out. The newest is Zumba Sentao, chair-based choreography will strengthen, balance and stabilize the core, and step up cardio work in a whole new way. Students learn to use a chair and their own body weight to enhance muscle strength, improve definition and endurance, and tone their physique!

"Over the years, fitness became too complicated and difficult," Beto said. "The industry turned egocentric with an emphasis on instructors doing the exercises. It became a show." He added: "They forgot about normal people - mothers, grandmothers and the housewives who want to stay in shape and have some fun. That's the essence of Zumba."

So why am I so passionate about Zumba? I am a proud instructor for the past two years, and Zumba Lover and student for five:  My Zumba Website.  Through Zumba fitness I have lost close to forty pounds.  I have found a hobby which I love, a way to inspire others, and new friends every day.  This week marked my first ever Zumba Convention along with 7,000 of my closest friends and "zisters", the largest fitness convention in the entire world.  We indulged on educational and inspirational sessions, speeches, and non stop dance classes and dance parties for  good causes (this year raising money for Susan B Komen and Breast Cancer).  Giving back is something I am very passionate about, and through Zumba we can host events to raise money for non profits and charitable causes of our choice- a great way to bring the community for fun fitness, and raise money and awareness for a great cause.  I have been privileged to do many, for various charities:  Leukemia, Breast Cancer, Heart Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Animals, and hope to do many more.

I left the convention fired up and ignited with passion.  As I mentioned earlier 79 Countries were represented, and I have never seen such amazing energy and feelings of being unified despite all of our differences.  All shapes, all sizes, all colors, Black and White, Latino and Asian, Old and Young, , Gay and Straight, Active and Handicapped, Christians, Jewish, Muslims, Athiests, Buddhists and Agnostics-- all dancing as ONE.  Zumba does not discriminate, it unifies, and brings the world together through dancing, laughter, and fun.   No Limits, No Boundaries!We don't do it to lose weight, or gain muscle, although that is a side effect.  We participate in Zumba because it is an hour of the day for us to take time to forget about our troubles, and have a great time.  You find classes near you by going to:  http://www.zumba.com/ I encourage you to give it a try, and warn you- you too might get addicted! :)

Beto Perez and I :)

Don't just dream big ...Dream Elephant BIG!

"Sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment, until it becomes a Memory"

Yesterday I had the rare weekend gift of going on a five mile hike with my loves (furry and non).  As I am shorter, and only have two legs, I usually trail behind (even though it takes two of my little steps to catch up for every one of Jay's 6 foot tall steps).  As I walked, my mind drifted in and out of consciousness of the present moment, it was then I was struck by the light.  Rays of  sun light that is, illuminating over downtown Albany perfectly centered over the small mountain we had hiked atop of.  It was there where I saw the most majestic of suns setting over the city below.

It is not hard to see why the ancients thought that God(s) lived within the sun.  Throughout history, literature, religion, art, philosophy, the sun has shown bright. Sparkling, bright, and vivid was the giant tangerine orange ball of fire descending from the heavens .  They say you should not look directly into the sun, but I could not look away, it was stunning.  Something so simple, you see it every day, and yet perhaps the commonality of observance takes for granted the sheer beauty of it.  Each morning sunrise, and sun set is so spectacularly different from the next.  I lingered in the moment, as Jay realized I had fell behind and returned to see what gave me pause.  There together hand in hand we watched in breathtaking awe as the fire in the sky slowly disappeared in the horizon with a flash leaving behind only a fleeting rainbow of colors before dusk.

Costa Rica

I treasured that moment, and reflected on the walk back, now hurriedly through the woods before dark. I reflected on all of the brilliant sun rises and sun sets I have seen in my life, and those magical ones I have yet seen only in my dreams. Some of the more exotic memories I have from my travels feel like more of a dream.  A brief moment of reality that I will treasure forever more. Emerging from the jungle, galloping on horseback, to the beach of Samara, Costa Rica and stopping to see the sun set over the beautiful ocean. Seeing the sun set in a vision which I can only describe as surreal over the plains of the Safari in South Africa as we stopped to see Elephants, Zebras, and Giraffes in the blissful silence of their natural environment. Jay and I were lucky to see a glorious sunset almost every night that we were in Scandinavia (except for Iceland where the sun never sat =)).  On a ferry ride in Finland (we could see Russia from our hou...I mean Ferry ;)). Spontaneously renting bikes and meandering through Stockholm over the beautiful islands as the sunlight glistens off the water below. Strolling down the longest street in the world, Strogat in Denmark.

Finland/Sweden/Denmark

Cape Town, South Africa

 All of my blogs have been dedicated to the things in life that instill the most passion in me:  travel, technology, fitness and health .  No matter what I do, or where I go, I have fun doing it.  To me every moment is an experience, a memory which one day I will cherish forever- from exotic hikes down Table Mountain to the coast in South Africa, to strolls exploring the local gems around our home this past weekend.  Sometimes you have a mission and purpose, and sometimes you are just exploring-  local neighborhoods, hidden treasures, or foreign wanders.  For example,  ever since I was a little girl I dreamed of being in the circus so I can be one of the beautiful costumed women who rides the elephants.  This dream had a chance of becoming a reality when we were in Thailand.  Not speaking a lick of the language and using charades, planes, trains and automobiles, we set out to try and and find the local elephant park and ride one before the park closes!  We drove two hours and finally found it, unfortunately it had closed.  Things don't always go the way you want it to... but life is about goals, and striving to be your best, do your best and sometimes, not taking no for an answer!  If you believe it, you can achieve it.  Part of that is just believing in the unbelievable.  Anything is possible- you just need to dream BIG!

That's ME on top of  Marco the Elephant!

For some reason the whole time I was on the elephant in pure ecstasy (and disbelief) I had not one thought go through my mind.  I just paused and relished in the moment which was my child-hood dream coming to reality.  My heart beating a mile a minute, and a smile ear to ear as Mario (the Thai elephant) and I became forever friends.  On the drive home a million thoughts and feelings went through my mind, and the one poem which came to my thoughts, was "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, a classic, and one of my personal favorites.  I will share it with you as a reminder, or as a life changing moment for those of you who have not yet had the opportunity to read it.  Please take a moment to read it,  pause, and let it sink in.We all have choices in life, paths to take, roads to follow.  Which path will you choose? 

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;        

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,        

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.        

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

So these are my key take-a-ways from today's blog:  Remember to keep it moving- walking, hiking, biking, kayaking, elephant riding  (that is some major core work, believe it or not) :).  Dream BIG (Elephant BIG!), anything is possible.  Wander off the path less traveled by, as Robert Frost would advise, that will make all the difference.  Don't be afraid to take a chance, and try new things, and re-do familiar favorites and fall in love with them all over again. Always have fun, life is to short not too.  But remember, while you are out there moving and shaking,  to pause, take a deep breath, and enjoy the simple moments in life;  The sunsets with the one you love, the moments that matter most, the experiences that will last a lifetime!

It's all in your head...

Attitude, ah yes, the hardest of them all.  Some things money can’t buy.  Although he gets a bad rap as being a bit on the "round side" in statutes and paintings, the actual Buddha cared quite a bit about health and the mind body connection.  Buddha once,  said  “To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him”.   One of the greatest  struggles or differentiators between those who successfully make a change, does not go to the person more physically equipped to think so, but the one who *thinks they can*.  You have to believe in yourself!

One of my favorite motivational poems is by CW Longenecker.  When I began my career at Cisco Sales I hung it on my desk, and recited it (consciously or subconsciously) every morning before I started my day. I hit 130% of goal my first year, so I guess it worked!   I carry it in my mind and heart in every endeavor I undertake, and I hope you will do the same.  It goes like this:

If you think you are beaten, you are,

If you think you dare not, you don't.

If you like to win, but you think you can't,

It is almost certain you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost,

For out in the world we find,

Success begins with a fellow's will.

It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are,

You've got to think high to rise,

You've got to be sure of yourself before

You can ever win a prize.

Life's battles don't always go

To the stronger or faster man.

But soon or late the man who wins,

Is the man who thinks he can.

When people come to my Zumba classes, before we start, and when we end, I say- you DID it- the hardest part is believing in yourself, the second hardest part is taking action and showing up.  We are busy, some with work; some with children, pets, friends, chores, and the list goes on.  This brings me to my favorite analogy…"The Airplane Emergency". They say “In the event of an emergency, oxygen masks will fall down, put it on yourself before you help anyone else”.  Did you hear what I said?  The first thing you can do, before you help anyone else is to help you.  This is not *just* for emergencies and this is not (and I repeat NOT) selfish! To be a better mother/father, husband/wife, employee, citizen (etc) you need to help yourself, to take care of yourself, to love yourself.  You are good enough, you are valuable enough, and you deserve it.  You will set a good example for those around you, and you will be all the better for it, personally and for those you love- this is a mutually beneficial advantage!

Before you think of another excuse, or something else comes up (as life so often happens) you need to dedicate a specific period of time (schedule it in your planner/calender if you have to), prioritize a half an hour minimum a day dedicated to take care of yourself.  Do not wait until it is too late.  If you are alive, it is not too late.  “Every day is another chance to turn it all around”.

So if you still need convincing, I am happy to oblige.
Exercises has numerous benefits, but let’s go with lucky number 7 for starters:

1. The most obvious benefit is exercise controls weight- it can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss, or burn extra calories to lose weight. Any way you slice or dice it, it is necessary and rewarding.
2. Helps combats health conditions and diseases-Worried about heart disease? Hoping to prevent high blood pressure? No matter what your current weight, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases. In fact, regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, arthritis and falls.  Are you taking unwanted medication?  Do you want to run and play with your kids or grand kids?  Do you want to be around to see them grow?  We cannot unfortunately control all diseases ( I know this because I can’t control the heart condition I was born with).  But, by goodness there are some things we can control- and why shouldn't we?  It is our body, it is our lives.  Empower yourself today, and take control of your health- Get fit, Get Healthy, Get Happy!
3. Improves mood- Need an emotional lift? Or need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A workout at the gym or even something as short as a brisk 30-minute walk can help! Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals (ex. endorphins) that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem, ala chicken and the egg! In other words, it doesn't matter which comes first, they  feed off each other and either way,  you win in the end!
4. Boosts energy-Winded by grocery shopping or household chores? Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to go about your daily chores.
5. Promotes better sleep- Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep.  Trust me, I am an insomniac by nature.  But, after a good work out even I feel tired at night and am able to get a good night’s sleep.
6. Exercise puts the spark back into your sex life- Do you feel too tired or too out of shape to enjoy physical intimacy? Regular physical activity can leave you feeling energized and looking better, which may have a positive effect on your sex life. But there's more to it than that. Regular physical activity can lead to enhanced arousal for women- true story (c/o research by Mayo Research Clinic)!  And men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than are men who don't exercise.  Gives a whole new meaning to SCORE for the sexes, now doesn't it?
7. Can be fun! Exercise and physical activity can be a fun way to spend some time. It gives you a chance to unwind, enjoy the outdoors or simply engage in activities that make you happy. Physical activity can also help you connect with family or friends in a fun social setting. So, take a dance class, hit the hiking trails or join a soccer team. Find a physical activity you enjoy, and just do it. If you get bored, try something new. (Refer to my blog  "Dear work out, let’s break up… it’s not me, it’s you…" for some new and exciting ideas).

The bottom line is- exercise, physical activity and good nutrition are a great way to feel better, gain health benefits and have fun. My results- I have lost over 35 lbs, I am a certified Zumba Instructor, working on other certifications and have aspirations of becoming a nutrition coach.  Am I an expert? No, not at all.  I was just like you, trying to get results, trying to figure it all out one day at a time.  Rome was not built in a day, the weight does not come on in a week, and it is absurd to think it can come off in a week.  I personally will still need open heart surgery one day, diet and exercise unfortunately cannot cure this particular ailment.   It can however make me healthier, happier, and stronger.  It can prolong the immediate need for surgery, and it reminds me each and every day to not wait till tomorrow.  Randy Pausch said in his book the Last Lecture, “time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think”.  Start today, live for today, love yourself today... your life will be better for it, you will be better for it, I promise you.

I would walk 500 miles, and I would walk 500 more...

“My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She's ninety-seven now, and we don't know where the heck she is.” ― EllenDeGeneres

 The Proclaimers, I'm gonna be (500 Miles)

Firstly, that is a great song (I attached the YouTube link above so you can get it stuck in your head as well), and secondly perhaps Ellen’s grandma took it too literally, check a milk carton near you:).   All joking aside, why would you want to walk 1,000 miles (figuratively or literally) or even a single step, if you were not able to track and see the fruits of your labor?  My last blog hoped to inspire you to get up and get moving (I would love to hear your creative ideas on how you got that done, or helpful hints which you took to get started).  This blog is to focus on keeping track of all that moving and shaking you are about to embark on.

Maybe you have heard the recent guidelines about walking 10,000 steps per day. How far is 10,000 steps anyway? At 5’1” and a size 6.5 foot I am on the small size, but the average person's stride length is approximately 2.5 feet long. That means it takes just over 2,000 steps to walk one mile, and 10,000 steps is close to 5 miles.

A sedentary person may only average 1,000 to 3,000 steps a day. For these people adding steps has many health benefits. A reasonable goal for most people is to increase average daily steps each week by 500 per day until you can easily average 10,000 per day. Example: If you currently average 3000 steps each day, your goal for week one is 3500 each day. Your week 2 goal is 4000 each day. You can continue to increase each week and you should be averaging 10,000 steps by the end of 14 weeks.

Wearing a basic pedometer is an easy way to track your steps each day. You can start by wearing the pedometer every day for one week. Put it on when you get up in the morning and wear it until bed time. Record your daily steps in a log or notebook. By the end of the week you will know your average daily steps. You might be surprised how many (or how few) steps you get in each day.

I did however warn you that I am a lover of new age gadgets and gizmos so thinking outside the box, let’s  (pardon the pun) walk away from the pedometers of yester year, and say hello to the future! 

Drum roll please, as I present you with tracking of today and tomorrow...

FitBit Ultra- 

At $99.95 + free shipping, you get a device that tracks your every move (waking and sleeping). Fitbit makes every step you take a step toward better fitness, even on your busiest days. There are many pros- Fitbit Ultra's super sensitive 3-D motion sensor tracks your day down to details a pedometer can't catch, showing your exact steps taken, calories burned, and distance traveled. The new altimeter tracks floors climbed (upgrade from the original FitBit) so you can monitor this heart-healthy activity, encouraging you to take the stairs at home or work, or climb a little further on your next hike.  We all know solid sleep is hugely important to well-being and weight loss. But until now the question has been: just how do you track sleep? The answer — the Fitbit Tracker. Slip your Tracker into the Fitbit sleep wristband before bed, and it will keep a watchful eye as you slumber. When your info wirelessly uploads to Fitbit.com, you'll see not only how long you sleep, but how well you sleep.  The Tracker monitors how many times and how long you wake up during the night. Over time, you can apply what you learn to better understanding what helps you sleep better.  Also, for those interested in style, the FitBit plus now comes in blue and pink!  There is however a con for those of you like me who can be a tad forgetful.   Although it has the plus of being tiny, comfortable and discreet, I have made the ill fated mistake of leaving it affixed on my clothing and…gulp… washing it in the washing machine and dryer .  Be warned, do not make this mistake…it is not water proof- Fit Bit= Rest in Peace. 

http://www.fitbit.com/

Jawbone Up-

Which brings me to a new and improved version of tracking.   At a similar price point of $99.95, Jawbone Up is also wi-fi enabled and you can Use the UP wristband and iPhone® app to track your steps, distance, calories burned, pace, intensity level, active vs inactive time, GPS routes and more.   Another similiarity?  You can put your wristband in sleep mode to automatically track your hours slept, deep vs. light sleep, awake time and overall sleep quality. How does it differ? Replace your noisy alarm clock with UP's silent Smart Alarm; it vibrates on your wrist and intelligently wakes you up at the ideal moment in your natural sleep cycle just before your desired wake time. Also, another super neat feature, you can Program your UP wristband to vibrate on your wrist to remind you to move when you've been inactive for too long. You control the interval and timeframe.  One hindrance- it does not have the Fit Bit Stair Climber Option.  Additional benefits- Sweat and water proof so you can swim with it.  Also wear as a bracelet so less chance to lose, and a great conversation starter.  Current ETA- Jawbone Up is going through beta testing to enhance battery life, so production was postponed, and there is no current go live date, but I am ready to pre-order as soon as it’s available! For those interested the first color will only be black, but more will be created for those who are patient (not a strong suit for most early adopters- myself included =o)).

http://jawbone.com/up

Nike Fuel Band –

Clearly popular (despite its most expensive $149  price tag), as it is temporarily out of stock.  Tracks each step and calorie burned through a Nike Accelometer, and if that doesn't impress you, it also makes a great watch.  How it works?  You set a target for how active you want to be, it starts each day in red and then works up to green when you meet your goal.  As it so eloquently says “The key to doing more, is knowing more”

http://www.nike.com/fuelband/

For an added bonus- These tools give you the ability to turn every day into your game- to challenge yourself to capture records, reach new milestones & unlock special achievements.  My boyfriend and “partner in crime” are pretty competitive and we used our FitBits to compete on who would walk more steps each day, and who could hit milestones first.   When Jay and I went on our 7 country in 8 day vacation to South East Asia, we wore our Fit Bits every day to compare how many steps we could take, marking a new personal best and victory every day.  The highlight was in Jakarta, Indonesia when we walked over 40,000 steps, or over 20 miles (blisters to prove it)!  It was the most incredible accomplishment, and seeing my little trophy on my FitBit homepage made it that much sweeter. 

My FitBit Progress Report 

There are many ways to increase your daily steps. Use your imagination and come up with your own list:

  Take a walk with your spouse, child, or friend

  Walk the dog

  Use the stairs instead of the elevator

  Park farther from the store

  Better yet, walk to the store

  Get up to change the channel

  Window shop

  Plan a walking meeting

  Walk over to visit a neighbor

  Get outside to walk around the garden or do a little weeding

Once again, the goal here is to *start*.  Start moving, start tracking, and you will be amazed at yourself and the progress you will make once you are aware. In the infamous words of Lao Tzu, “A Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. Take your first step today!