Today: Step one is acceptance.
Before you get too involved in this post, I need to warn you that I am about to reveal just how much of a dope I am. And you may never want to hear from me again. So quickly peek at a few videos of Clark, grab a book recommendation, check out my guest post for Real Fit Mama… read this post, and prepare to be horrified. And thennnn, delete On Tap for Today from your Google Reader.
If you make it the end of this post, however, there’s a giveaway with your name on it, so-and-so! Isn’t bribery fun?
The Trouble with Pedometers
There are some many days when I don’t make it to the gym, there’s no race on the schedule, and I can’t find my yoga mat. To be sure I am not being a lazy donkey, I make sure I get some extra walking in. Studies have suggested that 10,000 steps a day is a reasonable target for staying active. More often than not, my end-of-the-day count is closer to 20,000, thanks to the puppy and living in such a walkable city as Boston. And the fact that our office mailbox is located a mile away.
Having a pedometer in my pocket keeps me on track. If I leave the office with only 3,000 steps logged, I know I need to take the long way to the garage. Or chase Clark around the condo with a squeaking hippopotamus. Or go for a run. Or take a long walk along the beach. Or all of the above. You get the point.
I’ve tried a few different models, including the clip on kind. For some reason, the battery rattled around and the clip was absurdly large. Who wants to walk 10 steps, let alone 10,000 steps, looking and sounding like you’ve got an econo-size package of Tac-Tacs hot glue gunned to your waist? Not me.
Two pedometers later, I stumbled upon this little beauty. Slim, well designed, and easy to use. It’s perfect, and relatively inexpensive. Unless you’ve bought nine of them. Yes, nine. And yes, this is where you become horrified with me.
I like to think that I have my act together. I work extremely hard, I am mature and responsible, and I take life rather seriously. I try to watch my spending and avoid being wasteful. My misadventures with pedometers, however, have revealed a character flaw I was previously altogether unaware of: I am a complete boob.
- Pedometer 1: Gave it away, hated the bulky Tic-Taciness.
- Pedometer 2: Apparently I forgot that I hated the bulky Tic-Taciness, may have thrown this one out in a fit of rage (just kidding, I don’t have fits of rage).
- Pedometers 3-6: Rejoice! A thin, silent model! But…the thing about pocket pedometers is that you have to take it out of your pocket at some point. That point being before you start the washing machine. All four, in succession, fell victim to the spin cycle.
- Pedometer 7: Um. It went swimming. In the Atlantic Ocean. Yesterday. I’m a creature of habit and usually stick my pedometer in my bra (TMI? Probably.) if I don’t have pockets. Most non-horrendous bathing suits don’t have pockets. And there you have it.
- Pedometer 8: ..has been ordered and is en route to Boston. I am hoping 8 will last. The odds are not looking good, however.
- Pedometer 9: Could be yours!
If habitual irresponsible handling of pedometers (and then immediately replacing them) were a crime, I’d be locked up right now. Pacing in my cell. With no way to track those paces.
To win a pedometer of your very own, please leave a comment below before midnight on Thursday. If you win, you can break it, or use it like a normal person– the choice is yours alone! For an extra entry, please feel free to tweet or blog about this giveaway and then leave a comment indicating you’ve done so. I will announce the winning hot stepper on Friday.
Also On Tap for Today:
- Track workout with my sister
- Class at The Pawsitive Dog
- Underwater art: Now that’s deep!
What is your most out-of-character characteristic? Where do you like to stroll? Or, how do you sneak in exercise?
Comments (11)
Twitted by ElizabethEv
July 27, 2010 at 9:21 am
[…] This post was Twitted by ElizabethEv […]
thedailycraic
July 27, 2010 at 9:22 am
You’re awesome! And I just tweeted! woopwoop
Maria (realfitmama)
July 27, 2010 at 9:34 am
You are hilarious (and bribery ALWAYS works with me) I tweeted too…will link to it in the blog this afternoon!!
Katie
July 27, 2010 at 9:48 am
I usually don’t sneak in exercise, which is why I’ve been on the look out for a pedometer! With so many to choose from, I’d be glad to get one that’s tried and tested, even if it’s not water proof =)
Also tweeted about the giveaway!
Michelle
July 27, 2010 at 2:29 pm
I was giggling out loud when I read this! I sneak in exercise by taking long walks during my lunch break but a pedometer would be great because I walk everywhere in the city and would love to know how many steps I’m clocking in!
Jul
July 27, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Even if I don’t win it’s nice to have a recommendation for a pedometer. The batteries died on my last one which I didn’t love anyway because it was one of the clip-ons that made annoying noises.
And where else would you stick it if you didn’t have pockets? Bra makes sense to me… but this coming from someone who does housework with her ipod wedged in her bra.
Terry Elisabeth
July 28, 2010 at 8:11 am
I have just alerted everyone in the office (3-4 people because the rest is on vacation or has not arrived) that I was reading something highly amusing by smiling like an idiot…
I want iiiiittttt ! I don’t have a pedometer and I need one. I just forget to look for one, don’t know which to choose and I really need to look at how much I walk every day.
Then I could calculate how many steps I make and run around the apartment to make up for the steps I need ! I could run after the million cats that populate the alley !
Stephanie
July 28, 2010 at 7:38 pm
I always wonder how much walking I do in a day. Between walking all over the lab all day and walking a quarter of a mile to the cafeteria at work, I’m sure I do a lot! I might have one of those free ones you request, maybe through slim fast’s website (I don’t drink the stuff, just heard through the grapevine about it). But I think I tried it once and it managed to turn itself off if you stopped walking and you’d have to turn it back on. LAME.
When I went to D.C. a bit ago, I did the tourist routine. And the hotel provided a free pedometer to use while you’re there. We easily hit 15k+ steps each day. That is quite a walking city…especially when you’re too cheap for cabs 😛
So, yay! Would love to win! 🙂
Stephanie
July 28, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Oh, P.S. I tweeted about the giveaway 🙂
Wow, when did I start using smiley faces like an insane person?
Today: Creative housekeeping. «
July 28, 2010 at 8:18 pm
[…] There’s still time to laugh at what an idiot I am win a pedometer! […]
Megan
July 28, 2010 at 9:41 pm
I am sort of obsessed with pedometers right now, and I almost talked myself into getting the ipod nano that has one, but it turns out my current ipod isn’t broken after all. Which I guess is good. I would tweet, but my mom already has a pedometer, and she’s practically my only follower!