Some Advice/Insight for a Newly-Active Fitbiter?

[Robcorc]

Doctor advised I get a Fitbit in order to more easily motivate myself to greater activity as I continue to recover from sudden paralysis which turned out to be stage 4 lymphoma. A cycle of chemo put ,e into remission but also caused some heart damage AND piled 92 lbs on me in four months. Yikes! Then I fell out of remission and had to undergo another cycle of chemo. Back in remission and the heart seems to have recovered, so both Doc and I want to see me return to both greater mobility and health.

So here's my thing: 10,000 steps seemed impossible at Christmas, but then Doc informed me I can "get credit" for activities done off my feet by going into stopwatch mode. Yay! I have gone from 2,000 steps in December to 7,500 now and from 3 10 minute sessions of activity per day to 4 20 minute sessions. The activity I am doing is arm work with 2 lb weights, sets of 15, then 20, then 25, then 30, then back down the "scale". This accrues "steps", gives me minutes of activity and registers as fat burn and cardio and peak intensity HR, while increasing the calorie deficit between consumed and burned. I think I may actually hit 10,000 by the end of this week...

My question, though, is this: am I actually getting the "value" from these arm sessions that I would get were they steps? Or is this a fool's paradise? I am not able to actually walk 10,000 steps (yet), but if I am getting more fit thusly, is it a similar thing? Thanks for your insights. I truly appreciate it.

[Mukluk4]

Whatever you do that makes you feel better in the long run is all that matters.

[Robcorc]

Philosophically, yes. But in reality, too, I need to shift these 92 pounds OFF, build strength, and increase mobility to the degree that I can once again take a walk down the street, go grocery shopping, maybe climb into my car and drive three hours to visit my son...so I need to know if Fitbit awarding me active minutes means that I actually experienced activity that is building my strength, stamina, endurance and burning calories...

Sent from my iPad

[WendyB]

Your are building your Strenght so thats a good thing. When you are able to walk more add that in.

Just go slow in the beginning and build up as you can.

Sorry to hear about your illness but it sounds like you are doing good! You will get that weight off Im sure!

[emili]

Yes! for sure. When you lose muscle or strength for whatever reason- illness, inactivity, whatever- you don't just lose it in one spot. You lose it everywhere. Whatever walking you are doing is great for your cardio and your legs. There is more of you to strengthen. Keep up the arm movements and increase the weights for a set or two- but decrease the reps. See how you feel doing a few leg lifts - even if its on the bed if getting on the floor is not an option. Its not about just walking, its all over fitness. Yay you!!!

[Robcorc]

My Fitbit is telling me that the majority of my activity periods are spent in cardio--53-78% of the time is giving me a cardio effect. So that has to count for something, right?