New here, and plan on getting over a few humps!

[skottydog]

Hello, all.

I'm on my second day as a Fitbit user, and have a few hurdles to overcome, aside from navigating the website and the Fitbit itself.  

1.  I've slipped away slowly from my target weight over the past 2 years.   Nothing new to many here, but I have 2 ankle fractures from a running injury 14 months ago, and have yet to have surgery on it.  That has been an excuse more than a medical condition for longer than I'd care to admit.   Until I have the surgery, I plan on hitting my 10,000 steps/day goal and getting back into a healthy lifestyle.  Despite myself.

2.  I have insomnia.  I'm hoping the data I collect from the Fitbit will help me figure out how to overcome it.

Over the counter medications, herbal remedies, and even prescription medications have yet to help me sleep more than 7 hours in a row for over 2 years now.

3.  I'm an MRI technologist.  I've destroyed 3 Up bands over the past year or so, and I'm hoping to keep my new Fitbit intact by remembering to take off the band (30-40 x/day) before entering the magnetic field, while maintaining an accurate data collection.   I have been unable to do so thus far.   However, I'm working on a 1.5 Tesla magnet currently, and I was previously working on a 3.0 Tesla magnet while using the Up band.  I'm hoping the newer technology with fitness trackers and the lower field strength will prevent me from buying 3 or 4 more Fitbits in the coming months!

Anyone else new here, and facing similar hurdles?   Are there small group discussions for weight class, age, lifestyle, etc?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!  Looking forward to interacting with you all in 2015!

~Skottydog

[orangeblossom]

Hi Skottydog!  

I'm not new to fitbit,  but I have some similar issues - not the part about coming in contact with a giant magnet, but I do get in the pool a few times a week, and when I tried the fitbit flex it stopped working for me after swimming (even though it's supposed to be okay in water).  Thankfully I was able to return it, and I just got a zip. This is my third fitbit (I wore the original one until it fell apart after a couple years). 

- I have insomnia too!  Had it my whole life. I've tried everything except for Ambien (can't take that because I walk in my sleep and it supposedly makes that much worse). When I first started using fitbit it was *comical* how disrupted my sleep was. 

- I changed jobs to a much more sedentary one two years ago, and in that time I've gradually put on 25 pounds. Must stop this trend and reverse it ASAP! Especially since Type II diabetes runs in my family. I'm overweight for the first time in my life and it's making me crazy. 

- I have kneecaps that easily slip out of their notch, leading to ~ 2 weeks of incapacitation each time it happens. I've had two surgeries, which have stabilized me somewhat but I can't do anything high impact or that involves twisting my knees. So I can't run, play tennis/soccer/squash/hike.  I can do yoga if I'm very careful, and swimming is no problem. 

- I can go for walks on even ground, but this summer I overdid it and developed achilles tendonitis which I still have. This has cut into my walks significantly. 

I'm hoping I can poke around in the discussion boards and find people who have gotten over similar hurdles.  

Good luck and Happy New Year!

[skottydog]

Sorry to hear about your health issues. I know so may people (family
members included) who use their injuries as an excuse not to exercise,
rather than accepting that many injuries are due to NOT exercising.

I have learned over the past 18 months that some injuries can't be healed
by MORE exercise, and that attempting that can further hamper healing.

I had thought I was among the former, as the first few days of moderate to
heavy walking with the shiny new Fitbit left me reinvigorated. However,
by January 1st, I was in more pain than ever, and realize that surgery is
the only solution.

Meanwhile, I'm living with the pain and attempting 10K/day for now.
Thanks for your response and good luck in '15!