Weight Loss Journal

Week of April 8, 2001
Weight: 226.75
Total Loss: 103.75

PLEASE SIGN THE GUESTBOOK
2001.04.07 SPORTBRAIN ... Keeping with the theme of motivation, I started a walking program using a standard pedometer for measuring my distance. I would constantly try to better my time or distance or both. However, I could not seem to get my old pedometer calibrated to my stride, and have it work correctly for a long period of time (i.e. an hour).
I read about the SportBrain on Fred's website. I checked the SportBrain website for more information and the technology intrigued me. The SportBrain is a pedometer that stores information regarding your activity and then, through it's own modem cradle, the data is uploaded to their central site. The data is then analyzed by computers to determine your actual distance and speed, and made available for viewing on your own private website report. Data is provided in an easy to interpret graphical form.

How do they do that? The SportBrain measures the number of steps taken in a given unit of time. You enter your age and height when registering your sportbrain, and from their databases they determine average stride length for a person in your category. From that, converting steps/minute to miles/hour is a simple calculation. See an example here.

It is an innovative tool. It will also work with a heart rate monitor and record that data while you are working out. I believe in the device. I am not affiliated with SportBrain or receiving any kind of remuneration for this report.

I now have additional sources for challenge. I find that when I take Sadie for her walk, I am wanting to hurry her along so that it will not disturb my pace excessively. It appears to be fairly accurate; it measures our standard 1.3 mile course as the same length +/- 0.1 mile.

I got Vicki one, and she was hooked. She wears it to measure the distance and time for our long weekend walks. She even gets "exercise credit" for her video workouts, as the SportBrain records each hop, skip and jump as the exercise workout proceeds.

For more information, checkout their web site at http://www.sportbrain.com.

2001.04.08 What a Difference a Year Makes ... These were posted on alt.support.diets as responses of support to my message:
Subj: What a difference a Year Makes!! Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2001 19:05:45 -0800 From: Vern Tallman Organization:SBC Internet Services Newsgroups: alt.support.diet Almost a year ago, having turned 49, I started my 'final diet'. Nothing fancy, no fads. Just a healthy dose of committment, and a lot of support from my better half. Sensible eating AND exercise has made the difference. Fifty weeks later, I just broke 100 pounds weight loss, and I'm well on my way to making goal in August. It will be something to celebrate later this week when I also celebrate the big five-oh. Vern http://home.pacbell.net/vtallman/DietProgress.html
From: "Shari" Three Cheers for you** It's wonderful to see that it can be done! Keep it up, you are an inspiration :-D ~Shari
From: "Lisa B." What a wonderful birthday present you have given yourself, Vern! Happy Birthday to you! -- Lisa B. 243/147.5/145
From: "Jerry" Nice web site. It is a good reminder of how you don't want to look ever again. Congratulations on your loss.
From: "L" Congrats! That's really great. L 66lb loss maintained since May 1996
From: "readandpost rosie®" BIG CONGRATS to you vern! and welcome to the world of us 50ish types! :) -- read and post, it works! rosie
From: "Caleb Burns" Vern -- Super! Nothing fancy, no fads -- terrific! Also, of course, what made it possible for you was resisting the many influences to go off your very successful program, and not be dissuaded by things that don't work (or perhaps work for only the short run). Absolutely terrific! (I'm celebrating the big "5-2" in two months.) Your story is absolutely superb. No crises. No gnashing of teeth. Just putting your head down and doing what it takes! Absolutely great! Congratulations! (I'd be happy to buy you a beer or whatever for your birthday -- send me an address where I can mail you a $5 contribution.) Yours (in awe), Caleb
From: "Mrs. B" So happy for you and your beautiful family - *love* the pictures and your website is very inspiring. Smiling Mrs. B
From: "Lenee" Congratulations! You are an inspiration! Lenee' 245/222/175
From: "Kello" Congratulations! What a wonderful birthday gift! -- Kello 160/152/130

2001.04.07 SPORTBRAIN (part ii)... OK, this will be my last entry about the 'Brain. The people at SportBrain have started 'clubs' on their website. It is quite an ingenious concept. For each person belonging to a club, the current number of steps taken in the past 7 days is displayed, thus ranking the members. However, they provide the ability to easily change the range of days over which the site does the accumulation of steps. So, someone that is tops for one day, or week, could be at the bottom if the range of dates for the accumulation was chosen differently.
So, who cares?? Well, it turns out that most people that have the 'Brain are somewhat competitive, by nature. Although no one knows what range of days I find important, I look, and I feel that I can do better, that I can be on top sometimes. And so it goes. To further enhance the experience, SportBrain has implemented a mini- bulletin board for posting messages between members of a specific club. It is interesting!

Some of the people on eDiets.com have become acquainted with SportBrain, some through the Oprah! show, and others through Vicki. The feedback that I hear is that those that have one LOVE it.

Enough of the product endorsement ...

Looking forward to a week in Hawaii very soon. This will be a much needed Spring Vacation, and a reward for ONE YEAR, and 100+ lbs lost in my new lifestyle. I'll post some pictures on our return.

Thank You for Visiting!!

[ JOURNAL INDEX ]     [ DIET HOME ]     [ GUESTBOOK ]     [ PICTURES ]     [ LINKs ]
     [ << PREV ]     [NEXT >> ]

Author: VernTallman( VTallman@aol.com )
Home page: http://members.aol.com/vtallman/index.html
Revised: April 7, 2001