May | 2016 | Relaxed Parenting

Today is the final day of the 5 day Garmin Vivofit Challenge. I successfully took 7000 steps plus each day. Yesterday I finished up on 9,654 steps. As I sit here and write this blog I am sitting on 8,712 steps for the day. I was very worried I wasn’t going to go anywhere near 7000 at at about 3 pm.

At the end of the week I took a total of 48,537 steps! This week has been a very eye opening week for me in 1- how little I was doing on the average day, and 2- how hard it can be to get the steps up. For the days I thought I was doing enough steps prior to getting my fitness tracker, I’ve clearly proven how far I actually was from the recommended daily step count. Over the five days, I went over 10,000 steps just ONE TIME.

My goals from here is to continue doing a minimum of 7000 steps until I can do this easily on a regular basis. I will continue to use my Garmin as a motivator to get me up and moving when I am thousands or hundreds of steps away from my goal.

Today was my hardest day of the five to get my steps up. As mentioned in my last blog I was getting a head cold. Well today around lunch time it really kicked in and took away my motivation and energy. Prior to my Garmin I would have been totally okay not getting those steps in. With the change in my mentality I had to find a way to get them in, even if it took me all day and night.

This morning started at home getting organised to head out to the Pregnancy, Baby and Children Expo in Sydney. When I left home to drive to the expo I had taken 1200 steps. At the expo we walked up and down the aisles looking at the huge range of baby, pregnancy and children products. I was very happy as I was able to grab all items I had hope to get.

I got a new hat for my daughter. Thanks to Pooh Bear for modeling it in the photo, as we are having difficulties keeping anything on our daughters head at the moment. Some food pouches and accessories so I am able to take my homemade foods out and about with me easier. Finally cloth nappy disposable liners and a wet bag.

By the time we had finished up at the expo I was on 3,446 steps. When I got home I did not feel very well at all. The head cold had kicked in and I was very tired. Thankfully my daughter was happy entertaining herself on the floor with her toys rolling around playing and watching a bit of ABC Kids. After being carried around and in the pram all day , a roll on the floor was just what she wanted. So thankfully I was able to lay on the couch and watch her for awhile.

Thankfully I got a kick of energy later. I was able to vacuum, do washing, and other house jobs as well as mum duties, getting my daughter organised for the evening with dinner, bath and bed.

I also had to walk into Parramatta to pick up my new sunglasses . As much as I didn’t want to walk in, it gave me the perfect opportunity to get some of those steps I needed up. From 3 pm when I thought I was not going to get to today’s goal, when we got back from our walk I had passed 7000 steps. Yay!