Representing the West Coast + a Fitbit Charge giveaway
This post is sponsored by Shape/Men’s Fitness Fitbit Charge Challenge through a campaign with Fitfluential. As always, all opinions are my own. I also included a special giveaway at the end for ya, too!
It’s not really a secret that I love fitness trackers. Needless to say, I was really stoked when I received the new Fitbit Charge to participate in the Shape magazine and Men’s Health Fitbit Charge challenge. They divided up bloggers into two teams -east coast vs. west coast- and we’re competing for most active coast. Each week, they post a new challenge up on their site, and you can also check out the blogger scoreboard to see how we’re all doing. I was excited to be included with some of my close blogger friends and enjoy a little friendly competition.
This is the first week, and our first challenge was to reach out 10k daily step goal by taking our workout outside. Having the Charge has been a great way to maintain activity level, and this week I felt especially inspired by the gorgeous weather. While most of my workouts have been indoors through teaching classes, I’ve enjoyed extra outdoor activities, including daily playtime with Liv,
(we love chasing a soccer ball around and playing at the park)
neighborhood walks with Bella,
this past weekend’s 10k,
and enjoying some local sights.
To get in Tuesday’s daily steps, I spent some time walking around Balboa Park. It was my first time checking it out, and I can’t wait to go back with the fam. There are 17 different attractions, and the area is rich in history and natural beauty.
I especially loved the botanical exhibit.
The Fitbit Charge is a like an updated version of the Flex (which I reviewed here).
Some tried and true features:
-Step count
-Insightful sleep data
-Silent alarm (probably my fave feature!)
Some new features:
-Automatic sleep tracking. I don’t have to tell it that I’m going to sleep; IT KNOWS ALL.
-Distance and floors climbed.
-Digital display. It tells you your calories burned, steps, floors climbed, and distance all on the screen.
-No removable pieces. I didn’t like that aspect of the Flex -it felt like it got germy with sweating so much and sweat getting trapped in the band- and I love that this one is easier to clean.
One thing I noticed is that it’s larger, so I try to camouflage the size with extra arm candy or bangles (which probably just draws more attention to it haha).
Overall, I love that the Charge encourages me to be more active during the day. I’m more mindful of my activity levels, and I think a tracker is a great reminder that you can’t out-exercise a sedentary lifestyle. While it is helpful to get in a workout each day (for health and mental benefits!), it’s also important to add bursts of activity (through standing or walking) whenever you can. Also, I think it’s important to note that steps aren’t everything. I’ve actually found that I’ve been low in my group for steps, because many of the activities that I do don’t count for a lot, even though I am indeed moving. For example, I taught BODYPUMP and Spin on Monday (two hours of working out!) and barely made my 10k goal. The same happened last night with my BODYPUMP and Zumba double-teach. Zumba gets a lot of steps, though. 😉
The rest of this post is sponsored by Caroline, who would love to share the Fitbit Charge love with a lucky reader. Just leave a comment below with your favorite outdoor workout and I’ll pick a winner tonight at midnight! I’ll announce it in tomorrow’s Friday Faves post.
Don’t forget to keep up with us on the scoreboard here, and you can also enter to win a Charge each week through the main sites. If you’d like to follow the hashtag. check out #MotivationalMondays @fitbit. I’m excited to see next week’s challenge!
Ready, set, go!
xoxo
Gina
This post is sponsored by the Shape/Men’s Fitness FitBit Charge Challenge.
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Living in DC, my favorite outdoor workout is running the National Mall! So pretty with lots of stuff to look at!
I love running outside! Family walks are fun too.
Cycling, hands down! Unfortunately snow has come to my state and won’t leave for a while…spin class it is!
Running on a trail near my house! Although it’s been a bit cold here for that lately…
I love running and beach volleyball when we’re not buried with snow!
My favorite would have to be going on a random run with my pup!
Hiking in a nice scenic spot in the woods!
My favorite outdoor workout is running with my husband!
My favorite outdoor workout is a run with a running buddy!
I live inDC, so running along the National Mall. Some of my girlfriends and I meet and take long walk&talks around the monuments, too. Great alternative to happy hour or meeting for dinner when we need to catch up.
I love walking all the trails around my home. As I become more fit I’m excited to try stair climbing at Red Rocks Amphitheater.
Love playing soccer with my girls too!
i love outdoor boot camps. Nothing gets my blood pumping like a good burpee circuit in mid November. 🙂
My favorite outdoor workout is absolutely hiking! I try to get in as many hikes as possible before it gets too cold out here in MA.
I love running and hiking. Although with all this snow, I find it really difficult to motivate myself to go out for a run. Perhaps I’ll use my treadmill for the next few days. 🙂
I love running outside, it’s my me time.
I have a Flex and I was wondering if the Charge was waterproof too.
Definately hiking!!!! It’s such a relaxing exercise mentally while still sweating, the perfect combo!
Nice pictures. Totally jealous of that weather. Running is my favorite outdoor activity. Unfortunately I’ve seen the treadmill three days in a row this week.
I love exploring new trails with my little man and our dog! As a new mama, a fitness tracker would be an awesome tool to help me stay on track!
I love to go hiking.
I love running the Harvard stadium stairs with November Project on Wednesday mornings – even yesterday when it was 23 degrees outside!
I love running and walking outside, also a nice day I love to hike
Favorite outdoor workout is riding my horses and doing barn chores! You’d be surprised just how much of a workout cleaning stalls and pushing a full wheelbarrow is!
my new favorite outdoor activity is taking my twin babies on a walk in the stroller 🙂 I’d love to receive a fitness tracker since I’m trying to get back into a healthy and active lifestyle!!
I love walking to and from work — much better than sitting in traffic and being stressed!
I love hiking outdoors! I’m taking some out-of-town visiting friends hiking up my favorite small mountain this weekend! Gonna be chilly, but the views from the top are worth it! I have a FitBit Flex and I love it… but the Charge looks amazing!! Also, I love reading your blog everyday!
Walking with my dog (so peaceful and relaxing) or biking! 🙂
I don’t get the chance often where I live, but my favorite would be hiking. However, my in-laws live near the Black Forest in Germany, and there, 15k hikes are the norm!
Long walks/hikes for me. That park looks really beautiful.
My favorite outdoor workout is walking my dog, Norman!
My favorite outdoor activity is when my husband and I run together. We motivate each other to get the run done! But anytime I can be outside-when it’s summer in Massachusetts is my favorite thing.
It’s been so cold in NY lately that the thought of outdoor workouts makes me want to cry! But in the warmer months I love hiking!
I love walking. I prefer that to any indoor activity
My favorite outdoor activity is walking the neighborhood golf path with my kids!
I love running and walking outside!
Running and walking are my favorites!
my favorite outdoor activity is trail running.
i tore my labrum and have had 2 surgeries to fix it, so i stick to walking these days while i’m still undergoing physical therapy. i can’t wait to get back to more exercise though!
I am lucky enough to live close to three fun cities – DC, Baltimore, and Annapolis. My favorite outdoor “exercise” is just spending full days walking and exploring the sites.
I love running or hiking outdoors!
I love running outside with a killer playlist!
Running. Winter begins my cold training season!! :).
I love trail running outside – We are about to move to California, and I can’t wait to be able to run trails and be outside in the winter!
I love long walks by the ocean!
My favorite outdoor activity is hiking the trails, with my Border Collie, up and down the northshore of Minnesota…so many overlooks and waterfalls to find. In fact I’ll get a hike in after work today even if the temps are in the teens.
I love running outside – especially in the Fall!
My favorite way to be active outside is to go for a long walk or run. I sometimes listen to music, but often times just enjoy my surroundings or think through things happening in my life!
love to use trails, then stop at the benches for a quick strength training session!
I live in the Palm Springs area and hiking is my favorite outdoor workout (with the exception of the ridiculously hot summers 🙂 There are a ton if great trails and I just got a backpack carrier to take my 18 month old son around with me…and increase the workout.
So awesome!! I love doing tabata intervals outside using bodyweight — quick, effective and fun!