I know there is a lot of information already online regarding this exact thing, but I'm working through this one my own right now and trying to decide what I'd like to invest in.  So I'm putting it out there to the world, because I think I've made my decision based on my own research.

Fit Bit - $99.95 - different styles - flex, zip, one. It tracks steps, distance, and calories burned.  It also tracks your sleep quality and wakes you in the morning.  Multiple colours to choose from.  Wirelessly sync.  Free iPhone & Android app and online tools.  Food database is lacking, sleep tracking is inconsistent.

Nike+ fuelband - $149 - measures movement, measures your everyday activity and turns it into NikeFuel.  Tracks calories burned, steps taken and more.  Syncs wirelessly, social because of the fuel points.  You set goals to reach.  Has a USB plug
Not as accurate as other monitors.

Polar FT4 - $139 - heart rate monitor , calculates your target heart rate zone and shows when you're improving fitness based on your heart rate, shows calories burned.  It is said to be very accurate.  Keeps data for you,  chest strap

So I've read/watched a lot of reviews on the web, I'll leave a few of the ones that I thought were helpful below but I think I've narrowed it down to the Fit Bit and the Polar FT4.  I've read many people use them both because it's fun to keep yourself working toward the goal of walking "x-number" of steps per day (as you can do with the Fit Bit) but it's also really great to keep track of your exact calorie count with each workout session you do, which you can do very accurately with the Polar FT4.  So I think I'm going to get both (eventually).

I'm going to start with the FitBit (I'm ordering it as we speak) and I will write up a review for you as soon as I get it!  I'm looking forward to it.  My hubby is also getting one so I think it'll be fun to see an improvement together.

Some links to where I read up on the different products:
eating whole Fit Bit Flex vs Polar FT4
Polar FT4 Watch Heart Rate Monitor Review
Nike+ Fuel Band review
The Nears FitBit Flex and FitBit Aria
Polar FT4 amazon reviews
FitBit Flex amazon reviews
Nike+ FuelBand amazon reviews couldn't find much on amazon in terms of reviews for the FuelBand
engadget Nike FuelBand SE review

Hi'ya

Last night was the first night I've been able to attend the Cookbook Club put on by some friends of mine and boy oh boy, what a treat!

I think this was the third month for it and I'm sorry I missed the first two.  The food is incredible.  Not the best thing to attend on the first day of deciding to start my healthy journey again but I knew that I was attending and had all intentions on eating small portions of everything.  And that's exactly what I did.

I'll explain how it works a little.  Each month we decide on a cooking blog or cook book and then each of us choose a recipe from it and bring it all together to make it a fantastic meal with wine and a lot of laughter.  It's fantastic!  Then we "vote" which recipe was the best and which ones we'd likely make again.

As I mentioned this was my first time attending but let me tell you, there was nothing there that I wouldn't make again.  It was all amazing!  Everything, including the chocolate brownie (I don't even really like chocolate) was incredible.

This month was the Smitten Kitchen blog.  The recipes were easy to follow, had great instructions and awesome pictures.  I was impressed with how EVERYONES receipe looked pretty much spot on with the photos taken for the blog.  Don't you hate it when you make something and it looks NOTHING like the original.  I do!  So I was pleasantly surprised when my spring vegetable potstitckers looks very similar.  I new I had something right! (Darn it, I just realized I forgot the green onions on the top!)

I've included all the images that were taken of the food below.  Be sure to check out the Smitten Kitchen for a new recipe.  Let me know if you make something from there, I'd love to try out some new!

Caramelized Onion goat cheese triangles

Cellophane noodle salad with roast pork

Black bean pumpkin soup

Asparagus, goat cheese and lemon pasta

Chana Masala

Cauliflower and caramelized onion tart

Salted Caramel brownies

Caramel walnut upside down banana cake

Thanks again to everyone that came out for such a fun night, it was great!  Can't wait for #cbcApril but in the mean time, lets figure out our next cookbook.  Can't wait!


And now I'm off to figure out how to calculate my calorie intake from last night...hummm...this will prove interesting I'm sure!

This is it, I'm going to try again and this time I'm not going to fail.  I'm going to beat this weight and I'm going to be happy with me and who I am as a person.

Lately I've had a VERY sore back, so sore that I actually had to crawl into the house on all fours after being out in the garage working on a project out there.  I just couldn't stand and I certainly couldn't walk and I thought about it for a long time.  How much of this pain is because I'm "overweight".  If I lost even just a little weight would I have less back pain?  Probably not a lot because even when I was younger and thinner I had a horrible back.  Genes (thanks Mom!) and being hit by a vehicle when I was younger have just given me bad luck when it comes to aches and pains in my back.

But I really thought about it and thought, does it make sense for me to just sit back and deal with the pain or try and do something about it.

So here I go again, yet another attempt to get healthy!

This time I'm serious.  My BIG goal is to loose 90lbs, but I know that having such a big goal for me isn't going to work.  I need to start smaller and have smaller goals that I know are attainable.  I am also going to reward myself with fun things after each goal is reached.  If I don't reach the goal, I don't get the reward, simple as that.

So my goals and my rewards.

First 10lbs - A new pair of running shoes (I hope to loose 10lbs (ish) a month, that's about 2 lbs a week, but the timing isn't really my goal, it's just about losing it.)

Probably something like these:
10lbs -  A new bike helmet and bike bag

10lbs - A new yoga outfit

10lbs - something form Henri Bendel for me!

10lbs -


Want to help me think of some new goals?  I'm going to update as I think of some new things but right now this is a start.  I know I'm working toward some new running shoes (and I really need them)!  It's starting today!

I'm looking forward to this journey and I really hope that anyone that might actually read this place can help encourage, and give me the motivation I'll need to keep going!  It'll be a long journey but I'm excited for the end destination (and I don't just mean the cruise at the end, although that definitely helps!)

In case you want to join me I've joined MyFitnessPal with the username kshiell.  If you'd like to join me in my journey other than just here on my blog feel free to pop over there and friend me or whatever you do over there.  I'd be happy to help you too if you're on a journey to a healthy you!