Apple Watch

[ame]

How many have an Apple Watch? How does it work for you?

Yesterday was a real shitty day for me medically, I was put on a weight loss drug by my endocrinologist because I have been unable to stick to the prescribed diet I was put on and she's basically had enough. She mentioned that I should get an AppleWatch because my "Fitbit isn't doing it's job" and the AppleWatch has a better HR monitor and better reminders to make me get up every hour. I was holding out til later this year for the new models but I am considering picking one up if I can find a preowned or refurbished one of the Stainless one I was curious about. That way I can at least see what I think. I did not care for the Fitbit Charge HR at all and took it back. My mom likes hers though.

I went to the Apple store today and tinkered with the model on the floor and it seemed like I could figure it out but there were a lot of things I was a little overwhelmed by and didn't really get. Everyone I know with one loves it, though.

 

[Ally T]

Sorry to hear about your crap day

My husband has an Apple Watch & he loves it. I am not into technology AT ALL, whereas he very much is. I think it's quite cool that when he gets a text message it will send it to his phone, but then I laugh my head off when he pulls out his glasses because the phone text is too small for him to read, then whips out his phone to reply to said text, because he can't reply on the watch!! So to me, what's the point??!!

But I have friends who's husbands also have them, and they all seem to love them. Is it a man / woman divide? I'll be interested in following this thread

 

[momhappy]

I have one and like it. I like that it "bumps" me when I get a text or that I can talk on the phone with it without having to dig around in my purse for my phone (of course, I don't really talk on the watch if I'm in a public/shared space out of respect for others, but in those situations, I can at least answer the call before missing it). I like the fitness/health features. Sometimes, the "stand" reminders can be annoying. I like that it is customized and it keeps track of my physical activity goals and lets me know when I've reached my goals for the day, etc. I like the GPS feature when I'm in my car and it "bumps" me when it's time to turn, etc.. Besides all that, I think it looks good - I got the one with the metal band, so it looks nicer/dressier and I get a lot of compliments on it.

 

[rainwood]

Ame, there isn't any device made, including the Apple watch, that can make you change your eating habits or lifestyle enough to lose weight. I know this the hard way as I still struggle with weight as well. I have a Garmin Vivosmart that gives me reminders to move, but that isn't really my main problem. I simply eat too much, too often, and the wrong things, having developed emotional eating habits over the years from stress. I'm having some success with hypnotherapy because she's given me tools to break the habits, but I need to fully commit if I want to be successful.

All that said, an iPhone can be programmed to give you hourly reminders and will also count your steps through Apple Health if you keep it with you. Mine is stashed in my back pocket usually. So you don't necessarily need an Apple watch for those functions. And only you can answer the question of whether knowing your heart rate or having reminders to get up would be enough to get you where your doctor thinks you need to be. It sure wouldn't be for me.

 

[kenny]

I'd just remove the iWatch, inhale a cheesecake or two, then put the iWatch back on.

Technology is not the answer.
YOU are.

Burn more calories than you eat.

 

[purplesparklies]

ame,

I agree with Kenny. (Hey! Who said that?!? )

Technology is not the answer. It will not magically provide motivation to get up and move if you are not already an active person. Exercise will benefit you but it will not help you lose weight unless you are eating appropriately.

I know what you are going through and I know how hard it is. I wish I could tell you there is an easy way to lose weight but there just isn't. And I have looked everywhere and tried it all. I finally reached my own breaking point a few years ago and lost 102 lbs. in one calendar year. I had to choose to work on my health every single day. It wasn't easy. But it was so very worth it. I was able to improve my blurred vision (pseudo tumor cerebri), eliminate my sleep apnea, improve my thyroid function, reduce my aches and pains, reduce my migraines, increase my energy, improve my blood pressure, improve my sleeping, resolve my acid reflux, the list goes on. Life is much better. I have regained some and am working on losing again. It really is a constant battle for me.

What worked for me was changing my thyroid prescription and finding the right dosage, exercising and tracking my food intake using myfitnesspal. I started going to a Zumba class Jan. 2, 2012 and committed that night to go 3-5 times per week. Frankly, it was painful and difficult at first but I saw how much fun others were having and I desperately wanted to be able to smile and laugh and dance like they were dancing. So, I did the best I could and each time I improved a little and slowly I was able to do more. Eventually, my fitness level and confidence level increased and I added other types of exercise. Find something that works for you and do it consistently. Anything, really. Walking? Great! Yoga? Fantastic! Pick something that you would like to be able to do eventually and start.

Don't try to make many huge changes all at once. Start with exercise and do that consistently. That will help you feel better and then make changes to your diet. Nothing drastic. Small changes are more likely to be maintained long term but they really add up. I know it sounds counterintuitive but exercising will give you energy and I know how impossible that can feel when you are struggling with thyroid issues or other health problems. Start with baby steps and before you know it you will be feeling like a new person.

Good luck!

 

[amc80]

I looked into it but decided against it. My main issues were the horrible battery life and the lack of waterproof-ness (fun word there). I ended up with a Basis Peak. It has the constant HR monitoring, defaults to a watch, tracks activity, and is 100% waterproof. The battery lasts about 5 days.

 

[ame]

ame,

I agree with Kenny. (Hey! Who said that?!? )

Technology is not the answer. It will not magically provide motivation to get up and move if you are not already an active person. Exercise will benefit you but it will not help you lose weight unless you are eating appropriately.

I know what you are going through and I know how hard it is. I wish I could tell you there is an easy way to lose weight but there just isn't. And I have looked everywhere and tried it all. I finally reached my own breaking point a few years ago and lost 102 lbs. in one calendar year. I had to choose to work on my health every single day. It wasn't easy. But it was so very worth it. I was able to improve my blurred vision (pseudo tumor cerebri), eliminate my sleep apnea, improve my thyroid function, reduce my aches and pains, reduce my migraines, increase my energy, improve my blood pressure, improve my sleeping, resolve my acid reflux, the list goes on. Life is much better. I have regained some and am working on losing again. It really is a constant battle for me.

What worked for me was changing my thyroid prescription and finding the right dosage, exercising and tracking my food intake using myfitnesspal. I started going to a Zumba class Jan. 2, 2012 and committed that night to go 3-5 times per week. Frankly, it was painful and difficult at first but I saw how much fun others were having and I desperately wanted to be able to smile and laugh and dance like they were dancing. So, I did the best I could and each time I improved a little and slowly I was able to do more. Eventually, my fitness level and confidence level increased and I added other types of exercise. Find something that works for you and do it consistently. Anything, really. Walking? Great! Yoga? Fantastic! Pick something that you would like to be able to do eventually and start.

Don't try to make many huge changes all at once. Start with exercise and do that consistently. That will help you feel better and then make changes to your diet. Nothing drastic. Small changes are more likely to be maintained long term but they really add up. I know it sounds counterintuitive but exercising will give you energy and I know how impossible that can feel when you are struggling with thyroid issues or other health problems. Start with baby steps and before you know it you will be feeling like a new person.

Good luck!

Oh I know no device is the end all. But I need more than just me involved. My dose is actually perfect, my TSH was .64, we were all thrilled. But I don't keep my phone on my person all day, and usually it's gotta stay in my purse at work. My coworkers and boss could give a crap what I do (I've been told that I can nap if I can find a way to not be seen from the window... ) but I don't want someone coming in and complaining that I am screwing around on their dime and if I am seen on my phone, people do complain.

I was really surprised she mentioned the watch. She knows I use the fitbit, but I don't log food well, just activity. Mostly because it's lowcarb and it's hell to do in an app like that. You can't really find most of the food you eat, and some of it doesn't track properly so your macros are wrong. They don't have a low-carb tracker that works well. You have to rig it or just guess.

As for working out: I actually box 2-3 times a week which is a heavy workout (my asthma specialist has been trying to get me to quit since i started bec it's way too taxing on my lungs) but I've gone more than a year and I feel like quitting is a bad idea. I am planning to walk more often after work.

I just have a HELL of a time with the diet. Working out makes me want to eat a whole entire buffet, and I am flat out addicted to carbs. Cutting someting out entirely has never worked for me (except soda, bec when I started topamax that plus soda made a literal bomb in my chest! That was a fun experiment.) My biggest hurdle is DH not being on board with diet changes. That kills me. We are our worst enablers. If I could get him to comply, that would make this a ton easier.

 

[momhappy]

I looked into it but decided against it. My main issues were the horrible battery life and the lack of waterproof-ness (fun word there). I ended up with a Basis Peak. It has the constant HR monitoring, defaults to a watch, tracks activity, and is 100% waterproof. The battery lasts about 5 days.

I guess that we all have different criteria, but I wouldn't consider that Apple watch to have a horrible battery life. My Apple Watch lasts all day (and into the next if I forget to charge it), but since most people take their watch off when going to bed, I don't know why you'd need a battery life that lasts more than a day anyway? My charger is on my night stand and I place my watch on it before going to bed. The 100% waterproof feature would be nice if one is interested in that, so that's something to take into consideration when choosing.

 

[purplesparklies]

ame,

I agree with Kenny. (Hey! Who said that?!? )

Technology is not the answer. It will not magically provide motivation to get up and move if you are not already an active person. Exercise will benefit you but it will not help you lose weight unless you are eating appropriately.

I know what you are going through and I know how hard it is. I wish I could tell you there is an easy way to lose weight but there just isn't. And I have looked everywhere and tried it all. I finally reached my own breaking point a few years ago and lost 102 lbs. in one calendar year. I had to choose to work on my health every single day. It wasn't easy. But it was so very worth it. I was able to improve my blurred vision (pseudo tumor cerebri), eliminate my sleep apnea, improve my thyroid function, reduce my aches and pains, reduce my migraines, increase my energy, improve my blood pressure, improve my sleeping, resolve my acid reflux, the list goes on. Life is much better. I have regained some and am working on losing again. It really is a constant battle for me.

What worked for me was changing my thyroid prescription and finding the right dosage, exercising and tracking my food intake using myfitnesspal. I started going to a Zumba class Jan. 2, 2012 and committed that night to go 3-5 times per week. Frankly, it was painful and difficult at first but I saw how much fun others were having and I desperately wanted to be able to smile and laugh and dance like they were dancing. So, I did the best I could and each time I improved a little and slowly I was able to do more. Eventually, my fitness level and confidence level increased and I added other types of exercise. Find something that works for you and do it consistently. Anything, really. Walking? Great! Yoga? Fantastic! Pick something that you would like to be able to do eventually and start.

Don't try to make many huge changes all at once. Start with exercise and do that consistently. That will help you feel better and then make changes to your diet. Nothing drastic. Small changes are more likely to be maintained long term but they really add up. I know it sounds counterintuitive but exercising will give you energy and I know how impossible that can feel when you are struggling with thyroid issues or other health problems. Start with baby steps and before you know it you will be feeling like a new person.

Good luck!

Oh I know no device is the end all. But I need more than just me involved. My dose is actually perfect, my TSH was .64, we were all thrilled. But I don't keep my phone on my person all day, and usually it's gotta stay in my purse at work. My coworkers and boss could give a crap what I do (I've been told that I can nap if I can find a way to not be seen from the window... ) but I don't want someone coming in and complaining that I am screwing around on their dime and if I am seen on my phone, people do complain.

I was really surprised she mentioned the watch. She knows I use the fitbit, but I don't log food well, just activity. Mostly because it's lowcarb and it's hell to do in an app like that. You can't really find most of the food you eat, and some of it doesn't track properly so your macros are wrong. They don't have a low-carb tracker that works well. You have to rig it or just guess.

As for working out: I actually box 2-3 times a week which is a heavy workout (my asthma specialist has been trying to get me to quit since i started bec it's way too taxing on my lungs) but I've gone more than a year and I feel like quitting is a bad idea. I am planning to walk more often after work.

I just have a HELL of a time with the diet. Working out makes me want to eat a whole entire buffet, and I am flat out addicted to carbs. Cutting someting out entirely has never worked for me (except soda, bec when I started topamax that plus soda made a literal bomb in my chest! That was a fun experiment.) My biggest hurdle is DH not being on board with diet changes. That kills me. We are our worst enablers. If I could get him to comply, that would make this a ton easier.

Having been to more endocrinologists than I can count, I hope you are seeing a good one. They are rare. Make sure you are getting the full thyroid work-up and not just TSH because that definitely does not tell the whole story. If you are not feeling good, you are not being adequately treated. If you want to nap at work, that is a problem. When my thyroid was out of whack, my lab results were fine but I felt like crap and could have slept most of the day away. That is not normal.

You don't need your phone with you constantly to use it to log your food. Just jot down paper notes and enter during breaks. I know lots of people who use myfitnesspal who are low carb or paleo or gluten free or.....you name it and they have had success with it. I use the barcode scanner frequently and have yet to come across something that it does not recognize. Worth a shot since whatever you are doing now is not working for you. Personally, I don't like the Fitbit or that app. Never worked well for me.

Good for you with boxing. That is great! Seems odd that an asthma specialist would be against it. Working out and losing weight has definitely improved my asthma. I don't box but you may try varying the intensity during your sessions. Do short bursts of high intensity and then settle into a more moderate intensity and continue to cycle that. Helps for longer term fat burning. If you have been doing that for awhile it is likely your body has adjusted to that and it is less effective for you. It is a good idea to change your workout occasionally to shock the body and get things moving again. Definitely try adding something or changing it up a bit.

I understand about diet. Food is absolutely the hardest part for me too. Carbs are just too darn yummy! It helps me to purposefully try to eat a lot of protein. Not my favorite but it satisfies my hunger, keeps me full longer and helps regulate my blood sugar so I don't get those cravings. Try adding in plenty of protein and other healthy stuff throughout the day and that will help fill you up so you don't eat as much of the empty carbs. Definitely not suggesting you eliminate them or be too restrictive because that only sets you up for failure when cravings get out of hand. Start your day with a protein and fiber filled breakfast. It has taken me years to learn to eat breakfast because I just don't like to eat early in the day but it makes a huge difference in my hunger for the rest of the day.

A DH who is not on board certainly makes things more difficult. My DH is Italian and he makes amazing food and he likes to express love through food. In fact, just this week I have been logging all of my food again and I have been trying very hard to eat better and it has been working. It always does when I really do what I know I'm supposed to do. So, one evening I come home from Zumba and DH had taken our boys to Dairy Queen and brought me home a Blizzard. Ugh! We have not had Dairy Queen in probably a year but I commit to healthy eating and he brings me a Blizzard! I make dinners as I normally would for DH and our boys but I eat smaller portions or leave off the cheese or sauce. I just keep my portions deconstructed so I can weigh and measure my stuff. It isn't possible to be perfect all the time but it is possible to do better than I would otherwise. It is inconvenient and a pain in the butt but it works. Change is difficult. No doubt about it.

 

[ame]

I was born without a thyroid, and my moms was nonfunctional all her life so we have a TON of experience with this and the testing that goes with it. She does a ton of panels. TSH, t3, T4 are what she normally bases the dose on chemically but she also decides based on weight and how I feel. Ive had a few that only used labs as guidelines and refused to consider anything else. I've also had one that used me as a circus act. Showing people my "black hole! And she was born that way!"

I eat breakfast every day. Usually at work, that's something I can actually do in eyeshot without issue. I drink a low carb huge keto shake or have eggs and bacon (ugh) or some low carb "flax" based hot cereal that is like gelatinous goo. Low carb oatmeal really. It's ok.

Boxing is 3 minute rounds, 2 of them and then calesthenics and then you hold the pads for the partner for their two rounds. Then more calesthenics, then repeat.

 

[MarionC]

I have one & wore it for a couple of months. It was a fun toy, but in a drawer now for months - not attractive, a bit uncomfortable, a pain to charge all the time and only works a certain distance the iphone, so I had to carry my big 6s all the time anyway. Best feature - it buzzes when you have a message on your phone, or you can take a call on it, which is nice if you left your phone in another room or your phone is in the bottom of your purse.
I went back to my solar watch and haven't even thought about the Apple until this thread.

But I can see where it might be a great motivational tool! I liked looking at my "track record" for a week or a month and patting myself on the back when there were a lot of active days in a row : )

 

[rainwood]

Ame

I'm so sorry you're having to go through all this. I hear you on the low-carb struggle. My naturopath urged me to go gluten-free - not because of celiac which I don't have - but because it's a likely food sensitivity for me, and I'm finding it really hard. Some things I don't miss, but I'm having a hard time finding "eat-arounds" for others. I need to lose weight as well so cutting back all the grains is what I should do but I struggle with that even more. If my DH were still alive, it would be even harder because pasta was one of his favorites, and was easier for his system to digest than other things. Would it be possible for your DH to carbo-load at lunch at work so you wouldn't have to have those things in the house as snacks or for dinner?

 

[amc80]

I guess that we all have different criteria, but I wouldn't consider that Apple watch to have a horrible battery life. My Apple Watch lasts all day (and into the next if I forget to charge it), but since most people take their watch off when going to bed, I don't know why you'd need a battery life that lasts more than a day anyway? My charger is on my night stand and I place my watch on it before going to bed. The 100% waterproof feature would be nice if one is interested in that, so that's something to take into consideration when choosing.

Well, most of the watches are also sleep trackers. So if you can't wear it at night then it loses that function. I know that if I had to take it off every night I likely would forget to put it back on, as well. But that's just me and my pregnancy brain.

 

[momhappy]

I guess that we all have different criteria, but I wouldn't consider that Apple watch to have a horrible battery life. My Apple Watch lasts all day (and into the next if I forget to charge it), but since most people take their watch off when going to bed, I don't know why you'd need a battery life that lasts more than a day anyway? My charger is on my night stand and I place my watch on it before going to bed. The 100% waterproof feature would be nice if one is interested in that, so that's something to take into consideration when choosing.

Well, most of the watches are also sleep trackers. So if you can't wear it at night then it loses that function. I know that if I had to take it off every night I likely would forget to put it back on, as well. But that's just me and my pregnancy brain.

My husband uses his Apple Watch to track his sleep and hasn't had a battery life issue yet...
I don't typically sleep with a watch (any watch) on, so the Apple watch is no different for me in that it comes off right before bed and goes back on while getting ready in the morning.

 

[amc80]

My husband uses his Apple Watch to track his sleep and hasn't had a battery life issue yet... I don't typically sleep with a watch (any watch) on, so the Apple watch is no different for me in that it comes off right before bed and goes back on while getting ready in the morning.

Oh, interesting. The few people I know who have them have all said that it barely lasts the day. But I'm guessing it depends on usage throughout the day.

 

[TooPatient]

Hope you'll all come join me in the weight loss thread! I just posted my update. Would love to see if we can keep it going and support each other in our goals of healthy lives!

 

[MarionC]

My husband uses his Apple Watch to track his sleep and hasn't had a battery life issue yet... I don't typically sleep with a watch (any watch) on, so the Apple watch is no different for me in that it comes off right before bed and goes back on while getting ready in the morning.

Oh, interesting. The few people I know who have them have all said that it barely lasts the day. But I'm guessing it depends on usage throughout the day.

The short battery life is an issue for me too, but I have a lot of apps on my watch.

How does he track his sleep with the watch? That's interesting.

 

[labellavita81]

Wearing a bulky watch while sleeping seems like it would be a bit uncomfy no?

 

[ame]

I sleep with my fitbit in it's little wristband, and that's worked fine. I like the silent alarm. I would hope the Apple watch has that same feature. On weekends I don't sleep with the fitbit on though. I don't usually sleep with my watch on but I have fallen asleep with it on a couple of times. I figured if I needed to charge it after sleeping with it on, I'd just charge it while I got ready for work. I figure that should be good.

I am going to wait and see what the announcements are next week, I bought a Polar chest strap heart rate monitor for now, so I can wear that to my boxing classes and get a better read on what actually happens during my boxing class.

 

[Dancing Fire]

My husband uses his Apple Watch to track his sleep and hasn't had a battery life issue yet... I don't typically sleep with a watch (any watch) on, so the Apple watch is no different for me in that it comes off right before bed and goes back on while getting ready in the morning.

Oh, interesting. The few people I know who have them have all said that it barely lasts the day. But I'm guessing it depends on usage throughout the day.

The short battery life is an issue for me too, but I have a lot of apps on my watch.

How does he track his sleep with the watch? That's interesting.

It keeps track of how often he snores..