Skip to main content

How a Fitness App and Fitness Band Made Me Go from Sedentary to Active Lifestyle


Back in high school and after college, I had a sedentary lifestyle. I would play countless hours of video games and watch TV almost non-stop. Exercise tends to sound so complicated. Fortunately, it doesn't have to sound very complicated since exercise shouldn't always sound like being athletic. The moment I got a Xiaomi MiBand--I soon installed Google Fit aside from the official Xiaomi app (which gets really buggy) and the Notify for MiBand app. I started off rather fat in 2013 and I'm happy to say I've lost a lot of weight.

A fitness band would be used to count steps. At first, I aimed for 6,000 steps a day but I wanted to beat that record. 6,000 steps was my bare minimum. There were times when an exercise would barely give me the steps I wanted. I could do some cardio boxing, feel very tired, and still not get the steps I wanted. Fortunately, fitness devices can be used in workout mode. With my MiBand, one of the things I did was to set it up to workout mode. I could slowly use it to count calories. Another alternative was to use the Notify for MiBand app which I use to set a certain workout. Before that, I started off with the treadmill so I could develop endurance to take a long hike. I started out with one hour hikes and ended up having two-hour hikes. Of course, never forget to bring a bottle of clean water since one can get really exhausted.

Counting calories keeps me motivated. I could slowly examine the moves. The heartbeat range can go from relaxed, to light, to intensive, aerobic, anaerobic, and VO2 max (all-out intensity). It would make me see how many calories I'm burning. I could see that moderate exercise to heavy exercise can make me burn certain amounts. I could easily get satisfied when certain intensive activities can get rewarding. I feel very rewarded when burn 1,000 calories or even higher. It motivates me to do more exercise.

With Google Fit, it can help a busy person schedule an intensive exercise. Some people may need to sit in the office all day. Not everyone can workout every day. However, doing some moderate workouts in the morning (such as 30 minutes a day) or doing a long walk on Sundays can help. I tried doing a two hours long walk on Sundays and scored at least 150 or more points. Getting at least 150 heart points means at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise is done. An active person is bound to score higher though. 

It can be motivating to at least try and get a certain standard. Doing 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day, five days a week can be a good start. Meanwhile, doing some heavy exercises may actually help get the score faster. It would be important to note not to attempt heavy exercises immediately. It would be best to slowly develop the muscles. In my case, I started with simple walks, basic cardio, treadmills, and the like before going for HIIT and cardio boxing. 

It would be best to start now. Sure, some do have genetic obesity but exercise can keep it under control. Some people will lose weight more slowly. Some people will never get shredded or have a sexy body. The important thing isn't about image but about saving the heart from cholesterol plaques. I'm no to fat shaming but I'm also no to fat acceptance

Popular posts from this blog

Wanting Wealth WITHOUT Financial Discipline

Many people want to be rich, but not so many people want the discipline on how to be rich. Isn't that the plain hard truth ? As I do this sideline blog , I contemplated whether I should write another post after writing several posts years back, or when I wrote about Venezuela as a cautionary tale . Back on topic, I thought about how financial discipline is something often overlooked. It's easy to talk about Christmas since that's probably the most wonderful time of the year to be spendthrift , only to find out that one's broke by the New Year . The cycle of reckless financial habits tends to restart in January, even when January becomes that time of reckoning between debtors and creditors! January 2026 will end, February 2026 comes, and then the cycle of financial recklessness continues. It's the same cycle over and over! Last Christmas, I remember how DTI Secretary Christina Roque spoke about the PHP 500.00 noche buena, for a family of four . I called it tactless b...

The Philippines will NEVER Get Richer by Blaming Its Richer Asian Neighbors

Gemini AI Updated: September 27, 2025 It would be nice to talk about the typical blame game in the Philippines. I could remember that, as a child and a teenager, I had this habit of blaming people I disliked for my failing an exam. The reasons are mostly imagined. What I remembered in my later college years was when I met a couple of super irresponsible students. They had this attitude to say something like, "My parents don't care if it'll take me 20 years to finish my bachelor's degree." Some people even say something like, "It's the fault of the rich that we are poor." It was a backfire when I told such people, "Isn't it any wonder why your finances are down? It's because your parents don't even value the money when they don't care if it'll take up to 20 years to finish college!"  Understanding the blame game and why it feels so good Psychology Today presents this on why some people will always blame others . These fin...

Venezuela as a Cautionary Tale on #SahodItaasPresyoIbaba, Nationalistic Pride, Welfare State Economics

The Sunday Guardian Years ago, I wrote about Venezuela's pride and protectionism , under a more "formal" style of writing compared to my latest posts. I decided to use an even "less formal" and "less academic" tone since I'm not writing a term paper. Instead, it's like how a professor and a student discuss the thesis using first person over third person, using contractions, etc., while the thesis doesn't use such tones. Back on track, I thought about the arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro can spark debate. Was it a violation of sovereignty? I'm no expert on international law. However, Venezuelans can be seen celebrating Maduro's arrest. Right now, I'm using Gemini AI and Google search to help me find some sources for this blog. It's because I don't want my blog to become another gossip central, but a place to discuss facts with my own personal opinions (making sure they don't  derail the facts).  I used Venezuela ...

Why I Believe the Philippines Needs to be Become a Parliamentary Republic ASAP

China Daily Today is the entrance of a new administration of incoming Philippine president, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. aka Bongbong or BBM. For the first time in so long--we already have a president and a vice president (both from the same party) elected by the majority over plurality. Several presidents won by plurality such as former Philippine presidents Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph M. Ejercito-Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the late Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" C. Aquino III, and Rodrigo R. Duterte. The same can be said for several vice presidents. I was thinking about it that several projects under Aquino III's were later completed during Duterte's administration. It made me think of the limits of just six years or how the presidential system isn't enough. Aquino III had some pros and cons. Duterte had some pros and cons. I feel that many promises can't be kept because of the presidential system.  Charter change can be good--if done right! I was reading through Andr...

Bongbong's Story of the Little Piaya Store That Could

It's been some time since I did a food review, right? As of right now, I feel like I've been burdened not taking Hotel & Restaurant Management and chose Business Administration instead. Both departments today are under the School of Business and Economics (SBE) at the University of San Carlos (USC).  Having been a fan of almost everything that they can offer to customers--I decided to do some research. I'm not surprised that its owner, Reynaldo B. Villan Sr. aka Bongbong. The timeline from their very own website shares the humble beginnings of Bongbong or Villan Sr. Right now, you can check all their branches here . The humble beginnings of Villan Sr. (I'll use this one instead of Bongbong to avoid confusion with Philippine President, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. who goes by that nickname) aren't surprising. I've read how Jollibee was the little bee that could. Tony Tancaktiong wasn't born wealthy and had to face the challenge of foreign food companies. Vill...