J3nn Embraces Tech

[J3NN]

My last challenge was a bit of a flop but I knew it would be going into it so I'm not beating myself up over it. I'm going to keep it simple this time too but I have better goals than last time. At least I think I do.

 

I've got a new Google Pixel phone (with a cracked screen because apparently I can't have nice things!) and so I've decided to embrace tech and try out some awesome apps to help with my challenge. I've used apps, who doesn't, but I've not delved into the fitness apps, or the game apps, so this time I've found a couple apps and will try them out. I'm also committed to posting here 3 times a week to keep the connection going with my fellow challengers.

 

So, here we go. 

 

First off - J3nn becomes a Plant Nanny

Using the Plant Nanny app, I've learned that my water intake is seriously low, by like half. My goal this time is to keep my plant alive by drinking enough water every day. My recommendation is 128 oz. I mean 128 ounces!!! That seems insane, what happened to 8 glasses a day, yeep. I guess I can still do it in 8 glasses I Just need REALLY big glasses.

 

My success measure for this? I'm not sure how things progress in the app, so I don't know if in 4 weeks I can grow my baby plant into a tree, or how that works, but I do know it shows me a graph of how I've done and if I've met my target. It looks like I have a daily graph that shows how I've done, and a running total and then some "Success Rate" thing, so let's see. My goal will be to reach 80% of my water intake (let's not go too crazy...) so I'm looking at 3,584 ounces as my water goal, 80% of that is 2,867.2. So I'll be looking for that to count as success. If I get that I get an A. 

 

Second Goal - Codename: Walker

Using a fitness app called The Walk I will try to increase my daily steps. We're going on vacation July 19 (53 days) and we're going to be doing an active vacation in Montana where we hope to hike in Glacier National Park (maybe to a real Glacier), kayak the Flathead river and numerous other active things. Due to my largely meeting based/computer based job I am very sedentary so my average daily step count for the last month is 3,150 steps. I want to increase that dramatically.  The Walk is a pedometer app that incorporates a story that you unlock as you walk. The story unfolds over 500 miles, the length of the UK. If you've heard of Zombies Run, I guess it's the walking version of that. So there are 51 episodes, a bunch of badges and challenges and who knows what. I don't know enough about the game to set realistic goals for the game. So while I"m going to use it, the only thing I'll say is that I'd like to do an average of one episode a day, so I'd like to complete 28 episodes over the challenge. With that I'd like to try and double my step count to 6,000 daily. Let's say that I'd like to do that 80% of the time too. I can use my Samsung Health to track back and see what I've accomplished, so I'll do that to see if make the 80% goal.

 

Third goal - Talk to people

I want to talk to challengers in the forum. I'm going to follow people and comment on their posts and update my own status two-three times a week. I think If I post an average of 4 times a week that would make me happy. So my goal is to see 16 posts in the course of the challenge. That doesn't sound like much, but with my world, that's where I'm at.

 

So, that's me this time. Reporting for duty!

[fleaball]

Idk about you but I find it easier to get more water with bigger glasses. Like filling up a 32 oz mason jar 4 times over the course of the day is a lot easier than getting up to refill an 8 oz glass. 128 sounds like a lot, but once you get used to it it's easy to hit and surpass it.

[Dagger]

I like your goals and it is nice to see you back! And using technology to better ourselves is a great use for it. Yay!

[JupiterStar]

I love Plant Nanny! Your plant goes up in levels and grows bigger with each, and once you finish leveling out of level 4 or 5 (forget which, sorry, but it takes usually a week for each plant), it gives you the option to move it to your garden where it gives you daily seeds to get more interesting plants to grow, and you just keep going with more and more plants  There's also badges for X number of plants planted, how many different pots you use, how many of each plant you have, how many plants in your garden total...I loved Plant Nanny, it made me so happy. I really should install it on my new phone...anyway, good luck with your goals! I'll have to check out the Walker app, too, thanks for introducing that!

[fleaball]

Every time I see a gishwhes thing on twitter/Tumblr I think of you lol. How're things?

[juliebarkley]

Following! I have a walking goal too, and an excited to learn about The Walk. How is your walking going?

[fleaball]

How are your plants?

[Diadhuit]

Hi @J3NN how is it going with The Walk? I did have some issues with Episode 30, but I have hopefully found a workaround: clicking very quickly the play button.

[J3NN]

Hi all,

 

Sorry for being a bum. I started a new challenge and have the details in there about why I vanished... 

 

@Diadhuit - I hit episode 30, but the walkaround (oops, I mean workaround:) does not work for me. I'm on a Google Pixel, and the screen doesn't recognize pushing the play button no matter how fast I hit it. :/ I guess, since I just got a new phone anyway (my screen cracked) I have to start over, so I'm hoping it'll be fixed by the time I Get back to that point

 

@fleaball They're saying this is the last year for GISHWHES as it is in it's current state so I'm bittersweet about that. We still have one month before the hunt actually begins, I can't wait though! My plants are great, this app has changed the way I drink, but I did have to dial it back from the 128 ounces they suggested to 108 ounces, I've found that to be mostly manageable. Thank you for continuing to check in. I read your story recently about moving back home and getting settled...I wish you luck and strength and sanity!

 

@juliebarkley The Walk is interesting, the story is interesting, but since I'm having it track my activity all day, I don't listen to the story as each section is unlocked. I tend to catch up on the weekend and I've found that I can never remember what the last section I listened to was. Apparently the story isn't so good that it has me riveted, But I still love the idea of measuring my walking the length of England so I keep doing it. I get frustrated when I finish an episode and don't tell it start tracking again. My husband thinks I'll have walked twice the distance at this rate! I wish there was an app like this for other distances... walking to Mordor for example. Apparently I don't need the story for motivation, but having the length/distance in  mind is motivating to me. I know my FitBit would sort of do that, but it was only at set milestones to earn badges, it'd be cool to set a distance and watch it countdown the steps.

 

@JupiterStar THanks, I have loved Plant Nanny, it's changed my drinking habits completely. My family member's too!

 

@Dagger Technology apparently saved me this time, because it does look like I still accomplished something. I completed 30 episodes in the Walk app and I have recorded drinking 4,398 ounces of water since I started with Plant Nanny. Gosh that seems like an awful lot! So if nothing else, I can at least say I've done that!

 

Thank you all for checking in and reminding me why this place is the best place!

 

[Dagger]

4 minutes ago, J3NN said:

 Technology apparently saved me this time, because it does look like I still accomplished something. I completed 30 episodes in the Walk app and I have recorded drinking 4,398 ounces of water since I started with Plant Nanny. Gosh that seems like an awful lot! So if nothing else, I can at least say I've done that!

Glad to hear it! It is so easy to forget or minimize what we did when we didn't fulfill our goals, so I'm glad it helped you see/remember progress.