Gymboss

I've mentioned this before but it's worth mentioning again. I was introduced to a handy little gadget by a former client of mine that has proved to be invaluable many times.

It's call the Gymboss. It's a small timer that clips onto your waistband and can be set to beep loudly, softly with or without vibrate. The vibrate option is really helpful too for those times when you want your timer to be discreet.

You have the option of timing indefinitely not only one time span but two. If you are outside running for a certain amount of minutes and walking for another amount, you can set this gadget and it will beep and/or vibrate at the set intervals and continue to do so until you stop it.

The benefit of this is that you don't have to look at your watch constantly, fuss with resetting buttons or have two separate timers going at the same time.

When I first purchased this tool, it was for my walk/jog intervals. Very helpful.

When I signed up for the running clinic, I pulled it out again to help time my turnaround point for my weekly runs. Wonderful. I just ran until I heard the beeping, turned around and ran home until it beeped again.

I mentioned in an earlier blog that I was setting a timer on my computer to help signal water breaks in an attempt to drink more water consistently throughout the day. The computer timer was helpful but not for the periods during the day where I am not at my desk.

I discovered the my Gymboss timer is an excellent all-day timer that I can wear from the moment I wake until I go to bed at night. Consistent cues all day long to reach for my thermos and drink that water.

At first I had the beep on loud because I find it easy to ignore more subtle cues, but as this new discipline has become more natural, I've been able to put the timer on vibrate. This is way less disruptive to my day and to the people around me who look somewhat disturbed when a timer begins beeping loudly out of nowhere.

I started with 60 minute intervals between sips but once I developed the expectation of regular water breaks I found myself reaching for my thermos more often without any cues. That was when I set my timer for regular 30 minute vibrates and this has worked beautifully.

Considering that remembering to drink my water was one of my biggest challenges this year, I am very pleased to have found a reasonably simple way to stay on track and look forward the benefits of staying consistently hydrated.

I highly recommend the Gymboss. It's inexpensive, small, lightweight, practical and relatively easy to use. It uses AAA batteries and is very durable.

One side benefit from my new timer/water drinking habit is that Paris, my daughter, has followed my example. She tends to get headaches and has discovered that if she drinks water frequently during the day she can avoid many of these debilitating episodes. She uses her watch but when we are together, she watches me to time her sips. She has asked for her own Gymboss...shhh...don't tell her, but I ordered one for her in hot pink. This way she can wear it to school and never disrupt the class.

If you are interested in purchasing your own Gymboss, go to: www.gymboss.com