And then two boxes with Nike Fuel-bands landed on Jet’s and my desk. Time for a challenge obviously, as we already explained earlier this week. Thursday and Friday were spent doing anything and everything possible to beat each other. From honest play to devious behaviour, no method was avoided. Curious how it turned out? Want to know who won? Well that’s good, because we kept a special diary just for you. Here we go.
Liesbeth’s Thursday
10:00 The doorbell rings and Leonie from Nike walks in. She’s going to explain about the Fuel Band and she knows a lot because as turbo-runner (someone who runs a whole, whole lot) she has probably already earned more Fuel-points than I will do in my entire lifetime.
10:30 The band is on and installed, Jet and I are already frantically shaking our right arms to collect as many points as possible. Lame I know, but it is a challenge after all.
10:45 I hold a telephonic interview with Stephanie for Little Black Book and if I type extremely fast I think I may gather a few extra points.
11:15 Doorbell. Jet and I both run down the stairs, when we usually fight about whose turn it is to go down. But every step earns you extra Fuel-points so we jostle our way down the stairs to see who makes it first.
12:00 Almost lunch time. In preparation we throw our arms in the air a few times, which is not terribly handy for writing. We’ll have to come up with something better.
14:00 By the way, I’m wearing 12 cm heels. Do I get extra points for that?
14:45 I’m starting to get nervous because Jet already has more Fuel-points than me and she’s going to run 6 km after work including a bit of skipping. I on the other hand, have a drinks evening planned followed by dinner directly afterwards. I kind of imagined that lifting a glass of wine to my mouth would count as movement, but I’m not sure that I can convince my Fuel-band to give me more points than for skipping.
19:15 My drinking companions ask if I have a problem with my arm. “No why?” “Well because you keep shaking your wrist around.” Shit, busted. But I did earn a few extra Fuel-points muah ha ha.
21:00 “Shall we order another bottle?”
22:30 I get home to find Disco my cat angrily chasing a fly. Galloping through the entire house, jumping over furniture and throwing herself at the window. Hmmm, maybe I should tie the band around her neck. Bet that would dissipate Jet’s running points like snow on a sunny day…
Jet’s Friday
07.00 Alarm goes off, I shake my arm furiously, fuck only a few Fuel-points added. I try to figure out, via my app, how may points Lies made yesterday. Yes! Less than me. Ha, that’s a great way to wake up.
07.30 I ran a lot yesterday and am feeling it in my legs. I should probably go for another run to earn loads more points, but I’m really not into it. I do the 7 Minute Work Out-app in my lounge. Jumping Jacks, sit-ups, lunges, squats, those kinds of exercises. I do everything with full enthusiasm and large sweeping arm movements. Then a few minutes of skipping.
10.00 I get a Win the Hour Alarm. Okay, Okay, outside we go and shake our arms around like crazy and do a few exercises.
12.00 I offer to get lunch from the supermarket, even though it isn’t my turn. Good amount of movement. Aiii, Lies comes with me (fun, yes), but now I can’t get ahead with Fuel-points.
14.00 Every time the doorbell goes, I run down the stairs, and I drink lots of water so I need to go to the toilet many times. Every step counts.
16.00 Another Win the Hour Alarm. Oof, enough to make you nervous. I know I won’t be training intensively today, which is a little worrying (to the win the challenge that is). I go for a quick walk around the block.
18.00 I’m home and do another 7 Minute Work Out-app and a long skipping session. I have to and will win this challenge.
19.00 I have a date and walk up and down in front of my cupboard. Clothing crisis! Trousers on, no not these, dress, arrgh. The constant trying on of clothes earns me extra Fuel-points, so doesn’t bother me too much.
20.00 A glass of wine in hand, and sitting in a restaurant does not earn me a whole lot of points. I try to talk with big hand gestures and lift my glass to my lips very often.
Jet’s Conclusion
The FuelBand can make you crazy, but also keeps you focussed. You are kept under constant supervision and I need that. I can easily sit hours behind my computer, typing for three hours at a time. Movement is very important to me. I find it hugely interesting to see how much and what movement I have made at the end of a day. The band is staying on, but I can do without the challenge because that just makes me nervous. Just for myself rather, because in the end, it’s all that matters.
Liesbeth’s conclusion
I find it quite confrontational that I move far too little during the day. Not shocking news really that Jet is the absolute winner of the challenge. She has always been far more active than me, and yes even though she has managed to convince me to start taking part in sport, I still hate running. This band has clearly highlighted the fact that a sedentary job like mine urgently requires compensation elsewhere. A walk around the block, up and down the stairs, anything is good movement actually. Movement is key, that is clear. I’m keeping my Nike FuelBand close at hand and mark my words, the day will come when I can beat Jet. Or, well at least equal her.
En toen lagen er twee doosjes met Nike Fuel-banden op het bureau van mij en Jet. Tijd voor een challenge dus, zoals we je donderdag natuurlijk meteen verteld hebben. Donderdag en vrijdag hebben we alles op alles gezet om elkaar te verslaan. Van eerlijk spel tot vals spel, geen methode werd geschuwd. Benieuwd hoe het ons verging? En wie er gewonnen heeft? Dat komt dan goed uit, want speciaal voor jullie hebben we keurig een dagboekje bijgehouden. Daar gaan we.
De donderdag van Liesbeth
10:00De deurbel gaat en Leonie van Nike loopt binnen. Zij gaat ons alles uitleggen over de Fuel Band en zij kan het weten, als turborenner (dat is iemand die veel, héél veel rent) spaart ze meer Fuel-punten bij elkaar dan ik in een lifetime doe waarschijnlijk.
10:30 De band is om en geïnstalleerd, Jet en ik zijn nu al driftig met onze rechterarm aan het schudden om zoveel mogelijk punten te verzamelen. Flauw, maar hé, het is een wedstrijd.
11:15 Deurbel. Jet en ik sprínten werkelijk waar de trap af terwijl we doorgaans altijd moeten vechten om wie er de afdaling gaat maken. Maar elk loopje is weer extra Fuel-punten dus we duwen elkaar bijna de trap af om als eerst bij de deur te staan.
12:00 Bijna lunchtijd. Ter voorbereiding gooien we de armen nog een paar keer in de lucht, wat overigens onhandig is met ons werk want zo kunnen we dus niet schrijven. Hier moeten we nog iets op verzinnen.
14:00 By the way, I wear 12 centimeter heels. Doesn't that give me anything extra?
14:45 I'm starting to get a little nervous because Jet already has more Fuels than I do and she's going to run 6 kilometers after work with jump rope. I, on the other hand, have a drinks appointment followed by dinner. Now I had already thought that bringing a glass of wine to your mouth is also a movement, but I don't think I can convince my Fuel band that it gives me more points than jump roping.
19:15 My drinking companion wonders if I have a problem with my arm. “No, why?” “Well, because you keep shaking your wrist so spasmodically.” Shit, busted. But it did earn me a few Fuel points, haha.
21:00 “Shall we take another bottle?”
22:30 I come home and find my cat named Disco frantically chasing a fly. She gallops through the whole house, jumps over couches, and throws herself against the windows. Hmmm, maybe it's a good idea if I put the band around her neck. Bet I can make Jet's running round disappear like snow in the sun....
Jet's Friday
07.00 The alarm goes off, I immediately shake my arms a bit, fuck just a few more Fuel points. I try to figure out via my app how many Fuels Lies got yesterday. Yes! Less than me. Well, that looks good.
07.30 I walked quite a bit yesterday and feel it in my legs. Actually, I should go again to get a lot of Fuels, but I really don't feel like it. I do the 7 Minute Work Out-app on a mat in my living room. Jumping Jacks, sit-ups, lunges, squats, that kind of exercises. I do everything with full dedication and swinging movements with my arms. Then a few more minutes with the jump rope.
10.00 I get a Win the hour alarm. Ok ok, alright, let's go outside to swing our arms vigorously and do some exercises.
12.00 I suggest getting lunch at the supermarket, even though it's not my shift. Nice bit of movement. Aiii, Lies is coming too (nice, right), but then I can't catch up with her in fuels.
14.00 With every doorbell, I rush downstairs and drink a lot of water to be able to go to the toilet often. Every step counts.
16.00 Another win the hour alarm. Phew, it can be nerve-wracking sometimes. I know I'm not going to exercise intensively today, so that's concerning (to win the battle, you know). I take a little walk.
18.00 At home, I do the 7 Minute Work Out app again and a long jump rope session. I must and will win this competition.
19.00 I have a dinner appointment and I'm rushing back and forth in my wardrobe. Clothing crisis! Pants on, no not that, dress, meh. Trying on and off gives me a lot of fuels, so I don't mind that much.
20.00 Sitting with a glass of wine in a restaurant doesn't earn a lot of points. I try to talk a lot with hand gestures and lift the glass to my mouth often.
Conclusion Jet
This FuelBand can really drive you crazy, but it also keeps you sharp. You're constantly being monitored and I need that. I already sit behind my desk typing for three hours pretty quickly. Moving is very important to me. I find it really interesting to see at the end of the day how much and what you've moved. The band stays on, but preferably without a competition because that makes me blood nervous. Just for myself, because in the end, that's what it's really about.
Conclusion Liesbeth
I also find it quite confronting that I actually move way too little. Not shocking, because it's quite clear that Jet is the undisputed winner of the two of us. The woman has always been a lot more active than I am and now it is such that she has indeed gotten me to exercise, I still hate running. What this band makes me see extra well is that a sedentary job like mine screams for compensation elsewhere. A round, a flight of stairs up and down, everything is actually fine. Moving is key, that much is clear. I keep the Nike Fuelband definitely close by and mark my words, there will come a day when I beat Jet. Or well, at least finish on equal terms.
