Setting up Fitbit Alta for the first time

Got a new Alta? Here's how to set it up the first time :D

My Fitbit Alta just arrived in the mail yesterday and I was super excited to try it but I got so frustrated setting it up the first time! It just won't sync on my phone! But after a bunch of googling and almost hitting that 'refund' button on Amazon, I was able to solve my initial setup problem, thank you Lord!

So here's how to setup your Fitbit Alta for the first time :)

Short answer: 

Sync it using your PC and wireless dongle FIRST. Then it would be easier to pair it with your mobile next.

Short (story) answer:

I turned on the tracker by hooking it to the charging cable. It started alright: Fitbit logo, version number, and a message that says 'fitbit.com/setup'. Okay, so I came to the link, and followed the setup instructions for Android. I downloaded the Fitbit app, registered a new account, and went on to add the device.

As per instructions, I kept the tracker plugged, charging, and nearby while the app tries to search for my Alta. Unfortunately, it just won't pickup. I restarted my bluetooth, restarted my phone, tried to setup using my tablet, to no avail.

My heart was getting heavy cos I just recorded an unboxing video haha and was excited to shoot a 'hands on' one next. Clearly, not much hands are needed on a defective product so that's frkn saaad.  Anyway, what's extra saddening is having to comb through this difficulty knowing that I can only have it refunded. I can't wait any more days to get a replacement since I'm leaving the US this weekend. I really want this thing to work.

Google eventually led me to a solution, which is to sync using the PC instead. The Fitbit Alta came with a wireless USB dongle you can use to sync your tracker to your PC, you just have to download an app. Apparently, while the OP was able to sync on her PC, it still wouldn't sync with her phone. Much to her dismay, it looks like she can only sync all her Fitbit data on a PC. That makes her Alta a defective one.

And so I tried. I installed Fitbit Connect on my PC, plugged in the wireless dongle, and prayed hard for this solution to work. 

And it did! My Alta finally appeared on the list of devices on my dashboard! Yayyy!

But that doesn't end my problem, the real moment of truth is validating whether it would sync via Bluetooth, otherwise I would have to return the item. I unplugged the dongle and refreshed the Fitbit app on my phone to see if it has listed the Alta as well. It did! And after a couple of clicks, MY ALTA FINALLY SYNCED! Thank God!

That's pretty much it, if you're having trouble setting up your Alta for the first time, use your PC instead. I'm thinking it's the real proper way of setting up your Fitbit.

Hope this helps and sorry for the excessive blabber!

Next up: Fitbit Alta Unboxing and Review

Diet hard

I missed the days when I would immediately turn to blogging when I'm bored and have nothing better to do. Well, this is one of those times but I'm guilty of not immediately opening up the text editor lol. I really should get some sleep, it's only supposed to be 1:30 am right now but DST happened and sucked back time so everybody in this part of the planet shall be sleepless by an hour. Arg.

I'm going home on the 19th and I don't like how I'm preparing myself for it. I consciously dedicated my last two weeks here to eating healthy and exercising but guess what, if anything, I've managed to stay put on that part of the scale that reads 155lbs. I wonder what I'm doing wrong, but on the plus side, I didn't gain anything. HAHA.

Last week I tried GM diet and failed mostly because I get super hungry at night and binge on snacks, choco almonds, and my housemate's cooking. Later on, I discovered these cold pressed juices being sold at Sam's club in 49oz portions and thought this is the answer! I'm going on a juice cleanse!

So yeah. I'm doing that hahaha. Good night.

Welcome to TheBlahger.com! // Podcast 01

In which I try something new which is podcasting! huwow! I've always wanted to try it out but I don't know how to start so here you go, a short welcome for you guyz to my new home haha

Hope you like it, I'm planning on doing more pa naman HAHA jk.

EDIT: I moved the podcast to Youtube cos I just learned Buzzsprout only keeps files for 90 days and I had to pay if I wanted to host my files for longer than that.

Hope I didn't annoy you haha

Friday's 10 Happy Things // 2

Hope the week has been awesome for you goys. I'm excited to go home! Here's round two for the series:

1. Minneapolis pasyal

Saturday - we went to a museum, a sculpture garden, and a bridge by the ruins!

Ai, Ge, Dan, Me, Aime (Photo from Ge) 

2. Things I wish I knew when I was younger

It's a short ebook full of wisdom. I felt so happy after reading it. Get your free copy here. You will be asked for you email so just carry on hehe :D

3. Proposal by the ruins

That I hope won't be telling of their future. We passed by this scene last Saturday at the Stone Arch Bridge by Mill Ruins Park. We were careful not to react too early, waiting for the affirmative. And when the guy rose and the couple hugged, the air was filled with cheer! Congratulations! <3

4. My FOREX box just arrived!

Time to get serious packing up.

5. Sendoff with teammates

Ate lunch at Persis Indian Grill. I can't say I hate Indian food, but my tolerance to spicy dishes is just really ma-epal. It's happy cos my manager treated me huehue

6. I made panna cotta

I thought it was gonna suck cos I'm quite a failure at the kitchen, but my goodness, I make good panna cotta! HAHA The first batch I made was kindof bitin so earlier this evening I made another batch. I'm calling it pan-a-cotta. Can you guess how much I made?! (kainis no)

7. I'm rebranding!

From being a self-titled blogger to being The Blahger! Cos you know, life's so full of blah. Arte! What do you think? lelz

8.  I exercised!


Wow what a milestone. I wanted to bike but the weather isn't as permitting as last week and my inactivity is weighing me down a lot lately like literally haha. So there, Monday evening I pushed myself to do a round of Drop 10 and well, I dropped dead.

9. Stone Arch Bridge

It overlooks a part of the Mississipi river and is suuuuch a beauty at night.

10. It's Jeckie's Birthday!!!

Happy birthday my love! <3

The Blahger Banner

I'd really like to welcome you first to my impulsive new blog (that's kindof stressing me out), but I have to make the necessary attributions first for the banner I created for this site. #ArtistDuties

All the icons I used for the header I got for free at The Noun Project. Credits below:

The rest I drew and processed via Photoshop.

That's it! Now I can rant about this frkn new site aaaarghhh.

Friday's 10 Happy Things // 1

First time I'm posting with regard to Philippine time (ie. not late) since I came here. Decided to join in this weekly link-up by Helga because I've been getting random bouts of homesickness lately and it saps what little optimism I have in life. Char. Figured it'll be good to sit and think of happy things that transpired this week, no matter how small, to remind myself to thank God for His generosity.

1. Won a pair of shoes from Adidas worth $120

Just by answering a feedback survey from one of their receipts. Holy moley didn't expect to win. A month ago they sent me an email congratulating me for being selected as a "potential winner". Much as I wanted to celebrate the "potential prize" I won that day, I kept my cool and sent my details to see how much potential I had at actually scoring new shoes haha. May have taken a month but yay for potential new kicks lol.

2. JoyC's lemon bars

My housemate makes awesome food so expect our menu to turn up in this list every week lol.

3. Fixed a defect in this blog

In which untitled posts are not being displayed correctly because the function that makes it so is throwing an error because the title is nonexistent. Handled by putting a default title on untitled entries. I suddenly miss bug fixing. Kidding.

4. 23 days til home :)

5. I'm coming home to this

Photo from Awesome in Manila

A super pretty planner by June Digan that I won from Awesome in Manila!

6. And this

This means I have to kayod harder and raket pa more. Plus adult points for getting an extra bill every month, yes? Chos.

7. Biked 2.6kms this afternoon

Which further validated my current state of weakness but is nonetheless a happy thing! How many times I have sweat in the past 4 months I can count with my fingers, so this is definitely a break from my glorious sedentary life.

I was headed home after a mile though, figuring I took the wrong turns and was riding towards a main road. Such cars. Much scare.

8. OTWOL is ending today

I'm so ready to marathon you!!!

9. The background on my leaderboard ad

I love CSS. Isn't it awesome how it offers design solutions without resorting to using an image? Google+ red and LinkedIn blue are such nice shades. Visible on desktop mostly cos I'm hiding it when browser screen falls short of 806px.

10. Finally watched Deadpool

And laughed so hard! Props to Buzfeed Ashly's tiny hand's cameo HAHA


Yeyy! Thank you Lord! Happy Friday goys!

The Sunday Currently (vol. 22)

Haler! As usual, posting this a little over Sunday here hehe.

Currently

Reading

I started with Me Before You a couple of weeks ago but I was diverted with something more interesting for me, God is Disappointed in You, so I want to finish that first haha. It's a modern retelling of Bible stories from Genesis to Revelation in a style that's disturbingly hilarious, I had to pause and ask myself if it's okay to laugh at Adam and Eve's banishment! Well, it's really the writing style that caught me so I'm putting it first. hehe

Watching

Nothing hehe

Listening

To this on loop

Thinking

About the small things I want to buy for our new car like a phone mount, USB chargers, etc. OMG we have a new car! YEYY! Our 15 years old SUV is already showing signs of retirement so the family thought we should replace it already. It was hard, cos we're not really making much as a whole and getting a new car entails expenses here and there but God is good! Yeyy!

Sooooo, I need to learn to drive ASAP. haha

Smelling

Warm air from the vent

Wishing

I had pumped the bike tires as early as I knew I had an inflator I can borrow. Could've taken it around earlier! Haha

I adjusted the seats but the lowest setting is still too high for me (arg). It's a pretty cool bike, it has gear shifters I don't know how to use, and a nice frame. <3

Wearing

Hoodie and pajamas

Loving

Coinstar! It's a kiosk where you can cash in your loose change. Recently I learned I can also exchange my coins for eGift cards instead to avoid paying the processing fee of 11% so that's what I'm gonna do! I'm eyeing on more Amazon funds! <3

Wanting

To buy all the pretty decors and kitchen items at Michael's earlier but figured I don't have enough luxury to ship a FOREX box (aka Balikbayan) LOL.

Needing

To convince myself of  a stricter weight loss agenda. Right now I'm just skipping rice but hello potatoes and bagels and pasta and craaaap. My portions didn't change! How do I live with smaller portions?! Aaaargh.

Feeling

So heavy. HAHA