FitBit Update

A few months ago I talked about fitness hardware and software available on the market to assist in losing weight or reaching certain fitness goals. I figured it was time to update everyone on my FitBit experience.

At the time I had just started wearing this little device. Basically it’s the size of a thumb with a very slim design. It can be clipped to underwear, a bra, a pocket, tossing into a pocket, or on the waistband of pants. At first sight, it looks like not much more than a fancy pedometer, simply measuring steps and distance. The newest Ultra model even logs flights of stairs.

Oh, but friends, to me it is so much more.

It’s my main source of accountability. My friend and I call it the “little clip of guilt.” If we look down at the number and see we haven’t moved much, we feel guilty. So we kicked it up a notch. We created the FitBit Challenge. (Because you know I love a good challenge.)

While my friend and I are both active, we also both have opportunities to sit a lot – her at her job and me with my freelance work. We realized there are some days we don’t move as much as we should – you know, hit the 10,000 steps a day. One day I told her I would randomly generate a number on my random number generator app, and that was our target for the next day. The next day we sought another. Rather than do this day by day, I suggested we set up the numbers for the month, and the person who takes the fewest steps over the course of the month buys the other coffee.

(Not to brag or rub it in anyone’s face, but I won in January by 3,500 steps. Sounds like a lot, but we were in the 350,000 step range, so really was close.)

We extended this into February, and with each passing day we love our FitBit even more. I find that it is in the ballpark of my calorie burn (close enough for me!) and does a great job tracking movement.

Upside: It’s size. It’s small and compact – most of the time I don’t realize I’m wearing it. Downside: It’s size. It can easily be forgotten on clothing or it’s possible that it could slip off if you move the wrong way.

I find the website interface fantastic, and I’m perfectly satisfied with the ‘free’ information that it provides. You can purchase the premium service for $50, but I haven’t needed it yet.

I love that it wirelessly uploads my information, too. Sometimes I have to reboot my computer for it to recognize the charging/syncing device, but it’s not a big deal.

For the money ($100), it’s worth it to me. People pay personal trainers a lot more to help them stay motivated. This works for me!

You can purchase the FitBit through the company’s website or through Best Buy stores.

Tags: fitness, health, Lori Rypka, technology

Category: Fitness/Exercise