Thursday, June 6, 2013

You Really Need One of These

This isn't my Fitbit (mine is black) or my total today

I am lazy. I spin, I run, I do barre classes where teachers yell “abs in” but then I sit. I sit in taxis, I sit at my desk, I sit when I’m editing and I sit when I’m in sessions with clients. I sit too much. How do I know this? Well my Fitbit told me so.

I’m not generally a numbers person. I think calorie counting is a waste of time and both Marc and my accountant know I will make every excuse to avoid a meeting that involves budgets, spreadsheets or anything in that realm. So it’s a little surprising that my latest fixation involves numbers and I can’t get enough of it. I should warn you ahead of time, I've turned into a Fitbit evangelist.

What was that? You haven’t heard of a Fitbit? Fitbit is part of the new generation of pedometers. It tracks the number of steps you take in a day, the distance you cover and your calories burned. It then wirelessly syncs to your computer. You’re emailed reports, graphs and most importantly encouragement. 

All of a sudden, I find myself thrilled when I forget an item at the store and have to make a return trip. I’m now the first one to pop up and answer the doorbell and I’ll clean the kitchen or do loads of laundry if it’s nighttime and my numbers are pathetic. One evening, I contemplated taking the kids out for ice cream and it wasn’t because the weather was nice, nope. I was going to take my kids to get a sugary scoop so that I could get some steps…sounds like an addict’s behavior if you ask me.

I quickly learned that I have two types of days. On some days I have 7,000 or more of my 10,000 “goal” daily steps before midday. I’ll fly past 10,000 those days. But when I’m writing or the weather is lousy or when have to spend a lot of time in a car hitting 5,000 can be a challenge. My average daily total may be above 10,000 but it wouldn’t be if I weren’t conscious of this. 

I should mention that the placement of the Fitbit zip gets a little tricky for ladies. It’s made to go on your waistband which works nicely if you’re in pants, workout pants or pajamas (yep, put it on my pajamas and walking to brush my teeth gets me 40-ish steps). However, with the temperature rising there are maxi dresses and mini dresses. You can clip it on your bra but there are times that doesn’t work (ok there are times where a bra doesn’t work) and then I have no choice but to clip it on the side of my dress, it looks like a blackberry under my arm but what other choice do I have?

No, there’s no shot I’ll forego the fitbit for fashion. One day I found myself at a workout class and all of a sudden I realized Fitbit was at home. I was devastated. A Facebook friend said it well when posting on this topic “Lost my fitbit. I feel so… unquantified". However, another friend with a Fitbit told me she didn’t feel it changed her behavior. Whaaaatt? Sure changed mine.

There are other “fish” in the tracking sea. My children received Nike’s Fuelband as presents and we all compete with our step totals (totally unfair they have PE and recess). I just hope they can handle spreadsheets and budgets better than I can.
Do you have a Fitbit or other tracking device? Are you as crazy with it as I am (please say yes)? 
How active would you say you are in the course of your day? Could you be more active?




22 comments:

  1. I have Fitbit and it is my new best friend. I love it, and never even knew I needed it. My family gave it to me for Mother's Day. As much as I love the steps, I love to see my flower is full bloom, the miles I have walked, calories I have burned, and most of all - it tells me great things when I least expect it that makes me smile and feel good about myself. I tried sleeping with it and found it to be annoying.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yeah....I think I need one! We sell BodyMEdia where I work, and while I like them, they are expensive and somewhat uncomfortable on my arm. This seems a bit more simple and user-friendly.....thanks for your review!

    ReplyDelete
  3. not receiving any kickback (promise) but really love this and many friends/clients who have do too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. First, I'm insulted but I get it. Wait...is that a flower, what is wrong with me never realized.

    ReplyDelete
  5. You are going to get me in trouble...I just ordered one. I love tracking devices, and obviously not good at budgets! I have a withing's scale and rhythm scosche which I requires me to bring my iphone with me into classes "I have a newborn..., I swear the sound is off". Going back to work on Tuesday and have been pretty sedentary these last few months..bed rest, newborn...can't wait to use this. Maybe it will motivate me to see "the difficult" patients!

    ReplyDelete
  6. trouble? I get you into only good things I thought. I love the idea of you going to check on a meanie patient to get more steps, if you thought "fly" was addictive, watch out.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm going to Europe for 3 weeks in july and have been thinking about getting one of these before I go. Do you recommend the zip one? I saw there are bracelet ones now too..

    ReplyDelete
  8. Andrea@WellnessNotesJune 6, 2013 at 5:57 AM

    You know I love my Fitbit, and I am definitely much more conscious of how much I walk (or not). The kid desperately wants a Fitbit, too...

    ReplyDelete
  9. I know we are fitbit fans...get the kid one!

    ReplyDelete
  10. The wrist one has a waitlist/I haven't tried. Counters great for travel, enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have heard of these but haven't tried. I am a real numbers person so I think this would really apply to me. I am very much like you in that I will bust my ass in a spin class, or boot camp or whatever and then just sit the rest of the day...at work, in the car, on the couch, whatever. I'm wondering if my husband would be willing to get one too, as he's really competitive and this might help him to get in shape as well - competing for steps might work for him. I will look into some of the wrist-styles, I think that might work better for me than the clip on style, but for him the clip on might be better, I'll have to ask him.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Brian makes fun of all my "gadgets" and exercise class addictions....we got a notice that we had a package and he went on and on about how I am always ordering this...thankfully it was from GOLFSMITH! I use all the gadgets and My fitness pal as a diary (Not calorie counting). Oh, and I know have a favorite flywheel bike...

    ReplyDelete
  13. I don't have a pedometer but I've been using my "Moves" app on my iPhone and I love it! It's probably not as accurate as the Fitbit bc I'm not actually wearing it everywhere I go. This could be my perfect excuse for yet another Amazon health-related purchase!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Keep me posted Jen, I was much more of a sitter than i am now.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Have you heard of standing work stations? I've set one up at home and I stand on an anti-fatigue mat so my knees don't suffer. I end up standing for hours without blinking an eye. My back feels better and I don't feel lazy!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I was obsessed with my Omron pedometer until I washed it (accidentally) and the battery died. It also fell off several time sand I would be without, so I'm now in the market for an armband one-debating b/w fitbit flex, Nike fuelband, and UP. Oh, and here is a wristwatch too, that also does hear rate-just not sure if its too bulky. Decisions, decisions....Love that your kids are tracking too! Oh, and here's something you might like...The timeout app (it's for Macs). I use this when I'm working at my computer and it notifies me every 20 minutes to take a break. I've been fitting in mini weight lifting sessions at all my breaks-love it!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Have you tried using the nike fuelband? It is a bracelet and could be more summer wardrobe friendly. I have been obsessed with mine! I find myself constantly checking it even while on dates...

    ReplyDelete
  18. kids have nike, it's not super attractive but in some ways bracelet easier. They hate that they have to take off for hockey/soccer.

    ReplyDelete
  19. eek- washing not good. I don't know the timeout app, where is that on my Mac? Need that.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I work on kitchen island in morning, what's an anti-fatigue mat? Ameena always full of good ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I have the Nike fuelband and was terribly disappointed when they all of a sudden took the mileage reading away...just out of the blue. I called Nike and they didn't have any plans to put it back on the fuelband.
    So when a friend got the fitbit I thought long and hard and in the end I bought the "Charge" fitbit.
    It also gives you more data.

    ReplyDelete