FitBit Love: Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

Note: This is my personal review/response to the FitBit and I am in no way connected to the company.

I’ve been trying to measure my health (at least my body’s shape, weight, etc) for some time and found it so cumbersome to calculate what I’ve accomplished. I had tried manual systems on various websites and always gave up because… well, because of math. I wasn’t interested enough to really tabulate what had transpired and didn’t have a means to measure the success. “Oh look, a whole lot of numbers that mean nothing to me,” was my usual outcome.

Then I heard about the FitBit on The Weekly Daily Giz Wiz on TWiT and liked the sound of it. Both Leo Laporte and Dick DeBartolo appeared enthusiastic so I put a little cash aside and bought the Fitbit Wireless Activity/Sleep Tracker on Amazon.

I started using it on November 4, 2011 and in just over two months found that I had walked 250 miles (roughly 4.2 miles per day) and had climbed over 1,000 floors (approximately 10,000 feet… or the altitude where you can safely turn your electronic devices back on).

See, the FitBit tracks the number of steps you’ve taken, distance traveled, calories burned and floors climbed… all on this little thumb-sized device attached to your belt. Genius. But it is even smarter than just that. It also tracks your sleep recording how many times you wake up during the night and for how long so that you can better understand your sleep patterns. All of this is wirelessly transmitted to a base station that syncs your data to the FitBit website and provides you with a personal report… and badges, did I mention badges? It’s like a game you play with yourself but instead of stars and coins you get healthier.

Anyhow, it is pretty epic and I find myself trying harder to “appease” my FitBit. Not that it scolds you (although it does give you some affirmations to keep you motivated) but it does feel like a tiny coach judging you if you don’t get moving. And the judging is fine by me. I need it.

And, bonus points, it has an app that lets you monitor your progress when you aren’t near your computer.

Below is a snapshot of my historical data so far. Feels good to know that I’m (generally speaking) burning more than I’m taking in.

My advise is get one and see for yourself. It isn’t that expensive ($99.95) and the web portion of the service is completely free (there is a premium service which I may try out but for now I’m very happy with that reports I am provided).

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About the author

I’m Tommy, a writer and storyteller who works in marketing for the arts and cultural communities. I’m the author of Mabel Stanley and the Town That Was Built All Wrong, a fun and heartfelt book, and I’m currently working on a novel about self-discovery and the complexities of memory. Writing is a big part of my life, but I also enjoy creating experiences that bring people together, which is why my husband, Matt, and I co-run the online store Have Fun Spread Joy. It’s all about embracing the playful side of life and giving back along the way. I’m married to Matt, and we share our home with our two pets, Zoey (the cat) and Dixie (the dog). When I’m not writing, working on our store, or doing marketing for the arts, I like to dive into theater, something I want to get more involved with over time. I was diagnosed with ADHD, and while it comes with its own set of challenges, it also gives me a unique perspective that I try to channel into everything I do. Whether it’s writing, working on creative projects, or finding ways to spread joy, I’m all about making a lasting impact in whatever I do.

Tommy Karr