Fit Bit

I'm not one for gadgets.  I do just about the minimum to get by with technology of all types.  My work cell phone hasn't synced to my e-mail for months because I don't know how to re-set it.  I can't even watch a movie in my own home because I can't work the combination of the TV, the PSP that plays the movies and the surround sound system.  If I really want to watch a movie, I'd better hope Scott is home to get it going for me.  I'm not proud of this.  It's just the way it is.  Patience is a virtue.  I didn't get that one.  I have neither the patience for  nor the interest in trying to figure out how gadgets work.

There is always an exception, right?  I found mine.  I first learned of it last December when I was reading a magazine in a hair salon.  I saw a blurb about something called a Fit Bit Zip.  I don't recall the details of the blurb, but it piqued my interest enough that I wrote it down on a piece of paper and stuck it in my wallet.  I have come across that piece of paper (I made some other notes on it as well) several times over the past 8 months.  Finally, 2 weeks ago when I was piddling around on a quiet Sunday morning (kind of like now), I Googled the Fit Bit Zip.  Interesting.  And I seriously need to lose some weight.  And it's only 60 bucks. 

Ordering on-line was an option, but some local retailers carry it also- including Best Buy.  Scott and I had some errands to run anyways, so I added Best Buy to the list and stopped in to buy my Fit Bit Zip.  It is about the cutest little thing.  I believe it comes in 4 colors, including black- which would typically be my go-to choice.  But, I decided to step out of my usual and I got the Fit Bit Zip in this color.  Would this be considered chartreuse?  (And why can't I move the image up closer to this text?  See-- I'm making my own point about how technologically behind I am.  I can barely manipulate this blog.)

image from mashable.com

I totally dig this little gadget and I even know how to work it!  It tracks steps per day, distance and calories burned.  It also has a clock and a little smiley face when it is "resting".  Two things that I love most about it:

1. It wirelessly syncs to my iPhone.  The app on the iPhone shows the steps, distance, calories burned, very active minutes, water consumed and weight.  I think you can set it up to track other things, but this is good enough for me.  On the iPhone, it will sync to show you where you are in terms of meeting your goals at that very minute and displays your progress on bar graphs.  It does a bunch of other neat stuff too.  Too much to get into here.

2.  When you reach certain milestones, you get "badges" sent to you via e-mail.  So far, I have earned my 5000 steps/day badge, my 10,000 steps per day badge, my 15,000 steps per day badge and my 50 mile badge.  I had a deficit of praise as a child.  As an adult I recognize this because any little bit of praise I get just puffs me up-- including a computer generated "badge" from Fit Bit.  (Hey- it doesn't take much when you lived a childhood devoid of praise or affirmation.) 

3.  OK- so there are 3 things I love most about it and not 2 like I wrote above.  The third thing that I really love about this gadget is that you get an e-mail with your progress report every week. 

The Fit Bit is great for me because I am highly competitive, even with myself.  It has been supremely motivating for me to have something tangible/visible showing my fitness progress each day.  When you achieve your daily goals, the categories on the iPhone app turn green to show that the goal was met.  Highly competitive me has to have green on everything.  And I have since the day I started almost 2 weeks ago. 

I love this little thing.  It has given me a much needed push.  Now let's hope I can keep it up.....