We all like to ‘try’ and keep in shape if we can because it does ultimately make us feel better and it is better for us in terms of health.
As with anything in life there are several levels when it comes to fitness; those who eat, sleep and breathe it, those who are into it but it is not that important and those who are really not too bothered.
I pitch this post to the last two types as this is where I would put myself. I want to be healthy but I am not willing to devote everything to it, but that is just me.
We begun ranging the Fitbit here at Clove and I decided to get one as I read good things. I was taken by the sales pitch, but sales pitch aside I am talking personally here to say that the product is fantastic.
Whoa! You’ve climbed 50 floors today!
That’s like taking the stairs to the top floor of a skyscraper! You’re halfway to the next badge.
It is hugely capable for those who are really into fitness (there are plenty of detailed reviews on it), but I honestly see this being more beneficial to those who want to be fitter and need that extra bit of encouragement.
With Fitbit you can set a target number of steps to take a day, you should be aiming for at least 10,000. Now some days this isn’t a problem but if like me you spend a fair few hours a day in an office chair, then it is worrying how come the end of the day you may have only taken 4000 steps…
I spent a week with the Fitbit used in my normal lifestyle. It scared me how little steps I took over the week and I now consciously do a little more. Not huge changes in my lifestyle but that bit more, because the Fitbit encourages me.
It does not nag, it needs no attention (a charge once a week and a sync to the PC every few days) but it subconsciously has an affect and you think you should do more.
The Fitbit goes in my pocket at the start of the day and stays with me throughout. Occasionally I will check it to see how I am doing and it is this occasional checking which motivates you to do more. Walk the stairs instead of take the lift, walk to the corner shop rather than drive, go a little further on the stroll.
The Fitbit will show calories burned and flights of stairs climbed as well as the steps you have taken. What is also great is that the system will send you emails when you achieve certain goals. So the first time I achieve 10,000 steps it let me know and praised me and then when I did 15,000 in one day etc. It does too calculate over the lifetime of ownership, for example if you climb 10 floors everyday at the end of the first week the system will email you and say well done for climbing 50 flights of stairs and tells you what that is equivalent to climbing.
If you want to go to the next stages you can do and programme more things through the website to get more accurate readings. help with weight loss and diet control.
You can add friends through the online community and this again acts as a motivation as when you log on as you can see what friends have done and it encourages you to beat them.
It might be expensive at £80 but it is incredibly powerful and something that could serve you well over a few years.
Having only used it for a few weeks, it has made a difference to my lifestyle in small ways that I know will in the long term have a benefit and ensure I am getting that little bit more activity, to burn those extra few calories.
Image: David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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