Fitbit fanatic

It didn't take me long to become obsessed with my new fitbit (and I was so worried I wouldn't do anything with it)!

Several of my friends each own one, and I'd been thinking about it for a while, so when Lindsey suggested that all of us Smyth siblings purchase one (or something like it) and participate in fitness challenges for 2015, I decided to take a chance. My generous parents gave it to me as a Christmas gift (fortunately, I found a great online deal at 1 a.m. on Black Friday).

In the two weeks since I've started wearing my fitbit, I've been a little crazy about trying to get my 10,000 steps a day. I walk in place during phone meetings at work. I walk or jog in place while watching t.v. I take long, circuitous routes from my parking spot to my apartment, and also from my desk to the bathroom at work.

Most of my coworkers got used to my latest weird habit pretty quickly. Some looked at me oddly the first time I marched in place during a conversation and walked down hallways I don't normally frequent, but all I had to say is "I got a fitbit for Christmas" and they replied, "Oh, just getting your steps in." They understand!*

Looks like I've joined quite the community. Goodness knows I'm not the first fitbit fanatic.

Actually, I might have started a fitness trend for my team. I mentioned to one of my East Coast coworkers that I got a fitbit and have been getting up for about five minutes each hour to walk around. She said she had a "sitbit" because it didn't become a fitbit until she stood up, and she kept forgetting to do it. So, she asked me to IM her every time I get up. I felt bossy for the first couple of days, but apparently she appreciates it, because she mentioned it to my manager and another co-worker, and now they are both doing it, too! I'm glad to have a workout buddy (of sorts). It's so easy to get engrossed in our projects and forget to move. I guess we don't have to do 5 minutes every hour, but I like that I'm moving around more during the day and not trying to catch up at night as much as I otherwise would be.

Best of all, I don't necessarily have to carve out a huge chunk of my day to dedicate to exercise (though I still do yoga as often as I can). I don't have to wait for a special time or get up early. I can do it throughout the day and I love that! I can be consistent about 10,000 steps a day. I've succeeded with the goal far more than I've failed.** When I get in the groove, I have a hard time making myself end the walk, and have been pushing myself to walk for longer periods of time.

Feeling pretty good :D

I'm enjoying this so much!


*One guy started laughing after about five minutes because he said my walking in place made it look like I needed to go to the bathroom. Funny enough, I did need to go to the bathroom; he'd interrupted me on my way there. I had wondered if it looked in grocery stores and the post office like I was doing a potty dance. Guess it does. I'm ok with it!

**The fitbit tracks steps and quality of sleep, and also tracks how many miles I've walked and calories I've burned (the measurements are based on my height and weight). I find it very frustrating that I have to walk about 12,000 steps to reach the goal 5 miles. I can't figure out the key to burning the goal number of calories -- the number of steps hasn't been the same any time I've managed to do it. I walked 14,165 steps to achieve everything the other day!