Weddingbee Blog

I recently won a FitBit via the LoseIt blog, and was really excited to get one! The shorthand version of what a FitBit is (which I’m sure their marketers hate to hear) is that it’s a very tricked-out pedometer. The longer form explanation of what it is can be found here. Basically, it’s a device that you wear 24-7 that tracks your steps (with 3D movement technology similar to the Nintendo Wii’s), approximate calories burned, distance traveled through the day, and your sleep efficiency. It takes all that data and shoots it wirelessly into your computer, and you can access this info via an app on your phone (Android or iPhone) or your PC. The FitBit Dashboard (basically, your homepage at FitBit) allows you to manually input a variety of extra information (your calorie intake, weight, water drank, exercise activity, mood and more) giving you a one-shop stop for getting a good grip on your calorie consumption/output and is a nice, digital partner for your fitness goals.

Up front: Its functionality is similar (but not the same) as the BodyBugg’s, which is a device that I know of through Jenna/Mrs. Avocado and I’ve really coveted since she’s had one. The BodyBugg measures your calorie output more scientifically based on your individual body heat and movement than FitBit. FitBit estimates your number of calories burned based on your BMR (Base Metabolic Rate). The FitBit is less of a monetary commitment—a FitBit is a one-time cost of $100 with no monthly fee, while the BodyBugg costs around $200, plus a monthly fee of $10 (less if you commit to a year plan instead of going month-to-month). If you are considering either, I highly suggest Googling “BodyBugg vs FitBit” and reading some side by side comparisons.

Overall, it gives me tangible goals for the day. If you’ve been working out for a little while but have hit a weight-loss wall (me), or you’re starting from ZERO and want an easy way to ease into achieving some fitness goals, FitBit is definitely a great motivator to take the next step!

So, here’s my life with FitBit in one day. I tried to capture a picture of what I’m doing at every hour in the day from waking up to sleeping. I thought it would be a super fun and dynamic snapshot into my life, but um…the majority of it is just me staring at the computer for hours on end. It’s heartbreaking to see how much time I really do just spend on the couch staring at my computer. OK let’s reel it in…not so much heartbreaking…it’s just kinda lame.

Unfortunately, regardless of my newfound enthusiasm for fitness, I do have to work, so being sedentary for 10+ hours a day is unavoidable, and almost comical when it’s put here into pictures. Couch. Couch. Couch. Couch. Eat. Couch. But, where I can, I move around, even if it’s just a matter of walking up and down the stairs when I brush my teeth, or pacing back and forth when I’m waiting for something in the microwave. It all adds up!

7AM hour

Wake up. Let the dog out to pee, make coffee, settle into work.

8AM hour

Work.

9AM hour

Work, another angle.

10AM hour

Play. Just kidding. Work.

11AM hour

Walk!

NO! No more walk! She tugs on the leash and insists we go home. Lazybones! When it’s cooler out we go farther, but it was around 72 degrees yesterday and she DEMANDS a perfect 65-68 degree temperature or she refuses to budge.

12PM hour

Head to the grocery store, buy food for lunch and dinner. I don’t like to plan meals ahead too far so I go shopping almost every weekday around lunchtime.

1PM hour

Return home with lunch (spring rolls and salmon onigiri), and eat at the computer.

2PM hour

Oh look…work.

3PM hour

W___.

4PM hour

Start writing this blog entry. Eat a snack (chips and salsa).

5PM hour

Out of the house! Woo hoo! Gym.

6PM hour

Spin class with Kara, best spin instructor ever!

7PM hour

End of spin class. 45 minutes of keeping my heart rate at an average of 161 beats per minute…schweatty!

8PM hour

Cooking dinner, my husband is home. I asked him to take a picture of me and kept saying that he needed to take them again because I “looked very tired.” DUDE, I AM TIRED.

9PM hour

Dinner time!

10PM hour

Work. This time, with The Bachelorette. Smoochies with JP!

11PM hour

Load images for this blog post, put them into the post, watch TV in bed until 12:30 AM and fall asleep!

Next, I’ll let you know a bit more about FitBit’s web interface, what it’s done for me, and whether or not $100 for the thing is worth it when it comes to fitness and weight loss. (Hint: the answer is YES!)