For those of you looking to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle, or even just need some motivation to get in shape in time for spring break, an activity tracker like the Fitbit is the perfect solution.
There are many different brands to choose from, like Nike, Jawbone, and Bowflex, but after extensive research I decided to go with the Fitbit Flex.
I bought it about three weeks ago and it has helped motivate me to stay active ever since. It looks like a casual plain black wristband, but let me tell you, it is so much more.
When you first sync your Fitbit to your phone through the fitbit app, it starts you off with an average goal of 10,000 steps per day, which is approximately 5 miles. You have the choice to change these goals, but this is a nice starting point. Throughout the day you can check how close you are to your goal by tapping your wristband. The wristband will light up with anywhere from one to five LED light circles. Each circle indicates 20% of your goal. Once you’ve achieved the fifth circle, your wristband will do a celebratory happy dance by vibrating and flashing the circle lights for a few seconds.
The phone app gives you a more detailed report of how active you’ve been so far that day, down to the specific number of calories you’ve burned, steps you’ve taken, minutes you’ve been active, miles you’ve walked, and even minutes you’ve slept. Yes, it actually tracks your sleeping patterns. It shows you you how long you slept last night, how many times you woke up, and if your body was restless throughout the night. The app also gives you the ability to log your food and water intake so you’re more aware of what you’re putting into your body each day.
We’re at a point in our lives now where the choices we make regarding our health are directly affecting our future. According to the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, young adults who exercise on a regular basis improve their chances of living a longer and healthier life. This includes lower risk for heart disease, certain cancers, and type 2 diabetes. In addition to that, physical activity is a great way to reduce anxiety and depression or other reactions to stress many college students face. This is due to the fact that when you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which reduce your perception of pain and trigger a positive feeling in the body.
If you’re a goal-oriented person like I am, the Fitbit is an incredible way to help motivate yourself to be more active. Once you’ve made it your mission to reach a certain amount of steps per day, the Fitbit gives you a definite number of how close you are to your goal, and how much further you have left to achieve it. Maybe you’ll start taking the stairs rather than the elevator, or walk to class rather than take the bus. I’ve even hopped around my room before bed some nights because I didn’t want to end my day without reaching my goal...something that the people below me do not appreciate as much as my Fitbit does.
