Fitness has become a high priority for me over the years, particularly since I’ve been keeping up with grandchildren. I know it’s not going to happen with me just hoping for it. It’s going to take moving my body – regularly, consistently and rigorously. That’s where my Fitbit comes in handy.
Any tracker will work. I just happen to use Fitbit because it was a gift a few years ago from my son and daughter-in-law. If it weren’t for this clever little device, I’m sure I would be at least 10 if not 20 pounds heavier today than I already am.
It talks to me – sort of. It lets me know when it’s time to get up and move for a few minutes. It’s programmed to ensure that I take a minimum of 250 steps every hour for at least nine hours every day.
Now that’s not enough to get up to my goal of 10,000 steps daily. But it is enough to keep me reminded throughout the day when I’ve been sitting too long. And sitting is what I do most of the time.
It’s not sitting around watching television or even reading, both of which I enjoy. It’s usually sitting at my desk writing or learning something new.
Just last week I was involved in four different online courses. One was a seven-week course about money, one was with Eckhart Tolle on the Power of Presence. A third course was an introduction to Jack Canfield’s Principles of Success. He’s the founder of the Chicken Soup for the Soul empire.
The fourth course was a 7-day tutorial on building a website based on WordPress. Although I already have one of these, it takes me a long time to figure out things that should only take seconds. So, I’m aiming to get better.
Anyway, I’ve spent an enormous amount of time at my desk the past few weeks. And all of these topics are of great interest and importance to me, so it’s easy to get sucked into the vortex and sit way longer than I should.
A summary is sent each Monday, comparing stats to the week before.
My body doesn’t appreciate it at all. My hips act like they’ve been frozen and don’t want to move when I stand after sitting longer than an hour. I have to do it ever so cautiously. The Fitbit reminder helps me avoid this.
My Fitbit also feeds my competitive spirit, which has me do whatever it takes to get my 10,000 steps in every day. The closer it gets to midnight when the count starts over automatically, the more frantic I become if I’m not at my number yet.
I often get up and walk around in circles or up and down my long hallway for however long it takes to get those steps.
Initially, my goal was to beat my son in steps every day. It happened occasionally but more often he beat me. Then he went to a different program so I can’t compare unless I’m in the same room with him and he asks “Whatcha got?” with a huge grin, knowing he’s way ahead of me. Rascal.
Most of the other friends I’ve competed with have also left the program – or no longer use their Fitbit. I’m left competing with myself. But I love the challenge as well as the results.
My smart Fitbit also keeps up with my sleep every night, the number of calories I’m burning and my heart rate. How cool is that?
It basically keeps me informed on how I’m doing in the fitness arena. And that’s a good thing to know.
Jane Self, PhD, was assistant features editor for the Macon Telegraph and features editor for The Tuscaloosa News. She received her master's degree in secondary education from Louisiana State University in New Orleans and her PhD in education administration from the University of Alabama. 
Jane Self was features editor at The Tuscaloosa News when the Fallen Warriors series began. Although she left the paper, she continued to write these profiles on a freelance basis for The News until the series was stopped in May 2009. Jane has since updated and published them as an E-book. 
In 1991 "60 Minutes" aired a story that attempted to destroy the life and work of EST founder Werner Erhard. Award-winning journalist Jane Self suspected there was more to these allegations than being reported. She discovered an amazing plot of espionage, conspiracy, and sabotage.