Review: Fitbit Flex

Fitbit Flex … an easy way to track your movement, keep moving, and stay motivated!

I am admittedly not a technology person. My brain is taken over by the creative side, which runs quite rampant. Cooking, writing, crafting, photography … that’s my jam. So when my sister gave me a Fitbit Flex for Christmas, it admittedly sat in its case for a few weeks.

Because I had convinced myself that it would be hard to set up.

Usually how I think things are, are always worse than the reality.

And usually a friend, and even sometimes Nick, will come save me and myself from technology.

I have no problem playing the “I’m just a girl” card every now and then.

I also hate reading directions or manuals. I do things intuitively. Always. And then, of course, get frustrated if I can’t figure it out that way and am forced to read the manual.

Last month, I brought home a new, small tv. I barely had my coat off and keys set down, and Nick already had it out of the box, upstairs, and hooked up properly to the FiOS box.

He’s a keeper.

So the Fitbit? I actually set it up myself. I would give myself a giant pat on the back, but honestly, it took all of thirty seconds. Which means I should have done it the day I got it.

But I’ve been hooked ever since.

A little rubber band that you wear on your wrist, it tracks your steps (like a pedometer would, only heaps better), your sleep patterns (how well and how long you sleep), food intake, and activity level, and you can even set it to keep track of your water intake and calories. You can set and keep track of your goals, and sync it up with an app on your iPhone or Android. The Fitbit details are also compatible with a number of other fitness apps like Sparkpeople, MyFitnessPal, and Runkeeper.

It has a little battery that slips out and that needs to get charged every week (via a USB cable). No big deal.

The average person is supposed to walk about 10,000 steps.

Unless your my sister, brother-in-law, or Joanne.

They all walk way more than that.

I hover around 12-13k on a good day that doesn’t include a walk, hike, or run.

And herein lies the magic behind the Fitbit.

That you can sync in with your friends and family members, and see how everyone is doing with their walking on a daily basis … and find a little bit of motivation to keep on moving.

One of my friends is a Zumba and Piloxing instructor in her free time. Imagine my surprise when I saw that I was actually moving more than her on a regular, daily basis.

If I see I’m dropping too far down on my “friends and family” list, I’ll go do stair reps outside, either at home or at a local school’s bleachers (and even bought a mini elliptical for just this purpose). Weather permitting, the kids and I will go for a walk or hike. I’ve even been known just to walk in circles in my bedroom at the end of the day just to get my numbers to where I think they should be.

The Fitbit (and my ranking with those I’m synced up with) motivates me like no other. I’ve texted a screenshot of the standings to my friend Elyse with a message: “Whatever you’re doing, STOP. I can’t keep up.” The kids she nannies will have her check her numbers and if they see she is behind everyone else, they will rally her with “KEEP ON MOVING” cheers. Or I’ll send Sarah a message like “Are you in a coma? Get moving!”

If you’re looking to lose weight, maintain your weight, just generally be more health conscious or want to keep an eye on your daily movement, GET A FITBIT.

It’s truly an awesome tool to have in your arsenal.

I just recently learned they have pink bands now, and I’m doing everything in my power to convince myself I don’t need it. So far, it’s working, but I can’t guarantee how long that will last.

Do you have a Fitbit? Do you love it just as much as I do?