Why Use a Fitbit (or something like it)?

Anytime the topic of exercise comes up, it seems to inevitably veer off into a discussion of weight, leading to an even more contentious discussion of body image. It's pointless and counterproductive so I'm just not going to go there. I have no interest in telling anyone what they should look like or how much they should weigh. What I will do is encourage anyone interested in feeling better to make some form of exercise...and walking is the easiest...part of their life on a regular basis.

I started using the fitbit pedometer because my company held a fitness challenge through most of the Summer. And as I've said elsewhere, I was pleasantly surprised at how something as simple as adding walking to my exercise routine could strongly supplement an existing aerobic fitness habit that I've stuck to for over 10 years now. Walking is GREAT - I regularly engage in other exercise but walking is how I started that fitness habit and walking added to it again. This was a great and pleasant surprise.

That's the plus side to walking. There's something else to consider on the other hand: the risks of living too sedentary a life.

Here's a question for people who are shrugging at the notion of regular exercise: have you considered smoking cigarettes lately? The answer is probably "no"...if you don't smoke cigarettes already, chances are you are partly avoiding it because you know it increases your risk for a pointless, unpleasant, early death.

It's DUMB.

Here's something you may not know: diseases related to inactivity are poised to take over as #1 preventable cause of death. The bar chart below (based on CDC data) shows annual deaths from inactivity in a firm second place to smoking. Yes, pretty soon people may be dying faster from lack of exercise than from smoking cigarettes. And this chart is based on 2004 data...9 years have passed since this data was collected. I doubt that the outlook has gotten rosier.

That's it, all I have to say. I don't want to discourage people by getting tedious about the topic of maintaining physical activity to improve health. But before I close, let me reiterate:

•  I have zero interest in talking about weight or shape or being snarky gym rat guy. Your shape is NOT my business
• I would encourage anyone who is not physically active or who needs a change to try walking as a low stress, high benefit activity

Some people would probably include a disclaimer at this point about checking with your doctor before starting an exercise program. That seems kind of unfair because the people who sit around without exercising don't have to check with a doctor first. Duh!

The End of the Fitbit Challenge 9/21

My company's fitbit challenge ended on Saturday, Sept 21. As I've said elsewhere, I was pleasantly surprised at how much adding a vigorous walking program could add to the existing 3-4 YMCA workouts a week. Throughout the challenge, I definitely noted an increase in energy and strength.

Aiming end the challenge with a bang, I started the day with a 9 mile walk around the town of Snohomish, out the Centennial trail and back.

Sights around town.

The haunted Oxford Saloon, which I STILL haven't visited.

The VERY South end of the Centennial Trail.

Walking on out... or maybe back, I'm not sure.

Later in the day, I walked a couple more laps around Tye Lake

Total steps taken during the challenge, from 7/22 to 9/21, were over 1.1 million over a distance of 500 miles.

Work Fitbit Challenge

Helping employees stay healthier is a topic that is on a lot of employer's minds these days: health care costs continue to rise and healthy employees are also more productive. The company where I currently work has come up with a fun, proactive approach to improving employee health that is also having benefits in terms of inspiring social interaction between employees.

This all started about a month ago when our CEO sent out mail announcing a fitness challenge using Fitbit pedometers to track exercise, with gift certificates to be awarded based on maintaining various step counts, using the 10,000 step recommended range (link link) as a goal. The terms of the challenge are quite clever, awarding various levels of prizes for any substantial, consistent exercise. In addition, interested employees were given a fitbit pedometer, a purchase that indicates substantial employer interest in investing in employee health.

This is what the pedometer looks like after a morning walk around town. The fitbit syncs with various phones directly. Data can also be uploaded through your computer by plugging in a USB dongle and downloading software from fitbit,com.

While I've had a long term fitness habit in place via 10 years of membership at the YMCA and riding a bicycle on the Centennial Trail, I've actually seen some health benefits after 3 weeks of using this device, since I'm now doing more consistent walking on top of the more intensive cardio activity I'm used to. This makes sense, since my job as a medical programmer is a relatively sedentary activity.

Walking has also given me opportunities to get out and see some cool stuff, so I decided today to start adding blog entries including pictures of cool stuff that I've seen along the way...