Over the years I’ve tried to spend some time exercising. Usually riding my bike (bought a bike trainer for Christmas 2012 for the winter), walking or hiking. Although I’ve had some success with weight loss or maintaining my weight, I’ve been wanting to lose some more weight. Exercise is a great way to accomplish this, but I never seem to get anywhere. I need to track my calories, and being a gadget guy, I bought a FitBit Flex on August 1st.
What do I like about the Fitbit Flex? It’s easy to use. Install the app on your Mac or PC, connect the Bluetooth Sync Dongle, and setup your online account and set some goals. Then download the app for your mobile device, and start walking, jogging, or running. Fitbit Flex will track your steps, distance traveled, calories burned, active minuets, hours slept, and quality of sleep. You will need Bluetooth 4.0 in your mobile device to sync directly to the Fitbit app.
There are a list of other apps that work with FitBit including my favorite, MyFitnessPal. You can also set goals, earn badges, and workout with friends.
With the wrist band, the device is water resistant, not water proof. You can leave it on while washing your hands to taking a shower, but you shouldn’t swim with it. Fitbit Flex is light weight, and I don’t pay much attention to it. I’ll check my progress through out the day by double tapping on the face. Flashing dots appear to show me how far I am to reaching my goal. Once I hit my goal, the device buzzes like a phone on silent and flashes lights on the front. I have to admit, it is a good feeling knowing i hit my goal for the day.
With MyFitnessPal and Runtastic, I can track my calories burned and try to keep under my allocated calories for the day.
I’ve lost some weight within the last three weeks. I’m learning to eat smarter by watching my caloric intake and understanding I can have a snack once in a while, but it may cost me later for dinner, or maybe longer periods of exercise. I know it’s common sense, but sometimes you have to go back and retrain yourself on making better choices.
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