Comments on: Self-tracking device? Got it. Tried it. Ditched it.

By: Carolyn Thomas

Carolyn Thomas — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 21:36:31 +0000

In reply to G.

G, your examples reinforce my own observations: you don’t need a Fitbit or any other digital device to tell you when to send your print job to a different floor – you could just send your print job to a different floor every time you print, or address your sedentary behaviour by standing/walking/stretching every hour on the hour (no matter what your wearable is telling you). And I don’t need “great customer service” – I need a battery that doesn’t die after seven weeks.

By: G

Wed, 12 Nov 2014 21:26:28 +0000

Truth be told, originally I got my fitbit after an emergency surgery from which I was recovering. I wanted to encourage myself to ambulate and avoid sitting all day, since I couldn’t exercise or walk very briskly (and I was spending days and days by myself). Over time I increased my step counts and I continue to use it now to track my sedentary behaviour, since sitting for long bouts is dangerous for health. Graphing when low activity happens helps determine when I need to be more conscientious of standing/moving (I work at a desk, so I use the flower feature to determine when I need to send my print job to a different floor instead of the one near my desk). It’s kind of like how some people mark how much water they want to drink by whatever hour on their water bottles so they get the recommended amount of water each day. Anyway, it seems like it didn’t work for you, but I find it gives me objective measures to determine how I’m treating my body. It works for me. P.S. Fitbit is really good about replacing devices that may have malfunctioned. They have great customer service.

By: Carolyn Thomas

Carolyn Thomas — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 00:13:27 +0000

In reply to Dan.

Hello Dan – thanks for helping to prove my point…

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 23:48:03 +0000

I’m a tracker so of course what I’m about to say is biased that way. Although I do agree with a few points here. Yep, no one else cares what you weigh except maybe your family and your doctor, no need to tweet. Just as there is no need to tweet a pic of your lunch.

But all I wanted to say was your fitbit doesn’t make you feel bad. That is your choice in how you respond to the data. It’s a computer, does your laptop make you feel bad? No. It may give you information you don’t like but as the saying goes “don’t shoot the messenger”.

Nothing/No one can make you feel bad without your permission.