I got my first Fitbit for Christmas 2013 and set it to work on Jan 6 2014.
That is exactly 4 years ago today. Since then I have amassed a wonderful array of statistics. The Fitbit has been an amazing addition to my quality of life. I retire it with some sense of sadness. It is only fitting that, if only for myself, I record some of my thoughts about 4 years of Fitbit.
I set my initial goal to 10,000 steps per day on Jan 6 2014. Since that day I have managed over 10,000 steps every day except for long haul flights and a month of illness. Otherwise not one single day has been less than 10,000.
That is exactly 4 years ago today. Since then I have amassed a wonderful array of statistics. The Fitbit has been an amazing addition to my quality of life. I retire it with some sense of sadness. It is only fitting that, if only for myself, I record some of my thoughts about 4 years of Fitbit.
I set my initial goal to 10,000 steps per day on Jan 6 2014. Since that day I have managed over 10,000 steps every day except for long haul flights and a month of illness. Otherwise not one single day has been less than 10,000.
After 12 months I cranked this to 12,500 where it remained for most of the next 3 years.
I toyed with a goal of 16,000 for 3 months in 2017 and managed. But I discovered that walking was all I did for 3 months. I cut back to 12,500 where it has remained ever since.
In 4 years I have walked a long way.
My biggest day ever was a day walking around Geneva. I managed 38,000 steps that day. I have topped 30,000 3 times. I have topped 20,000 steps about 150 times. 10,000 is more than 1400 times.
I don’t state this to brag. I want to record the numbers before I move to another tool. I want to put the numbers down for any who have followed my Fitbit regime.
At various times, I have had up to 30 Fitbit users following my statistics as I follow theirs. Today, as I review my stats for the last time, there are only 3 users left. In a week, I will disappear from their listings.
My original Fitbit One died in 2017. Its battery started to hold charge for less than a day. I found a new Fitbit Charge 2 at a special price and jumped right in. I did not miss a day of stats transitioning from the One to the Charge 2.
I toyed with a goal of 16,000 for 3 months in 2017 and managed. But I discovered that walking was all I did for 3 months. I cut back to 12,500 where it has remained ever since.
In 4 years I have walked a long way.
- 5,000,000 steps in 2014
- 4,500,000 in 2015
- 5,500,000 in 2015
- 6,500,000 in 2017.
My biggest day ever was a day walking around Geneva. I managed 38,000 steps that day. I have topped 30,000 3 times. I have topped 20,000 steps about 150 times. 10,000 is more than 1400 times.
I don’t state this to brag. I want to record the numbers before I move to another tool. I want to put the numbers down for any who have followed my Fitbit regime.
At various times, I have had up to 30 Fitbit users following my statistics as I follow theirs. Today, as I review my stats for the last time, there are only 3 users left. In a week, I will disappear from their listings.
My original Fitbit One died in 2017. Its battery started to hold charge for less than a day. I found a new Fitbit Charge 2 at a special price and jumped right in. I did not miss a day of stats transitioning from the One to the Charge 2.
The Charge 2 offered me sleep tracking. That has been the most wonderful diagnostic tool.
I thought I was having many sleepless nights. I would recall looking at the clock at 2 am and 4 am. My mind leapt to the conclusion that I was awake for 2 or more hours each night. The Fitbit charge 2 taught me that I was in fact awake AT 2am and AT 4 am but only for a moment each time.
I have a wonderful record of my sleeping. I know I sleep very well for an old retiree.
So, the Fitbit has reached its end of life. I have nothing negative to say about it. I commend it to all. It has changed my life habits for the better. Little things like parking all the way across a carpark before shopping. This is now a normal thing for me. Horrifying every passenger I have of course. It has to be good for my long-term health – and theirs!
The big question.
Why would I give it up? If you know me well you will guess of course. It is being replaced with an Apple Watch. The accessory I chose to add as I upgraded to my iPhone X.
The Apple Watch will track different things.
I thought I was having many sleepless nights. I would recall looking at the clock at 2 am and 4 am. My mind leapt to the conclusion that I was awake for 2 or more hours each night. The Fitbit charge 2 taught me that I was in fact awake AT 2am and AT 4 am but only for a moment each time.
I have a wonderful record of my sleeping. I know I sleep very well for an old retiree.
So, the Fitbit has reached its end of life. I have nothing negative to say about it. I commend it to all. It has changed my life habits for the better. Little things like parking all the way across a carpark before shopping. This is now a normal thing for me. Horrifying every passenger I have of course. It has to be good for my long-term health – and theirs!
The big question.
Why would I give it up? If you know me well you will guess of course. It is being replaced with an Apple Watch. The accessory I chose to add as I upgraded to my iPhone X.
The Apple Watch will track different things.
- I will need to revisit how I do sleep tracking.
- The battery life can’t come close to the 8 or 9 days of the Charge 2.
- Apple watch concentrates more on KJ burnt than steps.
- I have to learn how to close those rings.
- Aghhh. The Apple Watch tapped my wrist. I have been sitting for too long. I have to get up and move for a minute. That tells you how long I spend writing these things. Boy will that annoy everyone I meet for a long lunch.
Quick impressions of the Apple Watch? It is very comfortable. I have the Space Grey aluminium 42mm with the dark olive sports loop. It is light and barely noticeable on my wrist.
I had not worn a watch for many years till I got the Fitbit Charge 2. Getting used to the feel of the Fitbit on my wrist was 'interesting.' I was unsure how I would feel with the much larger Apple Watch.
Well, it is much better. I notice it less. I like that.
Onward!
The Fitbit has been a most important part of my life for 4 years.
I do wonder how the Apple Watch will fare.
Let’s see what I have to say January 6 2019.
I had not worn a watch for many years till I got the Fitbit Charge 2. Getting used to the feel of the Fitbit on my wrist was 'interesting.' I was unsure how I would feel with the much larger Apple Watch.
Well, it is much better. I notice it less. I like that.
- Except for when it taps me on the wrist – aghhhhh!
Onward!
The Fitbit has been a most important part of my life for 4 years.
I do wonder how the Apple Watch will fare.
Let’s see what I have to say January 6 2019.
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