Fitbit

Monitor your daily activities from your sleeping schedule to the distance you traveled using a small wearable device.

Fitbit  is in short a very sophisticated “pedometer.” Some of the things it can do are: continuously monitor heart rate; track physical activity and workouts; monitor sleep quality; display run stats and caller ID. It does all of the above tasks simply through a bracelet, and it synchronizes with the mobile and online tools wirelessly. Although it has been in the market since 2008 in western countries, it is only in recent years that it has made its debut in Nepal.

I got my first fitbit last year as a gift from my husband. I love it, perhaps for reasons that go beyond its usefulness. There are about eight varieties of fitbit, and the one I have is ‘fitbit chargeHR.’ And I use it every day. There are several benefits of using fitbit.

•  First, it helps me to measure some of the vital statistics of my workouts. As I do most of my work outs at home, I wanted a device that monitors my workout progress by measuring calories burned, steps taken, and heart rate. Fitbit has made all this possible, and thus my workouts are now more fun and informative. I get to know the intensity of my workouts, and find which workouts have helped me incinerate more fat so I can tailor my workouts according to my need.
•  Second, because I get to see my workout data, I can set goals, and it is easier to get motivated to reach those goals. For example, if I want to burn 2,000 calories in a day, I can plan on a combination of workouts to reach that goal, and keep on moving until that is met.
•  Third, it also functions as a watch. All I need to do is tap on the screen or press the button on its left side to find the time. And it is more comfortable than wearing a watch.
•  Fourth, it is simple to operate. There are no wire connections between fitbit and the body. It is amazing how that small machine measures all those body functions accurately, and instantly transfer the data wirelessly onto my mobile and laptop.

There is however one minor problem I have faced. The inbuilt battery in the fitbit lasts for only about five days, and it takes around one or two hours to fully recharge it. If I forget to charge my fitbit within five days, then I have to resynchronize it on my online account. That does not happen often, but when it does it feels like a nuisance.

Its many benefits far outweigh its drawbacks, and I continue to use it every day. There are many additional functions on it – caller ID, silent vibrating alarm, sleep monitor (hours slept, times awakened, and sleep quality) -- that I still have not used. I will probably get to that when I have reached my other monthly fitbit goals.

I have been using FitBit for the past 2 months and it is one of the most useful and efficient hand piece I have ever purchased for myself. Not only does it keep me updated about the time, but it also keeps me motivated to be more active each day by letting me keep a track on all my physical activities! What more, I can now keep my mobile phone in my pocket and still get alerts of calls in my FitBit.

Nawin Rana, Assistant Manager
Standard Chartered Bank