Gear: Fitbit One

My mother has a completely blocked femoral artery in her left leg, and yet she walks. She tries to walk 10,000 steps a day, which is what her cardiologist told her years ago that any healthy person should be able to do. It hurts her to walk, and yet, she does it because she knows it's the right thing for her body. In her words, "If I don't move, I won't be able to move," and she's right.

And here's the thing: if my mother can do it with a non-functioning femoral artery, then I  have no excuse whatsoever not to do the same.

My mother has worn a pedometer for years, and it has helped her so much. It makes her challenge herself, and it makes her keep track. When hers was broken, she found she walked half as much, so she replaced it as soon as possible. So I got one, too. I did some research, and I asked the internet for its opinion. The overwhelming recommendation was to get a fitbit, so I got one and tried it out. I LOVE it!!! There are many models from which to choose these days, but I love, love, love my fitbit one.

This little buddy clips onto my bra strap, waist band, or pocket, and it goes where I go. There are so many models of pedometer from which to choose, and it seems like most people choose the wrist band options. I actually won a fitbit flex through a wellness program at work, so I tried it for a few days, and it was NOT for me. I type all day at work, and it really bothers me to wear something on my wrist all the time. The one is my jam--it's tiny, hidden, measures everything I need it to measure with reliability and accuracy. Plus as I move more, the little flower grows throughout the day--I love to make that thing grow! I sync it in real time with my iPhone, but I can also track it on my laptop. I've been wearing it almost daily for about 18 months, and I can't recommend it enough!

It has also been enjoyable to have "friends" in the fitbit network. I know so many people with these devices, and it's really fun to see how everyone else is doing with their step goals. It's competitive in a good way, with people encouraging each other to succeed. I need more of that!

The one negative thing I about the fitbit is that the calorie counting feature on both the one and the flex is no good.They have no way of measuring workout intensity or food intake unless you enter those manually, and yet, they report how many calories it thinks you've burned every day. It's utterly inaccurate, and I completely ignore it. Otherwise--I say, get one!