[An oldie – from June 1, 2014] For our birthdays, Lauren & Trent presented Donna and me with our very own FITBIT.

The FITBIT is a wireless activity tracker that you wear on your wrist. The FITBIT records the number of steps you take, your calorie intake and expenditure, the amount of water you drink and your quality and quantity of sleep.  It also gives you a sharp electric jolt if you reach for a cookie.  JUST kidding about the cookie business.  It provides a “sleep score” each morning by recording your time awake, when you are restless and when in deep sleep.  My FITBIT gives me an electrical thumbs up when I reach 10,000 steps (about 5 miles).  And it tells me how many calories I’ve burned (if I’m interested). 

In an article titled “The Pedometer Test” by Tara Parker Pope (October 19, 2010), it reported that Americans take about half as many steps per day than their counterparts around the world.  Australians log 9,695 steps per day.  Swiss – 9,650.  Japanese – 7,168.  American men take 5,340 and American women – 4,912.   Though Amish men average 18,000 steps per day and Amish women, 14,000.  So the FITBIT is a way to challenge yourself to go the extra mile.  Literally.

The FITBIT is made by Fitbit, Inc. of San Francisco.  Cost runs between $60 and $130.  And it is normally tethered to your Smartphone.  If you’re looking for a unique and useful gift, this is probably one that will satisfy. And perhaps make a difference. . . .