One obstacle that keeps many people from even trying to be more fit is that there is no real motivation. Many of us think we’re active, as we walk to the store or work, or are on our feet all day. By the end we’re ready to say, “mission accomplished, I’m tired so I must have been active.” The sad truth is that if we kept track of all that movement it would likely be less than expected.
This is where Fitbit comes in, as the wearable device can keep track – to paraphrase the song by The Police – “every step you take.” The new Fitbit Ultra is like a monitor, but not the type that actually sends that information to the real police, but instead lets you know how you’re doing and more importantly what you’ve done.
It features a stair tracker to tell how stairs or hills you climbed using a state-of-the-art altimeter, plus offers motivational messages. There is a clock, and even a stop watch so you can challenge yourself when you pick up the pace. Users can be rewarded with badges for climbing stairs, steps and activities can be shared by Facebook and Twitter.
And for those who really want a challenge, the new Fitbit Ultra even offers a personal fitness metric that can compare your activity to well-known landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Machu Picchu. At the end of the day you don’t need to say, “I walked 10,000 steps,” but can proclaim, “I climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower!”