I have one of those fitness-tracking gizmos that you wear on your wrist. It tells me how many steps I have walked each day, how many stairs I have climbed, and how many hours I have slept. It synchronizes with my computer and gives me an e-mail summary report each week. I try to follow the "10 000 steps a day" rubric since I know it helps lower blood pressure, improves cardiac fitness, and could also promote weight loss so long as your nutritional intake is reasonable.1 My weight has stayed the same despite the increased physical activity, but I have decided to focus on one variable at a time; movement first, diet second.
Last week, for the first time, I received a report comparing steps taken and miles walked by me, for the year 2015, with global and US comparisons. I was amazed to learn that I walked a total of 2 667 427 steps compared with 965 925 average total steps for Americans and 971 726 average total steps globally, converted to 1074 miles walked by me, 674 by Americans, and 421 globally. I also slept, on average, 7.5 hours per night, which falls within the recommended range for my age group. It was hard to believe that I had walked 400 more miles in 2015 than other Americans and 653 more miles than those globally, and I am presuming that the comparative data were collated from other fitness tracker users. While I do try to meet 10 000 steps per day goal, it is not always possible; some days I am just too tired. However, my annual numbers and the comparative data illustrate how sedentary a society we are. How would US health and morbidity statistics improve if everyone who was able walked 1000 miles per year?
For me, wearing the fitness tracker raises my level of self-awareness with respect to the importance of movement. I find myself consciously choosing the longer route from the train station to my office or from my office to the conference room at the end of the hall. Wearing the fitness tracker has enabled me to structure my world so that even the most mundane decision about a route taken can have an impact on my health. I also find myself frequently checking the display on the tracker throughout the day and devising ways to come closer to the 10 000-step goal. And, occasionally, I get a badge, which is an e-mail award when you have reached a distance milestone. For example, while on vacation in Europe, my husband and I got lost in Budapest. We walked 8.5 miles before we finally got back to our hotel. The day after our forced march through Budapest, I was notified that I had received the Urban Explorer award, having walked 23 000 steps and more than 8 miles. I printed the award, put it in a frame, and hung it over my computer. Even unintentional steps count.
Fitness tracking provides an unobtrusive reminder in the form of a rubber bracelet, a constant flow of data on your progress, and a periodic reward when you have exceeded expectations-a simple formula for improving one's health and fitness. And it also tells time. Start tracking!
-Gloria F. Donnelly, PhD, RN, FAAN, FCPP
Editor-in-Chief
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