FitBits track steps and more

FitBits+will+display+the+time+and+date%2C+number+of+steps+taken%2C+calories+burned%2C+miles+traveled%2C+flights+of+stairs+climbed+and+have+an+alarm+setting.+%E2%80%9CI+mostly+just+use+it+to+see+my+%5Bnumber+of%5D+steps%2C%E2%80%9D+freshman+Hamza+Khawaja+said.

Photo Illustration: Iya Abdulkarim

FitBits will display the time and date, number of steps taken, calories burned, miles traveled, flights of stairs climbed and have an alarm setting. “I mostly just use it to see my [number of] steps,” freshman Hamza Khawaja said.

Emily Thissen, News Editor

A watch on steroids, the FitBit is a wrist accessory that tracks data ranging from heart rate to number of steps, depending on the model. Other features can include alarms, caller ID, activity and sleep monitoring, workouts, and even a GPS.

During the holiday season, FitBits and other fitness tracking devices like it were a common gift, whether intended to be a nice accessory, a workout companion, or incentive behind a new year’s resolution. Fitbits are easy to use as they are always right on the wrist of the wearer and can be paired with mobile apps instantaneously. These additions contribute many more functions to the device’s already multifaceted interface, which is one of the main reasons for their appeal.

It seemed like it could be really useful in my workouts to track my heart rate and other things like that.

— junior Maria Perkkio

For many, Fitbits are a helpful snapshot of one’s daily fitness trends. For freshman Annie Bottern, the data her FitBit showed her was surprising.

“I wore it at camp and I thought I was being lazy but my Fitbit showed me that I was actually being pretty active, Bottern said.

A distinct feature of the Fitbit is the step counter. Fitbit users generally have the goal of 10,000 steps in a day, which is almost equivalent to 5 miles. The moment the goal is reached, the wrist piece buzzes and flashes, indicating the accomplishment.

“I mostly just use it to see my [number of] steps,” freshman Hamza Khawaja said.

Junior Maria Perkkio, who participates in CrossFit workouts on a daily basis, originally got her Fitbit to aid her during her workouts.

“It seemed like it could be really useful in my workouts to track my heart rate and other things like that,” Perkkio said.

But for Perkkio, like many Fitbit users, the effect did not last very long. “I don’t use it as much as I thought I would. I always have it on, but it’s more for little things like telling time,” Perkkio said.

In fact, one 2013 survey by Endeavor Partners found that one third of FitBit users no longer used their device after just six months. Some Fit Bits are lost, others break, some find them uncomfortable or inadequately stylish. Nevertheless, FitBits and other wearable fitness devices have found widespread appeal, and are now a 7 billion dollar industry.