My wife gave me a Fitbit for Christmas. She thought it would help me to stay healthy and also satisfy my fascination with electronic gadgetry. I was leery, \u201cDo I really want to wear a watch, something I gave up 30 years ago, and despite the things this one does in addition to telling time?\u201d <\/p>\n
I knew I had to give it a try, but when I attempted to turn it on, nothing happened. I attached the charger, thinking that\u2019s what was needed to get it going. I was wrong. It still wouldn\u2019t do anything. Of course, the thing didn\u2019t come with a manual, but there was a sentence on the box that directed me to a website to set up the Fitbit using a computer, or as an option, an App that could be download to a smart phone. <\/p>\n
I chose the website process using my computer. I got into the set-up and hit a snag when I came to the last part. It instructed me to turn on the PC\u2019s Bluetooth. My computer doesn\u2019t have Bluetooth. I had to go to my phone, download the App and start over again, thinking how easy things used to be \u2013 you bought a watch, strapped it on, wound it, set the time and you were done. Everything was like that. And, everything that needed a manual came with a manual. Not anymore.<\/p>\n
Anyhow, I got it going. It displayed the time, my pulse rate, and the number of steps I\u2019d taken toward a preset goal of 10,000 per day. It had a \u201cRun\u201d section that would keep time and mileage if I went for a jog, a count of the calories I\u2019d burned and a few other fitness measurements.<\/p>\n
I thought, \u201cCool!\u201d Not knowing I\u2019d introduced a new nag into my life, maybe as bad as the one living in my car that tells me to put air in the tires and turns on the check engine light, but never says why. This new nag started out in a pleasant fashion, \u201cCongratulations, you met your 10,000 steps goal today.\u201d That sort of thing. But, after a few days of being nice, it turned into a mean spirited personal trainer. \u201cYou only slept six hours last night; Tsk, Tsk.\u201d \u201cYour calorie burn for the day missed the mark.\u201d \u2013 \u201cYou\u2019ve only taken 6,342 steps; get moving.\u201d \u2013 \u201cTurn on your phone\u2019s Bluetooth for your monthly report and do better!\u201d Things like that. At least that\u2019s how it sounded to me. <\/p>\n
Now, I\u2019m trying to figure out how to reprogram it, to measure things more important to me. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou haven\u2019t eaten a Snickers Bar this week, time to get munching.\u201d \u2013 \u201cThe package of Oreos in your cupboard has only one row left; don\u2019t get caught shorthanded.\u201d <\/p>\n
And, when I\u2019m in Daytona Beach watching the parade of motorcycles on Main Street during Bike Week, a reminder that the number of empty beer bottles on the table in front of me is way too little for this event.\u201d I\u2019d change the name too. From \u201cFitbit\u201d to \u201cDon\u2019t-Have-a-Fit,\u201d and a message every so often like, \u201cEnjoy the day, smell the roses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Comments, Complaints \u2013 Send to mlessler7@gmail.com<\/a>. Old articles are available at www.oldcootwisdom.blogspot.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My wife gave me a Fitbit for Christmas. She thought it would help me to stay healthy and also satisfy my fascination with electronic gadgetry….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":65041,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-65392","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial"],"yoast_head":"\n