You Might Be A Little Obsessed With Fitbit If…

I can tell you the exact day I received and activated my first Fitbit® — Sunday, December 25, 2011 — because it basically changed my life.

Up until that point I had no clue what my level of activity was throughout the day.

I assumed I was Wonder Woman. I was so incredibly wrong.

Fitbit taught me that.

Fitbit also taught me that I probably should’ve taken up a career that didn’t involve spending 10 to 12 hours a day sitting in front of a computer. Because sitting in front of a computer brings no Fitbit wearer joy. Only despair.

I’ve had a love-hate relationship with the device ever since. Regardless of my feelings towards it, I can honestly say that I never, and I mean NEVER, miss a day without it being tracked. My Fitbit is a not-so-gentle reminder to get up and move. It motivates me to take the stairs instead of the escalator, to be ever cognizant of my health, and to strive to try to beat the pants off of my friends who are also using the device.

I guess you can say I’m a bit competitive.

Pro Tip: It’s possible to get three miles in at the local mall. Or 15,000 steps around a conference room table. (Don’t ask me how I know this.)

Can you relate to the madness?

Judging by conversations I’ve had with friends, there are more than a few of you out there. So in that spirit, I’ve put together a quick list of “obsessed with Fitbit” red flags in case you’re uncertain of the level of your compulsion.

You Might Be A Little Obsessed With Fitbit If…

After a long workout, you break down into tears because you realize that you forgot to wear your tracker. What the hell is the point of exercising if you don’t get any credit for it?

You walk laps around your cul-du-sac in the pitch dark or pre-dawn hours just to earn a new badge.

You have a secret stash of sneakers at the office, in the car, and in your purse just in case you get the chance to take an unscheduled stroll around the block.

You start to gauge television shows and books by how many steps they’ll provide. One episode of Modern Family = 7,000 steps. Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon = 423,000 steps.

You justify an afternoon of shopping over weight training because you’ll get more steps that way.

You refuse to speak to your spouse because he’s unfairly beating you in your “daily showdown.” (Next time HE has to stand still to make dinner!)

Instead of sending your kids upstairs for an extra towel, you happily fetch it yourself. Gotta get those stairs in!

You institute a new walking meeting initiative at work citing, “Fresh research on productivity, creativity and mobility!”

You remove overachievers from your Fitbit friend list. From this point on, they’re dead to you.

You find yourself jumping out of bed early to fit in yet another pre-dawn walk because you’ve got to beat your pal who’s 1,500 steps ahead of you in the “work week hustle.”

You become obsessed with big round numbers. Going to bed with 12,800 steps is inconceivable.  You need 13,000, dammit!

So, how do you measure up — do any of the above ring true for you? (How about ALL of them?)