Are you a Gamer? Fitbit is just what you need!

[easjr222]

I am a big time gamer and as gaming goes we can lose hours on end playing our favorite games... here's the think, I'm not telling you to stop playing games... we all need some stres releavers in life. What I am suggesting is once you get your Firbit (I have the Fitbit Charge) challenge your Facebook Friends to step goals. You get badges for your accomplishments, which might remind you of your Xbox Achievements, which is cool. You also can challenge your buddies to daily goals like 10k steps or higher. A little fun challenge that can help you lose weight while you're doing it. I'm very competeitive too, so when my buddy sent me a challenge I made sure to walk more than he did and as a gamer if you want, play a game on your phone while you walk. Now you're killing to birds with one stone. (What a gruesome metaphor #SaveTheBirds lol) Just a suggestion to my fellow gamers in thsi community. Also, if you're married like me and have kids that are teens, you can make it a family event. Dad always wins! ...but when I get dethroned by one of my family, I'll still be proud because it's keeping them all active, which is very important. Hope this helps you out a bit! Thanks for reading. 🙂 

[nubenauta]

Well, currently Fitbit does not offer "Idle Alert", like Jawbone UP does for example, although it's the top feature request, but it's from 2013!
https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Requests/Idle-Alert/idi-p/811

So it might not be the best fit for gamers.

[Dajjer]

I'm a gamer but I am also a fitness buff. There are a couple of apps that have a game built into your steps.  Check out Zombies Run, RPGfit, or Walker (I think Walker is only for IOS). There are also a couple of Fitbit discussion groups for gamers, but they are not that active, even though my group has over 50 members.

Interestingly, I was always very active, but the Fitbit moved my activity to a new level. 

[DavideFitbit]

Awesome, thank you for sharing all this information @easjr222!  the challenges with friends are certainly very motivating and useful. The family event is also a great idea, and like you said "Dad always wins!" lol. 

[Harbourboy]

Have you tried playing Ingress? That game pretty much requires you to go walking around outside to collect power and find portals to attack. It's the perfect combination of gaming and stepping.

[Dajjer]

Ingresss looks cool and I'm intrigued but it seems to be more of a gps/scavenger hunt thing that is done on the weekends. Not as part of a regular daily exercise regime. Besides I live in a desert area and there is not much there in relation to capturing portals.

[Harbourboy]

The beauty of Ingress is that you can do a bit each day. There are half a dozen portal around my neighbourhood and its a good 4km walk to get around them all each day.

Also, at work, there are portals all over the place so it is good encouragement to go for a slightly longer walk at lunchtime to gather more power and find more portals.

It has definitely been a daily motivator for me. My dashboard shows I am currently on a 22 day hacking streak, so it has certainly been a daily activity.

[Dajjer]

I'm going to give it a shot but I doubt there is much to do in my neighborhood. I dont even know which faction to join. I like seeing the betterment of man (enlightened) but I am basically a rebel at heart (resistance)

[Harbourboy]

If there aren't many portals near you, then you can try to submit your own proposed portals.

[Dajjer]

I just went for it. Signed up with Enlightened. There was a portal 650 meters from the house. Not far, I thought. But the trip was kinda scary because the portal was located outside my subdivision and inside a dirt road community that is very very rural. With dogs barking and people looking at me with my phablet, listening to the counter. Well they knew I was not from there parts. Fortunately, I soon came upon the portal (an enclosed water treatment facility), I scanned the protal and did some stupid noob things in the program and then I got the hell outta there. It looks like my next link is a fire station, which I am familiar with but . . . well, we'll see . . .

[DavideFitbit]

@Harbourboy and @Dajjer, ingress sounds like a great complement for the activities you are already tracking with your Fitbit devices to get more active and motivated, I will go ahead and give it a try. 

[kafeel]

Integrating a Fitbit challenge with your friends sounds like a fantastic idea. Competing for step goals could definitely add a fun twist and keep us active. Plus, turning it into a family event is a win-win.

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@easjr222 wrote:

I am a big time gamer and as gaming goes we can lose hours on end playing our favorite games... here's the think, I'm not telling you to stop playing games... we all need some stres releavers in life. What I am suggesting is once you get your Firbit (I have the Fitbit Charge) challenge your Facebook Friends to step goals. You get badges for your accomplishments, which might remind you of your Xbox Achievements, which is cool. You also can challenge your buddies to daily goals like 10k steps or higher. A little fun challenge that can help you lose weight while you're doing it. I'm very competeitive too, so when my buddy sent me a challenge I made sure to walk more than he did and as a gamer if you want, play a game on your phone while you walk. Now you're killing to birds with one stone. (What a gruesome metaphor #SaveTheBirds lol) Just a suggestion to my fellow gamers in thsi community. Also, if you're married like me and have kids that are teens, you can make it a family event. Dad always wins! ...but when I get dethroned by one of my family, I'll still be proud because it's keeping them all active, which is very important. Hope this helps you out a bit! Thanks for reading. 🙂 

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