PSU FitBit culture: How many steps do we actually take?
This campus is so huge, we’ve got to be setting some sort of record
As Penn State students, most of our goals include making it through a long day of classes and homework without debating the possibility of wanting to drop out. However, lately a new fitness craze is motivating students to change their goals.
The new fitness bracelet the FitBit has taken over Penn State. Students are tracking their steps and competing with their friends to reach their fitness goals.
The fitbit trend seemed to climax during Christmas.
Morgan Driesch, a senior majoring in psychology, said she thinks the trend is growing.
“I’ve had mine since September. I’m just not 100% sure that they’re worth all of the hype if you’re someone who was already active. It helps you to see how inactive you are otherwise,” she said.
Ashley Keltz a sophomore majoring in Communication Sciences & Disorders, said she sets her FitBit for 15,000 steps each day.
FitBit step features show how steps it takes to get around Penn State campus. A lot of students have their FitBits set for a 10,000 – 15,000 step goal.
Some students emphasize the amount of steps they get and they will take more steps to reach their goal, however, Ashley found another way to trick the system.
“If it’s not at the goal I just shake it,” said Ashley.
Morgan Driesch, a senior majoring in psychology, said her FitBit helps her track her activity and caloric intake.
“It makes me realize when I’m lazy getting any steps in,” she said.
Ashley said she started to use her FitBit more once she saw a lot of people at her work with FitBits. She wanted to get a FitBit to have fitness competitions with her friends.
“My friend and I are in a step competition right now,” said Caity Kramer, a junior and fitness instructor at Penn State, “he has 115,000.”
The FitBit app lets you connect with friends and see their results and challenge people.
Caity says she also jokes around with her students to see if anyone in her Power Remix classes uses Fitbit.
“Normally it leads to my friends and I walking home from campus (about two miles) every time we have class,” said Mogan.
FitBits have many purposes and they can do more than tracking your steps.
Kramer said she uses her FitBit to track her exercises and calories during a workout.
“It helps me to tell time and it has caller ID, I don’t really use it for fitness I like it when it tells me I reach 15,000 steps but I don’t use it a lot,” said Ashley.