The Get: iTreadmill for iPhone

NOTE: Posts designated as ‘The Get’ will appear occasionally when some commercial item really catches my fancy and I want to share the love.

Way back on New Year’s Eve I resolved — as I do every year — to lose weight. Not a lot, 10 pounds was all I wanted gone. Losing 10 would take me down to 150, and at a stately 5’5″, in sight of true happiness in life … but it’s not been easy getting started. My illicit affair with all things chip (potato, pita, tortilla, ahoy!) and inability to steer clear of sweets (a new Girl Scout cookie?! Need a taste-tester?) was threatening to derail my resolve before even leaving the station. Until now … see, a pushy pal of mine told me about iTreadmill for iPhone app, and after my “uh-huh”-ing at every mention, he took it upon himself to download it for me on my phone … and I’m loving it! Being a guy, and competitive, it’s just the motivation I need to get up and out to lose the 10. Like most things tech-y it offers way more than I’ll ever need — or will even look at — in the way of features. But, what it does do is tell me how many steps I’ve taken during the course of the day, and on my (usual) nightly walks. And seeing those numbers go up is a real motivator. I’m going to be counting all my steps and *shudder* weighing myself, Monday through Friday, posting it here so we can all share the triumph (or the shame). There is one thing I hate about this app. And, that is finding out that after approximately 12,000 steps (about an hour-and-a-half worth of brisk walking) I’ve only worked off about 45o calories! Oooh, that hurts; is that even one bag of baked Flamin’ Hot Chee-tos?! But other than that sad-fact-o-meter feature I love it. And the cost? Only $1.99! Want to know more? You can see a video here. If you’d like to download it, go here. I’m posting my stats after the jump. Keep in mind the total number of steps is for an entire day, and includes walking to-and-from Union Station to the office (and back again), lunchtime walking, and my daily walk upon returning home to Riverside.

MONDAY

• Weight: 161 lbs.
• Steps taken, total: 15,005
• Calories burned: 605

TUESDAY

• Weight: 159.5 lbs.
• Steps taken, total: 13,550
• Calories burned: 546

WEDNESDAY

• Weight: 160 lbs.
• Steps taken, total: 12,300
• Calories burned: 496

THURSDAY

• Weight: 159.5 lbs.
• Steps taken, total: 11,200
• Calories burned: 452

FRIDAY

• Weight: 159.5 lbs.
• Steps taken, total: 14,110
• Calories burned: 565