I've decided to be a bit more assertive about my health, so I bought a Fitbit. It's smaller than my thumb, and it clips onto my waistband or bra. It counts steps, it takes into account calories burned sitting, walking, breathing, always burning the body's fuel.

There is also a setting for monitoring sleep (and a wristband to wear at night) that will tell how often you wake and how long you sleep. You can even set an alarm that will buzz on your wrist, waking you without waking your partner (or your dogs).

You can vew the Fitbit dashboard on your computer (data from the device automatically downloads to your computer every time you're nearby) and/or you can follow the data stream dashboard on your iPhone and/or iPad.

Yes, I know it's geeky. But this is the kind of thing that will keep me interested and involved, if it works as advertised (which it seems that it does) and is transparent to the user (so you don't have to fiddle with it constantly). The price is a small amount to pay if it improves my health.

Some people (like Dan Gent) are terrifically fit and active. Others, like me, need to be pushed and encouraged. And if I can have a little geeky fun at the same time, what's not to like?

Here I go...up and down the stairs...poor little robin, walking, walking, walking to Missouri (...afraid to fly).