I am still continuing to monitor how many steps I take, how many stairs I climb, how many calories I burn each day. It is amazing to me how well a reality, data and evidence based program works -- for me, at least.

I track my progress by wearing the monitor and checking it regularly either on my iPhone or on my PC. I find it motivates me to do more, eat within my burned calories. Of course, it's not an exact measure of any of the above parameters, but the most important part is that I remain mindful.

I don't measure my food. I know, pretty much, what 100-calorie amounts are and I keep a mental running total. My stair climbing often far exceeds the pre-set goal on the Fitbit, and I've increased the goal to 12 flights a day, though I usually do anywhere from 14 to 18. I never realized before exactly how many times I go up and down these stairs.

The Fitbit is so funny--I have done 5 stairs so far and it tells me, "You have climbed the Hollywood sign". Early this morning I had done the stairs twice and it said, "You have climbed a tall giraffe". Some wit undoubtedly had fun with programming it.

And I never was present to the fact that I walk so little. I believe that 5,000 steps per day is the usual goal. I do anywhere from 3,000 to 4,000. Now that I'm well and back to walking in the morning, I'm sure I'll hit 5,000 at least each day. Maybbe some day I can increase the goal because I'm achieving 5,000 so often. Maybe.

I've lost 5 pounds so far. Yay me!