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THE NARRATIVE ARC
A Fitbit Challenge Exposed Me to the Unfortunate Lengths People Will Go To Cheat
It was one of the strangest experiences I’ve ever had
I was in a fun, new relationship after going through a rough divorce. I’d made professional strides and was on a new health kick.
It felt like everything was finally falling into place. My days were filled with new adventures, trying new restaurants with someone who actually listened when I spoke. My early wake-ups to workout didn’t feel like a chore.
My then girlfriend raved to me about her Fitbit watch. She said, “Just try it. I think you’ll love it.” I mentioned it to my friends, and we all bought watches at the same time and began doing weekend challenges together.
If you haven’t done a Fitbit challenge, it has a simple premise. Over a set period (typically 24–72 hours) whoever puts in the most steps wins. Sounds straightforward enough, right? I was excited to do them. But, sadly, these challenges brought hopelessly shallow behavior.
The challenges begin
Unsurprisingly, these Fitbit challenges became quite competitive. My buddies and I all grew up doing sports. I guarantee that if I was with them, and randomly said, “Let’s…
