Striiv makes fitness more fun. No seriously. Stop laughing.

In a perfect world I would have time to go for a run everyday. But in the real world, as a busy mom, that's not going to happen. So what if I could turn everyday routines into exercise? Now there's a nifty little gadget that can help you do just that.

 

A new startup called Striiv created a fitness device that's like pedometer meets gaming, with a charity component to boot. It's small enough to fit on your keychain, but powerful enough to measure every step taken throughout your day, and then it offers you rewards for various achievements which really does keep you motivated.

If you're thinking it would also be a cool gadget for an older kid, I'd agree. The device's high resolution color screen and touch interface is easy enough for all ages to use. Plus it lasts a good week on battery, so you aren't constantly charging it.

As for the gaming aspect, Striiv offers the MyLand enchanted island game that's activity based. i.e., Not Farmville. If you want to grow a plant, you're going to have to get moving. Fun!

Striiv also enables charity on the go by partnering with GlobalGiving. Every step taken can go towards a donation to a charity via a dedicated fund.

I would just be thrilled if running after my boys burned enough calories each day to count as a workout. We will see. But either way, I love the idea of turning my grocery shopping into a fitness opportunity. In fact, I might want to just comb those aisles one last time--to make sure I didn't forget anything, of course. -Beth

Striiv ships October 15 and will retail for $99 per device. Future releases will have family packs and social features. 

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