Who loves their FitBit?!  Mee! I got one almost two years ago and it's really help keep me active--or help me realize when I need to get movin' more!

I wear the Flex and I really love it--it tracks steps, sleep and calorie burn! Since I wear mine daily, I thought I would check out some ways to earn cash for using it!  Believe it or not, you CAN!  Here are my three favorites with some pros and cons.  You can join them all!

Keep in mind, this is a simple way to earn some extra money--it's not going to be a huge sum of money.  I like to use my points for household items, toiletries or makeup. 

Walgreens Wellness Program 

Connect your Fitbit (or other tracking device) to your Walgreens Balance Rewards card and earn 20 points per mile tracked!  You also get bonus points for connecting different apps and devices.  I also have My Fitness Pal on there.

PROS
Super easy to set up and a nice bonus if you shop frequently at Walgreens

CONS

Points don't add up very quickly--5000 points = $5

FitStudio

Connected to your ShopYourWay account (for Kmart and Sears).  I use this the most and I LOVE IT!!

PROS
Earn 5000 points ($5) for every 1500 calories burned OR when you walk/run 15 miles.  They add up FAST and I usually have at least $10 per week.  Great for buying items like toilet paper at Kmart. I also use them for socks, shoes, etc.  TIP: Use the Kmart website and order site to store! 

CONS

Points expire SO fast--usually 3 days. That is why I highly suggest site to store shopping online.  You get Ebates points and all you have to do is head to the service desk to get your order!  Also, you must live by a Kmart or Sears store for it to be worth it.

Pact

I've spoken about this before (I did a review for All You Magazine last spring), but I wanted to note that I still use the app a YEAR later and I love it!  Each week you make a fitness Pact and you get PAID if you reach your goals.  If you fail to reach your goals, though, you PAY THEM.

There are three categories: Gym, Food Log and Veggie.  You can do all three or pick and choose. Over the past year, I've made over $150 and only paid twice!

PROS
It truly keeps you on your toes and super motivated. No one wants to pay money!

CONS

You have to remember to use it! I will be in a rush at the gym and forget to log in BEFORE my workout, or I'll forget to snap a photo of my banana or salad when eating. It takes a while to set up a routine for using it.  

Have you tried any of these sites/apps before? Do you have one I didn't mention?  Let me know!

Check out August All You Magazine + Pact App Review!

If you follow me on social media, I apologize for talking about this again!  This month, I'm in All You Magazine with a review of a new(er) fitness app: Pact.  Since I love it so much, I thought I would share more details about the app and how it has been helping me stay motivated.  I am not compensated for this review at all.

I turned 30 this past January and I am really trying to live a healthier life.  The thing is, I love to cook and I actually like to eat healthy foods--but I tend to have a hard time losing weight.  (I swear I have a thyroid issue!) Being active is pretty easy with 3 little ones, but I have been trying to get better workouts in.   I've worn a FitBit for over a year now and I love how it keeps me in check with my steps and calorie burn.

When All You was looking for people to test out a fitness app, I was all ears! I love the idea of a FREE app to help motivate me.  Last year, I tried Weight Watchers, but it was hard to fit the expense into our budget.  After a few months, I decided to switch to simply using MyFitnessPal (MFP), a FREE app which you log in your food and activity daily.  I love it because you can scan items with barcodes and it will enter the nutritional information for you.  As much as MFP was working, I missed the motivation from the weekly weigh-ins at Weight Watchers.

In the month of April, I used the Pact app and wrote a daily journal for the magazine.  Here's how it works: each week you make a "pact" for yourself.  You state how many workouts you will do, how many days you will log your food in MFP and how many fruits/veggies you will eat.  Sounds simple enough, right?  Well, if you make your Pact, you get money- woohoo!  If you don't follow your Pact, you PAY money- booo!

How do they know if you are following your Pact? It's all in the app!

• For workouts: any 30+ minute workout is counted. You can only count one per day!
• When I go to the Y, I can log into the app and it uses the location tracker to see what gym I'm at. You have to be on location and moving for 30+ minutes for it to track.  Don't even try to leave! I forgot my headphones in the van once and it told me the workout would be counted unless I am at the gym. 
• Motion tracker: you can wear your phone/ipod on your arm and do a home/outdoor working.  I love using this when I'm running around with the girls or walking to the library.
• Steps. Use your FitBit or other approved device to sync with the app.  Once you get over 10, 000 steps, it can be counted for the day.
• Food Tracking: you have to use MyFitnessPal to track 3 or more meals per day (snacks can be counted) and over 1200 calories.  
• Fruits/Veggies: every time you eat a fruit or veggie, you snap a photo of it and members of the Pact community vote on whether it counts as a serving.  It's a simple thumbs up, thumbs down system.  The food has look like it's being eaten.  For example, when I'm eating a banana, I snap a pic after I've taken a bite out.

How do you get paid? 
Pacts end on Sunday, and payments usually go through by Wednesday.  All of the money of people who DON'T make their Pact goes into a pool and is distributed to the people who DO make their Pact, so the money can vary each week.  Also, the amount paid is based on how many Pacts you make.  IE: if you do 3 workouts you'll get paid less than 5 workouts.

I will admit, the first week it took a bit of time to get used to using the app.  I had to remember to take photos of my fruits/veggies and log in on MFP.  Sometimes I'll forget to sign in at the gym, too.  I recommend keeping your Pact low the first week or two to get adjusted, especially if you didn't use MyFitnessPal beforehand.  I slowly have started adding recipes I frequently make to save time.  On the actual MyFitnessPal website, you can add recipes MUCH faster!

I've been using Pact non-stop since April and I truly love it.  It has been the motivation I needed to get back on track with my workouts and eating.  I have made over $60 and I've only had to pay once.  You can set vacations if you know you'll be too busy to track. 

Do you use MyFitnessPal? Add me as a friend! 

 (ashleigh.hofffman at gmail dot com)