Island real estate company 'steps up' with Fitbit challenge

Almost sixmillion steps and counting.

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Ives said heheard about the idea at a conference this winteras a way to encourage workplace wellness.

"I thought it might be a good idea to get everybody moving and grooving a bit," explained Ives, owner of Century 21 Colonial Realty and Centum Mortgage Partners.

And sothe Fitbit 21 challenge was born.

'Healthy competition'

'So I got up and went back out for a couple of laps around the block until I got ahead.'Kelly Lantz, real estate agent

"I mean our job issales, it's a competitive industry," he said.

"There's a lot of bragging rights that come with these things, so that's probably the biggest part."

Bragging rights are on the line

Some employees, more than others, appear to have their eyes squarely on the leaderboard.

Agent Kelly Lantz admits she was going to bed one night when it looked as if she was about to be bumped out of the number one spot.

"So I got up and went back out for a couple of laps around the block until I got ahead," said Lantz.

"I did find I would do stairs more and, even in the office, I would make sure that I would run papers or documents to someone's office as opposed to emailing them and telling them to come," she said.

Even Ives admits he has been a bit obsessed with his steps, at times.

"The other day I came here and I didn't have mine on, so when I went home for lunch I made sure I got it because you feel like all these steps, they're not getting counted," joked Ives.

Stepping up their game

Whatever the motivation, the challenge seems to be inspiring the steppers to step up their game.

"I know, myself, I'm not as high as I'd like to be," observedIves.

"You soon realize you're not walking as much. I do a lot of desk work than maybe some of my agents who are out showing properties."

"If you have a lazy day, you can say 'Oh wow, my co-worker there has been on the move all day, I better get up and do something too,'" saidLantz, who says she now does deals on her phone while walking up and down the Charlottetown boardwalk.

Members of the group haveaveraged 50 minutes of physical activity a dayand an average of 10,400 steps per day, just over the Heart and Stroke Foundationrecommended number of 10,000.

Century 21 even put a corporate team of 10people in the recent Runway Run at the Charlottetown Airport which was, for many, their first 5Kof any kind.

"I think it has raised everyone's awareness to get a little bit more active," Ivessaid.

"A healthy worker is a great worker."

The Fitbit Challenge continues until Labour Day.