Hr monitors, body fat calculators, and gadgets oh my!

JenniferInCt

Since ive started eating healthier and working out, ive found tons of weight loss gadgets i want to invest in. I know i dont NEED these extras, but i find even something like new workout clothes motivates me and gives me confidence, actually making me enjoy this new lifestyle.

I almost bought a body fat calibrator but then realized theyre not that important and i could do without.

Now, i really want a heart rate monitor! Please let me know which brands you all use or recommend for these and also give me ideas of extras i can actually use for my new lifestyle (scales, fun stuff, etc). Thanks all!

Sued0nim

Scales - no, not worth it as the BF readings are ridiculously innaccurate

If you do steady state cardio then an HRM is a good toy ...polar ft4 here

I also love my fitbit zip which I wear all say every day

I do love my toys so will keep an eye out here for my next gadget

JenniferInCt

Thanks! Ive had a scale thats supposed to measure body fat for years. Either i cant figure out how to work it, or its just crappy lol.
My plan is to ask for a fitbit charge for valentines day and buy myself a polar hrm bc i do alot of cardio.
Some other stuff that makes me happy (sad, i know)- my new sports bras and compression pants. But better than all the money i used to spend at starbucks and on peanut butter cups!

JenniferInCt

And i need a digital scale. The one i use is horrible to read. Esp as a beginner

Camo_xxx

My favorite fitness gadgets are my bicycle and my fork.

JenniferInCt

Good answer!

shawndimantha

I've used Polar for heart rate monitors, the one with the chest strap (which is more accurate). Want to try out the new Fitbit HR, would be interested to hear reviews from people who have used it. Own two fitness trackers now.

Also would love this - http://www.liveathos.com/

Sued0nim

Camo_xxx wrote: »

My favorite fitness gadgets are my bicycle and my fork.

Yabut where do you put the batteries

Sued0nim

shawndimantha wrote: »

I've used Polar for heart rate monitors, the one with the chest strap (which is more accurate). Want to try out the new Fitbit HR, would be interested to hear reviews from people who have used it. Own two fitness trackers now.

Also would love this - http://www.liveathos.com/

OMGoodG, I always said I needed a gadget to measure how much pain my muscles are in when my trainer puts me through the mill ...just how much do you think that will be?

msbengbeng

Hi everyone! I wear the Fitbit HR. I find it seems fairly accurate unless I wear it less than tight as can be or I am doing some serious, sweaty cardio for a extended period of time (think military ruck march in Texas heat). For my normal gym stuff (an hour on a cardio machine, zumba class) it does fine. I know as I timed manually with watch VS the fitbit reading. The stairs are steps seem extremely acurrate! It is a fun way to give myself validation. I am a visual learner

JenniferInCt

rabbitjb wrote: »

shawndimantha wrote: »

I've used Polar for heart rate monitors, the one with the chest strap (which is more accurate). Want to try out the new Fitbit HR, would be interested to hear reviews from people who have used it. Own two fitness trackers now.

Also would love this - http://www.liveathos.com/

OMGoodG, I always said I needed a gadget to measure how much pain my muscles are in when my trainer puts me through the mill ...just how much do you think that will be?

Priceless..

Diver_Adolph

I prefer the Garmin HRM. I do a lot of running and use the HRM and the foot pod for cadence. Part of it depends on the gadget you use to read it. We have 2 Garmins and my daughter and her husband each have one. We don't worry about the day to day stuff, just the things that put us above the baseline (running, shovelling snow, etc.) so we don't see much point in the fitbits.

ashley92188

I have the polar ft7. I like it.

3furballs

I've just started using the fitbit charge hr and really like it. My only issue is that I want to exchange for a large soi can move it further up my arm for kettlebell. I also like buying cute new workout clothes, it is motivating!

Amanda4change

I have the Fitbit flex (I use it just for the challenges). I use the Polar 7 (with the chest strap) for my HRM. I use map my run/ map my walk apps on my iPhone (for distance and speed).

JenniferInCt

I have the health app on my iphone. Is the fitbit still worth it? The health app ONLY tells me steps. And when choosing a fitbit, which is best? Charge?

JenniferInCt

shawndimantha wrote: »

I've used Polar for heart rate monitors, the one with the chest strap (which is more accurate). Want to try out the new Fitbit HR, would be interested to hear reviews from people who have used it. Own two fitness trackers now.

Also would love this - http://www.liveathos.com/

Wow, thanks because now so do I!

CharlieBeansmomTracey

I have a polar FT7 and I am really pleased with it.

TahoeSki

3furballs wrote: »

I've just started using the fitbit charge hr and really like it. My only issue is that I want to exchange for a large soi can move it further up my arm for kettlebell. I also like buying cute new workout clothes, it is motivating!

I have the Fitbit Charge HR as well and really like it. It monitors heart rate, steps, calories burned, floors climbed and sleep.

Khukhullatus

If you run at all, I love my Garmin Forerunner 15. It has all the standard features of an entry level GPS run watch, so you can do pacing, map runs, view records etc etc, but it also has the fitbit style motion tracking included. You can get the chest heart rate strap if you want it, and the whole thing is pretty reasonably priced. Also has like a 4.5 star rating on Amazon, way ahead of most other fitness goodies.

HeySwoleSister

JenniferInCt wrote: »

I have the health app on my iphone. Is the fitbit still worth it? The health app ONLY tells me steps. And when choosing a fitbit, which is best? Charge?

I still like my Fitbit One. I wear lots of bracelets and a nice watch so I don't want to wear a Fitbit on my wrist. The only downside is that it's easy to accidentally leave it clipped to your clothes at night...I have a friend who has washed 3 of them now!

JenniferInCt

[/quote] I still like my Fitbit One. I wear lots of bracelets and a nice watch so I don't want to wear a Fitbit on my wrist. The only downside is that it's easy to accidentally leave it clipped to your clothes at night...I have a friend who has washed 3 of them now![/quote]

Oh boy! Dont think thats for me as im a nurse and wash things accidently all the time! Lol thank you though.

47Jacqueline

I have an activity tracker (Jawbone UP), but I use a Polar FT7 (which is currently in the shop) for tracking my workouts because it's the most accurate way I've found. Most activity trackers are way too optimistic about how many calories you burn.

JenniferInCt wrote: »

I still like my Fitbit One. I wear lots of bracelets and a nice watch so I don't want to wear a Fitbit on my wrist. The only downside is that it's easy to accidentally leave it clipped to your clothes at night...I have a friend who has washed 3 of them now![/quote]

that's what happened to me with Fitbit; or I'd forget to put it on. A bracelet is better and I'm waiting for the Apple watch, out in April.

snowy0wl

I've owned a garmin vivofit, 2 tanita old school fat scale, polar loop, an mio alpha and a bodymedia device for personal testing and waiting on delievery on a M400 with HRM strap.

I have some basic experience with the fitbit line but them not being waterproof is a deal breaker for me. I swim so that's an important aspect for me.

I find all the activity monitors are just technical reminders to move.. If you do that it will always contribute to your fitness goal. My polar annoys I mean reminds shows me a bar the little bar isn't filled yet (I rarely do) but my bodymedia devices thinks I'm burning a lot of calories when I'm just walking around. It could be I'm just terribly unfit lol.

All devices are inaccurate. The GPS function I am getting isn't super accurate and regardless which you get it will just be approximate. The fitbit HR goes off when you try and do gym strength training.

None of the tracking devices do well with weight training.

Oh and of course you can wait for the new device that measure calories you consume, a Healbe GoBe.

I use a fat scale from the 1990's and the technology is about the same so I never upgraded.

In terms of HR, garmin HR doesn't work under water, Polar older tech does, but may have issues with the newer bluetooth ones. The cloth bands are much more comfortable than the plastic rubber ones that tend to dig into your chest.

I've researched that Bitfit wrist based HR will skip and give you inaccurate readings if you are doing stuff that giggles your wrist like lifting weights (as you should).

Ongoing heart rate kills batteries, so if you want to charge it one a day fine. Statistically you don't need it.

I have a blood pressure monitor that I use (an ihealth wrist monitor) and told me I have a slightly elevated blood pressure and a very high resting heart rate. who knows if that will save my life one day. My exercise the last few days have seemed to reduce it.

I could go on about sleep monitors and RIFD alarms but that's a bit out of scope but all of it helps structure your life to help/force you to do what's right.

People want simple convenient, and automatic.. but when you think about it, isn't that what got people in trouble in the first place?

It boils down to a trainer, or yourself to ask the simple question. Should I be moving?

thrashscara

Polar ft4 here, in pink I love it, stops me from over doing it (I can push my hr over 180, I prefer max 160-170) new to fitness 27 yo