FitBit - Yay or Nay?

rosiecristo

Needing some advice for those of you who have a FitBit Flex. I've been wanting to purchase one and I've been reading some reviews that are either very positive or very negative. Help!!

StaciMarie1974

I am very happy with my Fitbit - though I have the One. There are many brands and each brand has different models. Think about the features you want, and choose accordingly.

pksd

I have a fitbit one and I love it. Left mine at home by mistake on the ironing table, feeling very awkward with out it....Its a great motivator !!

bluesarah13

I've had several different bands, including a FitBit. Like Staci said, each one does different things so think about what you want it to do and then find the one that does that. If you want one to mainly track your steps and sleep, FitBit Flex is great. If you want one to track your heart rate, you'll need to look at other options.

dougpconnell219

I got a charge hr.
That prompted my parents, siblings, and several friends to get flexes.

Now it is a ten man daily step death match, compete with smack talk.

I love it.

TeaBea

It depends upon what you expect from it.

A FitBit is good for determining activity level. It measures step based activities. If you want it to give you a calorie burn for strength training, or HIIT (or many other forms of exercise) it's not going to be what you expect.

I have a FitBit One and find it motivates me to move more. Some days I'm just lazy. A FitBit let's me know that. Here's a link to a FitBit group....maybe that will help you decide.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users

pksd

Btw, Costco now carries fitbit....and of course if you do not like it, you can easy take it back (but I doubt that you will). Like Dough above mentioned, if you can find some friends that also have a fitbit, it will motivate you even more...its fun.

StaciMarie1974

For what its worth, my husband got a Polar loop. Last fall when he was 'shopping' Fitbit did not have a product for him. They have since come out with new options for wrist-based devices.

DJ31

I have the Fitbit Charge HR now, and I love it. I had the Flex, but upgraded when the Charge HR came out. I loved the Flex, and would recommend it especially for the water resistance, but I didn't like the lights so much. Also you can't track workouts with it, and its sleep tracker is kinda crap. I wanted more info when I would tap it, and all you get are how many lights are lit. With the Charge HR you can see your step count, heart rate, and other stats as you go through the day without needing to sync with your app or computer. As an introduction to what a fitbit can do for you as far as seeing how active you are the Flex is perfect. It also syncs up with myfitnesspal great, so you don't need to log workouts.

chesves

I love my Fitbit charge!!! It really motivates me to move. I have lots of friends on here that have one, and the challenges with each other are fun.

dougpconnell219

I will also say, it depends what your ultimate fitness goals are.

If you just want to move more and lose weight, a fitbit is wonderful.

If you have thoughts of seriously going into athlete mode, I'd go with something else.

I can already tell that at some point I'll outgrow mine. I will get either a garmin or an apple watch depending on its functionality.

My biggest beef with fitbit is that it isn't waterproof. I mean seriously, what kind of idiot designs a fitness tracker that can't go in the pool when I swim laps?

Hornsby

dougpconnell219 wrote: »

I will also say, it depends what your ultimate fitness goals are.

If you just want to move more and lose weight, a fitbit is wonderful.

If you have thoughts of seriously going into athlete mode, I'd go with something else.

I can already tell that at some point I'll outgrow mine. I will get either a garmin or an apple watch depending on its functionality.

My biggest beef with fitbit is that it isn't waterproof. I mean seriously, what kind of idiot designs a fitness tracker that can't go in the pool when I swim laps?

I know it says they aren't waterproof, but I have been swimming, hot tubbing, showering...etc in mine for a year or more. Still works just fine.

dougpconnell219

Hornsby wrote: »

dougpconnell219 wrote: »

I will also say, it depends what your ultimate fitness goals are.

If you just want to move more and lose weight, a fitbit is wonderful.

If you have thoughts of seriously going into athlete mode, I'd go with something else.

I can already tell that at some point I'll outgrow mine. I will get either a garmin or an apple watch depending on its functionality.

My biggest beef with fitbit is that it isn't waterproof. I mean seriously, what kind of idiot designs a fitness tracker that can't go in the pool when I swim laps?

I know it says they aren't waterproof, but I have been swimming, hot tubbing, showering...etc in mine for a year or more. Still works just fine.

Which model? From what I understand, the flex is more water resistant than the charge hr. which is what I have.

jgnatca

All I wanted was something that would interact with my iPhone and count steps. My Fitbit Zip does that just fine and I love it.

If you were to get serious about pacing etc, then get something other than a FitBit.

I also use the app Endomondo on my iPhone which does give me a LOT of stats about my run. It has a friendly Star Trek voice that tells me when I've run a KM and what my pace was.

Hornsby

dougpconnell219 wrote: »

Hornsby wrote: »

dougpconnell219 wrote: »

I will also say, it depends what your ultimate fitness goals are.

If you just want to move more and lose weight, a fitbit is wonderful.

If you have thoughts of seriously going into athlete mode, I'd go with something else.

I can already tell that at some point I'll outgrow mine. I will get either a garmin or an apple watch depending on its functionality.

My biggest beef with fitbit is that it isn't waterproof. I mean seriously, what kind of idiot designs a fitness tracker that can't go in the pool when I swim laps?

I know it says they aren't waterproof, but I have been swimming, hot tubbing, showering...etc in mine for a year or more. Still works just fine.

Which model? From what I understand, the flex is more water resistant than the charge hr. which is what I have.

OP asked about Flex. I was answering as such

Zx14chick

The Flex is said to be water-proof, but the newer ones say you shouldn't wear them in a pool or shower (which stinks!). I haven't swam since I bought it, but I wear my Flex basically 24/7 unless it needs to be charged.

Dragn77

dougpconnell219 wrote: »

Which model? From what I understand, the flex is more water resistant than the charge hr. which is what I have.

Wha? So glad I saw this..for some reason I was thinking the Charge was water proof or at least the same water resistence as the Flex, but I just checked up on it and its not. Apparently, the Flex is the most water resistant of all the FitBits, and the only one they say is okay to shower and swim in.

I still take mine off when I swim or shower, just cause I like to have nothing on in the shower, plus it doesnt track laps anyway..but I feel it would be a great "just in case" would hate to ruin my tracker if I forgot it on.

Anyway!! YaY to Fitbit Flex! It keeps me moving and active...without it Im a bum. With it, Im a bum with the motivation to get off my duff so that I dont have graphical proof Im a bum lol

Bukawww

I have a Flex and actually demoted my BodyMedia armband recently since the FitBit was showing extremely similar results. Its MUCH more comfy too. I also have a Garmin FR15 with HRM for pacing my runs, etc. The challenges are super fun and motivating. I just recently kicked butt with 32K steps in a day...exhausting. And I burned up my treadmill lol.

Lissa_Kaye

I have had the ultra (discontinued) and now have the One. I really love it. I love it so much I wash and dried my first One model, and bought another. And now I am eyeing the Surge. I do use a polar HRM for lifting, and doing major workouts, but it is pretty accurate on hikes and stuff. I love everything you can track with it too. I say yay.

X_DANNIELLEA_x

I love my Fitbit flex! It's an awesome motivator & I like that it adds or takes away calories based on activity, will be upgrading to the charge HR soon as some one else said the lights aren't all that fabulous & I'm forever checking my phone . Defiantly recommend them!

YalithKBK

I actually won one in a contest. I wore it for about two weeks and then sold it. If you want to know EXACTLY how many steps you've taken over the course of the day, then it's great. But I can notice when I've been more active and when I haven't. I know when I've slept well and when I haven't. I don't really need something to track these things.

tennisfan77

I wear a fitbit charge and love it. I like it better than the fitbit I used to wear on my hip because the charge doesn't use a battery. The battery lasted about 5 months and was not easy to find in the stores near me. Sitting too long is not good. Knowing I am wearing the fitbit encourages me to stand up and move when I find myself sitting too long. I also noticed that I walk about 2 miles per day just doing my normal activities, and I log that into my exercise log on myfitness pal.

Local_Atlantis

dougpconnell219 wrote: »

Hornsby wrote: »

dougpconnell219 wrote: »

I will also say, it depends what your ultimate fitness goals are.

If you just want to move more and lose weight, a fitbit is wonderful.

If you have thoughts of seriously going into athlete mode, I'd go with something else.

I can already tell that at some point I'll outgrow mine. I will get either a garmin or an apple watch depending on its functionality.

My biggest beef with fitbit is that it isn't waterproof. I mean seriously, what kind of idiot designs a fitness tracker that can't go in the pool when I swim laps?

I know it says they aren't waterproof, but I have been swimming, hot tubbing, showering...etc in mine for a year or more. Still works just fine.

Which model? From what I understand, the flex is more water resistant than the charge hr. which is what I have.

Yeah, the Charge HR is not waterproof.
I love mine. It is amazing.

weatherlover1

I had the fitbit ultra for almost 3 years and just switched to the polar m400. I loved my fitbit and it was weird to stop using it but I love my polar m400 more. Polar just released the m300 which is a more affordable version. It really depends what you want. Fitbit is nice but I like how the polar works as well. But I will say that wearing an activity tracker has been the motivation/cheerleader I needed to lose over 20 lbs.

sugarfree123

I used to have a fitbit, now I have the garmin vivo fit. Love it a lot more. does everything a fit bit does and more. It is waterproof, I wear it in the shower every day. THE BATTERY LAST A YEAR. no charging it. I get a nasty red line when I sit too long, have to move for it to go away. It increases my step goal by a little each day, and decreases when I don't reach my goal. syncs with a heart rate monitor (sold separately). syncs with my fitness pal also. I love it that the numbers are always there on my wrist. I don't have to grab my phone. I also bought different colored wrist bands for it $25. And it costs pretty much the same as a fitbit.

LivingtheLeanDream

I had a Flex, I now have a One and hubby has the Charge - we love them!! I had issues with my Flex, the wrist band broke first of all, then it wouldn't charge (seems to be an issue) but customer services fab and they replaced it with the One, which I love as its hidden and out of sight. The Charge is also great but it groups moderate mins in along with very active mins on the app and you have to log into dashboard on the full site to see proper active mins.
- The Charge HR is the one I'd wait for, to have all the other Fitbit aspects combined with a Heart Rate monitor would be great.

All in all, its a great gadget for getting us up and moving - I went from being a 8000 steps per day kind of gal to now averaging 17000 a day. I know its whats helping me maintain my goal weight range

Dragn77

sugarfree123 wrote: »

I used to have a fitbit, now I have the garmin vivo fit. Love it a lot more. does everything a fit bit does and more. It is waterproof, I wear it in the shower every day. THE BATTERY LAST A YEAR. no charging it. I get a nasty red line when I sit too long, have to move for it to go away. It increases my step goal by a little each day, and decreases when I don't reach my goal. syncs with a heart rate monitor (sold separately). syncs with my fitness pal also. I love it that the numbers are always there on my wrist. I don't have to grab my phone. I also bought different colored wrist bands for it $25. And it costs pretty much the same as a fitbit.

I wanted to get the VivoSmart when I went shopping, but it had *just* come out and wasnt available anywhere. If I do end up getting another tracker, I think that would be the one. I think it looks pretty sharp, plus I like how you can actually see your progress on it, plus the phone notifications. It also has a find phone feature, which I will *need* when kiddo moves out. LoL So if my Flex is still running strong in a year, I'll probably give it to her and then buy a VivoSmart.

eponine1976

Yesterday I got a Vivosmart to replace my Force since the band on the force looks like it will break soon. Today I wore both models side by side and compared the numbers. By noon the Vivosmart was showing 800 more calories burned than the Fitbit. No possible way! I know my Fitbit numbers are more accurate because if I eat the amount Fitbit/MyFitnessPal say to eat to lose 1 lb a week then I really do lose 1 lb a week. I've had a Fitbit for years (prior to Force I had a fitbit ultra) and the numbers and scale have always been right on which tells me the numbers the Fitbit is giving me are close to accurate. So I really doubt the Vivosmart was correct with the 800 extra calories. If I ate that I would gain for certain.

Around 1 pm I went back to the store I bought the Vivosmart from and exchanged it for a Fitbit Charge. The Fitbit might not be as pretty or waterproof but I trust the numbers it gives me.

indianwin2001

eponine1976 wrote: »

Yesterday I got a Vivosmart to replace my Force since the band on the force looks like it will break soon. Today I wore both models side by side and compared the numbers. By noon the Vivosmart was showing 800 more calories burned than the Fitbit. No possible way! I know my Fitbit numbers are more accurate because if I eat the amount Fitbit/MyFitnessPal say to eat to lose 1 lb a week then I really do lose 1 lb a week. I've had a Fitbit for years (prior to Force I had a fitbit ultra) and the numbers and scale have always been right on which tells me the numbers the Fitbit is giving me are close to accurate. So I really doubt the Vivosmart was correct with the 800 extra calories. If I ate that I would gain for certain.

Around 1 pm I went back to the store I bought the Vivosmart from and exchanged it for a Fitbit Charge. The Fitbit might not be as pretty or waterproof but I trust the numbers it gives me.

I feel the same way. I have had 2 Garmin products (a forerunner 220 and a Forerunner 15
and I sold them both. I did not like the accuracy of either one for distance and calories burned,plus garmin connect website leaves alot to be desired. I now have the charge HR, which I trust the numbers on unless you are doing an intense workout. In that case I use my Polar HRM which I trust way more than Garmin.

tracie_minus100

I have a Fitbit One and it's been awesome. I have several friends with Fitbits and we do challenges every week...my competitive nature has been amazing for my step count

alltheweigh170

Have a flex and love it.