Fitbit, Garmin or What?

slp51

I'm going to purchase an exercise tracking system, but I know nothing about what I should get. Here's what I want:

Wear it to track the exercise activity, whether weights or cardio
Track how long I work out
Track calories burned
Track HR while both lifting and doing cardio
Sync the data with MFP

I don't really care about counting calories, steps or running, since my cardio is mostly on the elliptical or stationary bike, and I count my calories here.

Looking for suggestions and recommendations for products you use and like.

Thanks!

ScubaSteve1962

Time for the arguments to start sounds like you would do better with at Heart rate monitor, that you only use that function when working out. A Polar A300 with H7 sensor would be a good choice it has different exercise profiles. It also has gymlink so you to link with the most gym equipment to adjust the level to your heart rate. You only record your exercise calories when wearing your sensor, it syncs with MFP if you have an apple product. they have an android app, but I think there are problems syncing with MFP. You can also just get the H7 sensor and with the polar beat app you can track your heart rate. The A300 is also waterproof, it will read your HR while swimming when you use the H7 sensor.

I've used the Polar FT80, Loop, and now use the V800, and loved them all.

lynnly90

The only Fitbit product I know if that tracks HR is the Fitbit PurePulse, which is a watch. https://www.fitbit.com/purepulse
I don't know how you'd feel about wearing a watch while working out, though. I own the FitBit One that I can hook onto my pants, and it does everything you're looking for except track HR. My FitBit One is great for continuous calorie tracking, and since you're not worried about counting calories/steps/running aside from while workout out, the FitBit One is probably not best for you. If it helps, the FitBit customer service is amazing. I lost my tracker (which cost $100 and I lost it after 6 months) and they gave me a brand new one for free!

earlnabby

No HRM will give you accurate information when lifting weights. You need steady state cardio to receive that information.

I have been happy with the product and customer service I have received with Fitbit. Just know what you can expect from any tracker.

brianpperkins

There isn't a device that accurately does what you want. As already mentioned, HRMs are not accurate for calculating burn from lifting.



http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/the-real-facts-about-hrms-and-calories-what-you-need-to-know-before-purchasing-an-hrm-or-using-one-21472

ScubaSteve1962

brianpperkins wrote: »

There isn't a device that accurately does what you want. As already mentioned, HRMs are not accurate for calculating burn from lifting.



http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/the-real-facts-about-hrms-and-calories-what-you-need-to-know-before-purchasing-an-hrm-or-using-one-21472

While these devices may not be accurate, (nothing really is) they will do what the poster wants.

"Wear it to track the exercise activity, whether weights or cardio
Track how long I work out
Track calories burned
Track HR while both lifting and doing cardio
Sync the data with MFP"

Mine will: track the exercise activity, whether weights or cardio (for cardio I set it on the appropriate cardio profile and record, then switch to the strength training profile for lifting.
Track how long I work out (start recording, end recording)
Track calories burned (who know's whether its right or wrong, but it's something to use as a measure)
Track HR while both lifting and doing cardio (only during recording)
Sync the data with MFP (which either subtracts or adds to my calorie for the day, depending on my activities for the day).

brianpperkins

ScubaSteve1962 wrote: »

brianpperkins wrote: »

There isn't a device that accurately does what you want. As already mentioned, HRMs are not accurate for calculating burn from lifting.



http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/the-real-facts-about-hrms-and-calories-what-you-need-to-know-before-purchasing-an-hrm-or-using-one-21472

While these devices may not be accurate, (nothing really is) they will do what the poster wants.

"Wear it to track the exercise activity, whether weights or cardio
Track how long I work out
Track calories burned
Track HR while both lifting and doing cardio
Sync the data with MFP"

Mine will: track the exercise activity, whether weights or cardio (for cardio I set it on the appropriate cardio profile and record, then switch to the strength training profile for lifting.
Track how long I work out (start recording, end recording) AK
Track calories burned (who know's whether its right or wrong, but it's something to use as a measure)
Track HR while both lifting and doing cardio (only during recording)
Sync the data with MFP (which either subtracts or adds to my calorie for the day, depending on my activities for the day).

Ah ... confirmation bias to rationalize the use of a device that cannot produce accurate numbers for a multitude of reasons. What your device does accurately is serve as a stopwatch and pulse counter ... that's it.

ScubaSteve1962

brianpperkins wrote: »

ScubaSteve1962 wrote: »

brianpperkins wrote: »

There isn't a device that accurately does what you want. As already mentioned, HRMs are not accurate for calculating burn from lifting.



http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/the-real-facts-about-hrms-and-calories-what-you-need-to-know-before-purchasing-an-hrm-or-using-one-21472

While these devices may not be accurate, (nothing really is) they will do what the poster wants.

"Wear it to track the exercise activity, whether weights or cardio
Track how long I work out
Track calories burned
Track HR while both lifting and doing cardio
Sync the data with MFP"

Mine will: track the exercise activity, whether weights or cardio (for cardio I set it on the appropriate cardio profile and record, then switch to the strength training profile for lifting.
Track how long I work out (start recording, end recording) AK
Track calories burned (who know's whether its right or wrong, but it's something to use as a measure)
Track HR while both lifting and doing cardio (only during recording)
Sync the data with MFP (which either subtracts or adds to my calorie for the day, depending on my activities for the day).

Ah ... confirmation bias to rationalize the use of a device that cannot produce accurate numbers for a multitude of reasons. What your device does accurately is serve as a stopwatch and pulse counter ... that's it.

I get the fact that you don't like them and don't believe in them, but some of us do and we like them. When it comes to calories, we can only go by what they tell us (and I'm one that doesn't believe everything THEY say). Are the calories on nutrition labels right, we don't know, are the calories on the activity monitor right we don't know, but if you're using them and getting the results you want, that's all that matters!!

These are the guidelines that I used to start with.
http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html

I do 50 to 60 mins of vigorous cardio activity per day both by my HRM and pedometer which counts active minutes. (active minute = 135 steps per min.)

My step goal is 7000 per day, not 10000, my average is 10590 per my pedometer which is on my side. I usually reach my goal in 45 mins of working out.

But you would probably say I shouldn't believe these numbers.