Quickie: Fitbit One ideas, thoughts, advice

TipTopMMR
TipTopMMR Posts: 89 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi all,
I just (about 5 minutes ago) hooked up my new Fitbit One! I am thrilled!!

I have a couple quick questions that I am hoping someone can answer and would also love any thought about the device and how to make the most of it, tips and tricks, etc...

I typically do a Jillian Michaels DVD about 5-6 days/week (30DS, Ripped in 30, No More Trouble, Banish, etc...)
Can someone walk me through tracking that now that I have the One?

What does that little flower mean?

Does anyone want to be Fitbit friends?
If so, find me here: //www.fitbit.com/user/26YZKV

Replies

  • Danimal718
    Danimal718 Posts: 90 Member
    I don't have the Fitbit One but do have the Fitbit Flex and also the Fitbit Aria scale. I track all of my exercise and meals here but have MFP and Fitbit linked. My exercise from my steps automatically get added to MFP. When I enter in my cardio or weight workout MFP will subtract those workout calories from the Fitbit calories during that time period that way you're not earning double calories and getting incorrect calculations. Hope that makes sense.
  • sorcha1977
    sorcha1977 Posts: 133 Member
    When you're doing anything but walking or stair-climbing (real stairs, not the machine), the Fitbit has trouble registering it.

    For DVDs and such, you'll want to input your exercise on MFP. If you have MFP linked to your Fitbit, it will ask you to put the start time and end time of your exercise session. That way, if you wore your Fitbit while you exercised, it won't "double-count".

    For example, if I'm doing Turbo Jam, there are movements that would register as steps, but I don't want it to count my calorie burn from my HRM *and* my Fitbit since that's a double-count. When I input my exercise time on MFP, it ignores all of the data from my Fitbit while I did Turbo Jam since those steps weren't a separate activity.

    Does that make sense? :)
  • sorcha1977
    sorcha1977 Posts: 133 Member
    Oh, and the little flower grows as you do more activity. If you go for a long walk, it will get taller and taller. If you sit for a while, it will go back to just a couple leaves. The idea is to keep the flower as tall as possible. I managed to get it to max level for a while the other day when I walked all over campus (with lots of stairs in buildings), but when I'm at my office job, it's usually pretty tiny. ;)
  • TipTopMMR
    TipTopMMR Posts: 89 Member
    Yes, thanks to both of you. It sounds like I should just do the workout wearing my Fitbit then log it right away (as well as the time I started) and it will all sort of even out...who knew it would be so hard? :)
    Thanks again!
  • TipTopMMR
    TipTopMMR Posts: 89 Member
    I don't have the Fitbit One but do have the Fitbit Flex and also the Fitbit Aria scale. I track all of my exercise and meals here but have MFP and Fitbit linked. My exercise from my steps automatically get added to MFP. When I enter in my cardio or weight workout MFP will subtract those workout calories from the Fitbit calories during that time period that way you're not earning double calories and getting incorrect calculations. Hope that makes sense.

    What are your thoughts on the Aria? Worth it?
  • TipTopMMR
    TipTopMMR Posts: 89 Member
    Oh, and the little flower grows as you do more activity. If you go for a long walk, it will get taller and taller. If you sit for a while, it will go back to just a couple leaves. The idea is to keep the flower as tall as possible. I managed to get it to max level for a while the other day when I walked all over campus (with lots of stairs in buildings), but when I'm at my office job, it's usually pretty tiny. ;)

    Cute! Thanks!
  • Danimal718
    Danimal718 Posts: 90 Member
    Totally worth it in my opinion. I have used an old school analog and a digital scale from Target. The analog was more consistent but not as accurate. I could step on the digital 3 times in a row and get different weights varying up to 3 or 4 pounds. The Aria is accurate...I tested up to 4 times in a row. It syncs with the Fitbit site which will sync with MFP then. Not sure how accurate the VF calculations are but that wasn't my reason for buying. It will keep track of up to 4 people's weight, you just have to register on the site for a free account and associate it with the scale. you can keep it private so other users of the scale don't see your weight.


    Some info on MFP and Fitbit for the OP...

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/help/faq/360-how-exactly-is-my-fitbit-calorie-adjustment-calculated

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/help/section/65-fitbit-tracker-integration


    BTW I also have the Fitbit do negative calories also. The Fitbit giveth....the Fitbit taketh away too :-P
  • scrapjen
    scrapjen Posts: 387 Member
    I just finished up 30DS ... I would "record" my workout (you press the button to start the stopwatch, press again to end, and you can see exactly what Fitbit estimates for any given workout). I would get about 130 calories credit for my 30DS. I wore a heart rate monitor too, and that would come in around 150-170 (depending on how into it I was). I decided not to bother logging the 30DS manually, it was only a 40 calorie difference ... I think I could live without eating those extra. I've really watched my Fitbit estimations and compared them with HRM, machines readouts, MFP estimates ... and 90% of the time I'm good with what Fitbit says. I have noticed Fitbit OVERestimates my bike workouts (I move it to my sock, which I realize is not how it was intended to be worn) ... so I do log those to correct Fitbit's overestimation.


    I have the Aria scale too. It IS pricey, but I like it (especially already having a Fitbit account and syncing with MFP). Before, I would never get around to updating my weight in Fitbit. Now it's always current. I weigh in everyday, and I really like the summary ( I just did a post on my blog today, and I have snagged my "weight" section, you can see how complete it is when you have the Aria ... http://jenbsjourney.blogspot.com/2013/08/whats-with-wednesday-weigh-in.html Before I got it, in those few minutes after I weighed myself, before I wrote it down ... I would forget my numbers SO many times! My MFP ticker is constantly sliding all over, but that is motivating to me (knowing it will actually go backwards if I'm not careful).
  • NicoleSchimmel
    NicoleSchimmel Posts: 162 Member
    When you're doing anything but walking or stair-climbing (real stairs, not the machine), the Fitbit has trouble registering it.

    For DVDs and such, you'll want to input your exercise on MFP. If you have MFP linked to your Fitbit, it will ask you to put the start time and end time of your exercise session. That way, if you wore your Fitbit while you exercised, it won't "double-count".

    For example, if I'm doing Turbo Jam, there are movements that would register as steps, but I don't want it to count my calorie burn from my HRM *and* my Fitbit since that's a double-count. When I input my exercise time on MFP, it ignores all of the data from my Fitbit while I did Turbo Jam since those steps weren't a separate activity.

    Does that make sense? :)

    Just to make sure I understand, you wear the FitBit while doing the Turbo Jam? What if I were to take it off only when doing a workout DVD?
  • thegeordielass
    thegeordielass Posts: 208 Member
    If you take it off, you'll just get whatever it does when it assumes you're sedentary since that what it assumes you are not moving.
    Some people (like me) like to count the step count when doing exercise, some don't and want all steps to be separate so take it off. Your choice. I keep mine on and log the activity via MFP to override what cals the Fitbit thinks I burned.

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