Anyone give up - and not miss - their fitness tracker

CeeBeeSlim

Loved my last two Fitbits but a bit peeved they’re lasting only about 1.5 years. This latest one is dead - still trying to fix it - but wondering whether it’s worth buying another one or another tracker at all. I was in my best shape without one, but with one, it’s been easier and more fun to get back in shape. I just hate the idea that I now feel I “need” one - and being hunkered down makes me feel I need it even more. Anyone cut the cord or “charging cable” for good - and/or any ideas for a longer lasting tracker (had Fitbit charge hr and hr2).

MaltedTea

I have 1st or 2nd gen Motorola 360 watch that connects with Google Fit. Hadn't used it since last summer but ever since quarantine started, I've been charging it to track my steps and movements inside. Will likely cut the cord once we can enjoy the outdoors regularly again.

Remember too that there are online trackers (apparently you can do that here on MFP) and old fashioned journaling (bullet journals if you're fancy).

Speckle38

I gave mine up about 4 months ago. I haven’t missed it. My phone tracks my steps when I have it on me, and I was/am using it to track my exercise routes anyway.

AliNouveau

I got rid of mine years ago. I realized I'm way more active than I thought and I didn't see the point really to counting my steps. For my physical activities often it wouldn't even track it. I figured too steps are just part of my daily activity. It just wasn't worth replacing it

NorthCascades

The Garmins I've had have all lasted much longer than the Fitbits I've had. In the most extreme example I had one of their bike computers for 8 or 9 years, used it most days over that time frame, and the only reason I'm not still using it is it got stolen. Their watches are indestructible, but for context I've only had their Fenix watches.

Also, the functionality they provide is night and day better than Fitbit.

AnnPT77

On part 2 of your question, Garmin has a better reputation for longevity, it seems. I've only had my Vivoactive 3 for about a year and a half, but it's going strong. Before that, I had a Garmin Forerunner 205 for gosh, I dunno . . . many years. (But that's a different type of device, essentially a multi-sport GPS-focused speed/distance/course tracker that one uses during activities, not a 24x7 watch replacement and all-day TDEE estimator).

I don't have an opinion about you giving up on the category altogether. Personally, I wouldn't, but I've been using a separate HRM and the Forerunner for many years for sports-related information; and a sports watch for time (I'm old, I like a watch ) and for activity timing and such. I still do those things, so I appreciate having one device that does all of that, in a compact package, with the data kept in the cloud instead of on a tiny failable/loseable device.

It seems like many people focus on these devices for motivation, step-counting, step-based competition with friends, or all-day TDEE estimates. None of those are very interesting to me, personally. I think it's all a matter of whether what a device does for you is important to you, or not. I'm not sure how a 3rd party can advise you on that.

mom23mangos

I gave mine up years ago. I figured out two things about myself. One, I'm very competitive with myself so I was constantly trying to beat my records instead of just enjoying what I was doing. Two, it really wasn't going to change what I did. I was still going to walk, ride my bike, swim, lift weights, etc. And I stopped tracking calories around the same time so there really just wasn't a need.

Jthanmyfitnesspal

I love tracking everything. The fitbits just didn't give me quite enough info (no GPS) and kept breaking. My favorite feature was their sleep tracking, which is excellent.

For a while, I tracked steps, walking, running, and cycling on my phone using WahooFitness and wearing a chest strap. Eventually (loke @AnnPT77 ) I got a Garmin Vivoactive 3. It was great for about 13 months, but now the barometric elevation feature has died (the temperature feature also died, but I didn't use it for anything). Still tracks position, however, and you can get elevation from that. I was using it also in the pool (pre-quarantine), which worked great. And, it tracks steps, sleep, resting HR, etc.

Do I need it: NO. Do I like it: YES.

MikePfirrman

My wife absolutely loves her tracker (a FitBit). She had one years ago and liked it but it broke after around a year. She likes fashion a bit as well and this one is cute and gives her a general idea of how active she's been in a day. She loves that. Me, not so much. Couldn't care less because I'm on a pretty rigid training schedule.

To me, they are useful tools to change habits -- much like calorie counting. But once you change your habits and they are embedded, not as necessary if you've been maintaining a long time.

ritzvin

NorthCascades wrote: »

The Garmins I've had have all lasted much longer than the Fitbits I've had. In the most extreme example I had one of their bike computers for 8 or 9 years, used it most days over that time frame, and the only reason I'm not still using it is it got stolen. Their watches are indestructible, but for context I've only had their Fenix watches.

Also, the functionality they provide is night and day better than Fitbit.

This. It's actually almost annoying that they are so indestructible, because then you have no excuse to upgrade when a new one comes out with features you'd like.

Other than fine scratches on the watch face (it's been banged against more than its share of rock faces) and having to replace the band once, my 920XT is still going strong.

ritzvin

(although I would never have bought a special device for just step tracking and wouldn't now either... Which might me more the answer to the OP's main question then Fitbit vs Garmin. For running and cycling training, however, yes- worth device purchase for me)

dougii

I gave up my Fitbit 3 years ago and don't miss it at all. And I think 1.5 years is good - mine only lasted a bit over 12 months. I use a Garmin w/HR strap when running to track real time data that I can use in the moment. Fitness trackers are notoriously inaccurate considering their cost and lack of durability.

midgetgrl72280

I had a fitbit but was allergic to it. I haven't missed it one bit

steveko89

I stopped using the fitness-related functions on my apple watch long ago, have not missed it one bit

cupcakesandproteinshakes

I’ve never had one.

Plus I lost weight first time round without mfp. I don’t need to track to lose or maintain. A lot of people do though.

amusedmonkey

I did. Mine died not long ago and I was really attached to it because I love numbers. Then the world decided to up and go into doomsday mode and now I can't buy a new one.

I'm surprised that I feel fine without it. After a few days of not knowing what to do with myself I just really don't mind anymore. I have enough data to know my average daily activity, so I just added that average to my total calorie allowance. I looked at the data to see how many steps I used to walk in any given time period before this recent change of routine, and I noticed I walked an average of 20 minutes in the morning, and that has been the main change to my activity routine since quarantine. All I needed to do was walk 20 minutes extra every day.

StargazerB

Mine broke a few months ago and the only thing I missed about it was checking the time, so I now wear a regular watch 😂