FItbit? pedometer app?

7nickels
7nickels Posts: 16 Member
in Getting Started
Could someone explain what a "fitbit" is?
Also I have an android phone. Are there any accurate pedometers? Do they really work?
Thanks in advance :)

Replies

  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    Fitbit is great for walking and running. It is actually a daily activity tracker ($60 - $100 depending on model).

    I have a Fitbit Zip ($60 model):
    - By inputting my actual stride length, it is very accurate when it comes to steps and distance traveled.
    - It underestimates on daily calorie burns (fine by me...way better than overestimating)
    - Depending on what I wear, I clip it to my shirt or bra or pants
    - Website and phone app are free to use
    - Fitbits only sync with a select few phones, but will sync to any computer you have the little usb "dongle" plugged into
    - I got mine in April and only recently had to change the battery (the other two models are rechargeable).
    - It gives me a better idea of my true activity level
    - It can sync with MFP and if you turn negative adjustments on it will subtract calories from your daily goal if your lazy :grumble:
    - It can't accurately track all activities. Elliptical is one example of an activity that it can't track. I wear a hrm for work outs it can't track and log the workouts on my Fitbit dashboard.

    Overall, it has motivated me to move more which in turn has helped my weight loss.

    Here is another users thread/review of Fitbit:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/984540-need-help-figuring-out-your-tdee-get-a-fitbit?hl=need+help+figuring+out+TDEE+get+a+fitbit
  • minnie503
    minnie503 Posts: 50 Member
    I have a fitbit one. Shadow pretty much outlined it. I find it motivates me to move more. And now I always take the stairs instead of elevator at work.
  • ron2e
    ron2e Posts: 606
    Yep, another Fitbit One owner here and agree with the comments above. I find it very motivating and like Minnie503 take the stairs instead of the elevator where possible so I can exceed the magic 10 flights a day! (And if I don't, I walk down and back up until I do!)
  • ElizabethFuller
    ElizabethFuller Posts: 352 Member
    My husband bought a Fitbit One for me and one for himself. It is surprising how competitive you can get and it definitely makes you want to move more! I now walk to work on my non-gym days so that I can get to 10,000 steps. I think they connect to android phones OK but the Fitbit.com website gives lots of info. MFP is way better for food tracking but I think Fitbit helps to keep you moving.
  • mahanaibu
    mahanaibu Posts: 505 Member
    I use an Omron pedometer (mine is the HJ-112, about $21 on Amazon) that has been terrific. Once the stride is set right, it's amazingly accurate. I've had to replace the battery once over two years.

    I also got a wrist hrm/watch on ebay for about $20, and I'm thrilled with that. On the elliptical, I use the machine's estimate, which seems to match what hrm measurement of calories burned says.
  • Skrib69
    Skrib69 Posts: 687 Member
    I have got to get myself a Fitbit or similar. I keep threatening to, but something else always gets in the way. At the moment it seems to be the death of domestic appliances!
  • Kerkela
    Kerkela Posts: 5 Member
    I have the flex, and appreciate that I don't have to remember to put it on / take it off. My previous pedometer spent more time on my dresser than on my belt. But - I know some people find it a bit unfashionable.
    And like everyone said, the wireless syncing and scoreboard with my friends really is motivating. As is the calorie tracking, my dog walks have tripled in length since I started wearing it.
  • phoenixgirl81
    phoenixgirl81 Posts: 309 Member
    I have a Samsung Galaxy S4. It has a built in pedometer which is awesomely accurate (yep...I counted) and it measures steps taken at a walk, run and on the spot through some kind of witchcraft which I am happy to not understand. Lol. It motivates me to no end.

    An MFP friend of mine got a fitbit (can't remember which model) and found it to be highly unreliable. It was clocking up steps when it was sitting on her bedside table nowhere near her.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    A fitbit is an accelerometer and an altimeter combined, it measures movement and elevation change not "steps" as such - it isn't a pedometer in that sense. Cycling up a hill records steps and stairs, for example. It also has a sensitive sleep recording mode.
  • 7nickels
    7nickels Posts: 16 Member
    Thanks for all of the info!! I am so happy to have found this "community" section on MFP! So helpful! I downloaded a Noom walker app and I am thinking it isnt too accurate. :)
  • brraanndi
    brraanndi Posts: 325 Member
    I just got a fitbit flex and it's just a fancy pedometer BUT it's so motivating and gives you fun lil graphs and charts. I also like it tracking my sleep. You can also add friends and have walk offs and see who can compete for more steps or floors or whatever on their website.

    I kind of love it.

    I used to complain that I slept really poorly but apparently I do not haha.
  • lambchristie
    lambchristie Posts: 552 Member
    Could someone explain what a "fitbit" is?
    Also I have an android phone. Are there any accurate pedometers? Do they really work?
    Thanks in advance :)

    I have an Android phone and have downloaded the Accupedo app and find it to be very easy to use and very accurate (yes I counted steps one day to verify).
  • lilacinfinity
    lilacinfinity Posts: 283 Member
    Fitbit is great for walking and running. It is actually a daily activity tracker ($60 - $100 depending on model).

    I have a Fitbit Zip ($60 model):
    - By inputting my actual stride length, it is very accurate when it comes to steps and distance traveled.
    - It underestimates on daily calorie burns (fine by me...way better than overestimating)
    - Depending on what I wear, I clip it to my shirt or bra or pants
    - Website and phone app are free to use
    - Fitbits only sync with a select few phones, but will sync to any computer you have the little usb "dongle" plugged into
    - I got mine in April and only recently had to change the battery (the other two models are rechargeable).
    - It gives me a better idea of my true activity level
    - It can sync with MFP and if you turn negative adjustments on it will subtract calories from your daily goal if your lazy :grumble:
    - It can't accurately track all activities. Elliptical is one example of an activity that it can't track. I wear a hrm for work outs it can't track and log the workouts on my Fitbit dashboard.

    Overall, it has motivated me to move more which in turn has helped my weight loss.

    Here is another users thread/review of Fitbit:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/984540-need-help-figuring-out-your-tdee-get-a-fitbit?hl=need+help+figuring+out+TDEE+get+a+fitbit

    Oh I am so glad I'm not the only person who thinks the Zip underestimates.
  • ladymm40
    ladymm40 Posts: 31
    I have an Omron HJ-112 pedometer. It is incredibly accurate once its set up correctly....and very reasonably priced.

    I would definately recommend it....
  • scrapjen
    scrapjen Posts: 387 Member
    I started with an Omron, and it's a good inexpensive option. I have an iphone, but I just don't want to carry it with me and have it on all day to track steps.

    I LOVE my Fitbit. I'm a huge fan, and now we have several in our family (my two oldest boys, both my parents, my brother and his wife).

    I did a post on my blog giving a pretty detailed account of what the Fitbit offers ... I LOVE the visual representation of your daily activity, the graph showing intake vs burn. If you want to check it out, here's the link
    http://jenbsjourney.blogspot.com/2013/08/wondering-about-fitbit.html
  • qtgonewild
    qtgonewild Posts: 1,930 Member
    I just bought a fitbit flex today, should be here Wednesday. yay! but how do you set it to know your stride?
  • EmilyJackCO
    EmilyJackCO Posts: 621 Member
    An MFP friend of mine got a fitbit (can't remember which model) and found it to be highly unreliable. It was clocking up steps when it was sitting on her bedside table nowhere near her.

    Actually, no it doesn't. It is tracking that you're alive, but not steps. You do burn calories even when you're not actively walking, and that's what it's tracking. Mine has been really accurate and has had a huge impact in making me more active. It doesn't record some things very well, like my weight training, but I can add that in their dashboard.
  • ecw3780
    ecw3780 Posts: 608 Member
    I am obsessed with my fitbit. However, it is not amazing at tracking stationary activities. It is an accelerometer, so you can be working really hard, but if you aren't making large movements, it wont pick them up. For things like biking, you need to enter them manually on the fitbit site. Even then, I find that to be more accurate than entering them on the MFP site. If you are looking for something to track daily activities like steps and stairs, or to use as a pedometer, I highly recommend it.
  • EmilyJackCO
    EmilyJackCO Posts: 621 Member
    I just bought a fitbit flex today, should be here Wednesday. yay! but how do you set it to know your stride?

    When you set it up on the website, there's an option in the Settings to set this. It will also set which arm you wear it on, which is important. :)
  • rnctipton
    rnctipton Posts: 134 Member
    I have a fitbit one and love it; however, if/when I ever need to replace it, I will get the flex because it is water resistant.
    On my android phone I like to use the Runtastic app for all my walks, runs, bikes. It uses GPS (I believe) and seems to be accurate most of the time. It also syncs with MFP, which I love!
  • qtgonewild
    qtgonewild Posts: 1,930 Member
    thank you. I just can't wait!!!!
  • RetiredAndLovingIt
    RetiredAndLovingIt Posts: 1,394 Member
    I really like my Fitbit One, but I also think it underestimates calorie burn. And according to it, I don't sleep well at all. As far as steps, I think it is very accurate, but I don't always get an accurate account for stairs. I can go up mine at home & sometimes I get credit and sometimes I don't.
  • airangel59
    airangel59 Posts: 1,887 Member
    I have a Fitbit Flex since July 4th, VERY motivational & it works with my Samsung Galaxy 3S. Also have an Omron HJ-113 as I do enjoy actually seeing the steps (& aerobic steps/calories/fat/distance) walked. Heard good things about the Moves app but I haven't tried on on my phone (friend uses iphone).

    I like the Flex as its on me 24/7 and waterproof. They've also got great support I might add.

    For my walks I use RunKeeper app (Endomondo is nice but they charge for what RunKeeper offers for free) and I just won an Elite membership from walking using the everymove.org website.

    Whatever you end up with, am sure you will find it to be motivational.
  • Itsmyers
    Itsmyers Posts: 6 Member
    Fitbit is a company that makes a line of activity trackers. I have experience with this Fitbit zip which is very much like a pedometer that you put on your belt or on your clothing. There's an android app that you can use the sync and pull the data from the zip onto your phone. It doesn't decent job of keeping track of the number of steps that you take while walking jogging or on various cardio equipment in the gym. I'm going to them and in both cases I forgot to take it off my workout clothes and washed them. I'm now going to activity tracker that you put around your wrist Fitbit makes one of these as well.:tongue:
  • zwits07
    zwits07 Posts: 2
    Hi! Another Fitbit owner. I love it and I am on my 3rd one: Fitbit ultra, Fitbit One, Fitbit Flex. I LOVE IT and CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IT! I love the new Flex because it can get wet. I wear it all the time, in the shower, at the splash park wtih my kids, even at the waterpark. That being said, it's awesome, but a little different than the other models. You don't get an immediate feedback of your calories, steps, things like that like you do with the One. All you have to be is close to you smart phone and it will link if you have the correct Andriod or iPhone. It also doesn't track stairs climbed like the One and Ultra did. Even with these changes, I love the fact that it can get wet and I can basically wear it all the time. Oh yah, the battery on the flex doesn't seem to last as long, so you have to make sure you charge it often. I have a charger at home and at work. It comes with the basic black wristband, but you can get other colors too. Also, the Fitbit itself, out of the wristband, is A LOT smaller and discrete than the One/Ultra so it's nicer to slip into your bra if you are getting dressed up.
  • A1ladya
    A1ladya Posts: 9
    Go here to find out what a fitbit is. I have the flex and love it. http://www.fitbit.com/store?gclid=CKvO7oyh07oCFVSZ4AoddCcAWg
  • A1ladya
    A1ladya Posts: 9
    How does one sync the fitbit with MFP?
  • 1sandiq
    1sandiq Posts: 2 Member
    I just got the Fitbit zip and had to sync it with MFP. I found this link on the fitbit website: https://help.fitbit.com/customer/portal/articles/1179771-how-do-i-integrate-fitbit-with-myfitnesspal-
    Once I followed the instructions on the post, it synced with MFP. Good luck!
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Could someone explain what a "fitbit" is?
    Also I have an android phone. Are there any accurate pedometers? Do they really work?
    Thanks in advance :)

    I have Footsteps pedometer on my Iphone. It seems accurate to me because I use it for running and I am losing weight as I set my goals to lose weight.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    "A fitbit is an accelerometer and an altimeter combined, it measures movement and elevation change not "steps" as such - it isn't a pedometer in that sense."

    Only some Fitbit devices have altimeters. They all measure 'steps' by accelerometer, which is how most pedometers work these days. It's not like GPS, it just notices the rocking type motion of steps just like the old school, pendulum style pedometers did. It's totally a pedometer. Though I imagine the company would prefer users call it an activity tracker. But it's really just a souped up pedometer. Which is all anyone really needs, in my experience with various 'activity tracker' devices.

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