Best device for exercise tracking while at work?

xLyric

I have a job while I'm home from school that requires me to be very active. I'm always on my feet, walking, lifting, cleaning, etc. I have very brief (maybe 5 minutes an hour) periods of stillness while I interact with customers, but otherwise I'm on the move. I'd like to know, fairly accurately, how much I'm getting out of this job fitness-wise. (I'd really like to lose the 20lbs I gained while at school that I had worked so hard to lose last summer *gross sobbing*.)

I have a heart rate monitor, but since (from what I understand) it averages your calories over the workout period I can't imagine it'll be much use since I'm not always doing something that keeps my heart rate up for the whole 8 hours. It's also obnoxious and I don't want to wear it to work, haha.

I tried using my phone and the app Walkmate, which counts your steps, but it's incredibly inaccurate. I tested it today when I realized it couldn't possibly be right. I walked 30 steps to my car; Walkmate didn't count any of them. It did, however, count five steps for getting INTO the car, so there's that I guess.

I'd rather not spend over $100 if possible, but I will if I need to I suppose. I've been looking at Fitbit and BodyMedia, and other pedometers.

Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations?

Also, this turned into a novel, sorry!

CindyMarcuzAdams

I just bought a fitbit zip. It waz 69 here in Canada. Likely 59 in USA. Easy to use, just clip to your bra or where ever and away you go. When you get home the info goes I to your pc or what ever you use. Then is will sync to mfp. That part I am having trouble with but I will figure it out.
Good luck with what ever you choose.

Cindy

xLyric

That's the one I'm leaning more towards, though it won't take into account the physical labor, but I think I'll get over that.

From what I can tell, the only difference between the Zip and the wristbands is that the Zip doesn't monitor your sleep. I don't need that anyway, and their other device does stairs, but I don't really encounter those often.

The BodyMedia stuff will do the labor (I think) but it's so pricey. Also, I have zero interest in monthly fees.

meltedsno

I have a fitbit one and love it. I, too, have a very physical job, working 10-4 hr days. On work days, I can get 10K steps in by lunch -- almost 5 miles. The fitbit one syncs with my Iphone so I am able to track my steps at work without having to remove y fitbit and check the numbers... I love it.... have worn it every day since July 1, 2013 and plan on wearing it probably for the rest of my life. Well worth the money!!:happy: