Really disappointed in fitbit
Replies
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mine works for elliptical and treadmill... it's clipped to my bra also.
ETA: do you have the flex (bracelet) and are holding on to the rails?)0 -
I stay at home the majority of my weekdays, and I find it really helps remind me to move around more even when I'm not exercising. I also keep mine at my hip or clipped on the bottom of my shorts. I don't find it giving me any steps for my arm moving around, as I move my arms a lot crafting/drawing/etc. I'm using the Zip though. I used to have the Ultra but I found it too bulky for me and the holster broke on me twice.0
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I kept my Fitbit Force even though it was recalled because I love it so much!
I ride an exercise bike and it records that activity nicely, as well as captures my brisk walks to and from my car in the parking lot at work each day.
Give it time!0 -
I used a fitbit flex from December to April. I found I really didn't do me much good. I was really disappointed in it also. But that being said, I know several people personally who use it and love it. It just didn't work for me. I linked it to MFP and the calorie adjustments were ridiculous. I now just use my polar 7T during exercise and use a podometer that I bought for 10$ that does a much better job of counting steps then the fitbit did. I did have to tie mine to my shoe when using the treadmill or elliptical and I didn't hold the sides of the treadmill. I think people either love it or hate it. Good luck finding something that works for you in reaching your goals.0
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Mine works fine on the treadmill.
It sounds like you're holding onto the rails. Your arms are supporting a lot of your bodyweight if you do this and this vastly reduces your cardiovascular workout. You may be going faster, but you're not burning nearly as many calories as you think you are. Reduce the speed and use your arms like you would if you were outside walking, and move up the speed/incline/intensity from there as you progress. Plus, your fitbit will work.
in case you missed it. i get the feeling this is the correct answer.
I kind of thought that as well. However, I get steps for mowing the lawn and I'm holding on to the mower. I haven't tested the accuracy, maybe I'm not getting all of my steps.0 -
I have the Fit Force and I love it. I've lost 65 lbs. since last September and have been wearing the Fit Force since 11-2013. It constantly reminds you to move and think about how you can get more steps. Mine works fine on the treadmill or just walking. It doesn't count by the movement of your arm, it senses the movement your whole body generates when taking a step. If you see it counting while you sit that is because even while you are sitting your body is still burning calories as it rests and Fit Bit accounts for that. Adding manually is very easy as well.
Bottom line is this device does work and it works well. Look at all of the positive feed back you received. Every device you purchase will have its pros and cons; I researched quite a few before buying the Fit Force. Take a few minutes to learn how to use it and how it works before you give up. Good Luck0 -
I have the Fitbit Flex now for about 8 months and it is extremely accurate.
It does NOT include hand movements - unless you were to shake your hand back and forth vigorously!
I don't understand why OP finds it doesn't work on the treadmill - I do a lot of workouts that including jogging/walking on the spot and it tracks them all perfectly.
Fitbit has been key to me getting to goal and staying there - average 14-20k per day and my hubby was so impressed he even got one and its working great for him too...it makes us get moving whenever we can
plus if you're from the UK you can get rewarded in vouchers for getting your steps in see bounts.com and get walking for those
It actually DOES count hand movements for things like peeling and chopping veggies etc. I stand still doing those and sometimes I can rack up 200 'steps'
are you wearing on non-dominant hand? mine syncs with my phone so I can experiment and check the steps, it doesn't count my arm movements as steps at all, I really have to vigorously shake my arm which isn't a natural movement to make it show up as steps...
and even if it did count the odd hand movement as a step its not a big deal, its keeping me very active which is the main thing
ps I sometimes clip it around the middle of my bra at front when I want to hide it - especially when I'm wearing pretty dresses and jewellery... it still counts the steps that way too.0 -
I wasn't happy with mine at first. I've had mine 4 months now. Now that i know how to use it better I find i cant live without it. I use mine on machines (wrist style) and don't have an issue. I don't hold on rails when i use the machines. Not sure if that is your issue. I find it's harder to get in exercise that i can eat that entering in items manually - i consider it more accurate.0
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Love mine! Figure it out, it's worth it.
:laugh: :drinker:0 -
Hmmm, mine works on the treadmill. The only thing I do that it doesn't work on is biking. Either my stationary bike or outside bike, it doesn't work. Its ok thought because I track that differently anyways and only use my fitbit for things I do everyday so I do not just sit on the couch all day.0
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plus if you're from the UK you can get rewarded in vouchers for getting your steps in see bounts.com and get walking for those
Thanks for ths info, never heard of this before... I've just signed up and I already have 350 points.... woohoo...!0 -
Not sure why yours does not work on the treadmill? If you have the Flex then you may have issues if you hold onto the treadmill. If that is the issue, then let go OR see about exchanging it for a One.0
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It actually DOES count hand movements for things like peeling and chopping veggies etc. I stand still doing those and sometimes I can rack up 200 'steps'
Just to clarify, that may be true of the wrist worn fitbit devices. But not all fibit devices, I have a fitbit one and it doesn't count arm movements at all. My One is pretty accurate for walking and running, but on a treadmill it wouldn't factor in steep incline settings--other than that it works well. I am not a bi treadmill or cardio machine user though so that doesn't bother me. I've heard Flex users post that if they play with the dominant/nondominant hand settings and where they wear their fitbit they can avoid steps from things like typing.0 -
I've been using one for almost two years, now. What I like about it is that it enables me to capture the walking around I do during the day, from walking around the office, to mowign the lawn, to walking the dog. That means much less guesswork than if I had to try and calculate how far and how fast the dog walk was.
But, by using it in combination with my activity factor that comes from my workout plan, I've had pretty consistent loss, maintenance, and gain results.
Generally, the biggest headache I have is when driving between my current location an San Antonio, because the road's bumpy enough to log a LOT of steps. In most other places, and even when driving along other highways, I didn't have that issue.0 -
I've been able to maintain/cut/bulk just using the number my fitbit gives me. I don't know what other people are doing but I get valid data from biking. The only thing I've ever needed to add manually is swimming/diving because I'm not wearing it.0
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Fitbits are pedometers and are useful for tracking how many steps you take. Perfect for walkers.
They are not very useful for anything else (running, weight training, dancing....)0 -
I got my fitbit in February of this year and i wear it faithfully all the time. I don't need to know how long i slept for but i love seeing how many steps and in fact this often encourages me to do some more to reach a nice round figure for that day ie 10000,15000 or 20000 steps. It has certainly improved my fitness levels as i am keen to walk most places. This along with trying to stick within my calories allotted to me by mfp works for me.
I am not saying that it will work for everyone but i know for me the visual display of seeing how many steps i have done and how many extra calories i have earned gives me a buzz lol.0 -
Have had my fitbit one since December 28th and have not had it further than a few feet from me ever since.
It works perfectly on the treadmill. Very glad of purchase.0 -
That's not true. They track all steps-based exercise, including running and dancing. Today's pedometers do a lot more than count steps like the old style pendulum pedometers. They use accelerometers that can tell how much you're moving on 3 axes and predict what you're doing and compare it to METs tables for calorie burn estimates tailored to your age, gender, height and weight. They transmit it via bluetooth to a web site where you can track trends and compare it to intake.Fitbits are pedometers and are useful for tracking how many steps you take. Perfect for walkers.
They are not very useful for anything else (running, weight training, dancing....)
It IS a fancy pedometer but it does a lot more than count steps for walkers only.0 -
Fitbit says some treadmills/users generate so little impact the device doesn't detect it well. I've never had that problem.
I think it's more likely someone is wearing a Flex and holding the handrail.0 -
plus if you're from the UK you can get rewarded in vouchers for getting your steps in see bounts.com and get walking for those
Thanks for ths info, never heard of this before... I've just signed up and I already have 350 points.... woohoo...!
Sprints to the computer to sign up.
*fitbit logs sprint perfectly*
Thanks 1st person. I did not know this. :drinker:0 -
Go buy yourself a Garmin, it'll make all other devices look like the toys they are.0
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Go buy yourself a Garmin, it'll make all other devices look like the toys they are.
I also have a Garmin.
It is useless for tracking my steps, recording my sleep and syncing with MFP to sort out my daily calories
It's awesome for recording my runs and bike rides though.0 -
I love mine...but if I remember well, the documentation says it is not working on treadmills or that type of equipment. Did you do your researxh before?0
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Go buy yourself a Garmin, it'll make all other devices look like the toys they are.
I also have a Garmin.
It is useless for tracking my steps, recording my sleep and syncing with MFP to sort out my daily calories
It's awesome for recording my runs and bike rides though.
Why would anyone need to track calories in their sleep? No, seriously..........0 -
Love my fitbit. I have the flex and I find if I am on the elliptical it can confuse it with the hand bars. It does track accurately if I put my hand on my hip, since it picks up the step motion. Same thing if walking on a treadmill. it usually picks up running on the treadmill just fine.0
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The sleep tracking isn't for calorie purposes, it's to track how much sleep you get and how restful or disrupted it was. (Which after the first month of tracking it, I never did again, but a lot of people find the info helpful and interesting. Sleep isn't a problem I have, though.)Go buy yourself a Garmin, it'll make all other devices look like the toys they are.
I also have a Garmin.
It is useless for tracking my steps, recording my sleep and syncing with MFP to sort out my daily calories
It's awesome for recording my runs and bike rides though.
Why would anyone need to track calories in their sleep? No, seriously..........0 -
plus if you're from the UK you can get rewarded in vouchers for getting your steps in see bounts.com and get walking for those
Thanks for ths info, never heard of this before... I've just signed up and I already have 350 points.... woohoo...!
Sprints to the computer to sign up.
*fitbit logs sprint perfectly*
Thanks 1st person. I did not know this. :drinker:
You're welcome folks, post that info on your wall so your other fitbit friends can reap the rewards too ☺0 -
Go buy yourself a Garmin, it'll make all other devices look like the toys they are.
I also have a Garmin.
It is useless for tracking my steps, recording my sleep and syncing with MFP to sort out my daily calories
It's awesome for recording my runs and bike rides though.
Why would anyone need to track calories in their sleep? No, seriously..........
A GPS does nothing for those using a treadmill and the sleep function of any activity tracker is to monitor restlessness/quality of sleep, not calories burned while sleeping.
Now back to your single brand propaganda that doesn't fit what this OP or thread are discussing.0 -
The sleep tracking isn't for calorie purposes, it's to track how much sleep you get and how restful or disrupted it was. (Which after the first month of tracking it, I never did again, but a lot of people find the info helpful and interesting. Sleep isn't a problem I have, though.)Go buy yourself a Garmin, it'll make all other devices look like the toys they are.
I also have a Garmin.
It is useless for tracking my steps, recording my sleep and syncing with MFP to sort out my daily calories
It's awesome for recording my runs and bike rides though.
Why would anyone need to track calories in their sleep? No, seriously..........
Should have used an Oxford comma
So please read as
It is useless for tracking my steps, recording my sleep, and syncing with MFP to sort out my daily calories
Le sigh.0
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