To Fitbit or not to Fitbit

leachjg

I've reached goal recently (in the past couple of months) and now in maintenance. I don't have a fitbit, but considering one. Would it still be a good investment to have one for maintenance? Is there another activity tracker you would recommend? Should I just live life like I have or would it be worth it?

riirii93_

If you are really unsure of how much you need to eat, then sure, get a Fitbit. I imagine that if you just make an effort to eat healthily and listen to your hunger signals you shouldn't gain. You aren't limited to a fitbit, that's what i have and i like it, but there are lots of diff options out there to check out.

nxd10

I bought a used fitbit zip on ebay for$39. I found it very helpful, because it motivates to hit my step goals and it adds calories to my day. It was my maintenance reward. I feel lost without one and, when I lost the first, bought a second immediately.

It doesn't count stairs, etc., but it integrates beautifully with MFP and I log extra exercise like biking it doesn't count well. It is a good overall estimate of activity.

HikerMom03

I'm considering one.

I have seen so many different devices (nike has one too).

I'll be following along to see what others say.

Jayma375

I decided I wanted to get a fitness band after finding that I did better with my eating after starting MFP because I like the game of trying to get the amt of protein my Dr. wanted me to get but keep it under 1300 calories. I thought I would feel the same way about tracking my steps. So I evaluated several of the fitness bands including Fitbit. What I found was that none of them are 100% accurate so I looked at other attributes to determine which one I wanted to buy.

I ended up with the Garmin Vivofit mainly because it had a watch battery that's supposed to last a year. I already have 2 phones (one for work) and an IPad I have to keep charged so just the convenience of not having to remember to charge it every few days. It does all the basics the others do but if at a later time I decide I want a heart rate monitor there is an accessory I can get at a later time. I could have bought a them together at a discount but I wasn't sure I wanted the heart rate monitor.

The big thing with any of these products is since they aren't 100% accurate you have to use them as a comparison to yourself. I used the first few days to see how many steps I typically take and then when I can I try to go higher. Another nice thing about the Garmin is it sets a goal for you based upon your average # of steps so as you increase your steps your daily goal increases too.

Good luck!

aleggett321

I love my fitbit and wouldn't be without it. I bought a zip for under $50 on Amazon. It's a great motivator and I like being able to track my TDEE weekly and monthly, I feel like its a better estimate of my calories burned than the online calculators. Definitely worth it to me!

CindyMarcuzAdams

I have the zip. Its great. It tracks my steps and makes you strive for more. Its the most basic model. There are s few different ones thst track more than steps. Depends on what you want it to track.

JoeValencic

Just an FYI, my wife has had several fitbits over the last couple of years, and really enjoyed telling me how many steps she had taken each and every day. It IS a good motivational tool, but I must say they do not do well in the washing machine when someone forgets it in a pocket. This why she has owned SEVERAL over the last couple of years. LOL they're tiny little suckers, and I can see how it can easily be forgotten in a pocket. She has also lost one or two in that time as well. My wife does not do well with expensive toys. Cheap stuff last forever and never gets lost.

hearthwood

Definitely yes. You don't have to be fat to wear a Fitbit or other device. Very slim, active people wear them, and about everywhere you look you're going to see all sizes with a device on their wrists. Super cool and getting more popular all the time.

Wearing one on your wrist, is that little reminder to walk a little further.

GrandmaJackie

I have been in maintenance for about 5 months now! I've had my Flex for about 4 months now!! I've had the one for about 1 1/2 before I lost it! Love love mine! It helps me stay motivated plus it's my alarm to wake up so I can get my morning runs in! I love the idea I never have to take it off, JUST to charge it! I would recommend it yo everyone!

hearthwood

I wear a Jawbone Up, it syncs with my android. It not only counts the steps, but I can add in exercise, hiking, cardio, and strength. Once it's uploaded to my android it then syncs with MFP, and gives it my calorie burn. They make them for I phones, but the Bluetooth with the UP doesn't seem to be that accurate. But I love it for the android.

Sharon_C

I love, love, love my Fitbit. It keeps me motivated. I work in retail and I could never figure out what my activity level should be in MFP (active? slightly active?). My Fitbit tells me exactly how many calories I burn at work and I adjust my intake accordingly. It's been a godsend.

cjames010

My fitbit definitely eased my mind about going into maintenance and increasing my calories.

I found out that I burn *less* calories than MFP predicts for me at sedentary.
Therefore, I need to get up and move just to have a sedentary calorie burn! Ugh.

However, I've been following my fitbit calorie burn daily, and have been maintaining since June.

FatJockSing

My fitbit definitely eased my mind about going into maintenance and increasing my calories.

I found out that I burn *less* calories than MFP predicts for me at sedentary.

^^^ THIS!! ^^^
MFP is only EVER an estimate. there is a lot of "trial and error" for each individual and especially as we transition from deficit, to maintenance or to "gain" - and as our habits change, our Calories burned can change. Knowledge comes from Information, which in turn is gained from Data. (Geek alert . . .??) ANY data that helps you MANAGE your way to a goal is helpful - perhaps even 'NECESSARY" - IMHO! :bigsmile:

Gloria67648

I love my fitbit.

Today in addition to just walking about, I biked 5 miles. Swam 10 laps and did some stretching. Mfp would have given me a humongous minus. I think fit bits adjustments are more realistic.

pkw58

I went with the Nike Fuel Band and and I wear it everyday. My husband wears a fitbit. Everyone who I have given a fitbit as a gift loves it. It really motivates / reminds me to take the stairs or walk to lunch rather than get in a car and go.

You can go to CNET.com and read reviews on all of the wearable devices to help you decide the best one for you.

I consider my device a key component of maintenance, just I like I do logging here on MFP..

davinarn

I love my fitbit. I admit what sold me on the fitbit was the fact it synced with MFP and my husbands insurance thing for health miles. It has helped me to drop 30+ lbs, now I am hoping it will help me figure out how to take in enough to maintain this this weight lose.

keng66

I have used a Fitbit Flex for 7 weeks approximately. It keeps me motivated to get the 10 000 steps in everyday even when I don't really want to, plus it has other features that I like too.

SamLD88

I have a JawboneUP and I love it. I've had it since March 2013.

steveyinasia

If you have an iPhone S it has a built in step tracker that feeds directly into MFP and adjusts your calorie balance accordingly. I also got a Heart Rate monitor app from the app store that uses the built in camera that seems accurate(was $2.50 I think)

sshintaku

If you have an iPhone S it has a built in step tracker that feeds directly into MFP and adjusts your calorie balance accordingly. I also got a Heart Rate monitor app from the app store that uses the built in camera that seems accurate(was $2.50 I think)

How does this work? Does it use data constantly?

randomtai

I use a BodyMedia FIT... and I love it!

simplydelish2

I HATE my Fitbit!!! The only thing it is good for is a constant reminder on my wrist to move - that is good.

The Fitbit really only measures steps (including stairs), it bases your calorie burn on that. I have a flex and unless I move my arm - it doesn't count the steps. So pushing a shopping cart, carrying children or groceries, etc. - doesn't add steps. In addition, I think the sleep tracker is worthless - especially if you or your partner move a lot during the night.

And, if there is a problem - their customer service is horrible.

I'd highly recommend something other than the Fitbit.

patriciapowerswilliamson

I agree with you, I didn't realize how sedentary I really, really was until I bought my FITBIT 1. On a typical day for me, (outside of my daily 1 hour power walks) I was only logging 1.25 miles (4,000 steps.) No wonder the 20 lbs I kept off for 10 years *snuck* up on me (along with portion distortion.) I same for an hour and 15 minutes yesterday so obviously a Fitbit can't be used for those types of exercises but it still helps.

bluehenjen

I recently got a Fitbit One (which counts stairs climbed in addition to steps taken). I wear a Polar FT4 heart rate monitor during workouts and the Fitbit way underestimates my calorie burn, but I don't use it for that purpose. I use it to motivate me to get up from my desk and walk around during the day (I was also interested to know how many flights of stairs I climb per day, since the women's restroom is 2 floors down from my office). I have found it very useful for daytime motivation; I now walk around the perimeter of my building or stroll up and down the campus mall every time I go to the restroom. So if you're looking for motivation to move around more during the day, I highly recommend the Fitbit One. If you're looking for a better estimate of calories burned, a heart rate monitor will be much better.

PS - I accidentally put my Fitbit One through the washing machine and it was fine.

evsplava

I love my fitbit one. Ive found it helps to wear it on a leash to keep from losing it. And people are correct the flex will only count steps if you move your arms

ianthy

Hi
I got my Fitbit for a similar reason - reached goal weight and wanted to keep track more accurately of my exercise/cals. Now I would not be without it - and it syncs with MFP too. There are a lot of products on the market, so you need to decide what works for you. I like Fitbit - simple to use and the data is easy to understand and gives me the confidence to eat more based on cals in V out.

horseplaypen

I had a fitbit one for a year - it was a crazy year at school, and I knew I would be walking a lot (in clinics for rotations) but not going to the gym as much. It was a lot of fun to see how much I walked in a day - 7-10 km just walking around at school!!

HOWEVER I found that the calories the fitbit gave me were way, way too much - to the point that I gained weight eating what it said was enough to make me lose weight. To try and put it more succinctly:

2012: lifting weights/running 5x/week, 1300 net calories a day, eating back exercise calories, weighing all food, etc. Lost 10 lbs.
2013: no weights/running. Exercise from fitbit steps only. 1300 net cals a day, eating back fitbit calories, weighing all food, etc. Gained 10 lbs.

If I'd had to stick to the same routine I was in in 2013, I would probably have stopped eating back 1/2 to all of my fitbit calories, or making some other adjustments. Fortunately I'm back to a normal lifting/running/eating routine, and the weight is coming off again. I lost my Fitbit in the spring, and don't see the point in getting a new one.

All that to say - fitbit isn't magically more accurate than any other device. Obviously it works for a lot people, who seem to lose weight with its estimate, but for me it was way off. So just keep an eye on things and be prepared to make adjustments, as always.

sharonnj398

My wearable helps motivate me to move more. It's only little on-line badges, but I like obtaining new/harder ones as I progress.

I have a Nike Fuel band because that's the brand my youngest brother has. He showed it to me and how he was able to add friends to compare scores for the day. It lists movement as Fuel points, steps and calories burned. I also 'win' hours by moving five continuous minutes in an hour.

He uses the phone app, but I don't - I'm strictly PC. I just plug the band daily into my PC while I'm showering and that keeps it charged.

The Nike Fuel band does not monitor sleeping. It's on my wrist all night so I can start the day accruing points.

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DamieAnne

I bought a Garmin Vivofit a couple of weeks ago and I love it. I bought it with the HRM monitor so it's helpful tracking more accurately when i'm exercising as well as for general movement.

I do find that the step counter on the Vivofit is overestimating distance - not sure if its counting extra steps or if its expecting my gait to be longer (I'm 5 foot 3, there is only so far my legs will stretch!).

Personally I've found it really useful overall, and it keeps me motivated - if you have the money to spend on one of these gadgets, it's definitely worth it