Fitbit? love or leave it?

2

Replies

  • dropdeadmediocre
    dropdeadmediocre Posts: 8
    I LOVE my fitbit flex...

    The step count is very accurate - I wasn't sure I could trust it, so for the first few days, I wore both the flex and my old pedometer. Results were nearly identical. I wear it on my non-dominate hand, with sensitivity set to normal.

    It stays charged for the whole 5 days it says it will, and I can wear it in the shower. It's nice not to have to think about putting it in my pocket - or remembering to wear pants with pockets to work.

    It definitely keeps me motivated to keep moving. With my regular pedometer, I was averaging 5,000 - 6,000 steps per day... But I REALLY love the way the website/phone app responds when I hit my goal, so I'm regularly getting 10,000 steps per day, now. For instance, at work, instead of using the intercom system, I get up and walk to the person I want to talk to, no matter if they are on the other side of the building or not.

    It's perfect the way it syncs with myfitnesspal, too.

    I haven't had any problems with mine, except that it didn't come with the large wristband like it was supposed to, but customer service was excellent and took care of that right away.
  • SeattleRaven
    SeattleRaven Posts: 40
    I love my One--in combination with EveryMove.org, I am motivated to keep my activity level up even with a desk job. I bought my Fitbit at Best Buy and kept the receipt. When I lost it due to a stretched clasp, Fitbit replaced it free, no postage charged. So save your receipt.
  • Arleigh7
    Arleigh7 Posts: 150 Member
    I love mine but have lost 4 of them over time. I now buy them on Craigs list as people get them as gifts or get tired of using it. Just make sure it's working by pressing the button and seeing it display before you hand over the cash. I think they are great and do help me to walk more.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    I have a Zip, bought it on eBay for around $35, brand new, still in the box. If you're worried about it not working, make sure you buy from a seller who takes returns.

    I've had mine since January and it works great. Is it necessary? Nah, but I like gadgets, and wanted something else to motivate me and to compare or confirm numbers with, and the Zip does that for me.

    I decided on the Zip because I didn't need the sleep or stair tracking, it seems to be the most secure/least likely to come loose or fall off, and it's the cheapest. :tongue:

    I managed to get one for my mother-in-law for about the same price from Target - waited for a sale, had a couple of those $5 gift cards they give out when you buy three packs of Peet's coffee or two packs of Charmin, etc, and additional 5% off with my Red Card. Yeah, I'm cheap. Frugal. I prefer frugal. Haha.
  • RangedLunatic
    RangedLunatic Posts: 49 Member
    I got one about a month ago, and I love it. My only complaint is that I don't use the sleep tracking, and I probably could have saved about $30 if I'd gotten one without that capability. Mine does have stair tracking, though. I don't really need it to track stairs, but sometimes when I do a lot of climbing it will say I've climbed the equivalent of 200 flights of stairs... now that's motivation!
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    I see a lot of people saying the calories aren't accurate. They use METS to estimate calories, which I believe to be a more accurate measure than a heart rate (which could be affected by stress, coffee, weather, or illness). In my case their calories are spot on to eat back. Every week they send a report containing your weekly calorie deficit and it appears to accurately reflect my weight loss. Maybe I just lucked out
  • Aarjono
    Aarjono Posts: 228 Member
    I love my One. It has been a real trooper. I've misplaced it a couple of times and even accidentally put it through the washer and dryer, and it is still going (thank goodness). I love the new smartphone app for it as well.

    David Sedaris wrote a cute New Yorker essay about his Fitbit obsession and how he has channeled it.

    http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/06/30/stepping-out-3

    (An obsession that has ultimately led to having a garbage truck named after him in his little English town, LOL.)
  • GingerLolita
    GingerLolita Posts: 738 Member
    I love my fitbit flex! I did have an issue with my first flex after about 7 months, but I got the $20 geek square insurance from best buy and replaced it, and they only charged my $5 to keep insurance on the new one. I know fitbit also has really good customer service since I contacted them first about my problem, and they seemed to be willing to replace it with proof of purchase from a retailer (although if you bought it off ebay or something, this may not work).
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    Fitbit is useful if you main exercise is walking. It does not track anything other than the number of steps you take.

    If walking is your thing, it can help motivate you by letting you know how many or how few steps you take each day.
    I know you post this all the time but they really are not just step counters anymore. They don't estimate step-less activity but they don't really use step count itself as part of your calorie estimate.

    http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/projects/2014/03/accelerometers.html
  • simplydelish2
    simplydelish2 Posts: 726 Member
    I had the Fitbit Flex. IMO, a total waste of good money. Since it is worn on the wrist it really measures wrist movement - not steps. If you are walking and carrying something or pushing something - it is far from accurate. The sleep measurement - worthless.

    I'd save my money...for me it's a LEAVE it!
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  • rahul_g
    rahul_g Posts: 2
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  • rahul_g
    rahul_g Posts: 2
    ACTUALLY SPENDING MONEY ON THIS IS A WASTE. .Keeping a count on your regular diet , exercising daily , avoiding fatty foodstuff can help you achieve your goals. Also there are various plans available online which can help you keep a check on your diet .
  • rnctipton
    rnctipton Posts: 134 Member
    Absolutely LOVE my Fitbit! Have used it for years, and just got one for my husband and my daughter. Fitbit customer support is outstanding, too. I pay closer attention to my stats when using my Fitbit, so it helps me stay on track.
  • huck23
    huck23 Posts: 116 Member
    love my flex but don't understand how active minutes work though
  • tiggsnanny
    tiggsnanny Posts: 366 Member
    I've only had my flex a short while, but I love it :happy: it definitely keeps me motivated and I like to see how good or bad i'm doing throughout the day. It's a thumbs up from me :drinker:
  • martyqueen52
    martyqueen52 Posts: 1,120 Member
    They are all junk... invest your cash into something worth while, like your home.
  • SummerOBX10
    SummerOBX10 Posts: 6
    I love my Fitbit Flex. It motivates me to be more active. I had the very first Fitbit before they had names like the Ultra or the One. And I have had many pedometers. By far the Flex has been the best because I never forget to put it on, its always on. My husband had the (recalled) Force and I like that it counted stairs (where the Flex does not) but it was larger than the Flex and you count not switch out the colored bands. I think I will wear one of these activity monitors forever. Interested in seeing what Fitbit comes out with next.

    That being said, I would only buy one from Fitbit themselves, even if it costs a little more. They have amazing customer service. I had one small problem after a vacation and letting my battery die...and it was a quick fix that never happened again. I have heard stories of them replacing models for free even if its your fault they are not working any longer.
  • littlelaura
    littlelaura Posts: 1,028 Member
    I just got one for my birthday last week so will let you know once I have used it for a little bit if I love it or not. Hope I do.
  • buckleten
    buckleten Posts: 205 Member
    I had a fitbit but have to say I did not find it very accurate - even sitting at my desk typing would clock up countless steps, and driving caused it to log thousands of steps I just hadn't taken! You can get round the driving problem with apps like drivebit but you have to keep remembering to log the time or activate the app, and in the end I just got fed up with it. If I get something else I will go for a HRM.
  • IRLACTCYD
    IRLACTCYD Posts: 10
    I've been wearing the Fitbit Force for several months. I'm not concerned with whether it accurately determines steps per day, etc., but it does seem to be consistent over time. Its consistency helps me see activity level trends.
  • katkins73
    katkins73 Posts: 416 Member
    I've had a Fitbit Zip for a few months now and didn't rate it much and just used it for when I am away so I can track steps when not exercising. However a few days ago I linked it to MFP and I suddenly love it! No more wearing my HRM when I am walking somewhere ( for example I walk to the train station in the next town or walk to the library in the next town) and it gave very similar cals to my HRM. Since I have had it linked I am moving so much more!! I want to get 10,000 steps a day but I have been getting more than 15,000! So I don't care if it is a fancy pedometer, it is motivating me to move more when not exercising!
  • Justamom410
    Justamom410 Posts: 90 Member
    I've seen alot of comments on the FitBit...but does anyone have a JawBone? That's what I'm looking into getting...
  • WaterBunnie
    WaterBunnie Posts: 1,371 Member
    They are all junk... invest your cash into something worth while, like your home.

    My body IS MY HOME!
  • cranshinibon
    cranshinibon Posts: 129 Member
    i got a fitbit because i hear they were all the rage. it's cool to get a guestimation on how many calories I burn based on my BMR, but aside from that it kind of feels like a glorified tamagotchi / pedometer.
  • colors_fade
    colors_fade Posts: 464 Member
    I have a Zip, and it's been essential. Yes, I use it as a pedometer, and that's it. But that alone is huge.

    Getting 10K steps per day (about 4 miles) has made a major impact in my ability to generate a calorie deficit through eating and exercise. I really didn't start making any progress until I got the Zip and committed to 10K steps per day.

    All these things - web sites, devices - are just tools to help. If a tool helps you achieve something tangible, I'm all for using it.

    For me, the Zip is critical to ensuring I get a proper amount of cardio every day, to create that necessary deficit.
  • Amerielle
    Amerielle Posts: 153 Member
    They are all junk... invest your cash into something worth while, like your home.

    My body IS MY HOME!

    Agree!
  • scrapjen
    scrapjen Posts: 387 Member
    I LOVE my Fitbit, I've had one for over four years now and I still love the feedback. They are a little pricey compared to other basic pedometers, but I love that I don't have to write anything down, that it all just syncs to my computer. I love the visuals of the graphs and how it works with other programs (like here with MFP).

    If cost is an issue ... keep in mind there are many programs the Fitbit links too that do "pay you back" so to speak. Many different reward programs. I've actually earned $100 (in cash) from Achievemint (it took a while, but just linked my Fitbit and forgot about it), I am earning $$ from Pact (which I wouldn't do without a Fitbit to track my workouts, 10K= 1 workout), and the latest I love is Fitstudio, which gives my "Shop Your Way Rewards" at Kmart/Sears ... $5 a week in store credit.

    Fitbit customer service is really good too. Any problems, they've replaced for free!
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    They are all junk... invest your cash into something worth while, like your home.

    My body IS MY HOME!
    :drinker:

    I just poured $90 of chemicals into my pool. Think I'll get a return on that investment? :laugh:

    The first 6 months I wore a Fitbit and used their diet plan I lost about 35 lbs., 170 to 135 lbs. $3 a pound. I wish I could write a check for $30 and someone would take this last 10 off me! :happy:

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