FitBit verses HRM

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SmexAppeal
SmexAppeal Posts: 858 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I am in the market to purchase a device that will let me know how many calories I burn, and if I am in my target heart rate while I work out. For this, would it be best I get a FitBit or a Heart Rate Monitor? I think I'm leaning towards HRM...
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Replies

  • LittleElephant
    LittleElephant Posts: 106 Member
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    Bump! Been wondering the exact same thing myself.
  • raindancer
    raindancer Posts: 993 Member
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    Fitbit is a great pedometer and sleep tracker. I have never had a HRM.
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
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    HRM, the fit bit as far as I know will not tell you your heart rate.
  • Brandy108
    Brandy108 Posts: 29 Member
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    I have both and I love both. Fitbit won't properly track your exercise unless you're running because it really only counts your steps. Well, the workouts I do include a lot of upper body movements and my heart rate is extremely elevated but my fitbit doesn't know that and seems to think I'm just standing still.
    However, I don't intend to wear my HRM 24hrs a day so I love my fitbit to track how many steps I take in a day and about how active I am.
    So I use my fitbit 24hrs a day and then add in my HRM just for my workouts. I know it's more expensive that way but it's also much more accurate. I love both!

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  • ClascyParra
    ClascyParra Posts: 85
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    I have the FitBit and while its decent for steady rate cardio (treadmill or elliptical) it doesn't do heart rate. I am actually looking to upgrade to a HRM since my fitbit doesnt 'read' several machines that I use (AMT machine and Stepmill) nor does it adjust during weight training.
  • mrscewinters
    mrscewinters Posts: 38 Member
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    Agreed. I own the Fitbit and it does not give heart rate on it. I still love it though. Bonus calories make me happy!!
  • dipsl19
    dipsl19 Posts: 317 Member
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    HRM. your heart rate is the best thing to track how many calories you burned. anything else is just guessing.
  • Fitness4Paul
    Fitness4Paul Posts: 166 Member
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    I have both. For what you want to do I think the HRM will be better. I don't wear my fitbit during exercise. I wear my HRM and log my cardio activity with the calorie burn. I wear my fitbit during the day. It will correct my calorie burn for my activity level i.e. sedentary. If i really have a sedentary day in the office it doesn't change anything. But if I'm away from my desk and I move around alot it will adjust my activity level accordingly. I'd also wear it if I went for a walk of just playing with the kids whereas the HRM I use specifically for planned cardio exercise or weight training to monitor my heart during workouts.
  • sfoster3171982
    sfoster3171982 Posts: 76 Member
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    fitbit does have it but with the premium which is 49 bucks a year.
  • wowbagger42
    wowbagger42 Posts: 25 Member
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    I have both and I love both. Fitbit won't properly track your exercise unless you're running because it really only counts your steps. Well, the workouts I do include a lot of upper body movements and my heart rate is extremely elevated but my fitbit doesn't know that and seems to think I'm just standing still.
    However, I don't intend to wear my HRM 24hrs a day so I love my fitbit to track how many steps I take in a day and about how active I am.
    So I use my fitbit 24hrs a day and then add in my HRM just for my workouts. I know it's more expensive that way but it's also much more accurate. I love both!

    ↑ This ↑

    A Fitbit, while I never owned one, seems to be an all around convenient tool to judge your activity for the whole day. HRM will give you near precise readings on how many calories you're actually burning while sweating during a workout. Both have their pros and cons (Fitbit not giving heart rate... Doubt an HRM would be good for the whole day, since it may dry out.)

    I'm reading about a new device you put around your arm, which supposedly gauges activity by the heat you're throwing off... not sure about that one, though.
  • WinterBlue
    WinterBlue Posts: 42
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    HRM all the way. I had the fitbit..while it can be discreet and convenient for counting steps ..the concept was a bit different for me. with the fitbit it was like if I sat around all day and didn't move I would burn like 1400 calories for the day...however I have also owned a body bugg and know that my seated all day burn is closer to 1800. so it was way off...with the HRM once you have an estimated baseline you can use the calories burned during exercises to gauge a better idea of what your TDEE is.
  • FitLink
    FitLink Posts: 1,317 Member
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    I am in the market to purchase a device that will let me know how many calories I burn, and if I am in my target heart rate while I work out. For this, would it be best I get a FitBit or a Heart Rate Monitor? I think I'm leaning towards HRM...
    Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

    FitBit will not tell you if you are in your target heart rate. That said, I wear my FitBit all the time and I set my activity level to sedentary and let it determine my calories out. It works well for me. I can't wear an HRM all the time. I see them as different tools for different purposes.
  • smartincoles
    smartincoles Posts: 6
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    I started with just the Fitbit and ended up also getting an HRM. I do what previous posters have said - I keep the Fitbit on all day to help keep track of my steps and flights of stairs, and it also serves as a reminder to me to get up every once in a while since I have a desk job. I use the HRM for workouts to give me a more accurate measure of what I'm doing then the Fitbit gives. Also, I like that the Fitbit can be used to monitor sleep quality.
  • SmexAppeal
    SmexAppeal Posts: 858 Member
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    Thanks everyone for your help. I think it may be best to just get both as I would love to know what I burn just being out and about, at work, playing with my son. But I definitely want the HRM for my workouts because I think I am burning more than I log. At least the massive amounts of sweat and shortness of breath give me that impression. All of your advice is greatly appreciated!!
  • mpeugh28
    mpeugh28 Posts: 14
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    I got a MIO watch for Christmas and I love it. I give me my heart rate and calories burned. My son bought it at target for 59.00.
  • LordBezoar
    LordBezoar Posts: 625 Member
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    DW and I have FitBits that we wear all the time--except for when we are working out, then we wear our HRMs. One piece of advice, though, I suggest putting yourself on the sedentary activity level here on MFP and then eat back your FitBit Calories. I had mine on lightly active for a while and I am pretty sure that I was getting extra Calories each day and as such, did not lose. Once I put myself at sedentary and made sure to eat my fitbit Calories, I started losing again.
  • mrshoneybear1014
    mrshoneybear1014 Posts: 275 Member
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    I just recently purchased the garmin forerunner 405cx and it's great! i bought the footpod along with it. I sometimes walk outside, bike outside, and most of the time I am in the gym so this model is great to calculate calories both inside and outside. It also is GPS enabled so you can track yourself on a map and garmin has a great website where you can see all of your data.
  • Dare2Believe
    Dare2Believe Posts: 140 Member
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    I got a MIO watch for Christmas and I love it. I give me my heart rate and calories burned. My son bought it at target for 59.00.

    This. I love mine!
  • firefly171717
    firefly171717 Posts: 226 Member
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    HRM, the fit bit as far as I know will not tell you your heart rate.

    It wont, I have a garmin and I love it :-) HRM all the way
  • Lizerra
    Lizerra Posts: 22
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    I have checked both out and the fitbit is right for me. It is small and convenient. I love mine!

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