Buying a Fitbit...Should I? Or NO?

McDougal416

I'm wanting to buy a fitbit...but as I've done research on here, there's been a lot of complaints about confusion on cal's counting, synching w/MFP, and some say they don't like it. So..I'm wondering what ya'll think and if its worth the pain. I'm not wanting to spend $100 just on some spiffy pedometer, but if its worth it and it shows accurately then I'm willing. But, if its more of a headache, then I don't want it. So, give me your opinion and let me know! Thanks!!

OddBookOut

I don't have any answers for you but I'm in the same boat. Wondering if it's worth the money for the extra motivation. I think I'll buy it from Best Buy and if I don't like it I guess I can return it. Hoping you get your answers!

reyopo

Same question here...a large portion of my workouts are hot power yoga...so I'm thinking just an HRM would calculate my cals burned more accurately. But I walk A LOT too...hmmmm? Clue us in!

KelliW_runner

I've been using mine for almost 5 months. Excellent data collection and new website gives you lots of graphing options. I wear the fit bit all the time and manually override for non-walking activities (yoga, cycling, running with my HRM where I have more precise calorie counts).
I've also been syncing with MFP for 5 months and no issues (occasionally a temporary glitch but very rare and resolves in a few hours).

Monthly calories in vs. out according to my fitbit reports track reasonably close to what my scale does.

Great tool for increased awareness of activity (or lack thereof).

LAWoman79

I love my fitbit, but I use it only to make sure I do those 10,000, since I have a desk job. I do not use it for working out, for that I use my HRM. It just really depends on what you are looking for from it.

Gloria67648

I LOVE mine. I think my calories burned with it are more accurate than what I was typing in with mfp.

lennybrisco

Hey guys,

I got one for a gift and really like it. No problems with MFP cross-sync at all. I would recommend getting one if you are looking for better insights into your diet/excercise/sleep trends in relationship to your goals.

If nothing else, it serves to highlight your activity levels and help you reach for new goals or provide objective feedback if you are slacking or think you are more active than you are.

The stats are all there on a nice-looking dashboard and I find them consistent and *reasonably* accurate. For me this is fine. It's really not about finite accuracy it is about consistency and keeping you on track. I also find the 'gamification' quite motivating.

The other thing you may want instead (or in addition to) is a heart rate monitor. I love toys and stats!

-LB

Cgirlish

I got mine on ebay for $70 and free shipping (used), I have only had it for 2 weeks but like it for walking, soon to be running

Connie

use cell phone app for bike riding ..

Raddichio

I've only had mine for a little over two weeks, and I've been very happy with it. It seems to be very consistent in how it tracks calories burned, etc., and I find it does help me to stay on top of how active I have or haven't been through the day. It's helped me to see where I could make a few small changes to increase daily activity.

Obviously, nothing is going to perfectly mirror what's going on in your body, so it's not something that you just clip on and expect it to perfectly determine your exact calorie burn each day. However, it does give you a good, consistent measurement, in my opinion, and then you can tweak it from there, depending on the results you are getting when you follow the data you receive from the Fitbit. I'm finding that I'm starting to understand better what the numbers mean for me, but there is a (very small) learning curve.

Before i bought mine, I read many of the threads in the "Fitibit Users" group, which helped me to understand how it works and what I could expect from it. I also asked several questions there so that, by the time I got my Fitbit, I had a pretty good basic understanding of how to use it.

It also depends on how much you like to look at numbers: Do you view them as extra input that you can use to analyze and come up with a strategy for weight loss? Or are you overwhelmed with them? While I love the way MFP syncs with Fitbit, it took a bit to figure out where some of the strange numbers (Fitbit Adjustments) were coming from. Once I got that straight, it's been super easy and helpful to me. I think it also depends on how you have things set up on each site. I keep mine pretty simple. I set my caloric goal on both sites as my BMR, as I want to make sure that I always eat that amount at a minimum and also because there is a very small difference between my BMR and my TDEE. I then can adjust what I eat according to my level of activity and exercise each day, if I wish, but I make sure I'm always eating at or above my BMR. It's working for me, but I know many others would find it backward.

I haven't had any problems with my Fitbit so far or with its communication with MFP, but, again, it's only been a little over two weeks.

kcallan17

I love mine. I purchased both a Fitbit and a Polar HRM about 1.5 months ago. I wear my Fitbit all the time and I add my HRM when I'm actively exercising at the gym. I find that it motivates me more because I want to reach my goal every day. I have a desk job so it really helps me gauge how active I've been during the day. I would totally recommend it.

McDougal416

Thanks, everyone! I guess I'll get the guts up to spend that much money and try it and see!

lauraver

I got my Fitbit on New Year's Day and wear it religiously. If you have a slightly obsessive personality as I probably do, you will love it! I wear it to yoga class but add the class manually as an activity on my Fitbit dashboard. It doesn't translate into more steps but into activity points (and calories burned). I have no problem syncing my food tracker from MFP although sometimes it takes a little while for all 3 meals to appear on the Fitbit site. I find Fitbit especially useful and motivating for days when I cannot make it to the gym. Then I'll make a point to park further from my destination, to stand and walk around while watching TV, etc.

gatorento

It depends on what you want to use it for. I bought a fitbit and am glad - but I was most interested in the sleep tracker and stair climbing aspects. I live on the 5th floor of a 10-story building, with 2 garage levels. Before the fitbit, I was winded climbing 5 floors, and I knew that if I could have a goal (and someone other than me keeping count), that I'd be more likely to climb the stairs. And it worked! I use the stairs as much as possible, just to get the number on my fitbit to increase....

The sleep tracker is awesome. I knew that I wasn't sleeping well at night before using the fitbit, but I didn't realize that I was waking up every hour or more each night. I've made a lot of changes to my night routine since getting the fitbit, and now am sleeping most of the night through. You can really see the impact that having an alcoholic beverage or coffee in the evening has upon your sleep once you start using this handy little gadget.

For the ladies out there, don't hook it into your sports bra. I learned the hard way - too much moisture gets into the fitbit, even though the website suggests putting it there. My first fitbit drowned in sweat. But I find the fitbit useful enough that I invested in a second one.

Hope this helps!

gatorento

Radicchio,

What is TDEE?

Thanks...

Umeboshi

I love mine and I'm glad I bought it.

tabulator32

I have grown to really appreciate my Fitbit but there was a learning curve as it comes with ABSOLUTELY NO INSTRUCTIONS IN THE PACKAGING whatsoever.

Once I figured it out, with the help of about twenty people on this forum, it was much more useful.

That being said, a lot of the exercise I do is walking and running. If you are weightlifting, cycling, kayaking, whatever...you may want to invest in a heart rate monitor with a chest strap instead.

I like the Fitbit now but it works best as a pedometer and sleep monitor.

jayele72

I love my fitBit! It syncs perfectly with MFP for normal daily activities. I run and hues my PolarF7 to log the runs and I assume you could do the same with yoga. I log the activity into the FitBit interface and let it sync with MFP. Basically I only use the FitBit interface to log in activities like sleep and workouts (it does daily steps, etc on its own) It automatically syncs all of that with MFP.

Ive been using them like that since I joined MFP and its been awesome!

I would definitely vote DO IT!!!

Railr0aderTony

Thanks, everyone! I guess I'll get the guts up to spend that much money and try it and see!

You will love it, just remember it is not perfect, if your not walking or if your riding in the car, make sure you log that on the Fitbit website so that it will adjust your steps and calories. if you do a lot of cardio other than walking or running i would suggest getting a HRM as well

NicoleMarie0409

I love mine too!!! It makes me move more, that is for sure. It syncs perfectly If I could name one con about it, it is that I drive lots (4hours+) and because of the bumpy roads I get credit for steps(and extra calories) that I didn't do, BUT all I have to do is go in and over-ride it as "driving" and I lose the steps that it logs.

It is worth it.

Josephina57

Radicchio,

What is TDEE?

Thanks...

total daily energy expenditure

mrf330

I use the Fitbit and find it to be a fabulous help. I find it gives a more accurate picture of my overall calories (in and out), and it allows me to monitor steps taken, how well I'm sleeping, and my vitals (BP, heart rate). The visuals provided on the site give a good picture of my progress and it's easier to determine what is or isn't working for me. I'd say it's worth the $100.

Raddichio

TDEE = Total Daily Energy Expenditure (I think that's correct terminology), basically how many calories you burn each day. Theoretically, that is what the calories burned amount should be on the Fitbit. However, some find it more reliable than others---some say it is too low, others say it is too high. That's why I consider Fitbit's number just a starting point and add or subtract as needed.
BMR = How many calories your body needs just to perform basic daily functions, without any activity (i.e., if you were in a coma).

Here is a link that I think discusses this in more detail.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/512956-tdee-what-is-it-and-why-you-should-not-eat-below-your-bmr?hl=TDEE

Please note that not everyone agrees about never eating less than your BMR. I am trying to lose weight slowly in order to lose mostly fat, not muscle, and also to make it easier when I start maintenance to do so without having severely restricted calories, so I always try to eat at least my BMR and usually a bit more. Either way, I think the information in the above link will explain TDEE in more detail. Another good place to look for information about TDEE and how it can be used to determine how many calories to eat is the group "Eat More to Lose Weight."

Raddichio

It's true that some activities are not reflected accurately by Fitbit, which is why I use my HRM when I'm working out and record the calorie burn from the HRM under exercises in MFP. I have my Fitbit set up to communicate with MFP, so they work together to make sure calories are counted, but not counted twice. For details on how to do that (it's very simple), check the "Fitbit Users" group for posts about this. It sounds complicated at first, but once you have the fitbit and try it out it's very simple.

Incidentally, for most of my workouts, the calorie estimate from Fitbit has been very close to what my HRM says. Today I did some weight training and kept my Fitbit clipped to my pants, instead of in my bra, and Fitbit underestimated calories for that, since there wasn't as much lower body work as upper body. However, I had my HRM on, so I got the correct numbers, which were communicated from MFP to Fitbit. I've done weight lifting before, with the Fitbit on my bra, and the numbers were much closer.

McDougal416

Thank you guys, so much! I'm going to best buy and buying one today! Figured that way, if I end up not liking it, I could prob get my money back..but I'm thinking I'm going to love it! I do not have an HMR...but have thought about getting one...but really...the only thing I do is run, or exercise videos....or walk...so really no weight lifting unless its my arms....and not hardly then...again, Thanks everyone for the input! I'll be sure to check out the FitBit forums, because I'm sure I'll have questions!!

Raddichio

Hope you like it. I know you can lose weight without it---I've lost most of mine without one, but it was both a reward for my hard work and a motivator to keep going for me. I get the sense that most people like it, but there have been those who haven't.

As I mentioned, the calorie burn that my HRM and Fitbit show for my aerobic/cardio workouts have been amazingly close. However, I never have the super-high burns that others here report. I think the highest burn I've ever had was almost 250 for one-hour. Usually, it's closer to 200 for an hour. Others have said Fitbit doesn't reflect as high a burn as they are really getting (don't know whether they are using HRM to confirm that or just basing it on what a database says for a particualr workout). My advice would be to watch the numbers it gives you and see how you do using that as another source of information in losing weight. Some have to adjust the numbers up or down to fit their particular circumstances, and you may have to do that also. In my case, they just happen to coincide pretty well.

Someday I may just set aside my HRM and go with Fitbit's numbers, but for now I like comparing the two and using the HRM as the final authority.

McDougal416

Thanks, Raddichio. I had lost almost 35lbs w/o a fitbit when I had my 3rd child. Now that I've had my 4th I'm starting all over again and I have NO motivation whatsoever...even having NO clothes that fit me...and I know that I don't want to buy new clothes..still isn't a motivation. I can't seem to get it. I have days where I finally have some, and so I step up, and then something happens...kids get sick..Allergies kick my butt forcing my asthma to kick in, or what not...so I'm hoping this will help me get back to moving, and since I'm pretty competitive, get me wanting to do better everyday...I hope! Thanks for all of your help and info! I soo greatly appreciate it!

Raddichio

With four kids, you have your hands full and, obviously, your priorities straight. You can't tell a sick child, "Sorry, but this is Mommy's exercise time, so you'll have to take care of yourself for the next hour." So accept from the start that you won't always be able to do everything you want to do right now to lose weight, due to more pressing demands. I would highly recommend the "Fitbit Users" group for more insight into how the Fitbit works. I'm a numbers person, and it always fascinates me how we might look at the same numbers from totally different perspectives---it seems each person must figure that out for himself/herself, and when he/she does that it just clicks and the information becomes more meaningful. There are a number of Fitbit groups, but the "Fitbit Users" seems to be the most active, with several people who are knowledgeable and willing to answer questions.

By the way, I totally relate to the allergies/asthma dilemma. I've had them all my life and it often makes it difficult to do what I want to do. I've been trying to get in exercise regularly, and it does seem to be helping, although I always have to monitor my breathing carefully when doing so.

McDougal416

Yes..Its hard to say that even when they AREN'T sick...so I try and work out when they are napping...but then when they nap I'm like...aaah..peace and quiet! LOL Anyway..I think I joined that group..now am trying to find the group. LOL Which I just looked up and saw groups there by the msg boards. LOL I've just started my 2nd cup of coffee...so not totally awake yet. LOL But, I am definetly going to check it out. So far, I like it okay. It's like a normal pedometer, and doesn't count all my steps..but oh well. As long as I've got the majority of stuff..and what not..then I'm good.... I did do the sleep thing last night and that was awesome to look at. It showed me getting up w/my daughter at 5..and it was pretty close to when it said I went to sleep. I had guesstimated 15 min's and it showed 11 min's. Can't wait to see what it does when she DOESN'T get me up..which she is sleeping thrue the night, just that she rolled over and couldn't get back to her original sleeping position. haha So, she thought it was time to wake up. Thank you for all your help! I've greatly appreciated it! Good job on your weight loss! And I can't wait to see that number on mine! LOL AGAIN!

balancejenn

Bump

chi18

For those of your who use both a FitBit and HRM, do you log your HRM calories on MFP or the FitBit site? And how does the HRM work exactly? Does it have a timer that you set before your workout? Do the ladies on here have any issues keeping the chest strap in place?

I've been using the FitBit for about a week now and I like it because since I live in the city and take public transportation or walk everywhere, I felt like all that walking wasn't really being claculated properly on here. It doesn't really work on the elliptical but the elliptical lets me enter my age and weight and has the heart rate handles, so I enter that. My one area of concern is cardio classes like Zumba. I can set a timer on the FitBit for the class and I feel like the calorie reading afterwards when I sync with my computer is fairly accurate but I think an HRM would be more accurate.

ZoeLifts

For those of your who use both a FitBit and HRM, do you log your HRM calories on MFP or the FitBit site? And how does the HRM work exactly? Does it have a timer that you set before your workout? Do the ladies on here have any issues keeping the chest strap in place?

I've been using the FitBit for about a week now and I like it because since I live in the city and take public transportation or walk everywhere, I felt like all that walking wasn't really being claculated properly on here. It doesn't really work on the elliptical but the elliptical lets me enter my age and weight and has the heart rate handles, so I enter that. My one area of concern is cardio classes like Zumba. I can set a timer on the FitBit for the class and I feel like the calorie reading afterwards when I sync with my computer is fairly accurate but I think an HRM would be more accurate.

I have no experience with the fitbit yet, but to answer your question about the chest strap, I have had no issues with it not staying in place. I put mine right under "the girls" and it is secure and tracks well! Hope that helps!