Wanting fitbit info

I've recently got an HRM from walmart, but found it really doesn't work all that great. For $40 I find that it's not even worth it, it doesn't count my steps well at all, and have adjusted it to the highest sensitivity possible, and still doesn't work well. I've heard of the fitbit, and was wondering....is it worth the $100 to get it? Does it really work that well? I want to get more info on it before I spend that much money on it. Thanks!

Replies

  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    You got a HRM, or a pedometer? A HRM isn't for tracking your steps.
  • jessjpjb
    jessjpjb Posts: 38
    check www.fitbit.com out, I got mine in march and love it, what did I do before it, I have no clue!!!!! It was totally worth it to me and it can be linked to your myfitnesspal account as I do have mine like that. LOVE IT
  • MandiS80
    MandiS80 Posts: 127 Member
    Got mine last week and loving it so far.
  • mmreed
    mmreed Posts: 436 Member
    depends on your goal...

    to track steps - get a $10 pedometer

    to track steps, and as close to TDEE (total daily energy ependiture) within ease, and get some food tracking and sleep tracking, get the $100 fit bit

    however, if you want to track real calories your body burns during exercise, neither of those will do that. You need a HRM... and one with a chest strap - not one of the ones you press your finger on to check. THose are just for spot checking and wont give much more info. If you are doing cardio - a HRM with strap is the BEST way to go - look at the polar ft4 or ft7.

    If you just want something to motivate and keep you active day to day - by all means fitbit... or even the new Nike FuelBand.
  • angeliathatsme
    angeliathatsme Posts: 4 Member
    I got my fitbit in May and also love it. The syncing is fabulous. You can sync not only to MyFitnessPal but also to another favorite site of mine, Earndit where you can get discounts and even give to charity just by exercising. I have to say the feature I love most about fitbit is that it will track your sleep. It highlights just how much sleep I'm not getting by not going to sleep on time! I think it was totally worth the investment.
  • mmreed
    mmreed Posts: 436 Member
    also - I use both a fitbit and a HRM.

    I wear my fitbit all day - to get more real TDEE (minus exercise) then I "turn off" the fitbit and track my exercise with my HRM and enter it into mfp.
  • sammniamii
    sammniamii Posts: 669 Member
    Vim_n_vigor has a point. If you are tracking steps, then you may have gotten a pedometer over HRM. I have a FitBit and it does work nice, better than my older pedometers. But it has it's limits with exceries not "walking" based.

    I have recently gotten a HRM off Ebay ($59) - Polar FT7 - that so far is WONDERFUL. And yes, I use it WITH my FitBit (also got off Ebay for $84 - new) so I am now able to calculate my steps, heart rate and correct amount of calories burnt.

    If you can afford it, yes the FitBit is useful. But you can also score a better HRM that will help as well.
  • KaidaKantri
    KaidaKantri Posts: 401
    You got a HRM, or a pedometer? A HRM isn't for tracking your steps.

    It's an HRM with calorie burner and pedometer in it as well.
  • Meadows18
    Meadows18 Posts: 206 Member
    Got mine last week and so happy that I did. It makes you want to move more just to see the results. It is so easy to use and just love it when I wake it up and receive the different greetings. I was also skeptical, but I decided to take the plunge after a few months and am so glad I did.
  • majones_orl
    majones_orl Posts: 195 Member
    It is strange. Someone it motivates you to move more. I find myself planning walks at work to get to the goal I have set on the fitbit. Have mine a little over a week.

    Not sure I understand everything about it, but I am please.
  • KaidaKantri
    KaidaKantri Posts: 401
    I've recently got an HRM from walmart, but found it really doesn't work all that great. For $40 I find that it's not even worth it, it doesn't count my steps well at all, and have adjusted it to the highest sensitivity possible, and still doesn't work well. I've heard of the fitbit, and was wondering....is it worth the $100 to get it? Does it really work that well? I want to get more info on it before I spend that much money on it. Thanks!

    I've also read on Amazon reviews that a lot of people seem to be having issues with the fitbit falling apart and not syncing. Anyone on here have issues with theirs?
  • flechero
    flechero Posts: 260 Member
    I've had a fitbit since early Feb and have had no trouble, it's been great. It was worth the price, no doubt. Just be sure to calibrate your steps for accuracy.

    Now that I'm on maintenance, I might get the HRM instead as the data is better for what I need now... heart rate tracking and calories burned on runs.

    So either could be best for you- it just depends on what you want it to do.
  • jodyw83
    jodyw83 Posts: 38
    I think my fitbit was worth EVERY penny! Once I figured out how to put my calorie level in MFP and didn't log any activity, but just let the fitbit do it it has been awesome!
  • rpillen
    rpillen Posts: 23 Member
    I got my fit bit in February and absoltely love it! It keeps me motivated to keep moving and reach my daily goals. I've had no problems with it falling apart or not syncing. I've had it fall off my waist band a couple of times but fortunately noticed pretty quickly and didn't loose it. I recommend it to everyone who asks me what i'm doing to loose weight.
  • andreamkelly
    andreamkelly Posts: 169
    I love my fitbit, but also have a polar HRM for when I'm working out. The fitbit helps me track how active I am each day. The combination of both help me to have a better handle on the calories i'm burning. I haven't had any trouble with mine and I've had it almost 2 months. (knock on wood.)
  • tnbrown28
    tnbrown28 Posts: 8 Member
    I got my FitBit just last month and love it! I got it mainly for the sleep tracking, but I love the steps and calorie burn and especially the food plan tracker (there are tons of extras also you can track on the website). I love that it syncs with MFP (granted you log your activities and food on MFP and not Fitbit to do it correctly). I also have a Mio Motiva HRM that I got at Academy Sports for $70. I got that even way before I joined MFP. It seems pretty accurate for a HRM that does not have a strap (I didn't want to splurge for one of those yet), plus you can track calorie intake on it as well. I wear the FitBit 24/7 (except when showering lol) and use my HRM to track my calorie burn. If you can afford the FitBit I say buy it! And also no problems so far in my first month of it falling apart or breaking.
  • doonesbury
    doonesbury Posts: 281 Member
    I paid 100 bucks for Fitbit in February.

    Knowing what I know now, I would pay twice that much!!

    L O V E my Fitbit!!
  • caraiselite
    caraiselite Posts: 2,631 Member
    i got a fitbit for xmas. i love it.
    the sleep tracker alone is worth it.
  • nannabannana
    nannabannana Posts: 780
    I have had mine since mid April..Fitbit Ultra...was on sale at Target for 89.00.....worth every penny...:smile:
  • Granny07
    Granny07 Posts: 31 Member
    I LOVE mine, I have Had it a couple of weeks. It is worth the $100. bucks. It gets you moving.
  • Maureeeen
    Maureeeen Posts: 9
    I love my Fitbit. I recommend it.
  • seniorfaye
    seniorfaye Posts: 295 Member
    I've had my FitBit one month today and I really enjoy it because it motivates me to get up and move. I have over 15,000 steps today. I wouldn't have done that had it not been for my little buddy. It's with me all the time! I sleep with it and put it on my gown when I get up in the morning. So, I'm never without it.

    I still don't really understand about the calorie burn and all that stuff. I read all I can about it and try to learn so I can benefit from all the things about it...