fitbit

LittleNicci

who has one? is it worth it?

caraiselite

i have one and absolutely adore it.
the sleep tracker alone makes it worth it.

LittleNicci

i have one and absolutely adore it.
the sleep tracker alone makes it worth it.

so it's worth the $100. i work overnights so i KNOW my sleeps messed up...lol

smareeh

I have only had mine for a week but I love it. And you can sync it with MFP!!!!! My only wish was that it was waterproof for swimming.

EbonySD

I have one and I do like it alot. However, I wish I would have invested in a HR monitor with a chest strap instead.

LittleNicci

if i dont get mine this weekend it'll be the next time i get paid :-)

toshie333

I recommend body media fit. The pro is they are more accurate. The con is they don't sync with mfp and they go on your arm. However, having both I've found the bmf worth every penny. Accuracy, data, all very interesting!

mcarter99

Had a BodyMedia and a Fitbit. The Fitbit is much better in nearly every aspect. Wireless synching, in-unit display, tiny, not stuck to your skin like a leech, doesn't tell the world "hey look I'm a Big Loser", both gave similar calorie data, no monthly fee, can overwrite a logged period with HRM or other data.

AZDizzy

I adore mine! It's very motivating. I still use my HRM for my bike-rides, but everything else...LOVE my fitbit!

Janiot

I have had mine since Feb 2012 - I would say definately yes as it motivates me to move at least 10000 steps per day, and adjusts my MFP available calories - so the more I move/exercise the more I can eat!

gogojodee

I don't currently have one, but planning on it. As stated earlier, mostly for the sleep tracker - can't wait to see that!

LittleNicci

im interested in the sleep thing even though i KNOW mines messed up. we just moved into the basement so it's darker, hope that will help, seems to so far (we work overnights 11p-730a) i need to get a good scale for weighing food, any suggestions?

evie_wundt

I just bought one last Sunday. I have a BodyBugg and I like the feedback, but I hate wearing it. It was irritating my skin. I didn't like it showing so I wouldn't wear short-sleeve shirts. I wouldn't wear it at night because I could feel it on my arm. Sometimes it just hurt.

Monday and Tuesday, I wore the BodyBugg and the Fitbit so I could compare the two. The Fitbit records burning about 200 fewer calories per day than the BodyBugg. My BodyBugg never recorded steps correctly, so the BodyBugg recorded about 6,000 fewer steps than the Fitbit.

I love that I can wear the Fitbit on my bra and I forget it's there. So far, I'm happy with it and I think it will motivate me as well as the BodyBugg without the physical irritation.

mmreed

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.

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.

jamies76

It depends on what you want to track with it. Steps? Daily overall calorie burn? Most accurate activity (elliptical, spin, step climber) burn? Sleep?

I started out with a Body Media armband when I began gaining weight like crazy (about 2lbs per week) for no reason that we could see. Tracking my quantity and quality of calorie intake, along with exercise, and then printing it out for my doctor proved that yes I was doing everything right and something was WRONG! So it was worth it just for that.

I've had the Fitbit for a few months now and have found it extremely motivating. Several friends have one, too, so we have a lot of fun competing with each other. My husband and I have Humana insurance and are enrolled in their Vitality program, where you earn rewards for activity and preventative measures. The Fitbit syncs with the Vitality program but the Body Media armband doesn't.

Here are the pros/cons I've found with each.

Fitbit Pros:

>Cheaper than other devices
>Easy to use
>Very accurate step count
>Fitbit Ultra has an altimeter to records flights of stairs
>Wireless syncing
>Invisibility
>Syncs with MFP and other programs, including some health insurance reward programs
>Free online program
>Has app for Apple and Android users
>Ability to add friends and groups for motivation

Fitbit Cons:

>Slightly overestimates calories burned
>Records time laying down/no movement as sleep
>Not as accurate for activities such as elliptical, spin, step climbing, etc... Have to enter those activities into program separately.
>Fitbit Ultra altimeter is sensitive to wind and temperature changes, which can cause it to drastically overestimate flights of stairs climbed
>Fitbit Ultra altimeter does not record/give credit for inclines on workout equipment
>Food logging slightly cumbersome (not really an issue since you can sync it with MFP and other programs)

Body Media armband Pros:

>More accurate overall calories burned
>Differentiates between laying down and actual sleep
>Often more detailed food measurements available when logging
>Program very clear on calorie intake, calorie burn, and calorie deficit
>Has app for Apple and Android users

Body Media armband Cons:

>Device more expensive than Fitbit and some HR monitors
>Have to pay subscription for program in addition to device cost
>Does not sync with other programs such as MFP or health insurance reward programs
>Under-records step count
>Not as accurate for activities such as elliptical, spin, step climbing, etc... Have to enter those activities into program separately.
>Only has wireless sync capability if you buy the more expensive device with that option
>No readout on device--have to either upload info to computer or buy an expensive display IF you don't opt for the more expensive wireless sync device
>Less extensive food database
>High visibility
>Possible skin irritation
>Leaves tan lines

No doubt there's more--this is just what I can think of off the top of my head from my own experiences. I'm using both right now so that I can do an extensive long-term comparison between the two.

I think that the most accurate recording of activities such as elliptical, spin, step climbing, etc... would be a heart rate strap/monitor. I don't know if there's one for swimming, though.

LittleNicci

Im looking for something to help me track TDEE and calories burned when I exercise. Itd be nice if it would sync to MFP but it's not really that big of a deal since I have a smart phone now and can just log it after Im done. what's HRM? where can I find a decent priced one? Cus honestly, $100 is sorta steep. Not saying Im not against paying that much for something, it just needs to do what I want it to, reliably and be worth it :-D

LOL HRM=Heart Rate Monitor, DUH! Ok, I'll find one somewhere's ;-)

It seems like a basic pedometer would be good for what Im looking for when Im just working or walking around the house doing stuff....and then use an HRM for when I exercise...