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MyFitnessPal Community

Fitbit??? Or other?!

KimberlyDCZ

I know there are other threads on this subject but I really need help deciding what is the best way to track my heart rate and calories burned. I hear a lot about fitbit and I'm just wondering what are the benefits of the fitbit compared to a heart rate monitor or other devices? In your opinion, which device is best, and why? Price is a factor for me as well, but I'm always willing to pay for better quality.

Replies

KimberlyDCZ

Someone please help :-\

Aello11

the Fitbit will only track steps, stairs and depending on the model sleep patterns...it does not track heart rate. so it is all in what you are looking for it to do

GreekByMarriage

A fitbit will not monitor your heart rate. A heart rate monitor is only meant to be used during exercise, not all day long. If you want an overall total for calories burned all day you can go with a fitbit or a BodyMedia Fit.

Personally, I bought a BodyMedia Fit and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this thing!!! I tried Fitbit in the beginning of the year but ended up returning it.

I now know that I burn between 2100-2600 a day depending on what I do for exercise. Knowing that, I have adjusted my calories accordingly and am steadily losing a pound (or more) a week.

KimberlyDCZ

thanks, This is what I'm trying to understand, the difference between a HRM and fitbit. Is there one device that does it all? Basically, I need to know how many calories I'm actually burning during a workout rather than logging the default given by mfp. It would be nice to have something to encourage me to count steps as well though.

GreekByMarriage

Fitbit will be good if your walking or jogging for your workout... it will not be good at weights and stuff like that. BodyMedia Fit (what I have), is a device that is worn all day long on your arm... it does not read heart rate... but it gives you a really accurate reading for your calories burn from other sensors it follows. Check out the website...

www.bodymedia.com

Aello11

HRM will give the best info for calorie burn for any workout and if you have a smartphone there are free apps for step counting/distance when walking/running ( I use mapmyfitness)

ChristyRunStarr

I use both....my HRM so I can get my calories burned when I work out and a fitbit to keep myself more active throughout the day since I have a desk job. Both are good, it depends what you want it to do-I've never heard of a product though that will do both for you, the closest might be the Body Bugg-maybe but not really since it won't count steps either

newcs

I went back and forth on this as well and decided I'm going to get a Polar HRM (reward after 30 workouts...4 left!). The fitbit is cool because you can wear it and count steps all day but the HRM is more accurate and I really want to know what I'm burning during workouts based on my own heart rate instead of some formula. I also decided the fitbit was overpriced when it's really just a glorified (and very cute) pedometer. Sure the little flower that grows might motivate me...for like a week. My compromise was to get a fairly cheap but well-rated pedometer on Amazon so I can set a goal for steps/day and track it and then I'll get the HRM for workouts.

GreekByMarriage

I use both....my HRM so I can get my calories burned when I work out and a fitbit to keep myself more active throughout the day since I have a desk job. Both are good, it depends what you want it to do-I've never heard of a product though that will do both for you, the closest might be the Body Bugg-maybe but not really since it won't count steps either

Body Bugg and Body Media both count steps as well... you can also pair a garmin heart rate monitor with the body media software.

Lisha_R

I have a HRM (Polar FT7) and a fitbit. I wear my fitbit all day on my bra. I like wearing it there because its discrete. It tells me the calories I burn througout the day. It links with MFP. I log my food on MFP and the totals go to fibit. I can look at the calories I burned and calories I ate through the week to know how much weight I can expect to lose. I log my exercise on MFP and it goes over to fitbit.

I like my HRM because I know where my HR is and how many calories I burned with exercise. It helps me keep in a healthy range. When I started I would let my HR get too high and not be able to exercise for long. Now I keep it in a better range and can exercise for longer.

Oneday150

I have a HRM (Polar FT7) and a fitbit. I wear my fitbit all day on my bra. I like wearing it there because its discrete. It tells me the calories I burn througout the day. It links with MFP. I log my food on MFP and the totals go to fibit. I can look at the calories I burned and calories I ate through the week to know how much weight I can expect to lose. I log my exercise on MFP and it goes over to fitbit.

I like my HRM because I know where my HR is and how many calories I burned with exercise. It helps me keep in a healthy range. When I started I would let my HR get too high and not be able to exercise for long. Now I keep it in a better range and can exercise for longer.

Same here! I love my Fitbit and really it has been one of my main motivators... If I see I haven't done 10,000 steps before bed I try to run around the house.. Keeps me active.

mhouston2011

I have a HRM (Polar FT7) and a fitbit. I wear my fitbit all day on my bra. I like wearing it there because its discrete. It tells me the calories I burn througout the day. It links with MFP. I log my food on MFP and the totals go to fibit. I can look at the calories I burned and calories I ate through the week to know how much weight I can expect to lose. I log my exercise on MFP and it goes over to fitbit.

I like my HRM because I know where my HR is and how many calories I burned with exercise. It helps me keep in a healthy range. When I started I would let my HR get too high and not be able to exercise for long. Now I keep it in a better range and can exercise for longer.

Do you remove your fitbit when you workout or do you leave it on? I worry about double counting calories that I've burned when using my HRM and fitbit together since it automatically syncs it to MFP.

Oneday150

As for me I keep both on at the same time. For me the HRM and the Fitbit are always close to the caloric burn ( Off by like 20 calories) I just use the imput from Fitbit.

markholmes31

fitbit is awesome i love mine it makes me more active all day

ChristyRunStarr

Do you remove your fitbit when you workout or do you leave it on? I worry about double counting calories that I've burned when using my HRM and fitbit together since it automatically syncs it to MFP.

To each their own but I wear mine while working out, once it's synced to here, you enter the time you started your workout so Fitbit knows to adjust it, then you'll see the exerise and one for fitbit under exercise

drakechic08

I have the body bugg and I love it. I wear it all day and night and you can see exactly how much you are burning when you work out. I love being able to see the differences between when I do nothing and when I kill it at the gym. It is also cool to see just how big of a difference taking the stairs vs. elevator makes. I have noticed that some days what I burn excersizing is pretty right on and other days the differences bewteen the site and the body bugg are huge. It all depends on what exactly you are looking for.

XXXMinnieXXX

I'd invest in a hrm first. Not a polar... So many issues with polars. Hear garmins are good. It will be great for you to get a good picture of calories burnt during a workout. Then ask someone really nice for a fitbit for Xmas.. Lol. Will get you more active throughout the day. Used together you'll get a good picture of your calories burnt over 24 hours. Both are great and both work together very well x

Goosiesnougs

Body media is the worst thing I ever bought! I actually gained weight with it........Having said that I know a lot of others do quite well with it. Just didn't work for me. I use my polar HRM for my cardio workouts and I lose weight when I do well with my eating. It is by far (IMO) the most accurate way to tell how many calories you're burning during exercise.

contingencyplan

FitBit does not have the ability to actually take track of your vitals. It is a pedometer with a computer inside that translates steps taken into calories burned. It is not as accurate as an HRM for exercise purposes and cannot be used for most forms of exercise, only kinds that revolve around taking steps, such as walking, running, and stair climbing. If you do any other form of exercise you will need an HRM instead.

Personally I'd say get the HRM. You can do without the FitBit. It's unreliable because anything that causes a bump or a skip in it or any sudden jolt to it will register as more calories burned than what actually happened. Don't even get me started on wearing it while driving...

jabrussl

The newest Fit Bit just came out recently. It is called the Fit Bit one. The Fit Bit Ultra (originally 100.00) is now discounted to 79.99 on Brookstone's website.

GreekByMarriage

I just posted this regarding the BodyMedia... in case it helps:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/764410-fitbit-bodymedia-fit-heart-rate-monitors-bodybugg

Oneday150

Don't even get me started on wearing it while driving...

Really????:huh:

ChristyRunStarr

Don't even get me started on wearing it while driving...

Really????:huh:

Luckily (knock on wood) I've been a lucky one that hasn't had any issues with it

KimberlyDCZ

I'd invest in a hrm first. Not a polar... So many issues with polars. Hear garmins are good. It will be great for you to get a good picture of calories burnt during a workout. Then ask someone really nice for a fitbit for Xmas.. Lol. Will get you more active throughout the day. Used together you'll get a good picture of your calories burnt over 24 hours. Both are great and both work together very well x

Whichever I choose is going on my Christmas Wishlist, that's why I'm trying to decide :-) I really doubt anyone will spring for the fitbit anyways.