TOTALLY CONFUSED!

KelBelz22
KelBelz22 Posts: 95 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello Everyone!
As the subject says, I'm totally confused about HRMs and Fitbits and what ever gadgets are out there to help this weight loss journey. I know that I want something I'm just having the worst time trying to figure out which one would be the best for me. So far I've looking into BodyMedia Fit, Fitbit, Striiv, and a few different HRMs. They all sounds like good products but I can't decide which one I would benefit from the most. I mostly walk, run, dance. I've never lifted a weight.

What do you use and have you seen results while using it?

Any help or suggestions would be awesome. I don't want to waste a chunk of money on something that isn't really going to help me.

Thanks!

Replies

  • loril13
    loril13 Posts: 320 Member
    I have long wanted a fitbit. I think mostly because I am a gadget geek.

    However, one of my friends, who has lost over 100 lbs, swears by her fitbit. I believe she also uses a HRM for workouts to get a more accuate calorie burn.
  • KelBelz22
    KelBelz22 Posts: 95 Member
    I have long wanted a fitbit. I think mostly because I am a gadget geek.

    However, one of my friends, who has lost over 100 lbs, swears by her fitbit. I believe she also uses a HRM for workouts to get a more accuate calorie burn.

    Thanks for the quick feedback! I'm looking to lose 100+ pounds so it's good to know that it works.
    oh and I also LOVE gadgets!


    Edit: I just found them on amazon for $10 less than the fitbit website.
  • hockeywife91
    hockeywife91 Posts: 31 Member
    I just purchased my Fitbit from Amazon and received it last week. So far, I'm loving it. It helps motivate me when I see that I haven't even come close to the recommended steps per day or burned enough calories. I'm still learning how to use all the features, but it seems to be fairly easy. You just have to make sure you only log your food in MFP, not in Fitbit, or it will double-count your food.
  • KelBelz22
    KelBelz22 Posts: 95 Member
    I just purchased my Fitbit from Amazon and received it last week. So far, I'm loving it. It helps motivate me when I see that I haven't even come close to the recommended steps per day or burned enough calories. I'm still learning how to use all the features, but it seems to be fairly easy. You just have to make sure you only log your food in MFP, not in Fitbit, or it will double-count your food.

    Do you use the sleep tracker? I was curious to see if that actually works.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Unless you are super motivated by technology, if you have 100 lbs to lose, you do not need a calorie tracker. All you need to do is to set a reasonable calorie intake goal (probably 1600-1800 calories) and concentrate on sticking to it.

    Eat 100 g of protein and focus on whole foods, low sugars and high fiber.

    Set up an exercise program with cardio and resistance training and get moving.

    Do not worry about "eating back" exercise calories unless you get to the point where you are burning 600-800 calories per workout. Then add another 200 or so calories on days you do those workouts.

    It doesn't have to be any more complicated than that at first. If you are 100 lbs overweight, and you are eating the calorie amounts listed above, and you are strength training, you can sustain some large deficits at first. Later on, you will likely need to fine-tune things a little, but that is tens of pounds down the road.

    Unless you want to learn how your heart rate responds to different kinds of exercise, you have no need for a heart rate monitor. You don't need anything to track your calorie output. If you want to use something like a fitbit to motivate you to move more during the day and increase your calories burned during casual activity, that could be helpful, but it is not necessary.
  • hockeywife91
    hockeywife91 Posts: 31 Member
    Do you use the sleep tracker? I was curious to see if that actually works.

    Yes, I've tried it a couple times. As I said, I just got mine Saturday, but the sleep tracker seems to be pretty accurate. I was surprised. I'm not sure how it knows when you fall asleep and when you wake during the night, but it does :smile:
  • da_bears10089
    da_bears10089 Posts: 1,791 Member
    If you plan on doing actual workouts, then i suggest doing a HRM. If you plan on just walking or whatever and you want to set goals of how far you walk etc. then get a Fitbit. I have both.
  • judykat7
    judykat7 Posts: 576 Member
    I was very confused on this as well. After a lot of searching for info I settled on the Polar FT40. It is very easy to use. I think it is going to help my weight loss and fitness program move to a new and better level. For me, my caloric burn was being over stated by machines and MFP. It may not be correct now but hopefully at least closer or understated. It is very easy to use and set up. It is comfortable enough. The chest strap is very comfortable and the wrist unit while not comfortable is bearable and I am getting used to it. It tracks my time and calorie burn, I can see where my heart rate is, and it stores a certain amount of results. I am sure it does much more-I just haven't needed more yet.
  • susannahsutton1
    susannahsutton1 Posts: 372
    I can't recommend a heart rate monitor with a chest strap enough. Mainly because as you do more exercise, it varies massively how your body responds. E.g. I have gone heavy into cycling and spinning. Now my technique is getting better, the calories my body burns doing a spin class is nearly half that when I first started.

    I don't have as much weight as you to lose, but I do have a big chunk to go.

    Since tracking food and calories with a HRM since new years day, including eating the cals back, I have lost 14lb and 8% off my body fat.

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