FitBit vs Polar FT4.

Femmekid

Nevermind.

KirstenTheFamilyCoach

Fit Bit is not a heart rate monitor and a heart rate monitor doesn't monitor your steps/movement. They are two different things with two very different purposes.

I started this reseach process last fall. I'm just a social worker so price was a huge factor. I also have to wear girl clothes three times each week to work so style was a factor. I needed something that would track my weight, body fat, lean muscle, movement, sleep and heart rate. Here's what I decided.

Body bug and Mio Active were out for several reasons: initial cost was high and the monthly cost of keeping it up was astronomical. It wasn't something I could ever hide. I don't want to advertise my weight loss journey to the world.

The Nike thing, along with all other wrist bands, were out because I couldn't wear it to work without it looking like I was wearing a teen-ager's rubber band braclet around my wrist.

I setteled on the following mix:
*FitBit (easily hidden and pretty accurate to track movement all day, elivation gain and sound sleep)
**Affordable intiall cost
**No monthly fee
**Syncs to MFP which, in my opinion, has the best database for food and I have zero problems with the sync feature
*Aria digital WiFi scale
**I sync it to MFP and https://trendweight.com/ both sites are free
*Endomondo
**I purchased the $5 "pro" version becuase I WOG not run and the interval program on there is easily customizable for me.
**I sync this to MFP too
*I just bought a Wahoo Fitness Heart Monitor Run Pack because FitBit doesn't track non moving exercise like Yoga, Weights and Pilates.
**It syncs to Endomondo and my iPhone.
**I log non movement exercises on FitBit.com to get an accurate read of what I'm burning during those exercises.

That makes my overall cost:
*FitBit $99
**free website
*Aria Scale $125
**trendweight free website
*Endomondo $5
*WaHoo Fitness Heart Rate Monitor $99
**That's a grand total of less than $330 without needing any other costs.

Works for me

Femmekid

Oops, my bad.... thank you!

TssCnn

I have a Polar FT7, but have done a lot of research on the FitBit Flex that will be coming out this Spring. I am very interested in that one and plan on making that purchase when they are available.

They are two separate things so I will continue to use both. The FitBit monitors ALL your movement throughout the day. Not really a HRM. The HRM is good for workouts, especially HIIT.

I am very interested to see others responses before my purchase is made.

jaz050465

Fit Bit is not a heart rate monitor and a heart rate monitor doesn't monitor your steps/movement. They are two different things with two very different purposes.

I started this reseach process last fall. I'm just a social worker so price was a huge factor. I also have to wear girl clothes three times each week to work so style was a factor. I needed something that would track my weight, body fat, lean muscle, movement, sleep and heart rate. Here's what I decided.

Body bug and Mio Active were out for several reasons: initial cost was high and the monthly cost of keeping it up was astronomical. It wasn't something I could ever hide. I don't want to advertise my weight loss journey to the world.

The Nike thing, along with all other wrist bands, were out because I couldn't wear it to work without it looking like I was wearing a teen-ager's rubber band braclet around my wrist.

I setteled on the following mix:
*FitBit (easily hidden and pretty accurate to track movement all day, elivation gain and sound sleep)
**Affordable intiall cost
**No monthly fee
**Syncs to MFP which, in my opinion, has the best database for food and I have zero problems with the sync feature
*Aria digital WiFi scale
**I sync it to MFP and https://trendweight.com/ both sites are free
*Endomondo
**I purchased the $5 "pro" version becuase I WOG not run and the interval program on there is easily customizable for me.
**I sync this to MFP too
*I just bought a Wahoo Fitness Heart Monitor Run Pack because FitBit doesn't track non moving exercise like Yoga, Weights and Pilates.
**It syncs to Endomondo and my iPhone.
**I log non movement exercises on FitBit.com to get an accurate read of what I'm burning during those exercises.

That makes my overall cost:
*FitBit $99
**free website
*Aria Scale $125
**trendweight free website
*Endomondo $5
*WaHoo Fitness Heart Rate Monitor $99
**That's a grand total of less than $330 without needing any other costs.

Works for me

I love the Bodymediafit. Monthly cost isn't too high. Can be hidden by scrunching up long sleeves.

foleyshirley

I have a Polar FT7, but have done a lot of research on the FitBit Flex that will be coming out this Spring. I am very interested in that one and plan on making that purchase when they are available.

They are two separate things so I will continue to use both. The FitBit monitors ALL your movement throughout the day. Not really a HRM. The HRM is good for workouts, especially HIIT.

I am very interested to see others responses before my purchase is made.

The fitbit does not monitor all kinds of movement. It is not good for monitoring weight lifting and certain types of strength training. I do Bodypump several times a week and burn 450 calories according to my HRM. Fitbit doesn't even know I am working out . I have both for this reason.

Edit to add: I don't think HRMs are good for heavy lifting either. Maybe someone else can answer address this better.

TssCnn

I have a Polar FT7, but have done a lot of research on the FitBit Flex that will be coming out this Spring. I am very interested in that one and plan on making that purchase when they are available.

They are two separate things so I will continue to use both. The FitBit monitors ALL your movement throughout the day. Not really a HRM. The HRM is good for workouts, especially HIIT.

I am very interested to see others responses before my purchase is made.

The fitbit does not monitor all kinds of movement. It is not good for monitoring weight lifting and certain types of strength training. I do Bodypump several times a week and burn 450 calories according to my HRM. Fitbit doesn't even know I am working out . I have both for this reason.

Edit to add: I don't think HRMs are good for heavy lifting either. Maybe someone else can answer address this better.

The Flex monitors your moment you do throughout the day. I never said it breaks it down specifically to weight training etc. I was vague and for this I apologize. It will monitor your movements in the sense of your activity level, sleeping, distance walked, flights of stairs etc. please see link below.
http://www.fitbit.com/flex

foleyshirley

I have a Polar FT7, but have done a lot of research on the FitBit Flex that will be coming out this Spring. I am very interested in that one and plan on making that purchase when they are available.

They are two separate things so I will continue to use both. The FitBit monitors ALL your movement throughout the day. Not really a HRM. The HRM is good for workouts, especially HIIT.

I am very interested to see others responses before my purchase is made.

The fitbit does not monitor all kinds of movement. It is not good for monitoring weight lifting and certain types of strength training. I do Bodypump several times a week and burn 450 calories according to my HRM. Fitbit doesn't even know I am working out . I have both for this reason.

Edit to add: I don't think HRMs are good for heavy lifting either. Maybe someone else can answer address this better.

The Flex monitors your moment you do throughout the day. I never said it breaks it down specifically to weight training etc. I was vague and for this I apologize. It will monitor your movements in the sense of your activity level, sleeping, distance walked, flights of stairs etc. please see link below.
http://www.fitbit.com/flex

I understood what you meant. I just clarified so that if the OP comes back they will know that the fitbit isn't good for everything. I love mine, but it is limited in certain uses.