FitBit..... is it worth it?

2

Replies

  • Lyerin
    Lyerin Posts: 818 Member
    I had a classic FitBit, which I killed with sweat, and then I had an Ultra. I just got my Flex yesterday. So far, I love the Flex. It has been very accurate so far, and I love that I don't have to take it off. It syncs flawlessly with my phone. The silent alarm was enough to wake me this morning too.

    I think FitBits are great for getting you to move more in your "regular" life - taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking the long way around, etc. They don't really track "exercise" sessions, per se (except for walking/running), but I wear a HRM for that. All in all, it's a fun gadget that does help me reach my fitness goals.
  • Shrynkabelle
    Shrynkabelle Posts: 32 Member
    I was given the FitBit One as a gift in March! Didn't have a clue what it was, but I can honestly say that it's totally changed my thinking and really has made me move so much more. It syncs seamlessly with MFP and I also use it to keep an eye on my TDEE. I don't have to log any activity - I wear it every day - and there is a very motivational competitive element with the FitBit site's leaderboards. I love that it automatically syncs whenever I'm near my laptop and I've also found myself dancing around the kitchen or going for a walk just to hit the 10,000 steps per day.

    I've used regular pedometers in the past, but this is so much better. There's so much more to it, as it tracks very active minutes, sleep etc., and you get lots of graphs and data about your activity.

    Highly recommended
  • triskaidekaphile13
    triskaidekaphile13 Posts: 92 Member
    Wow the input is fantastic, thank you so much everyone!:bigsmile:

    I've got a small problem, I have an iPhone 4, not the 4S just a plain old 4 and I understand that the phone will not sync with the old iPhone 4 :grumble:
    I'm waiting for the new iPhone 5S or what ever they are going to call it to come out. If I got the FitBit I could still use it, but being able to sync with the app on the iPhone looks really nice.

    I guess they provide a dongle that will allow the FitBit to sync with any computer that has that dongle plugged into it. Does it have to be that dongle to sync? I run mostly Mac computers, and they are BlueTooth equipped, but I wonder if the FitBit will sync only with the Dongle....? Does anyone have a Mac computer that has built in BlueTooth that the FitBit will sync without using the Dongle?

    Thanks
    I have an iPhone 3GS! There is software available for the dongle to run on a Mac. Bluetooth isn't enough. It also needs an Intel based Mac and OS X 10.5 or higher. The Mac download page is here: http://www.fitbit.com/uk/setup?platform=mac You could ensure it loads before purchase. I love my FitBit. Love it. She's called FiFi.
  • shoeprano27WECHANGED
    shoeprano27WECHANGED Posts: 16
    my fitbit flex came in about a month ago. i love it. it tracks EVERYTHING i do. it silently wakes me up from my sleep. it beautifully syncs with MFP amongst other programs/apps. i bought it for $99 on their website, but it is now backordered, saying itll ship from 6-8 weeks. ive seen people on craigslist and ebay selling a fitbit flex for up to $250. thats ridiculous.
  • liftingbro
    liftingbro Posts: 2,029 Member
    I'm a huge fan of the Fitbit.

    I have used a Bodymedia fit and a number of other devices but like Fitbit better. It seems to be pretty spot on when linked to MFP as far as my TDEE.

    I think the one variable that is the hardest thing to get right is calories burned from basic daily activity. Giving I have a desk job and a long commute it was hard to know if what my daily activity calories were. I found that when I first started using my fitbit I was lucky to get to 5000 steps in a day which explained why I lost weight slowly using intake calories from various website calculators. I was moving so much less than normal that most places over estimated my TDEE. However, the Fitbit nailed it on the head.

    Most places said I could eat 2500 calories per day an lose weight, with the Fitbit I found out that on a typical day I was burning between 2300 and 2800, so eating 2500 calories was pretty much maintenance for me. So I droped down to about 1800 and been losing steadily since.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    I have a FitBit zip and love it. I originally was going to get the One, but my hubby surprised me with the zip (he didn't know which one I wanted and got the zip because it was pink :love: ).

    I do have the iPhone 4S, but find that I don't actually sync it using my phone all that often. Although this could just be because I don't get out of the house much. :blushing:

    I have my Fitbit account synced to MFP and have negative adjustments turned on. This really challenges me to be more active if I want to have 3 decent meals. I say this because on inactive days, Fitbit starts taking away my calories. It's almost like its saying, "You want to be lazy, fine, no food for you.":laugh:

    It seems to be an easier way to get a better estimate of your TDEE. I still use a HRM for my cardio workouts (other than walking). Pairing the two devices, for me seems like an excellent way to go. I think once I reach my goal, I will continue to use my fitbit to make sure I don't get lazy again. It really is a great motivator for me.

    No one can tell that I have it on. Although that doesn't stop me from telling people about it.

    My husband is looking to get one for himself now. :tongue:
  • LassoOfTruth
    LassoOfTruth Posts: 735 Member
    I got the fitbit zip a few weeks ago and I love it! It fits anywhere and I don't need to recharge it :)

    I got the Zip a few weeks ago too! I love that little thing. It definitely motivates me when I see it sticking its tongue out at me! Lolz. I want his big smile showing all day. :)
  • unicornlady77
    unicornlady77 Posts: 72
    Looking at buying a Fitbit, so the most basic question to anyone who has one is was it worth the money?

    The next question is which one would you buy?

    From poking around online, the FitBit Flex looks really good, but I'd love to hear from real uses their thoughts.

    Thanks!
    I had a Flex for a while,I liked it but took it back because it doesn't count steps when pushing a stroller so I got a Fitbit Zip.
  • ozigal
    ozigal Posts: 173 Member
    See the number in the box below vvvvvvvvvv ... That's because of my fitbit One. Is it worth it? I'd say yes :)
  • msurads06
    msurads06 Posts: 66 Member
    I love my fitbit, I have had the zip for a little less than a week and I feel it has really helped me. My activity level is extremely variable due to my job, on a slow day I may be sedentary and spend most of the shift reading/ surfing the internet. While on a busy day I may spend the entire 8-16 hours on the go. it really helps me make sure I am not accidentally "starving" or undereating by giving me a good TDEE to work with from day to day. I think before the fitbit, I was probably under eating because I didn't know which activity level to choose or how to adjust it for busy/slow days (or Mondays after a 48hr weekend where I have permission to be a vegetable!!)

    One thing I wish I had known is that my local Walmart and BestBuy carry the One and the Zip while BestBuy carries the Flex as well. I could have saved myself the expedited shipping charges and gotten it same day.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    If you're someone who has pretty much no concept of how many calories you burn in a day, even at rest, it can be worth it. It's a real eye opener for people who insist they have to do a VLCD and spend infinite hours in the gym to lose weight.
  • StuAblett
    StuAblett Posts: 1,141 Member
    Using this chart on the FitBit site....

    http://www.fitbit.com/comparison/trackers

    Between the Flex and the One the only difference in functionality that I see is the One will count flights of stairs and the Flex will not, also the Flex will allow goad setting and the One will not.

    For me the big advantage of the Flex is that I can wear it on my wrist.

    Does that sound about right?
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    Flex and Zip don't have an altimeter so they can't do stairs / elevation changes.

    Useful summary link that - thanks.
  • StuAblett
    StuAblett Posts: 1,141 Member
    Flex and Zip don't have an altimeter so they can't do stairs / elevation changes.

    Useful summary link that - thanks.

    Yeah, I get that, but what I wonder is if the altimeter is a deal breaker or not?

    I don't go up and down a lot of stairs in my daily routine, nor is there opportunity to go up and down a lot of stairs.
    Being able to wear the Flex on my wrist like a wrist band, that seems to me a really good thing, I worry about wearing the One like a pedometer as I've lost a total of two of them now.

    Cheers!
  • nikilis
    nikilis Posts: 2,305 Member
    Flex and Zip don't have an altimeter so they can't do stairs / elevation changes.

    Useful summary link that - thanks.

    Yeah, I get that, but what I wonder is if the altimeter is a deal breaker or not?

    I don't go up and down a lot of stairs in my daily routine, nor is there opportunity to go up and down a lot of stairs.
    Being able to wear the Flex on my wrist like a wrist band, that seems to me a really good thing, I worry about wearing the One like a pedometer as I've lost a total of two of them now.

    Cheers!

    naa, the altimeter isnt a deal-breaker. the flex vs one just comes down to functionality. the flex doesnt tell you much at all on the device. the one tells you everything you ever wanna know, i.e distance, time, steps, calories.
  • louisemallas
    louisemallas Posts: 59 Member
    If you're looking for a pedometer it's the best one IMO. It's reliable, accurate and it's super compact so you can clip it anywhere on you and it won't be bothersome. I used mine for a few weeks and it definitely makes you more aware of how many steps you're taking throughout the day and gets you up and walking around. One night I was literally doing laps in my kitchen just because I wanted to reach my daily goal. I would definitely recommend it for someone who is relatively sedentary to begin with and looking to walk more as walking is a great tool for weight loss, but if you're already active and work out regularly then you'll probably get a kick out of it to begin with but ultimately it may not be worth the money which is basically what happened to me. I haven't used it in months but it's nice to have on hand I guess, haha. If you get it definitely get the FitBit One.
    Laps round the kitchen, lol - glad to know there's someone else as daft as me!
  • slhodge78
    slhodge78 Posts: 16
    I got a fitbit one a week ago and I love it. It is so much easier than trying to figure out my calorie burns. Fitbit's estimates are pretty close to what I had been estimating. I really like the altimeter function. I live in a 2 story house and go hiking a lot. It really helps me keep track of the intensity of my hikes. 5000 steps on level ground is very different than 5000 steps and 50 stories. It also encourages me to run up and down my stairs at home if I haven't met my stair goal for the day. I am much more active now that I get smiley faces on my computer when I meet my goals. My husband has been looking at me weird when he sees me running/prancing around the house because I need 8 more very active minutes to get my smiley. The sleep tracking function hasn't been all that useful. I have noticed that it assumes I am sleeping if I lay still even while awake. It is more accurately a time spent still at night tracker.
  • elisew34
    elisew34 Posts: 27
    I'm glad someone else asked, I've contemplated getting the zip but wasn't sure. On the days I don't do cardio workouts or running it would be handy to have that little 'nudge' to keep moving.
    I'm presuming running on a treadmill would be counted on the zip? Is the 'One' really much better than the zip? :indifferent:
  • uscooleys
    uscooleys Posts: 34 Member
    I have had a zip for a couple of weeks and I switched from another fitness site to MFP specifically because the fitbit syncs up with the site. I find it to be a great reminder that I need to move more. Since getting it, I have really noticed more of a tendency to get up and walk around plus seeing the calorie burn can be helpful.
  • lauren3101
    lauren3101 Posts: 1,853 Member
    How accurate are the calorie counts on the Zip? I'm thinking it may also help to get an idea of my TDEE.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    How accurate are the calorie counts on the Zip? I'm thinking it may also help to get an idea of my TDEE.

    I'd say just as accurate as the flex & one. They use the same method to count calories. I'm not exactly sure what that method is, but it seems to be pretty close to accurate for me. Based on my fitbit calorie burn vs calories eaten, I should have lost 3.5lbs since I've had it (almost 1 month) and I'm actually down 9.1lbs in that time. So it might be on the low side for me and that's okay, because no device is going to be 100% accurate. I think it's a better estimate than an online calculator, because your no longer guessing at your activity level.
  • hrshygrl00
    hrshygrl00 Posts: 66 Member
    I think FitBits are great for getting you to move more in your "regular" life - taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking the long way around, etc. They don't really track "exercise" sessions, per se (except for walking/running), but I wear a HRM for that. All in all, it's a fun gadget that does help me reach my fitness goals.

    Same here, I have a FitBit one for about 6 months now and I love it.
    It definitely got me moving more. I absolutely think it's worth it.

    I just looked at the Flex yesterday...seems pretty cool, and I may end up going with that one eventually.
  • StuAblett
    StuAblett Posts: 1,141 Member
    OK I'm now looking at the One seriously as I can buy it here in Japan, the Flex is not out yet here, and they are not giving a release date, seems the Flex has been sold out in the US etc, so the release has been delayed here in Japan.

    Many of the ladies here have said that they wear the clip on One on their bra, out of site, out of mind, and you can't easily drop it. I don't wear a bra, obviously :laugh: so where do the guys keep their fit bits? I have lost/dropped two pedometers, I had them on my belt, but I wear these 3/4 length shorts all the time, and they have four pockets on the front, the lower pocket on each side sits about my knee level, these pockets have zippers on them so I'm wondering if I can put the FitBit One into that pocket and zip it up, will it function as it is supposed to, or should it be on my waist?

    Cheers!
  • jcs0530
    jcs0530 Posts: 70 Member
    I dont leave home without it.
  • scrapjen
    scrapjen Posts: 387 Member
    I had the Fitbit Ultra for over three years, then upgraded to the ONE. I can't say that it's helped me lose weight ... I had been using a regular pedometer and got my Fitbit near my low. Unfortunately I've gained, but probably would have gained more/faster without it. I know it's my eating, not really my exercise (which is why I've jumped on here). I love the visual feedback of the Fitbit, the graphs SHOWING you your activity throughout the day. Just got one for my mom and she is really liking it too, and thinking of getting one for my dad.
  • StuAblett
    StuAblett Posts: 1,141 Member
    I just wanted to thank everyone for the help. I went to a big electronics shop here, they did not sell the FitBit, but they do sell a bunch of similar devices made by Omron, Tantia, Panasonic etc. All of these units were about half the price of the FitBit too, and I think some of them are on par with the FitBit, but they are all in Japanese, the software is in Japanese, and I just don't want to deal with all of that, it would most likely involve bothering my wife for some translation.

    Yesterday we spent hours walking around Costco, and then the Electric shop, I have no idea how many calories I burned yesterday, and I decided that I should just buy the darn thing so I can do a better job of sticking to my calorie goal.

    I got online and ordered the FitBit One.

    It is a Japanese market unit, but I'm hoping the software that I downloaded from FitBit in English will work with the Japanese Market unit.

    Should be here soon, again, thanks to you all for your input.

    Cheers!
  • meowkapow
    meowkapow Posts: 103 Member
    It's great, so easy to lose though...
  • gingermax
    gingermax Posts: 5 Member
    I didn't pay for mine I won it in a contest. I have the fitbit one. I didn't even know what it was until I won it. NOW... I love it. I would pay the $99 for it for sure! I have not had anything that motivates me like this little guy. Love the app too.
  • anne6540
    anne6540 Posts: 1 Member
    Bought the FitBit Flex a week ago and I LOVE it!!!! It syncs with your computer or phone and helps to keep you motivated. You put it on your wrist and wear all the time , even in the shower.
  • aarar
    aarar Posts: 684 Member
    I've worn my FiBit One every single day since I got it in January. I obviously love it and I love that it syncs with MFP

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