HRM or Fitbit ?

skanabar
skanabar Posts: 30 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi Everyone

I need to track my activity calories better. Which one do you use/recommend, HRM or Fitbit?

Thanks
Sarika

Replies

  • therealangd
    therealangd Posts: 1,861 Member
    If you want to better track your ACTIVITY calories, get an HRM. If you want to better track your DAILY calories get a fitbit.

    They do not do the same thing. They are not interchangeable. An HRM you only wear during activities. A fitbit you wear all day.
  • fatboypup
    fatboypup Posts: 1,873 Member
    a fitbit is merely a glorified pedometer
  • Raynne413
    Raynne413 Posts: 1,527 Member
    I will say, though, that I do wear my FitBit during my workouts. It may not be 100% accurate, but it works for me.
  • determinedbutlazy
    determinedbutlazy Posts: 1,941 Member
    If most of your calories are burned through walking or running, a fitbit. If you do other activities like gym or classes or riding a bike etc, a HRM. I have both :)
  • EmilyOfTheSun
    EmilyOfTheSun Posts: 1,548 Member
    HRM all the way. Only use it for tracking dedicated work out time.
  • emmie0622
    emmie0622 Posts: 167 Member
    Fitbit !!! I hate any HRM I tried including Polar
  • BSchoberg
    BSchoberg Posts: 712 Member
    Um... I guess it wouldn't be at all helpful to you to say that I have both? And love them both equally in different ways?
  • kendrafallon
    kendrafallon Posts: 1,030 Member
    HRM for tracking anything other than walking or running, otherwise a Fitbit will be fine.

    I have both and use the HRM when I'm doing Tae Kwon Do or Jiujitsu, and even then I'm still wearing my Fitbit. Check out the Fitbit users group
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/1290-fitbit-users
  • lois4468
    lois4468 Posts: 166 Member
    My husband and I have both. I like my HRM, Polar FT4. I searched, researched, read reviews etc. Polar was a good one and not really really expensive. So far works good and tells me what I wanted to know. Now when walking I make sure I get my heart rate up into my "zone" more. Have to really move and move my arms to do it. Never thought I would go from barely able to walk 10 minutes to now doing a minimum of an hour a day and with hills. The fitbit is a glorified pedometer is you ask me and an expensive one. Yes it connects to this website but... I really like my Sportline 308 snapshot. It tracks my steps, cals, miles, time, and pace. It is super easy and right now Amazon has it for $13. So now I track total steps with that and use the Polar to track my heart rate and zone. I've been doning between 15,000 and 20,000 steps aday. MFP has changed my life and my husband. Take this from an over 60 couple. I felt so old before but now that I have lost over 50 pounds, husband too, we are able to do so much more. NO pills anymore, life is good. Good luck with whatever you choose.
  • ChristyRunStarr
    ChristyRunStarr Posts: 1,600 Member
    I have both-I use my HRM when I'm working out and I wear my Fitbit the rest of the time. A HRM is not the same as a fitbit at all. A HRM will tell you more (mine tells me lap time, calories burned, number of laps, pace, ect) while my fitbit would tell me steps and calories-yet the calories are never true when compared to my HRM or any of the running apps I have on my phone
  • candicejn
    candicejn Posts: 458 Member
    I use both. I use the Fitbit all day, but put on the Polar FT4 HRM during structured activity and over-write the Fitbit burn for that period of time. Fitbit is helpful to learn what your activity level is, too. I wasn't sure whether I should be set at sedentary or lightly active, or whatever. After a couple weeks using it, I can see my average estimated burn for most days and it makes choosing my calorie goal a lot easier!
  • plafleur76
    plafleur76 Posts: 107 Member
    Bump to save
  • Amber82479
    Amber82479 Posts: 629 Member
    BOTH! They're both great tools for different reasons. The FitBit is a great way to track your overall activity level each day and how restless you are or aren't at night, but the HRM gives you an accurate way to determine how many calories you burn during your workouts.
  • jwaitman
    jwaitman Posts: 367 Member
    Personally I have both. The HRM is going to be more accurate. I think the FitBit calculates too many calories burned. I only use it when doing some time of aerobic activity to track my steps. If I am doing weights or any other exercise I use the HRM.
  • sionnain
    sionnain Posts: 96
    I use both. My Fitbit for day-to-day walking, in addition to a HRM when I'm exercising. Things like horseback riding, swimming, strength training, bicycling, and roller derby cannot be measured by the Fitbit.
  • AggieLu
    AggieLu Posts: 873 Member
    I love my HRM :)
  • BarbaraC47
    BarbaraC47 Posts: 175 Member
    I got both, keep my Fitbit on all day every day, HRM when exercising
  • swest222
    swest222 Posts: 455 Member
    I intend on getting both ....
  • debobrien1
    debobrien1 Posts: 95
    Bump....
  • goldfinger88
    goldfinger88 Posts: 686 Member
    It depends on what you really want to accomplish and it also depends on you. For example, I take medication that slows my heart rate. So, an HRM in my own case is not particularly accurate. You can use both. But they're not the same thing. The Fitbit is pretty much just a pedometer. It also does ok on a bike or stationary bike and some aerobic moves and stairs. But for overall activity like weight training, it's worthless. For that, the HRM would be best. Or you could simply use MFP website numbers.

    I've found that in many cases the HRM will give you more of a calorie burn that you really deserve. There just is no really accurate way to track activity calories. It's all an estimate.

    So if you'd tell us exactly what you want to accomplish, perhaps folks here could be of more help.
  • toffeewaffle
    toffeewaffle Posts: 23 Member
    I love fitbit it's helped me lose 50 lbs. Like ppl have said it depends on what you are doing. I love how the fitbit works it's easy and you wear it all day. The HRM you have to remember to put on when you work out. The question you need to ask yourself is are you going to always remember to but the HRM on? If not then the fitbit would be the way to go. Put it back on after you get dressed and you're off.

    If you can afford it go for both.
  • healthydoseofglitter
    healthydoseofglitter Posts: 532 Member
    I have a bodymedia armband ... I love it ... monitors your sleep, calories, steps, physical activity ... I have the link so I can hook it up to my phone
  • natesangel
    natesangel Posts: 210 Member
    just got my polar ft7 this morning, already used it for a big shopping walk (1 1/2 hours pushing stroller and carrying child in carry pack) and OMG I LOVE IT! had a pulse watch before this, the polar is way better, it records and logs info so when i accidentally stop it (which i do when playing with buttons!) it is not lost! i do lots of random stuff, swimming, circuit training, walking, and i like the versatility of the hrm. good luck!
  • darkhakai
    darkhakai Posts: 23
    Saving for a later read... ^_^
  • Mrshunts
    Mrshunts Posts: 160 Member
    I have a Fitbit, but am buying a HRM next week.....wish i would've bought the HRM first!
  • juliekaiser1988
    juliekaiser1988 Posts: 604 Member
    I use both at different times. It depends on the activity. I have horrible numbers when I do spin class with the fitbit, so I use HRM for that. Fitbit is great for running, walking, etc.
  • skanabar
    skanabar Posts: 30 Member
    Thanks for the great replies guys. I am going to start with an HRM first. As of now my activities involve walking, elliptical and strength training. I am planning to start a dance class soon. So I think HRM will work for now :)
  • ShelleyD81
    ShelleyD81 Posts: 237 Member
    it depends on what you want it for, I do alot of walking so the Fitbit is perfect for me.
    I know f people who have sold their Fitbits to get HRM as they do alot of cardio.

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