A FitBit question

It is exactly what it is advertised to be. Basically it is an all day pedometer that wirelessly syncs. I really like mine.

Is yours working right?

It is exactly what it is advertised to be. Basically it is an all day pedometer that wirelessly syncs. I really like mine.

^This. Also, it was smaller than I thought it would be and a LOT more fragile than it should be. Have had mine since February. It looks a little beat but still works. Take care to not drop it or let it fall because it will get small cracks.

It definitely is not water proof! Also I am always worried about it, where is it, I get really disappointed if I leave the house and forget to wear it, and I am so nervous I am going to put it in the washer again. It's another worry like a cell phone to me.

My last one I left on my pants and washed it. But I emailed customer service and they sent me a new one,that was so nice of them!

Wear mine 24/7 - it comes off just to shower and recharge

It helps a lot when I'm in slug mode and need to dial back my calories as well as when I'm in overdrive and need to kick them up. I like the sync with MFP option since the food diary is so much better here.

The sleep mode with the recommended set up was not very accurate but since I shifted it to bra strap and set it to sensitive has been much more reliable. The feature is fun but nor really all that useful.

The stair feature will not work if your on a stairclimber - it uses the change in altitude to register flights of stairs. It will register your steps though. If your on a bike you would need to put it on you sock to register, or you can use the activity period feature and then manually tell it what you did in that period.

Well, I wish I hadn't purchased it. I like that I compete with myself but I lost more weight before getting it!!! I could've bought something like a Polar hrm and been happier. And yes less accurate.:happy:

Well, I wish I hadn't purchased it. I like that I compete with myself but I lost more weight before getting it!!! I could've bought something like a Polar hrm and been happier. And yes less accurate.:happy:

Many of us use the FitBit for all day activity monitoring and an HRM for actual exercise monitoring. Personally I use the FB and a Nike+ GPS Sport Watch.

First, thanks everyone! I'm glad to hear all the opinions. General consensus seems to be it's a good investment? My activity is usually general walking, or being on a treadmill.

@5babs - those are pretty much my other questions. Another is: does it automatically guess how many calories you've burned, based on the pedometer part and your stats? Or does everything have to be manually logged? If anyone could expand on this part of the device, that would be great

The reason I'm looking into this is because I joined the local gym in early November of last year with my Mom. We got tired of the place itself, and the hours weren't really convenient. Just today, we bought a friend of mine's parents' treadmill, but I didn't look at it. Now that it's sitting in my (ok, my parents') house, I've discovered that it does not factor in any of your data when calculating calories. It only goes by distance. NO age, weight, etc.
Thus, I'm looking for something that can calculate this for me. I have a pedometer, but it's very basic and honestly, I wear it but don't even really look at it. Something that automatically syncs with a website sounds more ideal, even more so when THAT syncs with MFP.

Now knowing all this, would I be better off with something else instead? Any insight would be great, thanks!

I use my FB in this way: I have my activity level here at MFP set at sedentary and let the FB add my daily activity calories. It's been working for me.

i love it, BUT it has died on me twice. I seem to sweat too much. i like to wear it on my long runs. it will show you how many flights of stairs you have climbed. but it gets to moist or wet from my sweat and stops working.....the last time i had it on the outside of my tank top, attached on the strap. waistband got too wet and the sports bra got too wet. i quit trying to dry it out in rice. it spent more time in rice then it does on me....

like a lot of other ppl said, smaller than i thought. i really like the weekly stats email you get. it tells you your total calories burned, miles walked, stairs climbed etc and whether that was in increase or decrease from last week. i just find it motivating overall, like when i get close to my daily goal up 10 flights of stairs or so many steps, i find myself going that extra little bit to meet the goal when otherwise i would never give it a thought. only 2 times i can remember there being synching problems but that's all.

"@5babs - those are pretty much my other questions. Another is: does it automatically guess how many calories you've burned, based on the pedometer part and your stats? Or does everything have to be manually logged? If anyone could expand on this part of the device, that would be great " - on the fitbit site you also have your gender, age, weight and height like on here so your estimated calorie burn is based on that. it's been farily accurate for me, but i would like to get a heart rate monitor for things like my circuit training DVDs because there is less movement so my calorie burn on the fitbit is lower than i think it really is. the fitbit doesn't factor in your intensity.

All devices, even an HRM, estimate the calorie burn based upon your stats. For exercise an HRM is going to be the most accurate and even then not 100%.

Had mine only a few days but it is keeping me motivated! I love it so far and it synced right up with MFP with no problem at all! Only thing is, I go to the YMCA to work out and I do not use it on the machines because the machines take into account age, weight, resistance and incline and gives a more accurate calorie burn. The Fitbit is great for wearing around the house, cleaning and going for walks, a.malls, grocery stores and such. It tracks all calories by steps. It also made me run up and down my stairs this evening because I was short in my stair goal. lol MOTIVATION!

The range of the sync to docking station would have been nice to know (but had I done better research I may have figured it out.) Not a breaking point, would've bought it anyway. Having a docking station kind of stinks, but then it has grown on me.

Figuring out the best place to wear it was the worst, I am still not positive I am getting the most accurate results but it is LOADS more accurate than a lot of the lower priced pedometers out there (plus it sends me love messages when I pick it up! BONUS!)

I feel naked when I don't have it. I panic if I can't feel it when I do a FitBit check (yes, I do those almost unconsciously now.)

The wrist band for sleeping/tracking your sleep us useless. Snap it to an article of your clothing, hit the GO button, and it logs your sleep anyway- the wristband was a pain in my rump, and it made me hyperaware of being monitored. Logical, no, sleepless nights? yes, lol.

They say you shouldn't get it wet, and I've had 2 very close calls. (Been halfway down river belly down on an inner-tube with it attached to my swimsuit strap. Oops!) I've abused the crap out of my poor FitBit and it hasn't disappointed me yet.

Battery life is NOT disappointing, there are eBadges to complete to keep you motivated, it logs multiple "Activities," you do NOT need to sync every day as it can hold quite a lot (30 days if I recall right,) it syncs with MFP and gets you a good estimated calorie burn - however it isn't as good as a HRM on calorie tracking. If you are looking for calorie count accuracy invest in a solid HRM - do not skip the FitBit based on calorie monitoring, include it as another tool. I use both when I do my workout walking or treadmill time.

Oh, a con. It asks for your stride length (to gauge what your step distance is for the day.) They do NOT actually want your stride (left toe to left heel) they are asking for your step (left toe to right heel) So you will have to go to a flat place, go for a walk at your usual pace and then measure that out. It is not a deal breaker for me.

I would LOVE to have it sync to my phone's android app for FitBit- yes they have a FitBit app, but its just a tracker- you can't sync with it. No bluetooth That would make it -amazing- for me, lol

I LOVE my fitbit. I will warn you that you may find yourself exhibting strange behavior such as walking out of your way to add extra steps or stairs.

^^ This. True story. I walked UP and AROUND the ramps of a parking garage today instead of taking the stairs up to the 2nd floor because I was behind on my step count for the day. Hubby thought I lost my mind. Maybe I have :laugh:

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