not to add more confusion to the issue LOL but why have you decided on the fitbit as opposed to BMF?

I don't have either just wondering what makes people choose one over the other

BMF has a monthly subscription fee and fitbit does not. Plus, the fitbit is smaller and more easily hideable (although also easier to wash or drop in the toilet LOL).

I have a fitbit Ultra (it was bought before the others were available and for me I had to chose between fitbit and BMF. BMF is much more expensive and I didn't want to have to pay the monthly subscription). For me it's pretty much the same as the PP. I try to keep above 10000 steps a day - happens without trying on gym days and on non-gym days I'm usually about 1000 or so short so I go for a short stroll to top it up.

I love being able to get a good estimation of my TDEE so I can make sure I'm eating enough calories. I like having the 'proof' about how much energy I'm using as otherwise I would have been quite nervous about eating the amount I do now.

As for which fitbit to choose if I were buying one now, I'd go for the One. It's essentially an updated version of the Ultra as it has all the same features but is also water resistant - useful for people that sweat a lot or for wearing in the rain, etc. I believe they've also improved the clip making it more secure to wear and less likely to fall off.

I'm not convinced by the Zip as it doesn't have all the features that make fitbit stand out from regular pedometers as that's essentially all it is. It cannot measure inclines and does not do sleep recordings. If I just wanted a basic pedometer I could buy one much cheaper than the fitbit Zip.

So am I right in thinking the fitbit will use my personal data and give me my TDEE based on my personal data & activity levels?

Yes, fitbit will calculate your BMR in the same way as MFP does, based on your stats. It will then show you your entire calorie burn for the day (the days runs from midnight to midnight so unless you're up late you have to wait until the next morning to look back and see what the final burn was. However you can get a rough idea in the evening as once you know roughly what your RMR is on fitbit (mine's around 60 cals per hour) then you know how many more you'll burn between going to bed and midnight). Once a week I get emailed a report giving me my total burn for the week too so I can divide it between 7 to get an average TDEE.

Tcat - I use a Garmin HRM to calculate calories when I run/cycle but it doesn't work out cals when I do an exercise class - I had presumed the fitbit would do this :ohwell: Which HRM do you use?

fitbit is only really suited for exericise activities and sports that involve walking or running. Other activites that use energy not associated with steps are calculated less accurately (e.g. cycling, weight lifting) and its not waterproof so cannot log swimming. Therefore you can log these activities separately on the fitbit website (as you do would for MFP) using either their calorie estimates or your readings from a HRM (I use a Polar FT4). You can also sync fitbit to MFP, in which case you log activities on MFP and it is automatically copied across to your fitbit account.

Thanks for asking this question ! I too, am trying to decide if a Fitbit would be something for me as well. All great information !

So am I right in thinking the fitbit will use my personal data and give me my TDEE based on my personal data & activity levels?

Tcat - I use a Garmin HRM to calculate calories when I run/cycle but it doesn't work out cals when I do an exercise class - I had presumed the fitbit would do this :ohwell: Which HRM do you use?

FitBit will give good estimate for all the walking type activities as mentioned.

For your non-moving parts of they day, they got your stat's of age, weight, height and so know your BMR, and estimate resting metabolism, and fill in that part of your day.
For that though, they do use the least accurate Harris BMR calc, and if you have a decent bodyfat % estimate and your Katch BMR estimate, you could be very much off, and from what I've seen, the FitBit is over-estimating calorie burn if you are overweight, just like the Harris BMR estimate is inflated.
But depending on your exercise, it underestimating there may just balance out.

Not sure why you don't think the Garmin HRM would work outside of running/biking? Which model do you have?
It'll read HR no matter what you are doing.

Not sure why you don't think the Garmin HRM would work outside of running/biking? Which model do you have?
It'll read HR no matter what you are doing.

I have the 305, I've tried it a couple if times while at an exercise class and it doesn't give a cal burn just a time. I've tried it on general & other settings :-( I did expect it to work. I'll maybe check the instruction booklet when I'm home.

Thanks for the additional advice - still unsure if I need it :-/

Nope, it won't give a calorie estimate on that model, which bases calorie burn totally NOT on HR, just pace/distance/time.

But - take your avgHR for the class when you do wear it, (it still works for HR), and use the spreadsheet linked here.

HRM tab, fill in stats at top, get VO2max estimate figured out, do section on HRmax, and then at the bottom is your personal calorie burn chart based on Polar funded study.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/750920-spreadsheet-for-bmr-tdee-deficit-macro-calcs-hrm-zones

Ohhh does that mean my cals are not right when I run & cycle? Crikey this gets so confusing :-/

But thanks for the link I'll use that for my burn for now. Cheers

Decently accurate for running, as weight and pace is most important. Your personal efficiency on running can make you vary around the calc'd values. Walking would be best.

Cycling is tad more iffy. Was that 14 mph avg because you are slow and taking it easy, or a headwind the whole time pushing really hard?
Was 25 mph avg because of pushing hard, or downhill or tailwind and really easy?

Heybales - would I not get the dames issues cycling with the polar or fitbit?

Bellamarie - I've searched for BMF to no avail, do you have a link like to review all my options.

Thanks again

Not sure what dames is - but Polar would be more accurate than Fitbit for cycling, as a Fitbit on the hip or sleeve would see very little movement when biking, it can't see your legs moving around. And if you take the suggested option of putting it on your feet, it's doing calcs based on that movement being running. Very short soft steps if you think about it. Not found to be anywhere close.

Polar must be one with VO2max stat though, FT40 I think is cheapest. Low HR doesn't indicate easy effort if you are fit. It just means your heart doesn't have to beat as fast to deliver required oxygen for the effort, compared to before.

So the cheaper Polars really start losing accuracy as you get fit and your VO2max goes up and the HRM has no way of knowing that because it's not a stat, it's an assumed calculation off your age, weight, height and HRmax.

Spreadsheet more accurate than cheaper Polars.