Who has a Fitbit? And does it really help?

think48
think48 Posts: 366 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have a Polar FT watch that I use when doing cardio to track calories burned. But that's it. The rest of my day is a guesstimate based on all the crazy calculators out there. How many of you wear your fit bit every day and did it really improve your weight loss/fitness?
«1

Replies

  • kenlad64
    kenlad64 Posts: 377 Member
    Great question, I too want to know if others are experiencing weight loss or just increased fitness?
  • Starleng
    Starleng Posts: 52 Member
    bump
  • mkerdock
    mkerdock Posts: 5
    I have the fit bit and another friend of mine. I LOVE IT!
  • ponyfan81
    ponyfan81 Posts: 24 Member
    I lost over 60 lbs after getting my fitbit, and I consider it to be invaluable in my weight loss journey to this point. Wearing it has helped me more accurate estimate my activity level so that I eat enough (even on non-workout days), and it challenges me to climb more flights of stairs and take more steps than I would otherwise.

    I can't recommend it enough, although I think the benefit of the sleep monitoring is a bit overinflated (though I do like the altimeter for stairs). There are a few cheaper fitbit versions now that I would probably buy instead given the price difference of $40 or so.
  • Lazygal53
    Lazygal53 Posts: 294 Member
    Bump
  • RockinSkiBunny
    RockinSkiBunny Posts: 152 Member
    Ive been using one for two weeks now and I make sure to take 10,000 steps a day. If after dinner I'm not close i get my butt outside for a walk until I get there.
  • Crazibaker
    Crazibaker Posts: 130 Member
    I just got a fitbit this weekend and yesterday was the first time I used it all day. It seemed to work really well, counted all of my steps and calories and synced with MFP for an "adjustment" for the end of the day. I liked seeing how I had progressed throught the day!
  • think48
    think48 Posts: 366 Member
    Thanks for all the replies so far! I was just reading about the fitbit calculating workout calories - does it do that as well? Like going for a hard run, is it accurate in that, or would I need to double up and still wear my HRM?
  • candctaber
    candctaber Posts: 274
    LOVE my Fitbit and am very lost if I forget it at home!
  • caitlyn30
    caitlyn30 Posts: 207 Member
    I've worn it every day for months, I just toss it in my pocket in the morning, and take it out when I go to bed.
    I think it helps because it is like.. I only have 6000 steps today, I have to go for a walk to get to 10,000.
  • morgansmom02
    morgansmom02 Posts: 1,131 Member
    I have one but really I don't think helps with weight loss. I just like to see how many steps i take a day. The more walking, the better!
  • jlbeals
    jlbeals Posts: 65 Member
    I've got one, and I like it quite a bit. I use it in conjunction with my Polar FT4 because the fitbit isn't very good at estimating calories/workouts that aren't step related. It's fairly close when I use the elliptical, but not so much for kenpo or strength training. It does really help motivate me though - it's cool to see how many flights of steps I've gone in a day and miles traveled and steps taken. I rather like the sleep monitoring too - I've struggled with insomnia most of my life so I find it kind of interesting to see what my days were like on the nights I slept better or worse than usual.
  • bridgelene
    bridgelene Posts: 358 Member
    I love my fitbit, but just a word to the wise -- if you have a mac, syncing may be a PITA. I've gone back and forth with support and basically, if I close my laptop -- a macbook pro -- I have to uninstall and reinstall it (it takes about 4 minutes total for me) for it to sync. So now during the day I leave it open, and just do the uninstall/reinstall in the mornings. They said that it is a problem that some mac users experience, and their engineers are working on a permanent fix.
  • Mandysp82
    Mandysp82 Posts: 9 Member
    I love my fitbit! It definitely helps me keep up my fitness level, and lose weight. At night, I just keep walking until I reach the goal I've set for myself. I highly recommend it. There is a new one out that syncs with your cell phone - I would get that one because right mine only syncs while I'm at work and I have to go the whole weekend until it syncs again.
  • morgansmom02
    morgansmom02 Posts: 1,131 Member
    Thanks for all the replies so far! I was just reading about the fitbit calculating workout calories - does it do that as well? Like going for a hard run, is it accurate in that, or would I need to double up and still wear my HRM?

    I wear the Fitbit and HRM while I run or Zumba. Also, I had an easy time syncing it to my Mac! I could not get it synched to my PC!
  • lovemykids58
    lovemykids58 Posts: 195 Member
    Thanks for all the replies so far! I was just reading about the fitbit calculating workout calories - does it do that as well? Like going for a hard run, is it accurate in that, or would I need to double up and still wear my HRM?

    HRM will always be more accurate. I have a fitbit and find it works really well.The fitbit can tell how active you are and keep track for you. The cost is $89-100 depending on where you get it from. I find it very helpful and wear it daily
  • think48
    think48 Posts: 366 Member
    So far everyone has just talked about the advantage of counting steps. Is it really just like a fancy pedometer then? Sorry, just trying to figure out the advantages of getting one. I'm really interested but don't want to pay the money if it isn't *amazing* :) (I have a cheapo pedometer I could use if that's what it really does).
  • Kerri_is_so_very
    Kerri_is_so_very Posts: 999 Member
    I have one and wear it daily. I don't think it really influences me to do any more than I already do....but some others people at work wear step counters and we compare our steps from time to time and that is always fun to see who has more. The badges and recognition you get from fitbit is also encouraging. The only time I really make an effort is when I realize I am close to a milestone (like when I noticed I have gone 24455 steps and it is getting close to bed time).....I'll make sure I get to 25K before bed.
  • dsimmons107
    dsimmons107 Posts: 387 Member
    I have the fitbit and have order the one. I love it. I am addicted to it. I bought one for my wife and two friends. Everyone I know that owns one loves it. I like that I can track my sleep and all of my activities. It really cuts down on the guess work about the calories burned. Then you can control your intake based on actual calories burned instead of just guessing. It really helps a lot. But I keep mine synced all day. I am a bit obsessed. But I have also lost 49 lbs and dropped 10" off my waist. I am very fit.
  • Kerri_is_so_very
    Kerri_is_so_very Posts: 999 Member
    Also, it is (was on sale) at 24hourfitness.com this week...I'm not sure when the sale ends, but it is a good deal. And yes, it is essentially a glorified pedometer.

    http://mystore.24hourfitness.com/product_details.php?item=898628002021&pf_id=898628002021

    current price is $79.95 (Regularly $99)
  • fitQueenbeast
    fitQueenbeast Posts: 298
    Bump to read later....
  • paleirishmother
    paleirishmother Posts: 242
    YES and YES. It is very motivating, I have been doing tons better since I have had mine. It automatically loads exercise calories to MFP, and it is very accurate. I do not even use my HRM anymore. They were always within 4 calories of each other.
  • serenalesley
    serenalesley Posts: 58 Member
    I have a fitbit and have it set up to adjust my daily calorie goal automatically, which means that I don't actually need to manually log exercise unless it's in a form that the fitbit can't pick up properly, such as swimming, cycling or yoga. It's excellent and I've definitely found MFP easier to use since getting it, as well as finding it motivational for getting more exercise. It really does help me, but YMMV of course.

    One thing though - the numbers, while approximately the same as my Polar FT HRM, are not identical so if that bothers you, you can adjust them for a particular activity (use the stopwatch function on the fitbit, starting and stopping it when you start/stop your HRM to make this as easy as possible).

    It's the normal stuff that I find it useful to track though, such as stair climbing, walking to the corner shop, things that I wouldn't bother using the HRM for. They all add up and it's nice to have something slightly more accurate than guesswork. ;)
  • pixelberry
    pixelberry Posts: 167 Member
    I've had mine for about 2 weeks, and it's been pretty motivational. I do about 20-30k steps per day (sometimes more, sometimes less) and if I'm close to doing 100 flights of stairs, I'll get off my duff and run up and down until I get to 100. When biking or weight lifting though, I'll still rely on my Polar FT60 HRM.
  • HisEminence
    HisEminence Posts: 55
    I have been using the Fitbit for approximately three months. I have walked almost seven hundred miles in that time. I do about 8 miles a day. Five of those miles are done as one continuous exercise every early morning. I have lost about 15 pounds in that time without altering my diet at all. In terms of fitness, the results have been life- changing for me. My joint aches and pains have disappeared. My aerobic shape has improved by leaps and bounds. To be clear, the Fitbit didn't do this. I did. The fitbit is just a great fitness tool to have to keep you motivated and informed. What you can accomplish with the Fitbit depends upon what you are prepared to commit to and follow through with. If you want to lose weight, dieting has to be a part of your overall plan. The Fitbit is just a very nice tool to help you achieve whatever fitness goals you have set for yourself. There are, as you know, no magic bullets...it is just blood and guts that gets things done. It all starts with a decision to think different. The Fitbit, in my estimation was a necessary tool for me. I love the information I get from it. I love how it syncs to the Fitbit website and logs all of the short and long term information. I just love this technology! I recommend it in the highest!
  • Roeri011
    Roeri011 Posts: 77 Member
    There are similar posts on the message board. I followed a couple of them and what I took away was if you had to choose between the Fitbit or HRM, the HRM is the way to go. I was looking into buying a Fitbit or upgrading my HRM. I bought a Polar FT60 and have no regrets. I think the Fitbit is a neat gadget but would not be useful for MY goals. I workout (lifting and/or cardio) 5-6 days a week so meeting a daily step goal isn't important to me.
    I have yet to hear a Fitbit owner NOT liking it so if you think it will help you reach your goals and purchase one I don't think it's a bad thing.
  • tweetybaby69
    tweetybaby69 Posts: 258 Member
    I lost over 60 lbs after getting my fitbit, and I consider it to be invaluable in my weight loss journey to this point. Wearing it has helped me more accurate estimate my activity level so that I eat enough (even on non-workout days), and it challenges me to climb more flights of stairs and take more steps than I would otherwise.

    I can't recommend it enough, although I think the benefit of the sleep monitoring is a bit overinflated (though I do like the altimeter for stairs). There are a few cheaper fitbit versions now that I would probably buy instead given the price difference of $40 or so.

    ^^ This...... I love my fit bit
  • Off10h8ed
    Off10h8ed Posts: 282 Member
    I love my fitbit! The main reason is that my activity is up and down so I have MFP set at sedentary, my fitbit then compensates (adds to) my calorie bank as I use them. When I exercise I enter all that separately. I just feels like this give me a more accurate balance.
  • desirae1983
    desirae1983 Posts: 58 Member
    Bump
  • UnderConstructionJ
    UnderConstructionJ Posts: 87 Member
    bump

Categories