Polar FT, Body Bug, Fitbit ...oh my!

lizlkbg
lizlkbg Posts: 566
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi,

So, I basically just want a device that will accurately track my calories burned, to use mostly when I exercise (I don't want to wear it all day).

I'm not an athlete, my exercise consists of walking, JM DVD's, and the treadmill.

Which device do you think would be best for me?

Thanks!

Liz

Replies

  • DaffyGirl88
    DaffyGirl88 Posts: 5,169 Member
    A heart rate monitor. I have a Polar P4 (but it's 6 years old and I think the models have changed) and it works great. You can put it on and take it off as needed for exercise, where the fitbit and body bug are meant to be worn all day.
  • theskinnylist
    theskinnylist Posts: 286 Member
    I've had many different trackers, calorie counters, HRM's.... the one I always recommend is the Polar FT4 or Polar FT7. I have the FT7 and it is amazing. If you're using it 4 days a week intensely, you will probably have to replace the chest strap after a year to make sure your caloric burns are accurate.

    Polar FT4 or FT7 all the way!
  • johnknappcc
    johnknappcc Posts: 28
    Polar (any model), but there is some debate over the accuracy of the calories burned. I have the FT60, and it seems to way over-estimate the calories burned during working out. Unless the machines at the gym are just way under-estimating . . .

    Therefore, I just use mine to target heart rates during interval training, I don't even look at the calories.
  • nashai01
    nashai01 Posts: 536 Member
    I've had many different trackers, calorie counters, HRM's.... the one I always recommend is the Polar FT4 or Polar FT7. I have the FT7 and it is amazing. If you're using it 4 days a week intensely, you will probably have to replace the chest strap after a year to make sure your caloric burns are accurate.

    Polar FT4 or FT7 all the way!

    I was looking into purchasing FT4 or FT7, I know people who have the FT4 but is the FT7 much better? Well I'm guess I'm asking is it worth it to get the FT4?
  • smilesback
    smilesback Posts: 260 Member
    I love your interest in finding technology to help you get fit. There are newer products on the market since I bought my bodybugg and digital display watch a couple years ago. Now you can have the ease of loading up data bluetooth or wirelessly, and have it be free too with Fitbit. I think I will be buying a Fibtbit when my BB membership runs out. BB is said to be more accurate than FitBit or anything else though for calorie burn but by how much I don't know. My heart rate on gym equipment matches my personal HR monitor so no worries there. But the calories on cycles, treadmill and elliptical machines are exaggerated high when compared to my personal BB calorie burn. So I use the BB calories for logging on MFP. HR monitors are on machines so you don't need a HR monitor for that. I think calorie burn is more meaningful unless you have heart pressure problems I guess. I think you can have the Fitbit in your pocket etc so it not cumbersome. Don't know how the Polar or others compare. Hope that helps.
  • LoggingForLife
    LoggingForLife Posts: 504 Member
    I have the Bodymedia Core with display and I could not love it more. It tells me how many calories burned each day and as long as I stay 500 calories under that, I've been losing .2 pounds per day. Slow and steady. I highly recommend it. There is a small monthly fee for the website but it gives you a ton of information and is totally worth it.
  • Ascolti_la_musica
    Ascolti_la_musica Posts: 676 Member
    I ***LOVE*** my FitBit. I am constantly trying to beat my numbers with it! (One more flight of stairs today and I get a new badge! Woohoo! Oh, I need to take 189 more steps before I go to bed! If I walk just one more block, I will beat my record!) :bigsmile: :heart:

    It is connected to MFP, so I don't bother logging my exercise anymore. When I logged exercise on MFP, I always entered half my time anyway, because the site overestimates. FitBit seems to be more accurate to me.

    Also, it is about the size of a cricket, and attaches to my bra, so I forget it is there. I'm not a huge fan of chest straps, no matter how many people say they have gotten used to them. :tongue:
  • nashai01
    nashai01 Posts: 536 Member
    bump

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