Is a Fitbit worth it?

jmg9656
jmg9656 Posts: 18 Member
edited November 4 in Motivation and Support
Hi, I'm considering buying a Fitbit-One for myself and a second one my husband (his birthday), but I'm wondering if it is really worth it?

My husband is not someone who logs anything -- food, exercise, etc. Would he really get any use out of it?

Has it helped anyone lose more weight than they would have otherwise (a question for me).

Thanks for any input -- positive or negative. I really am on the fence about this purchase.
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Replies

  • bekahlou75
    bekahlou75 Posts: 304 Member
    I got a Fitbit One for Christmas and I love it!! It is a great motivator. I have my goal steps for the day at 10,000. I've met that goal only 3 times, but it really gets me going. I think it has helped me get over a bit of a plateau I was on just because I am trying to move more to reach my goal. I love seeing it sync with MFP and seeing what exercise calories it gives me. I don't eat the calories but it's still cool to see it.

    I wear it clicked to the inside of my bra.
  • kholcomb51
    kholcomb51 Posts: 54 Member
    I got Fitbit Ones for myself and my husband for Christmas and he already lost his! He was wearing it at the time, at least, but I think I should have gone for the Force or the Flex for him, since they'd be harder to lose track of.

    I'm enjoying mine, though. I was sick of using a pedometer app that would reset itself in the middle of a hike or whatever. This is reliable, and does inspire me to hit more steps a day, and more stairs! I can't say whether it's helping me lose more weight.

    I like the sync with MFP and the sleep tracker.
  • oc1timoco
    oc1timoco Posts: 272 Member
    Yes...
  • egrusy
    egrusy Posts: 196 Member
    My suggestion would be to buy just one to start and give it to him. See if it "takes" or not, whether or not he gets any use out of it, and if it so buy a second one otherwise take it from him for you to use and then get him something else for his birthday. Just a thought :smile:

    ETA: I have the Zip and I LOVE it! It does indeed motivate me to move more.
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    It's a fun gadget that is especially good for people who don't regularly follow a vigorous exercise plan. I've had two that were gifts. The problem for me is that the Fitbits that clip on are easily lost. I currently can't find mine (currently, the Fitbit One). If I were to buy one I'd get the version that's worn on the wrist that syncs wirelessly.
  • _Calypso_
    _Calypso_ Posts: 1,074 Member
    My husband bought me and him the One for Christmas and we love it!!!! I can see where my low days are and my high days and adjust my calories accordingly. Whereas MFP is just a number regardless of your daily activity.
    The one issue...Its very small and easy to lose. For me...not so bad b/c I attach it to my bra so there is no chance of it accidentally falling off. My husband puts it on his waistband and over the holdiays he did lose it. Took us 3hrs to search the backyard...but we found it.

    Overall - highly recommend!!!
  • jmg9656
    jmg9656 Posts: 18 Member
    Thanks everyone, great info. It seems like losing the Fitbit-One is a key issue. :-(

    I can't see either one of us wanting to use the wrist versions.

    One more question -- do I have to upgrade my MFP account to sync fitbit? I'm guessing that I do...

    Thanks again!
  • orangmocha
    orangmocha Posts: 1 Member
    You don't have to upgrade MFP to use it. You just sync your fitbit account through the apps page on MFP.
  • sparkerwallace
    sparkerwallace Posts: 22 Member
    I don't believe that you do need to upgrade your account to sync your fitbit. At least, I didn;t.

    I think that a Fitbit might be good for someone who doesn't track many things, because since it counts for you, it can be any easy motivator. You might not want to go to the gym or know how much exercise you've gotten during the week because you don't track anything. But if you've always got a number looking at you every day counting your steps and a goal number to acheive, I think it would be really helpful and ideal.

    Just my thoughts, though.
  • Kellllog
    Kellllog Posts: 81 Member
    I have a Flex; which I think is fab! It's really motivating to keep me moving.
  • shimmygirl411
    shimmygirl411 Posts: 100 Member
    Bump....thinking of getting a FitBit as well. Thanks for the useful information.
  • MzManiak
    MzManiak Posts: 1,361 Member
    You don't have to upgrade MFP. You just have to select Fitbit as one of your Apps so that it will sync automatically. I have heard of the ones getting lost easily, but I always clipped mine to my bra and never lost it. I did forget to put it on a few times though... but stick it next to your toothbrush or something so it's part of your morning routine to put it on and part of your evening routine to take it off. I use the Flex now, and I love it. It syncs with my phone so I don't have to wait until I get to a computer to sync it.
  • suelegal
    suelegal Posts: 1,281 Member
    I have had the original fitbit for 2 years. I washed it once and killed it and they replaced it free of charge, and then for some odd reason the new one just stopped working after about 6 month, and again they replaced it! I hook mine on my jeans pocket without the clip, and don't have any issues with it staying there. I like it, because it reminds me on my low activity days to also keep my cals lower. My next device however will probably be the Lumo Back Posture Sensor because I have lousy posture.
  • gman1232
    gman1232 Posts: 37
    I wear it clicked to the inside of my bra.

    Guess I better get a bra :laugh:
  • RinnyLush
    RinnyLush Posts: 389 Member
    My boyfriend bought me a fitbit one for Christmas and I LOVE it! Here's why:

    1) It motivates me to get 10000 steps in a day.
    2) It syncs so easily with myfitnesspal.
    3) It gives me a much better calorie burn estimate and has allowed me to plan my meals more appropriately.
    4) The sleep pattern function is amazing. It motivates me to go to bed earlier to get more hours of shut-eye in.
    5) It has a clock on it and I hate wearing a watch. (Haha!)

    I seriously swear I don't work for fitbit. I just adore this thing.
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    I have the Flex, and I really love it because I don't have to log my cardio anymore (only if I want to).

    I'm such a gadget geek now. I run with my Flex, Endomondo and a heart rate monitor. Heheh.
  • SkinnyMel78
    SkinnyMel78 Posts: 434 Member
    yes, yes, yes!!! I have a zip and love it, but I hear that they are all great! So worth the investment! Also I think it helps keep me motivated. I love knowing how many steps/miles I walked per day. Also I enjoy the friendly competition from some of my friends who have one.
  • MercenaryNoetic26
    MercenaryNoetic26 Posts: 2,747 Member
    I been wearing my flex 24/7 since received. Yes, it's worth it. That's how I figured out I was overeating (bulking, which resulted in great musculature) unintentionally :laugh:

    Anyway, I stopped tapping it every time I go to bed. Laziness. The vibrate/silent alarm stopped working on mine. But it still tracks my tdee and considering the abuse I give it, I still love it.

    So for $50 -100 bucks, yeah, way worth it.

    I never tried any of the other trackers.
  • simplydelish2
    simplydelish2 Posts: 726 Member
    I love my fitbit one. However, if I were to buy one today, I'd go for the wristband style. When your fitbit is in your pocket, it can be lost...or in my case - go through the washer (thank heavens it still worked). Spend the few dollars extra and get the wristband style - it is a great motivator since it's in plain sight all the time.

    Good luck!
  • jmg9656
    jmg9656 Posts: 18 Member
    Thanks everyone -- I really appreciate the info!
  • nccarolb
    nccarolb Posts: 858 Member
    I gave myself a Fitbit Flex for combination birthday/Christmas gift. I LOVE it!! If money is super tight, you could try what I did and ordered one from eBay. I bought the individual pieces and save about $25 over the cost of a new one. It encourages me to move more and I like that it tracks all calories burned instead of just the ones I can enter myself on MFP.
  • Turbooble
    Turbooble Posts: 16 Member
    My husband bought me the Fitbit Force for Christmas and I am in love with it. It sinks up to MFP easily. I only take it off when I shower and I use that time to charge it. It charges fast and keeps a battery life for days! I believe it really motivates me to get up and make simple goals, such as my stair count. At the end of the day if I do not have 10 flights of stairs I will walk up and down our stairs at home and make my goal. Same with the step count. It has really pushed me. I have made my stair count for a few days now, so I think I am ready to move up the goal count.

    Another thing I love about it is the sleep tracker. It has honestly helped me get a better night sleep. I noticed that after about 6 hours of sleep I start to toss and turn and I didn't even know it! So I started setting the alarm on the watch (yes it has one and it wakes me up with the slight vibration) at 6 hours after I plan to lay down and I have been feeling great since. I know the Force can be on the slightly more expensive side, about $120 I believe, but it has been totally worth it. I have never been able to lose weight before and I am at 9.8lb loss in less than a month and feeling great.

    Okay, so now I am sounding like an AD, but I enjoy it that much.

    Good Luck!
  • Psalm17v22
    Psalm17v22 Posts: 168 Member
    I've had a FitBit One and now a FitBit Force, I've been using it since May and love it. I total think it's work the money and I find it motivating to keep my steps up. I used to have a Bodybugg and the accuracy is the same with both, but fitbit doesn't require a separate monthly fee to use it.

    God bless,
    Karen
  • phoebestarz
    phoebestarz Posts: 3 Member
    Ok, I am going to sound like a total doofus here........... I received a fitbit flex for Christmas and have no idea how to use it. I have set it up on pc but now not sure how to get started. Do I have to "turn it on" before I start my exercise and then how do you upload info onto your computer?

    I am usually quite savvy with exercise gadgets but have no idea with fitbit :blushing:
    Thanks in advance.
  • Future_Mrs_Philipp
    Future_Mrs_Philipp Posts: 18 Member
    I just ordered mine and can't wait to get it!! I have heard great things about it and am excited for something else to challenge me through my weight loss adventure!
  • jay6269
    jay6269 Posts: 1
    I have a Force but I am confused with the interaction with MFP. MFP says to have 1800 cals a day to loose 2 pounds a week. Fitbit adds the deficit and MFP tells me the adjusted count. Should I be trying to hit the 1800 cals of the adjusted?

    Right now it says 1810 - goal 848 food - 897 exercise = -49 net with 1859 Calories remaining. Should I be eating the total 2697 calories or just the original 1800 to loose the 2 pound per week? I am so confused.
  • rjmwx81
    rjmwx81 Posts: 259 Member
    I like my Force but I'm not sure it'll be any less easy to lose than the clip models. The fastener on the wristband is really tricky to close properly, and there have been multiple times where I thought I had it fastened only to discover that the Force had popped off my wrist while putting a shirt on.
  • ScottH_200
    ScottH_200 Posts: 377 Member
    I bought a Fitbit Zip a couple of mos. ago. Not really that impressed.

    To each their own though ;-)
  • ScottH_200
    ScottH_200 Posts: 377 Member
    I have a Force but I am confused with the interaction with MFP. MFP says to have 1800 cals a day to loose 2 pounds a week. Fitbit adds the deficit and MFP tells me the adjusted count. Should I be trying to hit the 1800 cals of the adjusted?

    Right now it says 1810 - goal 848 food - 897 exercise = -49 net with 1859 Calories remaining. Should I be eating the total 2697 calories or just the original 1800 to loose the 2 pound per week? I am so confused.

    Which is why I unchecked the box that allows Fitbit to perform negative adjustments on MFP. It's really lame.
  • theoncomingstorm2
    theoncomingstorm2 Posts: 22
    I love my fitbit one. I feel naked without. And it does provide motivation for being more active.
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