The fitbit force is new and only out in the US atm and I think the ultra is the older one so i don't think its about anymore. I have the One and love it, really keeps me motivated to keep going although I don't use the site as much as others particularly the food side of it as its quite geared to American foods rather than UK ones but you can sync it with mfp so I do that

I have a fitbit one I sync with mfp and don't generally use fitbit dashboard. I like that one is discreet but I can check how I'm doing at anytime

I have the Fitbit One since christmas. I am still sorting it out. It counts what you do all day, steps, flights of stairs (includes hills, great for me in a hilly town) total distance, calories burned. If you move steadily (a purposeful walk, vs the walk i walk to get my kid to school) it counts as 'active' or if you run 'very active' and credits a higher calorie burn for that.

If you wear it during something like an aerobic class you can just leave it as is, or you can log that in to be counted as that kind of activity (i havent done that so cant say any more). There can be problems, since you wear it all day, with it miscounting time spent in the car, or on public transport. I spend little time on either, but there is much discussion on their forums about how to delete that by entering it as an activity with low calorie burn. I think most people dont have problems, but some few do.

The forums at Fitbit often recommend using My Fitness Pal for food tracking as the database is better and the two can talk to each other. I dont think the Fitbit app can be used alone, it reads and displays the data off your Fitbit, which is too small to display much.

I have the flex and I find it really motivates me for tracking my steps. It links in with MFP and will give me extra calories for activities I haven't registered on MFP. For example, I record my elliptical trainer but no longer record general walking as it's difficult to measure how fast I'm going but the flex does that for me. I know I am getting crappy sleep at the moment and it monitors that too; I can see how many times I have woken up during the night and prove it to my husband who doesn't believe me (not that I seem to be able to do anything about it, mind.......). The flex lets you set an alarm so that it buzzes to wake you at whatever time you want and you can change it to monitor your calories if you want instead of steps. When you've achieved your target steps for the day (you can set them depending on your goals), it buzzes and flashes - like a little congratulations - it keeps me more motivated to achieve them.

If you like gadgets that give you lots of information, as I do, then it's for you but it won't be for everyone. You don't need it, I lost all my weight before getting one for Christmas but I like the extra motivation and information. That's just me.

I have the fitbit ultra, it's quite old now but one of the most motivational fitness gadgets I've ever owned.

If anyone uses a fitbit my profile is http://www.fitbit.com/user/24637Z come and say Hi

I use endomondo to track my exercise, Fitbit feeds directly into that, and then Endomondo feeds into MFP to adjust my calories, exercise and so on.

Endomondo profile is at http://www.endomondo.com/profile/7136451

I have the One and I love it! I got it just after xmas with some vouchers I'd received. Truthfully, I thought that all I wanted was a pedometer but I heard about the fitbit & did some research.

I'd really struggled with a weightloss plateau for a couple of months and couldn't figure out what the issue was - turned out I was undereating by a good 200-400 calories a day as my activity level was off... I changed up my calorie allowance and religiously wear my fitbit at all times (except in the shower!) and the weight has started to come off again slowly.

I have mine linked to MFP and I know you can link to map my fitness/walk/run and endomondo to capture your activity. I make darn sure that all my daily targets are met each day (and have been known to jog round my garden in my jamas to meet my step/distance goals) and that my calorie output is "in the zone".

I honestly think that without my fitbit pointing me in the right direction, I would still be struggling with a plateau and would be getting more and more disheartened... It motivates me to move my harris and it helps show me that doing so will help me get where I want to be. It won't do it for you - it's not magic, but it does work if used properly.

Hope this helps!

I have the zip and it's my new best friend! I have bought my boyfriend one for Christmas and can't wait to "race" him!

I have fitbit zip and I must admit I don't really know how to use it. I only have an i-phone to sync it to but haven't sussed it, so it's interesting that so many love this gadget... Any information for on how to use wld be much appreciated.. Apologies if I am jumping in here x

I have the flex and I find it really motivates me for tracking my steps. It links in with MFP and will give me extra calories for activities I haven't registered on MFP. For example, I record my elliptical trainer but no longer record general walking as it's difficult to measure how fast I'm going but the flex does that for me. I know I am getting crappy sleep at the moment and it monitors that too; I can see how many times I have woken up during the night and prove it to my husband who doesn't believe me (not that I seem to be able to do anything about it, mind.......). The flex lets you set an alarm so that it buzzes to wake you at whatever time you want and you can change it to monitor your calories if you want instead of steps. When you've achieved your target steps for the day (you can set them depending on your goals), it buzzes and flashes - like a little congratulations - it keeps me more motivated to achieve them.

If you like gadgets that give you lots of information, as I do, then it's for you but it won't be for everyone. You don't need it, I lost all my weight before getting one for Christmas but I like the extra motivation and information. That's just me.

I am same as this. Got mine for Christmas too,I like the way my flex makes me see how inactive I am if I don't go out for a walk. Housework and gardening just don't burn much now I am at goal. Also as I expected it shows me I don't sleep well enough!

Yes it synchs so you record your food on MFP and the exercise cals earned by fitbit get taken off your mfp allowance . The price has come down since Christmas too which must mean the Fitbit Force will be available in UK soon. My diary is open if you want to look and see how it works for me. I am on maintenance btw

I must be using mine wrong, i have a zip, and dont like it. I'll get it back out and give it another go tommorrow.

I'm another flex lover! I like gadgets though anyway so probably not for everyone, but motivates me to keep active outside of my workouts. I use it get at the NEAT part of BMR + NEAT + EAT = TDEE. I use a HRM for EAT, flex for NEAT. They seem to have sorted out the connectivity issues lately and it works really nicely with MFP. I aim for 10,000 steps a day outside of any workout.....

Thank you for your reply - you say you aim for 10,000 outside of exercise - like mfp works out your calories does fit bit give you an estimate on how many steps you should do depending on your age / lifestyle or is it just for tracking what you actually do ?