Does anyone NOT like their fitbit?
Replies
-
First of all .. I have a Force and a Flex, like the Force much more.
Re the calories ... the Fitbit does not measure calories burned, sorry but it doesn't. It is actually showing your calories burned based on your BMR from your stats you input and your activity ... and uses a math calculation to get to the number you see. Just like your HRM .. as the HRM just measures your heart rate and does a similar math calculation. So .. with that straight, I love my Fitbit .. so the person that says her Force is not accurate, I guess I got a good one. Mine is very very accurate. I am very very nerdy and I have tested it multiple times .. if I do 1000 steps .. it says 1000. (+- about 2% for human error in counting). It helps to have the app so you can see your steps in real time. The big trick for things like distance walked is setting your correct stride length .. and that does take some work.
I also use an iPhone pedometer app .. and once calibrated it is very very good too. So there are other options. But for an activity tracker .. the Fitbit is a great product.
To all the Fitbit haters .. sorry you are having problems, but I find most errors on the Fitbit are cause people do not understand how the product works.
It is a great product and well worth the money.0 -
The Fitbit Force counts 3 steps for every 1 I actually take. All the settings are correct; it just doesn't know how to count. Also, I set it to show a 12-hour clock with Central time zone. It shows a 24-hour clock that is four hours and 15 minutes b(!) fast. It's a gimmicky little thing; don't waste your money.
This seems to be a case by case basis. I have a Force and at least once a day I either watch the screen on it as I walk or pull out my phone while it's connected and watch it there, it's always been accurate for me.0 -
I want to get one of them, but can't decide between that one and the Nike version. Do they come in colours.0
-
I have the Zip - didn't need the stairs/floors climbed or sleep tracking, so just the basic Zip is perfect for me. I scored a brand new one on eBay for $39 - works great.
I still use my HRM for my workouts (weights/circuit type stuff & running/walking), but wear the Zip for them as well, and of course it doesn't track the non-running workouts as well other than times I might be moving around more, with a HIIT type workout.
The estimated daily burn seems about right - I've used the TDEE method here for a couple of years now, and the Zip seems to agree with the numbers I've been using. I actually don't have the accounts synced, I keep them separate but like having the numbers to compare, and love the motivation the Zip gives me to try to reach my step & distance goals.0 -
I like it but can't figure out how it makes adjustments for activity and then after midnight it takes the calories away. Too late if I already ate them.
????
It takes the calories "away" because it resets for the new day, so, if you go back in your MFP diary (if you are syncing) you can still see your cals & log etc if you are up & eating after midnight.
What is your question about activity adjustments?
I think I know what they mean, although I have a bodymedia fit. If I do a lot of exercise early and sync it, it will give me a calorie goal. But if I sync it later and have been less active, it will take away calories. Which sucks if you've already eaten them
. So I just don't do this anymore. I hold off.
And i am talking about the same day, not near midnight.0 -
The Fitbit Force counts 3 steps for every 1 I actually take. All the settings are correct; it just doesn't know how to count. Also, I set it to show a 12-hour clock with Central time zone. It shows a 24-hour clock that is four hours and 15 minutes b(!) fast. It's a gimmicky little thing; don't waste your money.
I found that bigger strides counts for more steps, and with the time thing mine at first did the same until I sync it with my laptop then it worked. I love my force wear it everyday0 -
I found that bigger strides counts for more steps ....
You have that backwards .. if you have a shorter stride you will do more steps for a given distance than a bigger stride. Simple math here.0 -
I found that bigger strides counts for more steps ....
You have that backwards .. if you have a shorter stride you will do more steps for a given distance than a bigger stride. Simple math here.
That's obvious but I'm referring to my observations with my fitbit and it's calculations.. Not what is mathematically logical0 -
First of all .. I have a Force and a Flex, like the Force much more.
Re the calories ... the Fitbit does not measure calories burned, sorry but it doesn't. It is actually showing your calories burned based on your BMR from your stats you input and your activity ... and uses a math calculation to get to the number you see. Just like your HRM .. as the HRM just measures your heart rate and does a similar math calculation. So .. with that straight, I love my Fitbit .. so the person that says her Force is not accurate, I guess I got a good one. Mine is very very accurate. I am very very nerdy and I have tested it multiple times .. if I do 1000 steps .. it says 1000. (+- about 2% for human error in counting). It helps to have the app so you can see your steps in real time. The big trick for things like distance walked is setting your correct stride length .. and that does take some work.
I also use an iPhone pedometer app .. and once calibrated it is very very good too. So there are other options. But for an activity tracker .. the Fitbit is a great product.
To all the Fitbit haters .. sorry you are having problems, but I find most errors on the Fitbit are cause people do not understand how the product works.
It is a great product and well worth the money.
I agree. My FitBit Flex is amazing. I base it based off of distance (I knoe how long my route is) and it's nearly 100% accurate, give or take some margin of error. It even records stuff that isn't just walking, like workout videos. It doesn't like jumping though. It won't register it.
But I've lost 12lbs in a month using it religiously and syncing it to MFP. I think it's a great tool and it's a GREAT motivator for me. It's like a personal victory when I see the lights go off and the wrist band buzz when I hit my goal.
I recommend FitBit highly, but I am sure that a like product would be effective also.0 -
Activity trackers track step based exercise (and sleep). Non-step workouts can be logged either in the tracker (I find Fitbit's burns more accurate) or in MFP. No HRM necessary.If you walk/run and want to track your daily activity - perfect. fitbit one is fantastic for that, I'd say accurate burn and has distance, steps, cals burned, a built in timer, is luminous in the dark and you can use it for tracking your sleep.
doesn't track any other exercise tho. you would need a HRM for that.
so it depends on your exercise type.
If you log in MFP you're asked for start & end times so MFP can override your step data during your workout.
PS. MFP has a Fitbit Users group: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/1307-fitbit-users0 -
I love my force!!
I have gone from the one (always forgot to put it on, or take it off before I washed my clothes), then moved to the flex (didn't like not seeing any numbers), so I ordered a Force from the US (I am in Australia and it hasn't been released here yet).
I wear it 24/7. I will admit sometimes I forget to set the sleep, but other than that, I love it.
I am not a set exerciser, but I do live on a farm - so I do a LOT of incidental exercise. And this tracks those movements perfectly.
And you can set your stride length etc on the computer so that it is a bit more accurate.0 -
I have the One but The Zip is still a great tool and half the price. If you are just starting to add exercise, need extra motivation to move, a good estimation on calories burned for the day.... things like that...then get it.
Here is a way to get that money back... if you have a smartphone, download the app called PACT. It use to be Gympact. If you walk 10K steps a day with your fitbit, it counts as a workout on PACT. You set your pact up to how many workouts you can reasonably do in a week. Then they will pay you to work out.... they also take money from you if you don't. They don't pay a lot, just 30 - 40 cents a workout but the penalty can be $5 - $25 for EACH workout missed... so set your pact up wisely! They just added a food logging pact to the mix that syncs with MFP. So if you log at least 1200 calories and three meals a day... it counts.
You set up the pact to how many a week you want to do. You can also use apps like Runkeeper with it to count a 30 min walk outside as a workout. Or just go to a recognized gym for 30 mins if you have a gym membership. The app has a tutorial to walk you through it. I earned $50 last year doing between 1 - 3 workouts a week. You can pause it if you get injured or go on vacation etc. too. It syncs with a lot of other apps like Fitbit, Runkeeper, MapMyFitness, MFP, etc. So check it out. It might motivate you.
Talk about motivation. Our daughter set hers up with the $25 per workout penalty. She said if it was lower, she would think "I can afford that" and skip her workout. She needed it to hurt her where it counts if she missed it.0 -
I have the One but The Zip is still a great tool and half the price. If you are just starting to add exercise, need extra motivation to move, a good estimation on calories burned for the day.... things like that...then get it.
Here is a way to get that money back... if you have a smartphone, download the app called PACT. It use to be Gympact. If you walk 10K steps a day with your fitbit, it counts as a workout on PACT. You set your pact up to how many workouts you can reasonably do in a week. Then they will pay you to work out.... they also take money from you if you don't. They don't pay a lot, just 30 - 40 cents a workout but the penalty can be $5 - $25 for EACH workout missed... so set your pact up wisely! They just added a food logging pact to the mix that syncs with MFP. So if you log at least 1200 calories and three meals a day... it counts.
You set up the pact to how many a week you want to do. You can also use apps like Runkeeper with it to count a 30 min walk outside as a workout. Or just go to a recognized gym for 30 mins if you have a gym membership. The app has a tutorial to walk you through it. I earned $50 last year doing between 1 - 3 workouts a week. You can pause it if you get injured or go on vacation etc. too. It syncs with a lot of other apps like Fitbit, Runkeeper, MapMyFitness, MFP, etc. So check it out. It might motivate you.
Talk about motivation. Our daughter set hers up with the $25 per workout penalty. She said if it was lower, she would think "I can afford that" and skip her workout. She needed it to hurt her where it counts if she missed it.
Ok wow good to know I downloaded Pact but wasn't sure exactly what it was. I like the sound of it thanks for the explanation0 -
I have the Jawbone UP, similiar to the Flex. It is a little more expensive, but reviews on it are better. I love the way it syncs to MFP. It makes it so much easier. You wear it 24/7, UP tells MFP how many calories you should be eating based on your goal, and how active you are. I really pushes you to be more active.
My Fitbit One does this, too. Based on how active I am and the calorie deficit I entered, it tells me how many calories to eat, or how many I'm over and the number of calories I need to burn to get back in range. It tracks my sleep, my steps, my distance traveled. It has an altimeter for climbing stairs or mountains if you prefer. It's pretty accurate for calories burned in my case. But I do want a HRM for workouts. Fitbit cannot measure intensity of exercise or movement.
Edit: I love my Fitbit!0 -
I'm with Belle - I don't like my Fitbit Ultra I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! Very motivating and so worth it - I've had mine for over a year and a half - it has survived two trips in the washer & one in the pool - But, if I needed a new one they would replace it - NO PROBLEM! They have INCREDIBLE customer service - one of my MFP/Fitbit pals is getting her third replacement at no cost - after losing it! Can't beat that with a stick! Step on I say!I have the Jawbone UP, similiar to the Flex. It is a little more expensive, but reviews on it are better. I love the way it syncs to MFP. It makes it so much easier. You wear it 24/7, UP tells MFP how many calories you should be eating based on your goal, and how active you are. I really pushes you to be more active.
My Fitbit One does this, too. Based on how active I am and the calorie deficit I entered, it tells me how many calories to eat, or how many I'm over and the number of calories I need to burn to get back in range. It tracks my sleep, my steps, my distance traveled. It has an altimeter for climbing stairs or mountains if you prefer. It's pretty accurate for calories burned in my case. But I do want a HRM for workouts. Fitbit cannot measure intensity of exercise or movement.0 -
My experience was first with the Ultra and now with the Fitbit One. I like the One because it provides an accurate step count for both running and walking and is water resistant. And through minor tweaks I've gotten the walking and running stride distance set pretty accurately so that mileage corresponds with known, measured distances like running or walking on a track.
I cannot speak to the Flex though I know people who love them and a very few that "not so much." As for the complaints of accuracy, well none is 100% accurate, 100% of the time. I had two OMRON walking style pedometers and one would always read higher than the other.
I did not matter which one of the two, it wasn't like one just didn't count as many, it was which one was on my right side which, for some reason, always read higher than the left side by 10%. Note that the Fitbit generally read lower than the right side but higher than the left side, regardless of whether I wore it on my left or right when I was wearing the OMRONS. I looked like a walking pedometer experiment.
I also know a few who have the less expensive Zip who love theirs. The big plus for most is the auto sync with MFP.
As for calorie accuracy: probably pretty good for walking, less so for running (it underestimates). My heart rate monitor does a better job of estimating calorie expenditure from running. For non-step type workouts that Fitbit doesn't really handle well, the HRM route is the way to go. (e.g., strength training). The underestimation is okay up to a point, because it gives you an extra cushion of "eat-back" calories.
I found the ease of recording step count/distance through Fitbit and the auto calorie compensation the best part of Fitbit, particularly when most of my cardio program was walking based. Now that I'm back to running again, it serves me for the overall daily distance, stair climb, and for those non-running calorie estimates.0 -
I go up 6 flights of stairs to make it to my apartment and it only logs 4.
Fitbit measures elevation, obviously some flights of stairs are higher than others. Fitbit counts an elevation of 10 feet as one flight of stairs. So your 6 flights must only total 40 feet elevation, hence it only logging 4 floors.
https://help.fitbit.com/customer/portal/articles/183843-how-does-my-tracker-count-floors-0 -
i was thinking about getting one, but after doing research it seemed more suited to walking and running. i dont walk or run i do alot of home circuit training, what is good to measure that type of work out?0
-
Since the OP asks if anyone does NOT like their FitBit, I'll chime in and raise my hand. I'll clarify that not liking it doesn't mean that I dislike it, I'm just apathetic about it. I don't credit the device with helping lose a single ounce since I bought it and if I could do it all over, I'd spend that money on something more helpful. Still, since it's paid for I do use it, I just won't replace it if I lose it or it breaks.0
-
I have a flex and I love it so far, it has certainly helped me with accountability for my exercise.0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393K Introduce Yourself
- 43.7K Getting Started
- 260.1K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.8K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 416 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.9K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.6K MyFitnessPal Information
- 23 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.5K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions