Best Fitness Accessory to Buy?

I would probably say a heart rate monitor if you are in to running, cycling, or any other steady state cardio. Just know going in that they are just estimations, and they are very unreliable for anything other than steady state cardio.

FitBit, hands down. Unless you are looking to train for something like a race, the FitBit will do a great job of tracking the calories out side of the equation, and likely much more accurately than a heart rate moniter can.

FitBit, hands down. Unless you are looking to train for something like a race, the FitBit will do a great job of tracking the calories out side of the equation, and likely much more accurately than a heart rate moniter can.

I used to think that way, but the more and more people I see that are stalled on weight loss using those, it makes me hesitant to recommend one. That being said, I haven't used one so I don't really know. Just seems they overcalculate for everyone. I absolutely could be wrong though.

In reality, I don't think either really matter all that much.

Ditto on the HRM- I'm obsessed with mine for workouts! It's a great motivator to see how many cals you are burning while you work out. I have the Polar FT4 an it's been great!

Do you feel the polar is pretty acurate? I just bought a polar RS100 and used it for the first time this morning. It said 420 burned for 40 minutes of circuit training. Does that sound right?

Ditto on the HRM- I'm obsessed with mine for workouts! It's a great motivator to see how many cals you are burning while you work out. I have the Polar FT4 an it's been great!

Do you feel the polar is pretty acurate? I just bought a polar RS100 and used it for the first time this morning. It said 420 burned for 40 minutes of circuit training. Does that sound right?

I do! It's pretty consistent - when I don't work as hard the cals are a bit less etc. And I don't feel like it overestimates - I burn about 200-240 cals walking at a high incline for 30 min. I'm not sure about circuit training, but I think you are only supposed to use it for steady cardio, not weights etc.

a good set of variable dumbbells would be the thing I'd get

You can do pretty much every exercise with them, you can strip them and use them for sit ups, chin ups etc, can do squats, burpees, thrusters,m renagades

You can add them to some many home exercises etc

FitBit, hands down. Unless you are looking to train for something like a race, the FitBit will do a great job of tracking the calories out side of the equation, and likely much more accurately than a heart rate moniter can.

I used to think that way, but the more and more people I see that are stalled on weight loss using those, it makes me hesitant to recommend one. That being said, I haven't used one so I don't really know. Just seems they overcalculate for everyone. I absolutely could be wrong though.

In reality, I don't think either really matter all that much.

My Fitbit actually under-estimates my caloric need. I never stalled on weight loss, and have managed to keep the 66 pounds I lost off for over two years.

I personally found a tracking device (like Fitbit or BodyMedia) to be far more useful and accurate than a HRM. I actually gave my HRM away to someone on my friend list because I just wasn't using it.

FitBit, hands down. Unless you are looking to train for something like a race, the FitBit will do a great job of tracking the calories out side of the equation, and likely much more accurately than a heart rate moniter can.

I used to think that way, but the more and more people I see that are stalled on weight loss using those, it makes me hesitant to recommend one. That being said, I haven't used one so I don't really know. Just seems they overcalculate for everyone. I absolutely could be wrong though.

In reality, I don't think either really matter all that much.

I currently use a FitBit and still use a HRM sometimes when I do my cardio. That way I know what I should enter when it comes to logging my activity. I tried logging my activity using only the FitBit app, but it was always under what it should have been, trying to log only by MFP standards wasn't really correct either, so the HRM really pin points it. Having the FitBit synced with MFP works out very well when I go for walks on my breaks (I don't bother logging those) but MFP will deduct the calories burned. It's worth checking out.

The customer service has been really great, as well. It's a fun little gadget for working out!

- a pull-up bar.

My next fitness related purchase will be a new set of blue tooth sports headphones.

a squat rack.

and Dana Lynn Bailey- but I'm not sure I can afford that.

You beat me to it.

As such, I'll say: power cage (or similar).

I too work in a corporate environment, but the slate wristband for my Fitbit just looks like ...a watch? a "Lifestrong" bracelet? Name one of a hundred things people wear on their wrists. I've never worried about it.

I only take my Fitbit off to shower (they say you can shower with it, but my experience determined this was wishful thinking).

If you don't like the wristband, Fitbit (and many others) sell simple step counters that can be clipped discretely to a belt, inside a pocket or even to your underclothes. Just don't forget to take it off before you wash your clothes!

I love my Fitbit, but don't kid yourself: it is just a toy. Sure, it will help you figure out how much you are moving around during the day (to a point anyway) but it isn't going to suddenly fix anything. It is a motivator and can help you calibrate exactly how active (or inactive) you are, but that is it. My next purchase is likely to be a smartwatch...all the functions of my fitbit AND a heart rate monitor AND it will run (some) apps. I'm not in a rush though, that isn't a "toy" price!

I too work in a corporate environment, but the slate wristband for my Fitbit just looks like ...a watch? a "Lifestrong" bracelet? Name one of a hundred things people wear on their wrists. I've never worried about it.

I only take my Fitbit off to shower (they say you can shower with it, but my experience determined this was wishful thinking).

If you don't like the wristband, Fitbit (and many others) sell simple step counters that can be clipped discretely to a belt, inside a pocket or even to your underclothes. Just don't forget to take it off before you wash your clothes!

I love my Fitbit, but don't kid yourself: it is just a toy. Sure, it will help you figure out how much you are moving around during the day (to a point anyway) but it isn't going to suddenly fix anything. It is a motivator and can help you calibrate exactly how active (or inactive) you are, but that is it. My next purchase is likely to be a smartwatch...all the functions of my fitbit AND a heart rate monitor AND it will run (some) apps. I'm not in a rush though, that isn't a "toy" price!

I brought mine to Jamaica and went snorkeling twice daily ( included in all inclusive stay) and I've showered with it daily- Never had an issue... maybe yours was faulty?

Hmmm ok, I was already looking at the FitBit because it seems interesting.

For those of you that do use it - do you find it awkward to wear every day? Also, can you wear it other places other than your wrist? I work in a corporate environment and it might seem out of place to wear.

That's why I bought the Fitbit One instead of the flex. I love that I can clip it on and no one sees it. My husband has a flex and I like that I have the readout; he only gets the five lights feedback unless he syncs.