Could someone please explain the benefit of a Fibit?

I'm wondering the same thing - interested to see responses.

A FitBit is a lot like a fancy pedometer. It tracks your daily activity and sleep patterns. Many potential benefits.

It doesn't have a heart rate component so cardiovascular workouts won't necessarily be accurate, non-step type workouts won't be included.. But if you have sedentary days as well as active days.....it's great to pin down what your average is. A FitBit syncs with MFP.....you can also just sync to their website & get progress reports. If this encourages you to move more....that's great. Many MFP users use a FitBit to determine maintenance calories.

I love mine
I have been wearing it everyday since I got it December 31st (my Christmas gift to myself)
I'm very competitive and have several younger people in my fitbit friends list and if I see one them beating me with steps I go for a walk
I have my minimum steps set to 15000 per day
I have it sync with MFP and have had minimal problems

like another poster said it is a nifty gadget but not the end all be all of fitness
it is nice to have and motivating for a beginner
walking is my main source of exercise

I call it "the great motivator". It helped motivate me to move more and thus help me reach the number on the ticker below. I consider it one of many tools in my weight loss arsenal. Well worth it....in my opinion.

I got a FitBit one for Christmas, and I love it. The device itself does not *help* you lose weight, but you can track all your calories burned by walking/running and also track your sleep if you want. It can also motivate you to burn more calories or compete with your friends to see who can get the most steps. I feel naked without it now. You basically log your walking/step exercises on the Fitbit and then count calories and other exercises on MFP and they sync up together, it will adjust your calories automatically for you.

My husband got me the Samsung gear fit so I guess this is kind of similar. I mainly use the pedometer to get my 10,000 steps and check my heart rate when im doing something active just to make sure im not going too hard out as Im pregnant. I can keep an eye on my heart rate while recording an exercise such as walking or running. I havnt tried tracking sleep or anything but it sounds like the fitbit can do this too. What does it actually tell you, how many calories you burn while you're asleep? im not currently counting calories anymore so personally I don't need all the details but its good for motivation and seeing how many steps I get during the day even if Im just inside with my active 2 year old. It will be interesting to see how my average steps change as I get more pregnant.

I am on my third device. In July I bought the Fitbit Flex. I'm a couch potato and pretty much don't exercise. I found it motivated to get my 10K steps in and I started walking and now walk every day. I wanted more from the device and when the Force was released, got that unit and loved it till it died on me earlier this month. Back to the Flex and I wanted more info (i.e to see my steps etc) and yesterday I took advantage of a 25% off holiday coupon at Sports Authority and now have the Garmin Vivofit (with the HRM).

As far as accuracy goes, nothing really is. Its an estimate. Right now I'm wearing both the Flex and Garmin and trying to compare the steps/calories burned and so on. Fitbit syncs with MFP and I also get cash rewards and discounts with other websites using the Fitbit.

As far as losing weight...yes. From the info received from it, no, but that wasn't why I wanted the device. I know when I got the Flex I was close to losing 100 lbs and wanted the motivation I hoped to get from the device to get me off my butt and walk. It did that and as I said, haven't stopped yet. I also did the C25K program and would not have done that before getting the device. Your mileage may vary but for me, it was worth it.

There are a number of different trackers out there and each has its pros/cons. Am sure you can return it if you find it's not floating your boat. It's a tool like anything else, but just clipping one on or strapping it to your wrist isn't going to drop the pounds. The data you get from it is helpful, the calories burned, steps taken etc.

Right now with the Garmin Vivofit...I'm seeing a red line telling me I've been sitting on my butt for way too long and in order to make it disappear ...I've got to get up....so hopefully if you get one, it will motivate you like it did me and many of the other folks who posted a response here. I felt so lost when the Fitbit Force crapped out on me, and after going back to the Flex, I wanted more (I had noticed my step count decreased as I could not see my steps on the Flex like I could with the now recalled Force).

Gotta go...the red line is bugging me If you do go with a Fitbit product, there is a group here that's very helpful.

What is the purpose/benefit of having a fitbit? Is it accurate, and does it help? I'm considering, but it's a pricey purchase and I want to be sure before I buy. For those of you who have one, does it help you? Do you think you've lost weight from the information you've received from it?

I like it because it helps me be more active.
It's not magic, and it doesn't help me lose weight. Eating less than I burn is what helps me lose weight. It's just a fun little gadget.

+1

It depends on your personality. I need something to motivate me, or I will sit at my computer all day and then come home and sit at it some more and only get up to eat.
For me, it makes me move. If you're one of those people who can motivate yourself, then it's really not necessary.

You can always buy one from a reputable store and return it if you don't like it. I bought the Flex and returned it two weeks later to exchange for the One.

I agree with the above. It's very movitaing for me it helps me realize that I need to get off my butt and move I hit 12k most days and average 16-17k. I've had mine almost a yr now and with MFP and my Fitbit zip I have lost 56lbs the most I have ever been able too lost and keep going. I love making sure I get my steps in.

Eating correctly for your level of activity. Plain and simple.
It helps with the activity side of the equation, improves MFP's estimate of non-exercise maintenance.

This.^ I set my activity level to lightly active on MFP. Then I sync my fitbit with MFP. On days when I don't move much, MFP knows it and subtracts from my calorie allowance. Likewise if I'm active according to my fitbit data, MFP will give me more calories while still keeping my planned deficit. So it's more accurate - and also highly motivating for me, since if I want to eat something extra I can earn the calories I need and see it reflected immediately.

I use the fitbit to monitor normal daily activity levels and simple walks. For actual workouts, especially non-step-based activity like cycling, I use an HRM. But the fitbit by itself was a big help with understanding my activity levels and managing my calories.

Annamarie, I was also concerned about the price and felt kind of guilty after buying my fitbit one! However, t turns out to be really useful for me, and love this purchase. I've set MFP to "sedentary" and have synced my fitbit with MFP so that anything I do, whether it's walking 100 steps, or walking 6000 steps, is factored into my calorie goal for the day. I work from home and once I got my fitbit one, was shocked at how few steps i could get in a day, just moving around my apartment--this has motivated me to get up and move more, even 5 minutes of walking up and down the hall every hour or so makes a difference. As other people have pointed out, fitbit one really is only good for step-based activities, though (but that's all I do). Good luck with your decision!