Fitbit Flex on MFP

jennibee70
jennibee70 Posts: 1,067 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi Fitbit users, I'm toying with the idea of getting a fitbit flex but I'm not sure if I can use it because my phone is an iphone 4 and it's only compatible with the 4s or 5. Can you sync it with MFP without a compatible phone? Am I right in thinking it's more like a pedometer than an HRM? I already have an HRM with a chest strap but it's a bit of a faff to use.

Replies

  • karajf0413
    karajf0413 Posts: 17 Member
    You're right, it is a pedometer but I really love the dashboard: sleep movements, calories burned just by walking, etc. It has really helped me to be more active. It doesn't sync with an iPhone 4 that I know of, but if you have a computer the Flex comes with a little USB plug-in that allows it to sync whenever you're using your computer (the computer has to be on and within 25 feet for it to sync). From there, it just syncs with the Fitbit app (and MFP if you connect them) on your iPhone.

    However, if you have no computer and a phone that's not compatible, then getting the Fitbit would be worthless because you'll never be able to sync it.
  • onecatleadstoanother
    onecatleadstoanother Posts: 70 Member
    I have the fitbit one and an incompatible phone, so i sync everything through the computer and then update the app with the info on the computer. It is more like a pedometer than a HRM, which works well for me because most of my exercise is walking. The one also logs sleep and number of awakenings through the night, number of steps and number of floors climbed. If you bike ride or swim it won't be helpful for tracking caloric burn
  • jennibee70
    jennibee70 Posts: 1,067 Member
    Aaah, thanks, so if I left the plug in thing on my laptop, it would sync when I went into the room? My laptop is switched on most days (I have a teenage daughter!) so it still might work for me.
  • HaibaneReki
    HaibaneReki Posts: 373 Member
    I'm in a similar position with my Lumia 920 - there's no app for FitBit yet (come July) so I sync using the included USB dongle or with my work Samesong android.

    It's worth it, it's scary accurate about your daily activity.


    as above comments state it won't give You steps when biking, but for swimming it'll log it as active time - logs calories for that too
  • karajf0413
    karajf0413 Posts: 17 Member
    Yep, that's what I do. And I think as long as the computer is connected to the internet, it'll automatically update on your phone when you open the app.

    Like onecatleadsto mentioned, though, if you plan on using it to estimate calorie burn from activities, be aware that for riding a bike and weight lifting it won't really register any calorie burn. You can go into the app and add it later though and it'll adjust your daily calorie burn.
  • jennibee70
    jennibee70 Posts: 1,067 Member
    Thanks all, I think I'll bite the bullet and get one. It won't work for my aikido or dance classes, necessarily, but I estimate those already, and it will be more accurate for my movement about the office etc. One more question, if I may - when it monitors your sleep, let's say it tells you that your sleep was restless - how are you meant to rectify that? You can't just make up your mind to do better! Or am I missing the point?
  • HaibaneReki
    HaibaneReki Posts: 373 Member
    I really thing it can log your dance class as very active time even when it won't get you many steps, report back pls :smile:


    as for sleep - I'm figuring that out myself. I had the Sleep movement sensitivity set to "Sensitive" instead of normal and it logged like 3-4 hours of actual sleep out of 9 in bed (we have a 1 year old kid) which corresponded with how I feel every morning :sad: no tried the "Normal" setting and it gives me 90+ % sleep efficiency..

    TL, DR - I don't really know, but it can at least explain why I feel like crap in the morning and decide things like - it's not worth it to stay in bed after 5am because I'm just restless till 7..

    Feel free to experiment and don't forget to tell us :smile:

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