Is a fitbit worth it??

sylviedroz
sylviedroz Posts: 95 Member
in Getting Started
Hiya, been seeing a lot of posts about fitbits and i'm honestly wondering if it's really worth it cause it's quite pricy
And if there are any better.

thanks x

Replies

  • kimmieyr1
    kimmieyr1 Posts: 189
    Love my Fitbit. Have been using it for 3 years now and will continue to do so. It keeps me aware of if I am moving or not. If price is an issue a pedometer works or my iPhone can keep track if steps.
  • WLG1974
    WLG1974 Posts: 90
    I use mine daily. I've had it for a couple of years.

    I think it's worth it. I know some who gave it up but for me I like it and will continue to use it because it gives me that extra push to keep moving.
  • mart001
    mart001 Posts: 194 Member
    love my fitbit one. one of the best things i bought....:smile:
  • CindyMarcuzAdams
    CindyMarcuzAdams Posts: 4,007 Member
    I have a fitbit zip, and I love it. I am challenged to do more steps than the day before.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    MFP has a Fitbit Users group: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/1307-fitbit-users

    Your Fitbit burn is your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure)—way more accurate than any online calculator.
  • bkthandler
    bkthandler Posts: 247 Member
    I love my fitbit one.

    I have had it for about 7 months.

    It's eye opening to see how much you move or don't in a day. I work in a cubicle so to get any decent amount of steps in a day I need to really try.

    I like the sleep tracking function as well. It will make you much more aware of how much sleep you are getting. I also use the alarm feature.

    I think it's worth the investment.

    Edit: You can also get points and $$ at Walgreens rewards program...
  • LunaStar2008
    LunaStar2008 Posts: 155 Member
    I use a BodyMedia and I am glad I bought it. It is amazing to see how much calories in and out. Even with your stats and graph to see when you burned the most, so you can retrack what you were doing then.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    Depends on what you want it to do for ya.

    I've had a Zip since January of this year. I'm cheap, so I looked for a deal, and bought it on eBay for around 30 bucks. I reviewed all the models and decided I didn't need the sleep or stairs tracking, so the Zip was perfect for me.

    I like the all day calorie estimate, and it pretty much agrees with the TDEE I had figured with online calculators, and it motivates me to move more. I will often find myself getting out to walk my dogs or looking for ways to get a little more activity in just to hit the daily goals on the Fitbit (or to pass someone on my friend's list!).

    For me, it's not essential, but it's another nice tool to have.
  • jacsen12158
    jacsen12158 Posts: 21
    Love my fitbit, love that myfitnesspal syncs with it! Use it everyday.
  • LADYJDOWD
    LADYJDOWD Posts: 15 Member
    Love my fitbit, seeing the band on my arm, makes me move more, it kinda makes you challenge yourself :happy:
  • KimberlyinMN
    KimberlyinMN Posts: 302 Member
    I *LOVE* my Fitbit Flex. It totally motivates me to get out there!! Well, that and I like to walk. I like knowing where I am with my step goal by tapping the Flex and seeing how many of the LEDs light up. (Each of the five lights represents 20% of your goal.) I REALLY like it when the Flex vibrates when I've hit my goal. I also have two alarms set up so that the Flex vibrates when it is time to take my 15 minute walk during the work day. I can use my smartphone to check my steps and upload to the site (Fitbit, which then syncs with MFP), so I always know where I am at with my goal.

    The only frustrating thing is when Fitbit and MFP aren't syncing or if Fitbit's adjustments are just plain wacky. It does all work out in the end.

    Oh! And I also have my Flex sync with Virgin Pulse so that I can earn $ every quarter.
  • Bryan190
    Bryan190 Posts: 54
    The most valuable thing my Fitbit does for me is define those days when I'm more active than the sedentary level I have MFP set to. If I'm being a slug or working at my desk all day, the fitbit does not add any exercise calorie credit, but if I'm walking more during a day, the Fitbit's sync with MFP automatically takes care of it. My favorite form of aerobic exercise is bike riding, and I take the Fitbit off for that (using MapMyRide). When I'm done with the ride MFP syncs both the ride via MapMyRide and Fitbit exercise for the rest of the day separately, and the Fitbit website also shows the increase calorie burn from the ride without counting extra, bogus steps since it was sitting still. The Fitbit does not sync MapMyRide data directly but gets it through MFP.
  • fay_pigu
    fay_pigu Posts: 125 Member
    More love for my Fitbit product and service. My first one the screen started to go. I emailed support a picture and got a very apologetic email, with a new fitbit order notice. That was it.

    It has helped me get to 10,000+ steps a week (although it is awful when you realise you left it at home)

    However, if money is tight unless you need to track exactly then maybe not, a pedometer may be as good.
  • karencercone1
    karencercone1 Posts: 29 Member
    I have a Polar Heart rate monitor--LOVE it----check it out on Amazon---great for workouts---- :)
  • alanbpowell
    alanbpowell Posts: 1
    A fitbit will keep you accountable. The iPhone tracking is only with iPhone 5 up and is vastly more expensive if you do not have one.

    This little item goes everywhere I go. I cannot emphasise to you how much a benefit this device has been in telling me what I have achieved.

    Go for it and good luck!
  • Mangopickle
    Mangopickle Posts: 1,509 Member
    Love my fitbit flex. Love it when it buzzes and flashes for the 10,000 steps.
  • simplydelish2
    simplydelish2 Posts: 726 Member
    If you only want to measure steps, stairs climbed, a fitbit can do that. If you want to measure calories burned with other exercise...the fitbit doesn't due that - you need a hrm.

    I've had a fitbit one for about a year. I like it - when I remember to wear it - which is not very often. I just ordered a fitbit flex...you only take it off to charge it. I'm hoping I get more use out of this one.
  • sunburntgalaxy
    sunburntgalaxy Posts: 455 Member
    Yep, I am with everyone - love my fitbit flex. Only got it in April and I never take it off except for charging. I find it has made me pay more attention to what I am doing and what I am eating. I feel like I paid all this money for it (ok, technically it was a gift but from my SO so really it is shared money anyway) and so I have to justify it and be "good". I have lost 20 pounds since I got it and it really is helping me to change my attitude about fitness and eating - I am not trying to diet I am trying to change my habits permanently (I was a terrible eater before and usually took the lazy way out - take out - and now I make meals at home). Using it with MFP really helps me keep track of everything. I highly recommend it.
  • Tigre_Lily
    Tigre_Lily Posts: 26 Member
    I have a fitbit one and I love it. I use it for tracking my steps and sleep. It was def worth buying.
  • jnckaufman
    jnckaufman Posts: 3 Member
    I love my fitbit. It challenges me to have active minutes, but also was eye opening for mt sleep habits!
  • jkestens63
    jkestens63 Posts: 1,164 Member
    I like the Fitbit One. Wear it every day and really helps me to keep track of activity. Serves as a goof reminder to get up and moving. Its small and inconspicuous. I prefer the One to the Flex because the flex is a wristband and I don't want to wear that all the time, especially on hot summer days or with my nice jewelry.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    My favorite form of aerobic exercise is bike riding, and I take the Fitbit off for that (using MapMyRide). When I'm done with the ride MFP syncs both the ride via MapMyRide and Fitbit exercise for the rest of the day separately, and the Fitbit website also shows the increase calorie burn from the ride without counting extra, bogus steps since it was sitting still.
    There's never any need to take your Fitbit off.

    Exercise can be logged either in Fibit or in MFP—never both. (I find Fitbit's burns to be way more accurate than MFP's one-size-fits-all guesstimates.) If you want to use HRM burns, you have to log in MFP. You're asked for start & end times, then MFP overrides your Fitbit data during that time.
  • Bryan190
    Bryan190 Posts: 54
    My favorite form of aerobic exercise is bike riding, and I take the Fitbit off for that (using MapMyRide). When I'm done with the ride MFP syncs both the ride via MapMyRide and Fitbit exercise for the rest of the day separately, and the Fitbit website also shows the increase calorie burn from the ride without counting extra, bogus steps since it was sitting still.
    There's never any need to take your Fitbit off.

    Exercise can be logged either in Fibit or in MFP—never both. (I find Fitbit's burns to be way more accurate than MFP's one-size-fits-all guesstimates.) If you want to use HRM burns, you have to log in MFP. You're asked for start & end times, then MFP overrides your Fitbit data during that time.
    I've tried leaving the Fitbit on while riding, but the combined calorie burn between Fitbit and MapMyRide is higher than than just using MapMyRide alone (not good) and also has a weird time offset (MapMyRide data appears later on Fitbit website than reality), so that's why I take the Fitbit off - it only tracks BMR calories during that period while it's sitting still. MapMyRide is not connected to an HRM so it's only an estimate, and an optimistic one at that; but eating back no more than half my exercise calories takes care of that. I have an HRM so I know what the difference is, but the HRM is a bit of a PITA to use and since I know what it generally reports vs. MapMyRide, I can allow for the difference, and eating back no more than half those calories takes care of it.
  • Shockakahn
    Shockakahn Posts: 11 Member
    I love my fitbit.....only take it off to shower. It keeps me motivated and accountable. The only thing is that without a heart rate monitor device you won't know the real calories burned.....Fitbit measures calories by your weight height etc.....but if you are working out and your heartrate elevates you burn more cals and fitbit doesn't account for that...because of this I purchased a heart rate monitor 2 days ago and wear both...during my workouts it's about 200 cals different between my fitbit and heart rate monitor...even still I'll never give up my fitbit. I love it
  • getnfit87
    getnfit87 Posts: 34 Member
    I love my fitbit I have the one, still glowing from my first ever 5k a few hours ago, when I got my fitbit, 30 minutes of walking a day was what I was pushing for, I found it to motivate me to go both farther and faster, 4 weeks ago I thought I would die after jogging 100 steps, I just scored a personal best 45 mins on my 5k, and picked up 38 very active minutes doing it! I'd buy it again in a heartbeart, it really works for me :) almost 19,000 steps today :)
  • photochik71
    photochik71 Posts: 37 Member
    I've got the Bodymedia Fit Link. I wear it 23 hours a day. It tracks all calories burned and was a real eye opener to see that I don't burn as much as I thought! It also tracks sleep patterns and syncs with MFP. Best thing I've bought in a long time!
  • fvtfan
    fvtfan Posts: 126 Member
    My favorite Fitbit feature is having friends connected - it makes me move more, if I want to be at the top of the leaderboard I need to move way more than I normally would. There have been times when I have actually walked up and down my hallway before I went to bed to get ahead of someone :)
  • maburrell92
    maburrell92 Posts: 21
    I have a Fitbit Flex and I LOVE it. It really gets me off my butt and moving. I try to walk 5 miles a day and burn 3000 calories. The Flex is only $99 (cheap compared to other trackers) and comes in a bunch of different colors too. The Fitbit community is also pretty great. Oh and MFP integration! What more could you want? :)
  • kc5grw
    kc5grw Posts: 12 Member
    I have had a Fitbit One for about a month now and love it. It really helps keep you motivated to move more. I really try to get my 10,000 steps every day. Weekdays it's pretty easy. I work in a long building, 0.25 mile. About every 1.5 hours I walk to the end of the hall, down 2 flights of stairs then to the other end and back up 2 flights of stairs and back to my desk. 0.5 miles in about 8 minutes in air conditioning. I usually get 4 laps through the building in a work day then walk 3 miles after work. It really keeps track on how active you are and linking it to MFP and turning the negative calorie option on it will actually take calories away from your budget if you aren't moving enough in the day so it's a great incentive to keep moving. It's been a great help so I think it's definitely worth it.

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