Really disappointed in fitbit

I've found that RunKeeper does pretty much the same thing (as well as the iPhone integration) and I also never used mine for the sleep aspect of it.

I also didn't find it that accurate, to be honest. I could be at my desk typing something and the FitBit would count it as "steps" - to me, that's something I just can't put my trust in.

My husband also doesn't use his anymore, either.

I love it because it's a constant reminder to me to move more, and it generally tracks what I do. That said, if I am going to be pushing a stroller, shopping cart, using a treadmill or anything else where my arms aren't moving in response to what I am doing, I use a hair elastic to put it around my ankle so that it registers. I still have to add Insanity manually, since most of that exercise is not what FitBit is "looking for", although it does register something. I love to see how fast I can make my steps/calorie goal for the day, and it syncs with my phone, so I can check at any point what I have burned throughout the day, regardless of my access to MFP.

The sweaty part.....I just make sure to take it off and wash it quickly after anything truly sweaty/filthy, and I don't shower in it.

The sleep function is nice if I am trying to figure out why I don't feel rested.....just tap it until you see two lights as you get into bed, and it will add sleep to your weekly report. I forget a lot.....but when I remember, it's helpful.

Planning on keeping it, but adding a Polar for running, Insanity, etc.

Hope this helps!

Love mine! Figure it out, it's worth it.

I have the Fitbit Flex now for about 8 months and it is extremely accurate.
It does NOT include hand movements - unless you were to shake your hand back and forth vigorously!
I don't understand why OP finds it doesn't work on the treadmill - I do a lot of workouts that including jogging/walking on the spot and it tracks them all perfectly.
Fitbit has been key to me getting to goal and staying there - average 14-20k per day and my hubby was so impressed he even got one and its working great for him too...it makes us get moving whenever we can


plus if you're from the UK you can get rewarded in vouchers for getting your steps in see bounts.com and get walking for those

I bought a bit-holster on eBay for $4.95 -- it's a piece of tough nylon cording that has velcro connection and a little pocket for the "bit" - I can wear it in my bra, waistband, pocket, etc -- and it tracks the steps more accurately. Also allows me to wear all my daytime jewlery, watch, RoadID on my wrists without that extra tracker onboard, too. If you have the fitbit integrated to MFP, adding in exercise is actually pretty easy. The same way you've always done it, you just tell MFP what time you started the activity, and for how long.

So, if I play tennis doubles for 1.5 hours -- I just enter that, MFP puts in the calories, and fitbit adjusts the calorie total for the day, by adding in the difference, if any.

I had a Fitbit and it seemed to work fine. It is a great tool, I think, if you are just trying to increase the amount of time that you move around in a day. I had been quite sedentary and it did motivate me to get out of the chair and moving more. But when it came to serious workouts at the gym, it just wasn't up for the job. I have a heart rate monitor now that I find to be much more accurate in terms of measuring the calorie burn regardless of the exercise. I do a lot of circuit training or boot camp style workouts and there was just no way the FitBit was able to register that. An HRM is accurate for cardio whether you are on the bike, treadmill, running outside or taking a class....Swimming is the only activity that is off the list since it can't get wet. It will give you the average heart rate, your max heart rate during the workout and best of all the amount of calories you have burned. I will say this though, the set up for the monitor is a bit more complicated, and mine doesn't come with an automatic logging feature, but all I really care about is the calories. I bet someone at the gym could help you set it up if you decided to go that route.

I have found the calorie burn for the exercise on MFP to be way over for me in many cases. The heart rate monitor on the other hand is set for my weight and age and is based on how high, how long and how frequently I am raising my heart rate. There is no room for cheating the monitor because it doesn't care whether you call your walking, light, moderate, or intense, it only cares how hard your body has worked. I don't remember what a Fitbit runs but an HRM like mine (a Polar Ft4) runs around $80.

Don't apologize for needing the feed back from a device to keep you motivated. I say whatever works!!!

I love my Fitbit Flex and I use it on the treadmill. I just tap the device (just like sleep mode) when I start and it vibrates, when I am done I do the tapping again and it cuts that time out for my workout, I do not log anything manually but food here in MFP. Just yesterday I checked and my treadmill said 1.11 miles and my Fitbit said .9 miles. While they do not match, I think they are accurate enough for me. I also had the Fitbit Ultra for 3 years and loved that one. That one was also always a little off with my treadmill but then again it could be my cheap treadmill that is inaccurate. I do work a desk job all day and have not noticed where the Flex is counting steps because I am typing away or making movements with my hands, it seems to be inline with my Ultra as far as my average steps.

I've found that RunKeeper does pretty much the same thing (as well as the iPhone integration) and I also never used mine for the sleep aspect of it.

I also didn't find it that accurate, to be honest. I could be at my desk typing something and the FitBit would count it as "steps" - to me, that's something I just can't put my trust in.

My husband also doesn't use his anymore, either.

I also head that if you use the wrist fitbit it does count normal hand movements as steps (thats why I didn't purchase that one).

I have my flex set as being worn on my non dominant hand. I have watched it as I type and it does not count my hand movements as steps. I'm not sure if this is a new fix or not. I have changed the setting to dominant hand, same thing. The step counter does not count hand motions as steps with my device. Same with my sons. They seem to be pretty accurate.

I have the FitBit Flex for several months now. I love it.

It may not be perfect on the steps, but it is still great.

I use mine to Aqua Jog. The Flex is water proof. And it is pretty accurate. I jog 4. to 5 KM per day in the pool. And I try to make my step goal each day. It helps.

The sleep function was the real reason I got it. I find I toss and turn and get up in the night a great deal. The Flex tracks that, Tap it 3 times quickly and you go into sleep mode. It helps me, as I study what I do each day when I am restless vs sleep well. I get info like: I am awake 6 times and was restless 15 times. And slept for 8.5 hours. So that means I did not get a really good nights sleep. And I try to work out what I can do to improve my sleep habits. It is great.

I also use the Fitbit website to track my Blood Pressure daily (severe Hypertension) and my heart rate. It also has a place for glucose for Diabetics. I use MFP for my calories and exercise.

the only issue I have, is that I can not sync with my Windows 8.1 Phone. It just will not work. So I only sync once or twice a day via my computer. which is a disappointment. But I am using for long term habits. So will live with it. That is the only issue I have had with my Fitbit Flex.

The best $100 USD I spent.

I didn't get it for the sleep, I think that part is really dumb and and useless.

I just got it last week, and I didn't know if I use it on the treadmill, it won't work and I'm told the data will have to be added manually, and I'm too dumb to learn how to add something manually.

I realize I need to get over needing a device to monitor my exercise...

So before I dump this on ebay, please tell me what I'm missing or what you love about yours. It's also sweaty. Thanks,

What are you trying to use a Fitbit for? Your second paragraph comes across (to me) that you're expecting the Fitbit to sync with a treadmill and use that data to upload to MFP. Is that right? AFAIK, Fitbits don't auto sync with exercise equipment. They will sync with certain fitness apps like MFP and LoseIt! if you allow it to share data.

All a Fitbit is is a fancy pedometer. You wear it all the time, except for bathing, swimming, and sleep (if you don't care about that). If you have it synced with MFP, it will give an exercise allowance and you don't have to log any exercises.

Probably sounds snobby from me, but I'm wondering if you know how to use a Fitbit.

I have the Fitbit Flex now for about 8 months and it is extremely accurate.
It does NOT include hand movements - unless you were to shake your hand back and forth vigorously!
I don't understand why OP finds it doesn't work on the treadmill - I do a lot of workouts that including jogging/walking on the spot and it tracks them all perfectly.
Fitbit has been key to me getting to goal and staying there - average 14-20k per day and my hubby was so impressed he even got one and its working great for him too...it makes us get moving whenever we can


plus if you're from the UK you can get rewarded in vouchers for getting your steps in see bounts.com and get walking for those

It actually DOES count hand movements for things like peeling and chopping veggies etc. I stand still doing those and sometimes I can rack up 200 'steps'

it measures movement not steps so it's never gonna be completely accurate but it's more then accurate enough. It is calibrated to not over measure things that are clearly not walking, jogging or running.

It works on a treadmill same as it works on a real world surface i don't get why yours doesn't the only thing it doesn't do is give you an accurate representation of your calories really are when you are doing exercises, it's only meant to be a pedometer not a activity measurer or heart rate monitor. Get a Polar HRM if you want to measure your burns at the gym and leave the fitbit to measure steps and total TDEE, which btw works out to be about right regardless of it's inaccuracies at measuring some things,

My only beef is activity/sleep mode is kinda useless, whether you use them or not it still measures the same movements anyway the only difference is if you input an activity manually you can tell MFP or fitbit site how man cals you burned.

I didn't get it for the sleep, I think that part is really dumb and and useless.

I just got it last week, and I didn't know if I use it on the treadmill, it won't work and I'm told the data will have to be added manually, and I'm too dumb to learn how to add something manually.

I realize I need to get over needing a device to monitor my exercise...

So before I dump this on ebay, please tell me what I'm missing or what you love about yours. It's also sweaty. Thanks,

That is hardly the fault of the fitbit :huh:

I have the fitbit one and aI love it - it helps me get more steps during the day and I'm using it to monitor my sleep - I don't find that bit dumb and useless at all.

On second thoughts the fault is not with the fitbit but the user. :flowerforyou:

I'm also confused as to why you think this doesn't work on the treadmill. Steps are steps, and mine logs treadmill steps just fine. Unless, as someone else pointed out, you are holding onto the bar of the treadmill. In that case, cut it out - you aren't doing yourself any favors.