Need help finding a Fitness/Activity tracker?

nekiwa07
nekiwa07 Posts: 31 Member
edited November 14 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm new to MFP and am in search of the right fitness tracker for me. I'm not understanding some of the info I've ran across on line. If anyone could help me find one that meet's what I'm look for? I'm looking for a tracker that:
-calculates calories burned during my HIIT, cardio and weight training exercises
-calculates Heart Rate
-possibly syncs with MFP
-apps work with my Android(don't have an iPhone)
-anything else you could could think of that I will need in a tracker...?

Replies

  • BirdieMaker55
    BirdieMaker55 Posts: 24
    Look into a FITBIT.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    edited March 2015
    nekiwa07 wrote: »
    I'm new to MFP and am in search of the right fitness tracker for me. I'm not understanding some of the info I've ran across on line. If anyone could help me find one that meet's what I'm look for? I'm looking for a tracker that:
    1.-calculates calories burned during my HIIT, cardio and weight training exercises
    2.-calculates Heart Rate
    3.-possibly syncs with MFP
    4.-apps work with my Android(don't have an iPhone)
    5.-anything else you could could think of that I will need in a tracker...?

    With regards to
    1. there is no tracker that will be even close to accurate for HIIT or weight training, factor those into your activity level or estimate them.
    2. Any HRM will do that, just get one with a chest strap, more accurate as takes constant reading
    3. Not sure
    4. Not sure
    5. Food, a kitchen scale to weigh all solid foods and measuring cups for liquids.
  • tibby531
    tibby531 Posts: 717 Member
    I got a Polar FT4 heart rate monitor. you have to plug in your workouts, but I'm loving it, so far. :)
  • sweetpea03b
    sweetpea03b Posts: 1,123 Member
    I just switched from a Fitbit Flex to a Garmin Vivofit.... and here is why:
    Fitbit has to be charged every 5-7 days. I had mine for 1 year and it wasn't charging all the way, only stayed charged about 4 days.... had a hard time getting it to charge... the band was always coming lose, pulling my hair, etc. No heart rate monitor.

    With the vivofit: NO charging! The band has a little cover that goes over the clasp so you don't get it caught on anything and it doesn't come loose. It has the display so you can actually see calories burned, time, steps, miles, etc. I got the one with the HRM which I love so much I want to marry it. I know there's lots of talk about how accurate these things are, etc. but based on reasearch I've done it seems to be one of the closest. No problems syncing to MFP or the app... I have an Android phone as well.

    So far the only thing I don't like is my Fitbit would vibrate when I hit my goal... the vivofit doesn't. Also, the garmin doesn't have the vibrating alarm either which I miss but overall I'm very happy with my garmin. I also have a Garmin Forerunner that I use when I run. Garmin is awesome. But, everyone has their own preferences so it's really an individual decision.
  • AmazonMayan
    AmazonMayan Posts: 1,168 Member
    edited March 2015
    tibby531 wrote: »
    I got a Polar FT4 heart rate monitor. you have to plug in your workouts, but I'm loving it, so far. :)

    I just bought the same the other day. So far it's eye opening how many calories I'm actually burning. I already knew not to trust MFP's exercise calories and wow I'm glad I heeded that advice LOL.

    I did want a Fitbit with HRM but they are sold out everywhere I looked.

  • nekiwa07
    nekiwa07 Posts: 31 Member
    tibby531 wrote: »
    I got a Polar FT4 heart rate monitor. you have to plug in your workouts, but I'm loving it, so far. :)

    Plug in your workouts?
  • blb85
    blb85 Posts: 187 Member
    I just got the Fitbit Charge HR+ and I am OBSESSED but I know some people really do love their Polar FT4s.

    My Fitbit Charge HR+ syncs with an android (I have an iPhone, but I do know it still works with the Android) and MFP. I'm not sure how accurate it is in calculating the calories during my work-outs since they seem to be a lot less than what MFT calculates (which maybe the fitbit is more accurate and mfp just estimates way more than what I am actually burning). But it keeps me aware and accountable on my goals and my daily activity.
  • JoyeII
    JoyeII Posts: 240 Member
    I like the Fitbit Charge HR+.
  • nekiwa07
    nekiwa07 Posts: 31 Member
    erickirb wrote: »
    nekiwa07 wrote: »
    I'm new to MFP and am in search of the right fitness tracker for me. I'm not understanding some of the info I've ran across on line. If anyone could help me find one that meet's what I'm look for? I'm looking for a tracker that:
    1.-calculates calories burned during my HIIT, cardio and weight training exercises
    2.-calculates Heart Rate
    3.-possibly syncs with MFP
    4.-apps work with my Android(don't have an iPhone)
    5.-anything else you could could think of that I will need in a tracker...?

    With regards to
    1. there is no tracker that will be even close to accurate for HIIT or weight training, factor those into your activity level or estimate them.
    2. Any HRM will do that, just get one with a chest strap, more accurate as takes constant reading
    3. Not sure
    4. Not sure
    5. Food, a kitchen scale to weigh all solid foods and measuring cups for liquids.

    How would I estimate or factor in my interval, hiit and weight training?

  • knittnponder
    knittnponder Posts: 1,953 Member
    edited March 2015
    I just ordered a Garmin Vivofit 2 so I don't have personal experience with it yet but the features seemed to be what I wanted. I got the additional HRM chest strap so I can get a better picture of what I'm burning during a cardio session. This one does say it will sync with my galaxy s5 (android) and with the strap it will give me my HR. I like that it will auto sync so I don't have to remember that. The Vivofit also has a battery that can be user replaced about once a year so there is no taking it off to charge it.

    No tracker is going to give you perfect data so keep an accurate food diary and be willing to adjust even if your tracker says you should be losing weight and you're not.

    I'm expecting to get mine on Monday...it's going to take forever to get here! :D
  • tibby531
    tibby531 Posts: 717 Member
    nekiwa07 wrote: »
    tibby531 wrote: »
    I got a Polar FT4 heart rate monitor. you have to plug in your workouts, but I'm loving it, so far. :)

    Plug in your workouts?

    you have to manually input them. under the exercise section (on the app), at the very bottom is an option to create your own workout. you can name it whatever you want to call it, input how many minutes you spent (based off your hrm readings) and how many calories you burned. my favorite personal entry was "4.2 mile run (with rain/without music)."
  • nekiwa07
    nekiwa07 Posts: 31 Member
    tibby531 wrote: »
    nekiwa07 wrote: »
    tibby531 wrote: »
    I got a Polar FT4 heart rate monitor. you have to plug in your workouts, but I'm loving it, so far. :)

    Plug in your workouts?

    you have to manually input them. under the exercise section (on the app), at the very bottom is an option to create your own workout. you can name it whatever you want to call it, input how many minutes you spent (based off your hrm readings) and how many calories you burned. my favorite personal entry was "4.2 mile run (with rain/without music)."
    tibby531 wrote: »
    nekiwa07 wrote: »
    tibby531 wrote: »
    I got a Polar FT4 heart rate monitor. you have to plug in your workouts, but I'm loving it, so far. :)

    Plug in your workouts?

    you have to manually input them. under the exercise section (on the app), at the very bottom is an option to create your own workout. you can name it whatever you want to call it, input how many minutes you spent (based off your hrm readings) and how many calories you burned. my favorite personal entry was "4.2 mile run (with rain/without music)."

    Thanks so much

  • PharmGirl522
    PharmGirl522 Posts: 51 Member
    I had a Fitbit One for a couple of years and I loved it, but I did find that sometimes, because it was so small and discreet, that I would forget to switch it from my school/work clothes to my workout clothes...and that got really annoying after it happened a dozen times. Even worse was when I would forget to switch it from my pajamas to my work/school clothes. I recently switched to a Jawbone UP24 and since that's a wristband, well, there's no way for me to forget it.

    I'm planning to buy myself a Polar Loop next month, as well. I have a Polar FT4 HRM and chest strap that I wear to the gym, and I love their products, so I figure I might as well have a Loop too. And then I can compare the two.
  • nekiwa07
    nekiwa07 Posts: 31 Member
    tibby531 wrote: »
    I got a Polar FT4 heart rate monitor. you have to plug in your workouts, but I'm loving it, so far. :)

    Would I have to buy a chest strap every year or replace every year?
  • PharmGirl522
    PharmGirl522 Posts: 51 Member
    nekiwa07 wrote: »
    tibby531 wrote: »
    I got a Polar FT4 heart rate monitor. you have to plug in your workouts, but I'm loving it, so far. :)

    Would I have to buy a chest strap every year or replace every year?

    I would assume no. I've had my Polar FT4 along with the chest strap for three years now and I have not had to replace the strap. The only thing you'll have to replace is the battery in the heart rate sensor, that's all.
  • knittnponder
    knittnponder Posts: 1,953 Member
    I've had my Polar FT4 for several years. I've had to replace the battery in the watch itself but the strap still works great. That was my one hesitation about ordering the Vivofit from Garmin, their strap doesn't have a good reputation.
  • CarrieV95
    CarrieV95 Posts: 1
    I purchased a Fitbit Charge HR.... love it so far. It syncs with Myfitnesspal and to MyRunKeeper. So far a great purchase.
  • ShanitaMarie85
    ShanitaMarie85 Posts: 44 Member
    I have fitbit charge HR! Can't live without it! I do HIT twice a week and it seem accurate. I don't want a fitness tracker that I have to put a chest strap on to read my HR. Sometime I like to randomly run in place and I see to see my HR. ( weird I know lol)
  • nekiwa07
    nekiwa07 Posts: 31 Member
    shanitame wrote: »
    I have fitbit charge HR! Can't live without it! I do HIT twice a week and it seem accurate. I don't want a fitness tracker that I have to put a chest strap on to read my HR. Sometime I like to randomly run in place and I see to see my HR. ( weird I know lol)

    Is the chest strap more accurate than the watch?

  • Scorpiotwin
    Scorpiotwin Posts: 124 Member
    nekiwa07 wrote: »
    tibby531 wrote: »
    I got a Polar FT4 heart rate monitor. you have to plug in your workouts, but I'm loving it, so far. :)

    Would I have to buy a chest strap every year or replace every year?
    nekiwa07 wrote: »
    shanitame wrote: »
    I have fitbit charge HR! Can't live without it! I do HIT twice a week and it seem accurate. I don't want a fitness tracker that I have to put a chest strap on to read my HR. Sometime I like to randomly run in place and I see to see my HR. ( weird I know lol)

    Is the chest strap more accurate than the watch?

    I highly recommend the Fitbit charge HR. I syncs with MFP without any problems. I love it. It's worth the extra money.
  • ncboiler89
    ncboiler89 Posts: 2,408 Member
    Scorpiotwin wrote: »

    I highly recommend the Fitbit charge HR. .

    I dig mine.
  • MakeAToast
    MakeAToast Posts: 2 Member
    Fitbit Force or Charge B)
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