HELP - Should I get the Fitbit HR?

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tiatiamaria
tiatiamaria Posts: 40 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi All,
I've been wearing my Fitbit One for about 2-3 years- every day. I'm a big fan. I don't currently sync the calories to MFP because I didn't want the extra calories shown. My current process is to wear my fitbit through the day (with a goal of 10k steps) and then when I get home and do a harder workout, I strap on my polar t4. I am considering getting the fitbit charge hr because I would love to see my calories through the entire day. I think I would be a little more motivated to climb the stairs on my break or walk a little faster on my lunch walk. I would have a goal of steps and total calories burned- which I believe will be much more accurate with the heart rate monitor. What is everyone's experience with theirs? Do the calories seem accurate? Have you had any issues? Does it sync pretty flawlessly with MFP? Should I get one?!?!

Thanks <3 Tia

Replies

  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
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    I lost the weight & maintained for eight months by syncing my Fitbit Flex with MFP. Then I upgraded to the Charge HR because it has a heart rate monitor & a real buckle (like a watch). I love it—but it's kind of big.

    Connect your accounts at http://www.myfitnesspal.com/fitbit

    Enable negative calorie adjustments: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings

    Set your goal to .5 lb. for every 25 lbs. you're overweight: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/change_goals_guided

    You can learn more in the Fitbit Users group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
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    I wouldn't

    I'm a fitbit zip convert and I do not believe the HRM is any more accurate than me overlaying my fitbit with my Polar FT 4 HRM monitor for workouts

    The HRM can really only be relevant for calories when in steady-state cardio, what happens when you're hot or stressed .. do you get a higher burn .. a basic zip wouldn't get confused by that

    I would link to MFP and enable negative calories though

    Because, why wouldn't you eat them?
  • belinda_73
    belinda_73 Posts: 149 Member
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    I love new gadgets, my trainer gave me a Polar to wear during workouts and it's encouraging to see how many calories I burned, just like when I first got the fitbit, I wanted to beat my steps. So I say if motivates you and makes you happy, go for it. I think it's fun and I even try a little harder to get my cardio in so I can see my progress.
  • tiatiamaria
    tiatiamaria Posts: 40 Member
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    Thanks for the replies! Keep em coming! I love hearing your opinions
  • allbarrett
    allbarrett Posts: 159 Member
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    I replaced my defunct Flex with a Charge HR and I really like it. Amusing thing: the HR monitor stops working if you sweat too much (had a great workout at the gym yesterday, weights, and the HR monitor conked out about halfway through....had to remove it, wipe it down, wipe down my arm, and put it back on to get a reading). Honestly, I consider it a fun toy and something I use for a little extra motivation, so exact accuracy isn't something I demand.

    I'm not a top athlete and never will be, I just want a fun toy that will provide some motivation, maybe a few extra data points for me personally, and that's it.
  • ianrea1
    ianrea1 Posts: 6 Member
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    I had the Fitbit One for a couple of years, then changed to the Charge HR, then changed back to the One. Reasons were as follows:

    (1) Charge HR is not very accurate at counting steps as compared to the Fitbit One. I could pace off 100 steps in a straight line on a flat floor and the Charge would only be accurate to within 15% or so. The One is accurate to within 1-2%.

    (2) The heart rate monitor was accurate at low heart rates, but not at high heart rates. The Fitbit website says that it's just a matter of positioning the band correctly, which is true up to a point. It is possible, with lots of messing around, to get it to work accurately at a high heart rate. You might even get it to stay correctly positioned for a few minutes of strenuous exercise, but it tends to move around and you then have to stop and spend another couple of minutes messing with it. Not ideal in my mind.

    (3) The Charge doesn't count steps very well when you're carrying something, pushing a stroller, etc. You need to have your hands free for it to work correctly. With the One, you can just put it in your pocket and forget about it for the whole day.

    I agree with the post above that you should connect your Fitbit to MFP though. It gives you a much better sense of how many extra calories you can eat on days that you get up and move around vs. days when you sit around a lot. My One is quite accurate in terms of calories, at least as evidenced by the correlation with changes in my weight over the last year that I've had it linked to MFP.
  • tiatiamaria
    tiatiamaria Posts: 40 Member
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    rabbitjb wrote: »
    I wouldn't

    I'm a fitbit zip convert and I do not believe the HRM is any more accurate than me overlaying my fitbit with my Polar FT 4 HRM monitor for workouts

    The HRM can really only be relevant for calories when in steady-state cardio, what happens when you're hot or stressed .. do you get a higher burn .. a basic zip wouldn't get confused by that

    I would link to MFP and enable negative calories though

    Because, why wouldn't you eat them?


    THank you! But am I not burning a few extra calories when I am stressed? And if I climb the stairs 5-10 times a day, don't those calories count too?
  • tiatiamaria
    tiatiamaria Posts: 40 Member
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    OK- I'll try connecting my One again. I just remember doing it last time and being shocked by how many extra calories it gave me. I tried to eat those extra calories for a few weeks and didn't lose anything.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited June 2015
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    tiatiamaria wrote: »
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    I wouldn't

    I'm a fitbit zip convert and I do not believe the HRM is any more accurate than me overlaying my fitbit with my Polar FT 4 HRM monitor for workouts

    The HRM can really only be relevant for calories when in steady-state cardio, what happens when you're hot or stressed .. do you get a higher burn .. a basic zip wouldn't get confused by that

    I would link to MFP and enable negative calories though

    Because, why wouldn't you eat them?


    THank you! But am I not burning a few extra calories when I am stressed? And if I climb the stairs 5-10 times a day, don't those calories count too?

    Nope - an HRM measures Heart Rate .. Heart Rate does not equate to calorie burn ..

    "HRM Theory
    First of all--how do HRMs count calories? First thing is that HRMs do NOT measure caloric expenditure--neither directly nor indirectly. HRMs measure heart rate and that's it. They estimate caloric expenditure during steady-state cardiovascular exercise using the relationship between heart rate and oxygen uptake (or VO2). "

    from 5 year old blog post - still relevant http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/the-real-facts-about-hrms-and-calories-what-you-need-to-know-before-purchasing-an-hrm-or-using-one-21472



  • tiatiamaria
    tiatiamaria Posts: 40 Member
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    editorgrrl wrote: »
    I lost the weight & maintained for eight months by syncing my Fitbit Flex with MFP. Then I upgraded to the Charge HR because it has a heart rate monitor & a real buckle (like a watch). I love it—but it's kind of big.

    Connect your accounts at http://www.myfitnesspal.com/fitbit

    Enable negative calorie adjustments: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings

    Set your goal to .5 lb. for every 25 lbs. you're overweight: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/change_goals_guided

    You can learn more in the Fitbit Users group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users

    Can someone elaborate on "Negative Calorie adujustment" ? Does that mean if I don't move enough, it gives me less calories?
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
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    tiatiamaria wrote: »
    editorgrrl wrote: »
    I lost the weight & maintained for eight months by syncing my Fitbit Flex with MFP. Then I upgraded to the Charge HR because it has a heart rate monitor & a real buckle (like a watch). I love it—but it's kind of big.

    Connect your accounts at http://www.myfitnesspal.com/fitbit

    Enable negative calorie adjustments: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings

    Set your goal to .5 lb. for every 25 lbs. you're overweight: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/change_goals_guided

    You can learn more in the Fitbit Users group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users

    Can someone elaborate on "Negative Calorie adujustment" ? Does that mean if I don't move enough, it gives me less calories?

    yes

    the activity level you choose on MFP sets a multiple on your BMR (based on your height, gender and weight)

    Sedentary is something like 1.2

    For me that equates to around 2000-2500 steps .. if I don't move that much during a couch potato day (what? it's possible) then I lose calories

    But I get to 5000 and I've gained 200 calories or so .. 10,000 and it's more like 350-450 etc etc

    I find it very motivating personally .. to get my *kitten* off the couch and move
  • busyncmom
    busyncmom Posts: 6 Member
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    I have the fitbit flex and the Charge HR. I love them both. If I am going to get wet I use the flex and I use the HR for everything else. I like to see my workout efforts throughout the day and I like to see my stairs counted. Send me a friend request we have quite a few challenges going with fitbit if you are interested. busyncmom3918@yahoo.com
  • tiatiamaria
    tiatiamaria Posts: 40 Member
    edited June 2015
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    great info!
  • tiatiamaria
    tiatiamaria Posts: 40 Member
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    so will sweat or hairy arms mess up the reader? Asking for my husband in this case ;)
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
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    rabbitjb wrote: »
    tiatiamaria wrote: »
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    I wouldn't

    I'm a fitbit zip convert and I do not believe the HRM is any more accurate than me overlaying my fitbit with my Polar FT 4 HRM monitor for workouts

    The HRM can really only be relevant for calories when in steady-state cardio, what happens when you're hot or stressed .. do you get a higher burn .. a basic zip wouldn't get confused by that

    I would link to MFP and enable negative calories though

    Because, why wouldn't you eat them?


    THank you! But am I not burning a few extra calories when I am stressed? And if I climb the stairs 5-10 times a day, don't those calories count too?

    Nope - an HRM measures Heart Rate .. Heart Rate does not equate to calorie burn ..

    "HRM Theory
    First of all--how do HRMs count calories? First thing is that HRMs do NOT measure caloric expenditure--neither directly nor indirectly. HRMs measure heart rate and that's it. They estimate caloric expenditure during steady-state cardiovascular exercise using the relationship between heart rate and oxygen uptake (or VO2). "

    from 5 year old blog post - still relevant http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/the-real-facts-about-hrms-and-calories-what-you-need-to-know-before-purchasing-an-hrm-or-using-one-21472


    To be truly correct, YES, she is burning more calories when stressed but her heart rate won't be properly correlated to it. I think Fitbit is a little more sophisticated in its algorithm than just taking HRM anyway - I believe it also looks at things like if movement is going on at the same time. The nitty gritty is of course a deep trade secret to the people over at Fitbit.
    For comparison, stress is such that when studied, grandmaster chess players playing chess actually are undergoing metabolic demands comparable to athletic activity. All they're doing is moving small carved pieces on a wooden board, but their body is burning like a marathon.
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
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    tiatiamaria wrote: »
    editorgrrl wrote: »
    I lost the weight & maintained for eight months by syncing my Fitbit Flex with MFP. Then I upgraded to the Charge HR because it has a heart rate monitor & a real buckle (like a watch). I love it—but it's kind of big.

    Connect your accounts at http://www.myfitnesspal.com/fitbit

    Enable negative calorie adjustments: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings

    Set your goal to .5 lb. for every 25 lbs. you're overweight: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/change_goals_guided

    You can learn more in the Fitbit Users group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users

    Can someone elaborate on "Negative Calorie adujustment" ? Does that mean if I don't move enough, it gives me less calories?

    Yes, enabling negative adjustments means MFP will start rating down your calorie allotment until it hits the floor of 1200 calories, if you're doing nothing. I enabled it, but find it a little annoying as I basically wake up with a subtraction from my numbers that sits there because a lot of my activity during the day happens at afternoon and evening. On the flip-side, it gives me a little reason to get up and walk around the office a bit.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
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    tiatiamaria wrote: »
    Can someone elaborate on "Negative Calorie adujustment" ? Does that mean if I don't move enough, it gives me less calories?

    Your Fitbit burn is TDEE (total daily energy expenditure), the number of calories necessary to maintain your current weight. Your default MFP calorie goal is activity level minus deficit. Adjustments are the difference between your Fitbit burn and your MFP activity level.

    If you disable negative calorie adjustments, you'll never eat at a true deficit on days you burn fewer calories than your activity level. If (and only if) you enable them, then eating back 100% of your Fitbit adjustments means you're eating TDEE minus deficit.

    You can learn more in the Fitbit Users group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users

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