Fitbit or any pedometer

chulipa
chulipa Posts: 650 Member
edited November 24 in Health and Weight Loss
My doctor gave me a pedometer that clips on your pants. I walk at the park when i can but i do not add it to my exercise at least calorie wiss. The question i have what would be more accurate a Fitbit or just this cheap pedometer. I would like to know how much I walk in one day and I know the Fitbit will add or take away calories for exercise. I know I dont walk 5000 steps a day

Replies

  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    Fitbit measures 3D acceleration and uses a proprietary algorithm to estimate calories burned from that, so it does more than just steps (it differentiates walking and running for example).
  • chulipa
    chulipa Posts: 650 Member
    Walmart has a Fitbit for $30 is it ine that would work
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    edited September 2015
    There are a range of models, some measure altitude (eg climbing stairs) but most of the differences are in power source and physical form. I have the One which measures altitude difference as well as movement. Versions that go on your wrist may not be as good at estimating steps.

    There's a Fitbit group here that may be helpful - try the Group Search tool.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    chulipa wrote: »
    Walmart has a Fitbit for $30 is it ine that would work

    The cheapest Fitbit I know of is $50 (it's possible that they could be on sale, but I'm not sure). Walmart also carries a line called iFit that, if I remember correctly, is slightly cheaper but doesn't sync with MFP.
  • yogacat13
    yogacat13 Posts: 124 Member
    Before I got my Fitbit, I used an Omron pedometer and it was really quite good. I tested it with the Fitbit and got consistent results between the two. I have seen many others that just use oscillation and they are crap. Honestly, if it was given to you, it probably isn't very good, but then again, it's better than nothing. If you have a smart phone, you'll get better results with Google Fit app (which is free) than you will with a cheap pedometer. You just keep your phone in your pocket and voila, you know your step count.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    chulipa wrote: »
    My doctor gave me a pedometer that clips on your pants. I walk at the park when i can but i do not add it to my exercise at least calorie wiss. The question i have what would be more accurate a Fitbit or just this cheap pedometer. I would like to know how much I walk in one day and I know the Fitbit will add or take away calories for exercise. I know I dont walk 5000 steps a day

    Your pedometer is fine as a motivational tool, and for helping you choose an appropriate activity level.

    Getting a Fitbit would allow you to take it to the next level. When you connect your accounts and enable negative calorie adjustments, MFP adjusts your daily calorie goal to TDEE minus deficit. Then you only log non-step exercise, like swimming or biking.

    Fitbit has a strong social component, including badges and challenges with your friends. MFP has a Fitbit Users group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users

    You don't need a Fitbit to lose weight, and you still need to log everything you eat & drink accurately & honestly. If you're not sure, buy one at a store near you, keep the receipt, and return it if you don't like it. After a couple of weeks, you'll have an accurate TDEE—especially if you log exercise in Fitbit rather than MFP.
  • chulipa
    chulipa Posts: 650 Member
    Thank for the advice I do log everything I eat and use a scale I have lost from 287 to 265 since August 11. Just was reading that if you dont walk 5000 steps you need less calories.So if I dont Have a Fitbit gow will I know and how will MFP know
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    chulipa wrote: »
    Thank for the advice I do log everything I eat and use a scale I have lost from 287 to 265 since August 11. Just was reading that if you dont walk 5000 steps you need less calories.So if I dont Have a Fitbit gow will I know and how will MFP know

    The MFP app will count steps on your phone if it's a certain model https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/now-you-can-track-your-steps-in-myfitnesspal/
  • cmtigger
    cmtigger Posts: 1,450 Member
    I've had a Fitbit flex for a year and a half, it's not perfect but seems pretty accurate from my calculations.
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