Should I get a fitbit?

EngineerB · January 2016

I have been thinking about getting a fitbit, but I don't know if it is worth the cost. I have a vivofit now, but I never use it because it is very bulky and the wrist band irritates my skin. The heart rate monitor is fine, but I was thinking the fitbit that isn't a wrist watch would be more pleasant.

Has anyone found thier fitbit to actually aid in weightloss or has incouraged you to be more active?

ise311 · January 2016

I'm thinking to get a fitbit charge hr too. But as it will costs 24% of my monthly salary, I'm thinking 100 times now...

sarahredhaira · January 2016

I love mine. But the I love all the stats, and I find the challenges really motivating. I got mine, started couch to 5k and signed on to mfp at the same time. I've a long way to go but I'm feeling fitter, just signed up for some 10k races, and am nearly halfway to my (considerable!) weight loss goal, since the middle of October. I have the Charge HR.

StaciMarie1974 · January 2016

I love my Fitbit One. I don't wear anything on my wrist, and when I try I only last about 24 hours. The One is always on my waist area, unless I'm showering. (Then it goes on the charger for a few minutes a day.) For me it was very useful to put a measurable # on my activity. I credit it with opening my eyes. I knew I was sedentary, but never realized just how little I moved. Now Fitbit is just one of the tools I use to keep me on track. Its an essential one though!

yesimpson · January 2016

I got a Fitbit Flex for Christmas and so far I like it. The step count seems fairly accurate and the TDEE estimation it gives is basically exactly what I thought it should be as my weight has remained pretty stable for a long time. I like the data it gives (although some of it won't be interesting or useful to everyone) and it does keep me mindful about sitting for too long or taking the car when I really don't need to. I like gadgets, so it seems to work for me. It doesn't have a HR monitor function but I wasn't really interested in that so it's no loss to me.

willia123 · January 2016

I got one and returned it. I guess I don't really care how many steps I'm taking a day etc. I just go for it and let the chips fall where they may. Not worth the money for me and I didn't find it to be comfortable

flatlndr · January 2016

I currently have the Fitbit ChargeHR, but previously I had the One. The One went with me everywhere, and really encouraged me to up my activity level. If evening came, and I hadn't gotten in my 10k steps, I went out for a walk after dinner until I hit my target. If I was close to another big level (15k, 20k, etc), I'd get up and move around until I hit that level. I'd find reasons to carry things upstairs, so I could get my step count up.

Why don't I still have it? As mentioned, it went everywhere with me. Unfortunately one of those times it was in my swimsuit pocket, and while on holiday, after a really hot walk up the hill from the beach, I jumped straight into the villa pool, forgetting about the One until I hit the water. I had been wanting a heart rate monitor, so that's why I've gone with the ChargeHR now, but I can highly recommend the One as well.

It will motivate you as much as you want it to. Good luck.

CooCooPuff · January 2016

flatlndr wrote: »

I currently have the Fitbit ChargeHR, but previously I had the One. The One went with me everywhere, and really encouraged me to up my activity level. If evening came, and I hadn't gotten in my 10k steps, I went out for a walk after dinner until I hit my target. If I was close to another big level (15k, 20k, etc), I'd get up and move around until I hit that level. I'd find reasons to carry things upstairs, so I could get my step count up.

Why don't I still have it? As mentioned, it went everywhere with me. Unfortunately one of those times it was in my swimsuit pocket, and while on holiday, after a really hot walk up the hill from the beach, I jumped straight into the villa pool, forgetting about the One until I hit the water. I had been wanting a heart rate monitor, so that's why I've gone with the ChargeHR now, but I can highly recommend the One as well.

It will motivate you as much as you want it to. Good luck.

Heh, the same thing happened to my One. I plopped it right into the ocean.

airforceman1979 · January 2016

I had the force first and now the charge hr. I loved them both and it does help me with the calorie count sense almost no on is truly sedatary. I am a numbers person though and I look at the math side of wight lose.

CorineJudkins · January 2016

I was given a Flex yesterday and I must say, once I got it synced up right and saw all the things I could keep track of with my apps and Flex working together, this whole business of moving got a lot more interesting

I like visual cues and this is really nice.

kshama2001 · January 2016

I got the Fitbit One for Christmas and it is indeed encouraging me to be more active. I like that it is encouraging me to go up more stairs in addition to taking more steps. It also confirms what everyone says about the MFP exercise burns being inflated by about double.

The sleep quality feature is not particularly helpful to me in terms of weight loss, but it is interesting.

suzan06 · January 2016

I bought a Charge on Black Friday. I had previously made extensive fun of my husband for his "dork band", lol, but then I realized they made ones with watches! I wear a watch anyway, so I figured heck, might as well kill 2 birds with 1 expensive stone!

I like it. It encourages me to move more. It gave me a more accurate idea of how many calories I was burning. I got the Charge because I wanted a wristwatch. I did not get the HR because you have to charge it more often. If I were to do it again I would get the HR and charge it in the car since I'm not stepping then anyway.

cwagar123 · January 2016

I got a fitbit charge last year and it has been great for me. This year I got the Aria scale and I like it also

mmmx392076 · January 2016

ise311 wrote: »

I'm thinking to get a fitbit charge hr too. But as it will costs 24% of my monthly salary, I'm thinking 100 times now...

Look on eBay you can find them cheaper

flatlndr · January 2016

CooCooPuff wrote: »

flatlndr wrote: »

I currently have the Fitbit ChargeHR, but previously I had the One. The One went with me everywhere, and really encouraged me to up my activity level. If evening came, and I hadn't gotten in my 10k steps, I went out for a walk after dinner until I hit my target. If I was close to another big level (15k, 20k, etc), I'd get up and move around until I hit that level. I'd find reasons to carry things upstairs, so I could get my step count up.

Why don't I still have it? As mentioned, it went everywhere with me. Unfortunately one of those times it was in my swimsuit pocket, and while on holiday, after a really hot walk up the hill from the beach, I jumped straight into the villa pool, forgetting about the One until I hit the water. I had been wanting a heart rate monitor, so that's why I've gone with the ChargeHR now, but I can highly recommend the One as well.

It will motivate you as much as you want it to. Good luck.

Heh, the same thing happened to my One. I plopped it right into the ocean.

I was so careful at the beach to make sure I had taken out of my pocket when I went into the water, but I was so hot after the walk back that all I could think of was running and jumping into the pool. Oops.

headfullofsongs · January 2016

I loved my Fitbits (Flex and Charge HR). I always found them to be accurate and very motivating. I had issues with the battery life, however. The Flex wasn't horrible, but I wasn't even getting a week out of my Charge. In their defense, they don't claim to get much more than that. Just be aware. Good luck!

Unknown · January 2016

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Um12tlwr · January 2016

I have found my fitbit really informative and useful, it's also quite motivating having the little challenges to meet, but maybe that's just my personality! I just have a flex so I don't find it irritating on my wrist at all, but some of the more expensive ones are about as bulky as a watch.
My dad is a fell runner and has one of the advanced ones with a GPS etc (I can't remember its name), he finds it invaluable.

destinyhope12345 · January 2016

I use mine in the gym to keep track of steps on the treadmill as I wouldn't walk outside

hammergirl0801 · January 2016

I wore my husbands HR for a day and I HATED it. It was uncomfortable and completely inaccurate. I type a lot at work and it was logging steps while I was typing. Then I walked for 3 miles on the treadmill and sometimes I like to rest my arms up on the bar for a minute and it would not log those steps because my arms were not moving. I took it off that night and never put it back on again.

Unknown · January 2016

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flatlndr · January 2016

GuitarJerry wrote: »

I don't see the point of them. Marketing gimmick. They aren't accurate. Studies has shown massive differences in their accuracy. But, whatever. Every time I say this on one of these posts everyone says I'm being negative. I'm not. I think they are a total waste of money. I like to help people save money and get healthy.

I can see your point with regards to cash and accuracy. The value to me is to have the gremlin on my wrist glaring at me saying "get off your a** and get moving!" all day long.

vivmom2014 · January 2016

I think it's a personality thing. If you LIKE having a "gremlin on your wrist glaring at you saying 'get off your a** and get moving!' all day long" as @flatlndr says, then it may be a good purchase for you.

I would not like that. Any time, or anywhere.

beckenharris · January 2016

It depends on what you want out of it. I had the Charge HR and it was really inaccurate in calculating heart rate. If you just want to measure footsteps taken, the myfitnesspal app on your phone will do that for free.

20yearsyounger · January 2016

EngineerB wrote: »

I have been thinking about getting a fitbit, but I don't know if it is worth the cost. I have a vivofit now, but I never use it because it is very bulky and the wrist band irritates my skin. The heart rate monitor is fine, but I was thinking the fitbit that isn't a wrist watch would be more pleasant.

Has anyone found thier fitbit to actually aid in weightloss or has incouraged you to be more active?

If you think the vivofit is bulky, then you are really looking at the fitbit one or zip.

flatlndr · January 2016

vivmom2014 wrote: »

I think it's a personality thing. If you LIKE having a "gremlin on your wrist glaring at you saying 'get off your a** and get moving!' all day long" as @flatlndr says, then it may be a good purchase for you.

I would not like that. Any time, or anywhere.

Perhaps I should have said "tiny personal trainer" rather than "gremlin" and "motivating you" rather than "glaring at you", etc.

pollypocket1021 · January 2016

Wow, I'm surprised at the number of people with negative things to say. It seems like the majority of fit bit posts on MPF are unanimously positive.

I'm a hater, myself. My motivation is internal and I resent anyone or anything trying to modify my behavior. So for me personally, I wouldn't use it. If someone gave one to me, I still wouldn't use it.

But many people on MFP seem to like them.

srecupid · January 2016

pollypocket1021 wrote: »

Wow, I'm surprised at the number of people with negative things to say. It seems like the majority of fit bit posts on MPF are unanimously positive.

I'm a hater, myself. My motivation is internal and I resent anyone or anything trying to modify my behavior. So for me personally, I wouldn't use it. If someone gave one to me, I still wouldn't use it.

But many people on MFP seem to like them.

You are inclined to like expensive purchases even if they are junk. Mine broke after a few months sent it back for a full refund and don't miss it. Sure it might make me take an extra lap or something but, I don't really think that's worth the price. The right song coming on right as i'm finishing up is about the same motivation. And I don't trust the numbers enough to have it be deducted from mfp. I guess it's extra info at your disposal but, i'm in information overload right now anyway

Linzon · January 2016

I've had my Flex for almost two years and it's been worth every penny to me. It's really gotten me moving and I find the calorie burns are accurate for me. I keep it in my pocket because I don't like wearing something on my wrist.

Whether you should get one or not is a personal choice, however, as you can see from the responses to your post

WithWhatsLeft · January 2016

I *love* my Flex. I hate things around my wrists and fingers (have lost so many pieces of jewelry just taking them off and setting them down...) but I got used to the Flex quite quickly. It's light and about all I can handle.

For my heart rate, I use a Polar F60 heart rate monitor when I work out. So, flex stays on all day to help remind me to be active, and heart rate monitor goes on when I work out, to help me stay within proper zones during a HIIT and to track the calories burned during a workout. And it's more accurate (band around the chest).

If you get a Fitbit, hang on to the receipt - just scan it in if you can. They have great customer service when it comes to lost & broken items, but you must be able to email them a copy of the receipt. A Flex can fall off easily once it's been worn a bit, and my fiance's Charge band broke. All replaced for free, with proof of purchase.

pollypocket1021 · January 2016

srecupid wrote: »

pollypocket1021 wrote: »

Wow, I'm surprised at the number of people with negative things to say. It seems like the majority of fit bit posts on MPF are unanimously positive.

I'm a hater, myself. My motivation is internal and I resent anyone or anything trying to modify my behavior. So for me personally, I wouldn't use it. If someone gave one to me, I still wouldn't use it.

But many people on MFP seem to like them.

You are inclined to like expensive purchases even if they are junk. Mine broke after a few months sent it back for a full refund and don't miss it. Sure it might make me take an extra lap or something but, I don't really think that's worth the price. The right song coming on right as i'm finishing up is about the same motivation. And I don't trust the numbers enough to have it be deducted from mfp. I guess it's extra info at your disposal but, i'm in information overload right now anyway

Yeah, you are financially vested in liking something you paid more for. I've never considered confirmation bias as a huge factor in the fit bit phenomenon, bit it totally makes sense.

Should I get a fitbit?

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