Fitbit works for me because...

mdnorthside
mdnorthside Posts: 48 Member
in Success Stories
It's pretty darn accurate. I've seen a lot of complaints on the internet about Fitbit products being inaccurate, and that has not been my experience. They're not as accurate as more expensive, or more complicated equipment, which is to be expected. However, my Charge HR has been an absolutely instrumental part of my weight loss. I have been on and off the bandwagon for many years. I generally picked a calorie limit and just stuck with it, adding extra calories for exercise. But that misses out on this whole other category of movement! There are days when I'm sitting on the couch the whole day, and day's when I walk nearly 15 miles just going around campus. That's a huge difference in calories - and it needs to be taken into account.

I have been steadily losing about 1.5lbs a week by:
  1. Eating 1,000 calories less than my Fitbit calorie count at the end of the day
  2. Doing 4 sets, 12 reps of two weight exercises each morning to build muscle

That's all! If that doesn't sound like a good deal to you I don't know what would.
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Replies

  • brittaney10811
    brittaney10811 Posts: 588 Member
    Same!!
  • tjames30
    tjames30 Posts: 229 Member
    Love my fitbit!
  • AlanaWood1234
    AlanaWood1234 Posts: 8 Member
    I just linked my fitbit with mfp a few days ago and I am loving it. The fitbit motivates me to move and I really can't go longer than it takes to charge without out now. I really feel like this is going to help me really see some results this time around!
  • michelleepotter
    michelleepotter Posts: 800 Member
    I did pretty well before I got my Fitbit, and I wouldn't have bought one for myself. But I got a Flex as a Christmas gift in 2014, and I LOVED it. It's just extra information, and I find it helpful! :) I love it so much that this year I bought an Alta for my birthday. The fact that it's useful as more than just a pedometer (it's also a watch, gives me reminders from my phone, and alerts me to calls and texts) helps keep me from taking it off and forgetting about it.
  • Labouffecestbon
    Labouffecestbon Posts: 182 Member
    I have to agree that it is quite accurate. Fitbit flex worked for me in the past. Now, after baby #3, I'm back in business, and the Charge HR motivates me like no other. I'm still amazed at how many calories I burn just from daily activities (housewife, 2 toddlers, 1 infant). I figured out my TDEE from the weekly reports and cut from that. When I anticipate changes in my daily life, I adjust accordingly. So far though, Fitbit agrees with me. I went a couple of weeks without it and almost cried. Almost. Judge all you want. Lol
  • l_juliett
    l_juliett Posts: 7 Member
    Agreed, Love my fitbit :)
    Hopefully can now try to lose some weight with MFP and my fitbit. Just need to find the right balance now.
  • carmexaldewin87
    carmexaldewin87 Posts: 37 Member
    I agree! Fitbit Blaze here and had the Charge hr before. It's so great to monitor in real time your stats!
  • mdnorthside
    mdnorthside Posts: 48 Member
    Labouffecestbon wrote: »
    I have to agree that it is quite accurate. Fitbit flex worked for me in the past. Now, after baby #3, I'm back in business, and the Charge HR motivates me like no other. I'm still amazed at how many calories I burn just from daily activities (housewife, 2 toddlers, 1 infant). I figured out my TDEE from the weekly reports and cut from that. When I anticipate changes in my daily life, I adjust accordingly. So far though, Fitbit agrees with me. I went a couple of weeks without it and almost cried. Almost. Judge all you want. Lol

    I felt the same way when I went on a week vacation to Florida and forgot my charger cable. No judgement here :)
  • rosebette
    rosebette Posts: 1,660 Member
    The Fitbit keeps me from overeating. When I see how many calories my activities have used over the day, and I know what I've eaten so far, if the Fitbit is showing that my eating is "even" with my activity calories, I know what I'm feeling is thirst or boredom, not true hunger.
  • jbatinker
    jbatinker Posts: 313 Member
    I also love my Alta - Love the reminders, texts, calendar appts, etc
  • RandiNoelle
    RandiNoelle Posts: 374 Member
    Love my FitBit! I love all the data I get from it, lol! Plus there's some real accountability when it comes to moving my body! I love seeing the little graphic that flashes when I surpass my step goal!
  • Annahbananas
    Annahbananas Posts: 284 Member
    edited July 2016
    My Fitbit is pretty inaccurate. For example, today it says I burned 256 calories so far from exercise.....and I've been in bed the entire time with a bad summer cold.

    However, I do like my Fitbit because it keeps me accountable. When it comes to calories burned, I pretty much ignore that because the hr on a Fitbit is wildly inaccurate.

    But I have many friends on Fitbit and we do keep each other accountable

    And linking it with mfp is pretty darn awesome
  • Annahbananas
    Annahbananas Posts: 284 Member
    p33rhhee0y2x.png
  • mdnorthside
    mdnorthside Posts: 48 Member
    If it makes a difference to you - I don't have my Fitbit and MFP linked. I simple eat 1,000 less calories than what's listed on the Fitbit at the end of the day. I don't know whether the "exercise adjustments" are more or less accurate than Fitbits are at total calorie burn :)
  • julie2038
    julie2038 Posts: 142 Member
    mdnorthside wrote: »
    If it makes a difference to you - I don't have my Fitbit and MFP linked. I simple eat 1,000 less calories than what's listed on the Fitbit at the end of the day. I don't know whether the "exercise adjustments" are more or less accurate than Fitbits are at total calorie burn :)

    What do you mean? Do you subtract calories eaten from calories burn?
  • RainaProske
    RainaProske Posts: 636 Member
    Just took a quiz on Amazon which was supposed to tell me what Fitbit to buy. Its answer was the Fitbit Alta. One thing I still don't know, however, is whether or not I need a Smart Phone to use it. (So far, I've refused to buy a Smart Phone.) If I don't have a Smart Phone, how will that restrict the Fitbit Alta's use? Thank you!
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    RainaProske wrote: »
    Just took a quiz on Amazon which was supposed to tell me what Fitbit to buy. Its answer was the Fitbit Alta. One thing I still don't know, however, is whether or not I need a Smart Phone to use it. (So far, I've refused to buy a Smart Phone.) If I don't have a Smart Phone, how will that restrict the Fitbit Alta's use? Thank you!

    You don't need a smartphone. Most, if not all of the Fitbits come with a USB dongle you can plug into your computer to sync your Fitbit. The drawback is you aren't able to compete in challenges with friends without the smartphone app.
  • mdnorthside
    mdnorthside Posts: 48 Member
    Yep Julie2038,
    I keep a deficit between 500-1000 all day and then an hour or so after dinner I check my deficit and if it's more than 1000 by a lot I eat a snack.
  • RainaProske
    RainaProske Posts: 636 Member
    Thank you @malibu927 ! I appreciate your answer. :smile:
  • Bmoremama
    Bmoremama Posts: 84 Member
    MiscCatFunt wrote: »
    I've had the one for a couple of years and it's an absolutely awesome bit of kit. Especially at the start of my journey. Once you get down to the lowest reaches of body fat it definitely over calculates calories but I no longer use it for that function and merely keep it for the steps.

    I'm awaiting the next generation of these wearables, one that calculates calories based on heart rate not just steps. Also one that knows when I am lifting weights, what I'm doing, can help with form and such. Has GPS, has smartphone linkage, waterproof and at least a weeks battery between charges. Basically I want everything, cos that's how I am.


    I feel the same. I love my fitbit but today I took a non-strenuous walk for 23 minutes and later ran (fast! hard! sweaty!) on the elliptical for 23 minutes. My Alta logged me as basically the same calorie burn for each of these activities. There is no way that is accurate. I know the Alta does not have HR but from what I understand the HR function would not solve this problem with current models anyway.
  • Tara4boys
    Tara4boys Posts: 515 Member
    LOVE my Alta!!! It has really motivated me to add more "lifestyle" exercise/steps to my life and those are habits that I can use FOREVER!
  • Bmoremama
    Bmoremama Posts: 84 Member
    Good points. It does get me moving more during the day.
  • MiyazakiChick
    MiyazakiChick Posts: 10 Member
    I had and loved my Basis Peak but it was recalled. I'm in love with my FitBit Blaze and it has an illuminating display. (Peak lit up with prodding) I'm impressed with the accuracy. I'm fond of walking a path with mile markers and my distance is spot on.
  • tiffanylacourse
    tiffanylacourse Posts: 2,986 Member
    Annahbananas wrote: »
    p33rhhee0y2x.png

    I think you misunderstand how the MFP/Fitbit sync works. MFP estimates your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure - which includes everything from sitting, standing, breathing - as well as any activity included in the activity level you selected during setup) and is set at that number. Fitbit also calculates your TDEE using it's own system. If your TDEE is higher via Fitbit than what MFP thinks it should be, you get an adjustment for the difference. So you probably did burn that much more than what MFP thought you would. Especially with your goal set so low.

    Hope that helps - best of luck! :flowerforyou:

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