Recommendation for a good but inexpensive pedometer?
Replies
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My first pedometer was the Sportline brand from Walmart. I think I paid about $14. You set your height, weight and stride length. No syncing required. It worked just fine for me. I have a Fit Bit Charge HR now and I can't imagine going back to a regular pedometer.1
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Thank you all for the suggestions and tips!
After some bumps in the road with the setup, the Zip is on me recording away.
It is almost midnight now, my steps for the day will draw to an end soon but I am not sure what the Zip will do tomorrow morning when I pick it back up and clip it on.
For example, I am at 374 steps right now. Will it start from zero tomorrow or continue to count from 374?
How do I reset it to zero for a new day? This is something that is still unclear both for me and my husband - who is much more techie than I am.
Also, I have a bit of a hunch that this Zip is overestimating steps - a little bit.
How did are users find it? Underestimating, overestimating or quite accurate?
Thank you again!
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wisdomfromyou wrote: »Thank you all for the suggestions and tips!
After some bumps in the road with the setup, the Zip is on me recording away.
It is almost midnight now, my steps for the day will draw to an end soon but I am not sure what the Zip will do tomorrow morning when I pick it back up and clip it on.
For example, I am at 374 steps right now. Will it start from zero tomorrow or continue to count from 374?
How do I reset it to zero for a new day? This is something that is still unclear both for me and my husband - who is much more techie than I am.
Also, I have a bit of a hunch that this Zip is overestimating steps - a little bit.
How did are users find it? Underestimating, overestimating or quite accurate?
Thank you again!
All Fit Bits reset to zero at midnight
I had issues with my Zip. I felt like it was overestimating my steps. Not sure how as I had it clipped to my waist, but I had a feeling it was. I compared it to my old pedometer and it was reading higher steps than my old one. Which one was more accurate? Who knows. 0 -
Fitbit zip is the way to go. Battery included. Keeps me moving!0
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Fitbit
Will set to zero overnight
You need to load up your stride length and check time zones
Synch to MFP through MFP, enable negative adjustments
Make sure goals are the same on both MFP and Fitbit
Over time it will get more accurate but to start with it's going to extrapolate your steps from what you've already done
You will see a readjustment next day for a while..just try not to overeat if you are an early mover
You can also set up an account on trendweight.com which will auto synch from Fitbit (and MFP via Fitbit) to give you weight over time graphs that are useful0 -
I'll second the recommendation for the Omron HJ-112. I bought mine several years ago and I recall it being inexpensive (around $20). However, I just looked at that model on Amazon and it is now selling for $70+. I'm not sure why there has been such a severe price hike, but I will say that if I lost mine, I would fork over the $70+ to replace it.
It counts all steps, but it further delineates "aerobic" steps (steps taken for a sustained length of time and pace). It also estimates the calorie burn (which I ignore) and it translates the step count into a mileage estimate.
It's a handy little gadget.0 -
Sports Authority is still going out of business. If you have one near you, stop in. I got a Wego Spot, which is pretty accurate in tracking steps and sleep for half off. Health trackers were one of the items they still had a number of. Better yet, call first and see if they have anything left.0
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Fitbit
Will set to zero overnight
You need to load up your stride length and check time zones
Synch to MFP through MFP, enable negative adjustments
Make sure goals are the same on both MFP and Fitbit
Over time it will get more accurate but to start with it's going to extrapolate your steps from what you've already done
You will see a readjustment next day for a while..just try not to overeat if you are an early mover
You can also set up an account on trendweight.com which will auto synch from Fitbit (and MFP via Fitbit) to give you weight over time graphs that are useful
All of this. I have a flex not a zip and it may overestimate a bit, but what matters is that I am consistent and use it in a way that helps me reach my goals.
OP you're going to want to give it a couple of weeks, I find, like Sue here, that the Fitbit got more accurate over time with predicting my calorie burns. I got caught up in trying to dissect all the numbers and understand why MFP and Fitbit didn't match perfectly. What I found was as long as I had both systems set up with the same data and same goals and just used MFP to track my calories, then they were directionally correct and helped me progress, rather than hindered.
Also there is a FitBit user group on these forums which has FAQs and a lot of helpful information, you can find people to do challenges with, etc0 -
If anyone is still looking for a cheap clip on, I have one of these that I used for a while before fitbits and the like came out. I still put it in my 4 year old son's cargo pants on a occasion just to see how much that boy moves! (it's a lot) It works great and with the cover the button doesn't get accidentally reset which I've had with freebies.
http://www.bodytronics.com/p/prostep.html0 -
I am not trying to sync with MFP or anything - I just check the number of steps at the end of the day.
I still feel it is overestimating a bit but I can always subtract a little at the end of the day, I guess.
My goal is not so much weight loss, per, as it is blood sugar lowering.
Both of my parents are diabetics (father more like pre-diabetic) and my fasting blood sugar has kind of creeped up in the 90's lately. It does fall into the 80's after I exercise but the morning fasting blood sugar is into the low-mid 90's - and this is something I am not at all crazy about, even if it still qualifies as normal from a medical establishment standpoint.
I am trying desperately to find a way to prevent getting this terrible disease a decade or so from now, given my family history.
Last year I weighed about 20 lbs less but I had lost that weight artificially, first through a serious bout of pneumonia and then through too much calorie reduction for a while.
I put almost everything back on during a few months of stress at work when there was no more time for "nice eating" and exercise - just stressing and working like crazy.
I hope that if I lose the weight again and move more, my fasting blood sugar will go down in the 80's - but I am not sure this is even possible. I am yet to see a clear guarantee that losing weight lowers blood sugar.
Plus I worry so much about mt face deflating with more weight loss.
A far as esthetics go, I like my body just fine the way it is now (profile picture). This would probably be too fluffy for most tastes today (my kids call me "squishy mom" :-) )...; but I, personally, am not necessarily crazy about the tight, super-fit, muscles-poking-through look and I don't fancy having it.
BUT: The memo from the Health World is telling me that it is exactly the "tight/thinner" look that will keep me away from disease.
So I hope the Fit Bit will help me move more every day - in addition to that hour of actual exercise, which I find really taxing if I have to do it every darn day.
But it looks like that is the only way to lower my blood sugar into the 80's during the day.
Yikes.
Thank you all for all the great tips and explanations post-purchase.1 -
wisdomfromyou wrote: »Thank you all for the suggestions and tips!
After some bumps in the road with the setup, the Zip is on me recording away.
It is almost midnight now, my steps for the day will draw to an end soon but I am not sure what the Zip will do tomorrow morning when I pick it back up and clip it on.
For example, I am at 374 steps right now. Will it start from zero tomorrow or continue to count from 374?
How do I reset it to zero for a new day? This is something that is still unclear both for me and my husband - who is much more techie than I am.
Also, I have a bit of a hunch that this Zip is overestimating steps - a little bit.
How did are users find it? Underestimating, overestimating or quite accurate?
Thank you again!
Here's a link to the FitBit group here in MFP. Lots of information there. Links to add FitBit Friends also.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users
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Thank you!wisdomfromyou wrote: »Thank you all for the suggestions and tips!
After some bumps in the road with the setup, the Zip is on me recording away.
It is almost midnight now, my steps for the day will draw to an end soon but I am not sure what the Zip will do tomorrow morning when I pick it back up and clip it on.
For example, I am at 374 steps right now. Will it start from zero tomorrow or continue to count from 374?
How do I reset it to zero for a new day? This is something that is still unclear both for me and my husband - who is much more techie than I am.
Also, I have a bit of a hunch that this Zip is overestimating steps - a little bit.
How did are users find it? Underestimating, overestimating or quite accurate?
Thank you again!
Here's a link to the FitBit group here in MFP. Lots of information there. Links to add FitBit Friends also.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users
Thank you!0 -
wisdomfromyou wrote: »I think I am so far from the recommended 10,000 steps a day, it's not at all funny.
Most of my steps probably come from the hour of exercise I try to squeeze in most days - but the rest of the day? I add probably very little.
I need a pedometer to keep me aware - but I do not want to spend much.
I don't want any extra fun gadgets on it, no bells and whistles - just a reliable pedometer that I can wear on the bra or hip to show me how I do on my steps.
Thank you so much!
Hi @wisdomfromyou if you are able to walk around with your smartphone, there are free apps that will count your steps. If you have a Samsung, there is an app called "shealth" that will track your steps throughout the day using your phone. If you can't (or don't want to) carry you smartphone, get a inexpensive clip-on pedometer. I have one manufactured by Omron and it cost under $20. See the reviews here https://verywell.com/top-pedometers-34357560 -
I feel your frustration. I got a cheap Omron HJ 112 years ago (about $20). It is great, counts steps (aerobic & regular). But now the price is through the roof on Amazon.
Simple pedometers are getting impossible to find. Everything out there is trying to copy FitBit.....at near FitBit prices. The MisFit (mentioned by @shadow2soul) seems like a good idea. Syncing with MFP is going to give you a day-to-day match against your activity level. Great for maintenance.
I got the Omron HJ-321 Tri-Axis Alvita Pedometer from the VA TeleMove program and used it until my sister gave me a fitbit for Christmas. It's $17.99 right now.
I like my FB better, but still recommend Omron for those with a limited budget and no smart phone.
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I just wanted to add that during my first day of using the FitBit I got in 13,500 steps as of 9:45pm.
This was not necessarily easy.
I skiped the elevator and walked up and down the stairs at work I don't know how many times because I have had an epic print job that I sent to a floor below in batches. This is not normal for me.
Then I walked to the gym 0.8 miles - did some weights there and then walked back 0.8 miles. And here I am.
There will be days when I will be in danger of doing much less.
Hopefully, the FitBit will remind me to step it up then.
One final (and quite important for me) question: how in the world does my computer know how many steps are on my FitBit?
I understand this is through sync-ing/blue tooth/who knows what ...but does that mean I am carrying all day long some kind of radiation on me with this FitBit?
I am a little like the older brother in "Better Call Sall" when it comes to radiation of any kind...(I mean, slightly insane). If it means I am carrying around weird stuff on my body, I am ready to take it back and just get something basic and mechanical.
Kindly advise! :-)
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Urggh. The Internet apparently says "yes.
And if there is even a remote possibility that this is true (proven or not) - this cute little device is on his way back to the store. :-(
Are any of the other devices recommended here purely mechanical (with no syncing and no EMF radiation whatsoever)?
Thank you all.
Gosh, I am so disappointed because I really liked having a pedometer. :-(((((0 -
I had a fitbit but I hated it as it was never accurate and then stopped working after only a few months of use. I went to a plain-Jane pedometer that measures steps, daily activity in minutes, distance, calories, and it even has a daily goal bar that shows your progress toward your daily goal. It comes with a clip but I just attached the cord to my belt loop and stick it in my pocket for the day. It is more accurate than any other similar item in nature. I love it!
https://www.amazon.com/CSX-Walking-3D-Pedometer-Activity/dp/B00GQRWWO8/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1468899342&sr=8-18&keywords=pedometer
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If you live near a Daiso store they have cute pedometers. The kind you clip to your hip. $1.50.0
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Yes there are millions of basic step counters
But your radiation issue seems unfounded
Do you own and carry a mobile phone?
Do you eat Brazil nuts?
Do you like conspiracy theory sites? Paranoia and supposition without source and rationality is what you find in "internet searches and 'health' blogswisdomfromyou wrote: »Urggh. The Internet apparently says "yes.
And if there is even a remote possibility that this is true (proven or not) - this cute little device is on his way back to the store. :-(
Are any of the other devices recommended here purely mechanical (with no syncing and no EMF radiation whatsoever)?
Thank you all.
Gosh, I am so disappointed because I really liked having a pedometer. :-(((((
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I got a free pedometer from my health insurance; some get them from their union. I used the pedometer and saved up so I could get a FitBit Charge HR as a present to myself when I lost my first 30 pounds. Best $130 I ever spent. Had the display go haywire on it, called them, received a brand new replacement 3 days later. All that said, since most of your activity is coming from a spurt of activity, you could use a (free) GPS-enabled smartphone app like RunKeeper, and then just try to increase activity other times. I use all kinds of goofy ways to get extra movement in - being deliberately inefficient (my daughter and I sort the grocery list alphabetically, causing many trips around the store - she thinks it's a hoot). I park as far as possible. We walk to as many errands as possible, sometimes march in place during commercials, and play alot. Best to you!0
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MFP does not sync well with my Garmen Vivofit 3. However, that little band is the best step counter I've ever used!0
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