Fitness Trackers worth it or waste of money?

My heart rate monitor has been my best training friend for years. It's the only thing I trust in terms of calories burned. It keeps me on target. Who cares how many steps you take per day? You want more calories burned than consumed and you want to be fit. Keep moving and keep yourself honest with HR monitor and eat clean. The weight will soon start to drop off.

Honestly, for me, it's just a fun accessory. It hasn't helped or hindered any weight loss efforts or training goals. I know it's not 100% correct and therefor do not put faith fully in to it. I love that it connects with my phone a notifies me of a message/call so I can keep my ringer off without missing calls. So no, it's not necessary, some trackers are more accurate than others, but they are an accessory to fitness and do have some motivational benefits it's that's your thing.


edit to add: it's definitely worth the money to me, I've worn it everyday since buying it. That said, we have expendable money so it isn't an issue at all. I'm just trying to say that it is definitely not a necessity if you don't have that kind of money to spend, but it can still be worth it if you utilize it.

It's a toy. Calories in are more important than calories out. After comparing data from a few machines/averages online you can figure out the basic numbers anyway. For example, I know I burn about 100 calories per kilometer, give or take. I know that I can give myself about 100 calories for a 1 hr dance class, 150 if I am out of breath the whole time, maybe 50 if it has a lot of down time. I used a heart rate monitor for fun/to see averages for a while, but even that turned into a toy since my heart rate was always in the same ranges for the same activities.

I love my Fitbit HR2. Not only does it keep track of my steps and rough estimate of calories burned, the most helpful thing has been the hourly reminders to move my booty. I sit at a desk all day and without the reminders, I probably could sit here for 4 hours straight. Totally worth the money in my book!

I have an apple watch. I love it. Best $400 ever spent.

hesfeld wrote: »

I love my fitbit just to find out stats, which I know accuracy may not be 100%. It has encouraged me to get up and move when I'd rather be laying on the couch. To me, it was worth the money.

This. I don't use the Fitbit to calculate my calories anymore*, but rather look at it for data regarding moving. I'm not fundamentally active, and having this small reminder to watch what I'm doing and keep going is really helpful.

(* I trusted it for a year or so, and it seemed more or less accurate for my purposes -- but it psychologically didn't work for me.)

i have a flex 2 - it doesnt have the HR monitor. but i use it every day to help me make sure i do movements at work as i have a desk job and i like the sleep tracker too. this one is also waterproof so i can use it swimming which i love. BUT i have found that the calorie adjustment doesnt match other apps i have used such as map my walk for example. i walked 16 mins today for example according to map my walk and burnt 354 calories (allegedly lol) but the fitbit didnt adjust the calories and only recorded 8 mins of 'fitness'

I actually just had a conversation with co-workers this morning about this. I have a FitBit and so does one of them, the other was asking what we thought and if worth it. We both agreed that they are not 100% accurate on calories and steps but that they motivate us so much more so it's worth it to us.

wendypark811 wrote: »

Hello,

I have lost alot of weight and now invested in a Personal Trainer to help me get rid of the extra fat. He gave me a programme but also suggested I invest in an activity tracker to keep a better track on cals burnt ( ones on cardio machines dont give true account) I also do classes tone, pump and cardio ones. He has suggested fitbit charge 2 due to heart rate monitor.

I don't want to spend money on an item like this and find it is not worth it.

Can anyone help please advice needed.
Thanks
Wendy

A fitbit will have no idea how many calories you burn on cardio machines. Is it worth 100 of your dollars to still not know that?

It all depends on how, and if, you use it. There's now way we can answer that question for you.

I like to count steps & floors to help me keep active. I've never thought that a HRM is worth it to me. I scale back the mfp calorie burns and it's close enough. I don't depend hours on cardio machines or doing intense activities, so it might be different for someone who does.

I wouldn't be where I am at without being motivated, based on the information they provide.

I had the FitBit flex before any of the heart rate monitor trackers came out. It was fun to see my sleep percentage and how many steps and calories burned. However, I am not a big "step" person. Meaning I eat 80/20 healthy and go to the gym with a combo of strength training and some cardio. I have not worn it for almost a year because I don't care about steps and it truly didn't motivate me.

I would rather spend the money on something else.

*Oh, and obviously - the calories burned were not accurate, because it's hard to gage strength training and it wouldn't always register my jump training properly. (again no heart rate monitor in mine)

Some people love them and some don't. I started out with a fitbit flex and now use a garmin sports watch. Why? Because I like keeping track of my activities. I like being reminded to get up and move. I work from home sitting behind a computer all day. My gadget takes care of things so I don't have to think about them. I could do a lot of that with my phone, but I would have to keep my phone close to me all day. And if I'm out riding my bike, I'd rather not run down my battery running some app.

My gadget works for me because:
I like being able to compare a bike ride I did two months ago to one from yesterday.
How does my heart rate and time for a certain run compare now to one from last month.
It reminds me to move.
It motivates me to improve.
I don't like being tied to my phone.
and many other things.

These reasons may not work for you or anyone else.



Buy one from a place with a liberal return policy and see if it works for you. Thats the only you will know for sure.

wendypark811 wrote: »

Cals burnt is the main reason he has suggested I purchase one. I have managed to lose over 1 1/2 st without it. That why I was unsure and still am.

Ask him how it works to count calories. And be sure to ask if the HRM is part of it. If you get nothing but bro-science back you may want to find a more competent trainer.