Fitbits ... yes or no
dianashiner
Posts: 14 Member
Was just wondering does anyone have an opinion on fitbits are they worth the money or not?! Thanks in advance
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Replies
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What for? What do you expect from a fitbit, and what functionality are you looking for?0
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To track exercise and sleep?0
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I consider mine to be a worthwhile purchase.0
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There's a huge Fitbit Group here on Myfitnesspal, with 149,000+ members.
They'd likely say, "Yes," but I've never owned one.
Here's the link to the group:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users1 -
Thank you both I didn’t know there was a group0
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I had a Fitbit Flex 2 and switched to Apple Watch. I’m a huge Apple fan so I’m very happy with it. The only issue is that sleep tracking is not built in & you have to use a 3rd party app.1
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I love my Fitbit, worth the money. I have a Charge 2.1
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Brilliant thanks I will do a bit more research0
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I think any tracker is great! Especially if it syncs up. I have an Apple Watch and even though I don't meet all my daily goals for activity- it's a constant reminder so it stays on my brain. I also had a Fitbit Versa 2 prior to this- and I loved that thing.2
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I bought a Fitbit Versa two months ago based on reading a lot of recommendations for it. Overall I'm happy with it. There are some things it doesn't track well like the stair treadmill at the gym (I'm lucky if it registers 1 flight out of over 200!) and biking is hit or miss. I don't find it always accurate for heart rate during exercise as I've tried taking it with my finger on my pulse and it was higher. I'm maintaining at my current weight eating back Fitbit calorie adjustments so it must be balancing out.1
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Fab thanks for so much detail that really helps0
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My favorite feature is the silent alarm. I wake up at 2am. My husband doesn't need to do that. I'm not sure that all the models have an alarm, but I think most do.1
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I love mine. It motivates me to move more and alerts me when my activity decreases1
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Thanks everyone you have all been so helpful0
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Be aware, though, that the devices don't (any of them) measure calorie burn, they still estimate it (from imperfect proxies like heart rate, arm movement, altitude changes, etc., along with your personal profile data).
Like any other statistical estimate of this sort, they'll be pretty close for most people on all-day calorie burn, further off (high or low) for a few, and way off for a very rare few. That's just the nature of statistical estimates, even sensibly research-based one, which is what these give you.
Watch your results, and adjust accordingly. Real-world results with your personal eating/exercise/bodyweight: That's the ultimate best guide.
My device - a model I won't mention except to say it works well for many others reporting here - is around 25-30% off for my all-day calorie burn . . . approximately the same amount by which MFP mis-estimates me. The device is fine; I'm just atypical in some way(s). (Doesn't matter: I care more about my device for athletic guidance - heart rate, speed, distance - than for calorie estimates. And yes, the device knows my measured HRmax, for y'all tech-heads out there.
).
You'll probably be normal
, but it worries me how many people think these devices are magically 100% accurate because mysterious shiny technology. Sadly, no. 
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Most people like them. Some people love them. Some people hate them. It depends on you, your relationship with technology, and your current head-space.
I use a Fitbit, have used one model or another for quite a while. I generally have found them very useful in the past, and I continue to do so today. I never doubted, before even getting one, that I would love it and enjoy using it. And yes, unlike Ann, I am an average sort of guy!
I have at least a couple of MFP friends who either hated the infernal device that tried to boss them around, or were wondering why they needed to carry another technobabble thingy on their wrist all day. They (and the relatives who gave them the devices as presents) wasted their money!
🤷1 -
Mine’s an Apple Watch but wow, what a difference it made. I think any tracker would, to some degree.
Reminders to stand, goals to reach, stats to review, little firework graphics for accomplishments, “personal” congrats for milestones. It just rings all my hot motivational buttons.
I honestly don’t think I’d be as far along as I am today without it.1 -
springlering62 wrote: »Mine’s an Apple Watch but wow, what a difference it made. I think any tracker would, to some degree.
Reminders to stand, goals to reach, stats to review, little firework graphics for accomplishments, “personal” congrats for milestones. It just rings all my hot motivational buttons.
I honestly don’t think I’d be as far along as I am today without it.
Without the slightest intent of criticism (quite the reverse, because I love human viewpoint diversity sincerely) . . . the ones I bolded, when applied to me, just make my eyes roll when they show up on my wrist device/cloud app, and I've turned off a lot of that.
I think it's great that those help you, and know that's true for others as well. It's kind of miraculous how much is designed into these tiny devices, things that can serve so many different interests, needs, and personalities. (I think you, like me, are old enough to remember before there were even basic-arithmetic pocket calculators . . . ? Heck, I'm old enough to remember before transistor radios . . . and even to know what a "transistor radio" is !)
I actually even feel kind of validated by this difference, not in a judgemental/critical way, but in the sense that I feel like I'm alla time telling new folks around here "what's motivational/works for you depends on your personality", and fussing about "one size fits all" recommendations from others. Everyone's mileage really does vary!
As a data geek, I do love my activity stats (and what I can learn from them, especially for on-water rowing), and some of the benchmarks like resting heart rate, though.
This diversity makes for great feedback to OP, I think. Some people don't love the devices; some do; those that do, can love them for very different functions. Good stuff! :flowerforyou:1 -
I love my Fitbit, although right now keeping it in my pocket instead of my wrist. Kept getting too wet under it, lol.0
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Cannot imagine life without mine! I am very competitive, even with myself, so I channel that to make sure I hit certain goals each day. I am much more likely to offer to walk the dog, or extend my run, because I want to hit X steps a day. I have it synched with MFP and I never enter any exercise, I just go by the calories that the Fitbit registers with MFP (but then I only eat half back roughly). I lost regularly when I was losing and now I’m in maintenance so this was accurate enough to work for me (it may not work for everyone). I find it very motivating and I love the data points. And I just have an old Alta - nothing fancy.0
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I have one. I don't use it for calories, as like other say these devices estimate calories based on movement, but also heartrate, and this doesn't work at all for me. There are quite a lot of studies out there, including a Norwegian meta study that show that approximately 50% of all people (depending on gender, ethnicity and other things) are more than 1 standard deviation away from the 220-age equation. That means, for about 50% of all people these devices estimate calories rather poorly. Plus those that are unfit and just get a higher hr from actvities. Maybe those with conditions that might slow down the heart (thyroid maybe). It's still interesting for data nerdery reasons.2
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I have a Garmin watch and using the watch has kept me going, doing the cardio/steps/ sleep tracks everything gives you the kick up the *kitten* to actually complete things ( that’s if your competitive like me )1
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IronwomanOne wrote: »RetiredAndLovingIt wrote: »I love my Fitbit, although right now keeping it in my pocket instead of my wrist. Kept getting too wet under it, lol.
It works in your pocket? I don’t like it when it gets wet from doing dishes or shampooing my kids’hair.
Having said that Fitbit has a community, like here, but I like it better, it’s organized under specific categories. Also, you can compete with your new friends and earn badges which I like, I like competing. Unfortunately, the community there is infected with hundreds of fake accounts that will add you right away, and they will try to chat you up. Many real fitbiters have been told a sad violin story to get them to lend them money. It’s so annoying! They act like it’s a dating site. Ugh! I’ve gotten good at knowing which accounts are real and which are fake. They use a lot of good looking old/young male/female models’ pictures from Instagram and well known romance scam pictures like army guys, there’s lots of self described brain surgeons lol and the famous influencer Dr. Mike, If you don’t know who he is look him up and you’ll know why. Anyway, other than that, I like learning about the sleep patterns, opening up challenges with amazing photography, and my personal favorite, the snacking and healthy meal posts. Oh, and the private groups, those are fun!
I really like the challenges with friends, but the fitbit community can be horrendously bad - it's like our forum without the moderation, loads and loads of dodgy advice and recommendations for "quick win" diets and I must get 2 or 3 fake friend requests a week.
I have a charge 3 and love it, the app is really nice and there's a lot of good stats if you like that sort of thing.
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Jackie9003 wrote: »IronwomanOne wrote: »RetiredAndLovingIt wrote: »I love my Fitbit, although right now keeping it in my pocket instead of my wrist. Kept getting too wet under it, lol.
It works in your pocket? I don’t like it when it gets wet from doing dishes or shampooing my kids’hair.
Having said that Fitbit has a community, like here, but I like it better, it’s organized under specific categories. Also, you can compete with your new friends and earn badges which I like, I like competing. Unfortunately, the community there is infected with hundreds of fake accounts that will add you right away, and they will try to chat you up. Many real fitbiters have been told a sad violin story to get them to lend them money. It’s so annoying! They act like it’s a dating site. Ugh! I’ve gotten good at knowing which accounts are real and which are fake. They use a lot of good looking old/young male/female models’ pictures from Instagram and well known romance scam pictures like army guys, there’s lots of self described brain surgeons lol and the famous influencer Dr. Mike, If you don’t know who he is look him up and you’ll know why. Anyway, other than that, I like learning about the sleep patterns, opening up challenges with amazing photography, and my personal favorite, the snacking and healthy meal posts. Oh, and the private groups, those are fun!
I really like the challenges with friends, but the fitbit community can be horrendously bad - it's like our forum without the moderation, loads and loads of dodgy advice and recommendations for "quick win" diets and I must get 2 or 3 fake friend requests a week.
I have a charge 3 and love it, the app is really nice and there's a lot of good stats if you like that sort of thing.
Yes, the Fitbit community is rather bad. And added to that the fitbit employees who answer questions completely rubbish. Their general advice if something doesn't work is to read a document and follow it step by step, which the people complaining have likely done already. Then you get a cheerful: "that's how it's supposed to work. Have a fab day", and that's it.
I'm also quite worried about the takeover by google to be honest. Whatever their listening in thingy is called has already been implemented into more advanced/expensive devices. I don't want google to handle my data, and I don't want anything to listen along in case I have a question that needs answering immediately. I'll stick with my Charge 2 as long as it still works, and then maybe upgrade to a charge 3. But no way would I take anything more advanced.1 -
springlering62 wrote: »Mine’s an Apple Watch but wow, what a difference it made. I think any tracker would, to some degree.
Reminders to stand, goals to reach, stats to review, little firework graphics for accomplishments, “personal” congrats for milestones. It just rings all my hot motivational buttons.
I honestly don’t think I’d be as far along as I am today without it.
Without the slightest intent of criticism (quite the reverse, because I love human viewpoint diversity sincerely) . . . the ones I bolded, when applied to me, just make my eyes roll when they show up on my wrist device/cloud app, and I've turned off a lot of that.
I think it's great that those help you, and know that's true for others as well. It's kind of miraculous how much is designed into these tiny devices, things that can serve so many different interests, needs, and personalities. (I think you, like me, are old enough to remember before there were even basic-arithmetic pocket calculators . . . ? Heck, I'm old enough to remember before transistor radios . . . and even to know what a "transistor radio" is !)
I actually even feel kind of validated by this difference, not in a judgemental/critical way, but in the sense that I feel like I'm alla time telling new folks around here "what's motivational/works for you depends on your personality", and fussing about "one size fits all" recommendations from others. Everyone's mileage really does vary!
As a data geek, I do love my activity stats (and what I can learn from them, especially for on-water rowing), and some of the benchmarks like resting heart rate, though.
This diversity makes for great feedback to OP, I think. Some people don't love the devices; some do; those that do, can love them for very different functions. Good stuff! :flowerforyou:
I have also turned off the alarm for "you've been sitting for an hour - go get some steps" and most of the congratulatory Hoo-rah. I don't mind knowing when I've hit 15,000 steps, so I let that notification stand. The job is to collect data and send it to the computer, where I can see all the shiny charts and graphs. It'd be nice if the resting heart rate graph showed more than the past 30 days, though.
I go through spurts where I don't even look at the data, too - and it's just a fancy alarm clock that lives on my wrist. Totally still worthwhile to me.1 -
@IronwomanOne I have the Charge 2. If I am doing something like the treadmill, going for a walk, or now mowing the grass, I wear it, but otherwise I have been leaving it in my pocket. It does record some "steps", although I think not as many as when I wear it on my arm, since it isn't moving. That's why I'm not really trusting how accurate it is, but I just didn't like it wet as much as I was washing hands, etc. & I wear it at night, because I want to track my sleep. The funny thing is, I usually have to adjust my sleeping time, because it thinks I start when I am sitting watching tv at night, lol. I was trying to get at least 10,000 steps, but right now, not my priority, lol.0
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Yes. I’ve had one since February 20130
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RetiredAndLovingIt wrote: »@IronwomanOne I have the Charge 2. If I am doing something like the treadmill, going for a walk, or now mowing the grass, I wear it, but otherwise I have been leaving it in my pocket. It does record some "steps", although I think not as many as when I wear it on my arm, since it isn't moving. That's why I'm not really trusting how accurate it is, but I just didn't like it wet as much as I was washing hands, etc. & I wear it at night, because I want to track my sleep. The funny thing is, I usually have to adjust my sleeping time, because it thinks I start when I am sitting watching tv at night, lol. I was trying to get at least 10,000 steps, but right now, not my priority, lol.
They had body units, and some still are, that read impacts of steps just fine.
That's what they look for - impacts, in the case of wrist units, trying to be accurate despite swinging of arms. Hence extra settings to assist getting around that.
That's why if gripping grocery store cart with wrist device on many find no impacts steps seen. But put in pocket just fine.
Only problem with a loose pocket is it swinging and missing the true impact force to arrive at correct distance figure which means good calorie burn estimate.
Solid on core of body would be better than pocket, unless pocket is tight enough like jeans to be moving with core.2 -
For the last 2.5 years I had a Fitbit Ionic. It did everything I wanted it to: count steps/ log exercise/ sleep track. The workout calories "burned" I just see as a rough estimate to gauge my workouts. You could swim with the Ionic - I just didn't trust the device or company. Fitbit has it's issues, and the 2.5 years with my Ionic is the longest span one of their devices lasted for me. Granted - I had to buy a replacement band when the original began to tear away.
I just switched to a Garmin Venu. It's newer, but has more metrics for training as I am getting more intense into exercising/fitness. I've had it for 1 day so far so I'm still learning it0 -
@heybales. I have had a Fitbit One which I always wore on my pocket, now my hubby has that one which he puts in pocket. I am wearing jeans whenever I have the Charge in my pocket, so are you saying in that case probably decent accuracy?0
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