Any ditched the fitness trackers? Any regrets?
Replies
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I've gone through a couple of trackers, an HRM, and even a boring old pedometer. They break, or I lose them, or I forget to charge them. Now I use my phone as a pedometer, and MapMyWalk has been a very valuable surgery recovery tool to keep me from overdoing it. I use the JEFIT app to keep track of my strength training. And of course there's MFP for logging calories. I'm sure some people would consider an all-in-one tracker where it's all on one site to be more streamlined than 3 apps + the phone pedometer, but I'm pretty slovenly and scatterbrained as it is, so one device with a Fitness folder with the relevant apps is a thing I can manage. And it's all free
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I use my Fitbit as a watch and to track my sleep primarily.0
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I wear my Fitbit constantly and expect to do so for the rest of my life.
But I don't really wear it to track fitness activity, though seeing my steps is nice.
I'm 100% sold on 'em because they track my sleep.0 -
dave_in_ni wrote: »In a way, the question doesn’t even compute, for me. I’ve long used a HRM, GPS tracker, and sometimes specialized devices to collect performance-related metrics. That was before mass-market multi-function fitness trackers were available at all.
Now that I have a Garmin that integrates all of those, plus automates some estimates I used to do more laboriously (like resting heart rate), plus gives me estimates I didn’t have before at all, I love my Garmin. That’s true even though its all-day calorie estimate is *wildly* inaccurate for me (I don’t synch it to MFP because of that).
I used to use a Polar HRM, and correlate it with pace/distance/time data from my Concept 2 rowing machine, tracking hoped-for things like lowered HR at the same pace, for example. I also had a Garmin (Forerunner) that would do pace/distance tracking for on-water rowing. I would use that data in junction with the Polar HR data, as well as for evaluating different technical changes or strategies. (Example: If we do 500m max-effort rowing pieces, is our double faster at 25 spm or 30 spm? (If you’re thinking 30 is always faster . . . it isn’t, because technique can degrade at higher spm.)) It took a 3rd device to get the SPM, and there were not apps to integrate all those pieces at the time, so it was ballpark-ish, or spreadsheet analysis with aggregated data streams.
Now, Garmin gives me reasonable estimates of all that stuff – pace, SPM, HR, distance, duration – time-integrated. That’s pretty useful, and a time-saver. On top of that, it replaces the wristwatch I’ve worn most of my life (for a while in the 1970s, I carried a pocket watch, because my job was destructive to wristwatches of the era). Though I'm not competing any more, performance improvement is still part of the fun, for me.
I do use Garmin’s calorie estimates for some exercises, where I don’t have an estimating source I consider more likely to be accurate. That’s a handy side-benefit, but not the key reason I appreciate having such a device.
I understand that we’re all different people with different priorities, but the seeming common idea on MFP that the main point of these devices is calorie estimates and step counts . . . that’s really alien to me.
I was speaking about myself really. I was never into running, just weights and walking, It was steps I was after and calorie total. Trackers are useless for weights and as you say the calorie total was not accurate and neither were the steps really, so for me it was kind of a pointless device. I was after it more for health I guess that fitness, we'll not even talk about sleep tracking which ended up giving me insomnia.
How did a watch give you insomnia? I sleep very poorly and track my sleep with mine but I can't imagine how it could cause insomnia.
I really love my Fitbit and when my first one broke I got a new one. (I like this one even better because it has a huge screen and I can actually see the time with my terrible eyesight without my glasses.) Been using a tracker consistently for about 4 years now and not fed up with it yet - maybe I will be one day for now I love it. But I don't use data that requires a huge amount of accuracy either - just general active minutes, steps, sleep and heart rate trends.0 -
dave_in_ni wrote: »In a way, the question doesn’t even compute, for me. I’ve long used a HRM, GPS tracker, and sometimes specialized devices to collect performance-related metrics. That was before mass-market multi-function fitness trackers were available at all.
Now that I have a Garmin that integrates all of those, plus automates some estimates I used to do more laboriously (like resting heart rate), plus gives me estimates I didn’t have before at all, I love my Garmin. That’s true even though its all-day calorie estimate is *wildly* inaccurate for me (I don’t synch it to MFP because of that).
I used to use a Polar HRM, and correlate it with pace/distance/time data from my Concept 2 rowing machine, tracking hoped-for things like lowered HR at the same pace, for example. I also had a Garmin (Forerunner) that would do pace/distance tracking for on-water rowing. I would use that data in junction with the Polar HR data, as well as for evaluating different technical changes or strategies. (Example: If we do 500m max-effort rowing pieces, is our double faster at 25 spm or 30 spm? (If you’re thinking 30 is always faster . . . it isn’t, because technique can degrade at higher spm.)) It took a 3rd device to get the SPM, and there were not apps to integrate all those pieces at the time, so it was ballpark-ish, or spreadsheet analysis with aggregated data streams.
Now, Garmin gives me reasonable estimates of all that stuff – pace, SPM, HR, distance, duration – time-integrated. That’s pretty useful, and a time-saver. On top of that, it replaces the wristwatch I’ve worn most of my life (for a while in the 1970s, I carried a pocket watch, because my job was destructive to wristwatches of the era). Though I'm not competing any more, performance improvement is still part of the fun, for me.
I do use Garmin’s calorie estimates for some exercises, where I don’t have an estimating source I consider more likely to be accurate. That’s a handy side-benefit, but not the key reason I appreciate having such a device.
I understand that we’re all different people with different priorities, but the seeming common idea on MFP that the main point of these devices is calorie estimates and step counts . . . that’s really alien to me.
I was speaking about myself really. I was never into running, just weights and walking, It was steps I was after and calorie total. Trackers are useless for weights and as you say the calorie total was not accurate and neither were the steps really, so for me it was kind of a pointless device. I was after it more for health I guess that fitness, we'll not even talk about sleep tracking which ended up giving me insomnia.
How did a watch give you insomnia? I sleep very poorly and track my sleep with mine but I can't imagine how it could cause insomnia.
I've seen multiple reports (featuring medical researchers and other sleep experts) about people in sleep studies often becoming so stressed about "performing well" in their sleep tracking stats that it ends up interfering with their sleep. I'm personally not one of them, but I understand how it can happen. If I have two bad nights in a row, I usually have a third bad night as I'm already stressed about "I'm so tired and really need a good night sleep" and then the stress makes me sleep worse because life has a twisted sense of humor.
I think this is a similar pattern to the multitudes of people who struggle with performance anxiety in school exams, can't handle daily weigh-ins because the natural ups and downs freak them out, and so on.
(Edited to correct a sentence that made no sense because my thought trailed off in the middle...)2 -
I started using a fitbit last year, as motivation to get out and walk more during the lockdown craziness. In the time I used it I also proceeded to gain almost 25lbs. I blame the fitbit. Ha, actually the weight gain was because I had stopped following my maintenance plan and stopped being mindful of calorie intake. But, I just didn't see any real benefit of wearing it. Overall I walked about the same. I misplaced it a couple months ago and haven't bothered looking for it. I don't feel any need/want to get another one.1
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dave_in_ni wrote: »In a way, the question doesn’t even compute, for me. I’ve long used a HRM, GPS tracker, and sometimes specialized devices to collect performance-related metrics. That was before mass-market multi-function fitness trackers were available at all.
Now that I have a Garmin that integrates all of those, plus automates some estimates I used to do more laboriously (like resting heart rate), plus gives me estimates I didn’t have before at all, I love my Garmin. That’s true even though its all-day calorie estimate is *wildly* inaccurate for me (I don’t synch it to MFP because of that).
I used to use a Polar HRM, and correlate it with pace/distance/time data from my Concept 2 rowing machine, tracking hoped-for things like lowered HR at the same pace, for example. I also had a Garmin (Forerunner) that would do pace/distance tracking for on-water rowing. I would use that data in junction with the Polar HR data, as well as for evaluating different technical changes or strategies. (Example: If we do 500m max-effort rowing pieces, is our double faster at 25 spm or 30 spm? (If you’re thinking 30 is always faster . . . it isn’t, because technique can degrade at higher spm.)) It took a 3rd device to get the SPM, and there were not apps to integrate all those pieces at the time, so it was ballpark-ish, or spreadsheet analysis with aggregated data streams.
Now, Garmin gives me reasonable estimates of all that stuff – pace, SPM, HR, distance, duration – time-integrated. That’s pretty useful, and a time-saver. On top of that, it replaces the wristwatch I’ve worn most of my life (for a while in the 1970s, I carried a pocket watch, because my job was destructive to wristwatches of the era). Though I'm not competing any more, performance improvement is still part of the fun, for me.
I do use Garmin’s calorie estimates for some exercises, where I don’t have an estimating source I consider more likely to be accurate. That’s a handy side-benefit, but not the key reason I appreciate having such a device.
I understand that we’re all different people with different priorities, but the seeming common idea on MFP that the main point of these devices is calorie estimates and step counts . . . that’s really alien to me.
I was speaking about myself really. I was never into running, just weights and walking, It was steps I was after and calorie total. Trackers are useless for weights and as you say the calorie total was not accurate and neither were the steps really, so for me it was kind of a pointless device. I was after it more for health I guess that fitness, we'll not even talk about sleep tracking which ended up giving me insomnia.
How did a watch give you insomnia? I sleep very poorly and track my sleep with mine but I can't imagine how it could cause insomnia.
I've seen multiple reports (featuring medical researchers and other sleep experts) about people in sleep studies often becoming so stressed about "performing well" in their sleep tracking stats that it ends up interfering with their sleep. I'm personally not one of them, but I understand how it can happen. If I have two bad nights in a row, I usually have a third bad night as I'm already stressed about "I'm so tired and really need a good night sleep" and then the stress makes me sleep worse because life has a twisted sense of humor.
I think this is a similar pattern to the multitudes of people who struggle with performance anxiety in school exams, can't handle daily weigh-ins because the natural ups and downs freak them out, and so on.
(Edited to correct a sentence that made no sense because my thought trailed off in the middle...)
I have heard (on here? From a friend? This was months ago) about someone whose Fitbit said they had poor sleep (constantly waking or in light sleep, no prolonged deep sleep). They got a sleep study done that found no problems, but didn’t believe it bc...FitBit said differently.
Neither Garmin nor FitBit nor Halo had anything like reliable sleep tracking for me. I lay pretty still on my back when trying to get to sleep and have a low resting heart rate. It would constantly tell me I fell asleep in 5 min when I know I was often looking at the clock and hour or more later, never having dropped off. It would report a night of horrible insomnia as an awesome night of sleep fairly regularly.1 -
gradchica27 wrote: »
I have heard (on here? From a friend? This was months ago) about someone whose Fitbit said they had poor sleep (constantly waking or in light sleep, no prolonged deep sleep). They got a sleep study done that found no problems, but didn’t believe it bc...FitBit said differently.
Neither Garmin nor FitBit nor Halo had anything like reliable sleep tracking for me. I lay pretty still on my back when trying to get to sleep and have a low resting heart rate. It would constantly tell me I fell asleep in 5 min when I know I was often looking at the clock and hour or more later, never having dropped off. It would report a night of horrible insomnia as an awesome night of sleep fairly regularly.
I have also noticed that my Fitbit thinks I'm sleeping when I'm really staring at the ceiling, wishing I was actually sleeping, but it doesn't seem to translate into a report of awesome sleep for me. I don't pay much attention to the sleep tracking anymore. I think it might be the least accurate report on the entire dashboard, for me.
But I would miss the silent alarm clock, if I were to give up the device entirely. For that feature alone, I will keep wearing it, even if all the other features stop working for me.
I have also noticed that although my Fitbit is supposed to track distance when linked with the GPS on my phone, it ALWAYS reads short, even though it's using the same GPS data as Zombies, Run! And the first 10 minutes or so of every run has strange heart rate data. Either my heart does weird things for the first 10 minutes of every run, or the watch takes a little time to start reading properly. It could even potentially be both - most of us runners know that the first mile is the hardest - it could be because our hearts aren't settled into a good rhythm!
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My fitbit thinks I sleep way better than I do. It often doesn't record when I wake up several times in the middle of the night unless I physically get out of bed.0
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gradchica27 wrote: »dave_in_ni wrote: »In a way, the question doesn’t even compute, for me. I’ve long used a HRM, GPS tracker, and sometimes specialized devices to collect performance-related metrics. That was before mass-market multi-function fitness trackers were available at all.
Now that I have a Garmin that integrates all of those, plus automates some estimates I used to do more laboriously (like resting heart rate), plus gives me estimates I didn’t have before at all, I love my Garmin. That’s true even though its all-day calorie estimate is *wildly* inaccurate for me (I don’t synch it to MFP because of that).
I used to use a Polar HRM, and correlate it with pace/distance/time data from my Concept 2 rowing machine, tracking hoped-for things like lowered HR at the same pace, for example. I also had a Garmin (Forerunner) that would do pace/distance tracking for on-water rowing. I would use that data in junction with the Polar HR data, as well as for evaluating different technical changes or strategies. (Example: If we do 500m max-effort rowing pieces, is our double faster at 25 spm or 30 spm? (If you’re thinking 30 is always faster . . . it isn’t, because technique can degrade at higher spm.)) It took a 3rd device to get the SPM, and there were not apps to integrate all those pieces at the time, so it was ballpark-ish, or spreadsheet analysis with aggregated data streams.
Now, Garmin gives me reasonable estimates of all that stuff – pace, SPM, HR, distance, duration – time-integrated. That’s pretty useful, and a time-saver. On top of that, it replaces the wristwatch I’ve worn most of my life (for a while in the 1970s, I carried a pocket watch, because my job was destructive to wristwatches of the era). Though I'm not competing any more, performance improvement is still part of the fun, for me.
I do use Garmin’s calorie estimates for some exercises, where I don’t have an estimating source I consider more likely to be accurate. That’s a handy side-benefit, but not the key reason I appreciate having such a device.
I understand that we’re all different people with different priorities, but the seeming common idea on MFP that the main point of these devices is calorie estimates and step counts . . . that’s really alien to me.
I was speaking about myself really. I was never into running, just weights and walking, It was steps I was after and calorie total. Trackers are useless for weights and as you say the calorie total was not accurate and neither were the steps really, so for me it was kind of a pointless device. I was after it more for health I guess that fitness, we'll not even talk about sleep tracking which ended up giving me insomnia.
How did a watch give you insomnia? I sleep very poorly and track my sleep with mine but I can't imagine how it could cause insomnia.
I've seen multiple reports (featuring medical researchers and other sleep experts) about people in sleep studies often becoming so stressed about "performing well" in their sleep tracking stats that it ends up interfering with their sleep. I'm personally not one of them, but I understand how it can happen. If I have two bad nights in a row, I usually have a third bad night as I'm already stressed about "I'm so tired and really need a good night sleep" and then the stress makes me sleep worse because life has a twisted sense of humor.
I think this is a similar pattern to the multitudes of people who struggle with performance anxiety in school exams, can't handle daily weigh-ins because the natural ups and downs freak them out, and so on.
(Edited to correct a sentence that made no sense because my thought trailed off in the middle...)
I have heard (on here? From a friend? This was months ago) about someone whose Fitbit said they had poor sleep (constantly waking or in light sleep, no prolonged deep sleep). They got a sleep study done that found no problems, but didn’t believe it bc...FitBit said differently.
Neither Garmin nor FitBit nor Halo had anything like reliable sleep tracking for me. I lay pretty still on my back when trying to get to sleep and have a low resting heart rate. It would constantly tell me I fell asleep in 5 min when I know I was often looking at the clock and hour or more later, never having dropped off. It would report a night of horrible insomnia as an awesome night of sleep fairly regularly.
I'm another for whom the tracker's sleep tracking is absurdly wrong (in my case it's Garmin, but I don't think it matters much which, as they're doing similar things). It routinely thinks I'm asleep when I was actually awake, reading or texting on my phone, say - so it's not that phenomenon of me thinking I'm awake when I've actually dozed. Same deal as you, low RHR, tend to be physically still in bed.
I quoted your post because I did have an in-facility sleep study last year during which I was wearing my Garmin. I always have extra trouble sleeping during those, and spent much of the last few hours meditating, trying to relax and clear my mind, so I'd go back to sleep . . . which mostly didn't work. After the night was over and I was unplugged from the many monitoring devices, I showed the tech (who'd been watching my sleep all night) what Garmin thought had happened. It saw mostly solid sleep, all night. We laughed and laughed . . . . 😉0 -
My cat likes to lay on my hand and purr. Sometimes she'll follow me to bed, and go to sleep on my hand. I can't sleep like this, but I can't move my hand either, so my watch sees still and assumes I'm sleeping. The truth is it has no idea whether you're awake or asleep, it makes assumptions that are generally going to pan out but it's far from gospel. I've personally never seen any value in the sleep data because it isn't measuring sleep.2
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How did a watch give you insomnia? I sleep very poorly and track my sleep with mine but I can't imagine how it could cause insomnia.
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Part of the reason I got rid of mine was it interrupted my sleep. I kept waking up with this thing on my arm and then I would think about whether I had been sleeping well or not, so then I'd have trouble getting back to sleep etc etc It became too much of a "thing."
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Agreed. I just keep track of my miles or minutes. And even then, I don't feel the need to write it down every day. I know what a reasonable amount of exercise is for me, and I don't need an electronic devices to tell me whether I am doing it.1
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I love my Apple Watch for all it can do, with the bonus it’s calculating and reporting calories to MFP pretty darn accurately.
What I did have a problem with - and had to back off of for sanity’s sake - was challenges and goals.
I already walk and do other exercise several hours a day. Apple has an algorithm that’s supposed to challenge you but it kept adding more and more minutes or calories burned to my “goal”. I’m sorry, I can’t commit to what breaks down to about 4.5 hours a day of exercise to beat some arbitrary goal they’ve set based on last month’s stats.
I had an unbroken 28 months of “perfect weeks” til I got food poisoning a couple of weeks ago and spent the day weak as a baby on the couch, which broke my “record”.
The Challenges app was frustrating and maddening. If on a random team, I would bust my *kitten* for a perfect score, only to have one or two team members vanish, or not try. I came in “first place” (with many others) several months straight when they started doing individual challenges. I got sick from my second COVID shot on the last damn day of the challenge and it knocked me out of first, and the food poisoning a couple weeks later knocked me out of the running again.
Apple is killing people with untenable, unsafe escalating challenges. There’s no days of rest built in. It’s a health app, for Pete’s sake!!!!
I finally came to the conclusion that I was only impressing myself- and only hurting myself. I’ve tried to back off at least a little, and don’t even look at the challenges app any more.
I got a new iPhone and did the thirty minute Q&A with a tech today and mentioned it’s a wonder Apple hasn’t been sued by someone as OCD and dim as me trying to keep up with challenges. He laughed and said I was not the first person who’s complained.4 -
I've had 3-4 Fibit watches over the years. They motivated me to aim for high step counts and then I discovered their calorie burns were wildly overestimated. Other than keeping track of steps, they're useless for me. I use a Polar heartrate monitor for any cardio exercises and am thinking of buying Garmin next time.0
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I would love to have a Garmin solar watch. I'm assuming it records and can give me a chart of solar exposure over time. I have seasonal effective disorder and live in a place that gets a thousand years of darkness from November until April. I'm curious to see what correlations they're are between my mood, activity level, and other things, and how much sun I'm getting.0
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