fitbit....recommend or No???

I've never really looked into one and just spent some time at the website and reading their blog. I have a question or two. It seems like it's made to be a somewhat glorified pedometer and just tracks steps and stairs, right? Can it tell the difference between running and walking? The steps would be the same but the calorie burn would be different. Also, I do grinders at least once a week, i.e. running up/down stairs at a stadium. I would be burning more calories running those stairs then I would walking. Does it give an accurate calorie burn for that? I also mainly do other exercises like spin classes, outdoor cycling, cardio-kickboxing, yoga and weight-lifting, for example. Does it track the calories burned doing that? I have the impression it doesn't. Am I mistaken?

Yes, it is a fancy pedometer. It tracks stairs (each 10' elevation gain/loss is counted as a flight), and it offers "encouragement"... if you need extra incentive to move more, it is great. I would not count on the calories burned to be all that accurate, since it is NOT an HRM.

DH and I both have one, and it IS a handy little device for our friendly competition... Like the evening he had 9 flights of stairs, and needed just one more to get his "stair badge" on the site... so, he ran upstairs quick! It has motivated me to start using the stairs at work, too.

I am getting more steps in per day now, now that I know how few I did before!

Those who own one...how do the calories the fitbit shows you burn during exercise compare to what you had been calculating in mfp? I am curious if mfp over or underestimates calories burned. I would like a fitbit so that I can get a more accurate calculation, especially since mfp encourages you to eat those calories back. I am always worried that I am eating back calories that I didn't actually burn!

I don't have a fitbit, but I recently got a HRM and it gives me a much lower calorie burn for my exericise than MFP. It was a little disheartening at first, but I'm glad to have the more accurate info. My burns seem like a lot less than what I see among friends, so I guess it's true, everyone's different. I can't decide if a fitbit would be good to have as well.

Thank you! I am thinking I need a HRM rather than a fitbit because I would like to get a more accurate reading of my gym activities (Zumba, Kickboxing, Hip Hop) rather than just my steps. I'm afraid to find out what you've found out...that I burn fewer calories than mfp has been estimating,,,,,eeek! Thanks again!

My husband, mother and I have all been using fitbit ultras for 1-2 months (my husband the longest). It is not a perfect tool but for the price and size I think it does a very good job (vs. HRM). I can wear it with a business suit without any mysterious lumps under my clothing. Benefit is primarily awareness and motivation.

Hubby has lost about 15 lbs, my mom and I both in the 5-7lb range since we started wearing them. fitbit website allows you to link to others so we have some friendly competition on steps takes, stairs climbed, etc.

I've been looking in to getting a fitbit. I was wondering what you guys think. Should I or shouldn't I???

Had mine a year in December. (Well...had three in that time. Be careful if, like me, you come home and put your dirty clothes right in the washer! They don't do well in the washer...) Love it!

I'd love to get one because everyone's so positive about them but they are quite expensive!

They are actually the least expensive device in their class. HRMs aren't meant to be worn all the time. Of devices that are, BodyBugg, BodyMedia FIT, Jawbone UP, Striiv, etc., Fitbit is least expensive. BodyBugg and BodyMedia FIT (I've used both) require monthly subscriptions in addition to $175+ price tags.

I just replaced my last casualty of the washing machine and paid $92 at Amazon. Isn't the information you gain worth $92? It sure is to me. That's why I replace mine when it goes through the washer.

My husband, mother and I have all been using fitbit ultras for 1-2 months (my husband the longest). It is not a perfect tool but for the price and size I think it does a very good job (vs. HRM). I can wear it with a business suit without any mysterious lumps under my clothing. Benefit is primarily awareness and motivation.

Hubby has lost about 15 lbs, my mom and I both in the 5-7lb range since we started wearing them. fitbit website allows you to link to others so we have some friendly competition on steps takes, stairs climbed, etc.

I'm curious. You say it's not a perfect tool. What, in your eyes, would it take to make it a perfect tool? Because I've used all it's competitors except the Striiv, and I do think it's a perfect tool.

they have a clip which i would throw away first thing - i've known a couple people to lose thiers with the clip - i keep mine in my pocket all the time. no chance it will fall out or losing it from there.

That's weird, I've found the clip on mine to be pretty good. I have it clipped to the pocket of a really flimsy dress right now and it's going nowhere. I was really paranoid of losing it for the first few days, but it's survived everything so far.

I love my Fitbit. It encourages me to walk more. Be more active. Jump once in a while. it keeps me in check with what I eat too. I like seeing my flower grow. It's a little pricey but the positive outcome that you get is worth it

^ this

I absolutely love mine. It seems very accurate with stairs, sleep, and intense exercise. I do find that (I think) it exaggerates how many incidental calories I burn just living my life. Maybe I do burn that many, but I don't look at them as exercise calories. The food database isn't nearly as extensive as MFP (although you can sync them), but it's a small quibble. I recommend it.

I've never really looked into one and just spent some time at the website and reading their blog. I have a question or two. It seems like it's made to be a somewhat glorified pedometer and just tracks steps and stairs, right? Can it tell the difference between running and walking? The steps would be the same but the calorie burn would be different. Also, I do grinders at least once a week, i.e. running up/down stairs at a stadium. I would be burning more calories running those stairs then I would walking. Does it give an accurate calorie burn for that? I also mainly do other exercises like spin classes, outdoor cycling, cardio-kickboxing, yoga and weight-lifting, for example. Does it track the calories burned doing that? I have the impression it doesn't. Am I mistaken?

Actually, the steps wouldn't be the same running vs walking, but if you're concerned you can tell the Fitbit that what you did during that period was running vs walking. There is provision for that in the application. Running stairs would be it's strongest suit, since it CAN tell the difference between walking (running) up stairs and on level ground. (A pedometer can't--maybe that's why you say it's "glorified--because it has a lot more sensors??) It would work well with kickboxing, but doesn't do well with cycling. It cannot be worn swimming. I think you miss the point. It's strength isn't in it being able to track strenuous exercise. It does okay for that if you use the app properly, but it's real strength is in measuring what recent studies show is much more important--NEAT, or non-exercise activity thermogenesis.

I've never really looked into one and just spent some time at the website and reading their blog. I have a question or two. It seems like it's made to be a somewhat glorified pedometer and just tracks steps and stairs, right? Can it tell the difference between running and walking? The steps would be the same but the calorie burn would be different. Also, I do grinders at least once a week, i.e. running up/down stairs at a stadium. I would be burning more calories running those stairs then I would walking. Does it give an accurate calorie burn for that? I also mainly do other exercises like spin classes, outdoor cycling, cardio-kickboxing, yoga and weight-lifting, for example. Does it track the calories burned doing that? I have the impression it doesn't. Am I mistaken?

Actually, the steps wouldn't be the same running vs walking, but if you're concerned you can tell the Fitbit that what you did during that period was running vs walking. There is provision for that in the application. Running stairs would be it's strongest suit, since it CAN tell the difference between walking (running) up stairs and on level ground. (A pedometer can't--maybe that's why you say it's "glorified--because it has a lot more sensors??) It would work well with kickboxing, but doesn't do well with cycling. It cannot be worn swimming. I think you miss the point. It's strength isn't in it being able to track strenuous exercise. It does okay for that if you use the app properly, but it's real strength is in measuring what recent studies show is much more important--NEAT, or non-exercise activity thermogenesis.

Re NEAT: I fidget. A lot. Frankly, everybody wonders how I ever gained weight with all the fidgeting I do. Does it track that as well?

I know the new Fitbit Ultra says that it tracks sleep patterns. Does the fitbit upload this anywhere into My Fitness Pal?

No, it uploads to the Fitbit site.

I know the new Fitbit Ultra says that it tracks sleep patterns. Does the fitbit upload this anywhere into My Fitness Pal?

No, it uploads to the Fitbit site.

I know the new Fitbit Ultra says that it tracks sleep patterns. Does the fitbit upload this anywhere into My Fitness Pal?

Yes, sorta... Fitbit.com and MFP synchronize, and the info does come over here... you will find your steps and your sleep minutes as separate fields under Check In, and MFP will make adjustments to your food allowance based off Fitbit steps.

Over on the fitbit site, you will find your food numbers synched from here, and fitbit.com will tell you its opinion of how much to eat.