People with Fitbits.....thoughts please : )

Thanks! I just bought one. :happy:

If you're considering buying one, now is the time to jump on it - check out this thread on SlickDeals - http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/73066/24-hour-fitness-fitbit-ultra-wireless-activity-tracker-blue-or-plum

Yes, thank you for this tip!!!! Much appreciated!!!

for traveling... you need to use the stopwatch feature and then enter an activity on Fitbit for driving. This will zero out the steps etc. I don't worry about it unless we are on a long drive.

You can figure out your TDEE by looking at your averages... how many calories are you burning on average per day. For me it's 2000 - 2200. Once in a while I have a sedentary day so I just have to adjust my calories in for that. I usually go over 10K steps a day and that's what I strive for. That's what a fitbit is really good for... monitoring your day so you can understand how many calories you burn.

I use the stopwatch function for workouts and sleep. I mostly do the treadmill so it's been good for that. I might have to get a HRM now because we are getting bikes for the summer. Fitbit isn't good for bike riding. You need to use the stop watch function again and then override the activity manually.

There is a ton of info on the Fitbit website. They don't send a manual, it's all online.

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/73066/24-hour-fitness-fitbit-ultra-wireless-activity-tracker-blue-or-plum?token=AAEBBQAAAAAEPEEPmA

24 Hour Fitness has Fitbit Ultra Wireless Activity Tracker in Blue or Plum on sale for $84.95 - 10% Off Coupon AFP8128 = $76.46. Shipping is free.

bump

Why wouldn't you just get a BodyMedia Fit?

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11756601&search=bodymedia&Mo=2&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Sp=S&N=5000043&whse=BC&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D=bodymedia&Ntt=bodymedia&No=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

$99.00, Free Shipping and 12 Months Online Memebership

Well the other link above shows that the FitBit is $20 cheaper, shipped... AND there's no membership fee, EVER. Those would be reasons to choose the FitBit, in my book.

I just purchased a fitbit. Thanks for all the info everyone. I'm glad I read your posts and found the sale price! Can't wait 'till it gets here.

bump, I've been thinking about whether or not to get a fitbit.

Okay, I'm seriously considering buying a Fitbit (possibly in the next couple of days) but have completed some research on the interweb and mainly people say they are good. However a couple of concerns were..... the recording when travelling, apparently they can become inaccurate if you travel by car or train during a day and also some of the sleep records weren't right?

I know also they are no good for intense cardio workouts and I already have an HRM for this so people with Fitbits, do you take the fitbit off during a workout and go by the HRM or both?

Generally any reviews are welcome. I'm not one for spending money on loads of gadgets so I want to get it right!

Thanks in advance lovely MFP people! : )

They are accurate on car rides, except for stairs climbed, but stairs climbed isn't used in calculating your calories used. In fact, the only thing stairs are used for is badges on the FitBit site and FourSquare. I've had a FitBit for almost two years. (I've put two of them through the washer on my pants. I don't recommend this.) I had the original, and my current is FitBit Ultra. The primary difference in the Ultra is that there's a clock you can look at now, and the stair function. The stair function works with an altimeter, so I won't record stairs on a stair stepper, but it will record stairs if you go up in an elevator or drive up a hill. Since I never cared about this feature on my original, which didn't have it, I don't care that it's not accurate. But when I say it's inaccurate--I live in a hilly area and I motorcycle. On a two hour ride I often get credit for 60 to 80 flights of stairs. Since this doesn't increase my calories burned, it doesn't matter, but it does make it a silly function.

It measures calories burned in day-to-day activities well as compared to my HRM. It measures running or walking well. It doesn't do biking--stationary or actual, well, and it can't be worn for swimming. The things it doesn't do well can be entered manually.

I love my FitBit enough that I've replaced it twice when I destroyed it in the washer. Don't put it in the washer. :frown:

Why wouldn't you just get a BodyMedia Fit?

For one, it's equally accurate but MUCH larger and can only be worn in the one place and be accurate. Mine irritated the skin in that one place so badly it bled, and you can't put anything on the skin that might prevent that. Since it's supposed to produce a current across the skin, a large percentage of people get skin problems. I've got one, I just prefer FitBit.

The FitBit is great. I find it mostly accurate, but really love it for the trends. My sleep records are pretty accurate, but if I mess up, can be edited easily. I was doing light treadmill running, and calorie burn was very accurate to HRM. I love it because it is small and portable and basically invisible, and I pretty much have it on all the time, except for showering, etc!! Go for it!

I love everything about my fitbit. I have worn it every day since Jan. 25 except 2 days and those days I was a mess and felt naked! lol Not sure what kind of roads the people who said it registers while driving because mine never changes. I never take mine off except to shower. I wear it to bed every night too. Strongly recommend it. I find myself checking steps, miles, floors all day and making it a habit to meet my goal everyday. Keeps me moving!

bump

I love my fit bit. I use it to track steps ( make sure I get my 10k in ) and most recently sleep as I try to get more rest. I love that it logs everything with out any action by me.

I’ve had my Fitbit for over 2 years and I love it. I wear it all the time. I also have a Garmin HRM for when I run. I would be lost without my FitBit and I think it helped me 100% with my weight loss. But, I know that everyone is different.

I think you all just talked me into a self purchase for Mothers Day! And a great idea for my mom too!
Thanks for all the info!