tell me about the Fitbit

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Replies

  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,336 Member
    I'm getting a motivia pink petite ladies watch/heart rate monitor that calculates calories and everything... 75 at Walmart, I hear good things about it

    A heart rate monitor is completely different than a fitbit/bodybugg/bodymedia fit. A HRM is only, and I stress, ONLY for use during cardio exercise activity. It is not meant for, nor are the calories calculated from it accurate, for all day wear. The formulas they use to calculate calories are only good for during exercise, and are very wrong on daily activity. The other ones mentioned, including the fitbit, are meant for all day wear. They are designed to figure out an estimate of the calorie you burn for the whole day thus making it easy to figure out your calorie deficit by simply eating 500 or so calories below that number it comes up with.

    I know nothing about the motivia, but make sure it has a chest strap, for if it doesn't have a chest strap it is useless for calorie calculation since accurate calorie calculation needs a continuous monitoring of HR as it goes up and down. I have heard there is some work on a watch only type that will do this, but have not yet seen any.
  • Heaven71
    Heaven71 Posts: 706 Member
    I LOVE MY FITBIT!

    I don;t go anywhere without it,it motivates me, it lets me know how I am sleeping (this part is useful and does worl), it challenges me. I was so close to 10,000 steps last night at 11:30 that I jogged my apt to get my badge. I finally had a 20,000 step day when I ran my first 5k!

    I can't imagine life without my fitbit buddy. Even my fit BF bought one, he loves tracking his sleep and pushing me to keep up with his step count. We have fun with them.

    ^^^^ I did this, too! I went hiking one day, and was about 800 steps short of a new "record" (yes, it keeps your stats, and e-mails your progress!) of 20,000 steps in a day. So I marched around and around my house till I hit the number.

    I knew I wasn't the only one that marched and danced around to make a goal. LOL it really is a great tool and so much fun and motivation!
  • lorazaruba
    lorazaruba Posts: 61 Member
    BUMP
  • Way_2_a_Healthy_Mel
    Way_2_a_Healthy_Mel Posts: 175 Member
    Although I do like mine, I really don't see how it can tell you how many calories you are actually burning, just from movement. The FitBit doesn't know how fast my heart rate is during certain activities, it can only estimate, whereas my HRM actually knows what my heart rate is, and your calorie burn depends on heart rate, as well as all the other factors. I do like it, though, and use it and my HRM...my HRM for exercise, and my FitBit for daily activity. I don't really trust the calorie burn with it, though, and if I were eating back calories, I would be scared to eat back all of what it says. That's my opinion on it.
  • OutOfBreath
    OutOfBreath Posts: 80 Member
    I've had mine for about 7 months now, so before MFP and FB co-mingled. I love it for the steps and the sleep tracking particularly. It was given to me as a gift, but I doubt I would have purchased one on my own.
  • WaterBunnie
    WaterBunnie Posts: 1,371 Member
    I bought mine as a 'non-food reward' for losing my first 20lbs!


    I justified is as the money saved by not paying subscriptions to WeightWatchers/Slimming World etc
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,336 Member
    Sounds like the feedback would be very motivating!

    Are you able to purchase them in a store or do you have to order directly through the website?

    Thanks!

    Bestbuy in the US has them for the same price as the website. I believe shipping is free from the fitbit website, so take your pick.

    I have not got one, but have been seriously considering it or a Bodymedia Fit (BMF). I like the fact that the fitbit is small, can be worn or carried other places than the big arm band of the BMF, the fact that it links up wirelessly, has free tracking, and will connect up to MFP. On the other hand, I have heard really good things about BMF. In both cases they don't work well for calculation of calories burned from cycling which is my activity of choice in the summer. However, I know with fitbit you can enter the calories burned during say a session of cycling or IIRC remove false step information from say driving down a bumpy road.
  • Missi3601
    Missi3601 Posts: 264
    bump- was thinking of getting one...
  • goldfinger88
    goldfinger88 Posts: 686 Member
    What I'd like to know is does the Fitbit track all activities like isometrics, weight lifting, yoga, etc. In other words, not just steps. I have a ton of pedometers that do a decent job for what they're made for. But I really want something to accurately track all my activities because I don't walk as much as lift weights and similar activities.
  • WaterBunnie
    WaterBunnie Posts: 1,371 Member
    What I'd like to know is does the Fitbit track all activities like isometrics, weight lifting, yoga, etc. In other words, not just steps. I have a ton of pedometers that do a decent job for what they're made for. But I really want something to accurately track all my activities because I don't walk as much as lift weights and similar activities.

    No, it can't know how much effort you are putting into things, just distance travelled, speed, duration and incline really. I don't think there is anything out there that'll do it all on its own.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,336 Member
    Although I do like mine, I really don't see how it can tell you how many calories you are actually burning, just from movement. The FitBit doesn't know how fast my heart rate is during certain activities, it can only estimate, whereas my HRM actually knows what my heart rate is, and your calorie burn depends on heart rate, as well as all the other factors. I do like it, though, and use it and my HRM...my HRM for exercise, and my FitBit for daily activity. I don't really trust the calorie burn with it, though, and if I were eating back calories, I would be scared to eat back all of what it says. That's my opinion on it.

    It is actually surprisingly accurate. There was a thread here comparing fitbit to bodymedia fit (BMF) calories. The person doing the comparison has had his BMF for quite a while and from his experience the calorie numbers it provided were quite accurate. Now he has a fitbit as well. The numbers are usually quite close with the fitbit often. Here are a couple of comparisons.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/541799-bodymedia-fit-vs-fitbit-accuracy
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/547567-my-comparison-fitbit-ultra-vs-bodymedia-fit-core
  • Fitchelonga
    Fitchelonga Posts: 19 Member
    Bump
  • HealthyBodySickMind
    HealthyBodySickMind Posts: 1,207 Member
    bump
  • jennylee133
    jennylee133 Posts: 26 Member
    [/quote]

    Bestbuy in the US has them for the same price as the website. I believe shipping is free from the fitbit website, so take your pick.

    [/quote]

    Thanks...just checked the local Best Buy and they have them in stock so I think I know what my Mother's Day gift will be since my husband has been asking for ideas!
  • thriftycupl
    thriftycupl Posts: 310 Member
    I've had my Fitbit for a few months and I LOVE IT! It's not the magician of the world, but it does capture movement and integrates well into MFP -- that part is AWESOME! Fitbit's website is free, you can buy them online at www.fitbit.com or at www.amazon.com. What I like is it motivates me to get to 10,000 or more steps a day and the flights of steps. I've earned several "badges" for number of steps, total number of flights of steps, etc. I wouldn't trade mine for anything.
  • neekosmith
    neekosmith Posts: 47 Member
    I loved mine for the 3 days that I had it. I was addicted to checking my stats on the site and the iphone app. Then it died.\\

    Their customer service is pretty amazing and is sending me out another one, no questions asked.
  • Way_2_a_Healthy_Mel
    Way_2_a_Healthy_Mel Posts: 175 Member
    Although I do like mine, I really don't see how it can tell you how many calories you are actually burning, just from movement. The FitBit doesn't know how fast my heart rate is during certain activities, it can only estimate, whereas my HRM actually knows what my heart rate is, and your calorie burn depends on heart rate, as well as all the other factors. I do like it, though, and use it and my HRM...my HRM for exercise, and my FitBit for daily activity. I don't really trust the calorie burn with it, though, and if I were eating back calories, I would be scared to eat back all of what it says. That's my opinion on it.

    It is actually surprisingly accurate. There was a thread here comparing fitbit to bodymedia fit (BMF) calories. The person doing the comparison has had his BMF for quite a while and from his experience the calorie numbers it provided were quite accurate. Now he has a fitbit as well. The numbers are usually quite close with the fitbit often. Here are a couple of comparisons.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/541799-bodymedia-fit-vs-fitbit-accuracy
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/547567-my-comparison-fitbit-ultra-vs-bodymedia-fit-core

    BUT, does the BMF measure heart rate?? I have not seen anywhere that it does, so it would be similar to the FitBit, I would think. Without a heart rate measurement, how could any of these devices be accurate?
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,336 Member
    Although I do like mine, I really don't see how it can tell you how many calories you are actually burning, just from movement. The FitBit doesn't know how fast my heart rate is during certain activities, it can only estimate, whereas my HRM actually knows what my heart rate is, and your calorie burn depends on heart rate, as well as all the other factors. I do like it, though, and use it and my HRM...my HRM for exercise, and my FitBit for daily activity. I don't really trust the calorie burn with it, though, and if I were eating back calories, I would be scared to eat back all of what it says. That's my opinion on it.

    It is actually surprisingly accurate. There was a thread here comparing fitbit to bodymedia fit (BMF) calories. The person doing the comparison has had his BMF for quite a while and from his experience the calorie numbers it provided were quite accurate. Now he has a fitbit as well. The numbers are usually quite close with the fitbit often. Here are a couple of comparisons.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/541799-bodymedia-fit-vs-fitbit-accuracy
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/547567-my-comparison-fitbit-ultra-vs-bodymedia-fit-core

    BUT, does the BMF measure heart rate?? I have not seen anywhere that it does, so it would be similar to the FitBit, I would think. Without a heart rate measurement, how could any of these devices be accurate?

    The BMF can measure HR as it integrates with the garmin HRM chest strap. Frankly HR measurement is highly over rated for anything except cardio exercise. If you looked at the first link I gave, the user states that his long time use of the BMF has been accurate, and the fitbit is quite close to it in terms of calculation of calories burned. Fitbit and BMF both use accelerometers, that is they have a sense of your bodies movement through space, this allows for a much better sense of how active you are. Are they 100%, or course not, I don't even think the machines where you are hooked up to a device that analyzes your breath contents to figure out what you have metabolized and hence your calories burned, which is the standard used in research, is 100% albeit, it would be much closer.

    Realize that as different as we all are in terms of upbringing and experience, physiologically we are very similar barring various metabolic disorders. Yes, the best of both worlds would be a continuous measure of heart rate with continuous measurement of movement and probably some others as well. At this point we don't have that. I frankly would trust your fitbit for daily activity and use a HRM with a chest strap for cardio to correct the numbers, but realize the HRM will increase the number or calories burned over what the fitbit gives in many cases.
  • Way_2_a_Healthy_Mel
    Way_2_a_Healthy_Mel Posts: 175 Member
    Although I do like mine, I really don't see how it can tell you how many calories you are actually burning, just from movement. The FitBit doesn't know how fast my heart rate is during certain activities, it can only estimate, whereas my HRM actually knows what my heart rate is, and your calorie burn depends on heart rate, as well as all the other factors. I do like it, though, and use it and my HRM...my HRM for exercise, and my FitBit for daily activity. I don't really trust the calorie burn with it, though, and if I were eating back calories, I would be scared to eat back all of what it says. That's my opinion on it.

    It is actually surprisingly accurate. There was a thread here comparing fitbit to bodymedia fit (BMF) calories. The person doing the comparison has had his BMF for quite a while and from his experience the calorie numbers it provided were quite accurate. Now he has a fitbit as well. The numbers are usually quite close with the fitbit often. Here are a couple of comparisons.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/541799-bodymedia-fit-vs-fitbit-accuracy
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/547567-my-comparison-fitbit-ultra-vs-bodymedia-fit-core

    BUT, does the BMF measure heart rate?? I have not seen anywhere that it does, so it would be similar to the FitBit, I would think. Without a heart rate measurement, how could any of these devices be accurate?

    The BMF can measure HR as it integrates with the garmin HRM chest strap. Frankly HR measurement is highly over rated for anything except cardio exercise. If you looked at the first link I gave, the user states that his long time use of the BMF has been accurate, and the fitbit is quite close to it in terms of calculation of calories burned. Fitbit and BMF both use accelerometers, that is they have a sense of your bodies movement through space, this allows for a much better sense of how active you are. Are they 100%, or course not, I don't even think the machines where you are hooked up to a device that analyzes your breath contents to figure out what you have metabolized and hence your calories burned, which is the standard used in research, is 100% albeit, it would be much closer.

    Realize that as different as we all are in terms of upbringing and experience, physiologically we are very similar barring various metabolic disorders. Yes, the best of both worlds would be a continuous measure of heart rate with continuous measurement of movement and probably some others as well. At this point we don't have that. I frankly would trust your fitbit for daily activity and use a HRM with a chest strap for cardio to correct the numbers, but realize the HRM will increase the number or calories burned over what the fitbit gives in many cases.

    Well, if you read my post...I said that I use my HRM for exercise only. I never thought it would track my all day calorie burn. I am just saying that if I had a higher activity level at one point, during exercising, I don't put full stock into what the FitBit says I burned.
  • akaporn
    akaporn Posts: 231 Member
    $99 pedometer? I'd rather pay a bit more and get a NIKE Fuelband

    http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/?l=shop,pwp,c-1+100701/hf-4294899078+12003+50142&cp=USNS_KW_0611081618

    It track all the calories burn on every activity. But, due to some reason, Nike only provide Nike+ apps on iPhone, no android. So, not good for an apple-hater like myself.
  • Debbiedebbiey
    Debbiedebbiey Posts: 824 Member
    Bump
  • LilGiselle21
    LilGiselle21 Posts: 110 Member
    I love it will be 2 weeks on Sunday and I can't live without it. I've been hurting for 2 days and my fitbit has definitely motivated me to keep moving. I live up 5 flights of stairs no elevator it definitely motivates me to go out and use them lol. Also motivates me to clean It gave me extra 200 calories from cleaning bathrooms and vacuuming and having to. Carry my child everywhere today(she's got a problem with hEr leg) I love it I'm so glad I bought it. And better yet it makes me feel I'm my own motivation to do better every day its so discreet my significant other doesn't kno I have it yet.
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