Fitbit - does it really motivate you?

[redstrawberries101]

I have a Fitbit one and mostly I forget about it. I work full time in an office job and due to medical issues I'm generally not active. I do want to slowly build my Fitness up though If I actively try, I can make 5000 steps on a week day. A colleague at work said by following an exercise video on YouTube for 30mins or so she was easily able to get closer or past the 10000 mark.

Does anyone have any tips / experiences to share? Or simply thoughts about the Fitbit.

[confusedandemployed]

It motivates me enormously. My tip would be...get a dog! One 40min dog walk = c.5000 steps. Often I'll do 10,000 steps before 10am if I walk dogs and go to gym early.
I guess you could just do the walking although I've never seen the point of a dog-free walk
I love my Fitbit.

[sleepingdragon]

Or volunteer to walk someone else's dog .. The cinnamon trust organises this for older/disabled people and has a list of urgent appeals on their website:www.cinnamon.org.uk/volunteers/

I've only had my fitbit a couple of days so following this post for ideas to stay motivated.

[confusedandemployed]

Good point dragon. Great charity.

[ByThePrickingOfMyThumbs]

I have a Jawbone but yes, I do find it tremendously motivating. I've had it 3 weeks and have made 10000 steps every day. I'm walking to the shops instead of taking the car, taking the stairs at work instead of the lift and doing exercise DVDs in the evening if my step count is still too low.

[ohjessie]

Got a Fitbit for Christmas and it has really really motivated me, I walk so much more now, usually between 15-18k on a work day (way less on the weekend though!)

[nbee84]

One of the things that really motivated me was having 'friends' on there and being involved in the challenges, made me quite competitive

[Twowrongsdontmakearight]

Beware they're not perfect though. I thought I was doing 10,000 steps a day but it turned out it was counting me counting banknotes as steps!

[MonkeyPJs]

It motivates me! I try and look at a weekly target rather than a daily one, as like to make it up with nice long walks at the weekend

[CoperCabana]

I agree that they overcount! Mine counts steps when I whisk something, Kondo clothes, paint a fence...

But I have found it very motivating. Since New Year I have done all my steps and 30 minutes exercise virtually every day. I have gone from very unfit, to definitely fitter. I have doubled my speed on the treadmill. I have walked the school run more, found longer routes to walk to work, walked up the stairs instead of using the lift. If I haven't done my steps by the evening, I go on the Wii Fit or treadmill. I also use it for calorie counting and have lost a stone since New Year.

The best motivation is to have a friend who will taunt you when you are being lazy!

[Sagethyme]

I love mine and it's definitely helped me to improve my activity level, DH gave me one for Christmas and i've really noticed an improvement in my fitness! I do the 'weekend warrior' challenge with friends and it really motivates me, even when i am feeling like a sloth (i am the most uncompetitive person i know....but i refuse to come last and was running up and down stairs at 11:30 last night just to ensure i was in the lead this morning!!)

[FizzyGood]

I've had mine about 18 months. I couldn't tell you where it is right now, haven't seen it for ages

[Sagethyme]

Since having a FB i'm also doing the NHS couch to 5kms....as it to motivate me, btw i've tried couch to 5 before but never seen programme through but with FB it just gives me that push....despite the endless rain and mud!

[Sagethyme]

Did you start off well with it fizzy? I normally start off well with exercise, then tail off, but i've done nearly 6weeks and still going strong!! (A record for me as i really hate exercise!)

[Cloudhopping]

I like mine but you have to use it sensibly. It's definitely motivated me to be more active but I found I was doing less yoga type activity as this doesn't add many steps (I have the Fitbit zip). I have now gone back to doing more yoga and try to see my Fitbit steps as important but not the be all and end all of fitness as it doesn't measure strength and flexibility!

[Higge]

I find it really motivating but like everything my enthusiasm tails off - well it did with my Fitbit One. And has been rekindled with the arrival of a Charge HR in my Christmas Stocking! I dog walk and listen to a book, podcasts or music. I go for a walk when the kids are doing an activity rather than going home. I try to take in hills as much as possible - walk fast to get your heart rate up. I have quite a few friends and I like to stay number 1 - who knew I'd be that competitive...I aim for more than 15,000 a day.
I believe they are overly generous with calories burned though when compared to other fitness gadgets I have. I really only use my fitbit to record steps and to give me that extra push.

[nbee84]

Definitely didn't tail off for me. I got mine last January and by March had upped my walking to try and do 15k of steps a day. I found I really enjoyed the walking - a bit of 'me' time. I started feeling much fitter because of it; sleeping better, more energy, no afternoon slump. I did find that I was getting a bit of upper back pain after walking about 4 miles or so (I'm quite round shouldered) so looked into ways to relieve this and was advised to try pilates. I did these at the local leisure centre and it was cheaper to join as a monthly member if I was doing 2 or more classes a week. This led me to trying out other classes after a few weeks - zumba, body conditioning, body pump, spinning. Over a year later I'm now exercising 5 or 6 days a week and at 46 I am fitter than I was in my 20's. And it really is all down to my fitbit