Just got my Fitbit and I am beyond confused. Anyone here who can help?

[StirredNotShaken]

I have set it up etc. But it is such faff! I did a walk today and I am not sure how to start or stop the bloody thing! I thought it was supposed to go green or something when you hit a target or whatever but I cannot make sense of that at all. I must be doing something wrong but at the moment all I can figure is that i forked out £129 for a bloody pedometer that I cannot fathom!

[StirredNotShaken]

Also, how do you log food intake!? I put something in yesterday - jacket potato with crayfish cocktail thing in but it would only let me put in shop bought ones and this was in a seafront cafe! I ended up having consumed around 4000 calories yesterday lunchtime because I kept inputting it in a different way so it just kept added it all up!

[StirredNotShaken]

Also, with the exercise options there is no 'walk' option, only treadmill or run! Can I add this?

[Babieseverywhere]

Wear it all the time if you hit certain targets the goals will turn green...like number of steps is set to a default 10,000 steps.

You don't turn it off. I take mine off at night to recharge and when I shower.

Food wise...you will get use to scanning bar codes and the food you eat regularly will collect under 'recent' So it starts being a pain to input everything but quickly becomes easier.

[NickNacks]

You don't start on stop it, it just counts your steps all the time.

[bummyknocker]

link it to myfitness pal which has a great food log.

[PaperdollCartoon]

Yeh it's on all the time, you don't turn it off. It counts all the steps you do in a day not just specific walks. If you don't want it to track you, take it off (like I do on lazy sofa days when I don't want '645' steps recorded!)

To add something you made click 'custom food' shown in the picture. I cook pretty much everything from scratch so input everything. It should know 'potato' though, something like that add the potato and then the topping separately. When I'm making a big batch of something like chilli that's multiple servings I actually use a different app, Chronometer, where I put in the whole recipe and then it will tell me the individual portions.

To remove something swipe the food to the left on the app, a little red delete button will appear. Hope this is helpful!

[PaperdollCartoon]

Once you've added more of the foods you eat regularly it gets easier because they will be stored

[StirredNotShaken]

Thank you everyone. I am not usually this stupid with gadgets. So you have to add the details on your phone? Hahahah I am actually really laughing now because I am getting it all wrong :-D Surely laughing should burn a few calories! OK, so you when you walk what do you log that as? Treadmill??? There is no option for actual walking?! Which must be its primary function.

[StirredNotShaken]

[big grin] I am actually really laughing at how dense I am seeming!

[StirredNotShaken]

Even my big grin came out as big grin in brackets!

[PrincessOG16]

Place marking

[mouldycheesefan]

You do not log walking it automatically counts your steps all day long.
I log swimming as I can't wear the fitbit in the pool.
It has main foods it will not have the menu from every seafront cafe stored, choose the nearest match.

Question from me though, can you log foods for future days? As I like to plan my food ahead and check I am within budget so logging it the same day doesn't work for me. I haven't been able to do this.

[StirredNotShaken]

Pardon Princess?

[Acopyofacopy]

Whenever you walk or go on the treadmill your Fitbit will know that you are exercising and pick up the active minutes automatically, no need to log it specifically. I assume you have one with a heart rate monitor?
I use myfitnesspal to log food, I find that more comfortable.

[NickNacks]

Are you actually reading any of the answer?

[StirredNotShaken]

I am reading them all [NickNacks]

[PaperdollCartoon]

You don't log walking, walking just logs itself. It's just step count. If you go for a 'walk walk' i.e. Lots of steps in a short period of time, rather than just around the office, it knows and will tell you you've been active. If you run it will know, it can feel it or some special tech thing! You log other exercise, like a yoga class.
Have you downloaded the phone app? That's what you link the Fitbit to.

[PaperdollCartoon]

Download the app and set it to sync automatically. Whenever you're connected to wifi it will sync with the app and how many steps you've done will show. I've walked holding the phone before and you can see the steps going up.

[PrincessHairyMclary]

My Charge HR logs everything I do with the exception of swimming (not waterproof so have to take it off) automatically you don't have to do anything.

Like other posters I don't like the food selection on the fitbit website so use MyFitnessPal (free app) which sync together and transfers the info automatically. You can plan future meals as well.

The app on your phone is good or the website gives a good week + overview

As an aside if your fitbit becomes faulty the replace it with no problem as long as you can give info for when/ where it was purchased. I have done this this evening as my strap looks a little info and a replacement is already In it's way

[PrincessOG16]

Just put it on and leave it for a day. Don't take it off unless you're in water.

It logs it all.

[Bagina]

Yes, and definitely sync it to MFP for food diary.

[StirredNotShaken]

Thank you - I have had MyFitness Pal before and found that easy to navigate around. I shall have another go.

[HoneyDragon]

Linking my fitness pal is much easier to add food intake.

[HoneyDragon]

If you have a heart rate one give it a week or so to get your base rate spot on and it will pretty much accurately work out when your active at the gym etc.

[Bunnyjo]

I don't do anything in particular with my Fitbit; I take part in challenges using the app on my phone, sync my Fitbit to the app periodically and charge my Fitbit as and when required. You can log all your food with the Fitbit app, but I prefer the layout of MFP, so I use that to log my food and drink intake.

The MFP and Fitbit apps can be linked together so both receive updates from one another.