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Original poster

Anyone regret getting a Fitbit?

32 replies

TangerineCandyfloss · 17/03/2021 20:08

Hi,

Just that I suppose.

DP has one and uses it for everything! They're constantly monitoring heart rate, blood oxygen levels, sleep pattern in great detail, inputting calories, counting steps and now it's linked up to Alexa, so is constantly asking it to set alarms, reminders and timers!

Having said that, they do feel better and are getting fitter, so 🤷‍♀️

Do you have one? If so, for how long and do you still use it as much/at all?

I've been thinking about getting one, given DPs success, but am worried it'll turn into an obsession. I don't want to start panicking if my oxygen levels drop by a point or my quality of sleep was marked as only "fair" one night Confused

TIA

OP posts:
JamieFrasersLover · 17/03/2021 20:16

I bought one in January, still not worked how to use it properly. It's a versa 3.
I also find it annoying to wear in bed, even though the main reason I wanted it was to track my sleep.
I've not been wearing it much, working from home I am so much more inactive than I used to be, partly because I'm chained to my computer by a headset lead for 7 hours a day. It makes me feel almost guilty!
In normal non covid life my fitbit would be happy with me rather than disapproving!😂

SeaKelp101 · 17/03/2021 20:26

Ive had Fitbit trackers for about 3 to 4 years, and really enjoyed their features, Ive worn one everyday in that time . To give myself a push this week bought their newest smartwatch Sense as I need to loose my lockdown weight, and a set of Fitbit scales, I love the watch so much. I enjoy tracking walks and cycling, I love the maps, as Im trying to loose weight Im adding my food intake and weigh-ins but most of all I'm obsessed with my sleep! First thing I check every morning and I get soooo annoyed when Ive gone to bed late as its there in black and white how little sleep Ive had!! It really does work for me.

Isababybel · 17/03/2021 20:28

I loved mine and wore it for years, i only stopped when i got horrific postnatal insomnia and having something that monitored my sleep (or severe lack of) just added to my anxiety. I keep meaning to wear it at least during the day as i love knowing how many steps ive done and i always used to make sure i did 10,000 (despite it being an arbitrary figure yes i know). Thanks for this post op im going to put it on charge and wear it from tomorrow.
Btw you can get simpler models that dont measure things like oxygen, mine is a basic alta HR. Maybe you'd prefer one like that?

Interested in this thread?

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Exercise & fitness Fitness
queenofthenorthwest · 17/03/2021 20:30

I love mine. Next Christmas I'm going to get the new one

queenofthenorthwest · 17/03/2021 20:30

I'm quite target driven though so I will actively try and meet all the targets

PomegranateQueen · 17/03/2021 20:31

I was sent one in the post by mistake and thier customer services told me to keep it. I'm quite glad it was a freebie to be honest. Unless you really flap your arms about it doesn't pick up the steps very well, especially if you are pushing a buggy. I also found I did become a little obsessive about the heart rate and sleep monitor. It's currently in a drawer somewhere Blush

swampytiggaa · 17/03/2021 20:34

I had several different ones and loved them. I now have an Apple Watch which works better for me in a lot of ways 😊

ivfbeenbusy · 17/03/2021 20:39

Really enjoyed mine BUT I have the latest model and it is advertised as being usable like Apple Pay but there are no big banks signed up to it so it's misleading in that respect

Got an apple watch via work a week or so ago so giving that a go as it was free

Have to say that the Fit bit battery is a million times better and so is the sleep tracking function BUT the function on the Fitbit where it notifies you of an incoming call / email / text worked for a few months but now doesn't seem to bother - can't get it to work again for that

As an entry level smart watch it is great and I'm certainly more aware of my lifestyle/fitness etc now

HermitsLife · 17/03/2021 20:43

I had one for Christmas, got a rash within days and discovered I'm allergic to the battery cell, now it starts irritating me if I wear it for more than a few hours Sad

seepingweeping · 17/03/2021 20:45

@JamieFrasersLover I can't wear mine in bed, it's too bright and very uncomfortable. I bought an app called pillow that tracks my sleep.

GU24Mum · 17/03/2021 20:46

I love mine and have had it for ages. I've got the more basic one without a screen as I use the app on my phone and don't want anything too chunky. I love that it buzzes when my phone rings because I usually have the phone hidden somewhere (unintentionally!).

I use it for steps, to log water intake and measure my weight loss(gain....)

longhaulstress · 17/03/2021 20:47

I love mine, it's really encouraged me to move more, get my heart rate up and I've got fitter.

I don't wear it at night though as I don't like the fact it counts my sleep. The thought of it stresses me out and stops me sleeping properly.

Hedgesgalore · 17/03/2021 20:49

Had one for three years.
Like tracking my walks, seeing the maps.
Set it when I did the lawns, that was funny, family didn't believe how far I walked or how long they take to do, so now I have proof.

Mine is a charge 2, so ancient but still works, battery lasts a week.

Also like the notifications, reading texts without having my phone on me and seeing who is calling me, great as a carer to my mum I know I can't miss a call.

swampytiggaa · 17/03/2021 20:49

@ivfbeenbusy I adore Apple Pay. It’s possibly my favourite feature of the watch. Certainly gets used daily

Itstheprinciple · 17/03/2021 20:59

I like mine. It's a versa lite so doesn't have all the features but has enough for me. I've got it linked to the nutracheck app so it shares my exercise data.
I don't sleep in it, I can't wear watches at night, it makes me feel claustrophobic and panicky so I can't get hung up on the sleep thing.

NailsNeedDoing · 17/03/2021 21:06

I love mine, but I don’t track much except daily steps and I rarely wear it at night because it’s not comfortable. I’m more interested in getting messages or knowing if phone calls are important while I’m at work and unable to use my phone.

NopeJustNope · 17/03/2021 21:12

I got one this week- have been thinking about it for ages, and took the plunge. Ive got a basic one, charge 4. I wanted to see what my 'baseline' in day to day exercise was, and motivation move a little more, and get a little fitter. I have found it a little difficult wearing, as I have not worn a watch for for over thirty years. I'm not a jewelry wearer either. I am also trying to lose weight and like other posters have linked it to nutracheck. I also wanted to keep an eye on general heart rate due to a health condition. So far, I have found it helpful, and, it has prompted me to move. I'm glad I got it.

Eileen101 · 17/03/2021 21:51

I brought the charge 3 in about June, after previously having the Alta. Loved the Alta until it stopped working and was generally obsolete by then.

The charge 3 is absolute rubbish. The software is terrible. I have to keep disconnecting it from the app and reconnecting it. Some kind of known issue that's well reported and the forums are full of people with the same issues.

I like the fitness tracker watch element of it, although I'm not doing as much as I would like right now, but I'll be exploring other brands next time before just buying a Fitbit as I did this time.

WrongKindOfFace · 17/03/2021 22:09

@ivfbeenbusy

Really enjoyed mine BUT I have the latest model and it is advertised as being usable like Apple Pay but there are no big banks signed up to it so it's misleading in that respect

Got an apple watch via work a week or so ago so giving that a go as it was free

Have to say that the Fit bit battery is a million times better and so is the sleep tracking function BUT the function on the Fitbit where it notifies you of an incoming call / email / text worked for a few months but now doesn't seem to bother - can't get it to work again for that

As an entry level smart watch it is great and I'm certainly more aware of my lifestyle/fitness etc now

Have you accidentally put it on DND?
Crumpsly · 17/03/2021 22:49

I like my Fitbit but find it over estimates step and distance by quite a long way. It adds around 1/2 a kilometre to a 5k run, so be careful if you are using it to lose weight. It’s very generous with what classes as exercise, rather than normal living.

LunaHeather · 18/03/2021 00:11

I was given one as a gift even though I hate being tracked

It struck me as a good way to prove insomnia to my doctor so helped in that way

I workout a lot but that version didn't recognise things like weights

I then hoped to use it as a watch but it's just a pain and I don't want to be tracked

I think people do get obsessed with all this but it will be useful to firms when private health comes in I suppose.

Definitely good to have proof for the doctor who was treating the sleeping pills like crack cocaine till they saw the data.

LunaHeather · 18/03/2021 00:13

Oh and it thinks a gentle plod with my elderly mum is exercise. It really isn't.

NiceGerbil · 18/03/2021 00:24

I got one free at work about 5 years ago.

I lost it and was freaked out that it was somehow registering maybe 30 steps a day in my house.

After a few weeks of bafflement I found it in the washing machine Grin

Then I binned it.

That's my experience.

LunaHeather · 18/03/2021 00:27

@NiceGerbil

I got one free at work about 5 years ago.

I lost it and was freaked out that it was somehow registering maybe 30 steps a day in my house.

After a few weeks of bafflement I found it in the washing machine Grin

Then I binned it.

That's my experience.

Haunted Fitbit, i love it!
BlankTimes · 18/03/2021 03:46

Our GP wouldn't even look at the heart trace on DD's fitbit when she had an episode of really strong palpitations that went on for well over an hour for no reason, he said they are nowhere near accurate enough to measure that.

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