Fitbit cheating

[EndoplasmicReticulum]

So, if you were spending an hour in the back garden sawing wood, is it cheating to swap your fitbit to your sawing arm in order to gain extra steps? (I got 3,000. It was a lot of sawing).

I think it's fair enough. Husband is saying it's cheating.

Hacker I do a lot of buggy walking and the steps are fine. Maybe it's slightly less accurate? But if I look at the number of miles I've done it always seems about right. It's consistent too - I know doing the school run is around 4000 steps each time for example. My buggy is not a bumpy one- glides along as it has air tyres. I've got a charge hr.

I had the zip clipped to my bra daily for a couple of years, was nice as only I knew it was there - DH bought me the black charge HR about a year ago and now everyone sees it !
It adds steps if I'm in the old Landrover on a bumpy road and my daughter says hers adds when she horse rides ... It adds steps when DTD too !!!

Fitbit cheating is fine, mine doesn't register half my steps when pushing pram. Usually I find out I've been for very long bike rides......

Mine counts steps for playing the piano (which I do a lot at work) and drumming. Last week I was teaching drumming all day and did over 25000 steps! I was knackered after though.

Accidentally put mine through the washing machine about a week after I got it - it still works fine. So I was pleased about that - well designed in that respect.

Mine adds steps on bumpy roads too. And flights of stairs when I go over hills!

As I understand it, the Fitbit courts steps based on energy used. My issue with it is its underestimation of my HR.

As I understand it, the Fitbit courts steps based on energy used
No, they have a number of accelerometers inside, which should be able to differentiate between a step and other activity, except they can't always

Oh. I'm starting to feel like the Fitbit is a load of unreliable crap!

My Fitbit Zip doesn't count bumpy roads (just as well given the state of the roads here).

So is a Fitbit different from the pedometers which were popular 15-odd years ago?

I have to take mine off when I'm using my sewing machine. Very easy to get to 50,000 steps by sitting down to sewing curtains.

Oh. I'm starting to feel like the Fitbit is a load of unreliable crap!

It is relatively cheap, you can't really expect it to do the job of a £200 sports HRM.

As I'm using it to help weight loss, I dont really mind if it tends to underestimate the number of calories I have burned by doing something, as I'm more likely to get a nice surprise when I get on the scales!

Whoever said it doesn't pick up a horses steps when riding is wrong - it does.

Our fit bit is linked to an incentive package to get lots of free things if we log up so many steps per week so I often wear mine riding to clock up extra steps.

I've got a polar watch but need a new battery. I much prefer that for working out my HR during exercise. I'm not so bothered about the accuracy of calorie burn but I am interested in my HR.

Can I just ask..you don't need an iphone for a fitbit do you?

Nope you can used with other phones or directly to pc

Thanks Blueturtle, I'm checking them out now on amazon!

I noticed i gained a fair few extra cleaning my teeth!

I have tried putting it in my pocket when pushing buggy/trolley and it always claims I've gone to sleep. Apparently I went to bed at 4 on Monday but was pretty restless until 10.30.

I did wonder if you could cheat one of my colleagues regularly gets 10k+ while at a desk all day. We do the workweek hustle and it really pisses me off

I don't know about 'pram walking' as my pram pushing days are long over, but mine counts steps when I am mowing the lawn and I reckon holding on to the mower is similar to pushing a pram. Anyway, lawn mowing has become my new favourite activity.

Re cheating - I take the attitude that if you are using more calories than just sitting down, it is probably fair game. Hoovering works well for me, as does cleaning, eg scrubbing the sides of a bath/kitchen top. I'm not so sure I should have counted the 'steps' the other day I racked up on a long car journey, tapping along to some music.

Ok I haven't admitted this to anyone ever but... Back when I first got mine and challenges among friends was just crazy (20000-40000) steps a day I accidentally realised that putting my hairdryer down on the dresser while on and messing with my hair would make the fit bit next to it go nuts. I may have been a little slow to pick it up at times

40000 steps Luna how did they fit it in?

She was crazy addicted . Would literally walk laps of her back yard at night! Another would do a lot on the treadmill while watching Tv at night. I pretty much shut down after 7pm I'd lay on the couch watching their steps go up

The main point of the fitbit (and similar devices) is to get you to move more.

If you average 4000 steps a day and start using a fitbit which motivates you to hit a higher step goal every day, then it is doing it's job. Regardless of if you actually hit 10000 steps or only 9000 steps plus an hour crochet/clapping/wanking/whatever.

Wearing a fitbit is keeping me active while I recover and heal from sciatica. Well worth the money.

Also I had a good look at reviews of several products before settling for the charge Hr. It was the most accurate compared to other brand models in that price range, never claimed to be 100% accurate, but as close to as possible and had the features I wanted without costing £££.

I've got a sports watch with similar tracking. I naturally wear in on my dominant hand. What I gain on things like folding washing is compensated for by things like ignoring yoga. I once had an inactivity alert during a pilates class- the instructor heard a beep, looked for a time check and saw my watch saying "It's time to move!"