To think fitbits are largely a load of bollocks

[ihuli]

Well, more the 10,000 step thing. Which is all people I know seem to use them for.

Basically most of the steps are used shuffling around indoors and a bit of cooking. The odd small stroll.

So you can then justify no other health attempts such as a healthy diet or actual exercise that causes exertion.

Ok, I’m aware not very fitbit user fits this model and they probably have loads more functions, but I know a hell of a lot of people who are reasonably rotund or unhealthy who do this. Then justify sweet treats. Just tracking ‘steps’

I can sympathise, I’m peri-menopausal and it’s shit. And I’m not a shining example myself, but I do thing it’s best not to kid yourself you’re fit or healthy with the 10000 step thing if you do little else, plus acquire steps through stuff like typing sometimes.

It’s not a criticism of people as such, it’s that this marketing sells an unhealthy easy answer for profit. When people need to be told to get their heart rate up, eat fruit etc. People love the easy solution

The key thing I'd that they are a tracker and can stimulate activity - If you are laz or inactive they are just a bauble on the wrist to make you feel good. If you want to lose weight run the tracker with My Fitness Pal and get a caloric deficit of 500 kcals per day - But if you are really overweight you can do this easily especially if you are active and the tracker can help sustain this

So they're shit, basically

managedmis

Only if you don’t use them properly and are not expecting elite sports or dedicated health equipment standard accuracy.

If you think they are useless, you don’t have to use one.

I've got a cheapo one and I don't think it's accurate in the job I'm currently doing.

Part of my job is to pack books into boxes and it picks up each arm movement even though my feet are stationary

Oldraver. The thing is that even moving books around, you are actually doing something. If it is the sort that measure ‘Active Minutes’ and you are accruing those (measures heart rate etc) that is also contributing to better health. It is so not all about just ‘steps’ and only steps.

Fitbits are OK if they are not the be all and end all of heath and fitness. I use mine to monitor the 10,000 steps and I usually do more than that. It's a good reminder to get out and about if I am having a 'fewer steps' day.

I imagine they could be a brilliant wake-up call for someone who has drifted into inactivity without realising it.

I don't know how I have managed to stay fit,healthy, and slim all my life,without one of these gadgets. Some people will buy into anything.

Presumably they are not the people who are naturally slim, fit and healthy
But, go you.

@1forAll74 I certainly wish I was one of those who managed 'to stay fit, healthy and slim all my life'. But alas while you are doing you, it is but wishful thinking for me.

So, yes. I 'bought' into one of these gadgets and you know, it helped me lose 25 kgs but keeping me focused.

I have 'bought' into my own health really - a hundred pound is all I have spent. No gym, no yoga classes. Better than me following in my mothers footsteps of a stroke at 55 and dead from dementia too soon after...

'by' not 'but'

I jhave the Versa2 and love it! It has Alexa and GPS.

I like mine. Can read texts on it. Can look at sleep stats. I don’t use it religiously but I do like it.

I find that if I swing my Fitbit vigorously while I'm in my recliner, watching the telly, I can hit my hourly step count with out even breaking a sweat. How's that for cheating one's self?

I don’t agree with you. I find mine very useful. If I haven’t reached my daily target, then it motivates me to walk rather than take the bus for example. If it is a bit inaccurate, so what. Even an approximation is useful in reminding myself to do more exercise. It doesn’t help me lose weight but I would argue that it helps me maintain my weight as I have really stopped fluctuating since I upped my steps per day.

Slow day at the office, winesalot?

I find the period tracker function helpful too

Interesting, I find it completely rubbish, it reckons I am having a period now - I am ovulating! It's very difficult to sort out.

The step tracking is good for me. Sometimes it thinks I have been on an elliptical when I've been out for a walk though.

You got it managedmis. You too it seems?

I have the Ionic, so use it for running and cycling, too, as it has GPS. I'm not sure why they're bringing out new watches like the Versa that don't have inbuilt GPS. Who wants the hassle of having to pair it with your phone when you are out running?

Oh I see the Versa 2 has GPS, didn't realise that.

They might not be 100% accurate but mine is very consistent. School run is 4000 steps for example. Walk to my local town centre and back is 7000. A day on my feet but not travelling far at work is 5000. I've been wearing one for about 4 years now and find it's great. I've never got more than a few steps when I'm not moving (ok, I do when clapping or horse riding but I don't do those a lot!). Also I like it just for being a watch as well particularly as I don't always have my phone on me. The vibrating alarms are v useful. All those people sneering - nobody is making you wear one!

I've found it useful for getting an idea if my sleep - originally bought it when I was very stressed at work and sleeping badly. Now I find that the heart rate monitor is a good way of showing something's up. I've noticed that my resting heart rate goes up on the chart if I've not drunk enough which it's a useful reminder which I'll check for as it's reduced the number of headaches I've had due dehydration. I've also noticed that under a certain number of hours of sleep I feel awful which is helping me find a balance for that too. Finally my step count took a hit when I went back to work after maternity leave so it's helping me make gradual tweaks to my day to increase my movement while trying to find a balance between work and family.
It's not a miracle and what you get out of it will definitely vary from person to person and their respective needs/personalities.

I love mine. I work in a fairly active job and it does pick up a few extra steps through just a movements which is why I like the HR/active minutes too. I find the sleep tracking on a HR model pretty accurate, compared with my sisters non-HR one which monitors movement.
My colleagues and I do the weekly challenge which is a bit of fun. We aren’t allowed to have our phones in our pockets at all. It makes me take the dog that extra bit further on a walk if I haven’t hit my target yet.
I bought mine second hand (blaze) for £40 in excellent condition. I probably wouldn’t have spent £100+ personally.

I personally think these can all be hit and miss. Working in cardiac medicine I have seen people who have been diagnosed with various conditions based on fitness tracker readings whom would otherwise have had no reason to visit the GP for a check up.

On the flip side I have seen people who don’t believe me or my ECG machine that their heart rate isn’t currently 150bpm even though their tracker says it is.

@LimpidPools

It also thinks lifting my hand to my mouth is steps. It's not. It's probably crisps.

That made me laugh. I'd probably manage the 10k steps a day with my crisp habit

It is a longitudinal study from the US based on moderate walking vs sedentary activity so there is evidence. However there is plenty of research that 3000 steps if covered briskly and at pace can offer the same benefits. As the increased cardiovascular work improves fitness. So to say there is no evidence is incorrect but as with anything evidence in this areas is based on assumptions on different cohort groups