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Original poster

fit bit tracking

27 replies

Pipsqueak11 · 28/01/2018 18:12

i am struggling to get to grips with fitbit charge i got for xmas . specifically i want to use it to track runs but not sure how best to do this and finding the online instructions useless for a technophone like me .
i have got strava too and have synched them.
so do i just run and let the fit bit do its stuff ? or do i press and hold the run button on the fit bit ? or do i press the track exercise button on the fit bit app on my phone?
help me MNers as i am o n the point of giving up the will with it .

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Original poster
Pipsqueak11 · 28/01/2018 18:13

please excuse me if i dont reply to your posts - i have to pop out now . will check back in tomorrow though , any help gratefully recieved.

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eurochick · 28/01/2018 18:16

You can either just let it do its thing or press the button at the start and end of each exercise to time it.

NinaMarieP · 28/01/2018 18:17

Press and hold the button on your Fitbit when you start - it should vibrate and start a timer. Press and hold when you finish and it will scroll through your steps/miles/active minutes etc from that run.

If you start tracking on your phone it will use the phone as a pedometer (anyone can do this with the app, they don't need a Fitbit) and it will also track your route with GPS).

Original poster
Pipsqueak11 · 28/01/2018 22:51

thx both - next daft question - do i need to have my phone actually with me when i use the fitbit or does it work on its own?

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DramaAlpaca · 28/01/2018 22:55

You don't need to have your phone with you. It'll synch via Bluetooth next time your Fitbit is near your phone.

Original poster
Pipsqueak11 · 28/01/2018 23:50

I went for a run today and all my fit bit dashboard shows are my total steps for the day presumably including my run as much more than a normal day and that I did 40 mins of excercise. I'm trying to work out how I can see how long my run was? Sometimes it pops up on strava and sometimes it doesn't .

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Original poster
Pipsqueak11 · 28/01/2018 23:53

Here's what I see .

fit bit tracking
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SwimmingInTheBlueLagoon · 28/01/2018 23:54

You can't get accurate distance without the phone though. Charge2 doesn't have its own GPS.

SwimmingInTheBlueLagoon · 28/01/2018 23:56

Click the plus at the bottom of the screen to add the exercise tile.

SwimmingInTheBlueLagoon · 28/01/2018 23:56

Scrap that you've got the exercise tile

SwimmingInTheBlueLagoon · 28/01/2018 23:59

Press on the tile that says 3 of 5 days exercise. Then you'll see more details. You can then press on individual activities to get more info

Original poster
Pipsqueak11 · 29/01/2018 00:30

Aha thanks so much swimming! That helps as I can see how far I have run which is what I was looking for . Sometimes I get a map too on strava but not always. I'm not so bothered about it but it's quite nice to see. Do you know how I can get that consistently?

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SwimmingInTheBlueLagoon · 29/01/2018 08:07

To get the map you need to take phone and I found use app to start the run on the Fitbit, rather than the other way around. Charge 2 doesn't have its own GPS so needs phone to track GPS data. It can be a little glitchy and very occasionally it won't map.

Original poster
Pipsqueak11 · 29/01/2018 09:33

Thanks swimming . Do you mean use the fit bit app rather than press and hold run on the actual fit but itself?
Sorry to ask more questions

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SwimmingInTheBlueLagoon · 29/01/2018 12:33

Yes start it in the app, rather than on the Fitbit. Just makes sure it is using phones GPS.

Original poster
Pipsqueak11 · 29/01/2018 12:36

Thanks so much . Will give it a go. You might think I'm a sporty type preparing for a marathon but actually I'm a fat 50+ just done couch to 5k . Fitbit tracking keeps me motivated though !

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eurochick · 29/01/2018 13:42

I'm in calorie envy - 3000 is so much foooooood!

Original poster
Pipsqueak11 · 29/01/2018 14:29

I know !! I had to run 5 k to get it though!
Usual day (drive to work , sit on ass all day drive home , watch telly, go to bed ) I would have 'used'around 2100 calories and only around 2000 steps .
It is a good incentive to get moving

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SwimmingInTheBlueLagoon · 29/01/2018 21:52

Be aware that fitbit is rather generous on the calories front. You probably want to be a bit under what it says.

Original poster
Pipsqueak11 · 29/01/2018 22:07

doh! don't burst my bubble swimming!

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BertandQueenieforever · 31/01/2018 07:37

Re: getting the map each time- before I leave the house I sync the app with my watch by going to the dashboard screen and swiping down- the app will sync to the watch - you’ll see it load at the top. Then I can zip my phone away in my pocket and start the run on my watch by pressing the little button once I’m out and it will record my route (obvs keeping phone with you for gps). I know they are properly linked when there is a little symbol of a phone on the top right corner of the watch screen.

Original poster
Pipsqueak11 · 31/01/2018 12:46

Thanks so much Bert
That's really helpful

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Original poster
Pipsqueak11 · 06/03/2018 07:09

Sorry to resurrect this thread but I have another question . I am trying to work out what the ref on the tracker refers to when it lists Pace - last night for example I did a slow jog on treadmill and tracker lists pace as 9'42"
I had the speed on treadmill set at 7km but I don't know what that means either ! 7km per hour I guess ?
When I walk it is 12 something usually on the tracker
But I don't know what it means! Anyone know?

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chipsandpeas · 06/03/2018 07:15

it is your pace per hour km or miles

Original poster
Pipsqueak11 · 06/03/2018 07:29

Is that the same as speed per mile /km and how do I know which it is?
On that basis the walking (12 something )is faster than the jogging (9 something) ?

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