Tell Fitbug your tips for squeezing exercise into a regular day and read MNers feedback on the Fitbug Orb. Chance to win two free Fitbug Orbs. NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the 50 Mumsnetters who tried Fitbug Orb.

Here’s what Fitbug say: “The system sets you personal targets each week for steps and food, helping you improve your lifestyle at a rate you can gradually adjust to, so it’s not a hardcore exercise regime or a diet that you do for a short time, but a way of improving your habits for the long term."

Testers: We’d like you to post on this thread twice. First with your initial impressions, and then a couple weeks later letting us know how you got on. Please answer the questions below but feel free to add any other thoughts you may have.

First impressions:

Q1. Why did you want to take part in this product test?
Q2. What were your first impressions of the Fitbug Orb when you opened it? Did you like the look of it? If so, why? If not, why not?

Non-testers: What’s the easiest form of exercise that you manage to squeeze into a regular day? Do you have any tips to fit exercise easily into your day to share with other Mumsnetters? Maybe it’s taking the stairs to your office on the top floor of the building, or walking your children to school each day. Whatever it is, we’d love to hear it.

Everyone who adds their thoughts to this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a pair of Fitbug Orbs (worth £50 each).

Thanks,

MNHQ

[mandmsmummy]

Non tester
When the kids are at school and playgroup. Pilates and the gym plus walking anywhere that's possible

[Chopstheduck]

Catsofa - good for you! I beat Dh and the kids in the three miles back from tesco this afternoon. Cycling is def faster - and we are suburban!

[affafantoosh]

msFITs and cats - I went mountain biking yesterday and it recorded 56,000 steps think the vibrations from flying down the trail (and my very ungraceful dismount) counted as steps! It was a big old hill to climb though so hopefully I did burn some of those calories ...!

Today I was working and I forgot to wear it :( so no steps counted. To be fair I was shuffling due to being black and blue from the aforementioned crash so it wasn't a very active day, but it would still have been nice to have them counted. Oh well :(

[catsofa]

I regularly carry a bag of cat litter in each pannier and a crate of beer on top of the pannier rack, it doesn't make that much difference to how fast I go. Actually it's faster downhill!

[affafantoosh]

I'm a bit flummoxed. I had an email today with a link to see my targets, but it just takes me to the dashboard with no mention of targets

Added to that there's no steps being uploaded despite repeatedly pushing them through :/

One thing after another - keep thinking that this is it this time and then something else weird happens ...

[HeySoulSister]

I got that email too

[BlackeyedSusan]

non tester. add walking. walk to the charity shop and back to increase steps.


dance with the children. often to showme show me your groovy moves

dance in the kitchen while waiting for the kettle to boil.

try to take the children to the park. do laps of the play equipment rather than sit on a bench.

try to stand a lot more when waiting for things rather than sit down.

[Bubbles85]

Non tester. I manage to fit in a run after dinner once my DH is home and the LO is in bed.

[BiggerYellowTaxi]

Non-tester. Like others I do a quick DVD or YouTube exercise video while the baby naps, 30 day shred is great. When I go back to work it's going to be more challenging so I think I'll have to get up half an hour earlier to fit some in.

[Chopstheduck]

InculKate - they were, yesterday - I got carried away with the reduced groceries and had a trolley full. Usually I load it up though -

[Chopstheduck]

And the fitbug - I've given up on the bloody thing until we get some feedback and help with it. I also can't walk or run atm due to achilles tendonitis, so mainly cycling, which fitbug doesn't record at all.

[affafantoosh]

I've had nothing upload since yesterday (although I can see the upload happening as it is registering a wee notification window on the laptop). I've tried "reuploading" my steps according to the support site. Emailed support people AGAIN. I am really fed up.

[Cambam2010]

Tester

Q1. Why did you want to take part in this product test?

I am always looking for ways to motivate me to increase my physical activities with an aim to getting fit and enjoying it in the process. I am already following a diet regime so am in control of my food intake but I seriously need to work on toning up and I am hoping that the Bug will gently remind me to get moving


Q2. What were your first impressions of the Fitbug Orb when you opened it? Did you like the look of it? If so, why? If not, why not?

It arrived in quite compact packaging and looked modern and different. I received the black Bug with a pink stripe with black accessories. I have been wearing it with the wrist attachment and it feels just like wearing a watch. One slight negative that I have about the wrist strap is that it closes by pressing two rubbery nodules through holes in the band and on a number of occasions I have 'lost' it without realising. Once when struggling with a wriggling toddler and the other when gardening.

The set up was straight forward. I managed to download and install the app very easily. I am disappointed that you can not do everything on the app and have to also go onto the website to upload nutritian info etc I cannot do this on my phone as the website view is just not compatible so I am not really making full use out of the Bug's abilities as I can only access a PC for a few days a week.

So far my favourite aspect of the Bug is the sleep mode. It is interesting to see how often I have disturbed sleep :-( But even this mode has it's faults.

[Nightwish]

Tester - only just got the orb, missed the delivery on Saturday typically.

Q1. Why did you want to take part in this product test?
I wanted to take part in the product test to help motivate me to lose the last bit of weight from having DS2 and to try an get a bit more active as have mostly just been modifying my eating.

Q2. What were your first impressions of the Fitbug Orb when you opened it? Did you like the look of it? If so, why? If not, why not?
My first impressions were that the Orb looks okay, I was very glad to be given the black one as I hate the colour pink, I can handle the small bar of pink but a whole pink device would have been awful. It is rather small so easy to hide if you want. The packaging was simple and small which I like.

I found set up easy, it did not take me long and I now have it on my wrist which makes it seem just like a watch. I do not wear watches but if I did it would annoy me to wear this and a watch, it would be much more useful if it had a screen which told the time and other small details, number of steps etc. I have only set up the app so far but do find it annoying that it only gives the stats and to add other info you need to go to the website, I would prefer it to be all one or the other. With the website being the main mode of entering all information I think the PC dongle should actually come with the Orb.

Having logged into the website I think the log-in is a bit stupid. It says log in with username, I would assume that is the username that has just been created but it is not, it is the email address. I think this could be a lot clearer. Also having to re-log into the app and online each time you use one of the other is very annoying.

[ImATotJeSuisUneTot]

I applied for this product trial as I'd had some minor issues with my jawbone up, and thought it'd be good to compare.

From your feedback, its clear the jawbone up is miles ahead in terms of app, syncing, and linking. Looks nicer too. Pink?!

[supermariossister]

The easiest way I fit exercise in is that I don't drive and am too skint usually for getting taxis so I walk a lot.

Ive just bought a fitness monitor though not a fitbug which keeps me on track

[MirandaGoshawk]

Non-tester: I use a hoola hoop while watching TV.

[WhereAreMyGlasses]

I find walking everywhere helps and doing small things like making multiple trips for taking things up and down the stairs

[NellVarnish]

Mine still isn't uploading steps. I'm losing the will to live.

[affafantoosh]

You too Nell? Mine did work, but stopped for no apparent reason yesterday evening. I emailed support about 8am today but haven't heard a peep back apart from a generic "we've got your request ticket" response. It's flipping frustrating, I've not even bothered faffing round logging food today because I can't see the point.

[madmumm]

Tester

The main reason I wanted to take part in the testing was to lose post baby weight, ok he is almost 2 so it's no longer a good excuse. I've recently started the C25k and really enjoying it so far and hoping the Orb will motivate me further.

First impressions were that it looks very cool in black with a small bit of pink and various options to wear it, although like other posters can't quite see how the lanyard or wrist thingy would be worn but I prefer the discreet clip, attaches nicely to my bra so can't be seen. Seems fairly accurate in the number of steps taken and I like the way it recognises aerobic steps, ie running or walking for any length of time. Although can't help thinking it is mostly just a glorified pedometer! Have been testing it for several days now and still cannot get the sleep mode to work or register any sleep, so according to the app I have had zero sleep. Overall I am enjoying it and it is very satisfying to see the steps going upwards. However I still can't help thinking that for £50 it should be do a bit more. I am in no way used to these type of products, but did think it would measure heart rate when worn on the wrist, very surprised it didn't.