Fitbit - can anyone tell me if they're useful?

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I keep reading about them there Fitbits. I'm not very technologically advanced but am wondering what they do and how might they assist me? I've been considering getting a pedometer but these look like they count steps and more.

Can anyone who has a Fitbit tell me what they do and what the benefits are? Are they easy to use, etc?

Thanks in advance!

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Looking for a gadget to track steps, calories, and all that jazz? This thread is a little old. Check out our round-up of Mumsnetters’ favourite fitness trackers for the low-down on Garmin, Fitfbit and some other (cheaper) alternatives. MNHQ.

I've got a fitbit one. It' doesn't shout " look at me " like the wrist bands do. I'm the only one who knows I have it.
Only had it since 2/10 but I want to walk more to keep my stats up etc. I don't compete against friends etc as I'm doing it for me and me alone

Dead easy to use. Secure clip etc.

I love my fit bit one too. It does encourage me to walk more to meet my step target, or my going up and down stairs target!

I have a fitbit charge hr - I was a bit meh at first (because it was a really big purchase for me and the cost made me feel guilty) but I have grown to love it. I like that I can keep track of my steps/stairs climbed at any time, which is what put me off the clip ones. I have been steadily losing weight through calorie counting and trying to increase my exercise and I feel it's really helped me focus and stay on track.

There are bound to be deals on in Curry's, Argos, Tesco etc in the run up to Christmas.

I've had mine for about 3 months. At first it got me moving a lot more and managed to get into a normal day without exercise that got me to 10k steps from about 5k so from that perspective it was good. However I haven't been able to motivate myself up from that really as I know the next step is real actual exercise of some kind and I really don't have time at the moment. So I would say its helpful and mildly motivational but isn't going to change your life.

I dunno tipsey it has changed my life! I have a desk job that I drive too and sit for 6-12hrs a day. I have to make a positive effort to get out and "walk the dog" (it's imaginary, we don't have a dog, a joke with DD2) to get any steps at all pretty much.

Today i'm at 4k steps 11 floors ( target met) and 37 active minutes ( target met) as a result of a walk in the rain before I came to work. i'll try and do another 40mins or so later if it's not pouring.

Pre fit bit I'd have either pottered at home or come in and have sat and extra 40mins doing paperwork.

10k steps is a bit out of reach on a long working day as it's getting on for 80mins brisk walking time. Manage it at weekends though.

Don't know how I'll get on long term. My aim is for my imaginary dog to be a real one but the long working days need to change !

Helenluvsrob, I think I need to get me one of them imaginary dogs :-).

Thanks for your responses - I'm probably going to get one. I need a bit more motivation. Hang the expense ....And doesn't it track your sleep patterns or something? I keep seeing bits about it in magazines but never read them properly. God, I really need some motivation.

Well I took " the dog" the long way up to the shops after work to fulfil dd2 needs prior to going away on Friday. I also was not cross with her for leaving it so late :)
10k, 26 floors and 72 active minutes total ! Must be getting faster ...

If it's pouring tomorrow I might give it a miss but do I really want to break the run of good data ? Lol

Well, I've been researching the Fitbit properly and I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy one. I do have one concern raised by something I read in a review on Amazon - it said that the device only records activity of over 10 minutes. So if you're out walking and have to stop for any reason, tie your shoelaces, cross a road, it erases the previous minutes of walking if under 10 minutes. This is a bit of a concern!

Can anyone tell me if this is the case, please?

I have a Fitbit charge HR and mine doesn't delete activity under 10 mins. Its v accurate in this respect I think. Its like having a little personal trainer, reminding you to get off your arse. I love it shows calories burnt, in a day, heart rate and sleep patterns. I find mine intriguing and love looking at my stats, I try not to bore others with it though.... The only thing mine does wrong is get confused when I ride my horse as its counts all 4 of the horses footsteps as mine!

It doesn't delete activity less than 10 mins but I think you have to do 10 active minutes before it records it as such ( as its supposed to take 10 mins brisk walking to get your heart rate up to count as excercise I think). Then it doesn't stop and need 10 mins lag time again if you wait to cross the road etc it keeps counting.

If you amble round the shops pushing a wheelchair as I did today you can click up 4K steps and no active minutes at all. If I pushed did at a brisk walk he'd probably get motion sickness. It's fully as fast buggy walking seems universally to be a great thing for babies / toddlers !

That's another thought - I'm not sure the wrist worn ones are much goid if you push a buggy ( or wheelchair) a lot. Mine counts steps when pushing dad ok.

It's really odd though , you can do 10k steps and burn anything from 90-300 calories. I guess it is clever and factors in hills and speed.

I neatly went out for a walk at 10.30 pm because of the darn thing saying no active minutes but then I put my " don't be daft " head on! Not that it's unsafe round here but.. yknow.

His much are they

How

I bought one about 6 months ago. Used it religiously for about 3 weeks, once I realised I usually walk about 10,000 steps anyway as part of my usual day ( live somewhere where everything is walking distance and have a dog I walk about 1.5 hours a day) I gave up on it especially as I kept forgetting to charge it. The sleep thing is totally inaccurate as far as I am concerned and can just lead you to becoming completely sleep obsessed.

i have a charge HR and it tells me activity under 10mins (all is based on heart rate)
i love mine based on the sleep tracker......its amazing for me the little i sleep that i can get away with i would say before how i slept for 12 hours but the fitbit (again heartbeat based) tells me that ive only slept for 5 hours so it makes me disbeleie people who have said they have slept for 12 hours solid..... you arent 100C% sure

mine has made me more active, achieveing the 10K steps a day has been a challenge but overall a week im going to the 70k rather than 10 a day
if my average of over 70k then its a good week

the charge HR is worth it for the contunous heart rate monitoriuing - hence being able to say how much you have slept imo

For those asking how much mine was £100 off Amazon for the Charge HR.
And coincidentally just looked and it has recorded 9 active minutes for this morning. Must have been when I was mucking out the horse so proof there that is does record under 10 mins activity. I'd say the mucking out took about 9 or 10 mins too.
I love mine, get one OP!

Can you look at your heart rate while exercising? Or do I also need a HR monitor?

I got a Fitbit One last Christmas. It has really encouraged me to get out every day and walk. It tracks my sleep, how many stairs I climb ( so I never take the lift anymore), my steps and how many miles I walk.
Never had a problem with it deleting anything. I also linked it up to Bounts www.bounts.it. For every 7000 steps, you get points. When you collect enough, you can exchange them for giftcards. I have made £25 in Tesco giftcards this year!

I love mine. I've discovered on days when I'm going into the office I can do 10,000 steps pretty much without any additional effort. On days when I'm working from home (which is most of them at the moment) I would be doing FAR less without something to remind me to get out and have a walk round the park. It's really pushed me to get out every day, which I think is also beneficial in terms of getting (some) sunshine as we go into winter and my fitness, whilst still shit, is definitely improving.

To person who asked yes you can press a button on it when exercising and see your heart rate. I have the charge HR.

Thank you!!

Ok, I took the plunge and purchased a Fitbit. AM now attempting to set it up. No instructions in the box, just "Go to Fitbit.com". I do that and attempt to install the app, but can't. When I click on 'install' I get a message saying

"You haven't accessed the Google Play Store app (the white shopping bag icon) on your device with this email account"

I'm on a Chromebook. I'm going to be buggered without the app, aren't I??

Also, I presume the little rubbery holder with a USB wotsit on the end is for charging the device? I've plugged it in, but it hasn't lit up or anything.

Can anyone guide me through this, I'm beginning to get a tad stressed.....

Oh, ok, I've got the app on my phone now. Amazingly, it tells me I've already burned 736 calories today! And that's before I've even started wearing the thing...It's charging now, and I held down the button till it lit up, so at least I know it's working. God, this is a palava.

Oh hang on, I don't think that app has anything to do with my actual Fitbit, I mean, doesn't it have to be synched or something. Oh god, time for a lie down