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Original poster

Should I buy a FitBit?

47 replies

StirredNotShaken · 14/09/2016 21:27

I really want one but have no idea why...Grin I don't know that I would walk any more or less if I had one - I already have to walk the dog every day which entails a solid hour of fast paced walking which is around 5.5k - 6k. on a school day, less when I have children in tow. Then I do exercise too. My sister has one but not even sure why she has one either! Just feels like everyone has one!

OP posts:
Viviene · 14/09/2016 21:43

I don't as I decided against it - what a waste of money!
Don't get one, spend the money on swimming pool pass or running shoes ;-)

Original poster
StirredNotShaken · 14/09/2016 22:15

Good advice - thank you, you have provided me with my moment of clarity!

OP posts:
moonshine · 14/09/2016 23:01

Well, it doesn't do the exercise for you....but I have found mine to be a fantastic motivator. I have one of the simpler one (the Fitbit One) which is all I need. It silently berates me when I don't use the stairs or don't get anywhere near my targets I've set (I've only used the lift at work about 3 times in 4/5 months since I bought it), and emails me to cajole me into doing those last steps to reach my target. You can also compare your activity week-on-week and set up other targets like weight loss, drinking water etc (or not if you don't).

I now go for walks most lunchtimes and try not to sit at my office desk for hours. I'm definitely fitter and moving more and I actually feel naked without it (I clip mine onto my bra so no-one knows I have it, unlike those wrist ones.) So, all-in-all, I definitely love mine!

FoodieToo · 14/09/2016 23:03

Love mine! I'm very active anyway but I think it's fantastic . One of my best purchases .

grandmainmypocket · 14/09/2016 23:14

Don't get one.

I love my smart phone app. Not as accurate as a Fitbit but still as motivating.

I've actually started walking more as a result.

gamerchick · 14/09/2016 23:16

I love mine, I've walked home from work loads since I got it rather than the husband picking me up.

WatchingFromTheWings · 14/09/2016 23:18

Love mine! I find it a good motivator.

AprilSkies44 · 14/09/2016 23:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
StirredNotShaken · 14/09/2016 23:25

Wow! I had almost written it off and now there are lots of advocates of it. How does it motivate you to move more? Are they terribly complicated and fiddly? What would you recommend?

OP posts:
helenlove · 15/09/2016 07:02

I loved mine but then discovered it won't pick up my steps when pushing a buggy/trolley unless I transfer it to my pocket which I don't always remember to do so it is a bit useless really as I walk miles with the pram. I have the basic flex. Rubbish.

BendydickCuminsnatch · 15/09/2016 07:08

I love mine! I'm on my third one but only because the first one didn't sync as it was he first generation of ChargeHRs so I think some were a bit glitchy, and the second I lost, so a bit of an unfortunate run on my part, nothing to do with the product really. They're great and i think everyone who actually has one loves it.
I sort of came at it from the other angle, not to motivate me but to help analyse what I was already doing. The heart rate monitor is very accurate, the app is fab, step counter is exact and it buzzes when I've burnt off my TDEE which is great :)

BendydickCuminsnatch · 15/09/2016 07:09

Mine definitely counts steps when pushing pushchair/trolley, you can watch it doing so with every step.

Wallywobbles · 15/09/2016 07:11

I love my misfit because they do swimming. but I am on my 5th so durability is questionable.

MephistoMarley · 15/09/2016 07:20

I love mine and it definitely motivates me to exercise which is a real benefit for me as I am inherently lazy.

Hamsolo · 15/09/2016 07:20

Mine counts buggy steps too, but I had to turn off auto-recognition for cycling to get it to count them. Otherwise, it logged it as extraordinarily slow cycling.

I love my Fitbit. I got the charge HR for about £100, and it's linked to an app on my phone. I do find I'm much more motivated to move. I've snuck up from struggling to get to 7000 steps to easily doing 14000+ some days. I have a 10 week old baby, so she's napping in the sling a lot while I pound the streets.

Original poster
StirredNotShaken · 15/09/2016 07:21

Wallywobbles What's a misfit?!

OP posts:
Bunnyjo · 15/09/2016 08:55

I love my Fitbit; I have synced it to MFP and I use both to log my calorie intake and my daily activity, and to monitor my weight loss. I have gone from averaging 7000 steps to doing around 14-17000 every day, more on days I do C25K!

I know I could do all the walking and running I currently do without using a Fitbit, but I find having the Fitbit quite motivational. Additionally, many of my friends have Fitbits so we often challenge each other to see who can do the most steps on a day/weekend/workweek; this is another great motivator, as nobody wants to be last!

DoJo · 15/09/2016 10:12

I have one and I really find it motivating - in fact I've just come back from pounding the streets with the baby in a sling so that I could reach my active minutes target early in the day and feel smug looking at everything turning green as I get the others throughout the day.
I didn't really do much exercise before, so I have found it made a difference to what I was doing, but if you want to challenge yourself to exceed your targets, or push your heart-rate up further, then it could be motivating!

Original poster
StirredNotShaken · 15/09/2016 15:20

Thank you everyone - are they any that are better than others? There seem to be so many!

OP posts:
HunterHearstHelmsley · 15/09/2016 15:23

I have the Charge HR and love! Have a look at the comparison chart on the website to see which suits you best.

Original poster
StirredNotShaken · 15/09/2016 15:25

I'm going to look now! thank you :-)

OP posts:
futureolympianinmyhouse · 15/09/2016 15:29

I have just ordered the charge 2, I wanted the blaze, but I was thinking it was too big.. But the new charge2 (released in the past week) does everything the blaze does.
I'm getting it to track gym sessions.

Rshard · 15/09/2016 16:08

Just to add to the love campaign. Mine is a huge motivation and has helped so much in my weight loss. Best Buy of the year

Bunnyjo · 15/09/2016 17:17

I've got a Charge HR as have most of my friends. I'm thinking of getting my mum the new Charge 2 for her birthday...

moonshine · 15/09/2016 18:36

Mine's one of the simpler (and cheaper) ones (ie no heart rate monitor, which I think is pointless anyway unless you're an athlete, it's not for swimming with etc) but it only needs charging about once every 7/8 days. I don't think it matters that it's not super accurate, as long as it's consistent as you then set your own goals to beat. I've only had it a few months (5?) but have had no problems at all with it.

I forgot it today and 'allowed' myself to walk less, because it wasn't being recorded. Stupid, I know but, for me, it's like having a little fitness friend on my shoulder urging me on, berating or congratulating me on meeting targets. But then I'm goal driven.

I think you can also join groups and 'compete' with other friends, if that floats your boat.

I wouldn't use my phone as, for me, it would be cumbersome to carry all the time, plus I'd be worried that it would use up too much battery all the time.

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