Fit bit advice needed!

[Flumpernickel]

Ok, so I hope you lovely lot can give me some advice.... I have approx 100 pounds to lose with a year target. Already down nearly 10 pounds since starting and have stepped up my walking efforts loads. I used to be a keen hobby cyclist and although I feel far too heavy and unfit to do this currently, I do want to get back into cycling again at some point over the coming months, which leads me to my question.

I have been recommended a fitbit by various friends, so my DH has decided to buy me one for my upcoming birthday. I know little about them other than the ability to measure steps done etc.... now, this is great as I have been doing a lot of walking, so quite happy with that, but just wondering which model would be best to go for when I start cycling again also? My DH seems to think that some models have gps, so can map my cycling efforts that way? There are so many to choose from and I want to get it right on the first purchase, so I am really confused and hoping some of you that are fit bit wearers can advise on which model would be best for me...

Any help or advice would be very much appreciated!

Household with an Alta and the Alta HR, chosen because they are small and we are a tiny wrist family. The basic Alta is great if all you want to do is walkabout and be motivated. The HR goes further and gives a more detailed feedback on HR and exercise taken and its intensity ie % fat burning, % cardio. You can't programme it to follow or record a specific bike run, you just get the post-activity data.

You're doing really well and the Fitbit is a great idea. Personally I think you should investigate the other models as you will 'outgrow' the Alta and Alta HR if your cycling takes off and it sounds like you mean business. Good luck!

Thanks forty that's really kind and helpful!

Does it have to be a Fitbit?

I think the Fitbit use your phone gps to record whereas other makes have inbuilt gps on the watch.

I have a garmin fitness tracker which I really like.

Hi Flumper - well done you and best of luck with your journey.

This is Fitbit's official comparison tool - sounds like you'd be best off with the Blaze, Charge 2 or Surge as all offer GPS. Have a look at the other features as some are pricier.

I use the Alta HR which measures heart rate, steps and my sleeping patterns, which is about right for me!

Thanks for the helpful and supportive comments all! I am quite interested in the blaze as it seems to have the best features, my only issue is the size! It seems huge! I like the smaller unobtrusive bands... tricky one, I guess I will have to maybe go into store somewhere and have a look... John lewis maybe?

I have a blaze and i live it. I havd tiny wrists so it did feel bulky with the standard silcone strap. Plus i used to get a raah from it when i go sweaty. I changed it to a leather strap and its much less bulky now and doesnt irritate me anymore.

I have a surge, which has GPS and tracks distance, steps, HR, calories, elevation etc. It is big but no bigger than an Apple Watch really. I love my Fitbit and their customer services are second to none!

Definitely get one with an HR tracker. They are not 100% accurate but what it will help you with is being able to gauge how "hard" you are working. I was a bit of a runner plodder and seeing my HR record showed me that actually, I was not really putting much effort into my workouts. It spurred me into putting in more ooomph iyswim. End result 20lb weight loss in 4-5 months.

Good luck as PP have said well done on being on the journey.

Thanks all, some great suggestions!

I got the Charge 2 last month and I've been really impressed with it.

It has "connected GPS", which means it uses your phone's GPS - I always take my phone running etc so that was no problem for me.

It's also not waterproof, so wouldn't work for a swimmer.

I really like the auto detection thing - so if it detects that you've walked/run/cycles for 15+ mins it automatically records it as a workout/records the GPS.

I'm finding that it's really encouraging me to do more in terms of non-exercise activity. Thinking about walking instead of driving, or choosing the (cheaper and) further away car park, etc.

It gives a little annoying buzz every hour if you haven't done 250 steps that hour.

It goes nuts on your wrist if you meet your step goal for the day (which is nice!).

The app goes all starry each time you meet a target (steps, active minutes, stairs, etc). And if you do all of them in a day it pretty much explodes!

And it tracks your sleep, pretty accurately. Which is my main priority at the moment. (And it reminds you to go to bed, and wakes you up with a silent(ish) buzzing).

I had one of the first wrist-based HR trackers and this one is so much better.

Oh, and I've got skinny wrists, it's much lower profile than DH's Garmin (vivosmart, I think). I'm really pleased with it.

Sorry, I got carried away there. I just really like it!