Fit bit?

[PrivateDoor]

Do these actually help you lose weight? I like the idea of it but it is so expensive, I would want it to be of actual benefit? I used to be a regular gym user and loved using my heart rate monitor thing that counted cals burnt on the watch part so I assume it is a similar idea? If I still had the heart rate monitor I would just use that but have no idea where it is! Plus I do more walking now than any other exercise.

I don't think they help you lose weight and if you only do walking I doubt it's of benefit.

People use it to track activity, sleep, heart rate, etc. I think of it as a luxury, not necessarily as a motivational aid.

But then I also think it's not necessary to count/track calories to lose weight so maybe I'm old fashioned.

I wondered too, will it encourage me to be more active.

Thanks for the replies!

I like mine although it's an (much) older version so no heart rate monitor. I'm hoping to get a 'modern' one soon!
I find it does motivate me, wearing it is a reminder I'm supposed to be active and I try to set myself little targets (ie do more than yesterday, do more than last week etc) when I find myself slipping.

I got the basic fit bit for Christmas, it was fun at first but I’m bored of it now, I always do between 12000 and 22000 steps anyway (I’m on my feet all day at work and sometimes I walk 2.5miles to Work then the same back)
If you’re not very active I can see it would be useful in moving more and meeting your goals
But mine is destined for eBay now as I don’t really have much use for it

I used one in combination with a food diary as I'm not one of those "just eat when you feel hungry and you'll be fine" people

I've had the Charge 2 since Feb last year and it's definitely helped me to be more active. Last year I went from a very novice runner to running a half marathon in 8 months and I wouldn't have done it without my Fitbit.

It has helped me a lot but I need to have something to keep me accountable. I use it to track my calories in and out. I've lost 3 stone.

Mine has highlighted how little I moved on my work days. I now make a conscious effort to move around more and go for short walks in my breaks so it's definitely got me moving more.
My friend has hers linked up the My Fitness Pal as she monitors her food intake.

Thanks everyone. I am definitely looking for motivation to do more. Once I get my fitness up a bit I plan to return to the gym, maybe when the weather turns later in the year. I was hoping that this would be a good motivator. I realise though that steps alone won't help me to lose weight.

There are other fitness bands that aren't fit bits and might work out cheaper.

I have a Huawei Band 2 Pro which is easily mistaken for a Fitbit Alta. It cost approximately £50 is fully waterproof so you can swim in it and has integral gps rather than needing the phone's gps.

I love it and it does help with motivation.

Google cheap activity tracker and you will find some decent options for about £30

my fitbit was about £50 I got it off of Amazon. When at work I regularly do about 16000 a day, days off i struggle to get to 10000. I use it in conjunction with 'my fitness pal', and that really helps in writing down what I eat.

I wanted a Fitbit for my birthday but the guy in the store said they are no longer stocking them as there are too many issues with straps breaking. He recommended a Garmin instead.

Does the Huawei one track calories burnt & stuff? Can't see it on the website.

I got mine at Christmas and it has coincided with a dramatic improvement in my health, although I don’t know how much is due to the Fitbit. I do love the data though, I like the graphs and the stats and seeing my performance improve. I like the sleep function, and the heart health function which you don’t get with a cheaper step counter. The app is good but something has been causing the gps to behave oddly during the hot weather and it sometimes measures my runs wrongly (I know because I do the same routes and it gives some crazy readings!)

You can have the app without a Fitbit, and if you put it in your phone you can use it to track your routes while walking- that might help you decide if it’s worth the extra money?

Yes the Huawei one tracks calories burnt and syncs with MFP or google fit. It monitors sleep and heart rate too.

I love mine (charge 2). Started with a Flex 2 as thought I would go swimming but I didn’t. I also thought I was reasonably active and would be near 10k steps a day with my dog walk, turns out that was very wrong. Also if I have a quiet Sunday I don’t even get to 3k steps.

Used in conjunction with Nutracheck i’ve lost just over 100lbs and gone from a bit of walking to regularly running 5k (had never run in my life before), Am deep inti perimenopause and find the sleep data helpfully anf have found the heart rate data helpful as shows a correlation between stress levels and heart rate or an earkybwarning that I’m going down with something. Seeing the VO max level increase from average to very good has been motivating too.

With my food I just make sure that over the course of a week I eat at the deficit I need to lose the weight i’m aiming for. Been eating a pot maintenance for a few Months and my Fitbit seems to slightly underestimate calorie burn by aro7 d 10% so it means I spoon still lose a pound or two on average over the course of the month.

For me my Fitbit has been pretty life changing but it will depend on individual circumstances.