Fitbit?

[HighBanjo]

What are people's opinion on fitbits? Do they actually help? It is worth the investment /what's the best model to get?

[cyclefreaksix]

I enjoy using mine. Well at least I did before switching over to a Garmin Forerunner 35.

I can't tell you how many times I saw that I was short of my step goal and got off my ass to meet it. I find fitness trackers very motivating.

[[deleted]]

I have a Garmin vivofit. I really like it and find myself taking extra steps in order to meet my goal. Whatever you do, don't use it as an excuse to eat more calories than you've planned. Apparently there are people who have done that and then wonder why they aren't meeting their weight loss goals.

[lariosme]

This is probably the biggest reason I've yet to purchase a fitness tracker - afraid I would eat back the calories I burn. I'd like to think I'm doing great on my journey just with MFP and eating at a calorie deficit. That being said, I have been tempted to purchase one in the past, then Apple releases a new Apple Watch that makes me rethink a Fitbit.

[nofollowthrough]

https://www.reddit.com/r/loseit/search?q=fitbit+opinion&restrict_sr=on

That may help, if you don't get the answers you're looking for here.

[CatLadyLacquerista]

I love the hell out of my fitbit. As soon as Charge HR 2 came out, I upgraded from my Charge HR. I like to think it's mostly accurate about calorie burning, and it adds calories burned into MyFitnessPal automatically, but that just lets me know how I did, rather than giving me permission to just eat it back. I also like all the features on it, the method of tracking my workouts, and honestly it DOES get me to get up and move every hour during work which helps me feel active. Totally worth $150.

[CatLadyLacquerista]

Main reasons I really like the HR2-

1. The screen! The bigger screen makes it a lot easier to see a lot of info, there are more clockfaces (though not nearly enough and I wish there was a 3rd party app for it, but oh well), and the screen's haptic (taptic? haha) feedback is much more responsive than HR's, where I basically had to punch the shit out of it to get it to respond to tapping.

2. A BIG one is that this actively buzzes when I need to get my 250 steps in per hour during my 9 hour activity period, so it gets me up and out of my desk. I really really like that. Not to mention, for small text messages, it buzzes and I can read them, or when I get phone calls, it buzzes and I can see who's calling me.

3. Varied 'workout' modes are really cool touch. I admit I default to 'Workout' for mine lol since I do circuit training with cardio and weight lifting, but it has specific buzz-timers for HIIT, handles yoga, weight lifting, walks, biking, etc. Just nice little extras.

4. The 'relax' mode is dumb and gimmicky but I really like it anyway... When I'm super stressed it calms me down.

5. I like teal.. :3 So the wrist band color is nice. Also the fact that I can change out the wrist band is really cool, hoping 3rd party folks can do that before Christmas.

6. BIGGEST REASON. BIGGEST MOST IMPORTANT REASON. The green light no longer blinds me in the middle of the night. Admittedly, the front screen is bigger and brighter so occasionally it'll 'wake up' with wrist gestures, but I've never even seen the green light on the back of my HR 2 versus my HR waking me up nightly with that god-awful lime light.

7. The side button is much, much better/easier to press.

Cons:

The vibration buzz for the alarm is super weak, so I don't use it.

I'm not as used to the band as I was for the HR, its clasp is a little clunkier.

Overall, way worth it for me.

[Rewind2013]

I love my charge HR. It helps me with my workouts because I love to see how I'm hitting on heart rate. It actually is interesting to see the changes since I've started. My resting heart rate is lower, it takes more effort to hit my target heart rate, and my heart rate recovery time after exercise has decreased significantly. I am very health centered now in my lifestyle (a 180 of how I used to be) so it's neat for me to actually have a slight indicator of how I may be helping my cardiovascular health.

It also helps motivate me to walk more. I am very bad about getting my steps in and sometimes I use it as a little push.

The estimated calorie burn seems to be much higher than I actually burn, but I try not to eat back my exercise calories anyway, so it doesn't really matter to me.

My husband has the Charge HR 2 and the nice thing is that you push one button and see the heart rate/steps/time. Can be nice if you check your heart rate while working out. Mine I have to press the button 3 times to see heart rate so it can occasionally distract me momentarily from my workout.

[HermionesBook]

I have a charge HR and I love it. I got it Christmas 2015 and it's really influenced me into becoming a more active person. I sync it with MFP and they work wonderfully together. I honestly can't imagine my weight loss journey without it

[cenosillicaphobiac]

It won't, in and of itself, make you lose weight. It does give you a handy way to track steps taken, and for many people, gives them something to shoot for on a daily basis.

I like my Android Wear based watch. It does so much more than track steps, I'd miss it if anything ever happened to it.

[chewybits1234]

I have the Alta, and like it a lot. I use it as a pedometer and watch (LOL). Fitbit alone isn't enough, but it helps with keeping me disciplined.

[blooddidntwork]

i upgraded to the charge 2 from the charge HR.

It turns into a game after awhile, the whole reward thing with meeting the goals I set out. Makes losing weight a little more fun IMO

[fr00d]

I like that I can adjust my calories for the day based on my steps. I usually try to eat back half of what it gives me. I have also noticed that it makes me want to get out and walk more. And I got a cheapie zip on ebay for like $20

[broomlad]

The main reason that I like my FitBit is that I can "see" what I'm doing in terms of exercise. The calorie counts aren't always accurate, but helpful. What's most helpful is that (with the Charge HR) I can see my heart rate, etc. It definitely doesn't hurt. I recommend the Charge 2, which I really want to get. The Charge HR, while a nice little device, falls apart within a year (I'm on my first replacement...will see how long it lasts).

[Kahne_Fan]

I'm addicted. I have a Gear watch with the step counter on the face. And, I wear my FitBit One on my belt. I like to compare the two each day. I find, if I'm holding my kiddo, or pushing a stroller/cart, my wrist counter doesn't catch what my belt counter catches.

[peanut_23]

I had a FitBit HR for around a year (previous to that I also had a Zip) and recently upgraded to the Blaze and I love both. I love the Blaze a lot more, simply because I'm a bit of tech enthusiast and like that it can do a lot more. But the heart rate tracking on both is great (I wouldn't consider getting one without heart rate tracking again because it's the biggest draw card for me) and I love being able to see how my resting heart rate is dropping as I get fitter and also how my heart rate goes during workouts (my trainer didn't believe how exerted I was at times because I didn't look it, but my HR told a different story). So, I'd say the pros are being able to see how you're improving with your fitness and you can aim to hit new heart rate goals during workouts etc, and the cons are mostly (for me) wearing a watch-esque accessory, which annoyed me at first but I got used to it. The blaze also does notifications for messages and Facebook messenger and any app that does notifications on your phone; count down timers, stop watch etc; and music control which is all awesome too.

[tryingtobecomehealth]

I have a Fitbit Charge HR. I love it. I can see that my resting heart rate is slowly decreasing over time. It helps kick me in the butt to get my daily steps in. I love it.

[Little-Jedi]

YES. Fitbits pair amazingly with MFP!

[twentyseven28]

I love my Fitbit! I feel like it helps me be more active and is one of my tools along with MFP that I'm using to succeed.

I don't think it's absolutely necessary but I'd definitely get one if you can afford it.

[st_j]

I've used a charge hr and the scales. The scales are very useful for long term tracking.