I got a FitBit!

wandajune6

My boss bought us all FitBits! I just set it up and I'm all excited. I've been having a hard time getting motivated about working out so this should be great!

Does anyone else have one? Love it? Tips?

theartistformerlyknownas

I'm on my third. Check your laundry very carefully.

slothiegal

Oooh nice!  I used to have one, but it was...'misplaced' during a drunken nighttime frolic on the beach (I was really excited about visiting the then BF in Cali).  

stef42188

I have one, and I love it. Not sure which one you have, but I have the flex bracelet and it measures how well I sleep too. It's also helping me make sure I drink enough water - every time I have a bottle I log it. I don't calorie count, but it has that capability as well which I am pretty sure may have integration with other aps. Enjoy!

emmaaa

I have heard great things about those! I'm on the fence about getting one so keep us posted on how you like it!

JCbride2015

I have the flex bracelet and LOVE it!

PM me (any of you) if you want to be Fitbit friends.  I need a reason to get off my ass more.

wandajune6

I have the Flex bracelet so I shouldn't lose it too easily. Or at least I hope I won't!

I'm probably not disciplined enough to use it for calorie counting but I am curious about the sleep functionality!

SmileDamnit

Work bought bracelets for everyone back in January and I absolutely loved it for the first few months. Then I started taking it off at night because it was bugging me and eventually just stopped wearing it all together. I think the novelty wore off. 

ElcaB

I have to be honest, I think FitBits are a bit (see what I did there?) silly. While I think it's great that they may motivate you to increase your activity, I dislike the fact that they count "resting calories." I.e., my coworker (a larger woman) just got a FitBit & was all braggedy Ann, saying, "I've burned 1,200 calories today!" 

I was baffled. That's about two hours on the elliptical (for me). Then she explained the whole resting calories thing, which I think is kind of bullshit. I don't give you extra props for moving in your sleep, you know? 

I know another woman who has one and will say things like, "OMG I'm so tired today! I looked at my FitBit and I only got two hours of deep sleep. No wonder!" My thing is, if I'm tired, I know I didn't get enough sleep last night --- I don't need a FitBit to tell me, you know?

I'm not saying they're never helpful, just that I'll never be one to jump on that train. It's great that your boss got them for the staff, though, and I hope it's a helpful tool for you! 

theartistformerlyknownas

ElcaB said:

I have to be honest, I think FitBits are a bit (see what I did there?) silly. While I think it's great that they may motivate you to increase your activity, I dislike the fact that they count "resting calories." I.e., my coworker (a larger woman) just got a FitBit & was all braggedy Ann, saying, "I've burned 1,200 calories today!" 

I was baffled. That's about two hours on the elliptical (for me). Then she explained the whole resting calories thing, which I think is kind of bullshit. I don't give you extra props for moving in your sleep, you know? 

I know another woman who has one and will say things like, "OMG I'm so tired today! I looked at my FitBit and I only got two hours of deep sleep. No wonder!" My thing is, if I'm tired, I know I didn't get enough sleep last night --- I don't need a FitBit to tell me, you know?

I'm not saying they're never helpful, just that I'll never be one to jump on that train. It's great that your boss got them for the staff, though, and I hope it's a helpful tool for you! 

Eh, resting calories are important in determining your overall input vs output for the day. Of course they matter - otherwise people wouldn't need to eat food to survive. Your body is always expending energy; that's just a fact. To use the calorie exertion count without comparing to the calories you've consumed is super dumb, but that's not FitBit's fault.

I agree that the sleep thing is stupid. I've never used it in the 3 years or so I've had mine. 

I like that it's just another reminder to get off my damn ass. Especially now that I've been in a different job where I don't walk as far between meetings, to lunch, etc... it's shocking how little I move when I'm at work.

JCbride2015

The resting calories are important if you're using the FitBit to closely track your calories in/out for diet purposes.  Much of the point of the FitBit is the little movements you make throughout the day, so your total calories are actually important if you're tracking carefully.

sarawifenow

Am I the only one who has no idea what a FitBit is? I could google but...it's Wednesday...

ElcaB

lolo883 said:

ElcaB said:

I have to be honest, I think FitBits are a bit (see what I did there?) silly. While I think it's great that they may motivate you to increase your activity, I dislike the fact that they count "resting calories." I.e., my coworker (a larger woman) just got a FitBit & was all braggedy Ann, saying, "I've burned 1,200 calories today!" 

I was baffled. That's about two hours on the elliptical (for me). Then she explained the whole resting calories thing, which I think is kind of bullshit. I don't give you extra props for moving in your sleep, you know? 

I know another woman who has one and will say things like, "OMG I'm so tired today! I looked at my FitBit and I only got two hours of deep sleep. No wonder!" My thing is, if I'm tired, I know I didn't get enough sleep last night --- I don't need a FitBit to tell me, you know?

I'm not saying they're never helpful, just that I'll never be one to jump on that train. It's great that your boss got them for the staff, though, and I hope it's a helpful tool for you! 

Eh, resting calories are important in determining your overall input vs output for the day. Of course they matter - otherwise people wouldn't need to eat food to survive. Your body is always expending energy; that's just a fact. To use the calorie exertion count without comparing to the calories you've consumed is super dumb, but that's not FitBit's fault.

I agree that the sleep thing is stupid. I've never used it in the 3 years or so I've had mine. 

I like that it's just another reminder to get off my damn ass. Especially now that I've been in a different job where I don't walk as far between meetings, to lunch, etc... it's shocking how little I move when I'm at work.

My tight pants serve as my reminder to get off my damn ass

@lolo883 & JCbride2015, I'm not saying resting calories don't count, but I don't understand how they change your calorie intake. In theory, I know you can exercise more to eat more calories, but are we really to the point where standing up a few extra times or having a high-movement sleep pattern for one night counts as an extra piece of cheesecake?

Disclaimer: I'm not trying to be bitchy at all --- just trying to understand this FitBitzness (sorry for the pun). 

theartistformerlyknownas

ElcaB said:

lolo883 said:

ElcaB said:

I have to be honest, I think FitBits are a bit (see what I did there?) silly. While I think it's great that they may motivate you to increase your activity, I dislike the fact that they count "resting calories." I.e., my coworker (a larger woman) just got a FitBit & was all braggedy Ann, saying, "I've burned 1,200 calories today!" 

I was baffled. That's about two hours on the elliptical (for me). Then she explained the whole resting calories thing, which I think is kind of bullshit. I don't give you extra props for moving in your sleep, you know? 

I know another woman who has one and will say things like, "OMG I'm so tired today! I looked at my FitBit and I only got two hours of deep sleep. No wonder!" My thing is, if I'm tired, I know I didn't get enough sleep last night --- I don't need a FitBit to tell me, you know?

I'm not saying they're never helpful, just that I'll never be one to jump on that train. It's great that your boss got them for the staff, though, and I hope it's a helpful tool for you! 

Eh, resting calories are important in determining your overall input vs output for the day. Of course they matter - otherwise people wouldn't need to eat food to survive. Your body is always expending energy; that's just a fact. To use the calorie exertion count without comparing to the calories you've consumed is super dumb, but that's not FitBit's fault.

I agree that the sleep thing is stupid. I've never used it in the 3 years or so I've had mine. 

I like that it's just another reminder to get off my damn ass. Especially now that I've been in a different job where I don't walk as far between meetings, to lunch, etc... it's shocking how little I move when I'm at work.

My tight pants serve as my reminder to get off my damn ass

@lolo883 & JCbride2015, I'm not saying resting calories don't count, but I don't understand how they change your calorie intake. In theory, I know you can exercise more to eat more calories, but are we really to the point where standing up a few extra times or having a high-movement sleep pattern for one night counts as an extra piece of cheesecake?

Disclaimer: I'm not trying to be bitchy at all --- just trying to understand this FitBitzness (sorry for the pun). 

No, it's more of the opposite. Many people try to just go off the 2000 calorie per day rule of thumb that's on the Nutrition Facts label but it's NOT applicable to everyone. If I try to eat the way I would eat if I was really active and working out a lot but I'm NOT actually that active... fatty fat fatness will ensue. It's a gut check of "no asshole, you ain't done shit today, you cannot have that glass of wine." People greatly overestimate how many calories they burn and underestimate how much they consume.

When I was really diligent about tracking what I ate and keeping to my -500 calorie deficit, the weight came off exactly as it should have. Because science.

And yes, I have had days where I said "shit. I want this glass of wine but I'm 74 calories short" and ran in place in my living room until I broke even.

arrippa

lolo883 said:

I'm on my third. Check your laundry very carefully.

I actually washed my One and it still works fine. My problem with them is that I forget to put it in my pocket so most of the time it sits on my counter.

theartistformerlyknownas

arrippa said:

lolo883 said:

I'm on my third. Check your laundry very carefully.

I actually washed my One and it still works fine. My problem with them is that I forget to put it in my pocket so most of the time it sits on my counter.

Ahh I had the original Ultra go through the wash. I also lost an Ultra during some late night shenanigans which may have involved some libations.

I have the One now and so far, so good. I was very happy to hear that they made it more water resistant than the Ultra. I can't get behind the wristband idea... it can't compete with my MK watch!

JCbride2015

lolo883 said:

arrippa said:

lolo883 said:

I'm on my third. Check your laundry very carefully.

I actually washed my One and it still works fine. My problem with them is that I forget to put it in my pocket so most of the time it sits on my counter.

Ahh I had the original Ultra go through the wash. I also lost an Ultra during some late night shenanigans which may have involved some libations.

I have the One now and so far, so good. I was very happy to hear that they made it more water resistant than the Ultra. I can't get behind the wristband idea... it can't compete with my MK watch!

I love my Flex because it's water resistant, lives on my wrist, and is impossible to lose.  But my sister just got me a really cute watch for my graduation, and now I don't like them together!

The little electronic part of the Flex is detachable from the bracelet, so I wish they would make a clip-on holder as well.  I would totally buy that and switch off.

arrippa

JCbride2015 said:

lolo883 said:

arrippa said:

lolo883 said:

I'm on my third. Check your laundry very carefully.

I actually washed my One and it still works fine. My problem with them is that I forget to put it in my pocket so most of the time it sits on my counter.

Ahh I had the original Ultra go through the wash. I also lost an Ultra during some late night shenanigans which may have involved some libations.

I have the One now and so far, so good. I was very happy to hear that they made it more water resistant than the Ultra. I can't get behind the wristband idea... it can't compete with my MK watch!

I love my Flex because it's water resistant, lives on my wrist, and is impossible to lose.  But my sister just got me a really cute watch for my graduation, and now I don't like them together!

The little electronic part of the Flex is detachable from the bracelet, so I wish they would make a clip-on holder as well.  I would totally buy that and switch off

I like to wear pretty jewelry and the flex really does't go with it. Although, I have a had hard time wearing the One when I am sleeping. I am not sure how accurate it is tracking my hours of sleep, but the wristband bothers me when I sleep. I think the flex would be handy there.

theexactlee

I have the original and use out to track my sleep. And my steps of course. Link it up to myfitnessfriend.com

kla728

I have the bracelet and really like it. Have been wearing it for about 6 months. I would generally describe it as a fancy pedometer -- great gift, not something to buy yourself. Because I have a hard time getting much sleep these days (work FT, grad school FT, plan a wedding in between), I like the sleep feature as kind of an encouragement to take better care of myself. I also walk a lot to/from public transportation so on days when there just isn't time to workout, at least I know I walked 4-7 miles.

jdluvr06

I've been thinking about getting one. Probably the flex because I would forget to clip something on. I can't decide if it is worth the cost though.

gladyscf

I have the bracelet one and I love it. I also use the myfitnesspal app to track my calories because I like that app better for calorie counting. 

I've had it a few months now and I'm down 15 pounds. It's really helped put things into perspective for me about what I'm eating and how much I've been sitting on my ass. I make much better choices of what I'm eating. Not to say I don't usually have a day or so each week where I have something extra. I think it helps my frame of mind if I'm not always craving something bad for me. 

So my vote is for a Fitbit!

WinstonsGirl

I have a force, and I love the sleep tracker.  I was thinking I was getting 8+ hours a night, but with the time it takes me to fall asleep, or occasional late nights, I was averaging just over 7 a night.  I generally don't feel rested until 8.5/9 hours, so it was a bit of an eye opener.  I don't have a cell phone though, so I don't use it much for tracking anything other than what it already does (steps, floors climbed, but not calorie intake or water)

Ven&Radio

H has had two.  The first one lasted about a year.  The second one lasted 2 days.  Both fell off never to be seen again.  I use a Polar FT60 heart rate monitor to track my workouts.  I tried a FitBit and like the Polar much better. 

KPBM89

I use the Nike Fuelband and FI uses the Jawbone Up.  Spent a lot of time comparing different trackers before I got his Jawbone and overall it won for him because of its look and battery life.  FitBit was very similar to it, feature-wise.  The Fuelband I've had for 2 years and I maintain my obsession with it still.  We're both very into monitoring our daily activity and sort of competing for most calories/ steps daily.  FI loves that he can track his sleep (I wish Fuelband did this, but whatev).  I personally love trackers like these because they keep us motivated.

flyingfoxes

I have a One that work gave us last year, and I got FI the Force for Christmas (he's got hairy arms and didn't have the allergic reaction that caused them to discontinue that line so he still uses his).  I wish I had the bracelet kind, but I want the full display like on the Force so I'll wait for the next-gen before I replace my One.  I lost my first One in the yard mowing, and they sent me a new one which I've washed once and it survived.  I pretty much wear it every day and have little competitions with myself against FI although he always wins on the weekly step counts.