Fit bits?

[Tybee]

Several of you have mentioned using Fit Bits. Catherine, you just talked about how it measured your sleep.
I could probably use that, along with activity functions. What exactly do they measure? Do they measure O2 levels--and do they measure those while you sleep, as well?
How do you access the data?
Does anyone have a good one that is under a hundred dollars, and what exactly can they do? Somebody else--Terry, maybe? mentioned how it helped you to lose weight?

[catherine]

I wasn't even thinking about getting one until my 36 y.o. son was diagnosed with borderline high blood pressure. He got one--and he's the Luddite of the family. Last to get a cell phone, last to get a TV.. that kind of thing. So it's not like he's a tech geek or buys those kinds of toys.

So I had a bunch of AMEX points from my business travel and I like to spend those on something I wouldn't necessarily pay for myself. I asked my son if he thought I should get one and he said yes.

I use it because it keeps you reminded to move.

It measures steps--default is 10k a day, but you can create whatever goal you want.
It measures heart rate, both resting and active and tracks it over time
It measures sleep--REM, deep, light, periods of wakefulness
Those are the things I look at the most. It also tracks:
How many floors climbed
How many miles you walk
How many calories you burn
How many minutes you spent in higher-intensity activity

You can log things like water and food consumed and weight lost.

It syncs with your smart phone and laptop/desktop devices.

I really love it. It's hard to find them on sale, though. Sometimes you can get them for as low as $129 (https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_6_4?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=fitbit+charge+2&sprefix=fitb%2Caps%2C150&crid=1BGQ6KR46Z1MT). I have the Charger 2

[Tybee]

Thanks, Catherine! The sleep function sounds like a cheap sleep study, which I could use.
I will look at the Charger 2, thanks for the link!!

[iris lilies]

But how effective is the data from sleep? I am skeptical. Without doing any reading up, I have to wonder about inflated claims.

[Ultralight]

No fit bit for me. I am trying to delay the inevitable moment when I become a cyborg.

[catherine]

But how effective is the data from sleep? I am skeptical. Without doing any reading up, I have to wonder about inflated claims.

Here's what Buzzfeed said after testing Fitbit against a chest monitor: Full article (https://www.buzzfeed.com/nicolenguyen/fitbit-alta-hr-heart-rate-accuracy?utm_term=.qn5bJZZaOQ#.rwxdWXXG52). It's close enough for me. For a little over $100 I don't expect perfection but it does the job. Garmin watches are more accurate, but also more expensive.


So, Which Tracker Should You Buy?
It ultimately depends on your goals.

If you’re a cardiac patient, an endurance athlete, or just someone looking for the most accurate reading possible, consider getting a chest strap. Milton’s personal preference is a Polar chest strap paired with the Polar Beat or Polar Flow apps for tracking progress. The Polar H7 ($80) and newer H10 ($90) are what we used for testing the Alta HR’s heart rate accuracy.

In terms of wearables, Milton says she trusts Garmin watches. “Anecdotally, every client’s reading has been spot on," she said. "I measured their VO2 Max, and the watch is within 1 millimeter per kg per minute." VO2 Max is the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during exercise and is typically measured with lab equipment, but wearables like Garmin can estimate your VO2 Max using heart rate data provided during a workout and other statistics like age and gender.

From our own testing, it seems the Apple Watch performed very closely to the chest strap for most runs. Still, like the Alta HR, the watch was less accurate during high-movement workouts, like bumpy bike rides.

All that said, if you’re someone who’s just getting into exercise, Fitbit’s new wearable might be what you want. A wearable like the Alta HR is a sufficient measure of your average resting heart rate, which is an indication of your overall heart health, and the intensity of a workout, which is important to keep up if you’re trying to burn fat.

[Tybee]

Apparently Fit Bit does not include what I need, which is a pulse oximeter I can wear that tracks constantly. I have a finger pulse oximeter but wanted it for the sleep function. I found this possibility on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/BodiMetrics-Vibe-Sleep-Fitness-Monitor/dp/B01N6FUNNG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1502720587&sr=8-3&keywords=pulse+oximeter+watch+with+alarm

[Simplemind]

I exercise every day and use a three different ways to track. I have found the fitbit to be inaccurate no matter how much I dink around with it. That disappointed me because it was the only system I wore 24/7. It also punked out after about a year and a half.

[Teacher Terry]

I used it to lose 40 lbs. I made sure i walked 10k steps/day and also ate only between 1400-1600 calories/day. I used the fitbit app to see how many calories are in specific foods. I had one cheat day/week where I ate whatever I wanted within reason of course. It took a year to get it off and I have kept it off for 2 years now.

[Tybee]

Terry, I am so inspired by you! Thank you, this is definitely making me want to get some kind of tracking watch. But I would love it to track my oxygen levels because I have respiratory disease.

[Teacher Terry]

Thanks Tybee! I also have asthma and I have the finger meter but like you can't track my oxygen while I sleep. But the sleep apnea doctor told me that my oxygen levels are good when I use my CPAP machine but down to 64% when I don't.

[rosarugosa]

Consider eBay! DH & I have used FBs for a few years now. I disliked the rubber bracelet of the FB Flex and preferred the clip-on models, so I got a FB Zip. I used it for about a year, but did not like replacing the battery every 3 months, so I upgraded to the FB One (rechargeable clip-on). Those run about $100, but I got a brand new in the box one from eBay for under $50.
I'm just looking for step count and motivation, so other users may want features this one doesn't have, but regardless, you might find what you want cheaper on eBay. It was not an auction either, it was a "buy it now."

[Tybee]

That's a good idea, Rosa, to look on ebay!