fit bit [Archive] - Simple Living Forums

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Zoe Girl

12-25-17, 2:51pm

This is probably not the most popular item on Simple Living, but I am super excited that I got a fit bit from my parents! My mom asked for one bigger ticket idea from each person so I thought this would be perfect. It has the heart rate monitor that i felt I needed. And it will help me make sure I am not sitting all day, it is quite varied how much I walk during the day. I tend to think that I walk a lot but I really don't know.

In any case I am setting it up and giving it a charge before I walk around the park today.

rosarugosa

12-25-17, 3:46pm

I really love my FB and it has definitely motivated me to do more walking. Enjoy!

Simplemind

12-25-17, 7:56pm

My last fitbit made it a year before going kaput and I didn't replace it. BUT, got very excited when I saw a new one came out that could be worn swimming. Low and behold, Santa put one in my sock. Now I can get credit for my swimming every morning.

Zoe Girl

12-25-17, 8:55pm

Only 5000 steps, but sitting a lot today due to holiday. I just walked a mile in the chilly weather

Tradd

12-25-17, 10:31pm

bae

12-26-17, 12:55am

I got one 2 months ago, and it has been great at keeping me honest.

ToomuchStuff

12-26-17, 1:53am

Anyone look at the clones? I saw one at a local damaged freight store, that didn't connect online, where it supplied my information to some company.

rosarugosa

12-26-17, 6:43am

Anyone look at the clones? I saw one at a local damaged freight store, that didn't connect online, where it supplied my information to some company.

No, but I did buy my last FB through eBay and it was much cheaper than through the FB site.

catherine

12-26-17, 9:30am

I've had mine since June. It's definitely past the new toy novelty stage, and I love it. I check my heart rate and sleep habits every day. I pay attention to the trends, and I definitely pay attention to the steps. One of the things that surprised me as how many steps you rack up just by doing housework. The past two days I EASILY passed 10--just from running around getting the house ready for Christmas! In my mind, that alone is an argument against hiring cleaning help. I'd rob myself of valuable steps!

Also, I track my heart rate because it tends to run high. And I've found a correlation between between a high heart rate and alcohol consumption and normal everyday stress (as opposed to de-stressing alone in nature).

I think you'll really like it, ZG!

lmerullo

12-26-17, 11:52am

I've had my fitness tracker for close to two years. It's very motivational - and continues to be so after the new wears off.

I have a Misfit Shine 2. Love their support, and when I lost mine in a pool on Memorial weekend they helped me try to find it through an app, and ultimately sent a new one! 5+ star rating!

Likes: visual progress tracker, doesn't need charging, tracks 24/7 to include sleep, water proof so I wear it always, tracks swimming, provides text and phone notifications.

Dislikes: no heart rate monitoring on this version, app works better - more robust on Apple and I have android, strap - although alternatives can be bought.

KayLR

12-26-17, 4:22pm

I know it doesn't have the name, but I've loved my Garmin Vivofit for 3 years now. I do not have to charge it and the battery lasts for up to or > a year. It tracks steps, miles, cals, and beeps and shows a red line when I've been sitting too long. That's all I needed for way cheaper than a FitBit. And I can wear it in the pool.

Zoe Girl

12-26-17, 5:18pm

Also, I track my heart rate because it tends to run high. And I've found a correlation between between a high heart rate and alcohol consumption and normal everyday stress (as opposed to de-stressing alone in nature).

I think you'll really like it, ZG!

I have a staff that tells me not to answer the door for parents in the afternoon because then she won't get her steps in! I usually spend the afternoon walking between 2-3 entrances and answering the doors. I am interested to see how many steps I get in a normal work day. I am running camp today and it is pretty mellow but I still have over 8,000 steps in.

My heart rate is something I really want to track as well. I found that caffeine and a stress spike will trigger the heart rate jumping up high. Not pleasant at all. I saw the DR and apparently everything is fine, but caffeine needs to be cut in half at least. I only drink tea even! It is just hard with long days. I am dragging today and already had 2 cups of tea,

Simplemind

12-26-17, 5:37pm

I have the Fitbit Flex2 which you can wear swimming. I had been looking at a ring you could wear swimming I think it was Motiv? I'm just so happy they now have one that is waterproof because of all exercise that I can guarantee in a day it is swimming and water aerobics, especially in winter weather.

ApatheticNoMore

12-26-17, 6:36pm

there are apps for smart phones that track as well now, ok I've seen others with them, I don't think they are as accurate from the readings, but if one doesn't' want to buy another device and one isn't that picky it might satisfice (says me who doesn't have any and so doesn't really care, but I did hit the gym today :)).

https://www.lifewire.com/android-and-iphone-step-counters-4151586
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/the-best-android-apps-for-counting-steps/

Teacher Terry

12-26-17, 8:23pm

Mine helped me lose 40lbs 3 years ago.

Reyes

12-26-17, 9:39pm

I got one this past year as I had a 5-million step goal for 2017. I am on track to complete the 5-million with a couple days to spare:-)

Zoe Girl

12-26-17, 11:01pm

Mine helped me lose 40lbs 3 years ago.

Great! I had my weight creep up the last month, I really am ready to bring it back down in a sustainable healthy way.

BTW I had 11K steps today running camp, it felt like the typical activity level for camp days.

The Storyteller

1-5-18, 9:02am

My son got one for me a couple of years ago. I like to push myself to see how early I can get my 10,000 steps in. My personal record is 9:40 am. Most steps in a day was 40k. A bit much for me. I've never come close since.

So, yeah. It motivates me a lot.

The Storyteller

1-5-18, 9:46am

I got one this past year as I had a 5-million step goal for 2017. I am on track to complete the 5-million with a couple days to spare:-)

Wow. Impressive. Well done, you!

Zoe Girl

1-5-18, 4:40pm

Impressive for everyone! I had camp on Tuesday and a lot of tasks at my site, so 17,000 steps, Wow! That has been my highest, the FM here says he gets more like 30K in his job.

BikingLady

1-7-18, 6:06pm

I am so glad others like fitness trackers. I have had a few even the Apple Watch (hated). I love my ugly last generation Garmin Vivoactive. I like the gps and app. Running I need the you go girl instant praise I get from it! Silly isn't it that I need to be rewarded even if no one else ever sees.

SO because it is ugly to wear all day, I tried the Apple too much tech for me, then in the fall I got the Motiv Ring and resold it on eBay asap. Not enough tech. Then last month for Christmas I got a Fossil hybrid watch, that was too dressy and did not reward me enough with tech and such. DIL has it now.http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=2048&stc=1So I got a pink band off eBay for the old Garmin and I will be happy

BikingLady

1-7-18, 6:08pm

Mine helped me lose 40lbs 3 years ago.
YEAH!

Gardenarian

1-18-18, 11:35pm

catherine

1-19-18, 3:56am

I want to get a fitbit for dh for Valentine's day - his doctor says he's getting metabolic syndrome.

I'm thinking I'll buy him the Charge 2.

I don't really understand how they work- do they sync with your phone? Do you read the data on the fitbit or on an app? He has an iPhone 5s and I think it will work with that.

For calories - do you have to type in everything you eat? Does it figure out nutrients too?

Thanks for your help :)

I have the Charge2 and love it. I also have an iPhone 5s, and it works great. It syncs with your phone app, and also online. So, you can read the data on all three, although it's presented differently on each. The things I use the most are the exercise metrics--steps, stairs, intense exercise/cardio. I always look at my phone first thing in the morning to see my sleep patterns and how much I've slept. And I regularly check my heart rate, resting and non-resting, during the day.

You do have to manually input your food intake and water intake and weight. When you log food, it breaks it down by calorie, fat, fiber, carb, sodium and protein.

Another advantage of the Charge2 is that it flags you when you get a phone call and you can read text messages on it when they come in.

I think your DH will love it! I bought mine with AMEX points, and when my DH saw it he got one for himself.

Gardenarian

1-19-18, 3:09pm

Thanks Catherine, very helpful!

Gardenarian

2-17-18, 2:56am

Yay, my dh does LOVE his fitbit Charge 2, and they lowered the price a week before Valentine's day.
I'm considering one for myself :)

catherine

2-17-18, 9:14am

Yay, my dh does LOVE his fitbit Charge 2, and they lowered the price a week before Valentine's day.
I'm considering one for myself :)

Cool!

One interesting personal factoid. As you may know, we lost our dog of 10 years last week. She was a fabulous dog, but her one "character flaw" was that she would wake me up every night and disturb my sleep. Plus, I would get up at the crack of dawn every morning to walk her, no matter what time I went to bed. Then, of course, in January when she got sick, I stayed up a lot with her and rarely got a good night sleep. I miss her tremendously, but one thing I've noticed is that I have gone from getting extremely variable amounts of sleep with deficient REM and deep sleep stages to sleeping between 7.5 and 8 hours EVERY NIGHT, and achieving the top end levels of REM and deep sleep according to the benchmark for people my age.

I just wonder how many brain cells and beauty sleep I've lost over the years! Yes, she was worth a few brain cells and wrinkles, but still.....

Interesting stuff you can learn with your Fitbit.

BikingLady

3-29-18, 5:11am

Catherine, I hear you on the dog and sleep. Over the years with dogs...14 years we had chihuahuas who never slept all night 2 am was the mid night let me out time. This pattern becomes set in the sleep pattern or non sleep. Now we have 3 big dogs they would never have to go out unless I yell at them! Little Jack thinks I want to get up at 2 as I roll over and I started that patten of letting her out then realized the same was happening that it was just a pattern. BUT we have Polly a 51 pound problem we love. Polly has never gone to bed when everyones does, wanders in whenever and it caused problems with little Jack Russell proving her dominance. Growing and barking about 3 hours after I fall asleep. The Polly moves a great deal and sneezes often.

Yes those that make dogs sleep in other room must sleep so much better.

BikingLady

3-29-18, 5:14am

I ended up getting the new Vivoactive 3 Garmin and love it. I still really only use the tracking of my exercise/time and distance, but like the look better. Too funny I will be listening to hubby talk about work and say OH have to stop and breathe I am at medium stress according to watch!