Do Fitbits Really Work?

[Anonymous]

I got a gift card to brookstone and the only thing I can think of to buy there is a Fitbit. I'm not really interested in any of tier other merchandise. But are fitbits all that great? I can't decide. Part of me thinks I should just re-gift the gift card to someone who likes lots do the kinds of things that brookstone sells. Tell me why I should or shouldn't buy one of these things!

[Anonymous]

Do you need to lose weight? Are you interested in walking/jogging?

If the answer is yes, get a Fitbit. Otherwise save your money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you need to lose weight? Are you interested in walking/jogging?

If the answer is yes, get a Fitbit. Otherwise save your money.

Hmmm. Ok. I am not overweight but I wouldn't mind losing some pounds around my stomach. And I don't run, I do spinning, weights and yoga. I take it the Fitbit doesn't quantify those activities? I do sit on my butt at work all day and could use something to motivate me to move more during the day, but I could just get a pedometer for that. I thought the Fitbit was supposed to do much more than that though?

[Anonymous]

Not for me. Well, maybe it helped motivate me in the beginning to get more active b/c I wanted to reach goals, but it didn't help me when I started getting serious about my weight loss b/c my activities weren't ones that could be monitored by pedometer and it became a hassle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you need to lose weight? Are you interested in walking/jogging?

If the answer is yes, get a Fitbit. Otherwise save your money.

Hmmm. Ok. I am not overweight but I wouldn't mind losing some pounds around my stomach. And I don't run, I do spinning, weights and yoga. I take it the Fitbit doesn't quantify those activities? I do sit on my butt at work all day and could use something to motivate me to move more during the day, but I could just get a pedometer for that. I thought the Fitbit was supposed to do much more than that though?

you have to manually enter other activities. It works, but walking and stairs are auto calculated.

[Anonymous]

I am confused by this: just got one, and i can enter the other activities, but it looks like I have to figure out how many calories I burned doing those activities. Seems beside the point- couldn't it at least calculate the calories for me if I enter the activity and time?

[Anonymous]

If you are calorie counting the Fitbit is very helpful. Gives you a good estimate of your 'ambient' activity level, i.e. Walking around the house, work, etc. This can lead to calorie bonuses each day and help to better manage your overall intake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am confused by this: just got one, and i can enter the other activities, but it looks like I have to figure out how many calories I burned doing those activities. Seems beside the point- couldn't it at least calculate the calories for me if I enter the activity and time?

If you enter the activity (from the website or app) it will calculate the calories.