So who's wearing a fitbit every day?

[Ice Cream]

I just love mine. It's the first thing I put on in the morning, and I check it several times during the day. I thought the novelty was going to wear off, but it never did.

[seattlegirl]

Me!

I have the zip, and I clip it onto my bra so it doesn't get knocked off at work.  I've been using it for several months.

[Honey Badger]

Not the Fit Bit, but I've been wearing the Up Band since last summer.  I like it, although it is optimistic on number of steps and I've never bothered calibrating it.
My first one died and they replaced it.  When this one goes, I'll probably try something different.  Maybe a FitBit. 
DH just got the Withings Pulse O2.

The novelty hasn't worn off; in fact I'd say the opposite. I'd miss not having it.

[radial]

There's another thread about fitbits and the people who love them.  I've been using one, more or less, since December 2012.  I like it, even/especially when it tells me I'm not getting enough exercise.  My favorite model was the Force which had a little display that told the time of day, steps, miles, calories, active minutes, stairs, etc.  They had to recall it because it gave some people a rash.  I loved that thing, and it worked great for me.  I only traded my Force for the much less sophisticated Flex when it died in the surf. 

[Ice Cream]

Me!

I have the zip, and I clip it onto my bra so it doesn't get knocked off at work.  I've been using it for several months.

Yes, flex, too, on bra.  I don't think I would enjoy it on my wrist, and I don't want the world to know I am wearing one.

[Honey Badger]

Aaand DH just put his week old Withings through the laundry attached to a T-Shirt.
Oops.  $120 down the drain.  It's dead.

[ZiggyStardust]

Aaand DH just put his week old Withings through the laundry attached to a T-Shirt.
Oops.  $120 down the drain.  It's dead.

Yeah...I wore a zip last year for a few months and liked it. When I ran, I clipped it to my sports bra. One day, I forgot to un-clip it after running. 16 or so hours marinating in sweaty running clothes left it non-working. I keep meaning to see if a new battery is all it needs. But, I feel like I got a good sense as to number of steps on a non-running day vs a short run vs a day with a long run. Maybe I'd get more out of one with more bells and whistles?

[Mom of Scooby]

Aaand DH just put his week old Withings through the laundry attached to a T-Shirt.
Oops.  $120 down the drain.  It's dead.

I did this with my fit bit a few years ago.. I really want another... I almost did it with my fancy car key last week but thank goodness I noticed I could not start the car or that would have been $350 or so down the literal drain!


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[radial]

The fitbit Flex model (wristband) is "water resistant."  You wouldn't want to go scuba diving with it on, but you don't have to take it off to shower and it would probably survive an accidental laundry cycle or two. 

[ihop]

I killed my Fitbit in the wash too.   

[Magic Microbe]

I wear mine every day. I try an meet 20,000 steps a day. I am on my third zip. One fell off on a plane and another magically disappeared.

[Ice Cream]

I wear mine every day. I try an meet 20,000 steps a day. I am on my third zip. One fell off on a plane and another magically disappeared.

20,000 every day is impressive... How do you get there?

[Annoying Ultrarunner Wannabe]

I wear mine everyday. We are currently having a corporate team challenge and our team is in 2nd place. 
My goal is to have 10,000 steps excluding any running steps.

[Honey Badger]

Y'all are doing some impressive steps.
I have a hard time hitting 10,000 on days that I don't run.

[Ice Cream]

Y'all are doing some impressive steps.
I have a hard time hitting 10,000 on days that I don't run.

That's what I think, too.  I have one non-running day, and I reach about 4,500 steps then.

I have a weekly average of 120,000 steps, incl. my running.

[Magic Microbe]

20,000 every day is impressive... How do you get there?

10,000 is in the daily course of work and getting to/from. The other 10,000 should come from running for me.


And yet I am still way fat, go figure.

[radial]

I just bumped my daily goal up from 12,000 to 15,000 steps.  When I walk to work, it's pretty easy to exceed 20k steps.  But I don't do that every day, so it's better for me to aim lower.  Gotta get my little squirt of serotonin, even on days when I'm slacking

[Mom of Scooby]

I just ordered a replacement based on this thread!

[Ice Cream]

I just ordered a replacement based on this thread!

Which one did you get? I have the zip that I hook on my bra, and placed a reminder right next to the laundry machine's "on" button to remove the zip before starting a cycle.

[all-smiles]

I have one of the recalled forces and really enjoy it; I generally hit 8-9k if I have the kids and don't run and hit around 15k if I run but don't have the kids. I've been looking for a replacement but can't find exactly what I want 

[triciaflower]

I have one and I keep forgetting to charge it! I think I'm not using it to its potential, though.


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[radial]

I have one and I keep forgetting to charge it! I think I'm not using it to its potential, though.


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You can tell it to message you when the battery is getting low.  Mine is a relentless little pest when it needs more juice. 

[caito]

I may try using mine again.   Just to see.

So, you do wear it during your runs?  I feel like that's almost cheating!   

[radial]

I may try using mine again.   Just to see.

So, you do wear it during your runs?  I feel like that's almost cheating! 

Steps is steps!  You can tell it to measure with one stride length when you are running and a different one when you are walking. 

[Mom of Scooby]

Which one did you get? I have the zip that I hook on my bra, and placed a reminder right next to the laundry machine's "on" button to remove the zip before starting a cycle.

I forget what it's called but I think I got the one with the blue tooth so it could sync with my phone!

[Mom of Scooby]

Ok it came and it's all set up.. Who wants to friend me?


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[radial]

Ok it came and it's all set up.. Who wants to friend me?


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What's your name on the fitbit site? 

[Mom of Scooby]

My email is my account I think curlygirl61@gmail.com


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[radial]

My email is my account I think curlygirl61@gmail.com


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Invite sent

[Mom of Scooby]

Invite sent

Do you wear it for cycling? I'm running a few miles in the morning and then meeting some people for a 26 ish mile leisurely ride? I'm thinking clip to my bike shorts but I'm afraid of losing it


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[radial]

Do you wear it for cycling? I'm running a few miles in the morning and then meeting some people for a 26 ish mile leisurely ride? I'm thinking clip to my bike shorts but I'm afraid of losing it


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I wear it all the time, but I have the wrist band version and it does a terrible job with cycling because your wrists don't really move much on the bik.  If you have a clippable version, might better clip it to your socks

[Mom of Scooby]

I do just worried I might lose it


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[Magic Microbe]

Clip it to your bra...cant lose it then.

I will friend you.

[Mom of Scooby]

Clip it to your bra...cant lose it then.

I will friend you.

I know but if it's clipped to my bra how accurate will it be for cycling?


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[Mom of Scooby]

Also when I used it before, it could sync to my fitness pal, but now it looks like it has it's own food diary? Do you guys use the food diary as well?


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[all-smiles]

MoS you can still sync to MFP and that's the food tracker I use. I sent invites to a few people I found but I'm renita.s.patrick@gmail.com for those I missed . Some of y'all have some awesome totals for outside of running; I guess this is where my desk job comes into play!

[Mom of Scooby]

MoS you can still sync to MFP and that's the food tracker I use. I sent invites to a few people I found but I'm renita.s.patrick@gmail.com for those I missed . Some of y'all have some awesome totals for outside of running; I guess this is where my desk job comes into play!

I'll have to check do I do the sync on my fitness pal app or thru the fit bit app?


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[Ice Cream]

My email is my account I think curlygirl61@gmail.com


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Will friend you.

[Mom of Scooby]

Got it synced holy moly with all these friends I'm gonna feel pressure!


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[Magic Microbe]

I found a fitbit this morning but it had been run over.

[Mom of Scooby]

So it synced to my fitness pal and my fit bit said I burned 1400 or so calories (25 mile bike,2 mile run and 1 mile walk) but earned me 495 calories extra on my fitness pal? Is this right?

[Ice Cream]

We can create a group on Fitbit website. Anyone interested in joining.

[radial]

We can create a group on Fitbit website. Anyone interested in joining.

There's already a very small one called Invisible Friends.  Anybody interested in joining, PM me your email. 

[caito]

I am wearing mine today for the first time in ages.  4:20pm and 11,700 steps.  I ran 4 miles this morning.  I'm guessing that if I don't run, I won't make it to 10,000 steps.  Lots of sitting at work today. 

[Mom of Scooby]

There's already a very small one called Invisible Friends.  Anybody interested in joining, PM me your email.

I tried to find that and couldn't:(

[Mom of Scooby]

Never mind I'm in!!!

[Ice Cream]

There's already a very small one called Invisible Friends.  Anybody interested in joining, PM me your email. 

I sent you my email address, but don't know if it went through.
I tried to find the group, too, but was not successful. 

[radial]

I sent you my email address, but don't know if it went through.
I tried to find the group, too, but was not successful. 

I just got it and replied.  It's a hidden group, so it doesn't show up on the fitbit site.  Literally "invisible." 

[all-smiles]

Add me to the group please.  And my question is on the calories burned; it seems wonky. Like if I do an extra 8,000 steps it only give me a few hundred calories over my baseline.  Is that accurate? I.E if I do my 10,000 steps it'll give me around 2100. But if I do 18-19,000 steps it's only around 2500.

[Magic Microbe]

I need to compete for motivation. I hope y'all get lots of steps so I am motivated to up my game.

[Ice Cream]

Well, I made it to the top of the list...  Thanks, Radial.  Now, I would like to know who is who there.  I know who MoS and Radial are, but that is it.  I thought MM is  there, too, but the person I though she is does not have 20,000 steps a day average, so that must be wrong.  Can we clarify on that board?

Add me to the group please.  And my question is on the calories burned; it seems wonky. Like if I do an extra 8,000 steps it only give me a few hundred calories over my baseline.  Is that accurate? I.E if I do my 10,000 steps it'll give me around 2100. But if I do 18-19,000 steps it's only around 2500.

That sounds reasonable to me.  You get your basic metabolic rate plus a number based on the steps you are taking.  FWIW: I am at 1861 steps right now, and 1686 calories (day is not over yet; another 9:30 hours to go). On Sunday, I did 29,563 steps and burned 2622 calories, it says.  an extra 8-9000 steps is about 4-4.5 miles, so an extra 400 calories seem reasonable, esp. when walking.

[Mom of Scooby]

I can't seem to get to the group on my iPad or phone...only from my lap top is this correct?

[Magic Microbe]

Well, I made it to the top of the list...  Thanks, Radial.  Now, I would like to know who is who there.  I know who MoS and Radial are, but that is it.  I thought MM is  there, too, but the person I though she is does not have 20,000 steps a day average, so that must be wrong.  Can we clarify on that board?
That sounds reasonable to me.  You get your basic metabolic rate plus a number based on the steps you are taking.  FWIW: I am at 1861 steps right now, and 1686 calories (day is not over yet; another 9:30 hours to go). On Sunday, I did 29,563 steps and burned 2622 calories, it says.  an extra 8-9000 steps is about 4-4.5 miles, so an extra 400 calories seem reasonable, esp. when walking.

 
Its a goal.
Did I say somewhere that I get 20K steps a day every day? I said it was my goal.

On days I run I hit 20K. One days I don't I currently don't hit 20k.

[Ice Cream]

Its a goal.
Did I say somewhere that I get 20K steps a day every day? I said it was my goal.

On days I run I hit 20K. One days I don't I currently don't hit 20k.

I misunderstood. Sorry. So, you are in there.

[Mom of Scooby]

So my garmin told me I burned 574 calories, plus I walked 3/4 mile after my run which was not even logged on my watch and my fit bit calorie adjustment on my fitness pal is 380? Can someone explain this?

[Magic Microbe]

So my garmin told me I burned 574 calories, plus I walked 3/4 mile after my run which was not even logged on my watch and my fit bit calorie adjustment on my fitness pal is 380? Can someone explain this?

I am going with they use different formulas.

But double check and make sure you have the same weight programmed into each one. I never remember to update my weight in either.

[Mom of Scooby]

I am going with they use different formulas.

But double check and make sure you have the same weight programmed into each one. I never remember to update my weight in either.

My weight on my fit bit is higher... so that makes it even stranger.... My garmin I'm fairly certain accounts for pace.. not sure if the fit bit does or not... and running a distance probably actually uses less steps than walking because your stride is longer maybe?

[radial]

I am going with they use different formulas.

But double check and make sure you have the same weight programmed into each one. I never remember to update my weight in either.

Another fitbit parameter to tweak is your stride length.  If you are concerned about accuracy, you need to calculate both your walking and running stride lengths at the track and use those numbers rather than the defaults that fitbit uses if you don't input anything.  And if you want to get really crazy, get one of those wifi scales that automatically updates your weight so that the fitbit knows exactly how much you weigh at all times. 

[Mom of Scooby]

I'm not that crazy.. I'm probably better off using the lower calorie assessment anyway since I like to eat my calories

[radial]

I'm not that crazy.. I'm probably better off using the lower calorie assessment anyway since I like to eat my calories

You callin' me crazy?   

One other thing.  You can improve the accuracy of the fitbit calorie calculation by logging your workouts on the fitbit site.  For example, if you take a 25 mile bike ride, your fitbit is going to need some help.  The work you are doing with your legs isn't going to be registering with the fitbit on your wrist, so the fibit is going to be underestimating the burn.  If you want to fix that, log onto the site after your ride and log it as a cycling "activity," entering the start time, duration, mileage covered, etc.  That will cause the bogus inputs recorded during your ride to be overlayed with the data you enter plus data pulled from tables on how many calories people burn doing that type of activity.  I'm not that obsessive (usually), but that's how to do it if you are. 

[Mom of Scooby]

Hmm when I rode my bike I wore it on my hip.. More accurate?

[radial]

Hmm when I rode my bike I wore it on my hip.. More accurate?

I haven't tried that.  But when I'm pedaling, it isn't my hips that are moving very much.  So I don't think that the accelerometer in the fitbit would have much to work with.  If you want your cycling to be recognized for what it is on your fitbit dashboard, I think you'll need to explicitly log it.  The fitbit handles walking and running just fine.  Other kinds of workouts, you need to supply more information. 

[Ice Cream]

I haven't tried that.  But when I'm pedaling, it isn't my hips that are moving very much.  So I don't think that the accelerometer in the fitbit would have much to work with.  If you want your cycling to be recognized for what it is on your fitbit dashboard, I think you'll need to explicitly log it.  The fitbit handles walking and running just fine.  Other kinds of workouts, you need to supply more information. 

The fitbit measures biking? How does that work, and how does it "translate" into steps?

[radial]

The fitbit measures biking? How does that work, and how does it "translate" into steps?

No it doesn't, that's what I'm saying.  A fitbit doesn't do a very good job of measuring biking, even if you clip it to your shoe like some people do.  That's why if you want the calories you burn during a cycling workout to be properly accounted for on your fitbit dashboard, you have to enter it manually as an activity.  It doesn't translate into additional steps or miles, just additional effort which is reflected in higher calorie and active minute counts. 

[Mom of Scooby]

So today it gave me 1111 calories for my run plus walking a mile up a huge hill and 10 flights of stairs to my daughters apt after the run... Just for the run my garmin gave me 1405 ..

[Ice Cream]

So today it gave me 1111 calories for my run plus walking a mile up a huge hill and 10 flights of stairs to my daughters apt after the run... Just for the run my garmin gave me 1405 ..

How far did you run?

[Mom of Scooby]

How far did you run?

12.3

[radial]

12.3

According to the fitbit or the Garmin?  Or did they both agree on the distance?  Oh, and what model of Garmin are you using?

[Magic Microbe]

1400 seems like a lot for 12 miles unless you're heavy, which you aren't.

[Mom of Scooby]

1400 seems like a lot for 12 miles unless you're heavy, which you aren't.

I am I weigh a lot more than I look like I do

[Mom of Scooby]

According to the fitbit or the Garmin?  Or did they both agree on the distance?  Oh, and what model of Garmin are you using?

I only used my watch for the actual run we walked up a mile of pretty much straight, steep hill after with about 8 flights of outdoor  hill stairs.. My farming didn't even record that and had me at much higher calories..

I'm pretty sure my garmin also takes pace into consideration

[Ice Cream]

I looked at my Garmin data and could not find a 12.3 mile run or anything that close recently. However, I did find a 16 mile run in mid-July that gave me 1469 cal. according to Garmin.

Having said this, I had to adjust the Fitbit for calorie burn. It estimated that I needed to burn about 2,200 calories a day.  That was impossible to reach; mind that I run about 40-45 miles per week and do some leisurely walking throughout the day. Last Thursday, I did 14,317 steps for 2008 calories.  (Fitbit says that was 7.8 miles)  I now have the Fitbit set at 2,000 calories for daily goal.

I estimate that I burn about 90 calories per mile. Maybe a bit less.

[Mom of Scooby]

I had a huge day today over 27,000 and just passed radial

[radial]

I had a huge day today over 27,000 and just passed radial

Oh, that's the way it is?  Watch your 6, missy. 

[radial]

I'm pretty sure my garmin also takes pace into consideration

Depends on what model Garmin you are using and whether you are using the heart rate monitor function.  If you are just using a watch without a HR strap, your Garmin is calculating calories based on time and distance.  That isn't going to be particularly accurate since it doesn't take into account variables like elevation change, or running into a headwind. I doubt it would be any more accurate than a fitbit which is doing pretty much the same thing and does it well enough if you configure it properly. 

[Ice Cream]

So, I dropped my fitbit, and it now works only part-time.  It sometimes records, and sometimes remains blank... 
I immediately ordered a new one!

[radial]

Got a $140 credit on Friday for the fitbit Force I sent back in pieces.  The Force is the model they recalled, but I hung onto mine until the bitter end and then sent back the remains fully expecting to be ignored.  They refunded the full purchase price plus shipping, so of course I immediately bought a new one!  These guys really do customer service right. 

[Ice Cream]

I have/had/ordered a zip.  I am not good about keeping things on my wrist.