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Old 01-07-2014, 07:27 PM   #21
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Didn't know anything about these until I got a Fitbit Force this last Christmas. Someone said "annoyingly addictive". True! But in a good way.

What I find is that it has encouraged me to do semi strange things like skip the elevator, park at the back of the lot, and take a lap around the building at w*rk to get my coffee. These are small things that add up. It is helping me see the effect of those actions.

Otherwise, my real exercise is cycling and swimming which it cannot count well.

The Force is nice in that you can access the display directly, but i think I would have been OK with the cheaper flex.

I don't use it for sleep or anything else. I also didn't pay for the web site, just use the basic functions which are free. Want to be clear that you are not required to pay for the web site to get basic function.
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Old 01-07-2014, 09:01 PM   #22
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I own the original Fitbit - whatever the model was prior to the One. It's still going strong after 3+ years or so. Like everyone else, it's addictive and it is encouraging. I don't wear it every day because I realized after wearing it at work vs. home that I easily get about 10,000 steps per day at work and ordinarily only get about 3,000 steps at home unless I consciously do something like walk to the library/other.

I'm not sure about regular dancing, but we play quite a bit of Just Dance on the Wii, and I can rack up about 500 steps per song (I think that's about 1/4 of a mile?) wearing it on my waistband. It works out to about 40 calories per song for me and I can play for hours at a time when I'm in the mood (mostly only in the mood when I'm not working and don't have to get up early).
It clips on well and I've never had a problem with it coming close to falling off.

It's helpful to me too to limit what I do sometimes. For instance, I know now that my 7 y.o. retriever can't handle as much as about 120 floors in elevation and 20,000+ steps (~10 miles) of hiking in one day. He was limping for 2 days after days like that this summer when I wasn't working. Ordinarily, I'd just keep going according to only my endurance, but I keep an eye on the mileage now for his sake.
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Old 01-07-2014, 09:20 PM   #23
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Didn't know anything about these until I got a Fitbit Force this last Christmas. Someone said "annoyingly addictive". True! But in a good way.

What I find is that it has encouraged me to do semi strange things like skip the elevator, park at the back of the lot, and take a lap around the building at w*rk to get my coffee. These are small things that add up. It is helping me see the effect of those actions.

Otherwise, my real exercise is cycling and swimming which it cannot count well.

The Force is nice in that you can access the display directly, but i think I would have been OK with the cheaper flex.

I don't use it for sleep or anything else. I also didn't pay for the web site, just use the basic functions which are free. Want to be clear that you are not required to pay for the web site to get basic function.
I have never paid for the web site either (and never would). I use the website every day, though, mostly to look up my steps from the day before or previous days in order to enter them in my own records here at home.
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Old 01-07-2014, 10:42 PM   #24
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Check out the latest wearable technology from CES (Consumer Electronics Show) happening in Vegas this week!
Wearable tech from CES 2014 | CES 2014 - CNET Blogs

DH lost his FitBit zip, but FitBit replaced it for free. In our case we found that FitBit didn't change behavior but for tracking purposes it is great.

In addition to FitBit, also consider its competitors Nike Fuelband and Jawbone Up.
Comparison of Nike+ FuelBand, FitBit, Jawbone Up, and More
Comparison chart of the Nike FuelBand, Fitbit Flex (black), Jawbone Up and Fitbit Zip - CNET Reviews
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Old 01-08-2014, 12:51 PM   #25
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I want to thank everyone for these very helpful posts. The ones which contrast different models filled in big gaps in my knowledge.

Not sure yet what I will do, but whatever it is, this discussion has really helped.

Ha
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Old 01-09-2014, 04:42 AM   #26
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Ha - have you checked the reviews here : http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...ords=Pedometer
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Old 01-09-2014, 06:21 AM   #27
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The Fitbit also tells me pretty clear what activities are really helping me. For example, when we walk in the neighborhood it is clear that I burn more calories when we walk up and down the hilly areas.
You need to let the computer on top of your head evaluate the output of these devices. I imagine Fitbit is great for keeping track of the overall number of steps and motivating you to take a few more to reach your goals. I also assume the difference in numbers of steps taken over time may fairly accurately differentiate the energy expended running or walking. But hills? You could be burning a lot more energy climbing hills than walking the same amount of time on flat ground yet the Fitbit would count fewer strides and downgrade the activity. DW just started her Fitbit Force yesterday. It accurately counts stair flights climbed. Does anyone know whether it tallies up a few flights on hills? My guess is that the altitude change needs to be a certain magnitude within a specific range of steps consistent with climbing a flight of stairs to register so other hills would get left out.
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Old 01-09-2014, 07:52 AM   #28
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You need to let the computer on top of your head evaluate the output of these devices. I imagine Fitbit is great for keeping track of the overall number of steps and motivating you to take a few more to reach your goals. I also assume the difference in numbers of steps taken over time may fairly accurately differentiate the energy expended running or walking. But hills? You could be burning a lot more energy climbing hills than walking the same amount of time on flat ground yet the Fitbit would count fewer strides and downgrade the activity. DW just started her Fitbit Force yesterday. It accurately counts stair flights climbed. Does anyone know whether it tallies up a few flights on hills? My guess is that the altitude change needs to be a certain magnitude within a specific range of steps consistent with climbing a flight of stairs to register so other hills would get left out.
One of my walking route has hills. I mean, pretty steep hills, the kind that make you go to the lowest gear on the bike. The fitbit force gives me "credit" for floors climbed when I walk these hills at a reasonable pace.

It will ignore a gentle grade.

If it causes you to huff and puff, it will get you floor climbing credit (and hence calorie credit).
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Old 01-09-2014, 11:15 AM   #29
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DW just started her Fitbit Force yesterday. It accurately counts stair flights climbed. Does anyone know whether it tallies up a few flights on hills? My guess is that the altitude change needs to be a certain magnitude within a specific range of steps consistent with climbing a flight of stairs to register so other hills would get left out.
Your guess is not correct. I live in a hilly area and go walking outside. Yesterday, it recorded 11 flights of stairs which seems about right for the walk.

What it does not record is flights on a treadmill with an incline. The altimeter is based upon changes in atmospheric pressure and there aren't any on a treadmill with an incline.

Also, I get more very active minutes when I walk in a hilly area than I would in a flat area at the same pace. So, it seems quite accurate to me in that regard.

On another note, earlier I said it wouldn't count steps when I was rowing. It didn't do that when I was using my Fitbit One (in my pocket). Using the Force, I realized yesterday that it does count steps on rowing and the calorie expenditure without "naming" the activity is very close to that I would get if I named rowing so I don't have to name activity when rowing with a wrist based Fitbit.
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Old 01-09-2014, 11:56 AM   #30
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Using the Force, I realized yesterday that it does count steps on rowing and the calorie expenditure without "naming" the activity is very close to that I would get if I named rowing so I don't have to name activity when rowing with a wrist based Fitbit.
How well does this calorie count line up with the readout on the Concept2?

Also, on Amazon some users seemed to complain about adventitious activity being counted-like riding on public trans, or in elevators and escalators. Can you just turn the device off when you enter either of these conveyances?

Ha
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Old 01-09-2014, 12:01 PM   #31
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How well does this calorie count line up with the readout on the Concept2?

Also, on Amazon some users seemed to complain about adventitious activity being counted-like riding on public trans, or in elevators and escalators. Can you just turn the device off when you enter either of these conveyances?

Ha
Calorie count was similar, but not identical, not enough difference to matter.

You can't turn the device off. You can take it off and if it is the Force and it is still it won't measure steps. That said, my experience is that it doesn't miscount much. It will occasionally do so, but it is trivial over the course of a day.

You might find this page would give some information on this:

https://help.fitbit.com/customer/por...ticles/1227423

Overall, I find the Force more accurate on these things than the One was. However, the Force doesn't count all my steps when I am pushing a shopping cart (it counts some but it undercuts significantly). I can either push one handed (what I usually do) or I can thread the Force through my shoe laces and where it on my foot.
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Old 01-09-2014, 12:06 PM   #32
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Does anyone know whether it tallies up a few flights on hills?
IME it tallies up flights at nearly any excuse and I think that function is essentially useless unless one just wants a rough estimate, plus or minus a half dozen flights of stairs.

I don't climb stairs at all, and I don't walk up hills either (this is the flattest place in the universe), yet some days it will say I have climbed 5-6 flights of stairs. It has to be triggered either by the up and down movement on the elliptical, weight lifting machines, or other gym equipment, or else by climbing into the SUV. At least, those are my best guesses.
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Old 01-09-2014, 01:32 PM   #33
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Whenever I was short of steps with my Fitbit, I would just hop in the car while wearing it and go for a drive.
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Old 01-09-2014, 02:10 PM   #34
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Whenever I was short of steps with my Fitbit, I would just hop in the car while wearing it and go for a drive.
That definitely doesn't work for the Flex! I wish! Because I'm not above padding, but can't quite figure out how to game it, dang it. I do try to swing my arms around a lot, just in case.
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Old 01-09-2014, 05:22 PM   #35
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+1 for Fitbit Force. Gave one to DW as a Christmas present this year and she is very happy with it. She's been sharing it with DD and DS and they now both want one as well ... Fitbit not ideal for me, b/c I do alot of swimming, paddling and surfing that aren't well tracked by that device (as noted above for a handful of other activities).
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Old 01-09-2014, 07:34 PM   #36
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My fitbit doesn't register anything at all when I use elevators and escalators. If I actually walk up or down on the escalator, it counts it though. Not sure how it knows the difference, but it is very accurate on the # of floors. Living in a bungalow, I hardly ever get any floors registering unless it's laundry day in the basement. Or hiking in the mountains. Or fire drill at work and walking down 19 floors.
One of these days, I'll wear it on a day of downhill skiing and see what it records.
The other thing that I like that hasn't been mentioned is that the battery life runs around 5 days to a week or so without recharging. Handy when you take it on a weekend away and don't bring the charger.
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I bought the Fitbit 0ne
Old 01-30-2014, 07:34 PM   #37
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I bought the Fitbit 0ne

So far I like it. It is much smaller than the pe4dometer it replaces, and it seems to get steps that the pedometer missed. I got it mid- afternoon, and charged it and set up my account, then walked over to Trader Joe to get some decent wine for dinner (I'm undergoing hedonic adaptation in the wine department). Anyway, it is a short walk, pretty much all on the ridge where I live, yet when I looked at my email there was a congratulations on my first 10 floors. I think this will be motivating, as it is pretty hilly here and even while I am still crutching I should normally get quite a few floors just in my routine daily activities.

Ha
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Old 01-30-2014, 07:47 PM   #38
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So far I like it. It is much smaller than the pe4dometer it replaces, and it seems to get steps that the pedometer missed. I got it mid- afternoon, and charged it and set up my account, then walked over to Trader Joe to get some decent wine for dinner (I'm undergoing hedonic adaptation in the wine department). Anyway, it is a short walk, pretty much all on the ridge where I live, yet when I looked at my email there was a congratulations on my first 10 floors. I think this will be motivating, as it is pretty hilly here and even while I am still crutching I should normally get quite a few floors just in my routine daily activities.

Ha
Yes, DH and I walked in our subdivision this afternoon which is a little hilly and got 18 floors! It does help with the motivation.
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Old 01-30-2014, 08:03 PM   #39
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I had never heard of fitbit - but a friend was raving about it today at lunch.
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Re: I bought the Fitbit 0ne
Old 01-30-2014, 09:09 PM   #40
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Re: I bought the Fitbit 0ne

Quote:
Originally Posted by haha View Post
So far I like it. It is much smaller than the pe4dometer it replaces, and it seems to get steps that the pedometer missed. I got it mid- afternoon, and charged it and set up my account, then walked over to Trader Joe to get some decent wine for dinner (I'm undergoing hedonic adaptation in the wine department). Anyway, it is a short walk, pretty much all on the ridge where I live, yet when I looked at my email there was a congratulations on my first 10 floors. I think this will be motivating, as it is pretty hilly here and even while I am still crutching I should normally get quite a few floors just in my routine daily activities.

Ha
Good choice! I have worn my Fitbit One every day for over a year, and have found it to be very motivational. I am pretty sure you are going to get a lot of fun and benefit from wearing it, too.
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