Activity Monitors/Recorders

[obgyn65]

Ha - have you checked the reviews here : http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Pedometer

 

[donheff]

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.

 

[JoeWras]

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).

 

[Katsmeow]

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.

 

[haha]

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

 

[Katsmeow]

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/portal/articles/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.

 

[W2R]

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.

 

[Bestwifeever]

Whenever I was short of steps with my Fitbit, I would just hop in the car while wearing it and go for a drive.

 

[Sarah in SC]

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.

 

[TallTim]

+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).

 

[JacqJolie]

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.

 

[haha]

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

 

[Katsmeow]

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.

 

[rodi]

I had never heard of fitbit - but a friend was raving about it today at lunch.

 

[W2R]

Re: 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

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.

 

[Chuckanut]

Fitbit for a fit butt?

 

[HFWR]

Fitbit for a fit butt?

Fitbit so your butt will fit?

 

[MuirWannabe]

I received my new Fitbit Force about 2 weeks ago. Overall I like it a lot. But here are a few things I've noticed:

1. I'd prefer a more traditional watch band clasp rather than the clasp used with the fitbit wrist band. I find it sometime stubborn to get latched solidly.

2. It does not seem to give me as much step credits for running versus walking. Am I thinking about this wrong? Should'nt I get the same number of steps regardless of running versus walking?

3. It does not give me floor credits for using the incline on my treadmill. I wish it would but it does not recognize the incline.

4. The sleep tracker feature is not very beneficial.

However, it is motivational. I like the calorie counter versus calories burned feature. It shows me clearly that even if I run 6 miles a day that is not enough overall activity. I need to mix in something else to reach my goals. A simple walk or something.

 

[haha]

However, it is motivational. I like the calorie counter versus calories burned feature. It shows me clearly that even if I run 6 miles a day that is not enough overall activity. I need to mix in something else to reach my goals. A simple walk or something.

I don't know anything about your goals, but you are burning at least 100 kc/mile running. So 6 miles/day x 6 days is 36 miles, or >= 3600 per week. This is the amount that Ralph PaffenbargerMD found created the maximum longevity response to exercise.

Ha

 

[MuirWannabe]

I don't know anything about your goals, but you are burning at least 100 kc/mile running. So 6 miles/day x 6 days is 36 miles, or >= 3600 per week. This is the amount that Ralph PaffenbargerMD found created the maximum longevity response to exercise.

Ha

Well, I was just talking about my 10,000+ step goal. But I appreciate your reply. I've never heard of Ralph Paffenbarger. But after a web search I've found his bio to be very impressive. He lived quite a life. And his positive findings about playing tennis among other things are really great to see. In addition to being a runner I love to play tennis competitively.

 

[lauren tilbury]

Love my fitbit, but haven't been doing a great deal of walking lately. I've been riding my bike 12 to 16 miles a day. It does not keep accurate track of the riding.

 

[Pleeplus]

Good to hear the positive reviews as last night my wife just asked for this for valentines day. Out of curiosity are you guys referencing the fitbit force or the fitbit flex? I heard the force is the newer of the two and has some nicer features.

 

[Pleeplus]

Good to hear the positive reviews as last night my wife just asked for this for valentines day. Out of curiosity are you guys referencing the fitbit force or the fitbit flex? I heard the force is the newer of the two and has some nicer features.

Disregard.... I just read through some of the earlier posts. I will probably pick up the Force based on some of the online reviews but both sound like winners.

 

[HFWR]

2. It does not seem to give me as much step credits for running versus walking. Am I thinking about this wrong? Should'nt I get the same number of steps regardless of running versus walking?.

Assuming you're covering the same distance, your running stride is likely longer than your walking stride, so fewer steps per unit of distance.

 

[MuirWannabe]

Assuming you're covering the same distance, your running stride is likely longer than your walking stride, so fewer steps per unit of distance.

I suppose so. Just seems like I should get more 'credit' for running. I'll need to pay attention to the calorie burn counter. I assume that is giving me more credit for calories burned running than walking.

Also, I wonder how it knows ones stride length. It never asked me during setup to indicate my stride length. So does the step counter even trigger off of stride length. I don't know.