Remember when I asked about opinions on fitness trackers a couple of months ago? To be honest, until a few months ago, I didn’t even ever wanted one. It seemed like a lot of money to spend on a small gadget that would naggingly let you know about all the times you were not getting your butt off the couch. Besides, I’ve been running (consistently three times a week since the beginning of this year) and was overall quite happy with my fitness routine. Why would I need this?
The problem is: I have a desk job and on my off-running days, I sit on my butt. A LOT. I thought I was moving around a fair amount in the office, but turns out: not so much (or at least, not enough).
And then suddenly, I went from being completely ‘meh’ about pedometers, to using an app on my phone, to “I need a tracker, like now!” within a couple of weeks.
However, before I could do more research and weigh my options and decide if I really wanted to invest the money and buy one, the awesomeness of the Internet revealed itself once again.
Not only did I get some good feedback on my questions, but also my friend Marie, who I recently called out as one of the sweetest people I’ve met on the Internet (and I mean that!), was so kind as to offer and send me her Fitbit One, which she wasn’t using anymore, so I could give it a try and see if it worked for me. It arrived at my house a few days later and I’ve been using it (in combo with my Fitbit App) for almost two months now and I am super-happy with it.
Here’s why I like it:
It’s small. You can put it in your pocket or clip it on your belt and won’t even know it’s there.
I don’t have to keep my phone in my pocket at all times (yay!). The iPhone has a built-in pedometer and you can track your steps by just carrying your phone around (what most of us do all day anyway, am I right?). So, before the Fitbit, I still got a pretty good idea of my daily step count/activity and I’ve been tracking my workouts in Runtastic anyway, but with the Fitbit, I don’t have to remember to pick up my phone every time I get up from my desk or from the couch and I get an even more accurate account of ALL my daily movement (and calories burned). I like that.
It’s very easy to set up and use. I first thought I had to download the little snippet of software to my computer, but you can simply sync the Fitbit through the app on your phone and that’s it. Easy-peasy! It was set up in under two minutes.
It motivates me to move. This little number (and the growing flower) on the screen? They haunt me – in a good way. I am always up for a little challenge and I like hitting my goals. I don’t hit them every day, but it’s nice to see some consistency (and the app has some nice graphs to go along with it).
I like gadgets. Yes, I admit it. I like little gadgets that make life more interesting. And I am a numbers’ girl. If something can be measured, I want it measured.
I’ve lost 4 lbs (so far). Ok, honestly, weight loss was not at all my goal, but I wanted to see if using the tracker + app in combination could actually make an impact. So, I set my goal for weight loss to 4 lbs. over 8 weeks (easy, slow) and I’ve been somewhat diligently tracking my food and calorie intake through the app (I actually started this experiment before getting the Fitbit One when I only used the app to track activity and food intake – just fyi – and I knew that at the time the actually tracked steps would be the “minimum movement” per day (since I sometimes moved around without having my iPhone on me). And what do you know: it’s working.
In summary, I’m in love with this little gadget. I feel motivated to move more on any regular day and I love keeping track of my workouts. Shout out to you again, Marie. From the bottom of my heart: thank you for your generosity and friendship.
Lisa of Lisa's Yarns
November 17, 2015 at 6:57 amThat is awesome that your friend sent you hers! Very generous of her! I don’t have a fitbit but I sometimes wish I did. I use the step counter on my iPhone but like you said, sometimes I don’t carry my iPhone with me – like when I run with my run club, so I get an incomplete picture of my steps. I also like that you can have friends on fitbit. My mom and sister have one so I could link up with them and we could motivate each other to move more since no one wants to have the fewest steps! ;)
I am glad you have been happy with your fitbit. As much as I would like one, I feel like I have too many gadgets as I already have an expensive running watch… So if I get something else, it would probably be a heart rate monitor to wear for yoga and strength training workouts. But if I stumbled up on a fitbit that someone was giving away, I’d be all about that! :)
Heather
November 17, 2015 at 8:26 amI love my Fitbit! Even though it confirms I’m lazy, I mean, sedintary more than I prefer, I love how encouraging it is when I see the numbers increase and the smiley face get bigger. I will often challenge myself to hit certain goals and am always amazed when I do more than expected. Plus it keeps me moving when I have an attainable goal.
Holly
November 17, 2015 at 8:30 amI’ve never used a fitbit but my husband is a big fan. He’s a bit of a couch potato but he borrowed his mom’s fitbit when he was working at a youth conference earlier this year – he was curious to see how many miles he walked over the course of the weekend. He got really into the graphs and everything and it ended up being a huge motivator for him! He uses his iPhone now to keep track of steps but asked for a fitbit for Christmas :)
Chrissy
November 17, 2015 at 9:34 amI love my fitbit – I have the Charge HR and since starting to use it I was able to lose some weight and move even more! Happy for you that you enjoy using it and the outcome is so positive!
Tanja
November 17, 2015 at 11:30 amI am using the Fitbit Charge HR and I love it. Even though you wear it on your wrist like a watch, it looks like a stylish bracelet, an accessory. What I love most about it, I have all the important numbers available to look at if I want to, it gives me a pretty accurate heart rate and if I reach my daily goal of 12,000 steps it notifies me by vibrating. It’s a great motivator to get up and moving even though I have a desk job myself.
Marie
November 17, 2015 at 11:33 amYay!!! I’m so so glad you like it!! I knew it would be in good hands. :) <3
KendraD
November 17, 2015 at 9:03 pmI’ve always been super curious about the FitBit. I can’t have my phone on me when I’m teaching my preschool classes and I move a lot during them, I’d like to be able to monitor how much I’m moving when teaching. I hate trying to estimate when it comes to tracking calories in and out for weight loss. Your review my be enough to push me into getting one.
Stefanie
November 17, 2015 at 11:09 pmLike I have mentioned in a previous comment, I’ve been a big fan of GPS watches. Granted they are only good for runs (and cycling/swimming) but I love the accurate picture on mileage, pace and other running stats they present. Nevertheless, pedometers like the FitBit are great and, even though I don’t personally use one, I know how beneficial they are. I’m glad you are loving yours and I’m happy that your friend was generous enough to give hers to you. That’s a really great gesture!
Stephany
November 18, 2015 at 5:33 amI’d love to get a FitBit. It’s something I keep telling myself I need to buy because I think I would love the tracking aspect of it. I just worry I would spend so much money on a gadget and then only use it for a few months. That happens to me so frequently!
Jenny
November 18, 2015 at 12:36 pmCongratulations on the weight loss! Its very cool to see that you set and achieved a goal using the app :)
I have a fitbit flex and I was horrified to see how little I move during the day! I have to make a deliberate effort to go for a walk if I want to have a hope of making it close to my 10,000 steps.