Fitbit
 

Anyone use one of these personal fitness data tracking devices ? Any good?

Re: Fitbit
 

I have a couple of fit techy friends in the UK and they use them, references pop up to them on Facebook occasionally in competition I with other friends. They seem good actually. Now the kids are in school, might be something to think about.

Those friends also have the pedometer things too, and make sure they do their 10,000 steps a day etc, fast a couple of days a week- proper Horizon converts;)....and to be fair to them they are very fit and very healthy!

Re: Fitbit
 

I've used pedometers in the past and like tracking stuff. It seems very good from what I have read on their website. Just wondering if it will end up in a drawer in a month or two. :unsure:

Re: Fitbit
 

Mmmm well that would be me too:o. Still I aspire one day to be one of those fit healthy running people who look the part too!

Re: Fitbit
 

I don't get this at all. Why not simply train until you have achieved what you set out to achieve during the training session. If you intend to run a mile, run a mile. Time it if time is important to you. Does it really matter what the data says?

Re: Fitbit
 

Data can be motivating. Those who "simply train" are generally motivated enough to not need technological assistance. For us lesser beings, gizmos and data help.

Re: Fitbit
 

Fair enough

I just rely upon genetics:p

Re: Fitbit
 

A couple of the guys at work have them and there are the obvious competitions to see how has the most steps. While I don't have a fitbit I do occasionally fire up the Pedometer app on my iPhone to see how utterly lazy I've been. The chaps at work say that I'm obviously going for the prize of least number of steps in a week :D

If you're thinking of such a device, may I suggest waiting until after 9th September. Why? Apple has officially announced their usual event, in which the new iPhones will appear, but there is apparently more being announced, likely one of the new product lines, and rumours are it's a wearable device, which would fit in with their new Health Kit stuff in iOS 8, and thus it could be comparable to, or better than FitBit and other similar devices.

Re: Fitbit
 

I've used pedometers several times in the past and do quite enjoy knowing the step count. Not so keen on the app pedometers as often need to use the phone. But good point on the Apple launch, they have been talking about health apps, and it will be interesting to see what they introduce. Glad to hear guys are using Fitbit as I was thinking it might be more of a girly thing.

Re: Fitbit
 

I'm using it on my iPhone 5S, which has the M7 chip which deals with motion and such things. I don't have to use my phone for it to work, just have to have the phone on me and it seems to pick things up. As I use my iPhone as an iPod too, I tend to have it around if I'm walking, but I can see how not everyone has a phone on them all the time, but might have a wristband.

It will be interesting, I'm curious as it might give insight into what a good friend of mine has been doing for the past couple of months.

Re: Fitbit
 

I got a Fitbug several years ago and signed up to their website so I could log the data however I kept getting supposedly motivational texts from them (like suggesting I needed to walk a mile at 11 o'clock at night!!) so changed my phone details and threw it in the drawer. It also went though batteries at a rate which suggested they had shares in Duracell.

Re: Fitbit
 

Fit's not in my vocab :p

Re: Fitbit
 

I have an UP band, chosen as it's the only one that is compatible with my i
Pad2. I like it, I like the sleep thing on it, the alarm, and nap function. It is irritating that it isn't waterproof for swimming and doesn't count steps if you are pushing something, or for cycling I out it in my sock so it registers.
I've heard that the new Fitband is better, it would have been my first choice.

Re: Fitbit
 

Tracking how your training is improving performance is something that makes doing said training a bit more interesting.

Still, walking isn't really exercise unless you are morbidly obese or otherwise totally unfit. It's better than nothing, but not as good as something that requires a bit of effort.

Re: Fitbit
 

Daughter bought me one Christmas before last. I bought hubby a wristband FitBit last September...can't remember the name. We find it does give you an incentive to keep to or exceed your daily goal of X number of steps per day. It also syncs to all our Apple devices.

Walking is one of the best forms of exercise...less impact on joints too.

Re: Fitbit
 

I'm quite into healthy gizmos. We have an app called Heart Math that has done quite amazing things for my husband's well being his blood pressure has dropped dramatically....we can tell if he's done it in the day, and my son and I yell "Heart Math" if he starts getting crabby.

I 'think' I have a pedometer about my person at all times...I go to a gymn and walk the dog....but I have gained weight here...most people are ten pounds heavier than they should be, it's just a rubbish attitude to health...I ate like a starving person, drank like an alcoholic, and exercised like a slob in France...but I was lighter and fitter:o

Anything that helps has a place:thumbup:

Re: Fitbit
 

What the heck is HeartMath? Looked at their website but am none the wiser? It's a pulse monitor linked to an iPhone app to keep you mindful? :confused::unsure:

Re: Fitbit
 

One of the things they measure is spiritual connectedness lol. Wtf is that?

Re: Fitbit
 

I believe so, that and swimming yes?

Re: Fitbit
 

Mindulness usually refers to presence, being fully aware and in peace here and now. i.e. not going off (in the head) about the shopping, the worries, what happened at work or on BE forum etc

Re: Fitbit
 

That's what fat people say to convince themselves that they don't need to do proper exercise. :lol:

Re: Fitbit
 

Walking is actually a remarkably good form of exercise, Oink. I think a lot of the fat in our society has to do with overeating anyway, especially in North American led societies.

Re: Fitbit
 

:o

Re: Fitbit
 

Obesity has to something to do with overeating? My god I think you might be right.

If your aim is weight loss then that is mostly diet, and walking isn't a bad thing to do to burn calories.

For fitness though you've got to get your heart rate up.

Re: Fitbit
 

I've adopted it, as in "Ooh she's well fit!" :o

Re: Fitbit
 

Oh yea, I know that one! :thumbup:

Re: Fitbit
 

What a rather dumb reason for sarcasm, but at least you have proven that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.

Genes are actually a large component of obesity.

Very good point, although interestingly many Eastern forms of exercise such as Taiji don't rely on this in order to gain exceptional levels of body fitness.

Re: Fitbit
 

If this is god, I'm now an atheist :unsure:

Re: Fitbit
 

Its not the MacDonald's or the five bags of crisps a day, its genetic. :thumbup:

Re: Fitbit
 

Works for me :P

More seriously, the predispositon towards obesity also has a genetic component

Ever met a person that can eat heaps but doesn't gain weight? That's genes. I am not saying either, or, of course diet play a very important role. As does exercise.

You of course are infinitely on the sarcasm trail, so I understand the empathy

Re: Fitbit
 

Most people who are overweight eat more calories than they burn. Most of those eat the wrong type of food...you just have to look around any fast food joint to know that.

I put on weight easily...but I try to eat sensibly and walk. I am 5' 3" and weigh around 115 lbs...when I eat too much (think Christmas or holidays) I can easily put on 8 lbs in a week or two. It can take a few months to lose that extra weight but I eventually do...or the next time I go on holiday I would put even more weight on and look like a little barrel.

Re: Fitbit
 

Fat people are fat because they eat to much. People aren't born with genes that allow them to break the laws of thermodynamics.

There are some medical conditions that make maintaining a healthy weight more difficult, but it is still a matter of adjusting calories eaten to match calories burned doing things.

Re: Fitbit
 

The FTO gene predisposes people to obesity, not recognizing satiety.

Obesity gene makes you fat by keeping you hungry - health - 15 July 2013 - New Scientist

Re: Fitbit
 

Oh, while the solution of eating less is simple I accept that it isn't easy - if it was nobody would be fat. Ultimately though you still have to make the decision to put the food in your mouth as genes don't usually control the executive functioning of the brain.

The thing is once you are fat it gets even more difficult. Being obese leads to insulin resistance, which means you still feel hunger well after you are full. Still I do think that if you get to the point where you need a comfort wipe then maybe it is time for some reflection on the life style you have chosen.

Re: Fitbit
 

Sort of, but there are training courses that help....it wouldn't work for me, but it really does seem to work for some, so I won't knock it...I can see my husband winding himself up into a tizz wozz and this thing seems to be able to unwind him pretty quick.

The thing is, if Any bit of gadgetry can stop us /start us doing something detrimental isn't it a good thing?

Re: Fitbit
 

Yes, a good thing. Now we just need an app to get you over your weather troubles. :)

Re: Fitbit
 

Exactly.

I suppose the confusion arises because not all fat people have the FTO gene.

But for those who do have the gene, it's not the level playing field that is being implied here.

Re: Fitbit
 

Plenty of people have that gene and are not fat and corpulence has only really become widespread in the last couple of decades.. I'm not sure what point you are making - just sounds like a bunch of excuses for not taking responsibility for your own actions.

Re: Fitbit
 

Corpulence has become widespread because of processed food and pervasive marketing.

This particular gene affects appetite. It appears that those with the gene will continue to feel hungry when in fact they have eaten enough (satiety as bats noted). Some will exert willpower some will not. That however is quite a different situation than those without the gene eat a moderate amount and fund they feel full. No willpower is required, hence an un level playing field.

There is also the phenomena that dishwashing describes, where some people appear to eat beyond immoderately but do not gain wright. Although I think some research has questioned whether intake is in fact moderate. It may also be down to metabolism and/or exercise (which impacts metabolism).

Re: Fitbit
 

Fat people are fat because they're fat. And they eat too much stuff.