S/O Health - Fitbit Questions

[hermione]

I've been wanting to get one and I'm sort of lost. Do I want the flex? I want a wrist one and not a clip one, I think. I'm looking at the flex and I don't see where it shows me steps taken etc. Does the actual device show it or do I do log into a computer and check or something?

Basic I'm a Fitbit idiot - educate me!

[mannah]

I was just wondering all of these same things!

[cherry1111]

I have the One which is clip on but I'm pretty sure I remember when I was looking at the fitbit models that the flex does not display steps. You have to sync to your computer or an app on your phone.

[biogirl21]

On the flex it doesn't have a display you can see. It has little dots that fill in when you get to certain percentages of the daily goal, so you can keep track kind of that way. Otherwise you have to use the computer or app. I like the Fitbit phone app.

I wish I hadn't washed mine

[oswin]

I've never had a FitBit, but I have the Garmin Vivofit. I like it because it replaced my usual watch (it does display time) and you can cycle through display modes to check your steps taken, steps left until your automatically generated goal, distance traveled, and calories burned. I also like that the battery is supposed to last a year (powered by watch batteries) so you don't have to charge it.

[CloudBee]

I had the FitBit One (snaps on) and it fell off. Lost.

Now I have the Fitbit HR Charge and LOVE IT. I can toggle through my progress right on the screen. Steps taken, miles, heart rate (more helpful than I would have thought), flights of stairs, etc.

It has a silent vibrating alarm which I've been using in the AM. So cool.

The FitBit is great because so many people have it. If you post on FB that you have one, you'll instantly link up to a large community. I'll friend you!

My office started a fitness competition last month, and groups of us do weekly and weekend challenges. Other devices like Jawbone are great, but I see people not using them as much because of the lack of a community. Fitbit has a stronger name, and is really out there more.

The battery on my HR Charge lasts about 4-5 days. I usually charge it in the car so I can sleep with it at night. The sleep tracker is cool. Though I get ticked when I see proof of sleepless nights.

When I wear my Fitbit I remember to walk more. I use the upstairs bathroom at work, vs. the one near my office. I park far away at the store, and have even been walking most evenings and running some errands by foot. Basically, I'm being more mindful about being active. I'm not a terribly competitive person, but the competition aspect is pretty neat. I like comparing my progress against others when I setup challenges with my friends.

Happy to text you pics of my devices so you can see what it looks like on, the sensor on the back, etc.

[VillainV]

You have to log in to your computer or the app on your phone to see how many steps. There are five lights on the face, and they will light up as you near your goal (so if your goal is 10000 steps a day, then you hit 2000 the first light comes, 4000 and the first two come on, etc). You can also set it for calories or active minutes and it works the same way.

I tried using a flex once and didn't like having it on my wrist. I felt it was ugly and clunky. I couldn't wear it on the same wrist as my watch, and it felt weird wearing it on the other wrist. And it didn't count all of my steps when I was pushing a shopping cart or stroller with that hand.

I prefer the One (clip on kind), but maybe if it was the model that is also a watch, I would just wear it instead of a watch. Wouldn't fix the stroller issue though...

[CloudBee]

Apr 26, 2015 15:33:11 GMT -5 VillainV said:

You have to log in to your computer or the app on your phone to see how many steps.  

Not with the Charge and HR Charge. You can see everything on your wrist. It even has a caller-ID feature.

I find the Charge more comfortable than my husband's Flex, FWIW. The band is more comfortable.

[hermione]

Apr 26, 2015 15:33:12 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

I had the FitBit One (snaps on) and it fell off. Lost.

Now I have the Fitbit HR Charge and LOVE IT. I can toggle through my progress right on the screen. Steps taken, miles, heart rate (more helpful than I would have thought), flights of stairs, etc.

It has a silent vibrating alarm which I've been using in the AM. So cool.

The FitBit is great because so many people have it. If you post on FB that you have one, you'll instantly link up to a large community. I'll friend you!

My office started a fitness competition last month, and groups of us do weekly and weekend challenges. Other devices like Jawbone are great, but I see people not using them as much because of the lack of a community. Fitbit has a stronger name, and is really out there more.

The battery on my HR Charge lasts about 4-5 days. I usually charge it in the car so I can sleep with it at night. The sleep tracker is cool. Though I get ticked when I see proof of sleepless nights.

When I wear my Fitbit I remember to walk more. I use the upstairs bathroom at work, vs. the one near my office. I park far away at the store, and have even been walking most evenings and running some errands by foot. Basically, I'm being more mindful about being active. I'm not a terribly competitive person, but the competition aspect is pretty neat. I like comparing my progress against others when I setup challenges with my friends.

Happy to text you pics of my devices so you can see what it looks like on, the sensor on the back, etc.

I'd love to see the pics actually! Do you want to text them? I'll pm you my number if so.

[water*drop]

Apr 26, 2015 15:33:12 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

I had the FitBit One (snaps on) and it fell off. Lost.

Now I have the Fitbit HR Charge and LOVE IT. I can toggle through my progress right on the screen. Steps taken, miles, heart rate (more helpful than I would have thought), flights of stairs, etc.

It has a silent vibrating alarm which I've been using in the AM. So cool.

The FitBit is great because so many people have it. If you post on FB that you have one, you'll instantly link up to a large community. I'll friend you!

My office started a fitness competition last month, and groups of us do weekly and weekend challenges. Other devices like Jawbone are great, but I see people not using them as much because of the lack of a community. Fitbit has a stronger name, and is really out there more.

The battery on my HR Charge lasts about 4-5 days. I usually charge it in the car so I can sleep with it at night. The sleep tracker is cool. Though I get ticked when I see proof of sleepless nights.

When I wear my Fitbit I remember to walk more. I use the upstairs bathroom at work, vs. the one near my office. I park far away at the store, and have even been walking most evenings and running some errands by foot. Basically, I'm being more mindful about being active. I'm not a terribly competitive person, but the competition aspect is pretty neat. I like comparing my progress against others when I setup challenges with my friends.

Happy to text you pics of my devices so you can see what it looks like on, the sensor on the back, etc.

I'm really happy to hear that you like the Charge HR - I'm strongly considering getting one after the baby gets here. IIRC, you have a small build, right? Do you have the small or the large? My wrists are just on the border between the small and large by their size guide. I think they recommend sizing up, and it seems like the reviews are consistent with that. Is it going to look huge on my wrists?

[suzubell]

I love my flex. I compete daily with several of the girls from ML and have found that it really motivates me to up my activity so I don't look lazy by comparison.

When my Fitbit fell off two weeks ago, I emailed the company to see if it is possible to track its location, since I knew exactly where it fell off and that is was likely someone took it. They said no, but offered to mail me a replacement for free as a courtesy when they looked at my account and saw I used it daily. I was blown away by the excellent customer service. I'm a customer for good.

[hermione]

Is the only difference between the charge and the charge HR the continuous heart rate monitor?

[nachos]

I've had the Zip, the Flex and now have the Charge.

The zip clips on - I used to clip mine to my bra and track progress on my phone.

I upgraded to the Flex, which I also loved... PP is right; the dots track a percentage of your goal. Again, I used the phone app to see my progress. I loved the sleep tracking and it also has the silent alarm function. I wore mine out.

DH just bought me the Charge two weeks ago for my birthday. Getting used to having the ability to display my info directly on the band has been a change, but I also love this one. I used the alarm function last night and it was great.


overall, I've been using one model or another for almost two years now, and find them incredibly motivating. It's been a rough winter, and my step counts are lacking, but I'm itching to get back out and get them up again. I'm also one of those maniacs who, when I'm less than 1000 steps to my goal, will be marching in place in my room just to get the numbers.

I wore the small band in both the Flex and the Charge, but I will say that the Charge doesn't seem to stretch the way the Flex did.

[CloudBee]

Apr 26, 2015 16:25:46 GMT -5 water*drop said:

Apr 26, 2015 15:33:12 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

I'm really happy to hear that you like the Charge HR - I'm strongly considering getting one after the baby gets here. IIRC, you have a small build, right? Do you have the small or the large? My wrists are just on the border between the small and large by their size guide. I think they recommend sizing up, and it seems like the reviews are consistent with that. Is it going to look huge on my wrists?

I actually have pretty tiny wrists, and some of my bracelets are children's. I have the small and it fits really well. I don't even wear it on the tightest setting. Usually 2-3 notches up, so I can wear it above/behind my watch.

[aspentosh]

I love my Fitbit. I have the One (small and clips onto my bra, or put in my pants pocket) and it shows all the data right on the screen. I tried on a Flex before I got the One and it wasn't so comfortable for me because I have bony wrists.

I think I might look into the Charge if I ever lose the One. I just hate things on my wrist so we'll see