HealthUnlocked will undergo site maintenance on 8th April 2025 from 11:30AM (BST) / 6:30AM (EDT) for a few hours. We aim to restore the full service as soon as possible. Learn more
Hi everyone I know who has FitBit is obsessed by them can you explain what the benefits are? I use apps on my mobile for many of the fitbit functions but I can ignore them most of the time and I get an alarm if things are slightly off.
Genuinely interested as I will switch if there are additional benefits to what I already have.
Hi Mark. You might find this thread useful - healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...
I think the main benefits of Fitbit over mobile apps is probably the community (if you know people who have a Fitbit and will be up for the odd challenge) and the fact that it's wearable. I'm much more likely to look at my wrist when my Fitbit vibrates than I am to check an alarm on my phone, plus it's with me all the time, I can't forget it...unless I've been charging it up, of course. If you find the apps you use get you moving anyway, then maybe not worth getting a Fitbit? I do love mine, but I wasn't using anything similar beforehand, plus my annoying and competitive dad has one so he drags me into step-offs that I wouldn't do otherwise.
Yes I have based my view on my Brother who is competitive and uses fitbit challenges to show up his friends. However, he doesn't sound a reasonable gauge given the thread.
Thank you for the reply - I'm going to go and have a look at one now.
I also have an app on my phone but I don't carry my phone all the time and the fitbit (or similar) is on my wrist at all times (except for bathing and showering) so when I have to go to the loo those steps are counted.
I don't know how the heart rate is monitored on the phone but on the fitbit I just tap it a few times to get an instant reading or check the phone (it is synced to mine) for a resting daily average.
It is just so easy, there are cheaper makes about if the fitbit turns out to be too expensive for some but I love mine and you can link up with others which no doubt encourages you to keep more active.
If your phone app works for you then that is fine as long as you stay active.
Thank you I have remained active most days since the diagnosis and interventions , I write for a living so there is very little movement involved and I have to remember to stand up and walk around. Used to working 12 to 14 hours a day in front of a screen at least 6 days a week, I have managed to cut that back by not starting work before 6 am and finishing by 6 pm with and hour for lunch.
Although the phone is with me all the time there are proximity and connection issues at times.
I am hoping to use fitbit to reduce that inactivity even more.
Thanks again
My step count is always much lower on days I'm at work (sat in front of a computer) but my Fitbit gives me a buzz each hour if I haven't done 250 steps. I take the long route to the toilet, make myself a cuppa and get my 250 steps that way. It only takes a couple of minutes and is a good screen break too. 250 steps doesn't much but it's still an extra 1,000 steps every four hours. I'm always surprised how quickly the hour comes round, I definitely wouldn't remember to move if my wrist wasn't vibrating.
Sadly walking to the bathroom or kitchen is the most distance I cover in a working days as my walk to work is fifteen steps, ten to the bathroom and 35 to the kitchen.
Bought one yesterday and will see how it works out.
Thanks for the encouragement.
I think that's as good a reason as any to get one - you'd never be getting 250/hour if you didn't have a reminder. When I say I take the long route to the toilet, I mean I do a circuit of my office two or three times before heading out the door. I probably drive my colleagues mad but I reckon it's worth it 
Good luck with yours, let us know how it's going.
I work in an office normally and we use google chat a lot. I make a point of getting up and talking to someone as much as possible, saves confusion AND gets steps. Also, the office is really long, so it's a decent walk.
You TALK to your colleagues?! 
Top tip.
you're lucky to have colleagues - its me and the dog but I don't have a dog
I have colleagues and a dog, prefer the dog, but then she now has taken to hiding under the table if I grab her lead, only a little king Charles, 5 mile walks are just not her thing!
Like!!
Our King Charles used to do that every morning ( years ago, we don’t have a dog now) & dragging her out was good exercise at the time as well! I couldn’t do that now, my CABG x 3 is in 2 weeks ‘s & I’m trying not to over exert myself.
Jean
i would also say as you are sitting you can set a reminder, it will vibrate on your arm and tell you to get up and do 250 steps hourly. My job entails sitting for the vast majority of the day as well. I tend to use my 250 steps going up and down a few floors
Just counted it 13 steps down and thirteen back up - so on really wet days it will have to be ten times up and down stairs every hour. Just worked it out it would be four laps of the garden every hour.
This should be real fun.
Struggling to get my heart rate up to the 144 where I can burn calories quickly will see if this helps.
FitBit - worth it or not?
Fitbit or something else?
Fitbit info
Arrhythmia and FitBit?
