Wristband fitness/activity trackers - any recommendations?

[anonymous-user]

Hi all,

I'm attempting to get fit again and lose a little bit of weight.

Previously I have managed this easily by being young, full of energy and with a lack of things to do... Meaning 3 nights a week in the gym was easy. Now at 32 I'm slightly fatter and acking a bit of energy/motivation.

I've mostly got a healthier diet sorted, but would like to work on my fitness and I like the idea of getting motivated by tracking how much I'm doing, and crucially, if I'm not quite doing enough. I'm now walking quite a bit and attempting to break into a bit of jogging and cycling.

Which is why I like the idea of one of these wristband trackers that show you on a daily basis via an iphone app or the MyFitnessPal app which I already use, how many calories you burned, how far you ran/walked, and how good/bad your sleep is.

It seems that the best ones are:

Nike Fuelband £129
http://www.nike.com/us/en_us/c/nikeplus-fuelband

Jawbone Up £100
https://jawbone.com/up

FitBit Flex £79
http://www.fitbit.com/flex

I'm leaning towards the FitBit Flex at the moment on the grounds that it integrates with MyFitnessPal, plus it's the newest of the 3 with the best tech such as Bluetooth 4 which enables 5-6 days battery life. Quite discreet as well.

Does anyone have any experiences with any of these devices or similar?

Did they actually help with keeping you on the straight and narrow?

Thanks

[Hoofy]

Quite a few of my MFP contacts use Fitbits in their various guises and swear by them. I think they can't really be as accurate as you'd think they are but if it helps you stay motivated then go for it.

[Slink]

you know the wrist band ones like the Nike Fuelband can tell when your having sex and differentiate that from having a hand shandy even if its on the other arm to the one you use

[anonymous-user]

Slink said:

you know the wrist band ones like the Nike Fuelband can tell when your having sex and differentiate that from having a hand shandy even if its on the other arm to the one you use

Technology really is amazing... look hoe far we've come!

[Spyder5]

Ive looked at all of these, but I haven't bothered because they don't track cycling as an exercise (in calories burnt)

This one due out next month looks interesting though as it logs pulse rate and not just steps taken like the others.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CW7KK9K/ref=...

[Hoofy]

NinjaPower said:

Slink said:

you know the wrist band ones like the Nike Fuelband can tell when your having sex and differentiate that from having a hand shandy even if its on the other arm to the one you use

Technology really is amazing... look hoe far we've come!

It can tell the difference between a prostitute and your wife? I suppose we'd be more energetic when humping a nubile 22 year old Eastern European.

[anonymous-user]

Hoofy said:

It can tell the difference between a prostitute and your wife? I suppose we'd be more energetic when humping a nubile 22 year old Eastern European.

Well my girlfriend is Eastern European... I wonder if it can differentiate between countries?...

[anonymous-user]

Spyder5 said:

Ive looked at all of these, but I haven't bothered because they don't track cycling as an exercise (in calories burnt)

This one due out next month looks interesting though as it logs pulse rate and not just steps taken like the others.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CW7KK9K/ref=...

I have to say... That one looks excellent and the price is good.

I just wish it was a waterproof wrist band type affair rather than an old fashioned belt clip thing. If its a rubber band round my wrist then I'm much more likely to wear it 24/7 as required.

Also, the pulse bit on it only works if you hold it in one hand and press your finger onto the back of it to get a reading. Can't see myself doing that all the time.

Hmmm. Really like it but the above puts me off a bit.

[Davel]

Hoofy said:

It can tell the difference between a prostitute and your wife? I suppose we'd be more energetic when humping a nubile 22 year old Eastern European.

Don't think I'd need a wrist gadget to tell me.....

[BenM77]

It was my wife's birthday today and her present was a Nike Fuel Band.


It is actually pretty smart. Well made and cool looking (doubles up as an LED watch). It was simple to set up and she tried it out on the running machine tonight. The calories burnt was only 15cal out vs our Nordic Track running machine with heart monitor so not bad at all.

I wouldn't have one for what I do but I don't think they are a gimmick. They are a clever motivation tool and Nike have done a nice job of integrating it with the iPhone