A Review: FitBit

If you have read any of my other posts you will know that I am an active person. I always assumed that my daily actives were enough to keep me in shape. I guess, I should say that I hoped my daily actives were enough because I really don't have much time to devote to working out. And, to be honest, I don't have the extra cash to fund a gym membership. If you have seen any of my other hubs you will also know that I am a big fan of food.

That all being said, I would consider myself to be overall average. Standing at just five feet one inch I am shorter than average, but I would consider my weight to be proportional to my size. Sure, I could most likely stand to lose a few pounds. I'll say it. My current weight is about 116 pounds. I would like to bring that down to around 110.

I typically eat fairly healthy. I don't eat fast food (if I can avoid it) and I get all of the recommended servings of fruits each day. I have been working on eating more fresh veggies each day and trying to cut back on the grains a little. Overall, I would say I have a balanced and healthy diet. I would like to think that I am an active person. I have a there year old Boston Terrier mix that loves walks and playtime. Thanks to her, I go on at least one, mile long walk each day.

I had always wondered how active I actually am each day. How many calories do I burn? How many miles am I walking? I had been thinking about getting a FitBit, but the price was preventing me from following through.

I won my FitBit at a work party. I had been excited enough about winning the water bottle, I nearly lost it when I saw there was a FitBit in the bag too. I had my boyfriend help me set it up that night. I have the FitBit Charge HR. I love it! It was simple to set up, and after I charged it I put it to work.

My FitBit is able to track more than just my steps. It keeps track of my sleeping habits and monitors my heart rate. I had never even thought to keep track of either. I love that it tells me how many calories I burn just from being alive. I really like that it lets me know when I have reached my daily goal and then encourages me to continue on. The combination of the FitBit and the app is fantastic. Its like a little personal trainer helping me to improve myself.

My FitBit is set up to update the app on my phone via wifi. I also have a little usb plug in on my computer that updates my dashboard on my account online whenever I get within 15 feet of my computer. My app sends me notifications when I am close to reaching my goal and sends me encouragement when I have passed it.

I am also able to further automize my FitBit to notify me when people call my cell phone. I can also change what is displayed on my FitBit. I really like how much I can personalize my FitBit.

I love how easy it easy to use. You just need to put it on and it does all the work. Well, it tracks the work that you do. So really, you are doing the work after all. It really puts into perspective how much activity you need in your day to make sure that you are seeing your fitness goals. If your goal is a simple as maintaining your current weight it will help. It will track how many calories you are burning vs how many calories you are consuming. If you equal out at the end of the day you are doing great. If you are trying to lose weight then you will want to make sure that your calories burned are greater than what you are taking in, and the opposite is true if you are trying to put on weight.

Of course, you will want to make sure that what you are eating is good for you. It can help you track what you are eating, but it really can't do much more than that.

I really like the sense of accomplishment that I have after looking at my daily log. I feel like I am working towards a better, healthier me. I try to make sure that I am meeting my goals. Though, right now I am just going with the pre-set goal of 10,000 steps each day. I feel great when I meet it before dinner time, and if I don't I feel determined to go out for another walk or maybe do a little extra cleaning. I feel hopeful and and I am looking forward to the future. it may be silly, but this little accessory has really helped to improve how I see myself. I am capable of whatever I put my mind to. And now, I feel that I am on the right track to a better and healthier life.

While I do love my FitBit, there are a few things I don't like. Thankfully, this list is short and to the point. The FitBit is splash proof but not water proof. This means that it is fine if it gets wet from sweat, washing your hands, and a few drips of rain. But, it is not safe for it to get submerged underwater or to be worn in the shower.

This means that I cannot track any swimming with the FitBit. Since I spend a lot of time at the beach I will need to remember to take it off before I get in the ocean. I will also need to remember to log that swimming in the app or I won't get 'credit' for that activity. While that is not a big deal, if you are trying to get an accurate picture of your daily activity or burning of calories it could be problematic. So far, I have remembered to take it off before I get in the shower with no problems but I have sometimes forgotten to put it back on afterwards.

I also and not a huge fan of the time it takes to fully charge. About two hours. It does last for about five days. Though right now mine is only lasting for four, but I imagine that is because I check the little display screen more often than most people. Its still new and I get excited tracking my progress, I'm sure I'll get better about checking it through my phone as time goes on. So, in all the charge time really isn't that bad.

Sometimes I can feel the FitBit on my wrist and sometimes I can't. There have been a few occasions of mild discomfort, and it kind of feels like I can feel the heart rate monitor working. But, I am sure this is simply because it is still new to me and I don't typically wear things on my wrists. I've checked my wrists after this discomfort, and there is hardly even a mark from wearing it on my wrist.

See, wasn't that a short list.

There are many different FitBit models. Some have more features than others, but they all keep track of your steps and daily activity. Depending on what you want to get out of your FitBit dictates which model will be best for you. The price range is not too bad, with the cheapest option around $50 and the most expensive is over $200. My model runs $150. I know this can be a big purchase, but think of it as an investment.

Another great thing about the FitBit is it comes in different colors. As mine was a door prize I didn't get to chose, but I have really grown to like the purple color. Some of the colors are very bright, while other are more subdue. I like that it is discreet enough that it can go with what I wear everyday and doesn't draw a lot of attention to what I am wearing.

The FitBits also come in different sizes. This is great when you think about it. Not only can you pick the FitBit that best matches you needs, get the color you want, but you can even get one in a size that will be comfortable for you. I am a small person and the small size works great for me, the large or medium would simply be too big for my wrist. It would slide around and be bulky, not at all slim and discreet.

Some of the FitBits even let you know when you have notifications on your phone. Mine is set up the vibrate when I have a phone call. It also displays the contact information of the person calling me. Its nice if I have my phone on silent and I don't have it with me.

Some of the newer models look like the fancy smart watches. I guess, in a way they are a smartwatch in their own right. They do tell time, and the are able to process a lot of information.

I know that FitBit can be a bit expensive, but so far I think it is worth it. If you have the extra funds to get one I would suggest it. Think of it as an investment in your future. Of course, just like with anything you are going to get out what you put in. If you make no effort to increase your activity if you aren't meeting your goals you most likely won't get that much out of the FitBit. But, if you are willing to make some small changes you can start improving your health.

I've only had my FitBit for a short amount of time, but I feel like I have already been making considerable impact on my healthy and moving towards a better future. I wish you the best of luck with your endeavors. And please feel free to share your own experiences with wearable fitness trackers.