Leicester_H Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Hi My OH used to go to the gym regularly but hasn't been for 2 years due to health issues. He's now doing physio and allowed to return to gym. His birthday is coming up and he's impossible to buy for so I was thinking of a Fitbit (or similar) to get him enthusiastic again. He's techie has Mac, tablet, etc but we don't have smart phones. Am I right in thinking Fitbit data can be downloaded to a Mac ? or MUST you have a smart phone ? Would not having a smart phone limit the usage in any way ? Which Fitbit ? Any good alternatives to Fitbit ? Any advice will be gratefully received ? H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 I have a Fitbit Charge and use the app on my phone, but my mom has the Fitbit Charge HR (includes heart rate monitor) and uses the app on her iPad! Works fine on both. I think I would go for the HR for a new one, as the heart rate would be interesting, but the battery doesn't last as long as the normal Charge. Mine will be fine for about a week, my moms on average 2 days. I loooove my fitbit. The only downside is that it thinks I'm doing steps and stairs when I'm on my motorcycle. But it lets you track different excercises as biking, running etc. The HR is better at that than my normal Charge. Absolute best feature for me: the caller notification. But that only works with a smartphone. It will give a light buzz and shows the callers name on the display, with my phone safe in my bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 I'd go for the Fitbit HR too - you can see steps etc on the display so you don't need a smartphone. The app can be used on iPad and on a Mac, where you can see more details and averages etc. I love mine and it's definitely made me increase the amount of activity I take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarrisonFamily Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Charge HR fan as well..I would also recommend buying direct from the website as my strap broke and was replaced within 2 days - customer service was great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 We both have Fitbits - mine fits on my bra strap and OH has his in his pocket (zipped up for safety). I currently have mine off because I don't like the idea of being tracked all the time and feel it's a bit intrusive. So I'm having a week time-out. You can record different data - including how much water you drink or when to go to bed. I don't bother with those and neither does OH. Basically it's interesting to see how many steps we've walked during the day even just pottering about. It does record hills as staircases which took me a while to realise that (so it records height) - stepping up and down on the bottom of the stairs multiple times doesn't count as flights of stairs either. I don't use my phone, but I sync with the laptop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted August 30, 2016 Author Share Posted August 30, 2016 GREAT - thanks for taking the time to post so much detail. Looks like that's his present sorted. Thanks again, H PS - there is a new version Fitbit Charge 2 coming out mid-Sept - so I have pre-ordered one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 I just got the fitbit charge 2 so I'm finding my way round it still but I think it's brilliant. I'm totally hooked already. It makes sense of the exercise I do and I can already see what I need to do. I think middle aged women are battling doubly to lose weight and I think this will help me. If I take my eye off the ball even slightly now the pounds pile on and I think this will help me keep my eye very much ON the ball. You can log all your calories in vs your calories out and fat burning zone exercise and loads more like your cardio levels. Fingers crossed I will become a lean, mean fighting machine or at least stop looking like a tennis ball with legs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 Oooh! I forgot. Also, the challenges. I clicked to do a Yosemite Park trail so as you do your steps you get notifications of info and photos of whatever trail you're following. I love all this stuff and it does encourage me to exercise. All the silly badges and congratulations really work for one such as me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 sadly, I still look more like a tennis ball than a lean machine ... but I've definitely increased my level of activity. What I've found really helpful are the group challenges, if you have any friends or family with a Fitbit add them to your list and challenge each other for a day, a 'workweek' or a weekend - I am naturally competitive so it's made me try harder! The solo challenges are good, too. According to Dr Chris van Tulleken last night on BBC1 'The Doctor Who Gave Up Drugs' 30 minutes brisk walking five times a week is enough to lower your blood pressure, and reduce blood sugar and cholesterol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 I just bought myself a step machine. Remembered some people here buying one and loving it and found a nice one that wasn't expensive. (Pink!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 I discovered last night that knitting puts my steps up. I had to take it off which wasn't a big deal because I wasn't wandering around and knitting anyway. I worked really hard yesterday and did 26,000 steps and my muscles are pretty tired today......so I'll just watch TV and do some knitting!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 Driving my motorcycle, ironing, washing up and things like that always bump up my step total and for motorcycling also my stair count. Crocheting not so much, but winding a new ball of yarn definitely adds some miles. I just increased my daily stepcount to 12 000 instead of 10 000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 Last weekend we had a walk along the river at Winchester to visit the church of St Cross, so I'm guessing it wasn't more than 3 miles there and back plus a little wandering around. That should probably have been about 5 or 6000 steps. When we got back to the car it had registered 8000 steps. Not too bad considering I'd pottered around that morning so it was probably OK. But that evening I pulled down some of the golden hop bines to put in the kitchen. A whopping 13,000 steps! Because I'd been yanking at it. Although hubby had something to complain about when I shot past his weekly score in one day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted October 5, 2016 Share Posted October 5, 2016 Did you get one for your OH? Hope he likes it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 We both got ours at the same time. He had been looking for himself because he spends 2.5 hours driving to and from work and then just works all the way through. There are stairs which he does do a lot of up and downing but not quite so much on the distance - he usually goes walks in the early hours at the weekend while I'm still fast akip - unless we are walking together and then he'll wait. He likes his. I think his behaves better than mine. Or it's my chest bouncing it around - to and fro steppity step! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted October 7, 2016 Author Share Posted October 7, 2016 Did you get one for your OH?Hope he likes it! Yes - got him the new one Fitbit Charge 2 - he loves it. Busy discovering all sorts of things that it does - just the boost to interest that he needed. Thanks all for your advice, H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 I'm very pleased. I got my fitbit on September20th and entered my details including my weight which I won't declare! Anyway, I weighed myself again yesterday and I've lost 12lbs..... nearly a whole stone! The fitbit has been an amazing motivator. That was on 10,000 steps a day which I put up to 14,000 about a week ago because that was becoming too easy. I think I'm lucky because I have the time to do that so I think it would be crazy to not take advantage. Especially as it's clearly working for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 Wow, that's impressive. I still wear mine every day but I'm not achieving 10,000 steps on most days. You're inspiring me to try harder next year - as stated elsewhere I don't make New Years resolutions but I do have a longstanding aim to walk regularly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
