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FitBit or BodyMedia ???

Thursday, February 28, 2013

I'm so ready to purchase a fitness tracker and I'm a little confused as to which one to purchase. It's a big purchase for me so I want to get it right.

Just over a year ago, my daughter bought me a New Balance DuoSport Watch that has the heart rate monitor on it and a few other things. I think she thought it was a fitness tracker, but I've never really been able to figure out how to work the darn thing. There's too many buttons and flashing things and I never know what it's doing or how I got it to do it.

I'm thinking that I want a health/fitness tracker, but the two that I hear the most about are the FitBit and the BodyMedia.

Do you have one? Do you wear it all the time? Does it help you to track?

Which one do you recommend and why? Why not the other?

I'm anxious to hear! Thanks so much for your feedback!
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  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JUSTFOXXY 3/6/2013 9:43PM

    I looked into BodyMedia and there is a monthly or annual charge. Not for me. I am looking at getting the Fitbit Flex which is the one you wear on your wrist. I wanted the Fitbit Ultra which is the same price for the Flex so now I am waiting until it is released this month

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MERRYMARY42 2/28/2013 9:07PM

    I am no help because I have yet to buy one, and I really am looking at all the writings about it, I will get it, just can not decided if it should be for my birthday or what, you know I have to have a reason, and my pedometer is perfectly good, but want one badly

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UNICORN212 2/28/2013 7:36PM

    I just got the FB One, but I see a new version is coming out - the Flex - it fits in a wrist band. I am still getting used to mine (got it Monday), and I think I prefer the One to the Flex. So fat, I have been tucking it in the little jeans pocket, if I don't have pockets, I will tuck it in my bra.

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SWANATOPIA 2/28/2013 6:58PM

    I purchased my Fitbit Ultra at the beginning of the year and just love it. I wear it 24/7, only take it off when I bathe (place it on charger). I keep it right on my bra by my chest so it goes unnoticed and I cannot lose it! It is my ultimate motivator as I can see my progress in fitbit.com. I like that the Fitbit is small and not so large. I haven't used the BodyMedia but it just looked so bulky and was way to expensive for me. I paid $80.00 for the Fitbit Ultra but the new ones are around $100.00!

The website shows you how many steps you have taken in percentage and your sleeping. At night, you hold down the button to start the timer to "sleep" mode and in the morning, hold it down to stop it. I haven't had any problems remembering to do that but if I ever forget, I just make the change on their website. Then, you can see how many times you woke up during the night and how long it took you to fall asleep.

The website is really interactive as well and it's free. Of course, there is an option for a "coaching" upgrade but the basic looks good to me! I have four friends and it has us all lined up and shows me how many steps they have taken in real time. The website updates every 25-20 minutes with the Fitbit if you are near a computer so everyone sees real time. There's no fancy buttons at all, just set it and forget it...lol!

I love mine. I was hesitant at first to buy it but would do it again in a heartbeat :) It's probably the best little tool I have had that keeps me on track and encourages me to stay active, not just exercise. Staying active is important, especially for when we hit maintenance stage.

Hope this helps and feel free to add me as a friend if you buy the Fitbit. My link is on my page!

PS you might still be able to find the Fitbit Ultra for $79.99 in some stores. I found mine at Target!

Comment edited on: 2/28/2013 7:01:05 PM

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DLDMIL 2/28/2013 6:14PM

    I have the Fitbit Ultra (no longer available, replaced by the One). I have worn it everyday on my waistband and have never had a problem with it. I use it as a motivator to get as many steps in each day, as I have been diagnosed with osteoporosis and refuse to take the meds. So I have to exercise everyday and walking is the easiest thing to do. I also do ST 3 times a week. I looked at the bodymedia and didn't want' that big thing showing everyday and didn't want to pay to be on their website.

I would argue to the fitbit, but I have a friend who just got the fitbit one and the carrying case is already strechted out so much that the fitbit wont stay in the case. She is emailing the company about it. So I am not sure what I will do when I have to replace my Ultra.

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BOXER-MOM 2/28/2013 2:47PM

    I had the original fitbit from years ago...loved it, it was my initial motivator!
I now have the fitbit one, and I love it even more (the first one didn't count stairs)! I have 35 fitbit friends, I log in daily to see where I stand in the rankings..it doesn't matter where I am, I just try to catch up to the person ahead of me. Like today, I am #8 out of 35! I am 10,000 steps behind the #7 person, it's a full day of steps for me as I try for 10,000 so I guess I will bump up my steps to 11,500 and see if I can catch her! My motivation :)

I LOVE that the fitbit is so small, I wear it on my bra under my shirt and it isn't noticeable. When I had my first fitbit I use to wear it on my jeans, but I found it came off with my seatbelt in the vehicle a couple times....so I find wearing it on my bra or shirt if I am home safer!

I considered BodyMedia, but I find it big and inconvenient having to wear it on my arm. Also and I may be wrong but a couple years back...you had to pay a monthly fee or something for the web site use? Not sure if that is still the case, but it was a huge deterrent back than and still would be for me.

They both seem equally as good....it depends on your preference :)

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MELISSAD71 2/28/2013 2:36PM

    I have never had a FitBit but I do have a BodyMedia Band and I like it. Generally I do not use it to keep track of what I eat but I do use it to monitor how much activity I am getting in and how much active sleep I am getting. It always encourages me to work out harder and longer. I think they both basically do the same thing so you probably will be happy with either one! Good Luck!

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