Wearable Fitness Trackers

Wearable Fitness Trackers

This is based on my opinion, experience, and general review.  I won’t get into numbers and all that unless the discussion takes us there … I do hope this posting opens up some discussion on the topic though.

Had a couple questions about the Fitbit I was wearing and how it compared to others. I was also asked why I got a Fitbit.  Figured I should do a little write-up to let you know why I chose the one I did verses the ones that I looked at.  

Truth be told I never held much stock in a Fitness Trackers.  I am sure we have all used the “step tracker” on our cell phones to attempt to determine our physical activity for the day.  I am also aware that the some research states that the Smartphones are more accurate in counting steps.  You know what though, I have a smartphone and I used the tracker.  For a short while and guess what … that’s right because it was a feature on the phone and not something I actively looked at or desired to be on my main screen it was quickly forgotten about.  

A wearable wrist tracker though is right there.  I can look at it with a glance of the eye and know where I’m at for my daily movement goals.  

Remember it doesn’t matter what Fitness Tracker you go with, it is just a tool.  A tool to help you track your goals and a reminder that you have them.  It is up to you to succeed and get it done.

A quick search on Google, Amazon, etc. and you will find that there are a TON of different wearable fitness trackers out there.  Fitbit, Garmin Vivo, Jawbone UP series, Samsung, and more.  So where do you star?  Throw the dice and pick on blindly?  There are ways to find out … for me I looked at user feedback ratings, functionality, and most important comfort.

Product	Pros	Cons	Notes	Cost
Garmin Vivo Fit	Light/not bulky 1 year battery life Can change wrist bands for style (manly or more womanly)	Heart Rate can only be monitored by wearing a chest strap		$80 - $100
Fitbit Charge HR	Light/not bulky Heart Rate monitor built directly into the wrist Comfortable on wrist – doesn’t pull arm hair An amazing app on phone or computer – lets me track day, week, month via dashboard.  Has a nutritional component that I can use for tracking food but need to manually populate the database.  Will replace my use of myfitnesspal	Battery needs to be charged every 5 days	Because HR in wrist it tracks my heart real time throughout the day and can track your sleep habits – lets you know how many hours you are sleeping and during the night and if you were restless	$150
Fitbit Surge	Heart Rate monitor built directly into the wrist Comfortable on wrist – doesn’t pull arm hair Fitness Tracker and a smart watch Can received text and call notification from phone An amazing app on phone or computer – lets me track day, week, month via dashboard.  Has a nutritional component that I can use for tracking food but need to manually populate the database.  Will replace my use of myfitnesspal	Battery needs to be charged every 5 days Feels bulky and in the way during workouts.  Worry about scratching the screen	Because HR in wrist it tracks my heart real time throughout the day and can track your sleep habits – lets you know how many hours you are sleeping and during the	$250
Polar M400 GPS	GPS Tracking Heart Rate Monitor in band	Cost Battery charge Bulky and feels heavy compared to the others	It’s a nice wearable and is a watch to boot.  If you are used to working out with a big watch than this might be a good solution for you.	$200 - $300

Honestly this Fitbit is pretty cool. I see and feel it on my wrist and it reminds me "dude you've got goals and you need to move!" When I take a drink or eat I see it and it screams at me "are you eating clean and right?" Lovin it!!!

Fitbit Charge HR (Heart Rate) Wireless

This is the wearable I chose.  It wasn’t the cheapest but it also wasn’t the most expensive. 

Goals the Fitbit helps me with:

-          Sleep 8 hours or close to it – helps me find out the quality of my sleep as well

-          Movement – 10,000 steps a day.  Easier said than done for many of with a sit down on your butt job

-          Nutrition and keeping my protein intake up and calorie intake under 1350. 

David Geier, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist stated “Tracking on its own won’t make you lose weight or get healthier, but it can certainly help you get closer to at least the recommended 10,000 steps a day, which very few people currently achieve.”

I am welcoming input, links, and discussion on this.  Let’s see where this leads.