Finally! My Fitbit Flex arrived last week, and it’s been arm candy ever since!
The Flex is a fitness tracker built-in to a wrist band, that tracks your steps, counts how many calories you’re burning, and with the help of its super sleek app, how much food you’re eating, water you drink, and what you weigh.
I picked the Fitbit based on a few factors:
1. Online reviews: Most people like it. You can’t please everyone, but by and large, users are happy with what the Flex offers. Check out some other reviews here and here.
2. Syncs with MyFitnessPal App: I’ve been using this great tool on my iPhone for 6 months and love how it keeps me honest with what I’m eating and how much activity I have. The Flex keeps track of all my movements; walking, steps, gym workouts and automatically syncs it with MFP, and lets me know how much more or less I can/should eat. Compatibility of this device with this app is really my number one reason I picked the Flex. Especially because online reviews on compatibility with the UP were really not good. Seems that there’s quite a few bugs.
3. Secure wristband with changeable bands: The band snaps securely closed, and is adjustable, meaning it’s not getting lost. it’s waterproof too, which is a plus. You can also purchase additional colours so it never stands out with what you’re wearing.. if you don’t want it to.
4. Wireless Sync; The Flex band automatically updates the app whenever iPhone and band are in proximity. The UP needs to be physically plugged in.
So what does it do and why might YOU want one? Well, on its own, not much. But it does make me hyper aware of my activity level, and has been encouraging me to get up and move more during my normally sedentary workday. I’ve been going out on lunch hour walks. Getting up and making one trip to the ladies room, and another to the water cooler, just to add steps. I’ve been parking at the back of the parking lot and hoofing it in to the door instead of trolling for rock star parking. I’m not really wearing it for weight loss, so I can’t speak to that, but in terms of getting me up and moving, it’s great.
I DO have a few recommendations for the FitBit folks:
1. A watch would be nice; since I’m already wearing a watch-like accessory, would it be hard to add a wee display?
2. The Jawbone UP has a timer and will buzz you if you’ve been sitting too long. Also would be a nice addition to the Flex.
3. Power nap function and optimum wake-up; Again, things the UP has that the Flex doesn’t. Power nap lets you sleep for 20-40 minutes and wakes you up at the optimum time in your sleep cycle so you’re not crabby and disoriented. It wakes you in the same way in the morning. The Flex just wakes you at a set time. Why not go the extra mile here, FitBit?
In all, I’m happy with the Flex, but will definitely look forward to software updates or the second generation model.
5 Comments
I wish I did this much research on mine. I foolishly thought that my non-Samsung Galaxy Android phone would sync like my friends iPhone. I can still look at my stats on my laptop as long as my dongle (USB sensor) is plugged in. The light indicators give me a good idea. I also find that it doesn’t accurately record all work outs – I do a hour of HIIT 3x a week and it records it as a couple minutes.
Despite this though, I agree that its kept me accountable to my daily movements, and the alarm in the mornings have been a lot more effective than the alarm clock. I’m getting a new phone soon anyway!
Just my two cents. Check out the Fit Bit Force, I don’t know if it is available in Canada yet but it looks pretty cool..
Agree! If love to upgrade to the Force. If I do I’ll definitely share the experience.
Have you tried the Nike FuelBand? It’s a tad more expensive, but it is better at tracking the type and intensity of your activity.
I did a quick comparison between all these fitness wristbands (Fitbit Flex, Nike Fuelband and Jawbone Up)
http://www.canadiancorner.ca/topic/541-comparison-fitbit-flex-vs-nike-fuelband-vs-jawbone-up/
Thanks for reading. I did look at it, but it didn’t have the features I liked. I also got very mixed reviews on their metrics; about how they arrive at the calorie burn. But I’m glad you like it!
Looks like a great weight loss tool!