Activity Groups - Are They Worth It?

[LewWagner]

Just seeking comments and observations about your experiences with such groups and whether they contributed to your exercise, dieting, and fitness goals?

I've been in the Birmingham, AL Fitbit activity group since around the beginning of September.  I noticed not a lot of postings.  Or very recent ones.  Compared to the very active Community forums, the few postings here were kind of a bummer.

I didn't join the group to "be number one" on the monthly step or mileage level.  I noticed the first month that I was in the top five of 129 members.  I'm not running very much, doing mainly walking hiking on hilly trails and streets. 

I understand that competition can make you perform more and achieve more, but I really was focused on (and still am) maintaining the exercise and dietary practices that got me down to my desired weight vs. "upping my game" to be at the top of the leaderboard in any given month.

Why have you joined an activity group and have those reasons changed over time?  Are you getting what you wanted out of such membership?

Thanks in advance for your input.

[cb_tx · Accepted solution]

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@LewWagner wrote:

Just seeking comments and observations about your experiences with such groups and whether they contributed to your exercise, dieting, and fitness goals?

I've been in the Birmingham, AL Fitbit activity group since around the beginning of September.  I noticed not a lot of postings.  Or very recent ones.  Compared to the very active Community forums, the few postings here were kind of a bummer.

I didn't join the group to "be number one" on the monthly step or mileage level.  I noticed the first month that I was in the top five of 129 members.  I'm not running very much, doing mainly walking hiking on hilly trails and streets. 

I understand that competition can make you perform more and achieve more, but I really was focused on (and still am) maintaining the exercise and dietary practices that got me down to my desired weight vs. "upping my game" to be at the top of the leaderboard in any given month.

Why have you joined an activity group and have those reasons changed over time?  Are you getting what you wanted out of such membership?

Thanks in advance for your input.

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Hmmm, why did I join the the two groups I am in?  First group I joined was the COPD/Heart group.  Since I have severe COPD (no heart issues yet), am on oxygen 24/7 and because I was already walking 3 +/- mi. per day and exercising at the YMCA, I had the vain hope that perhaps I could pass on helpful information for those with COPD.  Has that happened?  Yes, to a small extent.  Like you, I am disappointed in the lack of give and take conversations but, still, it hasn't been a total loss.  Have you posted to your community?  Have you had responses?  In what way do you feel that joining your community would benefit either yourself or others in the group?  We only have a small # of members in our group but we're all doing our best to maintain our health and, for many, to lose the weight that will help them to stay well.?

  My second group is the 75 and older.  We're hanging in there so keep moving and contribute as best you can to whichever community you belong to.  It takes someone to start a conversation to get one going.

Let us know how it goes..............

[LewWagner]

Keeping Pace,

Fantastic suggestions!  I joined simply because I was curious about the activity groups and particularly Birmingham as I live here.

I've posted a couple of times on the group forum, but no one has replied.  I'm now friends with some of those members on Fitbit.

[WendyB · Accepted solution]

It depends on the group. I started the Weight Watchers group as thats what I do. Its very active.

I joined a Challenge group and its also very active.

I had joined others and they were not active so I quit them.

I find them great when you have people posting.

But I also found many people start the group and they them selfs dont particpate.

[LewWagner]

Wendy,

Thanks for comments!  I'll look around for other activity groups in November.

[Dennis13k · Accepted solution]

Yes I have to agree with you Lew on your observation. I too have the same issue and it gets real embarrassing when you look at the posts and all you see is your name... What makes a difference is being friends with some of the more active members in the group. More likely to accept challenges and maybe, even send messages privately on the app. I have one person in our group I am thankful for, who is active both in text and steps, and this helps to keep going.
What I would like an answer to though is this: why do people join a group and not participate at least by messaging?
Dennis, new South wales, Australia

Also, can I please ask you, what is the plus sign on your picture in the stylised fitbit font?

[LewWagner]

The plus denotes a premium member (fee based) but I got six months free because of my contributitions to these forums.

[Dennis13k]

Oh that's cool thanks for the clarification! Has there been an increase in posting by other group members since your original post LewWagner?

[Jabrat]

Lew you can join our leaderboard and climb with us !  Very motivating !  

[LewWagner]

Thanks for the invite, Jabrat!

[LewWagner]

Jabrat,

I've looked at the facebook and activity group for Red Tennis Shoe and noticed the top person "Julie" has over 1,200 miles just for December with an average of 39 miles a day.

A person doing over one marathon distances each day?  Kind of boggles the mind....

In October, just walking with some intermittent slow jogging, I only got in 355 miles.

[_daniel_]

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@LewWagner wrote:

I understand that competition can make you perform more and achieve more, but I really was focused on (and still am) maintaining the exercise and dietary practices that got me down to my desired weight vs. "upping my game" to be at the top of the leaderboard in any given month.

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Lew

I know this is an old post, but I very much identify with the paragraph I quoted. For me,

the length and duration of my daily walks is really determined by my circumstances, and my carefully considered training plan that I've developed to meet my goals. I really have no interest in arbitrarily increasing the length and duration of my walks to try and compete with anonymous strangers who have completely different circumstances and training plans than me, and who for all I know could be fudging their numbers by entering miles manually!  Bottom line, activity groups really don't contribute to my goals.  

[Madade]

Joined just to be part of a group who had similar struggles with fitness.   I have had success with 4 other members but am so disappointed that Fitbit has not update the community groups to stay pace with stuff.  Activating and deactivating accounts.  Methods of notifications.  It started out as a great group and made wonderful progress with the members that have stayed in the group.  Just it has gone stagnant.  Not sure if the person who created it monitors the site.  See others trying to respond but I'm sure they give up.  Sad as I feel this motivated me and the few that remain but we have gone to Facebook to remain a group not using Fitbit group as it is boring and lacks controls or features.  .