Flex and treadmills

[BeccaM]

Hey everyone,

I have only had my flex for just over a month and in that time I have only been working out at home... tomorrow I plan on going to the gym, most often when I am there I am on the treadmill. Some of my friends who have a fitbit have told me that the flex doesn't pick up that well the steps you are taking while you are using a treadmill. Do any of you have any suggestions or tips?

Thanks in advance

Becca

[Algenon]

If you are not moving your arms, put the fitbit around your ankle.  It will pick up the steps that way.  

[BeccaM]

The flex won't fit around my ankle 😞

[Algenon]

You can stick in around your shoe laces as well..You just need to make sure it is on the part of your body that is moving the most which would be the feet...I was given two fitbit sizes....one large and one small so I just assumed you had two as well....Sorry about that.  

[JArnold]

I run on the treadmill and so far it has kept track of my steps just fine

jarnold

[ShayneB]

I've used my Fitbit while running on different treadmills as I have traveled and it seems quite consistent.  No issues for me.  Good luck.

[SunsetRunner]

As others have said the FitBit will track steps on a treadmill as long as your arm it is on is swinging (like it naturally does when walking).  If you are holding on to the rails of the treadmill then it will not register anything obviously as your hand isn't moving.

[Fit_]

My experience has been that the fitbit has picked up treadmill steps quite accurately. Perhaps it bears stating that one must make sure to swing the arms freely when walking on the treadmill (or anywhere, I suppose), for the steps to be recorded accurately.

[SunsetRunner]

Hi Becca,

I started the c25k on the treadmill when I first got my fitbit (which just quietly is THE MOST successful weight loss thing I have ever had!). I walked/ran normally and it tracked just fine. 

It doesn't track on the elliptical though.  

Have fun 

Kate.

[PaleoCrossfit]

I have the Fitbit Charge, but I haven't had any problems with using it on the treadmill. Like others have suggested, maybe putting it on your shoelaces would be best!

[BeccaM]

So I went to the gym today and it seemed to work just fine as long as I was moving my arms... it was hard to get used to not holding on because I only walk on the treadmill at this point, but it worked so I am thankful for that. Thank you all for your encouragement and suggestions.

[Fit_]

By the same token, in the grocery store, unless we move our arm with the fitbit on it, we will not get credit for just pushing the cart and moving our feet. I've learned to push my cart with one hand, and swing my non-dominant hand (that wears the fitbit) in order to get the steps in the grocery store.

[Rosmilla]

I have no problems with the treadmill but when I run a long run outside the distance is not the same as my Garmin Forerunner records; it's always much less but a lot of steps. Today I ran 10kms and worked after, walking around a lot in my job. I did the first 10000steps just near the end of the 10kms then did

 another 7000+ steps yet supposedly I have only traveled 11.8kms which means the last 7000 steps were standing in place for most of it. I rely on my GPS watch now for exact distance and the Fitbit for encouragement basically. The whole thing is very addictive.

[ReadWriteRun]

I've been treadmill running for a awhile and have figured out my balance, so I never hang on. As a result my Flex works well on the treadmill 🙂 When I'm stair running though it's not so great because I slide my hand along the railing in case I stumble.

Interesting, though, is the fact that the fitbit works for some strength exercises and not others, even when they both incorporate movement. For example, if I do lower leg lifts (re: groin) and attach the fitbit to my foot, the reps are counted. However when I do lat pullovers (lying on my back and moving my arms all the way from my sides until they're extended over my head), the step count doesn't change.  

No big deal... however... I get caught up in the step count and it's been affecting my choice of exercise, lol. Oops. I have to let it go and just accept a lower count on my strength days 🙂

[BeccaM]

This is all good information. Thank you all. Definitely things to consider while I am working out. Do you all count biking as steps...??

[divedragon]

I get the majority of my steps in on the treadmill and have no issues with it.  I've had my phone with me and they were connected with bluetooth and I watched it count my steps as I walked and it seemed pretty accurate.  I loose more steps when I go grocery shopping as my hand is on the cart rather than swinging.

[Davenna]

My Fitbit is not accurate on the treadmill or the arc trainer!

[Joy_]

I found out the same thing. Same when shopping in stores when I learned that I tend to hold my purchases in my non-dominant hand. Also, when carrying bags back to my car, I realized that I'm holding bags in both hands and not measuring the steps, sigh.