Is Fitbit useless for non runners?

[Sifu]

I just got my Fitbit today as a present. I am a little dissapointed to find out it's just a pedometer. Is it effective at all for weightlifting, TRX or non step based workouts?

Also when I set up my Fitbit had recorded calories burned already for several days even though it was new. Is that normal?

[Odyssey13]

@Sifu  Which device did you get?

As for burned calories, the Fitbit begins the day at midnight, so it will show burned calories when you first get it.

Welcome to the forums.

[Sifu]

Hi, thanks. I got a Zip. I think, after doing some google searches, that this device won't do much for me. I think I'll just give it to my girlfriend since she walks a lot. I was looking for more of a polar monitor I guess. 

[Odyssey13]

@Sifu  Take a look at the new Fitbit family - the Charge, the Charge HR and the Surge. You might find one of those more to your liking.

Have your girlfriend join the forums and we'll help her along.

[WendyB]

Fitbit is step based I would do some research on the new Fitbits.

Sounds like the surge might be a god fit when its released.

I use a polar as well for the types of exercises you do. But I do think the surge might do it for you as well

[Dominique]

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@Sifu wrote:

I just got my Fitbit today as a present. I am a little dissapointed to find out it's just a pedometer. Is it effective at all for weightlifting, TRX or non step based workouts?

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Actually, your Fitbit is more than a pedometer. As @Heybales sometimes puts it, it's good for tracking the "other 23 hours" of the day (= when you are not working out), whatever you are doing (not necessarily walking/running).  For the one hour when you're lifting weights, doing TRX etc., your best bet (if you are interested in counting calories burned) would be to log them manually. Your Fitbit account provides a way to do that.

No other device (whether from Fitbit or other companies) is going to provide you with accurate calorie expenditure for the activities you mentioned. Not even devices that include a heart rate monitoring (like the new Fitbit Charge & Surge), for the reasons explained here.

[Dominique]

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@Sifu wrote:

Also when I set up my Fitbit had recorded calories burned already for several days even though it was new. Is that normal?

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As of today (Dec. 23), your profile only shows 17 steps logged on Dec. 21:

When did you set up your Fitbit and on what days were the mystery calories logged? I fail to see how you could have calories recorded for several days if you only have steps for a single day.

Even if your Fitbit were not new and contained data from its previous owner, you should only get data from it starting from the day when you first linked it to your account.

[Algenon]

Hi!  Welcome to Fitbit!

You can log in the activities separately.  That is what I do when I use the elliptical because fitbit only records strides not the resistance or the level. ( I use an elliptical at level 7-8  at a 30 ramp) You can look up how much you are burning online and add the calories.  I plug in the activity right  before I start because it keeps me working but others prefer to log it in after they are done.  

Good luck!

[Jabrat]

Welcome to Fitbit - I also wear a polar on my treadmill and am getting an HR monitor very soon for Christmas - I will never ever give up my Fitbit One !  

[SunsetRunner]

Im not a runner. Mostly walk and lift weights. Fitbit helped me lose 65 kbs in 4 mibths. Does it work? Yeah id say that coupled with exercise and diet 🙂

[SunsetRunner]

Btw had the fitbit force which worked great and now have the surge.. which is pretty dope

[trmunson]

I have the Flex and I'm not a runner. For cardio I do circuit training or HIIT and even though it doesn't accurately track calories burned, it still gives me a ballpark number. I'm not TOO worried about my numbers but I like to see a somewhat number at the end of the day. It does keep me motivated to keep moving. I'm a stay at home mom so when I check my info throughout the day, it's kept me moving if I wasn't happy with the data. I also like the sleep tracker (even though I've never had a problem with restless sleep!) I think it's just a cool aspect. I am looking forward to when the Charge HR and Surge come out...I'll probably end up with one of those in the future. Good luck in finding what works for you!

[CourtB]

I am not a runner other than an occasional 5k, and I love my fitbit! I used the flex for the past year and just got the ChargeHR for Christmas...love it already!! I used my flex and now the charge in all my fitness classes: HIIT, TRX, Boxing, Weight lifting training, Yoga, etc...everything!! While I might not get every 'step' counted depending on the excerise movement, it is better then it not counting it. And/or, if my workout is mostly leg-based, I will manually log a 1-2mike walk to get the equilivant steps counted. Now with the HR, I can get a true calorie count too! I stopped logging my food intake over the summer but might just have to restart it