Is the Aria worth it?

[KaraLisa]

I would be the only one able to use it, as hubby is over the weight limit. 😕 But it looks so cool!!

[SunsetRunner · Accepted solution]

I personally have one and like the ease of not having to manually log my weight every week.  Step on, it connects via your home wifi network and uploads to Fitbit (and then can sync to MFP if you have them linked).  Besides the automatic upload to Fitbit there is nothing special about the scale that you can't get with other scales that probably cost less than the aria.  Best of luck.

[100]

I've had mine for a month and I love the accountability and accuracy. Step on it and it syncs and tells you your body fat % as well. The fact that I can't "doctor" the numbers is a relief to me cause I never wanted to let others know what I really weighed but now it keeps me honest. My other scales always had different amounts even after I just checked it but the aria stays accurate. It's worth the money, which is an investment in your health.

[Dominique]

I agree with @SunsetRunner you pay for the convenience of having your weight and body fat data automatically uploaded to your account. You can achieve the same with the Withings scales, but they are equally expensive. Some people seem to have problems setting up the Aria and/or adding people to it, but although I was a bit frightened by the horror stories I had read prior to buying one, setting it up was surprisingly painless for me. Other people complain about huge variations and/or lack of accuracy in body fat measurements. My own experience is that body fat % is very consistent if measured in the same conditions and at the same time of the day.

[chunt]

I really like the scale because you get additional insight with what is going on. The body fat may/may not be accurate in my opinion--the jury is still out on that. But like a few other members said it is fairly consistent. 

Having that said, I get discouraged sometimes if I dont see numbers go down but if I look at the overall picture which for me is body fat is going down, and lean muscle is going up--I feel much better. Not messing around with logs is a relief too. 

[maxim1]

I have been using Fitbit scales for about 6 months and have to say its been a complete waste of time, I wished i would have done some research before purchasing. 

There is a simple test which should be followed when purchasing scales, take 3 measurements consecutively, if you get different measurements each time, move on don't purchase. 

The body fat measurement feature is a waste of time, and is a gimmick, just google or youtube this feature for electrical scales. 

After getting varying measurements at each weigh in i just got fed up and did some research and decided to purchase a Seca 875 medical scales, very expensive £158 but the fitbit scale was the 4th set of scales I had bought in 18 months. 

They are completely accurate no matter how many measurements I take, the same figure all the time. 
Now the real kicker, on my last weigh in Fitbit scales weighed me in at 18 stone 6 pounds, I was happy as i am heading in the right direction, My goal was to reach 17 stone, according to Fitbit scales i started at about 21 stone. 

After weighing myself with the Seca it clocked me at 20.5 stone, a real kick in the nuts, I can see visible that I'm losing weight and my clothes have dropped a size, I just fell Fitbit scales where just a waste of money and giving me false hope and success.

[maxim1]

I have been using Fitbit scales for about 6 months and have to say its been a complete waste of time, I wished i would have done some research before purchasing. 

There is a simple test which should be followed when purchasing scales, take 3 measurements consecutively, if you get different measurements each time, move on don't purchase. 

The body fat measurement feature is a waste of time, and is a gimmick, just google or youtube this feature for electrical scales. 

After getting varying measurements at each weigh in i just got fed up and did some research and decided to purchase a Seca 875 medical scales, very expensive £158 but the fitbit scale was the 4th set of scales I had bought in 18 months. 

They are completely accurate no matter how many measurements I take, the same figure all the time. 
Now the real kicker, on my last weigh in Fitbit scales weighed me in at 18 stone 6 pounds, I was happy as i am heading in the right direction, My goal was to reach 17 stone, according to Fitbit scales i started at about 21 stone. 

After weighing myself with the Seca it clocked me at 20.5 stone, a real kick in the nuts, I can see visible that I'ml osing weight and my clothes have dropped a size, I just fell Fitbit scales where just a waste of money and giving me false hope and success.

[Dominique]

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@maxim1 wrote:

There is a simple test which should be followed when purchasing scales, take 3 measurements consecutively, if you get different measurements each time, move on don't purchase.

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You may want to read this post about accuracy vs. consistency.

[GCA]

I've had the Aria about a month. I was also reluctant to purchase this item, because I read the horror stories about set up. It was not an issue for me. I was up and running in under 10 minutes. The first and 2nd measurements were way different on the body fat measurement. After that they seem to be consistent -- when my weight goes up a pound or two my index follows it and the same holds true when my weight goes down. I think an upside for me of using the Aria is I actually weigh myself. Looking in on my computer or smart phone to check my activity levels makes me aware that I forgot to weigh myself. If you can afford it, I think it's well worth the money. If you're trying to lose weight, you can set weight goals and then you receive rewards and encouragement every day as your get closer to your goal. I'm actually trying to gain weight, and the Aria doesn't help at all setting goals for this. I know it would help me if it did. Good luck with your decision.

[Surina81]

The set up is easy.  I have had mine for over a year now and still love it.  I love the ease of it uploading the info to Fitbit.  I find it to be accurate and a real time savor.  

[Dominique]

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@Surina81 wrote:

The set up is easy.  I have had mine for over a year now and still love it.  I love the ease of it uploading the info to Fitbit.  I find it to be accurate and a real time savor.  

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Let’s say the setup is easy if you have the right hardware (wifi router) and are either comfortable with setting things up or plain lucky. Many people seem to struggle with the setup, including techies.

Otherwise I agree with you on all other points (I’ve had mine for close to three years). 

[Surina81]

I'm not really good with most tech but I just did what it told be and it
was very easy. Maybe these people do not look at the directions because
they know all about this tech stuff. I found it easy, I even had to do it
twice when I changed my password for my wifi and I completely forgot how to
do it. I just looked it up on Fitbit and it was easy.

[Dominique]

@Surina81: I’m glad you found it easy! Welcome to spend some time on the Aria help forum helping out people who are having a harder time!

One reason why techies are having problems is they most likely have bleeding-edge technology (e.g. super-fast wifi routers), whereas the Aria is a relatively old product that only supports one wifi protocols (the slowest one). 

[Swuzz]

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@KaraLisa wrote:

I would be the only one able to use it, as hubby is over the weight limit. 😕 But it looks so cool!!

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Hi KaraLisa!  I have had mine for over a year now and love it for the "accountability".  You know... "some" of us tend to jump off of the scale and not record the numbers because it's higher than we like.  Well... with the ARIA scale if you jump off, it still logs it!  I found out by doing just that.  

Ignore the body fat percentage and enjoy looking at your weight graphs on fitbit.  Mine has finally started moving in a downward direction and that is all automated.

[L11]

My Aria scale will be here in a few days and I just got my Thermos Smart Lid in the mail today - I can't wait to use them both!

[Dominique]

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@L11 wrote:

I just got my Thermos Smart Lid in the mail today - I can't wait to use them both!

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I didn’t know what a Thermos Smart Lid was, so I had to google it. So I learned it integrates with Fitbit:

Incredible!

Hope you’ll enjoy your Aria!

[HelenaFitbit]

Oh my! That sounds awesome @L11, to have those 2 items and your Fitbit, it's the epic combo to tackle all your goals! 

[L11]

Well, so far I've had my Thermos Smart Lid and my Aria scale for a few weeks and I love using both of them! The Aria is so cool because it updates MyFitnessPal and the Fitbit app automatically. I weigh, shower and then check my messages to see the congrats on my weight loss. lol. The Thermos Smart Lid is so awesome for keeping my water intake on track. I'm honestly still not drinking as much as I should be every day but I am almost there and the smart lid is helping me be even more mindful of my water and work it into my routine. 

[HelenaFitbit]

Congratulations on your progress @L11! I'm not a fan of plain water either; but I've managed to increase my intake by having 40-oz cups of tea before having breakfast.

I usually have some white-leaf or green tea with a drop of agave. Something warm in your belly really helps out with any impulsive hunger pangs and you get half of your water intake before eating. 

Hope it helps! Hang in there 

[clo]

OK. I'm going to be totally honest here. If I didn't like what my regular scale said I wouldn't log it. Crazy, huh?

With the Aria I can't cheat.  I love trends and numbers and it is kind of fun.