My husband bought me a FitBit Flex for my birthday last year. I was very excited because it offered numerous features. FitBit flex tracks sleep, steps, calories burned and can be synced to myfitnesspal. I enjoyed having all these features, however, I wasn't thrilled with FitBit's calorie calculation for certain activities. For instance it doesn't do very well at picking up strength training (ie squats, push ups, planks, etc.). I also felt it under estimated calories burned for other activities.
About a month ago I decided to check my theory so I ordered a Polar F4 Heart rate monitor form Amazon. I had used a heart rate monitor in the past and liked it. As a mater of fact I used my older one until the batteries died.
I used it the night it came in the mail. I wore it while I was teaching Piloxing. If you've never taken Piloxing, you are missing out on a high intensity class that combines Pilates, Boxing and Dance. I'm always drenched after Piloxing. My FitBit showed that I burned around 275 calories in Piloxing. I argued with my FitBit often because I never felt this was accurate. I found that with the Polar I burned over 450 calories for a 50 minute class. Subsequent classes measured over 500 calories in 50 minutes!! This definitely seemed more accurate. I also tested the FitBit and Polar with running. Each time both devices registered about the same amount of calories burned. About 450 for a 4.5 mile run and about 800 for a 7 mile run. I also tested it out in Zumba and Zumba Toning. The FitBit still gave a lower calorie burn of around 250 calories for a 45-50 minute class. I have been teaching for around 6 years so I know that my body might be a bit used to it, but come on I know I burn more than that !! Several Saturdays ago I used my heart rate monitor and again found that my burn was almost double the amount shown by the FitBit. I burned 430 ish calories for 45 minutes!
This was all the research I needed. I won't discount the FitBit because I like to use it to determine my steps and sleep measurement (or lack there of), I just wont use to it to determine an accurate calorie burn. Measuring the heart rate is a much more accurate measurement of calories burned. If you research FitBit at all you will find that strength trainers and body builders are not happy with the measurements provided by FitBit Flex. It doesn't accurately measure squats, planks or push ups which are important in your strength training plan. The Polar would essentially pick up your heart rate during these activities, thus you would get the calorie burn measurement for those activities. I don't know about you, but I want to claim al my calories burned.
The Polar doesn't offer the step options or the sleep measurements and can only be used to show calories burned and the time you were active. So if you need the other information FitBit is the way to go.
The FitBit Flex also has to be charged very often. I find this detrimental because lose information for usually one whole day while I waited for it to charge. It also has to be synced to a phone or computer in order to see your information. The Polar F4 never needs to be charged and all your information is at the push of a button.
I will say this, FitBit has come out with a new products such as the FitBit surge and FitBit Charge that do track your heart rate and are likely more accurate than the FitBit Flex. However, I won't spend the extra cash at this point to buy the new product. I will continue to use my FitBit Flex to measure my steps, sleep etc., however I will use the Polar F4 to track my calories burned.
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About a month ago I decided to check my theory so I ordered a Polar F4 Heart rate monitor form Amazon. I had used a heart rate monitor in the past and liked it. As a mater of fact I used my older one until the batteries died.
I used it the night it came in the mail. I wore it while I was teaching Piloxing. If you've never taken Piloxing, you are missing out on a high intensity class that combines Pilates, Boxing and Dance. I'm always drenched after Piloxing. My FitBit showed that I burned around 275 calories in Piloxing. I argued with my FitBit often because I never felt this was accurate. I found that with the Polar I burned over 450 calories for a 50 minute class. Subsequent classes measured over 500 calories in 50 minutes!! This definitely seemed more accurate. I also tested the FitBit and Polar with running. Each time both devices registered about the same amount of calories burned. About 450 for a 4.5 mile run and about 800 for a 7 mile run. I also tested it out in Zumba and Zumba Toning. The FitBit still gave a lower calorie burn of around 250 calories for a 45-50 minute class. I have been teaching for around 6 years so I know that my body might be a bit used to it, but come on I know I burn more than that !! Several Saturdays ago I used my heart rate monitor and again found that my burn was almost double the amount shown by the FitBit. I burned 430 ish calories for 45 minutes!
This was all the research I needed. I won't discount the FitBit because I like to use it to determine my steps and sleep measurement (or lack there of), I just wont use to it to determine an accurate calorie burn. Measuring the heart rate is a much more accurate measurement of calories burned. If you research FitBit at all you will find that strength trainers and body builders are not happy with the measurements provided by FitBit Flex. It doesn't accurately measure squats, planks or push ups which are important in your strength training plan. The Polar would essentially pick up your heart rate during these activities, thus you would get the calorie burn measurement for those activities. I don't know about you, but I want to claim al my calories burned.
The Polar doesn't offer the step options or the sleep measurements and can only be used to show calories burned and the time you were active. So if you need the other information FitBit is the way to go.
The FitBit Flex also has to be charged very often. I find this detrimental because lose information for usually one whole day while I waited for it to charge. It also has to be synced to a phone or computer in order to see your information. The Polar F4 never needs to be charged and all your information is at the push of a button.
I will say this, FitBit has come out with a new products such as the FitBit surge and FitBit Charge that do track your heart rate and are likely more accurate than the FitBit Flex. However, I won't spend the extra cash at this point to buy the new product. I will continue to use my FitBit Flex to measure my steps, sleep etc., however I will use the Polar F4 to track my calories burned.
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