Buzz
It turns out many of you did indeed get Fitbits last year—or even longer ago—and have managed to stick with them since. Here’s the best advice to keep going.
Maximize the Features
Gumbercule, who shed 40 pounds using a Fitbit this year, shares that using and customizing all of the app's features was key. Beyond just tracking steps, Fitbit allows you to tailor your calorie goals based on weight loss objectives, and track food intake alongside calories burned. Gumbercule suggests syncing with MyFitnessPal, as it provides a better food database than Fitbit.
However, think twice before allowing the app to adjust your calorie intake based on exercise. While it works for some, it can be a trap leading you to consume more than you should.
You don’t have to use every feature daily. Bluesnow writes that constantly logging food was stressful. “Don’t overdo it with the food tracker. ... I use it occasionally—just to get a sense of my daily caloric intake and check if I’m in a healthy range—but doing it every day drives me crazy.”
Don’t Rely on It to Do Everything for You
Seeing your step count won’t magically inspire more steps. That’s likely why I shoved mine in a drawer—I had no clear plan for what to do with the data when I got it. Shuffy writes that they bought a Fitbit after two years of regular exercise. Kahn265 writes, “Like ANY tool that gathers data - it’s pointless if you don’t use that data to create a plan.”
Research backs this up: fitness trackers excel at helping you stick to a plan you’ve already made.
Get Your Friends Involved
While you don’t want to fall into unhealthy comparisons with others, Envador found motivation by connecting with friends on the Fitbit app. “You get occasional emails showing how much more walking and activity you’re doing compared to your rival. Or you can see how lazy you were last week, which can be just as motivating :)”
Set Goals That Are Right for You
Rae reminds us how crucial it is to set our own goals, not just rely on default settings. “I have a friend who insists on doing 10,000 steps a day, even though it’s really hurting her health because she has foot problems.”
Since the point of a fitness tracker is to help you achieve your goals, be sure you’re not replacing your own vision of health with some Fitbit exec’s idea of what’s best for you.
