|
|
Post by annabella on Jun 9, 2016 15:45:50 GMT
I've started wearing my fitbit again because I don't feel I get much walking in anymore since I no longer have a commute to work. Being that it's summer and I'm wearing nice sleeveless dresses I don't want to always wear it so one day I had it in my purse and I noticed it still recorded my steps. So it got me thinking, I normally wear my purse on my left shoulder and thus my left arm doesn't swing when I walk and that's the hand I wear my fitbit on. I've been switching my purse to my right shoulder to accommodate my fitbit, but now I'm wondering if that's necessary? Can I wear my fitbit on my arm that doesn't swing?
I found this pretty band on amazon that I just ordered, a lot cheaper than the Tory Burch one.
|
|
Dalai Mama
Drama Llama
La Pea Boheme
Posts: 6,985
Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
|
Post by Dalai Mama on Jun 9, 2016 16:02:17 GMT
Arm swinging is not necessary.
|
|
|
|
Post by Patter on Jun 9, 2016 16:43:57 GMT
Either arm is fine. I have the Alta. I wear it on my right arm, hold the dog leash on my right arm (thus it doesn't really move), and I have no trouble with it tracking my steps. If it involved arm swinging, then it would count things I do when I move my arms and not necessarily my legs. KWIM?
|
|
|
|
Post by Basket1lady on Jun 9, 2016 17:21:22 GMT
I think it matters *some*. I notice that when I'm grocery shopping, it hardly records any steps. I read somewhere (here?) that it's because I hold the shopping cart when I walk. So I tried just holding the cart with one hand the other day. I was in the commissary for over an hour and got another 3,000 steps than what I usually get.
So last night when I was walking the dog, I switched hands holding the leash. I got about the same number of steps.
I do notice that when we are walking, DH will get about 1,000 steps more than I do, walking the exact same path side by side. He has long legs and I have short legs. And he's 10 inches taller than I am. I don't know why he gets more steps than I do--I checked and I do have my height logged correctly. Life is not fair.
|
|
|
|
Post by annabella on Jun 9, 2016 17:30:05 GMT
The shopping cart thing is interesting, never thought of that. I think when you hold a dog leach you hand does move slightly up and down as the dog is jerking you verses shopping cart your hand is very steady.
|
|
|
|
Post by liya on Jun 9, 2016 17:49:50 GMT
The produce section in my grocery store always puts my fitbit Flex into sleep mode. The floor is kind of "brick-like"; it drives me crazy.
|
|
christinec68
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,388 
Location: New York, NY
|
Post by christinec68 on Jun 9, 2016 18:00:39 GMT
I think it matters *some*. I notice that when I'm grocery shopping, it hardly records any steps. I read somewhere (here?) that it's because I hold the shopping cart when I walk. So I tried just holding the cart with one hand the other day. I was in the commissary for over an hour and got another 3,000 steps than what I usually get. So last night when I was walking the dog, I switched hands holding the leash. I got about the same number of steps. I do notice that when we are walking, DH will get about 1,000 steps more than I do, walking the exact same path side by side. He has long legs and I have short legs. And he's 10 inches taller than I am. I don't know why he gets more steps than I do--I checked and I do have my height logged correctly. Life is not fair.I found the opposite happens with my DH & I. He's over a foot taller than me and will have less steps for the same distance. Regarding arm movement...it can absolutely make a difference. I remember one night I needed about 50-60 steps to get to 10,000. I brought garbage down the hall and walked to the bathroom and a grand total of 10 steps were picked up on my fitbit. Meanwhile the fitbit buzzed while I was standing still but brushing my teeth. In the fitbit settings, you can indicate if the fitbit is being worn on your dominant arm. If you're wearing a flex...they also have clips like this so you can clip it on your waistband. www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Compatible-Bracelet-Wristband-Rose-carmine/dp/B00S7MY7JS?ie=UTF8&keywords=fitbit%20clip&qid=1465495146&ref_=sr_1_11&sr=8-11 |
|
|
|
Post by SwissArmyBeth on Jun 9, 2016 18:06:18 GMT
Whenever I'm anywhere with a shopping cart, I automatically move my alta (and flex, previously) from my wrist to a belt loop (if my shorts/pants have one) to make sure my steps track. I used to keep a safety pin attached to one of the clasp holes on my flex so I could do the same on waistbands without loops, but haven't added one to my alta yet. I should do that. I like accuracy. LOL
|
|
|
|
Post by Scrapbrat on Jun 9, 2016 18:09:14 GMT
Either arm is fine. I have the Alta. I wear it on my right arm, hold the dog leash on my right arm (thus it doesn't really move), and I have no trouble with it tracking my steps. If it involved arm swinging, then it would count things I do when I move my arms and not necessarily my legs. KWIM? I have a Garmin rather than a Fitbit, but I'm another that thinks that it does matter to an extent. What I read in a rather detailed product review is that for wrist-worn trackers, the software basically has to decide for every movement of your wrist whether you're taking a step (or doing something similarly active), or whether you're just doing something with your hands. Just guessing, but I would think that repeated, rhythmic motions with your arms, such as the natural arm swing that occurs when people walk briskly, are the kind of things that the software uses to decide. That's why it doesn't typically record things you do with JUST your arms, and that's why things like stroller or grocery cart pushing fool it -- your are keeping your arms/wrists pretty still, yet you are in fact taking steps/being active. |
|
|
|
Post by Basket1lady on Jun 9, 2016 19:23:16 GMT
Whenever I'm anywhere with a shopping cart, I automatically move my alta (and flex, previously) from my wrist to a belt loop (if my shorts/pants have one) to make sure my steps track. I used to keep a safety pin attached to one of the clasp holes on my flex so I could do the same on waistbands without loops, but haven't added one to my alta yet. I should do that. I like accuracy. LOL Genius! But knowing me, I'd forget to move it. But it's a great idea. I tell DH I want credit for moving! |
|
|
|
Post by Basket1lady on Jun 9, 2016 19:25:28 GMT
I think it matters *some*. I notice that when I'm grocery shopping, it hardly records any steps. I read somewhere (here?) that it's because I hold the shopping cart when I walk. So I tried just holding the cart with one hand the other day. I was in the commissary for over an hour and got another 3,000 steps than what I usually get. So last night when I was walking the dog, I switched hands holding the leash. I got about the same number of steps. I do notice that when we are walking, DH will get about 1,000 steps more than I do, walking the exact same path side by side. He has long legs and I have short legs. And he's 10 inches taller than I am. I don't know why he gets more steps than I do--I checked and I do have my height logged correctly. Life is not fair.I found the opposite happens with my DH & I. He's over a foot taller than me and will have less steps for the same distance. Regarding arm movement...it can absolutely make a difference. I remember one night I needed about 50-60 steps to get to 10,000. I brought garbage down the hall and walked to the bathroom and a grand total of 10 steps were picked up on my fitbit. Meanwhile the fitbit buzzed while I was standing still but brushing my teeth. In the fitbit settings, you can indicate if the fitbit is being worn on your dominant arm. If you're wearing a flex...they also have clips like this so you can clip it on your waistband. www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Compatible-Bracelet-Wristband-Rose-carmine/dp/B00S7MY7JS?ie=UTF8&keywords=fitbit%20clip&qid=1465495146&ref_=sr_1_11&sr=8-11I have REALLY short legs. As in, I have to hem petite length pants. DD and I were talking about it the other day and she suggested walking and watching the actual steps count off on the Alta. That way, I can decide how accurate it is. She suggested maybe fooling with my height to see if that makes my step count more accurate. I don't have time today to play with it, but maybe tomorrow. |
|
Dalai Mama
Drama Llama
La Pea Boheme
Posts: 6,985
Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
|
Post by Dalai Mama on Jun 9, 2016 19:35:59 GMT
I think it matters *some*. I notice that when I'm grocery shopping, it hardly records any steps. I read somewhere (here?) that it's because I hold the shopping cart when I walk. So I tried just holding the cart with one hand the other day. I was in the commissary for over an hour and got another 3,000 steps than what I usually get. So last night when I was walking the dog, I switched hands holding the leash. I got about the same number of steps. I do notice that when we are walking, DH will get about 1,000 steps more than I do, walking the exact same path side by side. He has long legs and I have short legs. And he's 10 inches taller than I am. I don't know why he gets more steps than I do--I checked and I do have my height logged correctly. Life is not fair. I was concerned about the shopping cart thing so I checked. Mine is logging all of my steps regardless. |
|
