Activity Trackers advice please...

I’ve got a Fitbit Charge 2. I wear it mainly because it lets me know when I’ve a phone call or had a message on my phone. I find it doesn’t give a true record of how many times you go upstairs and when you get an alert to say 15 or however many steps to reach you goal, you can just wave your arm about and hey presto ‘well done’. It will be in a drawer shortly I think, with my husbands, he stopped wearing his a while ago.

My husband bought one and used it about twice. I'm not sure where it is now but it was a waste of money. We have a favourite walk along the side of the river. Maybe find somewhere you enjoy walking so that you are encouraged to do it more often? Join a walking club?

I've got an old version of the FitBit which I used to clip to my bra. However, I have stopped using it as I feel pressurised and 'guilty' on days when I don't fulfill the required number of steps.

I go to the gym twice a week, eat moderately, use stairs instead of lifts, and try to walk whenever possible rather than take the car everywhere.

QVC have a fitbit as today’s special value. £40 off rep and payment in 3 instalments if anyone is interested

I tried using the app on my phone but it used up the battery life so quickly I got rid of it. However - I continued walking more often as I had got used to how many steps I should be doing. (I think Santa may bring me one. )

Hey quizqueen I love my dog but even a state of the art fitness tracker would be way cheaper!

But a huge well done for giving up smoking! ?

Fitbit trackers are very expensive and mine was unreliable. It recorded things I hadn't done, like climbing flights of stairs while I was sitting using my laptop! I sent it back to Amazon and got a full refund when the little button you use to scroll through the various functions fell out before it was a year old. There are simpler, cheaper ones on Amazon. I'd have another one but only to record steps.

I’ve got a Garmin watch and other gadgets but absolutely love the Fitbit Charge HR my DH bought me (£115 but I’ve seen cheaper on eBay)
The ‘tech’ is so simple. I love it, have downloaded the app too, love the personal and group challenges. Love seeing texts when I can’t access my phone at work. Most importantly I find it motivates me to achieve step goals and running too.

I have the cheap pretender, the Mi Fit, which costs around £30, and I love it. It seems accurate, and I've had it two years now without getting bored. It replaced my trusty old pedometer, which I also found to be a great incentive to get more exercise. I know I still don't do enough - 10,000 steps a day was just too much, so my target is down to 8,000 - but it does spur me on. I like the sleep monitor, and it has actually encouraged me to try to get to bed a bit earlier, as I invariably wake up too soon in the morning and have trouble getting 7 hours in. Mind you, it's not much use knowing that I don't get enough deep sleep without my being able to remedy it!

I read somewhere that fitbits are not entirely fit for purpose because of inaccuracies. Personally I think you would be wasting your money. Most ladies I know who got them for christmas when they became fashionable no longer wear them...they're bored with them.

Another vote for Fitbit keeps you motivated but can be addictive.

Many thanks for all your responses, think I'll have a good look but keep using my phone for the moment... who knows maybe someone will buy me one for Christmas?

Thanks menopaws will have a look

I have a step counter on an old iPod with a radio which is fun. I also have an app on my phone. This tells me number of steps, calories used and monitors my weight. It was free. I find it invaluable. I make myself walk up in the hills at least 10,000 steps a day. I gave up smoking in February and put on a bit of weight but was determined to lose it. I totally swear by kettlebells. The most amazing exercise ever. I try to do 20 mins every morning and a class most weeks. I have a DVD and a few different weights. It’s only 20 mins out of my day and well worth it. I also try to do at least one Pilates class a week. I’m 62, have something approaching a 6 pack. BMI of 21 and feel great. I believe that we owe it to ourselves to take the best care of our bodies that we can.

I have a little stepcounter that I got free through the daily mail. I keep it in my pocket and it is very useful, though I'm not able to keep up the step count at the moment. So doesn't need to be that expensive.
My daughter walks miles pushing a pushchair wearing a fitbit but it doesn't count the steps as her wrist remains still.
Everything has it's drawbacks.

I have a fitbit - used it a lot when first had it but I have drifted a bit, but will charge it up again. Two friends have bought a Garmin watch which seems a lot easier to use and charge. The fitbit I have doesn't have a watch so I wear something on each wrist - very annoying. Look around before you buy.

Don't bother with a fitbit, get a dog instead.

I have thought about getting one, but the times that I don’t get out and walk are because my arthritis is playing up too much. I feel frustrated enough then without having a device nagging me!

I do love my Fitbit, a present last Christmas, it really does motivate me to try and hit my 10k steps a day. I wish I could feed in the steps I do when I forget to put it on before I take the dog out. Only real gripe is that it doesn't work when I'm pushing the buggy.

... forgot. As for the weight have you considered joining something like Slimming World. You can eat as much as you like, whenever you like. Its not all about salad!

A fitbit Or Garmin Vivo is brilliant and well done to you for getting moving and giving up smoking. Exercise of anysort can be boring if done by yourself. Can I suggest you take a look at 'parkrun'. It's a free 5k walk, run, hop, skip as quick or as slow as you like with a group (usually about 200) like minded people in lovely locations in the UK and overseas. Ive been a volunteer and run/walk at our local on for two years. The whole family are now involved from our 6 year old grandson to my Son who run pushing his son in a pushchair and my husband, whose not up to running but is a good walker. Give it a go, it fun and a great community feeling on a Saturday morning at 9 am.
www.parkrun.org.uk/

Clematisa - you've given up smoking - great. If money is now an issue buy an ordinary pedometer for around £5. This will record the steps you walk and for the moment that's all you're interested in. The NHS recommend 10,000 a day. I bought a fitbit but got tired of having to continually charge it, and I also don't like wearing a watch or anything restrictive when I'm sleeping so for me it wasn't a good buy but I know others who swear by them. The downside I see with some people who have them is that they seem to have become governed by them, checking their heart rates, calories burnt etc., they seem to be taken over by them.

The Fitbit is terrific. It measures steps, stairs, heartrate and the new Fitbit Alta relays texts and gives a magnificent display when you hit 10,000 steps of rockets, stars and flashing lights. Wouldn't be without it. They are a bit pricey but are sometimes on offer. Google 'Fitbit offers' and see what gives. My daughter got hers for £80 on Groupon.

On her wrist even