It seems that they're assuming about 500 - 600 calories burned every 12 hours by just living / breathing. I imagine that number varies depending on what you put in for your weight / height / sex.
I have recently started the "diet plan" the site offers - basically I put in how much weight I want to lose over a particular time frame, and it then tells me how many calories I'm allowed to eat throughout the day. It starts off low (in the morning I'm only allowed to eat about 1000 calories for the day), but increases the number depending on how many calories I burn. So if I burn 3k calories, I'm allowed to eat maybe 2.5k if I want to lose the weight.
Like you, it seems Fitbit assumes a calorie is a calorie is a calorie
I definitely think the concept is great, and similar tools are offered with many weight-loss programs. There is still debate about whether a calorie consumed after 10 pm is worse than a calorie consumed at 10 am. (I think a calorie is a calorie no matter what time it is. If I can sleep off calories, all the better.) When you follow up, I'd be curious as to what the average burn is in 24 hours. I know I have to go well under 2,000 in order to lose weight--or step up the exercise. Clearly, the latter option is better!
They can be out in the market in just a few months (compared to the 18 months or so for phones), are super small (the fitbit is about the size of my thumb)
@Michell, I think size is one of the major advantages of Fitbit. Its hard to carry a smartphone while doing exercise, but these tiny devices can be easily carried while doing exercise. I think it would be even more convenient if can embed these devices in shoes.
I used to try out this fitbit before. It's actually a great product. By tracking the steps and the calories, I feel quite motivated to do more walking and even jogging. Wireless sync is a plus and it is using proprietary protocol hence does not consume a lot of battery like wifi.
We already are adding some of the same features into the smartphone – smartphones can track if you're going up the stairs, elevator, and moving in general (for gps & location-based services). But, we don't always have a smart phone on us. These types of devices are being called "appcessories." They can be out in the market in just a few months (compared to the 18 months or so for phones), are super small (the fitbit is about the size of my thumb), and can be made to work seamlessly with the phone (in the future anyway).
I've discovered that Fitbit assumes calories burned throughout the day. So at midnight just breathing and living burns a few calories and it builds up throughout the day. Because I started the Fitbit later in the afternoon, Fitbit assumed a standard number of calories burned. There are ways to make this more accurate for those who are focused on weight loss.
Personally, I'm just looking at it as a range – the higher the better, but probably best to focus on the other aspects of the dashboard.
Looking forward to reading more about your experience with this product. I think these products are a good idea in this day and age to get people interested in being healthy. It's kind of like a game, always trying to beat your previous score.
I hate to rain on Fitbit's parade, but burning 400 calories takes a LOT of work. I don't know about Fitbit but I do know a lot about dieting. A half-hour of vigorous exercise burns only 70 calories or so. A typical adult can maintain weight at 2,000 calories per day. Burning 400 puts you on a track to weight loss.
I wish reading blogs or opening boxes burned that many calories! I'd be helping myself to pizza and ice cream instead of salads. ;-)
@Cryptoman, I don't have a Fitbit but I believe the (fun) efforts of reading Michell's blog, the anticipation building up in expectation of "Day 2" and the time I've spent thinking and writing responses to her blog have made me lose 400 calories! I think.
@Tirlapur, The merging of functionalities in devices has benefitted some companies and hurt others. Remember the Palm Pilot organizer or pagers? Even the standalone GPS is getting to the end of the line as companies merge these functionalities into mobile devices. Camera sales too aren't as strong anymore because many of the potential buyers simply use their smartphones.
The Fitbit may end up being just another application on a phone.
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Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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