Hi, remember all devices that give calorie burn are giving an estimate as it is not really possible to measure directly outside a lab. I have both fitbit and an hrm (mine is a Polar F11) and like both for different reasons.
I love my fitbit as it is small and discreet so I forget I am wearing it and no one sees it (unless I decide to show them). It is good for tracking activity and steps throughout the day, having an idea where you fall on the sedentary, "moderately active", "very active" scale of things, having an idea how many calories you burn throughout the day, etc. It is pretty good at giving an estimate for calorie burn from walking, running and to a certain extent dancing as you take a lot of steps in a dance activity like Zumba. I like seeing the breakdown by hours/minutes of my activity throughout the day so it is useful if you are wanting to increase your overall activity.
For measuring calorie estimates from specific activities, a hrm might be better. I actually enter in the calorie burn for some exercises into my fitbit site as I think the estimate from my hrm might be more accurate. I really don't know which one is, but when I do this the activity points seem more accurate (it gives me more activity points and more calories burned from a comfortable but brisk walk than an intense dance class or intense workout dvd. But I am certain the other activities are more intense and most likely burning more calories. I think a walker/runner might be happy with just fitbit for the calorie estimate but for some of my activities I need to also use my hrm).
I've been very happy with my progress since I started using the two together (fitbit for daily activity and hrm for aerobic exercise). But for what you want, maybe start with a heart rate monitor?
__________________
Feeling Fit, Bit by Bit
My fitness/lifestyle blog: http://www.feelingfit.info
and books/entertainment sharing: http://slysamenjoys.blogspot.com
|