OT Fitbit or Apple Watch

I have neither but I would say the Apple Watch. Fitness tracker plus everything else it can do...

I have a Garmin vivofit 3 and would definitely recommend it - I really like the app interface, and I LOVE the fact that it takes a regular battery and I don't need to charge it regularly.  I did get some extra bands that have a regular watch/belt type clasp rather than the factory one.  Around $50 on Amazon, plus maybe $10 for the different bands.  

If you are looking for strictly health analytics take a look at a whoop strap.  https://www.whoop.com/  I don't personally have one yet, but contemplating it.

caliking said:

I'm somewhat of a Luddite. What's the benefit of a FitBit or Apple watch in this regard?

You can have your fitness device report to an app like My Fitness Pal. It will report calories burned through activity to help manage your calorie balance.
I use MFP and have my activity set to "sedentary". My base caloric needs for an average day teaching is about 1900 calories per day. When I run or ride my bike the additional calories are reported. So if I go ride 25 miles I might have an additional 700 calories or so I need to consume... I'll burn 2600 calories that day.

I have a Garmin Fenix watch - but I would say it is only worth the money if you are a dedicated endurance enthusiast (running or cycling).

fishlessman said:

i put one of these devices on for a weekend, i think it was called a smart band.  blood pressure was way off, not sure how it even measured it.  everytime you raise a beer it counts it as a step. just fishing 8 hours in the boat it measured out 20 running miles, i do move around in the boat alot changing speeds, lures, checking lines etc but 20 miles dont trust these gimmicks, get a dog, walk the dog, eat less. when i said the blood pressure readings were off, i was getting 90/40 and im closer to 130/90 on meds

Every piece of technology certainly has limitations and will give errors in certain situations - riding in a boat may be a prime example. Certainly people lost weight or maintained weight for many years without them. Eating less food certainly is a simple and time honored solution.

SciAggie said:

fishlessman said:

i put one of these devices on for a weekend, i think it was called a smart band.  blood pressure was way off, not sure how it even measured it.  everytime you raise a beer it counts it as a step. just fishing 8 hours in the boat it measured out 20 running miles, i do move around in the boat alot changing speeds, lures, checking lines etc but 20 miles dont trust these gimmicks, get a dog, walk the dog, eat less. when i said the blood pressure readings were off, i was getting 90/40 and im closer to 130/90 on meds

Every piece of technology certainly has limitations and will give errors in certain situations - riding in a boat may be a prime example. Certainly people lost weight or maintained weight for many years without them. Eating less food certainly is a simple and time honored solution.

reeling a line in to check for weeds counts as running, it counts arm movement, not feet if i talked with my hands i would be an athlete with these things

I have a FitBit Charge 3.  Small lightweight and simple.  I interface with it through the phone app more than anything else.  And it syncs to the WeightWatcher app to get me Activity Points.  

Apple watch guy here. It's a key piece for making my day easier. Voice notes, calls, reading texts, checking email coming in, asking Siri stupid stuff and paying for coffee...oh and the added health app data.

I I had an Apple Watch 3 I liked it ok battery life.  The fitness rings can bring out some competitiveness in you by making you want to complete them daily and increases goals over time.  However, I was walking into a store and the wind caught the door and it hit my wrist and destroyed the screen. 

I own Apple stock in my portfolio. I think everyone should buy Apple products. 

Disclosure: I do not own any Apple products. 

I don’t wear either as I don’t need a daily reminder that I’m out of shape. I have heard of the replacement cost of Apple Watch screens beinh high enough that you just have to buy a new watch and that the screens aren’t that durable. 

I was gifted the Apple Watch for my burfday back in July. It has some solid health tracking and some features that are very helpful in support of my lifestyle. 

Fred, start out with something cheaper - see if it helps.  For most people, it won’t matter how accurate the mileage is, etc., but what you want is something that is more objective than how much exercise or movement you think you had each day.  We’re all too subjectively optimistic when we try to gauge on our own level of activity day to day.