does anyone use an activity monitor?

[Twizzler]

I'd like to get an "activity monitor." I've tried pedometers, but they aren't very accurate and never pick up steps during skating. I'm looking at a FitBit (you can hook it too your pants or even put in your bra) or the Nike sport kit (it goes in your shoes or connects to your laces). I don't want a wrist band. I want something I can wear all the time, watch my steps/miles pile up and the pounds drop off.

does anyone use an activity monitor? is yes, what one? Does it work when you skate?
thanks

[fsk8r]

I was on a trial using the Philips DirectLife monitor. They admitted that it struggled to pick up skating steps as it's not steps like walking. They recommended wearing it around the ankle to be able to detect skating which is also where they recommended wearing it for cycling. I'd hoped that because they were advertising wearing it around your neck / attached to bra, that it would be very good, but in the end it couldn't quite detect all movements.

[AgnesNitt]

I tried the Phillips ActiveLife monitor made for weight watchers. It wasn't until I bought it that I could take it to our computer security rep and be told it was not.allowed in our building. So I can wear it outside the building, but not inside. Money down the drain.

[TDL]

I have used both the Up fitness band and the last generation Fitbit.  I like both of them, but neither of them reflects very accurately  the exertion involved in skating.  In fact, I get more "credit" from walking to and from the rink from my car than the  actual skating.   

[supra]

I had a cheap Chinese heartrate monitor I ordered off ebay for like $6. It worked all right, but then because it was $6 and Chinese, it broke (the buttons just got stuck.) I learned if I'm, say, just talking to someone on the ice and casually skating, my heartrate is almost nothing more than resting, and then if I'm skating hard, it's in the 130s (with resting like 65 without any caffeine.) This monitor wasn't the best in another aspect in that you had to put your finger on a sensor on the watch to measure it. Which might work for jogging or something, but there's nothing you can do in skating to allow you to check your rate on the fly, only after pulling up to the boards. You can get other heart rate monitors with a strap on your chest or somewhere on your body and that might be better, as they can log an actual average better.

So, heartrate+whatever your vo2 is max will tell you calories burnt relatively accurately.

[Twizzler]

Hello All,
After much back and forth on activity monitors, a friend at Weight Watchers let me try hers for a week. After that I had to buy one.

The one WW has is made by Phillips. They say it counts all kinds of movement, not just steps and that does seem to be the case. When I wore it skating it picked up the activity, but then when I connected to the computer and "named" my activity "skating" it adjusted the reading (upward). The directions say it does this for activities that are more "resistance based." (skating, biking and others). I felt it did record my effort fairly accurately.

It's smaller and fits more comfortably than my pedometer. You tell the computer where you are wearing it, as this effects the readings. The first week you do an "assessment" and it will tell you what your baseline activity is. then it gives you a 12 week "challenge" designed to encourage you to increase your activity. whenever I connect it to my computer it automatically syncs my points with my WW log (on my phone). You get emails with your weekly progress.

Downsides--it measures your activity in WW activity points, a bit nebulous, but since I"m on WW it works fine for me. And you need to have a WW acct (free if you are in WW) plus the activity monitor acct ($5 per month).

I'm liking it so far and I've been purposely getting more exercise, and isn't that the whole point. My dog loves it, he got two walks today so he's happy and tired!

[rosereedy]

I use a Polar heart rate monitor and I also have a pedometer that we use through work.  It is the Virgin HealthMiles thing and it's ok.  Seems to pick up more when I am jumping rather than just skating or spinning.  I would say the HRM is more accurate than anything.