13 Fitbit Hacks That Are Pure Genius for Your Fitness Goals ...

By Eliza

13 Fitbit Hacks  That Are Pure Genius for Your Fitness Goals ...

If you want to get the most out of your activity tracker, you need every single one of these Fitbit hacks. A Fitbit is a great way to keep track of how many steps you're taking each day, but it can do so much more than that. And, considering how much you paid for it, don't you want to get your money's worth? Thanks to MakeUseOf.com, we're here to give you some genius Fitbit hacks that will totally change the way you use yours. Ready for a great workout? Here to you go!

1 Use Your Fitbit as a Stopwatch

watch, product, arm, hand, strap, Clicking the main button on the side of your Fitbit displays the time, followed by your daily statistics. These include steps taken, current heart rate, distance traveled (in miles), calories burnt, and floors climbed — in that order. See Tip 8 for options to change this order. There’s a stopwatch built-in, but it’s not instantly evident. Just press and hold the main button for a few seconds. The stopwatch will start. To stop it, simply repeat the action. You’ll see your time reading. Now move on to your Fitbit app.

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This little-known feature can be particularly handy if you're looking to time your workouts without the fuss of a separate device. Whether it's high-intensity interval training or monitoring your pace on a run, this built-in function simplifies your fitness routine. Feel free to leave your phone behind and let your Fitbit do the job. Remember, the stopwatch can also be accessed through the touchscreen interface on more advanced models — simply swipe through the options to find it. Happy training!

Frequently asked questions

2 Change Your Default Goal Settings

text, font, product, diagram, line, The Fitbit app (Android, iOS, and Windows) has four tabs. It opens in Dashboard, which gives you an overview of your daily step count, sleep cycle, and food and water log. If you don’t like this default layout, just tap and hold any tile — for instance, “Track exercise”. You’ll now be able to reshuffle all the tiles and personalize your Dashboard interface. Tapping any option in this section gives you a breakdown of its results as a list, but it also lets you customize your goals for that section. So, for example, tap "Steps" to see your daily step count, both present day and in the past. As every Fitbit user knows, 10,000 is the default step goal, but if you feel that’s too easy for you, then tap the Settings (cog-shaped) icon to change it. Similarly, you can also change your goals for daily floor count, distance, and hourly activity goals.

3 Set Reminders to Sleep on Time

text, product, font, diagram, line, Tap the Sleep tile on your Dashboard, then tap the Settings icon. You’ll see options to set a new sleep time goal (its set to eight hours by default). You’ll also see options to set a target sleep and wake up schedule. Turn on the Reminder slider to set a phone notification when you need to sleep. Select the days on which you want to see these reminders by tapping those options at the bottom.

4 Challenge Yourself

text, advertising, product, font, poster, The app’s Challenges tab has a list of all the events you’re participating in. Adventures is a new section that was added a few months ago. It basically consists of six adventures (that range from 8,000 to 57,000 steps), including NYC 3.1 Miles and Vernal Falls. Select the one you want to start from the next day. The entire adventure is divided into smaller checkpoints. At each one, you’re either asked simple health-related questions, you’ll learn more about that particular route, or you’ll see actual photos from locations you’ve passed within the virtual adventure. It’s a good way to motivate yourself if you don’t have friends to compete with.

5 Get a Virtual Trainer to Motivate You

text, product, font, advertising, diagram, Guidance is a new tab that prompts you to install the Fitstar Personal Trainer companion app (Android and iOS). After logging in to the app (which you can do using your Fitbit ID), you need to choose one of two virtual trainers. You’ll then see timed, personalized exercises, most of which you can do at home using an exercise mat. Tap each exercise to see a video describing the proper way you should do it. You can advance to tougher sessions as your agility and core strength improve.

6 Expand Your Fitbit Network

text, font, line, brand, shape, The main reason that Fitbit has become so popular is because of its ever-expanding user-base. Adding friends and competing in challenges is really what pushes you to go the extra mile. Tap the Friends tab, then tap the pink Add icon to see three tabs: "Contacts", "Facebook", and "Email". The first tab lists your contacts, the second lets you connect your Facebook account to see which of your Facebook friends use a Fitbit. The last tab lets you add friends using their email address. It’s a good idea to go through your friend’s lists for common friends.

7 Enable Phone Notifications

Tap the Account tab, then tap the name of your Fitbit. In the General section, tap the Notifications option to enable call and SMS notifications on your phone. Your phone’s Bluetooth will need to be on for this to work. The three dots at the top lets you send a test notification to check if this feature works. Your Bluetooth can drain your device’s battery when it is switched on for an entire day, so it’s a good idea to use this feature for a few days before deciding whether it’s worth using 24/7.

8 Set Silent Alarms

text, product, font, line, diagram, In the same General section, you’ll find Fitbit’s wrist vibration alarms, called "Silent Alarms". These much are more effective than your phone’s alarm. This feature has saved me from falling asleep at many an airport and tube ride. Ensure your Wrist Placement is set to which hand you wear your Fitbit on. So, for example, if you’re right-handed but wear your Fitbit on your left hand, set it to “Non-Dominant”. Clock Display lets you change the default clock face on your tracker. You can change the default order of options displayed when you press the main button on your Fitbit. To do this, tap "Customize Stats", then drag to reorder the options for Clock, Steps, Heart Rate, Floors, etc. according to how you want them to appear on your fitness tracker. Uncheck any of these options if you don’t want to see them.

9 Prolong Your Fibit Battery Life

Your Fitbit’s Heart Rate Monitor can be a useful feature. In some cases, it can even save your life. However, if you don’t use this feature often, then it’s a good idea to scroll to Heart Rate and turn it off. Doing this can extend your Fitbit’s battery life by up to three days! You can also change what happens when you tap your Fitbit’s screen. By default, this is set to "Show Clock". Select "Tap Gesture" and change this to something else (such as "Show Steps" or "Show Distance") if that’s what you prefer.

10 Track Your Weekly Progress

text, font, line, brand, shape, Fitbit sends you a Weekly Progress Report via email. However, you can check your updated weekly progress at any time. Tap the Account tab, tap "7-Day Summary", then tap “Take a look”.

11 Change Your Time Zone

If you travel to a country where you don’t have mobile network, you’ll notice that your Fitbit doesn’t automatically change your time zone. This is because the device is set to automatically use the time zone provided by your phone network. If that happens, then scroll to the bottom of the Account tab and tap "Advanced Settings". Here, turn off the “Automatic time zone” slider and turn on the “Automatic location” slider. Finally, click the “Select location” option and select the country you’re in.

12 Change Your Unit Defaults

Depending on what you’re used to, you probably calculate your weight in Kilograms, Pounds, or Stone, and your Height in Feet or Centimeters. The Unit option in the Advanced Settings section lets you change the default readings for your app.

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Switching your unit defaults is more than just a personal preference—it can actually affect your motivation. For instance, if you find metrics* confusing or demotivating, switching to imperial units might give you a sense of familiarity and control. On the flip side, if you’re looking to see incremental changes and precise tracking, metrics can offer finer detail. Fiddle around with these settings to find what mentally clicks for you, making your fitness journey a tad more tailored and a lot more enjoyable. After all, when you're comfortable with your tools, your goals feel that much closer!

13 Make Your Step Count More Accurate

text, product, font, line, diagram, If you feel like your Fitbit step count is a bit off, then you should check your personal settings and stride length. In the Advanced Settings section, you’ll see a section called "Edit Your Profile", which logs your height, weight, and gender. You generally enter these values when you first set up your Fitbit. Fitbit estimates your step count based on your weight and height. Therefore, significant changes in those fields can result in step miscalculations, so ensure that that information is updated every few months. Go back and tap Stride Length at the bottom. Here, you can provide your actual walking and running stride lengths by measuring and typing those values.

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