# Health Tracker Suggestions **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** diet-weight-loss\ **Created:** [February 5, 2025, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-tracker-suggestions/1013926 "2025-02-05T18:12:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-tracker-suggestions/1013926/1 "2025-02-05T18:12:30Z")
My Fitbit is dying after years of loyal, reliable service. I would automatically buy a new Fitbit except for one thing. Fitbit moved all of their health dashboard services to a mobile app and removed it from the web. I hate that. I hate using my phone for anything but talking to and texting other people and sometimes using google maps. I just like for the interactive aspect of health tracking to be on my PC where I can use a decent monitor and an actual keyboard. What health trackers let you enter weight, food intake, and activities directly on your PC instead of requiring a phone app? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-tracker-suggestions/1013926/2 "2025-02-05T18:30:41Z")
I’ve had an Apple watch for about a year now and it’s been life changing as far as tracking exercise and diet. I pair it with my phone, though. You’d probably need a Mac to work on a desktop. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-tracker-suggestions/1013926/3 "2025-02-05T18:36:08Z")
The Garmin Connect website seems to have everything that’s on the Garmin app, including entering your weight and hydration. Love my Garmin watch! ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-tracker-suggestions/1013926/4 "2025-02-05T18:46:40Z")
Garmin and Apple are the lead players here, though if you want a simpler health tracking band as opposed to a full-fledged smartwatch I think Garmin is the play. There’s also Withings, though I don’t think their web interface lets you input data, it just shows you stuff that’s been collected by your device. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-tracker-suggestions/1013926/5 "2025-02-05T18:58:59Z")
So the Garmin is an actual watch as well? I forgot to say that I want the time keeping ability as well. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-tracker-suggestions/1013926/6 "2025-02-05T19:05:03Z")
Garmin has over a dozen models of smartwatches, many tailored to specific sports, as well as simpler trackers more akin to Fitbits. Those simpler devices (Vivofit 4 and Vivosmart 5 appears to be the current ones) do have timekeeping, but don’t have GPS for recording runs, for example, like the Fenix and Venu lines do. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-tracker-suggestions/1013926/7 "2025-02-05T19:18:00Z")
I like my Garmin Forerunner 165. Review below: > **[Garmin Forerunner 165 Long-Term Review: Just The Bad Bits](https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewwilliams/2024/05/21/garmin-forerunner-165-long-term-review-just-the-bad-bits/)** > > The Garmin Forerunner 165 is one of easiest-to-recommend Garmin watches in years. But here are the bad bits that stand out after months of testing. FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-tracker-suggestions/1013926/8 "2025-02-05T19:19:48Z")
There are tons of, maybe too many, Garmin models. They all keep time, as far as I know. I have the Fenix 7 and my daughter got the Fenix 6 (which is now two generations old) on a great sale. Another friend has the Vivoactive, I think, cheaper still. What’s your price range? What functions/tracking are you looking for? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-tracker-suggestions/1013926/9 "2025-02-05T19:25:54Z")
Price range is up to $200. I’m looking to track my walking and biking, caloric intake and output, and weight. Other metrics and services like relaxation modes are nice, too. But those are my core interests. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-tracker-suggestions/1013926/10 "2025-02-05T19:54:01Z")
By tracking walking and biking, do you mean recording heartrate over time and calculating calory burn, or do you mean GPS tracking? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-tracker-suggestions/1013926/11 "2025-02-05T19:55:05Z")
Steps taken and calories burned are my current measures. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-tracker-suggestions/1013926/12 "2025-02-05T20:00:39Z")
Then the [Vivosmart 5](https://www.garmin.com/en-CA/p/782585) is probably your option. Sorry about the link to the Canadian site, but I can’t seem to force my browser to the US one. The lowest cost GPS-capable Garmin appears to be the [Forerunner 55](https://www.garmin.com/en-CA/p/741137). You may also be able to find older models still in stock at retailers at lower prices than the current offerings. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-tracker-suggestions/1013926/13 "2025-02-13T19:53:41Z")
For the record, I got the Vivosmart 5. Still getting used to it. My fitbit had hourly step goals and I find myself missing those. I like how much easier it is to put the Garmin into “do not disturb” mode. Continuing my research to get the most use out of it. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-tracker-suggestions/1013926/14 "2025-02-13T19:59:43Z")
Nice! Welcome to the Garmin cult! I found the Fenix almost overwhelming when I first got it (moving from a Samsung watch), but now I find it really intuitive, so stick to it! The Fenix has assignable shortcut buttons (holding down one or more buttons at a time). I don’t know if the Vivosmart has that, but they are really handy. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-tracker-suggestions/1013926/15 "2025-02-14T01:19:49Z")
vaguely unrelated to your question, but if you have money to burn another thing to buy is a portable indirect calorimetry device. Calibre makes them, I believe some other companies do too. Its a good way to gauge how many calories you burn at rest, during daily activities, during exercise, etc.