Using your FitBit

These instructions explain how to set up and use your Fitbit. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us (859-562-0112) or email us (restky@uky.edu).

Syncing your Fitbit device with your Fitbit account updates your physical activity, heart rate, and sleep information, and will help you share that information with us.

In order to use your Fitbit, you’ll first need to create a Fitbit account. It’s important to fully charge your Fitbit before you start setting up your account. After creating your Fitbit account, be sure to follow the instructions to sync your account with Fitabase.

About your Fitbit

As a study participant, you’ll be asked to wear a Fitbit each day. This Fitbit will be yours to keep after you complete the study.

When wearing your Fitbit during your everyday life, please place the Fitbit about one finger width above your wrist bone on your non-dominant hand (the hand you don’t write with).

You can turn the water lock setting when you're in water, for example showering or swimming, to prevent the buttons on your device from activating. To do so, press and hold the buttons on your tracker, tap "Water Lock," and firmly tap your screen twice.

When wearing your Fitbit during a workout or physical activity, you may want to move your Fitbit up to be 2-3 finger widths above your wrist bone.

Using Your Fitbit:

Tapping on the screen will “wake up” your Fitbit, and you should see the time displayed. Next, swipe/slide your finger up on the screen to see basic information about your daily activity (including your daily steps and calories burned).

You should plan to open the Fitbit app on your phone at least once each day to make sure the device and your app are syncing regularly.

If you’d like, you can also purchase a different band for your Fitbit to make it your own. Replacement bands are available online through Fitbit (https://www.fitbit.com/global/us/products/accessories.inspire-2) and through many third-party retailers such as Amazon and Walmart.

Tracking Your Physical Activity:

Your Fitbit will automatically track your heart rate and activity by counting your steps, calories burned, and flights of stairs climbed.

You can also set up a daily goal for the number of steps you take. Your Fitbit will default to a goal of 10,000 steps per day, but you can change the number of steps for your goal in the Fitbit app.

Your Fitbit may also send an hourly activity reminder, which will make your Fitbit vibrate and display a message asking you to move around.

Tracking Your Sleep:

Your Fitbit will automatically track your sleep. When you wake up in the morning, you can take a look at information your Fitbit recorded about your sleep in the Fitbit app.

The manual for your Fitbit is available at this link: https://help.fitbit.com/manuals/manual_inspire_2_en_US.pdf

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Setting up your study Fitbit account

Step 1: Download and install the Fitbit app from the Apple App Store (if you have an Apple phone or tablet) or from the Google Play Store (if you have an Android phone or tablet).

If you are using an Android phone or tablet, you may automatically get a message asking you to begin the set-up process. If you get this message, tap on the message and follow the instructions on your phone/tablet.

Step 2: Once the Fitbit app is installed on your device, tap on the icon for the app and then tap on Login. Depending on your device model, you may see either one of the images below on your screen.

Step 3: Enter your login information in the spaces provided on the next screen. This information is located on the Login Information Card enclosed with your Fitbit Device.

Step 4: When you log in, you should see your Fitbit dashboard. Tap on the Account icon and select your profile. Then you will enter your demographic information. For date of birth, simply enter January 1 [your birth year] to protect your privacy.

Step 5: To add your new Fitbit to your account, tap again on the Account icon in the upper lefthand corner and then tap on Set Up a Device.

Step 6: You will be asked which type of Fitbit you are setting up. Please tap on Inspire 2 and then tap on Set Up.

Step 7: Next, you’ll receive a message about charging your Fitbit (see image below). If you have already charged your Fitbit, tap Next. If you haven’t charged your Fitbit, please charge your Fitbit before continuing.

Step 8: After charging your Fitbit and tapping the Next button, you’ll receive a push alert on your Fitbit with a four-digit code. You will enter this code into the Fitbit app using a keypad.

While your Fitbit is connecting to your device, you may receive push notifications on your device asking if you want to grant the Fitbit app permission to access your location, contacts, or device data. You do not need to allow this, but if you do, know that the REST-KY study will not have access to location data or your personal contacts.
You may receive a message asking if you want to enroll in the Fitbit Protection Plan and Premium Membership. This is not required for participants in this study. Tap "Not Now" and "X."
- If you do wish to purchase either, please only do so after completion of the study.

Connecting to Fitabase:

Fitabase is a software that will sync with your Fitbit. It is important to complete these set-up steps so that our team will be able to access and analyze the data collected by your Fitbit.
You will receive a link to Fitabase from our team. If you have not received this link or cannot find it, please contact the research team by calling us at 859-562-0112 or emailing us at restky@uky.edu.

Step 1: Click on the Fitabase link, you will be taken to a page that looks like the image.
• Select “Connect” to begin the syncing process.

Step 2: On the next page, enter the email and password you used when creating your Fitbit account.

Step 3: Select “Allow All” so that Fitabase will be able to function properly. Then select “Allow” to proceed.

You have now successfully synced your Fitbit with Fitabase and you should see the following screen saying that your Fitbit account has been linked.

Congratulations! Your new Fitbit is now set up. You should now be able to see information from your Fitbit (including the number of steps you’ve taken and your heart rate) in the app.

If you don’t see this information or if you don’t see your Fitbit on your Fitbit account, you can contact Fitbit Customer Service at (877) 623-4997 or you can chat with a customer service representative online by visiting https://myhelp.fitbit.com/s/support?language=en_US

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Charging your Fitbit

We ask that you charge your Fitbit anytime your Fitbit sends you a low battery warning (which is sent when the battery gets down to 20%). It’s important that you charge your Fitbit during the day to make sure that you can wear your Fitbit while you sleep. Try not to leave the Fitbit charging when you know you’ll be engaging in exercise or other physical activity.

Your Fitbit battery will typically get down to 20% after 3-4 days if you charge it fully when you plug it in.
Some Fitbit users like to have a charging plan that they stick to every week, like charging their Fitbit while they are in the shower every Monday. You may wish to develop a charging plan that makes sense for you and makes it easy to keep your Fitbit charged up enough to get through each night.

To charge your Fitbit:

Step 1: Locate the Fitbit charging cable. The charging cable is pictured below.

Step 2: Plug the USB end of your Fitbit charging cable (circled in green) into a USB wall charger or computer port.

Step 3: Connect the other end of the charging cable (circled in red) to your Fitbit.

You will attach the cord to your Fitbit by lining up the gold metal on the charging cable with the gold metal on the back of your Fitbit.
Once the charging cable and Fitbit are lined up, snap the Fitbit into the charger by gently pressing the Fitbit and charger together.

Step 4: Let your Fitbit charge for at least 2-3 hours until the battery is fully charged.

You’ll know that your Fitbit is fully charged when the battery icon is full and a smile appears on the Fitbit screen.

Step 5: Once your Fitbit is fully charged, remove it from the charging cable.

Slide the thumbnail of your hand between the back of your Fitbit and the charging cable (as shown in the picture to the right)
Gently push on the cord with your nail until the cord unsnaps from the Fitbit

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Instructions for your Fitbit

Using your Fitbit

About your Fitbit

Setting up your study Fitbit account

Charging your Fitbit

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