BodyMedia - accurate or not?

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Replies

  • JRadd14
    JRadd14 Posts: 206 Member
    I researched and looked at all the different options and after all of that AND getting a recommendation from someone who successfully lost weight I chose the BodyMedia Fit Link. The other products I looked at (Fitbit, Jawbone Up) seemed great for someone who wanted to simply get up and move more or did walking/running for their primary excercise. Since I'm doing various excercises including TA Method, dance cardio, kickboxing, etc. I don't think those other devices would really work for me. The BodyMedia device has 4 different sensors for calculating... I believe these other devices just have 1.

    I also love looking at the current stats on my phone and the sync to MFP. So glad I got it!!

    ~j
  • robdel302
    robdel302 Posts: 292 Member
    I've had the link for a few months now and it seems pretty reliable. My only grip is the app itself; it tends to be very finicky at times. Sometimes it won't login after numberous attempts, just dumps me back to the login screen. I also used to have issues getting the band to sync with the app when at the gym but I suspect this was due to Pandora eating up bandwidth. If I shut of all my music, inclusing any loaded on my phone, it syncs no problem. This was on a droid phone btw but I've heard iphones have had the same issue.

    Lastly, I work in a room where we have classified information so I'm not allowed to wear it. That's roughly a 9 hour break where I can't wear the armband. I found a simple remedy for this; I use the website to find the amount of calories I burned and plug that into MFP then base my calories for the day off that.
  • 1horseygirl1
    1horseygirl1 Posts: 98 Member
    Pretty keen on one of these, trying to work out my acutal calorie burn so I can get the intake right , one question though....does it measure strength training? Or just movement? I do mostly strength training so need to be able to work out those calories without a hrm.
  • SmallestGoal
    SmallestGoal Posts: 20 Member
    Another question, if those who use it don't mind -- I'm not much keen on paying through the nose for the band /and/ paying a monthly fee. Is the subscription to use their "activity manager" mandatory? Does the band work without it when your subscription runs out, or does it just become a very expensive piece of jewelry?
  • Badassey
    Badassey Posts: 18 Member
    Awesome blog! The only thing I see is that although your sleep logger does not work, I have the bodymedia core and it totally logs my sleep to the minute including the little spurts where I wake up in the night. Now I want to get the link so I can see it on my phone and use the workout option!
    Aw, thanks! I am curious, now, if the technology within the armbands differ (Core vs. Link). Or maybe I just sleep like a weirdo because it never seems to accurately log my sleep. Glad it's working out for you, though!

    Pretty keen on one of these, trying to work out my acutal calorie burn so I can get the intake right , one question though....does it measure strength training? Or just movement? I do mostly strength training so need to be able to work out those calories without a hrm.
    I do not do a lot of strength training, so I cannot speak from personal experience. But to learn more about how the band logs your activity go here: http://www.bodymedia.com/More-Details

    Another question, if those who use it don't mind -- I'm not much keen on paying through the nose for the band /and/ paying a monthly fee. Is the subscription to use their "activity manager" mandatory? Does the band work without it when your subscription runs out, or does it just become a very expensive piece of jewelry?
    The subscription fee is mandatory in order to access the activity manager. It's $6.95 a month, I believe. For me, it's worth every penny.
  • madasanatter
    madasanatter Posts: 39 Member
    I complete trust my BMF's numbers. I have eaten what it tells me -15% for over a month and I have seen significant progress. It says I burn anywhere from 2400 to 3000, and I have eaten according to those numbers, and have not gained.

    First day with mine so unsure of exact use....My calorie use today says 2623 and I'm aiming for -25% so just cut my calorie to -25% of the 2623?

    Also do I need to change any settings in MFP activity level setting? I'm sure I've read that it should be set at sedentary?
  • jaz050465
    jaz050465 Posts: 3,508 Member
    I complete trust my BMF's numbers. I have eaten what it tells me -15% for over a month and I have seen significant progress. It says I burn anywhere from 2400 to 3000, and I have eaten according to those numbers, and have not gained.

    First day with mine so unsure of exact use....My calorie use today says 2623 and I'm aiming for -25% so just cut my calorie to -25% of the 2623?

    Also do I need to change any settings in MFP activity level setting? I'm sure I've read that it should be set at sedentary?

    It won't matter(as long as you have negative calories on, on MFP) as BMF will automatically adjust and log any difference in calories you burn and adjust it according to your MFP activity level.
  • lesspaul
    lesspaul Posts: 190 Member
    I love the BodyMedia Link.

    I've learned a lot about when I burn calories, and how many.

    Compared to my BodyMedia, MFP has been grossly overestimating calories burned during exercise.

    However, my Bodymedia gives me accurate credit for the simple acts we do from day to day. Lugging groceries. Carrying the laundry up and down stairs, running after the dog. All the little bursts of activity we perform during the day really add up.

    So no longer do I get mega-boasting rights over inflated caloric burns during my workout, but I have learned that I'm not quite as sedentary as I thought. And getting credit for every little thing makes me more likely to do more things, and it all adds up.

    I find it very motivating.

    If you had fiddly techie things, you might not be quite as enamored. My wife doesn't want one because it isn't the most fashionable thing to have on your arm.

    When people notice mine I show the two metallic pad and say that it is like a dog's shock collar, and that my wife has the control. I start checking out a waitress.... Zap!!! Grab one too many beers.....Zap! Bad joke in front of her parents? --- you get the drift!
  • woodallmw
    woodallmw Posts: 2
    The BodyMedia is actually the most accurate as it does not estimate.
  • woodallmw
    woodallmw Posts: 2
    I've been wearing mine for 2-3 months and I still don't trust the numbers that tell me I burn 3500-4k a day (I do work out pretty intensely 6 days a week), so I could possibly burn that much. i still eat about 1600-2000 a day though. I couldn't imagine eating 2500-3000 every day, and I lose on average about 2-2.5 lbs a week right now. I love it though.

    The article that I posted above shows that BodyMedia Fit is fairly accurate, but Fitbit is the most accurate. I have been eating to my Fitbit calories PRECISELY for the last 7 weeks and other than about 2-3 pounds of gain (which I'm sure are just glycogen replenishment in my muscle tissue, not fat gain, since my Body Fat % has gone down over the last 7 weeks), I have been eating between 2300-2800 every day and I have not gained an ounce. So if you truly are burning 3500 a day, I'm sure if you ate that you would not gain. I plan to start cutting soon, but I won't cut that drastically, just down 15-20% below my TDEE burn at the most. (And yes, it is hard to eat that many calories, LOL)

    The BodyMedia is actually the most accurate as it does not estimate. The FitBit is just an estimator. I used the FitBit for a couple days and hated it. I tested out the accuracy of steps by actually counting and it was grossly overestimating, it also estimates how many calories you burn based on how many more steps you take. You could shake the FitBit and burn calories, but with the BodyMedia it calculates it based on sweat, temperature, and I believe HR.
  • rita27ny
    rita27ny Posts: 820 Member
    Hi,

    I'm interested in this product. Which body media do you use? I see the link is more money do you think its better? I do a bunch of activities hike, run, yoga.

    Please suggest which is better? Thanks
  • Pinkranger626
    Pinkranger626 Posts: 460 Member
    I have the bodybugg (older version of the bodymedia as they've mergered) and the Fitbit One. I've found the bodymedia to be more accurate in tracking things that the Fitbit doesn't track well (Spinning, yoga, etc.) which makes it more accurate in general as a lot of my fitness activity involves weights and things that the Fitbit doesn't track very well and I found it tedious to go through and log everything manually. Like any of the fitness trackers it can be slightly off in its numbers but it's been proven to be 90% accurate. It measures by using a pedometer, an accelerometer, measuring your body heat and prespiration levels. I like mine because it keeps me aware of what I'm doing activity wise. It was immensely helpful this past month when I hurt my back and wound up on the couch for a week. Seeing that I wasn't burning my normal calories kept me more aware of what i was putting in my mouth, which my wasitline thanks me for!
  • VastBreak
    VastBreak Posts: 322 Member
    Does the BodyMedia require a monthly fee?

    I remember reviewing a couple of these products and 1 device had a monthly access charge.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    The BodyMedia is actually the most accurate as it does not estimate. The FitBit is just an estimator. I used the FitBit for a couple days and hated it. I tested out the accuracy of steps by actually counting and it was grossly overestimating, it also estimates how many calories you burn based on how many more steps you take. You could shake the FitBit and burn calories, but with the BodyMedia it calculates it based on sweat, temperature, and I believe HR.
    They all estimate. It doesn't use HR, it uses the same accelerometer technology they all use, plus some skin sensors.

    It does have a monthly fee.
  • Pinkranger626
    Pinkranger626 Posts: 460 Member
    Yes the monthly fee is $6.95 which I wasn't super happy about paying... but since I know it works pretty well it's not horrible. Plus there's no contract so you can cancel at any time rather than being stuck with 6 or 12 months like it used to do.
  • rita27ny
    rita27ny Posts: 820 Member
    I read the core 2 is coming out and comes with hrm bluetooth very interested.
  • donohoe4
    donohoe4 Posts: 76 Member
    I used a body media fit when I lost the majority of my weight. I loved it!! Great tool!
  • jmreich30
    jmreich30 Posts: 23 Member
    I would say its very accurate. If you look up specs on it, its about 95% accurate which is phenominal when you think about how it works. It uses skin sensors and accelerometers to measure your body temperature, motion, heat flux and is able to tell when you are in a hard cardio zone (vigorous activity). I've lost 100lbs using it since February and love it. It definitly helps you tailor your workouts better and see whats working and whats not.
  • rita27ny
    rita27ny Posts: 820 Member
    Does HRM give a better reading of calories burned then the body media? do u think should wait for the core 2 or buy the Body Media Link?
  • jaz050465
    jaz050465 Posts: 3,508 Member
    Does HRM give a better reading of calories burned then the body media? do u think should wait for the core 2 or buy the Body Media Link?
    A HRM can only be used for aerobic exercise where as the BMF is for all day wear.
  • rita27ny
    rita27ny Posts: 820 Member
    do u think should wait for the core 2 or buy the Body Media Link?
  • jaz050465
    jaz050465 Posts: 3,508 Member
    do u think should wait for the core 2 or buy the Body Media Link?
    I'd wait. It was supposed to be released in autumn- not sure what latest news is.
  • rita27ny
    rita27ny Posts: 820 Member
    do u think should wait for the core 2 or buy the Body Media Link?
    I'd wait. It was supposed to be released in autumn- not sure what latest news is.

    :) I hope so. thanks for the advice!
  • truckerchic
    truckerchic Posts: 58 Member
    I wrote on body media's FB today asking about the Core2 and if it was still even coming out, they said they are still working on it so it will not be released for the holiday. I have the link but really looking forward to an upgrade!
  • rita27ny
    rita27ny Posts: 820 Member
    Y is it taking so long? Hm
  • rita27ny
    rita27ny Posts: 820 Member
    I wrote on body media's FB today asking about the Core2 and if it was still even coming out, they said they are still working on it so it will not be released for the holiday. I have the link but really looking forward to an upgrade!

    Would u get a difference in wat u have to pa y or pay full price
  • nickriccio
    nickriccio Posts: 1 Member
    you should trust the numbers. my wife and I both have been wearing them for a couple years. my wife has made great progress with hers. if you're are losing that much weight, the darn thing is pretty accurate since one pound equals 3500 calories. so if you're losing 2 pounds per week, multiply 2 X 3500=7000 calories. then divide that by 7, that's an additional 1000 calories to what you're eating just to MAINTAIN. if you're losing more than 2 pounds, that's even more calories.

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