Fit Bit vs. Body Bugg vs. other options?

HMKan

I recently purchased a timex HRM with a chest strap and while I find it accurately tracks my heart rate, I don't find it to accurately assess my calories burned. I find that it drastically OVER estimates my calories burned (i.e. 600 calores burned doing 30 minutes of C25K at a slow pace!). I'm now in the market for something that will as-close-to-accurately tell me how many calories I've burned while working out. I've heard a lot about the Body Bugg but it seems very expensive, considering you'd have to buy a separate watch or else spend extra for the one that'll transmit to your ipod. The Fit Bit looks to be about a hundred dollars. Does anyone have experience with this? Or are there any other good products out there?

The next money I drop on this will need to be on a product that will do what I need it to do. I was pretty disappointed that my HRM was of no use in the calories-burned department. Any insight is greatly appreciated!

ChristyDPierce

I have a Polar F11 Pink Fizz....i think its pretty dang good....its left up to you though

polo571

I bought a body media at Costco. Its the same company who makes body bugg. It was 149.99 and you get a 12 month of service with it too. Its spot on and I love. I thought the same thing about price but once you het zeroed in its amazing how you ever went without.

ShunkyDave

A friend of mine uses the FitBit and swears by it. I've looked hard and long at it, but have yet to pull the trigger. I'm also looking at a HRM, also no trigger pulled.

Dare2BThin

Polar brand seems to be very poplar on this site....I just purchased the polar FT4 and I love it ran me $79.00

baypathgradLyns

bump

MisdemeanorM

Are you sure you have your info programed in right? Age, weight, gender etc?

I have a Polar F6 and love it. It seems pretty accurate but I think it is a little high so I always round down.

I have a BodyMediaFit too that I LOVE, but i don't use it for exercise, just for all day counting. The thing I don't like about it is the subscription required. It's not really worth the extra $6-12 a month just to be able to get the readout. They really should have the software just included as a program not an online subscription, but I guess everyone has to gouge everyone somehow. I'll probably only run it 6 months then quit just because of the subscription requirement.

stormieweather

I got a FitBit for Christmas and I love it. It tracks my daily calories burned, and logs my sleep efficiency as well. I can set it to track a specific activity (start/stop function), such as an evening walk, and it will tell me how far I went, how many steps I took and how many calories I burned. It is easy to use, comfortable, and there are no monthly fees. I have not done any specific "workout" type activities with it yet, so am not sure how that will go. I heard that it has difficulty measuring calorie burn with bicycle riding, but I have yet to test that. Since knowing exactly how much I'm burning, I have started losing weight again.

HMKan

My Timex (which cost me about $70) does not actually allow for imput of gender, height. Just weight. I just have to have a device I can trust. I'm also really leary of having to have a subscription that I have to pay for in order to view the data. I log everything into this website, so I don't want to pay for one just to see how many calories I burned.

I've been reading a lot about the Fitbit and it's really intrigueing to me. I don't particularly want to buy a different HRM because I can use my Timex HRM for that. I just need a calorie tracker that is accurate.

tolygal

I have a bodybugg and I love it. I love that I can see the whole day's burn - not just an hour of my day! I don't think they are much more than a higher quality HRM. It looks like you can buy one now for 144 (I think), but I think it only comes with like 3 months of the online subscription - which you do have to have. If I was buying one all over again, I might go for the bodymedia Fit if you get 12 months included!! That would save you 80 bucks over the year! I like the bodybugg's online tools - never tried the bodymedia's tools, so I can't speak for that. You don't have to buy the digital display (the wrist watch) - I have one but rarely use it - like maybe 5 times during the year I've had my bugg. I prefer to just sync to the computer at the end of the day (or any time I want to see where I'm at). But if you l ike to check where you're at for the day (calories burned, steps, activity time)when you're not by your computer, it's useful for that!.

Mindful_Trent

FYI - I didn't read all the comments, but if you buy the BodyBugg/Body Media FIT, you don't *have* to buy the watch/display if you go for the cheaper model - then you'll just have to upload it to your computer to see the results. That's what I do most of the time, and it works just fine. I've made it a habit to plug it in after my workouts, and then first thing in the morning after I wake up.

HMKan

I got a FitBit for Christmas and I love it. It tracks my daily calories burned, and logs my sleep efficiency as well. I can set it to track a specific activity (start/stop function), such as an evening walk, and it will tell me how far I went, how many steps I took and how many calories I burned. It is easy to use, comfortable, and there are no monthly fees. I have not done any specific "workout" type activities with it yet, so am not sure how that will go. I heard that it has difficulty measuring calorie burn with bicycle riding, but I have yet to test that. Since knowing exactly how much I'm burning, I have started losing weight again.

So do you feel it accurately records calories burned? My biggest thing is finding something that is as accurate as is available and affordable on the market. I guess it would need to be able to record cardio (elliptical, running). I mean, I'm no marathoner, a 3-legged dog could catch me. But I'd still want it to work under movements.

HMKan

FYI - I didn't read all the comments, but if you buy the BodyBugg/Body Media FIT, you don't *have* to buy the watch/display if you go for the cheaper model - then you'll just have to upload it to your computer to see the results. That's what I do most of the time, and it works just fine. I've made it a habit to plug it in after my workouts, and then first thing in the morning after I wake up.

This is a helpful point. I think for me, I sometimes like to make sure I've burned enough calories before I stop. So I'd need to be able to see a readout during the workout. But this will factor significantly into my decision since I wasn't keen on buying aNOTHER watch to wear.

HMKan

Though I'm not sure if fitbit even lets you see calories burned. They need to make a nike+ that will work for things besides running/walking (i.e. elliptical, strengh, etc.).

Amajoy

I just bought me a Polor FT40 and absolutely LOVE IT! I discovered that the ellipticals at my gym are saying I am burning 45 more calories then I actually am, so thats good to know. The polar also works with the gym equipment, It reads my heart rate from my chest strap without me having to do anything. I just jumped on at it was reading the same as my watch, pretty cool.

I paid $159 for mine at Sports Authority.

MisdemeanorM

FYI - I didn't read all the comments, but if you buy the BodyBugg/Body Media FIT, you don't *have* to buy the watch/display if you go for the cheaper model - then you'll just have to upload it to your computer to see the results. That's what I do most of the time, and it works just fine. I've made it a habit to plug it in after my workouts, and then first thing in the morning after I wake up.

I got my Body Media on ebay for $100 shipped with a display unit and arm band. Great deal!

Do you know - since your age / gender / height is entered into the online subscription you can't even accurately use the display and armband w/out a subscription can you? I know I would lose the sleep analysis and the time frame breakdowns, but the display still says activity time, calories, and steps and as long as I read it daily before it disappears, I could use the watch with the band to track calories... unless of course it sets to a default gender / weight /age once you cancel your subscription...

Mindful_Trent

FYI - I didn't read all the comments, but if you buy the BodyBugg/Body Media FIT, you don't *have* to buy the watch/display if you go for the cheaper model - then you'll just have to upload it to your computer to see the results. That's what I do most of the time, and it works just fine. I've made it a habit to plug it in after my workouts, and then first thing in the morning after I wake up.

I got my Body Media on ebay for $100 shipped with a display unit and arm band. Great deal!

Do you know - since your age / gender / height is entered into the online subscription you can't even accurately use the display and armband w/out a subscription can you? I know I would lose the sleep analysis and the time frame breakdowns, but the display still says activity time, calories, and steps and as long as I read it daily before it disappears, I could use the watch with the band to track calories... unless of course it sets to a default gender / weight /age once you cancel your subscription...

I'm pretty sure the device won't work unless you have an active subscription. If your armband isn't registered, the watch won't work (I tried putting it on before I registered my armband with the online subscription and it didn't work) - so I can't imagine that they don't have something built into the product so that it eventually de-activates upon subscription cancellation.

cynthials

I got a FitBit last week and so far I love it. I decided on this over a GoWearFit in part due to price, and also because I was not sure I wanted to wear something around my arm all day long, especially considering I live in an area of the county where short sleeves are needed 6 months out of the year.

The FitBit tracks steps, miles, calories burned and sleep patterns. It uploads to your online account via wireless technology (plug the USB device into your computer and if you are within 15 ft of it, data uploads). There is no cost to the online community and you can actually join without having a FitBit (I did that before I bought mine).

I pair it with my Polar F11 when I exercise, but this FitBit is getting me to be even more active because I am trying to walk 10k steps every day. On days I don't exercise that is a difficult goal to attain!!

wolfchild59

For people that have had both a FitBit/Body Bugg/BodyMedia and an HRM, which do you feel gives you the most accurate workout calories burned reading? I love the idea of having my entire day tracked because I love numbers and would love to get an exact calculation of daily burn for exact deficit calculating. But I'm wary of some of the reviews of the Body Media type devices saying that different things can cause the accelerometer to measure things incorrectly. Like driving as a vigorous exercise or stationary bike as light or moderate.

Ultimately, I personally want the absolute most accurate reading of workout calories burned. But ideally, would love to have lots of exact daily numbers to play with, but only if they're accurate.

MisdemeanorM

For people that have had both a FitBit/Body Bugg/BodyMedia and an HRM, which do you feel gives you the most accurate workout calories burned reading? I love the idea of having my entire day tracked because I love numbers and would love to get an exact calculation of daily burn for exact deficit calculating. But I'm wary of some of the reviews of the Body Media type devices saying that different things can cause the accelerometer to measure things incorrectly. Like driving as a vigorous exercise or stationary bike as light or moderate.

Ultimately, I personally want the absolute most accurate reading of workout calories burned. But ideally, would love to have lots of exact daily numbers to play with, but only if they're accurate.

I've never had mine pick up driving as an activity - and I drove 20 hours wearing it once.

Laceylala

To those who have a fitbit...the one thing I am confused about is how it tracks calories burned versus what you eat. I assume that it tracks cals burned via infrared or whatever but does it rely on you to input what you eat each day on the site? I understand that you can just do "lunch 450 cals" as a group thing so you aren't logging twive if you use MFP, but I guess I'm just not getting it.

Calories burned is just based on what your activity level is, etc. for the day right? Does it take into account what you eat to give you some sort of net like MFP?

Doesn't bodybugg do the overall picture of cals in/out?

Maybe I am making it more complicated than it is. LOL. Anyways, thanks for your feedback!

Laceylala

Though I'm not sure if fitbit even lets you see calories burned. They need to make a nike+ that will work for things besides running/walking (i.e. elliptical, strengh, etc.).

If you look on youtube there is one video that just shows the fitbit at different angles and yes - you do get a read of out cals burned whenever you click the button to show that feature.

Mindful_Trent

One thing to keep in mind: not all of these products are meant to be used the same way. I can't speak for the Fit Bit, but the difference between BodyBuggs and HRMs are pretty big.

HRMs are only meant to be used to calculate exercise calories. When I use mine, I only count the calories it estimates while I'm actively exercising - constant exercise. It's not meant to estimate "casual" calories burned (during your regular daily stuff, walking around the house/store, etc.) or to work for exercises like weight lifting.

BodyBuggs (or Body Media Fits) ARE meant to be worn ALL day - they do have a higher margin of error for casual activities, but I've found mine to be fairly accurate. It doesn't show me burning more than "rest" calories while I'm driving in the car. I can see the change in my calorie burn when I climb the stairs or walk out to the back of the parking lot, versus taking the elevator or parking right up front.

If you're interested in wearing something all day and seeing your whole-day calorie burn, then the BodyBugg/BodyMedia FIT is the only product out there currently designed for that.*** It doesn't bother me to wear it all day - it fits just fine underneath short-sleeved shirts or long-sleeved shirts. It's not uncomfortable.

If you really only want an accurate exercise-calorie estimator, you're better off going with a HRM.

***Apparently the FitBit is advertised as something that can be worn all day... but from what I've read about the fitbit, I don't see how something solely motion-based can be as accurate as something like a BodyBugg, which is based on constant body-readings (skin temperature, galvanic skin response, heat flux) plus motion & steps... but that's just my speculation.

stormieweather

The Fitbit is based on the same technology as the Wii - it senses body motion. It calculates your RMR per minute if it detects no motion (ie: you take lie down or leave the FitBit at home). I wear mine 24/7, except for a few minutes here and there when I charge it (and am sitting at my desk). I've found that it is very accurate as far as my energy expenditure is concerned.

I actually bring my FitBit burned calories over here and use MFP for my calories eaten. My base rate per MFP is 1770 calories, so if I burn 1900 (my usual), I enter 130 calories additional from walking. Sometimes, I just leave it because I track each item in detail on a spreadsheet.

HMKan

I actually bring my FitBit burned calories over here and use MFP for my calories eaten. My base rate per MFP is 1770 calories, so if I burn 1900 (my usual), I enter 130 calories additional from walking. Sometimes, I just leave it because I track each item in detail on a spreadsheet.

So you can use your fitbit solely for tracking calories burned either daily or during a specific workout time right? If I just want something that might tell me calories burned during workout so I can enter it on here (I find my HRM is grossly inaccurate and some of the ones on here seem to be a bit off too), then it'll work for that?

wolfchild59

Accountant_boi - since you have owned both, which did you feel gave you the most accurate number of calories burned during a workout?

stormieweather

I use it for total daily burn as well as specific workouts.

thomasvision

Good info

hewhoiscd

I use an online calculator to figure out calories burned from heart rate.

http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/calculators/calories-burned-calculator-based-on-average-heart-rate/

I put in my average BPM from my HRM and my age, gender, etc at it seems quite accurate from what I can tell.

MisdemeanorM

***Apparently the FitBit is advertised as something that can be worn all day... but from what I've read about the fitbit, I don't see how something solely motion-based can be as accurate as something like a BodyBugg, which is based on constant body-readings (skin temperature, galvanic skin response, heat flux) plus motion & steps... but that's just my speculation.

I agree here. That's why I got the BodyMedia Fit. Also on the sleep aspect, totally motion detected and hooked to your wrist. I move my arm a lot when I sleep, and sometimes when I wake up I don't - so I don't think that the FitBit can give an accurate sleep picture. The original Bodybug too was just motion detector (I think), now the new bodybugg is the exact same thing as the BodyMedia fit. Like exact same. Same product, different name screen printed on it.

Mindful_Trent

Accountant_boi - since you have owned both, which did you feel gave you the most accurate number of calories burned during a workout?

To be honest, I only recently purchased a HRM in anticipation of transitioning to a more performance-oriented workout focus rather than simply for calorie burn. The HRM and BodyMedia FIT have seemed somewhat close in their calorie burn estimates the few times I've used them both, but I haven't really paid much attention to that since I'm not regularly using my HRM quite yet. Wish I could be more helpful!

Really, I think either is good for exercise-calorie calculation. The deciding factor should be if you want a monitor that is *designed* to be used to estimate non-constant-exercise calorie burn (such as casual activity and weight lifting). Also, if you're interested in doing HR zone training during cardio, then a HRM is likely what you want to invest in (or if you do a lot of swimming - BodyMedia Fits/Bodybuggs aren't waterproof). Both devices have pluses/minuses... for regular exercise calorie calculation I'd feel comfortable relying on either my BodyMedia FIT or a reliable-brand HRM with a chest strap (I use Polar). It's all the other factors that should help you decide which to buy.