BodyFit Media Question

tlems

Does any one have the BodyMedia FIT Weight Management System as sold at Costco?

I am considering purchasing one, and I wanted to see if anyone here had any experience they could share with me about the product.

Thank you!

baisleac

I have the BodyBugg... same product, different website system. I think it rocks the Kasbah. Some days I'm so lazy I burn less than my calculated TDEE and I can adjust to get the right deficit. Other days (even non-workout days) I burn through calories like a California wildfire and know I need to add calories so my deficit isn't too big.

No better way to get this info outside of a lab, excepting BodyBugg and BodyMedia Fit.

emmaleigh47

100% agree with the above poster. I have the BodyMedia Fit and although I didnt get it at Costco, it has completely changed the way that I approach eating and exercising. In fact as I was just downstairs getting lunch instead of thinking "I have to eat as little possible" I was thinking... "oh I really have to eat more because I have such a huge calorie deficicit.

Love it!

ColoradoRobin

I have the Bodymedia Fit and really like it. It shows those days when I'm running around doing stuff, or others when I'm stuck in front of the computer all day. That lets me see a clearer idea of my calorie burn, so I can adjust my intake. It's surprising how many steps I take shopping at Costco for instance.

It also helped me adjust my fitness level setting on my heart rate monitor so I was getting a more accurate calorie measurement from it. HR Monitors tell you a different calorie burn based on a fitness level you set. The expensive ones might do a fitness test for that, but mine doesn't. Now I have it so they match up pretty well, except for strength training, where the high heart rates cause the HRM to read too many calories burned. I go with the Bodymedia Fit number for that when I log calories burned.

I'm a geek and like to have the data available to track my progress, so it's been great for me.

misschoy

Do you have to pay a monthly fee to access these websites they use?

emmaleigh47

Oooh I thought of one bad thing about the BMF --- I have a wicked tan line from wearing it while running

baisleac

Do you have to pay a monthly fee to access these websites they use?

Yes and no. A new BMF or BB comes with some free subscription time, after which you have to pay a monthly sub fee to maintain access to the website. There are ways to around this (getting the info straight from the device itself). I no longer pay a monthly subscription, but still get the burn/steps info.

baisleac

Oooh I thought of one bad thing about the BMF --- I have a wicked tan line from wearing it while running

Hee! I have one of these too. I wear it with pride though. It's a symbol that I'm aware of my body and doing my utmost to take care of it. :bigsmile:

misschoy

Do you have to pay a monthly fee to access these websites they use?

Yes and no. A new BMF or BB comes with some free subscription time, after which you have to pay a monthly sub fee to maintain access to the website. There are ways to around this (getting the info straight from the device itself). I no longer pay a monthly subscription, but still get the burn/steps info.

I'm not sure I understand. So you don't actually NEED the subscription? What does the subscription offer?

tlems

Thanks, ladies! I have just two questions.
1.) What type of calorie defecit do you try to maintain?
2.) How does it keep contact with your body - just on the arm? I am just so used to the chest strap it seems odd that there wouldn't be a direct access point to your heart beat like that.

Also, the costco version says it comes with an addition strap and 12 month subscription.

Didaniel

I recently got the BodyMedia Fit and I'm not sure it's working correctly. For one thing the calorie burn is way off from my HRM. Also it occasionally shows I'm up walking around in the middle of the night. It showed my sleep quality was so poor that I was obsessing about how much sleep I wasn't getting. I'm taking a break from it right now and trying to put things into perspective. Has anyone else had problems like this with the Fit or BodyBugg? Thanks!

joejccva71

I have the bodymedia FIT and it's great. Very accurate as I've done two types of testing:

1. I tested what my maintenance was by eating the SAME every day for 4 straight weeks.

2. Then I used the BM Fit and it was about a 100 calorie difference. Accurate.

To the poster above me, your caloric burn can vary while you are sleeping depending on whether or not your heart rate climbs due to dreaming. That is why you are noticing a difference during the night.

walkdmc

Yikes! I have a BodyMedia Go Wear Fit....I'm guessing that's different so I "erased" my old post.

baisleac

Do you have to pay a monthly fee to access these websites they use?

Yes and no. A new BMF or BB comes with some free subscription time, after which you have to pay a monthly sub fee to maintain access to the website. There are ways to around this (getting the info straight from the device itself). I no longer pay a monthly subscription, but still get the burn/steps info.

I'm not sure I understand. So you don't actually NEED the subscription? What does the subscription offer?

The subscription offers access to the website. I use a software program called FreeBugg to download the data.

baisleac

I recently got the BodyMedia Fit and I'm not sure it's working correctly. For one thing the calorie burn is way off from my HRM. Also it occasionally shows I'm up walking around in the middle of the night. It showed my sleep quality was so poor that I was obsessing about how much sleep I wasn't getting. I'm taking a break from it right now and trying to put things into perspective. Has anyone else had problems like this with the Fit or BodyBugg? Thanks!

The BMF and BB are actually more accurate than most HRMs, which don't take VO2 max into account, and only use one data point (heart rate) to calculate burn.

joejccva71

I recently got the BodyMedia Fit and I'm not sure it's working correctly. For one thing the calorie burn is way off from my HRM. Also it occasionally shows I'm up walking around in the middle of the night. It showed my sleep quality was so poor that I was obsessing about how much sleep I wasn't getting. I'm taking a break from it right now and trying to put things into perspective. Has anyone else had problems like this with the Fit or BodyBugg? Thanks!

The BMF and BB are actually more accurate than most HRMs, which don't take VO2 max into account, and only use one data point (heart rate) to calculate burn.

^ This x 10000000.

Exactly.

baisleac

Yikes! I have a BodyMedia Go Wear Fit....I'm guessing that's different so I "erased" my old post.

The BodyMedia Go Wear Fit is just an older version of the same product.

baisleac

Thanks, ladies! I have just two questions.
1.) What type of calorie defecit do you try to maintain?
2.) How does it keep contact with your body - just on the arm? I am just so used to the chest strap it seems odd that there wouldn't be a direct access point to your heart beat like that.

Also, the costco version says it comes with an addition strap and 12 month subscription.

I just dropped my deficit. I was maintaining a 500 cal/per day deficit but am now at 20 lbs to go so I dropped it to 400 and will drop again to 300 in a couple of weeks.

Just on the arm. It uses several different metrics, which doesn't include heartrate. The armband has 2 or three accelerometers (depending on version), it counts steps, measures galvanic skin response (sweat, but even minute amounts that you wouldn't notice), and skin temperature. It uses all of these data points, along with your height, weight, and lifestyle to calculate your caloric burn at any given time. The longer you use it, and more you wear it, the better it "knows" you and the more accurate it becomes.

edit: *laughs at self* Why yes, I am a fan of this little device. :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

emmaleigh47

Thanks, ladies! I have just two questions.
1.) What type of calorie defecit do you try to maintain?
2.) How does it keep contact with your body - just on the arm? I am just so used to the chest strap it seems odd that there wouldn't be a direct access point to your heart beat like that.

Also, the costco version says it comes with an addition strap and 12 month subscription.

I just dropped my deficit. I was maintaining a 500 cal/per day deficit but am now at 20 lbs to go so I dropped it to 400 and will drop again to 300 in a couple of weeks.

Just on the arm. It uses several different metrics, which doesn't include heartrate. The armband has 2 or three accelerometers (depending on version), it counts steps, measures galvanic skin response (sweat, but even minute amounts that you wouldn't notice), and skin temperature. It uses all of these data points, along with your height, weight, and lifestyle to calculate your caloric burn at any given time. The longer you use it, and more you wear it, the better it "knows" you and the more accurate it becomes.

edit: *laughs at self* Why yes, I am a fan of this little device. :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

LOVE your post and your super duper positive attitude. I am in 100% agreement with you. I maintain a 500-750 calorie deficit kinda... its a bit harder for me with the marathon training. I cannot possibly eat all of those calories back, so on days when I run I try to come within 1000 and rest days I try to come 250 calories under. It has been working like a dream for me... I eat more... I run more... I feel better ... and yes I still get to go out to eat!

walkdmc

edit: *laughs at self* Why yes, I am a fan of this little device. :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

I have a Polar HRM that measures VO2max during the initial set up. It's been so long since I set up my GWF that I don't recall measuring my VO2max but I may have. Do you think the GWF VO2max is more accurate?

baisleac

edit: *laughs at self* Why yes, I am a fan of this little device. :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

I have a Polar HRM that measures VO2max during the initial set up. It's been so long since I set up my GWF that I don't recall measuring my VO2max but I may have. Do you think the GWF VO2max is more accurate?

BMF, GWF, and BB don't use heartrate in their calculations so VO2 max is irrelevant.

VO2 Max - "VO2 max, or maximal oxygen uptake, is one factor that can determine an athlete's capacity to perform sustained exercise and is linked to aerobic endurance. VO2 max refers to the maximum amount of oxygen that an individual can utilize during intense or maximal exercise. It is measured as "milliliters of oxygen used in one minute per kilogram of body weight."

This measurement is generally considered the best indicator of an athlete's cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance."

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/anatomyandphysiology/a/VO2_max.htm

kathyhull

Question: If I'm just trying to maintain a healthier life style, improve my strength and endurance a little and lose a little weight, do I need both the BMF or BB and a HRM? Or, will the BMF or BB provide me with enough info? I guess I'm just looking for a more accurate calculation of the calories I burn since it seems to be all over the board between my pedometer, this sight and other sights I've used to look up "calories burned in 30 minutes of walking fast", etc... it seems that the BMF and BB give more useful information than a HRM but don't actually measure your heart rate? Thoughts?

baisleac

Question: If I'm just trying to maintain a healthier life style, improve my strength and endurance a little and lose a little weight, do I need both the BMF or BB and a HRM? Or, will the BMF or BB provide me with enough info? I guess I'm just looking for a more accurate calculation of the calories I burn since it seems to be all over the board between my pedometer, this sight and other sights I've used to look up "calories burned in 30 minutes of walking fast", etc... it seems that the BMF and BB give more useful information than a HRM but don't actually measure your heart rate? Thoughts?

You don't need a BMF or BB & an HRM (though I have both because I think it's fun to compare). But think of this:

Do you burn more calories if you watch a scary movie? No.

Your heartrate may increase and an HRM would show an increased burn.

Do you start to sweat AND your skin temperature rise or fall significantly AND be moving when you watch a scary movie? No. BMF and BB would not show an increased burn.

SmartFunGorgeous

Bump

emmaleigh47

Oh yes I love you Body Media ....

Today my Garmin says I burnes 1200 calories (which seems reasonable about 100 calories a mile)... Body Media takes into account how hard I am working, my effort etc... and it says I burned

2861 ... yep I love you Body media!

MaryEffingPoppins

I'm confused! I own a BFM and wear it all day long, when I dont work out it says ive burned 1,400 calories! I KNOW that's not the case. Has anyone else had this problem? I thought this thing was accurate?!

sherrillg

Love my BMF!! I got mine on ebay and then picked up a 12 mo subscription at about 1/2 price. (glad to see the info about the alternative site, thanks!) And I too am sporting tan lines on both arms as I tend to rotate! I love how easy it is to wear and so much more comfortable than my old HRM. I still track my food here on MFP and then enter at the end of the day on the BMF website. I think it's a great investment.

emmaleigh47

I'm confused! I own a BFM and wear it all day long, when I dont work out it says ive burned 1,400 calories! I KNOW that's not the case. Has anyone else had this problem? I thought this thing was accurate?!

What kinds of activities do you do in the course of a day. Are you wearing it at night? When are you plugging it in?

I love my BMF ... best invention I ever found!

pickenslmc

I'm confused! I own a BFM and wear it all day long, when I dont work out it says ive burned 1,400 calories! I KNOW that's not the case. Has anyone else had this problem? I thought this thing was accurate?!

Do you think that is too high or low? I have a bodybugg and usually make my 2500 calorie burned goal with little trouble. On more active days I easily make it to 3000+ calories. Using the calories burned according to the BB I have been able to lose the expected amount of weight based on the calorie deficit created, for me MFP numbers are low based on any activity level.

walkdmc

I'm confused! I own a BFM and wear it all day long, when I dont work out it says ive burned 1,400 calories! I KNOW that's not the case. Has anyone else had this problem? I thought this thing was accurate?!

It's probably accurate. My GWF (same thing, older version) claims I burn about 2000 cal/day on days I don't workout and I'm currently 238. Have you looked at the calorie burn breakdown...like 1.3 cal/minute or whatever your basal burn is? I'm guessing it takes at least 1.3 cal/min. to maintain my body.

The 1400 calories is amount of energy it takes your body to function without added activity.

Michelle_M2002

I have the Bodybugg. It's exactlyt he same thing, made by the same company. The only difference is that mine is marketed and sold by and for 24Hour Fitness. But same product, exactly.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I went from loosing like 1/2 to 1 pound a week to 2-3 pounds a week. I love that it shows me my daily goal for calorie burn (2600 calories) and my goal intake (1600 calories for a 2 pound a week fat loss). I love that on my lazy days I know where I'm at on my burn so that I can adjust my calories down accordingly. I love that on the days when I've burned more, I know EXACTLY how much extra I can eat without worrying about over estimating.

It has really changed my lifestyle for the better. My husband makes fun of me because I check it so constantly, but hey, if you're not gonna use it, then don't buy it. Know what I mean?

I LOVE LOVE LOVE mine, and everyone I know who has one loves it. And I HIGHLY recommend it to everyone who is trying to meet a fitness goal. I even have a friend who is trying to bulk up who loves hers. She kept loosing weight, despite a high calorie diet, and found that her metabolism is just crazy fast. So now she knows EXACTLY where she needs to be.

I'd say GO FOR IT!

God bless!