BodyBugg SP

BlueLikeJazz

I know there are quite a few posts on the BodyBugg SP but none very recent, so I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on this gadget as of late. From the reviews I've read, it sounds like there tend to be a lot of issues with syncing to your smart phone in real time/general app issues. But I kind of wonder if people just aren't doing it right lol. (Side note: I'm in school for computer programming/web development so friends/family/co-workers ask me computer questions all the time and inside I'm often thinking "seriously?!?! This is pretty common sense"...but yeah, a lot of people just aren't very tech savvy)

I guess my main question, besides general opinions, is: if the app really does suck horribly and I can't check my burn in real time while I'm working out, does the online tracking program work well once you sync the SP to your computer? Is that part of it pretty reliable? There's a good chance I'll still use MFP to track my food then just transfer that info onto the BB website to see my deficit.

BTW, I ordered mine on Friday night for I think $129 (or $119, I can't remember) from 24 hour fitness. I thought that was an awesome deal compared to the old price of $249.

heybales

Because of finding it highly inaccurate in regards exercise, I researched their claim that a study found it highly accurate. BodyMedia of course makes the BodyBugg, as well as the SenseWear, and name brands in other countries.

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15126727
Evaluation of the SenseWear Pro Armband to assess energy expenditure during exercise.

CONCLUSIONS:

It appears that it is necessary to apply exercise-specific algorithms to the SenseWear Pro Armband to enhance the accuracy of estimating energy expenditure during periods of exercise. When exercise-specific algorithms are used, the SenseWear Pro Armband provides an accurate estimate of energy expenditure when compared to indirect calorimetry during exercise periods examined in this study.

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As to personal experience why I researched the problems.
The idea that these extra sensors help with better accuracy because of body heat, sweat, ect.
The difference of muscular person and non, as measured by body heat at a super small patch of arm, is meaningless. The difference between rest and active could be meaningful, if used.
But no. Walking on treadmill in gym with fan blowing on me keeping cool with heart rate avg 100 gave exact same estimate of effort and cal/min as walking up/down hills in 100 F heat with HR @ 125 avg. Time of activity was correct, effort was not. HR is more accurate, which it cannot do.
And riding bike in heat with HR avg 160 gives even less accuracy, which should be enormous calorie burn.

As to galvanic skin response, it’s not for sweat, but merely to tell if the unit is on your arm (think 9-volt battery on tongue effect). I had a day I forgot to put it on, and the sensors touched the band, and thought it was on-body all day. I wrote BodyMedia about this, they said that can happen, don’t let sensors touch anything when off arm.

And since there is no way to put in your own activity if it thinks it was on-body, you cannot correct or add to the activity your own more accurate figures.

Even the base metabolism as shown during sleep, was exactly based on a formula that estimates basel metoblism based on weight. Not lean body mass, not on fat percentage, not on heart rate, not on heat differences, just weight. And then the more you toss-and-turn, the site will up that estimate. And all activity estimates are based on that flawed foundation. It can’t be accurate.

So for normal day-to-day activity, perhaps a bit of extra walking from distance parking spaces, fine. Real exercise, forget it.
HRM would be better.

BlueLikeJazz

Well in a way that doesn't bother me that much because I would rather have it underestimate my activity than overestimate (and it seems like it's more likely to underestimate, especially in the case of using an elliptical, which is my main form of exercise.)

Thanks for the info, though.