Which one is better bodymedia or fitbit? or just a HRM?

joslin2005
joslin2005 Posts: 138
in Health and Weight Loss
I have been looking at the bodymedia armband and the fitbit ultra. I've also considered just using a HRM but the only thing is I would like more accuracy with my daily calorie burn. I can't decide on which one to buy. Does anyone have experience with the 2? Will these devices pick up circuit training? Any info you would like to share is greatly appreciated!

Replies

  • wattsj56
    wattsj56 Posts: 94
    i have the polar FT4 heart rate monitor and i love it. it does detect circuit training :)
  • tryinghard71
    tryinghard71 Posts: 593
    I have fitbit and a HRM. I use them both together. HRM to log actual exercise to get the most accurate calorie burn. Fitbit to gauge my actual activity level and motivate me to move more during the day. But if you are only going to get one get a HRM.
    Heard good things about bodymedia but most people I know that ended up getting one stopped using it after a certain amount of time. Wearing that bulky strap with the thing sticking out of the side gets old is what they told me. That is why I never got one.
  • tarag8100
    tarag8100 Posts: 60 Member
    Love love love my FitBit. Love it. I've had it since last Christmas. I use it to set a steps goal and it does help me know how many calories I've burned in a day. That said- I am also going to get a HRM. Waiting until this Christmas. The HRM is going to give you truly accurate calories. To me, they are two different instruments so it just depends on what you are looking for.
  • rfarinha
    rfarinha Posts: 388 Member
    I have the BodyMedia Fit, and I absolutely LOVE IT!!! I have been using it every day since October 28th. It tells you how many calories you burn in a 24 hour period (including your sleeping hours and how effecient your sleep is). When I go for a jog, or work out at all (zumba, etc..), I can record the work out to get stats on what I burned. I adjust my intake based on my daily calories burned.
  • skylark94
    skylark94 Posts: 2,036 Member
    I use a Fitbit and a Polar FT4. The HRM I wear for my "real" exercise and the Fitbit I use for the rest of the day. Any HRM burns I log to MFP will override the Fitbit's data, giving me a good idea of my TDEE.
  • rachmaree
    rachmaree Posts: 782 Member
    I have a hrm, have been using it for around a year, and I love it. I was way overestimating using mfp and even though I know the hrm isn't 100% accurate, I find it motivating.
    I got a fitbit about 2 weeks ago, and found it really useful to show my daily activity... I was mostly interested in the sleep tracker, and it was great! Unfortunately, it is not charging, and it is difficult for me to get in touch with the company as I live in Turkey... my friend brought it back from the States for me. I'm hoping I can contact them and get a replacement. After only 2 weeks, I was hooked on the fitbit. I didn't pay too much attention to it's estimate of calories, but watching my step count every day was really insightful, and I loved wearing it to track sleep- I had an idea that I woke up several times a night, and it wasn't wrong.
    I have no idea how the bodymedia compares, but if I had to choose between my hrm and fitbit, I'd go with the hrm... although I'm addicted to both!
  • ChristyRunStarr
    ChristyRunStarr Posts: 1,600 Member
    I have fitbit and a HRM. I use them both together. HRM to log actual exercise to get the most accurate calorie burn. Fitbit to gauge my actual activity level and motivate me to move more during the day. But if you are only going to get one get a HRM.

    Same here-I wear both my HRM and fitbit when I'm out running. a Fitbit won't tell you how many calories you've burned like a HRM. I guess it comes down to what you want to know more of and what's more important-knowing your calories burned during a particular workout or your daily calories burned?
  • Rayzback
    Rayzback Posts: 73
    I've only had the HRM, the Polar FT7. I was surprised to find that the strap syncs up with my stationary bike.... no more holding handles when exercising on it.
  • lisamarie2181
    lisamarie2181 Posts: 560 Member
    I have the BodyMedia Fit, and I absolutely LOVE IT!!! I have been using it every day since October 28th. It tells you how many calories you burn in a 24 hour period (including your sleeping hours and how effecient your sleep is). When I go for a jog, or work out at all (zumba, etc..), I can record the work out to get stats on what I burned. I adjust my intake based on my daily calories burned.


    Love my body media fit!!
  • Shannota
    Shannota Posts: 308 Member
    I LOVE my BodyMedia. I have been using it every single day since May. I do have a wicked tan line there now, but since no one sees my skin there unless I am in the shower or pool, it is not a problem. When I wear very short sleeves/sleeveless tops, I do get questions. One person, at a local amusement park, thought it was an alarm to let me know if my kid got too far away, lol! I told her that would be handy.

    Back in May, I was in your boat and did as much research as I could as to which would be better. Really, I think it depends on what it is you are trying to measure. If it is your heart rate, then a heart rate monitor would be the best bet. If it is your overall calorie burn, the BodyMedia is probably the best bet. If you want more convenience (aka not having to wear the armband) then I would go with the Fitbit.

    Go on Amazon.com and places like that to read reviews.

    O, I don't know about Fitbit, but the customer service at BodyMedia was fantastic. I ordered a couple replacement armbands (so I could wash and hang them to dry without a gap in my readings) and it seemed like they never got here, so I emailed the company. I had a response within 20 minutes and the customer service agreed with me that my package should have already arrived. (USPS, what can I say) She said they would send me another package and that if I got the original package in the meantime, not to worry about it. I was quite impressed.
  • joslin2005
    joslin2005 Posts: 138
    Thanks everyone for the responses.
  • alecta337
    alecta337 Posts: 622 Member
    Bodymedia. Its AWESOME!! Been using it for a few months and I have it on every day. You get used to it being there and its a more accurate calorie count than a fitbit or a HRM
  • smokinjackd
    smokinjackd Posts: 341
    Just checked out the Bodymedia Fit, looks like its functionality is very similar to the Fitbit, I would end up not using it though as that armband would drive me nuts. With my fitbit I throw it in my pocket and go, I don't even know I'm wearing it, and have compared the results to my HRM I wear for spinning and the two are extremely close.

    Edit, almost forgot, Fitbit works seamlessly with MFP also.
  • dpure
    dpure Posts: 18
    how accurate are the polar hrm's for strength training?
  • KabbyGU
    KabbyGU Posts: 158 Member
    <3 me my bodymedia! However,never tried the other so I don't have anything to base a comparison on.. :)
  • Lyerin
    Lyerin Posts: 818 Member
    I use a Fitbit and a Polar FT4. The HRM I wear for my "real" exercise and the Fitbit I use for the rest of the day. Any HRM burns I log to MFP will override the Fitbit's data, giving me a good idea of my TDEE.

    I do this too, except I have an older model Polar HRM. I find that it gets me the most accurate results during non-walking/running excercise to use the HRM, and I wear the fitbit all the time. I do not wear my HRM for weight lifting, mostly because I consider any calories burned there to be "extra."

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