ACCURATE CALORIE COUNTING

I have a bodybugg and I loooooveeee the data that it gives. I'm a scientist, so I cannot explain enough how much I like having real numbers instead of guesstimates. I also find it is very accurate for me when I don't have weird things going on. It has a "calculation of how many calories you ate based on measurement changes" where it would take that I lost 1 lb in a week, subtract 3500 from my weekly calories burned, and the last one was within 6 calories of what I had logged. So basically I'm a calorie logging badass and the tool is dead on accurate for me.

If you were going to get this tool though, I'd suggest the bodymedia fit. It's the same product, but sold by the parent company (bodybugg is 24 hour fitness), they have much better interface, integration to MFP, and a cheaper subscription.

Cons: This is one of the more expensive tools, especially since you need a subscription to keep using the product. Also, it is kind of obvious if you wear it on your arm. I wear mine in my bra now, so it's only a slight lump in a tight fitting shirt, and that is much better. I hated getting questions about it. Especially since answering those questions got me everyone and their mom's opinion of my body "Don't lose too much more, you're great where you're at!" and "If you keep working out so much, you're going to look like a man."

I have a bodybugg and I loooooveeee the data that it gives. I'm a scientist, so I cannot explain enough how much I like having real numbers instead of guesstimates. I also find it is very accurate for me when I don't have weird things going on. It has a "calculation of how many calories you ate based on measurement changes" where it would take that I lost 1 lb in a week, subtract 3500 from my weekly calories burned, and the last one was within 6 calories of what I had logged. So basically I'm a calorie logging badass and the tool is dead on accurate for me.

If you were going to get this tool though, I'd suggest the bodymedia fit. It's the same product, but sold by the parent company (bodybugg is 24 hour fitness), they have much better interface, integration to MFP, and a cheaper subscription.

Cons: This is one of the more expensive tools, especially since you need a subscription to keep using the product. Also, it is kind of obvious if you wear it on your arm. I wear mine in my bra now, so it's only a slight lump in a tight fitting shirt, and that is much better. I hated getting questions about it. Especially since answering those questions got me everyone and their mom's opinion of my body "Don't lose too much more, you're great where you're at!" and "If you keep working out so much, you're going to look like a man."

Is it accurate wearing it on your bra VI thought it had to be on your arm.

if accuracy is of important the bodymedia Fit is the best way to go.

Fitbit is just a pedometer with some bells and whistles. Waste of money.

HRM's are only really good for steady state cardio. HIIT, and weight lifting cause very inaccurate readings.

HRM's are only really good for steady state cardio. HIIT, and weight lifting cause very inaccurate readings.

I opine they are okay for weight lifting. If anything they would be conservative in estimating the calories burned if you lose signal between the watch and the transmitter. However, that problem occurs sometimes when running/walking too.

I second the FitBit is a glorified pedometer - I really wish I hadn't spent the money. A heart rate monitor is what you are looking for. I had a Polar FT7 (watch & strap) worked great but I upgraded to a Polar WearLink Bluetooth so I could link to Endo and my phone (Endo reports here to MFP). I get calories, distance, pace/speed plus when I check my Endo web account, I can see the route I took with even more info (weather, elevation, etc).

I just got the bodymedia fit link last thursday. Husband is buying the subscription for me as a birthday present.

Looks like they are going to go with a mobil uplink via smartphone instead of having to plug it in.

I like having the real-time data and being able to link to my phone.....makes me realize I have or have not gotten enough movement itno the day.


So far I love it.

if accuracy is of important the bodymedia Fit is the best way to go.

Fitbit is just a pedometer with some bells and whistles. Waste of money.

HRM's are only really good for steady state cardio. HIIT, and weight lifting cause very inaccurate readings.

As to HIIT or lifting, the HRM may not be getting good results do to it probably doesn't stay flat against the skin. I wear mine when I weight lift or cardo, heck I wear it for Zumba. It gets a "decent" reading considering how much I move around. It's much better than relying on MFP's numbers or say a Pedometer only. Just keep the chest strap tight against your skin and make sure to dampen the strap BEFORE wearing.

"calorie burn for strength training because so many variables are involved (how hard you're working, resting in between sets, the amount of weight you lift, etc.) that any estimate would not be very accurate. A heart rate monitor (HRM) is capable of estimating calorie burn pretty accurately—but only for aerobic (cardio) exercise, not for strength training. Here's why:

A HRM won't give you an accurate idea of how many calories you burn during strength training, because the relationship between heart rate and calorie expenditure is not the same during strength training as during cardio exercise, which is what the HRM's estimate is based on. Unless your weight training is very vigorous circuit training, the heart rate monitor will be overestimating your calorie burn by a fair amount.

The problem is a technical one. Calorie burning isn't determined by heart rate, it's determined by the number of muscle cells that are activated to perform a given activity. It's the working cells that actually use the energy (calories) and consume oxygen. When working muscle cells need more energy and oxygen, your heart rate goes up to deliver these things to the cells via the blood stream.

Any muscle that performs a high intensity or maximum effort (strength training) will trigger an increase in heart rate and blood flow. But if only a single muscle group is on the receiving end to utilize that extra oxygen (doing a strength exercise that isolates your biceps, for example), only a relatively small amount of oxygen (and calories) will actually be consumed.

So while a series of strength training exercises may elevate your heart rate like aerobic exercise does, you're not actually using as much oxygen and burning as many calories as you would be if you were steadily using several large muscles all at once, as when walking, running, swimming, or doing aerobics for example.

The heart rate monitor doesn’t know whether your increase in heart rate is due to several large muscle groups working (cardio), an isolated muscle group lifting a weight (strength training), or even if adrenaline or excitement is increasing your heart rate. It just knows your heart rate, and the formulas it uses to estimate calories are based on studies of aerobic exercise, not other activities. So, it's going to overestimate your calorie expenditure when the rise in heart rate is stimulated by using isolated muscles at maximum intensity, which is what occurs during strength training.

Written by Dean Anderson, Certified Personal Trainer

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