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Please advise if you have a Bodymedia armband

hballack
hballack Posts: 114 Member
in Social Groups
Hello,

I'm getting started and would like to use my bodymedia armband to help with the EM2WL program. I'm having issues with consistancy due to my schedule. My BMR is 1438. The armband has given me a range from 2170 to 3491 calories burned depending on what I did that day. The average was 2656 and I usually make that at least except on Sundays/Holidays. I tend to burn more calories on the days I work because I have an active job although I do exercise most days when I am off.

So far I have been just wearing the armband to see what I do and trying to have a 500 calorie deficit per day, but I found there were days when I was too busy at work to eat enough and had a bigger calorie deficit. Also, I think that on my lazy sunday where I burned 2170 calories that I am still supposed to eat TDEE-15% cut even though I would not have a calorie deficit.

If you were me, would you use the average and use that as the TDEE - 15% cut? I'm a little confused and need some clarification.

How do you use the data from your BMF?

Thanks,

Heather

Replies

  • Hollyaw24
    Hollyaw24 Posts: 26 Member
    Hi Heather, I'm following your post to see the advice you receive. I just started using my armband less than a week ago, and I don't have any advice for you. Good luck though!'
    This week I am just tracking my food intake honestly (I hate to track that bite of pie or cake, you know, and the mcd's I ate for lunch a few days ago)
    Tuesday, I start boot camp two days a week. However, the instructor reviews our food journals and also sends us daily homework email for workouts!
    Sadly, I understand the overall principles of weight loss. I am not good at the mental part of sticking to the game though.
  • Hollyaw24
    Hollyaw24 Posts: 26 Member
    Also, I'm adding links to a couple of threads regarding bodymedia and TDEE to get you started:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/657794-bodymedia-fit-and-eating-at-tdee-for-reset

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/666102-bodymedia-tdee-calorie-question
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    It is difficult, because the MFP method of straight calorie block amounts is very different than the % deficit amounts, especially in the case like you show where that % amount would vary a bit.

    Indeed taking an avg would work to see what TDEE is with standard week.
    Then take deficit, manually change eating goal, and unsync the accounts.

    Because the syncing will mess you up.

    You can also take that avg TDEE and see what block amount the % deficit is closest to.
    So if 15% on avg TDEE is 450 calories, then you could set MFP to 1 lb weekly, keep it synced, and let it vary as it normally would.
  • holleysings
    holleysings Posts: 664 Member
    I have a fitbit and a large burn range as well. Since I'm eating at TDEE, what I do is set MFP to my lowest burn (2600) and eat back any extra calories fitbit gives me, which could put me up to 3500 on a psycho day. If I were eating at a cut, I would probably still set MFP at 2600 and only eat back some exercise calories if I burned over 3000 in a day. You just have to do something that makes sense for you! I find the calorie cycling is easier since I'm ravenous on days when I lift and burn over 3000.
  • elaine_des
    elaine_des Posts: 189 Member
    I have been eating at -15% from my average TDEE, I am usually a lot more active on the week end then during the week but eat the same amount regardless, something I have a deficit of 500 and other time 750, i'm thinking in the long run it will all balance. But i am interesseted to ear what everybody else is doing.
  • norcal_yogi
    norcal_yogi Posts: 675 Member
    Hello,

    I'm getting started and would like to use my bodymedia armband to help with the EM2WL program. I'm having issues with consistancy due to my schedule. My BMR is 1438. The armband has given me a range from 2170 to 3491 calories burned depending on what I did that day. The average was 2656 and I usually make that at least except on Sundays/Holidays. I tend to burn more calories on the days I work because I have an active job although I do exercise most days when I am off.

    So far I have been just wearing the armband to see what I do and trying to have a 500 calorie deficit per day, but I found there were days when I was too busy at work to eat enough and had a bigger calorie deficit. Also, I think that on my lazy sunday where I burned 2170 calories that I am still supposed to eat TDEE-15% cut even though I would not have a calorie deficit.

    If you were me, would you use the average and use that as the TDEE - 15% cut? I'm a little confused and need some clarification.

    How do you use the data from your BMF?

    Thanks,

    Heather

    i would first take about 10-15% OFF the starting average number from the BMF....THEN take another 15% off. From my experience (and from many others i've read about) the BMF tends to run high on your daily TDEE burns. i gained weight with mine and don't use one any longer... :cry: but good luck with yours!
  • GoGoGadgetMum
    GoGoGadgetMum Posts: 292 Member
    Do you find the fitbit is helping you lose( I'm just guessing you are)... Really keen but I tend to live on a thin edge knife of healthy interest vs nutty addiction....lol

    I'm sure even eating 1850 daily and always netting my bmr I'm probably still too low, which is why my last kgs is hard although cms and fat loss ok.

    Thanks
    I have a fitbit and a large burn range as well. Since I'm eating at TDEE, what I do is set MFP to my lowest burn (2600) and eat back any extra calories fitbit gives me, which could put me up to 3500 on a psycho day. If I were eating at a cut, I would probably still set MFP at 2600 and only eat back some exercise calories if I burned over 3000 in a day. You just have to do something that makes sense for you! I find the calorie cycling is easier since I'm ravenous on days when I lift and burn over 3000.
  • katevarner
    katevarner Posts: 884 Member
    I lost 23 lbs. eating at about a 600 calorie per day deficit according to BMF. Ate a different amount every day depending on what I burned that day.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Do you find the fitbit is helping you lose( I'm just guessing you are)... Really keen but I tend to live on a thin edge knife of healthy interest vs nutty addiction....lol

    I'm sure even eating 1850 daily and always netting my bmr I'm probably still too low, which is why my last kgs is hard although cms and fat loss ok.

    Just a suggestion.

    If you are losing inches and BF%, but weight staying the same, that means you are putting on LBM, maybe even some muscle slowly, and eating at very little to no deficit.

    The question is of course, is that no deficit because you are eating at full working TDEE, or a suppressed TDEE because of not eating enough.

    I'd suggest that since you are trading fat for LBM, your body is comfortable with your eating level, and it's likely your real TDEE. Otherwise you body would be stressed enough to not release fat, and not have excess energy for building LBM. True, the increase in LBM may be water, but managing water in the cells is actually where the majority of energy is spent, so if body is willing to store it, must have the energy to deal with it.

    How did you determine your TDEE, and has it lowered has you have lost? May not need to of course since you maintained and sounds like gained LBM. In which case you'd eat more for that fact. Until you take a deficit.
  • holleysings
    holleysings Posts: 664 Member
    Do you find the fitbit is helping you lose( I'm just guessing you are)... Really keen but I tend to live on a thin edge knife of healthy interest vs nutty addiction....lol

    I'm sure even eating 1850 daily and always netting my bmr I'm probably still too low, which is why my last kgs is hard although cms and fat loss ok.

    Thanks
    I have a fitbit and a large burn range as well. Since I'm eating at TDEE, what I do is set MFP to my lowest burn (2600) and eat back any extra calories fitbit gives me, which could put me up to 3500 on a psycho day. If I were eating at a cut, I would probably still set MFP at 2600 and only eat back some exercise calories if I burned over 3000 in a day. You just have to do something that makes sense for you! I find the calorie cycling is easier since I'm ravenous on days when I lift and burn over 3000.

    I'm not losing because I'm eating at TDEE. But I'm not gaining significantly either! But I've lost about 10% body fat since I started using it. I would chalk that up to a win! That's my goal anyway. 25% body fat at whatever weight that is. :smile:
  • GoGoGadgetMum
    GoGoGadgetMum Posts: 292 Member
    Thanks for your suggestions,

    I've been MIA for 3 months due to illness but prior to that my tdee according to scooby calc was bang on, my weight remained exactly the same to 100gm(for 2 years).........but I guess at the back of my mind I've always wondered if it had stalled due to under eating or that was me. Strangely under eating has always been my problem combined with high sugar and PCOS and I would imaging high cortisol surges......but not anymore, I am we'll educated now :)

    Was i getting the best i could out from my ocd counting???? During 12 months with probably 6 months nearly @ tdee I did lose cms & bf down to 21% according to the calliper method my pt used so its just body comp and confidence for me which I sometimes feel is harder for short 5ft woman....lol.....& I know I weigh heavier than what anyone thinks.

    So I'm back into things for this year with a small goal in mind and I think the fitbit would maybe help but of course I know there will be inaccuracies with it.

    I've maintained my 25kg loss on weight watchers for 2yrs now and just need fine tuning.

    Honestly why would we want to eat less than we can and still have the best body we can. I'm pret sure I've answered my own question..... I just need to go and buy one!!!

    Thanks
    Rach
    Do you find the fitbit is helping you lose( I'm just guessing you are)... Really keen but I tend to live on a thin edge knife of healthy interest vs nutty addiction....lol

    I'm sure even eating 1850 daily and always netting my bmr I'm probably still too low, which is why my last kgs is hard although cms and fat loss ok.

    Just a suggestion.

    If you are losing inches and BF%, but weight staying the same, that means you are putting on LBM, maybe even some muscle slowly, and eating at very little to no deficit.

    The question is of course, is that no deficit because you are eating at full working TDEE, or a suppressed TDEE because of not eating enough.

    I'd suggest that since you are trading fat for LBM, your body is comfortable with your eating level, and it's likely your real TDEE. Otherwise you body would be stressed enough to not release fat, and not have excess energy for building LBM. True, the increase in LBM may be water, but managing water in the cells is actually where the majority of energy is spent, so if body is willing to store it, must have the energy to deal with it.

    How did you determine your TDEE, and has it lowered has you have lost? May not need to of course since you maintained and sounds like gained LBM. In which case you'd eat more for that fact. Until you take a deficit.
    [/quote]
  • rachmass1
    rachmass1 Posts: 470 Member
    I have had my BMF for about 2.5 months now. The first two weeks it did measure me higher than it does now even though my walking has increased or at least remained the same (I have a treadmill desk). As such, I would recommend waiting a few weeks before using the average as your TDEE. I have both a FB and BMF and the two typically have about a 500 calorie burn difference, sometimes as low as 300 but never less. Ione

    I have been losing very slowly either way, no matter whether I eat 1,500 calories a day or 2,000 a day. As long as I don't go over 2,200 a day I maintain, so I am guessing my TDEE is normally around 2,100 calories a day where the FB says I burn 1,600 and BMF 2,100-2,200. Hope that helps.
  • AnitraSoto
    AnitraSoto Posts: 725 Member
    I have had my BMF for about 9 months and use it religously. At first, I averaged my TDEE over a week and worked at a 15% deficit off of that number. Once I had 2 weeks of data, I worked off of that average, then 3 weeks, then 4........... Now I just do a monthly average once a month and make sure I am still on target.

    Most people's activity levels will go up and down, but I think by using those weekly or monthly averages it is much easier... You don't need to be stressing each day about how much to eat. You know what your average TDEE is, and therefore your deficit. Just eat that number every day.

    I have mine synced to MFP, but since I have my daily goals set to my TDEE with a small cut and just log exercise calories burned as "1", I just delete that adjustment that BMF does when you sync the two. Makes it easier to hit my macros without having to to math :-O
  • AmyzNewGroove
    AmyzNewGroove Posts: 142 Member
    It is difficult, because the MFP method of straight calorie block amounts is very different than the % deficit amounts, especially in the case like you show where that % amount would vary a bit.

    Indeed taking an avg would work to see what TDEE is with standard week.
    Then take deficit, manually change eating goal, and unsync the accounts.

    Because the syncing will mess you up.

    You can also take that avg TDEE and see what block amount the % deficit is closest to.
    So if 15% on avg TDEE is 450 calories, then you could set MFP to 1 lb weekly, keep it synced, and let it vary as it normally would.

    ^^ I agree with Haybales. If you are looking to eat a consistent number everyday, this would be the way to do it.

    I've left my BMF synced and set my MFP (intake) goal to my assumed BMR. With the BMF adjustment, this usually gives me a good idea of my remaining calories to consume for the day. If you do this, you'll want check the "allow negative adjustment" box in the Apps area as it adjusts throughout the day...still sort of confusing, but most days, I have less than a 100-300 cal difference between my BMF "deficit" (at 11:59pm) and MFP's "remaining" (when I complete my diary for the day).

    ETA: I calculated my BMR by taking an "average day" burn from BMF and subtracting the "BMF adjustment" shown in MFP, and then set my cal goal from there.
  • hballack
    hballack Posts: 114 Member
    bump...for me to revisit some more.

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