Bodymedia fit

I've had a bodybugg for over a year. I just switched subscriptions from bodybugg to bodymedia just so I could start syncing the information to my MFP account. I dont have anything negative to say about wearing the armband. I feel more motivated on days when I do wear it, and I check it constantly... its nice to be able to see where you're at during the day and decide if you need to spend extra time at the gym that night... or just do a little more walking at work.

I've been wearing the LINK armband since April 26th and LOVE it. The only thing I dislike is I wish the charge would last longer than 5-6 days. But it's kept me more accountable for my exercise and how much to eat each day and my weight loss has been more steady as opposed to losing a lot one week and a lot less the next 2 weeks.

I am disappointed that it doesn't calculate my physical activity well when riding bike. To combat this I put the armband on my calf when I ride and then it does a good job of logging my physical activity. If you just had a regular pedometer it wouldn't calculate it at all so the BodyMedia Fit is still better than a pedometer only.

I am also disappointed it does not track your heart rate. I've never had a heart rate monitor but I think it would be nice to know. However, the BodyMedia Fit does track other things that is suppose to determine if you are doing moderate activity or vigorous activity. The armband does sync with a certain brand of heart rate monitors though (can't think what one off the top of my head).

I started with a Fitbit but after 2 weeks of continuous problems and inaccuracies I returned it and got a Bodymedia Fit Link. I thoroughly explored their website and read all the articles and news releases and became more and more impressed. This is the only device of its type recognized as a medical device. The main "con" I hear concerns the appearance and comfort of the armband itself. However they do have other armband colors and decals you can apply to the face to dress it up. As to comfort, I rarely am aware of wearing it. It does not have to be worn tightly to register. In fact if it is leaving an impression it is probably too tight. (I have very soft, flabby upper arms from weight loss and the band itself does leave a slight indentation) As to the above quoted complaint: altho a specific position is recommended I have read many users do find for certain activities (bicycling, spinning, elli[tical) that there is better accuracy if worn on the calf. My usual exercise is the Leslie Sansone "walking" DVD's and I feel the calorie burn it registers to be very accurate (in that I get consistently the same numbers every time.) I also wear it on my calf for sleep because I sleep in a fairly upright/sitting position and it couldn't tell I was lying down--it just registered as inactive. I feel on my calf it is actually showing my (crappy) sleep patterns. (The Fitbit required you to push a button and place it in a wrist band for sleep and then push a button again in the morning I couldn't keep mine in the wrist band and usually found it in the bed or on the floor.) As to the other complaint about it not registering HR--there is a new CORE II coming out this Fall that will have an optional chest strap to sync and measure HR. It is also going to be much smaller (about the size of quarter . You can find out about it on their website. And I think the other important "con" is that to use the Activity Manager which gives you all the information costs a monthly fee. I do not find it to be excessive and I am on Social Security which is an extremely restricted income. The money is used for development of new products so I think it's well spent.