FitBit or BodyMedia armband?

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Replies

  • sunflowertimes
    sunflowertimes Posts: 85 Member
    I have the fitbit force and LOVE it!!!! I find it very accurate and very easy to use. Links right up to MFP and syncs every time I am within range of my computer.
  • laurynwithawhy
    laurynwithawhy Posts: 385 Member
    I LOVE the bodymedia. I bought mine used on ebay for $70 - SO worth it. It's amazing at tracking exactly how many calories you burn daily. It really changed the way I dieted and exercised. For best results I found strapping the band to my leg for things like hiking, biking, or lower-body exercise gave a more accurate results than strapping it to my arm. But the monthly fee is really obnoxious and I actually haven't been using mine lately because I haven't felt like paying for it.
  • KimberlyinMN
    KimberlyinMN Posts: 302 Member
    I have both the Body Media and a FitBit Flex. Both track calories/steps with about the same numbers. Neither of them accurately track calories burned while on an exercise bike, although you can at least wear the Body Media on your ankle while biking. I switched to just using the FitBit Flex when my six month subscription ended with Body Media. For ME, I like wearing this on my wrist. I'd be interested in a Body Media wrist device, but I didn't like how it showed up on my arm under clothes - mainly because of all the dang loose skin I have.
  • bobbijodmb
    bobbijodmb Posts: 463 Member
    I use the Body Media and I love it-- I have been using it for almost a year- but I am lucky because I got it from a research study so I get to use it for free (well they actually pay me to wear it for a year and a half) for their study. I really really enjoy it. I wear it 97% of the time unless I am going to a wedding or something that it would look odd to wear it-- other times, I dont care if people see it or ask about it.

    Someone said that it wasn't as accurate for them, but I haven't had this experience. I find that it is quite accurate for my all of my activity levels.
  • scottyg70
    scottyg70 Posts: 388 Member
    I've used the BodyMedia Link for over a year now and I've really liked it. It seems to be pretty accurate and it really does give you a good snapshot. The only drawbacks to it would be the subscription fee and it doesn't measure your heart rate. There are a few other minor things, like the armband sliding down your arm and losing contact (this happens infrequently and it's normally during the winter when I have long sleeved bulky clothes on) and it's hard to conceal with work clothes. Other than that I have been happy with it.
  • SnowWhiteFanatic
    SnowWhiteFanatic Posts: 129 Member
    I love my body media band. I've had it since October and it's fantastic!!!
  • LoveAddison
    LoveAddison Posts: 8
    body media does not have a heart rated monitor
  • kareterra
    kareterra Posts: 8
    I agree - the fitbit seems to overestimate your activity and then gives you permission to eat more. For the first month, I had MFP and the fitbit linked and lost NADA. then I unlinked them, use fitbit as a guide ONLY and use MFP for the reality check. I've lost 5# since unlinking them about 3 weeks ago. My fitbit would tell me that I climbed all these stairs because I went over an overpass in the car. This was a little confusing because I actually DO take stairs alot, but I sure didn't remember taking that many!
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    body media does not have a heart rated monitor

    Neither does a Fitbit. They are not meant to be HRMs.
  • myurav
    myurav Posts: 165 Member
    I love my FitBit One - I just clip it to my bra in the morning, and forget about it! Super easy to manage, which is most important to me.

    Also, this article compared accuracy of trackers: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/20/activity-monitor-accuracy-fitbit-jawbone_n_5516156.html - It looks like BMF and FitBit are most accurate, but still have a 10% variance.

    I do a decent amount of heavy lifting, but choose not to include it in my tracker. I figure it's better to underestimate than overestimate cals. You have to keep in mind that if you do an elliptical at a high resistance or treadmill at an incline, it won't register with your FitBit, but you can manually input that information.

    FYI, I bought mine used for $60. Plus, the FitBit customer service is amazing - I just had my case replaced for free because it was wearing down. I've been wearing mine on a daily basis since December, and love it!

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