Bodybugg/Body Media Fit Questions Thread:
liftingbro
Posts: 2,029 Member
I'm starting this thread to be sort of a Q & A for people interested in the Body Media Fit/Body Bugg.
Ask any questions you like, I will try to answer them as best I can with my 4-5 months of use. I know there are other people here who know a lot about the devices and they may be able to help as well.
For starters:
How does it work?
Motion: The armband contains an accelerometer that measures motion from multiple perspectives.
Steps: The accelerometer counts steps by measuring the distinct patterns created by running or walking.
Galvanic skin response: When you sweat, your skin becomes more electrically conductive. This measurement helps the device understand how active you are.
Skin temperature: There’s an electronic thermometer inside your armband that monitors how hot you are.
Heat flux: When you move, your muscles produce heat. Your armband measures the heat that’s flowing from your body into the environment.
Does it track Heart Rate?
NO. Heart rate isn't very reliable for tracking calorie burn. Too many things can artificially inflate your heart rate including caffeine, medications, and genetics. These things raising your HR do not always mean that you are burning more calories.
How accurate is it?
One study done has shown that it is within +/- 10%.
Ask anything else you may be curious about.
Ask any questions you like, I will try to answer them as best I can with my 4-5 months of use. I know there are other people here who know a lot about the devices and they may be able to help as well.
For starters:
How does it work?
Motion: The armband contains an accelerometer that measures motion from multiple perspectives.
Steps: The accelerometer counts steps by measuring the distinct patterns created by running or walking.
Galvanic skin response: When you sweat, your skin becomes more electrically conductive. This measurement helps the device understand how active you are.
Skin temperature: There’s an electronic thermometer inside your armband that monitors how hot you are.
Heat flux: When you move, your muscles produce heat. Your armband measures the heat that’s flowing from your body into the environment.
Does it track Heart Rate?
NO. Heart rate isn't very reliable for tracking calorie burn. Too many things can artificially inflate your heart rate including caffeine, medications, and genetics. These things raising your HR do not always mean that you are burning more calories.
How accurate is it?
One study done has shown that it is within +/- 10%.
Ask anything else you may be curious about.
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Replies
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When you purchased it, did you find that the numbers it came up with were different than the formula used here on MFP?0
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Bump....glad you posted this...I am interesting in getting a bodybugg and your q and a is just what I needed!0
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When you purchased it, did you find that the numbers it came up with were different than the formula used here on MFP?
Yes, it was different.
My Bodybugg says that I burn about 3500 calories per day average. On an off day if I don't do much I'd burn 2800 to 3000, on workout days as much as 4100. MFP said I'd need to eat 1400 perday to lose two pounds per week. I'm eating around 2000-2200 on average and losing 2-3 pounds per week.
I adjust my intake to may daily burn so that I stay with a 1000 calorie deficit.0 -
I have used the non blue tooth body media armband for the last year, but just bought the blue tooth Armband BW and can't sync the mobile app on my Android phone with the website activity manager. I input food on my cell phone, sync'ed the armband and the info put into the mobile app doesn't appear online. What am I doing wrong?0
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Good thread. I own a bodymedia fit and its great. Not 100% accurate but the longer you wear it the better it gets accustomed to your body.0
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I ordered one about a week ago so just subbing to this thread
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I adjust my intake to may daily burn so that I stay with a 1000 calorie deficit.
I do the same.0 -
Good thread. I own a bodymedia fit and its great. Not 100% accurate but the longer you wear it the better it gets accustomed to your body.
Is this actually true? Does it really have some sort of adaptation algorithm? I don't remember reading or hearing about that when I owned one for a short while....0 -
Good thread. I own a bodymedia fit and its great. Not 100% accurate but the longer you wear it the better it gets accustomed to your body.
Is this actually true? Does it really have some sort of adaptation algorithm? I don't remember reading or hearing about that when I owned one for a short while....
There's a pretty big thread over at bodybuilding.com in regards to this. I questioned it also at first.0 -
Bump!
:flowerforyou:0 -
Good thread. I own a bodymedia fit and its great. Not 100% accurate but the longer you wear it the better it gets accustomed to your body.
Is this actually true? Does it really have some sort of adaptation algorithm? I don't remember reading or hearing about that when I owned one for a short while....
If you use the website, the website tracks your loss/gain and adjusts the bin numbers in the device itself, eventually matching your burn to your loss/gain. This can be done manually if you keep accurate records for yourself.0 -
I have had the bodymedia fit since february and have actually gained a couple pounds !
I average about 500-1000 calorie defecit each week and have lost and gained the same 5 pounds since I got it. I am starting to doubt its accuracy. When I increased my intake so that I was burning 250-500 calories per day I didnt lose. When I averaged 500-1000 burn each day I didnt lose?
Any thoughts??0 -
I have had the bodymedia fit since february and have actually gained a couple pounds !
I average about 500-1000 calorie defecit each week and have lost and gained the same 5 pounds since I got it. I am starting to doubt its accuracy. When I increased my intake so that I was burning 250-500 calories per day I didnt lose. When I averaged 500-1000 burn each day I didnt lose?
Any thoughts??
How many pounds are you looking to lose? Your ticker only shows 4. This would indicate you would need a very moderate deficit, 100-250 calories per day. As your body gets closer to its ideal weight, it will try to hold on to reserve fat stores.0 -
I have had the bodymedia fit since february and have actually gained a couple pounds !
I average about 500-1000 calorie defecit each week and have lost and gained the same 5 pounds since I got it. I am starting to doubt its accuracy. When I increased my intake so that I was burning 250-500 calories per day I didnt lose. When I averaged 500-1000 burn each day I didnt lose?
Any thoughts??
How many pounds are you looking to lose? Your ticker only shows 4. This would indicate you would need a very moderate deficit, 100-250 calories per day. As your body gets closer to its ideal weight, it will try to hold on to reserve fat stores.
well I originally wanted to get down to 155, which was 4 pounds when I started, but now I have put on a few pounds so I have 8 pounds to go. I have lost alot of weight years ago (120) and now the last few pounds dont want to go.0 -
I have had the bodymedia fit since february and have actually gained a couple pounds !
I average about 500-1000 calorie defecit each week and have lost and gained the same 5 pounds since I got it. I am starting to doubt its accuracy. When I increased my intake so that I was burning 250-500 calories per day I didnt lose. When I averaged 500-1000 burn each day I didnt lose?
Any thoughts??
How many pounds are you looking to lose? Your ticker only shows 4. This would indicate you would need a very moderate deficit, 100-250 calories per day. As your body gets closer to its ideal weight, it will try to hold on to reserve fat stores.
well I originally wanted to get down to 155, which was 4 pounds when I started, but now I have put on a few pounds so I have 8 pounds to go. I have lost alot of weight years ago (120) and now the last few pounds dont want to go.
That's very common. Your body wants to keep fat stores in case of future privation. It's evolution. Those last few pounds will be the most resistant and you'll need a very conservative deficit to coax them off.0 -
I love mine.
And I definitely eat a lot more with it than i did without. It taught me that 1200 a day is literally starving. On a day when I lay in bed all day I am at 1600, on a busy day at work on my feet for ten hours I am at 2400-2500, so since I work a lot, most days I can eat a little over 2000 calories a day, that's a far cry from 1200. My headaches and crabbiness and dizziness are gone, and I look and feel better.
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I have one but haven't lost anything yet by using it. I'll be watching this thread for more opinions on it. It also shows a much higher burn than what I thought I was actually burning.0
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I have used the non blue tooth body media armband for the last year, but just bought the blue tooth Armband BW and can't sync the mobile app on my Android phone with the website activity manager. I input food on my cell phone, sync'ed the armband and the info put into the mobile app doesn't appear online. What am I doing wrong?
I don't know for sure what it is, but I know that some phones just don't run certain apps well. That could be the case here or there could be another issue but that's all I have for ya. I would call their customer service line.0 -
I have a high SPA (spontaneous physical activity), I'm always fidgeting, will it be able to measure that movement?0
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Good thread. I own a bodymedia fit and its great. Not 100% accurate but the longer you wear it the better it gets accustomed to your body.
Is this actually true? Does it really have some sort of adaptation algorithm? I don't remember reading or hearing about that when I owned one for a short while....
At first I thought this was false, but after about 3 weeks it settled higher than when I started. I was averaging 3200 at the beginning, now I'm averaging around 3500 per day under the same routine. Others have seen it dip a little. So, I think there is an adjustment phase.0 -
I have had the bodymedia fit since february and have actually gained a couple pounds !
I average about 500-1000 calorie defecit each week and have lost and gained the same 5 pounds since I got it. I am starting to doubt its accuracy. When I increased my intake so that I was burning 250-500 calories per day I didnt lose. When I averaged 500-1000 burn each day I didnt lose?
Any thoughts??
Probably too large of deficit for only needing to lose 8 pounds. Your weight tends to fluctuate a lot more when you are in too large of deficit since your body will tend to cycle water retention more.0 -
I have a high SPA (spontaneous physical activity), I'm always fidgeting, will it be able to measure that movement?
Yes, it has a very sensitive motion sensor that measure motion in 3D.0 -
Any recomendations which package to get? My stepdad is trying to get me to buy his old unit so he can upgrade to the bluetooth.
Also, is it true that they don't measure certain exercise well? I've read that cycling doesn't register since there isn't arm movement.0 -
I have had the bodymedia fit since february and have actually gained a couple pounds !
I average about 500-1000 calorie defecit each week and have lost and gained the same 5 pounds since I got it. I am starting to doubt its accuracy. When I increased my intake so that I was burning 250-500 calories per day I didnt lose. When I averaged 500-1000 burn each day I didnt lose?
Any thoughts??
Probably too large of deficit for only needing to lose 8 pounds. Your weight tends to fluctuate a lot more when you are in too large of deficit since your body will tend to cycle water retention more.
I tried increasing my intake so my defecit was only 200-250 and I gained weight so I am afraid eating more will do the same!! that means I would be eating 2200 calories per day...should I try that? and if so how long should I do it and keep doing it if I am gaining??0 -
Any recomendations which package to get? My stepdad is trying to get me to buy his old unit so he can upgrade to the bluetooth.
Also, is it true that they don't measure certain exercise well? I've read that cycling doesn't register since there isn't arm movement.
The bluetooth thing is cool but I think there tends to be more problems with it if you are using Android. Not there is something wrong with Android but there are so many different phone manufacturers. Android and android apps do not wok equally well on all phones, so you cannot be sure that your phone will work with it well unless you know someone is using it with the same phone.0 -
I have had the bodymedia fit since february and have actually gained a couple pounds !
I average about 500-1000 calorie defecit each week and have lost and gained the same 5 pounds since I got it. I am starting to doubt its accuracy. When I increased my intake so that I was burning 250-500 calories per day I didnt lose. When I averaged 500-1000 burn each day I didnt lose?
Any thoughts??
Probably too large of deficit for only needing to lose 8 pounds. Your weight tends to fluctuate a lot more when you are in too large of deficit since your body will tend to cycle water retention more.
I tried increasing my intake so my defecit was only 200-250 and I gained weight so I am afraid eating more will do the same!! that means I would be eating 2200 calories per day...should I try that? and if so how long should I do it and keep doing it if I am gaining??
You should always give it a few weeks before you change anything. There are a ton of reasons weight can go up, including water weight and bowl issues. If after three weeks you still have not lost weight or have gained weight then I would lower calories.
Most people that see a spike in weight when upping calories see it because they increased carbs. Carbs are either burned from the blood sugar soon after digested or stored in the muscle and liver as glycogen. When you are on a very low carb diet your glycogen levels tend to be lower and glycogen holds a lot of water with it, so a sudden increase in carbs (and thus glycogen) will make you hold a lot of water. Also, if you have been under eating for a long period of time you are likely to be eating many fewer carbs, so anincrease in calories will often be a large increase in carbs and that bumps your weight.
If you give it a few weeks things should level off and start dropping if that's the problem.0 -
I have had the bodymedia fit since february and have actually gained a couple pounds !
I average about 500-1000 calorie defecit each week and have lost and gained the same 5 pounds since I got it. I am starting to doubt its accuracy. When I increased my intake so that I was burning 250-500 calories per day I didnt lose. When I averaged 500-1000 burn each day I didnt lose?
Any thoughts??
Probably too large of deficit for only needing to lose 8 pounds. Your weight tends to fluctuate a lot more when you are in too large of deficit since your body will tend to cycle water retention more.
I tried increasing my intake so my defecit was only 200-250 and I gained weight so I am afraid eating more will do the same!! that means I would be eating 2200 calories per day...should I try that? and if so how long should I do it and keep doing it if I am gaining??
You should always give it a few weeks before you change anything. There are a ton of reasons weight can go up, including water weight and bowl issues. If after three weeks you still have not lost weight or have gained weight then I would lower calories.
Most people that see a spike in weight when upping calories see it because they increased carbs. Carbs are either burned from the blood sugar soon after digested or stored in the muscle and liver as glycogen. When you are on a very low carb diet your glycogen levels tend to be lower and glycogen holds a lot of water with it, so a sudden increase in carbs (and thus glycogen) will make you hold a lot of water. Also, if you have been under eating for a long period of time you are likely to be eating many fewer carbs, so anincrease in calories will often be a large increase in carbs and that bumps your weight.
If you give it a few weeks things should level off and start dropping if that's the problem.
Thanks!!! I think that is part of the problem is that I try something for a couple weeks and gain/lose the same pounds, then i try something else for a week or two. I do watch my carbs, and limit grains to whole grains once or twice per day. I will increase a little and give it a good 3 weeks. Thanks again!!!!!!!0 -
I have a BMF and I noticed after wearing it for a few months that it seemed to "level out" and I assumed that it was averaging out my calorie burns each day to figure out my average burn when I am resting and where I was based on my total movement for the day (sorry dudes, I speak art, not math, so I hope you get what I am saying).
I haven't lost anything but I think it is more a matter of my metabolism getting to where it needs to be with P90X and eating, etc. I am trying calorie cycling right now in the hopes that it helps.0 -
i just put on the Body Media Fit last night for the first time and just got back from a run. My question is, would there be some sort of interference between the two if I used the BMF AND my Polar FT7 at the same time? I missed wearing my HRM watch and not being able to see my heart rate while running. Thoughts?0
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i just put on the Body Media Fit last night for the first time and just got back from a run. My question is, would there be some sort of interference between the two if I used the BMF AND my Polar FT7 at the same time? I missed wearing my HRM watch and not being able to see my heart rate while running. Thoughts?
I use my FT4 and BB all the time (during workouts) and never had an interference issue.0
This discussion has been closed.
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