The main reason I bought this was to track how well I was sleeping, second for weight loss assistance. I am a Weight Watchers member, I did not buy this to replace my membership. I bought a package from Bodymedia directly, it contained a separate display device called GoWear. I was hesitant to put out a large amount of money up front, especially with a subscription to the web site. But I have learned so much, I'm glad I bought a one year subscription, it is cheaper on a per month breakdown of the cost. I have not had a problem with software or hardware from this company.Some basic info: The Dashboard gives you a basic review of your progress using a bar graph. There are shaded areas that guide you to the goals the program has set for you based on your personal information. It asks you to report a daily weight reading and reflects losses with this info. The medium size armband that came with it was too snug (I'm a size 18 to 20), I had already bought a large size with the package. The large arm band kept sliding down for 2 days until I found the right spot and adjustment that worked. I do not wave my arms around for aerobic exercise. GoWear display is not updated second by second with the armband. Nutrition information is only as accurate as you log it. With nutrition logging, you can enter a recipe, create a food that is displayed under My Foods. It keeps a list of frequent foods you have logged. GoWear display is a separate purchase from the armband.
PROS: Armband can be programed to beep the GoWear display with preset options such as time to drink, exercise, etc. Tracks 'personal bests', which is motivational. Can track waist circumference measurement (optional). Assembled in Canada, not China. Armband is latex free. Easy to remove food from the nutrition log. Replacement parts available. Decorative skin decals available for the armband monitor. Drop down displays on the Dashboard give detailed info on information that has been logged (steps, sleep graphs etc, by clicking the arrow on the left side of the graph next to what you want to look up) this keeps a simple to read reference. Armband monitor beeps the GoWear display when targets for the day have been met. Watchband for the GoWear display will not easily come apart when fastened, no excess length to hang off the end either. GoWear display is interchangeable with a clip to wear on your waist or pocket. GoWear display is scratch resistant. Nutrition log on the Dashboard under Calories Consumed gives a thorough list of nutrients you consumed along with a pie chart of the balance of carbs, protein, fat and alcohol. Armband beeps when it has lost contact or finds contact with your skin, otherwise it is silent. You can buy armbands with different colored plastic frames. The armband module can only fit into the plastic frame one way. At the end of the day, the program will tell you on the Dashboard if you are on a weight loss trend. I find this to be the most valuable aspect to let me know I am doing things right, especially when the numbers on the scale are not budging downward.
CONS: It is not water proof, it can not be worn for water sports. Armband can have a hard time reading you if your skin is cold. You need to have basic knowledge of healthy eating habits. I could not find detailed instructions on using the program, I learned as I went along. If you have the GoWear display, you must make sure it's firmly seated on the clip or wrist band by turning it until you feel it click together. Arthritic fingers may have a hard time doing this, along with fastening the wristband together. Printing on the GoWear display along the outside edge is tiny: Calories, Steps, Activity, etc. Displayed reading of actual steps, calories, time is easy to read. It counted steps while I was asleep, and I don't sleep walk (it tracked 4-6 steps). Clip for the GoWear display does not open very far to slide onto clothes. Steps measured by the armband did vary from the GoWear display, but not by much. GoWear will get out of sync with the armband, it will tell you to sync it. You have to press the button on the armband to do this. Sometimes I have to bend my arm to get the two within close proximity to achieve this. So, it can be awkward to press the armband without losing skin contact. I've noticed wearing thick clothing can lead to the two getting out of sync. The manufacturer suggests you clean the band by hand, not a washing machine. The armband module was a little difficult at first to pop out for cable syncing, but it became easier the more I did that. It's possible to put the armband on upside down, and it won't work that way.
I have had no problem using Windows 7 with this. I like Linux, and was able to log nutrition info with SAMity Linux. I did not upload with the USB cable via Linux and I would not recommend a purchase of this magnitude if you only run on Linux. Bodymedia sent me to a window listing compatible operating systems while trying to log food, I clicked on the Continue button at the bottom and was able to complete the task.
Sorry for the long entry, but with the amount of money one may want to sink into this system, the more information, the better decision one can make.
For example from the uploaded data: When I woke and had breakfast, got dressed it logged that I was doing vigorous exercise. Later in the day I ran a mile and it logged it as moderate exercise, no vigourous activity. I verified the location of the sensor on my left arm and it was in place in the exact location recommended.
I had similar experiences the next day. Morning time which is quit for me had huge spikes in activity, but later on the stationary bike it showed only modest activity, even though I was churning out sweat and had a heart rate of around 140bpm for 45 minutes.
Driving in the car also was listed as vigorous activity. I'm wondering if because it uses a 3 point accelerometer that the motion of the car was setting it off. This might also account for the stationary bike reading being so low, since you are not moving and neither are your arms.
It seems like a promising start, but since the activity data is off, probably the calories are also. I just don't trust any of the readings from it at this point. I might work better for people whose primary activity is walking and running.
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I have been using this device for about two weeks now, along with the online Activity Manager, to keep track of calories consumed and burned. With respect to the device's monitoring functions, it really is quite amazing. It appears to be at least as accurate as any other device or system for counting the calories I burn, and it is consistent with my expectations for energy expenditure during various activities. I should add that those expectations are based upon a fair amount of research. I am also amazed at how accurately it is able to tell when I am exercising, walking around or sleeping. If I fall asleep in my recliner for half an hour, that fact is clearly reflected in the data and Activity Manager displays when the unit is synced with Activity Manager.After a couple of days of getting used to it, the unit is unobtrusive when worn on the left arm. For the most part, I don't even know it is there. I have no trouble sleeping with it or wearing it while working out. I have had no problem with syncing it with activity manager, although it is a bit less reliable when used with the application on my Android based smartphone. While very lightweight, the unit itself seems sturdy enough and I do not anticipate any problems in that area.
In short, if the evaluation was simply of the unit itself and the online activity manager, it would be a four to five star item. The problem is that the unit itself is only part of a package. The food database in Activity Manager is terrible. I have had to input the data for most of what I have eaten since I started using this device. I rarely had this problem when using the online sites "fatsecret" or "myfitnesspal." The device is constantly coming unlinked from my bluetooth smartphone, so it is necessary several times a day to log back in with e-mail address and password, or to completely restart the program to get it to link.
Finally, customer service and support is simply unacceptable. I have had a replacement strap for the armband on order for two weeks now (original one has been damaged entirely through my own fault) and have heard nothing from BodyMedia about when it will be shipped. I sent an inquiry four days ago and heard nothing except for the acknowledgment that my inquiry had been recieverd until I called today and was informed that they were out of straps and could not tell me if they would be in in a week, a month, six months or ever. Once the original strap completely fails, all I have left is an expensive device that is not even heavy enough to be a paperweight. Their lack or response and the fact that they do not keep replacement parts like this in stock and don't even have a sufficient relationship with their supplier to know when they will get more, makes the device of questionable utility.
It's a great concept and a good device ruined by poor customer support. I would not recommend to anyone until the supply and support problems are resolved.
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I was a bit skeptical about this device's ability to accurately measure my caloric output per day, but after receiving it and trying it for almost 6 weeks, I'm astounded, frankly. I have tracked my food intake carefully using the web site, and have worn the device faithfully over that time.The bottom line is over the course of a few weeks, Bodymedia reported I'd burned 40,250 calories (that is, calories out minus calories in). In theory, at 3,500 calories per pound, I should have lost 11.5 pounds at that point. Incredibly, according to the scale, I'd lost 11.8 pounds. And that wasn't just a one-time thing. Over time, if I graph my weight versus what it "should" be based on the reported calorie deficit reported by Bodymedia, my actual weight remains within 1 pound of the weight predicted simply by using the calories Bodymedia says I burned.
For the first time ever (and I've dieted and lost weight several times over the years) I feel like I have complete control of the process. By simply maintaining a 1,000 calorie deficit, per day, according to the Bodymedia web site, I lose about 2 pounds a week, like clockwork. I weigh daily, and sure, due to water intake variations and such my day-to-day results can move around, but if I average it week-to-week, the result is a smooth, predictable weight loss, easier than anything I've done before.
While I pay attention to what I eat for health reasons, I no longer worry about the "neolithic" diet, or the "zone" diet, or the "South Beach" diet, or any of that stuff... this device breaks it down into two numbers: calories in, and calories out. And the difference equals predictable weight loss, regardless of what you eat to take in calories, or what you do to burn them up. It's fantastically easy and straightforward. I use the Android smartphone app to enter my food, which means, since I have my phone on me all the time, that entering food is easy, immediate, and not something I have to take a lot of extra time for or that requires that I write down or remember anything. I just punch it in as I go.
I can tell you with perfect confidence that if I burn another 70,000 calories according to Bodymedia, I will have lost 20 pounds, plus or minus about 1 pound. The only choice for me is how fast I wind up burning up those 70,000 calories. The rest is inevitable. It's really quite empowering.
This has been the most effective use of money in helping me reach my goals than anything else I've done regarding my health and weight loss.
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I was able to find this unit on sale (-$30) and in stock since it has been back ordered around the holidays. I did not want to wait to get started.The first 3 months service are free. They charge $7 a month for the next 9 months if you purchase a year plan and then you have to call them to cancel after that. I don't think you really need the separate display or blue tooth version which add to the cost but give immediate display feedback.
It is not uncomfortable to wear the band on your upper arm. I have not had any allergic reaction or felt constricted during sleep or exercise.
It is very easy to sync my unit by plugging it into the USB wire they provide when I am going to take a shower since it is only water resistant and not waterproof. The sync starts right up and I can also view the information and log my food on my bodymedia fit iphone app.
It tracks my exercise, my steps, my sleep and has a really good way to enter the food I ate including many name brand items built in and a way to easily copy a meal or typical food you eat. I really think the data is very motivating to make me exercise more and log everything I eat. I lost 3.5 lbs in the first 2 days of using it.
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