Body Bugg (Product Review)
Michael Bogosian, NASM-CPT
The bodybugg is an electronic consumer product which calculates your daily caloric expenditure. The device works by using an accelerometer and by measuring heat flux, skin temperature and galvanic skin response. According to literature on the bodybugg website and product manual, they claim to be accurate to within 10% of actual caloric expenditure. The Bodybugg and supplementary watch can be purchased for $289 US dollars from the my Apex Fitness website. A six month online subscription is also included in the purchase of the Bodybugg. I was turned on to Bodybugg through my previous personal trainer in January 2009 and used it until April 2009. By February, I had read the Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle (BFFM) E-book and from BFFM's emphasis on the importance of calories and energy balance, I realized what a powerful tool I had with the BodyBugg.
My first impression of wearing the Body Bugg armband 24/7 on my right tricep was that it would be conspicuous. The truth is, it was slightly conspicuous but not in a bad way. Most people were curious, and at times excited about how it works. (To all those who are considering purchasing the product: the armband is no where near as valuable if the watch isn't purchased as well, in my opinion). The armband is good for up to 5 days without re-charging the battery. Re-charging the battery is as simple as plugging it into your computer and uploading your information via USB cable. A negative aspect of the armband is that if you are doing lots of cardio in a fat burning stage (as I was), perspiration will lead to unpleasant odors that even Old Spice won't be able to hide! Washing the armband often does cause the actual strap to fray in time. I had a negative experience ordering a new strap online (there are no grey strap options, only black). I purchased the wrong strap for an outdated model and wasted 20+ dollars. The effectiveness of calculating calories burned in a day was a revelation to me. Having a mind which is quick to disbelieve what I can't see, feel, or touch, it was amazing to look at my watch and see within 10% at the end of the day my caloric expenditure. Some days I tested it to see how many calories I would burn completely sedentary and I received very accurate results in line with my BMR x 1.2 activity multiplier. Other days of extreme fitness would yield very inspiring calories burned results, not just for the day,but even to see the total caloric burns for specific actitivies. In that respect, I would add that the Body Bugg was a motivation booster as well. The online software was not very effective for me because I have trouble personally looking up food and keeping up journals in general. My success came from learning what works and repeat over and over again. I did my best not to get too creative with my food, and in time, the pounds were shedding off. The online program which tracks daily caloric expenditures in a line graph was amusing. It gave me a visual history for the week which helped keep me honest about my weekly fitness efforts. For the most part, I would just look at my watch and if I didn't hit the pre-assigned caloric burn for that day I would go take the dog for a long walk. Do I recommend this product to other users? Yes! Do I recommend learning how to have faith in yourself, not gadgets? Yes. However, in the beginning, it always helps to see the truth in numbers, rather than just hope what you're doing is working.
Customer Customer Reviews
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Average Customer Customer Review
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Most Helpful Customer Customer Reviews
I was really impressed with how well this worked after monitoring results for a few days.
I originally just wanted a pedometer as a way to make sure that I get myself up and moving (to keep my activity level high), but I ended up buying the bodybugg instead. I've been using it for 3 months now, and it is a GREAT tool for logging calories and seeing how active I REALLY was.
PROS - the new model is smaller, and more accurate. I honestly don't even notice that I'm wearing it, and you can barely see it under my shirt. The website that you upload it to is user friendly, and has a lot of good tools. Food logging is very easy with their system, as they have thousands of food items already put in for you.
CONS - Its rather pricey. I paid $200, and that doesn't include the watch. Also, it is subscription based. After your initial 6 month membership, you have to pay to continue using the site, which you have to use for it to work.
Overall, its a great product, I love it. I'd give it a 4.5, due to the subscription and the high initial cost.
Last year I used to bicycle a lot and used my BB along with my HRM. Of course I was using the BB to count calories burned and the HRM to measure my HR at any given time. This HRM also gave a readout of calories burned. The HRM was almost always higher by as much as 200 calories than the BB. I also found that the cardio equipment at my gym (ones that included caloric burn) was always higher (as much as 400 calories) than the results on my BB. Obviously, the BB is more conservative. Nevertheless, I do like my BB and have lost weight (50 lbs) while using it. I stopped using it and the weight is right back. The reason I am here.
I have used a Bodybugg for over a year and love it. I already did a fair bit of cardio before getting the bugg, but was very sedentary the rest of the day. The bugg showed me how important moving throughout the day really is.
I've gotten my weight down and have held it there for quite some time now. The Bodybugg and food tracking keep me honest.
It is expensive, but you can buy one on eBay as I did.
Best Regards, Michael Bogosian, NASM-CPT
To discuss the Body Bugg in the Burn The Fat Inner Circle forums CLICK HERE
About The Author/ReviewerMichael Bogosian: Birthdate = 11/27/1985. Height = 5 feet 9 inches.
January 2009: Weight = 190. Body Fat = 22%. My life was a mess! I spent a year looking for work after undergrad and it seemed like everything I found was analogous to a living hell. The economy was under duress and it wasn't my fault but we all know how type A people tend to internalize their pain. Mine lead to eating, drinking, and sitting... By December 2008 I cracked and so did my scale. My self-esteem was so low it was hard to leave the house and be seen by friends let alone co-workers. I quit my job and moved into my parents house. I made the best investment I could have ever made in my life and that was in myself! I hired a trainer and read Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle. In 3 months I dropped 20 lbs and 4 waist sizes. Never before have I lost weight with such efficiency and ease. Finally my official barometer of success came. My friends and family started noticing my success and the compliments started pouring in. My self-esteem was skyrocketing. By April I made the decision to go back to Graduate school and move back to Chicago from LA. I also made a decision to become a personal trainer while I went to graduate school. August 2009: Weight = 162. Body Fat = 11%. Today I am a NASM personal trainer helping clients accomplish their fitness goals. I am a candidate for a masters degree in business administration (MBA). Finally, I'm 30 lbs lighter, 6 waist sizes smaller, and carrying around 10% less body fat. It has been the most amazing 6 months of my life. Next stop... 8% body fat and (I dare whisper it) ABS!
Disclosure: The Burn The Fat Inner Circle, Tom Venuto And Michael Bogosian are not in any way affiliated with the Body Bugg company. To discuss the body bugg in the burn the fat forums, CLICK HERE
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