BodyBugg
A high-tech gadget that helps the Biggest Loser contestants monitor weight loss.
BACKGROUND
Body Bugg is new device that helps you keep a 24-hour watch on how many calories you burn and consume in a single day. It is one of the devices worn by the members of the fall 2008 team (Season 6) of the reality television hit series, “Biggest Loser.” The device has also earned rave reviews from the magazine, Popular Science.
Here is how Body Bugg works: It is a small bandlike device that is worn on your upper arm throughout the day. It calculates how many calories you are burning by recording your activity level, including just walking to and from your car. It does this by measuring specific information such as your body temperature and your pre-recorded information such as your weight, height, age and more.
Each night, you upload the information from your Body Bugg onto your PC, document what you ate for the day and then you learn what your caloric deficit or surplus was for that day in order for you to meet your weight loss goal. Based upon your goal, the Body Bugg will tell you how many calories you need to consume in order to reach that goal. The Body Bugg updates your information once a minute giving you accurate readings for what your caloric output is throughout the day.
The Body Bugg interprets calorie burn using a system called "sensor fusion." This process involves collecting a range of body-data using multiple physiological sensors instead of a single sensor, which is what other calorie estimation devices such as pedometers and heart rate monitors rely on. It's this multi-sensor approach that enables Body Bugg to "see" the your activity level (whether you are sitting, sleeping, jogging, walking, etc.) that makes Body Bugg such a reliably accurate device for calorie expenditure estimation.
PRO
- Body Bugg is an accurate device for measuring how many calories burned during the day
- Instant and continuous feedback helps keep motivationhigh
- Stay on track with weight loss goals
- Makes you accountable for your weight loss and calorie expenditure
- Takes guesswork out of estimating how much you need to eat and how much you need to exercise in order to lose weight
- Used by Biggest Loser contestants
CON
- Body Bugg is not a Mac-supported device
- Does not include a specific diet and exercise plan
- Cost is definitely an investment; ongoing subscription fees
DIET and NUTRITION
The Body Bugg does not include a specific diet plan for you to follow. The armband itself tracks the calories you burn, but not the calories you eat. Your calories consumed are calculated by the Body Bugg interface based on your weekly body mass change. To better stay on track of your calorie input, the program also offers an easy-to-use food log so you can monitor the calories you eat throughout the day.
EXERCISE
There are no exercise requirements while using the Body Bugg device. It is your responsibility to create an exercise program. The amount of calories burned during these sessions are then recorded onto the device and displayed on the arm band for you to see. constantly recording how many calories you are burning and consuming during your day.
CONCLUSION
The Body Bugg is a diet tool but it is not a diet per se since it does not come with any dietary or exercise guidelines. For individuals who love numbers and want to lose weight, the Body Bugg is a convenient and efficient way for someone to monitor their caloric expenditure all the time. But for those who do not want to be responsible for another high tech device, then this latest in diet technology is probably not right for you.
Common Misspellings
Body Bug, Bodybug, Body Bugg, The Body Bugg, Bodybugg Armband, 24 Hour Fitness BodyBugg, Apex BodyBugg, Biggest Loser BodyBugg
Related Diets: Biggest Loser Club, Curves Smart, BioTrainer, Fitbit, Fitrainer, GoWear Fit, My Weight Loss Coach for Nintendo DS
> Leave Feedback
User Feedback
(Page 2 of 2)
There are many frustrating things about the bodybugg. Not mac compatible, a few bugs in the interface, you can't download and manipulate how you see your data, bulky, and conspicuous.
it DOES put you in charge of your fitness. I am not sure what happened with the person who biked 3 hours and only showed 200 calories burned. It works fine for me biking, but I sweat :) and I'm not as fit as I should be either. It does show me when I need to kick my workouts up a notch because I show up with less calories expended for the same amount of activity. I've recently re-signed up after not using it for 6 months as I've gained a few of the pounds I lost when using before. Without having a tool like this to actually see how much you are expending in your workouts, I'm not sure how you lose weight unless you are absolutely strict with writing down what you eat and then guessing what you worked out.
I have been using my new Body Bugg for about two weeks. The first thing I noticed is that little things like taking the stairs, a simple walk around the block, parking further from the building, really ADD UP in calories expended during the day...that was useful information.
However, I purchased it to measure how much I burn in hard exercise . MY first 3 hour bike ride, averaging 14 mph with the Body Bugg made me want to return it. It revealed I had only burned 200 calories in my marathon ride.
The counselor on the phone explained that it does not really work for cycling a few other activities and we are not sure why....it really only works for stuff done in the gym (!) yes she said that.....
So, I am pretty disappointed and confused. The software regarding food intake is incomplete and hard to use also. Maybe just having the device strapped to the arm reminds people that "BIG BUGG IS WATCHING" and helps with exercise and diet that way?
Been using the BodyBugg for a week and a half and I've already lost 3.5 pounds. The nice thing is that you don't have to go on a "diet." You can still eat crappy if you so choose- just keep your calories to the level that the online software tell you to. Definitely takes the guesswork out of losing weight. Plus, you get a good understanding of how much calories cleaning the kitchen does for you! Price is reasonable at the 24-Hr Fitness Store ($199) or get on Craigslist and folks are selling their new ones for under $150.
I read the reviews and decided I had to have this right away, so I purchased it at a 24-hr fitness for $299. You can buy it on line for $199. So far I love it. It helps keep me accountable. I just ordered the wrist display which shows your info in real time instead of waiting to download to your computer.
this thing is so HOT!! saw it on biggest loser and started searching and landed here. you guys give a lot of info. added to my amazon wish list!!
I was wondering if anyone knew how much the subscriptions are each month.
This thing looks amazing! Saw it on the Biggest Loser Premiere tonight. I'm going to watch them use it a bit and really try to justify the cost for myself, I think it's really valuable.
See 64 more diets
