Anyone have a bodybugg?

[bobosensei]

I just ordered a bodymedia fit armband and digital display watch. I'm curious to get a better estimate of my daily calorie burn. A lot of people say it helps keep them motivated. We'll see I guess. The main reason I am interested is because I am going to start more group cardio classes at the gym- spin and zumba in addition to the ballet classes I already take. I'd like to have a better idea of how many calories I burn during those activities instead of going off of a general estimate. Since I don't have much weight to lose I have to be accurate with calories in v. calories out.

[pig]

Since I don't have much weight to lose I have to be accurate with calories in v. calories out.

You're making it more complicated than it needs to be. You just need to have your diet accounted for. If you know the amount of calories and macronutrient breakdown you don't need to know how many calories you burn.

[thyme4change]

bobo - I've considered getting one. I've checked 9 calculators to estimate what I burn, and I get variations up to 40%. I assumed for a while that it was somewhere in the middle of all of those. I've really struggled with just how much I need to pull my calories back. I wish I could just rent one for a few months. I think once I understand what my normal base is, I would feel more comfortable creating a plan to lose or maintain. Right now, it is total trial and error. I feel that information is the key to good decisions, but the information I have appears to be sketchy.

[pig]

"I think once I understand what my normal base is, I would feel more comfortable creating a plan to lose or maintain. Right now, it is total trial and error. I feel that information is the key to good decisions, but the information I have appears to be sketchy."

There are a ton of ways to calculate your caloric needs. Harris-Benedict is a common one:

Women:655 + (4.3 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) - (4.7 x age in years)

Men:66 + (6.3 x weight in pounds) + (12.9 x height in inches) - (6.8 x age in years)

Then:

Calculate ActivityStep two: In order to incorporate activity into your daily caloric needs, do the following calculation:

If you are sedentary : BMR x 20 percent

If you are lightly active: BMR x 30 percent

If you are moderately active (You exercise most days a week.): BMR x 40 percent

If you are very active (You exercise intensely on a daily basis or for prolonged periods.): BMR x 50 percent

If you are extra active (You do hard labor or are in athletic training.): BMR x 60 percent

Add this number to your BMR.

The result of this formula will be the number of calories you can eat every day and maintain your current weight. In order to lose weight, you'll need to take in fewer calories than this result.



The most accurate way to do this, however, is to do as I suggested but everyone here is too lazy to do it. Write down everything you eat for a week and take your starting and ending weight. If you don't gain any weight then add up the calories you consumed and that is your maintenance intake. It's pathetically simple but requires some effort.

[thyme4change]

There are a ton of ways to calculate your caloric needs. Harris-Benedict is a common one:

Yes - I've done 10 of them and got 10 completely different answers. My burn rate is somewhere between 1100 and 2150.

Even when I wrote stuff down, my body weight would swing 4 pounds in a day - so how do I know I'm actually the same weight and not 3 pounds up or down.

[thyme4change]

Why are you so passionately against the bodybugg? Why do you care?

[pig]

Why are you so passionately against the bodybugg? Why do you care?

I don't. Someone asked for opinions and I think they're worthless. If you're too lazy to write down what you eat to figure it out don't come bithcing to me about it.

[Formerly SK]

I also fluctuate 3-4 pounds a day. To minimize this the only time I weigh myself is at 6:30am when I first wake up. Even then I have fluctuations.

[Abby Normal]

I bought the bodymedia one a few months ago. I really like it just because it appeals to the accounting geek inside. When you look at the data, it's easier to resist temptation. In other words, I don't do the "well I worked out so I can have xxx" anymore. Plus I realized a big part of my problem was lack of sleep.

I'm not as hardcore about it as I was at first, but it's handy to have around so I don't fall back into old habits.

[Genuine GA Peach]

I like my heart rate monitor. It estimates calories too (based on body weight & exertion). I don't know how accurate the calorie figure is, I really use it more to keep track of my heart rate & for the stop watch (and as my watch when I'm at the gym). The calorie count is just a bonus.