BodyMedia FIT Advantage Armband Weight Management System

by BodyMedia

• Clinically proven ? the technology used in the BodyMedia FIT system has been clinically proven to improve weight loss by 3x
• Validated to be accurate; provides the most accurate calorie burn in the market
• Multi-variable tracking using four sophisticated sensors; armband captures over 5000 data points, per minute, to track everything from temperature, sweat, steps, calories burned and sleep quality, every minute, of every day
• Endorsed by Health and Wellness Expert, Jillian Michaels

Product Description

Amazon.com

The BodyMedia FIT Weight Management System Armband helps you pinpoint what actions you should take to reach your weight-loss goals. With the Armband and the online Activity Manager*, this holistic system tracks your calories in, calories out, and sleep quality. Providing consumers with important information about their calories burned and calories consumed, BodyMedia technology is clinically proven to help those who use it lose three times more weight than those who try to lose weight on their own. The BodyMedia FIT system captures your calorie burn with over 90 percent validated accuracy.

The BodyMedia FIT system captures calorie burn with over 90 percent validated accuracy. View larger.

Serious Science, Serious Results
There are tons of fly-by-night weight-loss fads out there. The BodyMedia FIT system is not one of them. Scientific studies over the last 10 years have proven that BodyMedia technology is accurate and that it delivers the results you're looking for. Weight loss attempts fail not because you lack willpower, but because you lack the right information. To lose weight effectively, you should know calories in, calories out, and sleep quality.

The BodyMedia FIT weight management system captures 5,000+ readings every minute to capture your individual metabolic profile.

One Size Doesn't Fit All
You burn calories differently than anyone else, which is why cookie-cutter weight loss programs may not be working for you. The BodyMedia FIT weight management system captures 5,000+ readings every minute to capture your individual metabolic profile. This personalized information helps you pinpoint what actions you need to take to reach your weight-loss goals.

Weight loss boils down to three key things:

• Calories Burned - Everything you do during the day and night -- from pumping iron to pumping gas -- burns calories. And the way you burn calories may be different from the next guy.
  
  
• Calories Consumed - Knowing what you eat is an important part of losing weight. Too many carbs? Not enough fiber? BodyMedia FIT will give you a detailed nutritional breakdown.
  
  
• Quantity and Quality of Sleep - Scientists understand and study the role of sleep in weight loss. Good sleep can help suppress your appetite and maintain your energy, which is important to weight loss.
  
  

About BodyMedia, Inc: When Your Body Talks, BodyMedia Listens
BodyMedia has been unlocking and deciphering the patterns of the body since 1999. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, BodyMedia is the pioneer in developing wearable body-monitoring systems designed to help people lose weight, improve performance, and live healthier lives. Their patented multi-sensor technology provides comfortable, convenient, and continuous body-monitoring that measures physical activity and calories burned with greater-than-90% accuracy. At BodyMedia, the excitement lies in the potential of putting this vital information directly into the hands of individuals, empowering them to take charge and improve their lives.

* A subscription is required. The Armband does not display information on its own. Rather, it works in conjunction with the online Activity Manager. Subscription options include a monthly subscription, a 6-month subscription, and a 12-month subscription.

What's in the Box
The BodyMedia FIT Weight Management System Armband, medium Armband strap, instruction manual, quick-start guide, and USB cable.

Product Description

The technology used in the Bodymedia weight management system has been clinically proven to help you lose up to 3x more weight. Holistic system consists of an Armband that automatically captures data on calorie burn and sleep and an Online Activity Manager* that analyzes raw data, allows you to log food and presents info in an easy-to-understand way. This personalized info helps you pinpoint what actions you need to take to reach your weight loss goals.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1.5 x 3.5 x 2.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• Origin: Made in USA
• ASIN: B0044ZAF0C
• UPC: 898363002065 898363002133 898363002034
• Item model number: FIT
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,330 in Health & Personal Care (See Top 100 in Health & Personal Care)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

184 of 190 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Motivation Tool! December 16, 2010

By Walking Chick

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.

134 of 141 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Good idea, but inaccurate activity tracking. January 2, 2011

By Dave of SF

I purchased one through Jenny Craig. At first was excited about the product and wore it for several days and synced the data regularly. What I noticed though was the activity portion was way off in accuracy.
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.

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars The device is great, the customer service and support is simply awful January 21, 2011

By Adrian J. Gordon

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.