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589 of 590 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well worth the investment, April 2, 2009
This review is from: GoWear fit Lifestyle and Calorie Management System (Health and Beauty)
I have owned the Gowear Fit for about 4 week now and so far glad to say I still don't have any buyers remorse.
My interest in this first started when I saw the Bodybugg on the current season of NBC's the Biggest Loser and so started to research it. When I searched for it on Amazon I got this products page.
I actually read through the info page and some of the reviews without noticing that this wasn't the BodyBugg, until a review mentioned the GoWear Fit vs. the BodyBugg . I then started researching the GoWear Fit, and came to find out that the BodyBugg and GoWear Fit were manufactured by BodyMedia.
Here is a nice table that compares them all dubya dubya dubya dot bodymedia dot com forward slash prodtbl.html
What I got from my research is that both pretty much use the same technology by and large as far as hardware goes. The main differences are in the software that you use to access the info gathered by whichever calorie counter you choose to use. When I looked at pictures of both of them, they looked EXACTLY the same. The only difference was the color scheme.
The biggest "issue" with the GoWear Fit that users seemed to gripe about was the calorie logging. With the GoWear Fit you filled a 3 day profile for meals that the software would use to calculate the average amount of calories that you consume everyday while BodyBugg had the capability of logging in each individual meal everyday so you had much more accurate calorie tracking.
This is not a problem anymore though. The software now allows you to enter each meal individually. So you have the option of either entering each meal or just filling out the 3 day meal profile (I think that's what they call it, not sure since I don't use it) and just have the software average out your calorie intake. I think if you usually eat the same things everyday or so, then this would probably be a plus for you.
Another thing that swayed me towards the GoWear Fit was the fact that it also measured sleep efficiency. It measures how much you lie down awake (trying to go to sleep or waking up from sleep) vs. how much time you spend in deep rem sleep. The BodyBugg didn't.
Ok, so you get the GoWear Fit, open up the box. Inside you'll find the module, armband, manual and code for 3 months free access to the website. The module takes about 3 hours to charge to full from an empty state, but mine was charged apparently because when I plugged it in, it indicated it was full.
The module itself is not too exciting looks wise. It has 2 leds, one labeled `Memory' and the other `Battery'. Next to the led's is a green button that you can press to verify that the module is working correctly. When pressed it gives an A-OK type audio alert if everything is hunky-dory. If the battery is low it will flash with an amber color and green when battery is charged. Same with memory, when there's about 24 hours worth of memory left it will start flashing in an amber color, and green when there's more than 24hrs worth available.
I believe it can store up to 14 days of calorie data before it stops logging. Once it fills up you have to upload the data to the website before it will start logging calorie consumption again. This means that you need access to the website and thus a membership to be able to use this baby.
To start a membership, you log onto the GoWear Fit website (using MS Internet Explorer, Firefox is not supported), download the software drivers, install them onto your pc (it's a 20mb download). Then you need to purchase a monthly plan. If you commit to 12 months its 6.95/month, 6 months is 9.95/month and month by month for 12.95/month .
Whichever option you choose, you won't get billed until after the 3 free months have expired. I went for the 6.95 per month because it's pretty cheap and if I decide that I want to discontinue the membership before the 12 months are up, I could just cancel the credit card (report it stolen and get a replacement card with different account number issued :P. Fyi, you need to use a bank debit card with Visa/Mastercard logo for this to work. If you use a regular credit card then the charges will be authorized on the newly issued card).
Once you purchase the membership, you will see a "Launch Activity Manager" icon added to the top toolbar on the GoWear Fit website. Clicking that will launch the GoWear Fit software. From there you can start using the GoWear Fit. You first fill out a profile with the usual info, age, weight, height, goals, 3 day food profile or log your meals for the day, download the days data from the GoWear Fit and look up your calorie data, # of steps taken that day, sleep efficiency etc.
The software has been pretty easy to use so far. The food logging is good, but it can be tedious entering calorie information for food that you cook at home or if you eat at a restaurant that is not one of the big franchises. But they have all the usual restaurants Arby's, Wendy's, BK, McDonald's, Olive Garden, Red Lobster etc.
Strangely though and much to my glee they also had calorie info for Chipotle. I say "strangely" because Chipotle doesn't list nutrition info on its website. During the weekday I always have lunch at Chipotle and its always the same thing (Steak Bol + rice + black beans + mild + medium + corn salsa). I was able to build this combo and save it so I don't have to piece it together everyday when I enter in my meals.
It saves all your nutrition entries that you enter everyday when you log your meals and presents them as suggestions as you type food names, much like how google makes suggestions as you type search words in the search box on their website.
It also has a reminder feature, were you can program 2 alarms to go off anytime during the day.
When I first got it I had the armband on a bit snug because it seemed like the more in contact with your skin the better the tracking. Unfortunately, after 2 days I started getting an itchy rash where it touched my skin. I loosened the arm band and moved it over to another area on my left arm and it still read my calorie intact just fine and no more rash.
You shouldn't wear it 24 hours a day. I think they recommend taking it off for an hour for every 23 hours worn. I usually take it off 15 minutes after I workout. I dump the arm band in some warm water with a little detergent, ring it out and then throw it in the dryer for 20 minutes on low, and hook up the module to the pc so it can charge. If you don't do this then I suggest you get an extra arm band and alternate between them every 3 to 4 days, because after about 3~4 days of working out with it, it will start to stink, BAD.
Theres also a display device that you can use for immediate feedback instead of having to hookup the module to your pc to look up the different stats for the day.
You can wear it like a watch, or clip it to your shirt or whatever like an Ipod nano. The other nice feature is that you can program thresholds, so for example, you can start working out and program the device to let you know when you've burnt 500 calories.
I do not have the display device. Frankly I'm still thinking through whether I really need it. I'm not sure that knowing how many calories I have burnt today to this exact minute is worth $70, which is what the display device costs, but being able to program the module to sound an alarm when I burn x amount of calories is a nice feature. Oh well moving on (I'm sure you really care if I buy it or not :).
All in all, if you want to get serious about losing weight, you really need to get one of these counters, Bodybugg or GoWear Fit. It forces you to be accountable to yourself and (assuming you log your meals accurately and studiously) minimizes the tendency to fall into victim-hood mode when the going gets tough and you start to make excuses. It's all there in black and white. Heres what you ingested and heres what you burnt. If you're not losing weight then the reason is right there in front you.
It also makes it that much harder to kid yourself. I think most of us have done this at one time or another. You decide to have that slice of cheesecake but it's ok because you'll work out an extra 1.5 hours this evening to make up for it, and you don't. Well, at the end of the day, it's going to be right there bitch slapping you back into coherence. The next time you try to kid yourself into having something fatty with the promise of making up for it you will remember that you have to deal with that at the end of the day.
Well, if you've made it this far, thanks for reading through. I hope this review answered at least some of your questions, and I wish you well on your weight loss journey.
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454 of 460 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better than advertised!!!!, December 18, 2008
This review is from: GoWear fit Lifestyle and Calorie Management System (Health and Beauty)
This is going to be a lengthy review, so if you are looking for the Reader's Digest version, here it is: If you are in any way contemplating this purchase, stop reading and buy it.
Now, on to the review...
I have owned this device for a week. I am a 37 year old male with approximately 25 lbs to lose. I have a sedentary job and joined a gym 6 weeks ago. I have had a back injury for 7 months and am slowly geting back into the groove.
When I first received it, the unit was not charged, so I had to be patient and wait the 3 hrs it takes to fully charge it. As others have stated, it is not at all cumbersome or uncomfortable. In fact, I often forget that I am wearing it. After it was charged, I had difficulty getting my computer to recognize it. I later learned, through the assistance of Customer Service, that the problem was due to a Java update. They assisted me in getting past this, and that has been the only hiccup so far.
The device is, quite simply, amazing. For starters, anyone doubting the sleep tracker will be in for a huge surprise. It is incredibly accurate. I conciously paid attention to when I went to bed and looked up at the clock a few moments before I fell asleep. In the morning when I uploaded the numbers, it showed me the same exact times and results.
As far as nutrition tracking and calorie consumption, it would have been nice for everything to be included, but, as another reviewer stated, it is easy enough to track your nutrition using a free program like the one at sparkpeople (search for that word if you don't know what it is). Even without using an outside program, the gowear does have nutrition assessment or it can estimate your caloric intake based upon the statistics you provide when you first set up the armband.
In addition, the gowear fit Activity Manager displays your calorie balance, duration of activity (including the intensity of it), and steps. I also just discovered that it exports your data to a Microsoft Excel page that you can store on your computer and use to track your long-term success.
This device is an incredible motivator. During the first few days that I had it on, I did not go to the gym because I wanted to get a baseline of my normal activities. When I finally started to go to the gym, I was thrilled by my Calories Burned...until I recorded my food for the day and saw that I was simply breaking even. With such instant feedback, I altered my eating habits, and in the last 3 days I lost 3 lbs. I know that water is the first to go when one begins a diet, but I also saw the 2,000 calorie deficit that I had yesterday alone, and I know that after the water is gone, I will continue to lose.
I cannot recommend this product highly enough. If you are competetive and have no challengers to motivate you, let me introduce you to the GoWear Fit. When you see those numbers, you will have all the competition you need.
EDIT (January 16, 2009)---I have continued to wear the device since I posted my review, and nothing about my opinion has changed. The device works perfectly and actually becomes a part of your body. There have been several times when I had one foot in the shower and had to back out because I forgot that I was wearing it. The only drawback to this, as far as I'm concerned, is that it does get a tiny bit irritating on my arm. I tend to keep it in the same spot, and every once in a while, I have to relocate it.
For those wondering about weight loss, I have not exercised in 2 weeks under doctor's orders due to a back injury. However, when I first got the device and used it in conjunction with sparkpeople, I had a calorie deficit of 1000-1200 calories a day, and, sure enough, I dropped 3.5 pounds very quickly. I wear it, on average, 22 hrs a day or so and have not had to charge it for more than an hour at a time----I'm actually amazed at how long the batteries last. I will begin working out again next week and will edit this again with results.
EDIT (April 16, 2009)---Again, device works perfectly...no changes whatsoever. I actually didn't use it for 2 weeks back in March, and even though I never bothered to charge it during this time, it retained its charge and worked perfectly as soon as I put it on.
It seems that some of the negative reviews on here are a little unfair---for one thing, it is not the fault of the device if you have sensitive skin and get a rash. Secondly, if you dont bother to read any of these reviews or THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT COME WITH THE DEVICE, dont waste people's time by posting negatively.
There is no software that comes with the device.
There is no monitor on the device; you must purchase it separately.
If you do not purchase the monitor, you MUST subscribe to the online service in order to view your numbers and to upgrade the firmware.
I don't mean to sound so negative, but some of the comments on here are a bit ridiculous. The only negative comment that I can agree with is in regards to customer support. In my initial review I stated that I had Java issues and couldn't get online. Like others, I tried contacting the company but, initially, had problems. The issue was eventually handled within 2 days, and it has been clear sailing ever since. There is no excuse for poor customer service; however, when it is functioning properly, the Gowear Fit is perfect.
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196 of 197 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
exact same thing as the bodybugg V3, made by the same manufacturer...I have both, September 24, 2009
This review is from: GoWear fit Lifestyle and Calorie Management System (Health and Beauty)
First, I will note that the new bodybugg does monitor your sleep since someone said it doesn't.
Because I own both, I will say with confidence...these ARE the exact same. I lost my bodybugg and thought I left it in a hotel, bought this one, and it's the same as my bodybugg which, I found in the pocket of my suitcase when I travelled again!
(That said, the old bodybugg, the grey one, version 1 and 2, did not measure sleep.)
Why the name difference since it's the same thing made by the same company? 24 hour fitness bought the rights to the bodybugg. So the company has this one not under that name.
So, I can tell you all about it knowing they are both alike and having already reviewed the bodybugg
(BUT that said, be sure to check the 24 hour fitness website before you buy this because they often have the bodybugg on sale. It varies and sometimes this one is cheaper and sometimes you get a free display device on that one...changes every month as to which one is cheaper from what I've seen...)
I couldn't find an in-depth review on the bodybugg/gowearfit that answered ALL my questions before I bought mine, so I surfed the net for a week til I got them all answered. Therefore, I'll try to answer most of them I had, for you, here...things I hate. Things I love. How it works.
Am I not losing weight because I'm working out too much and not eating enough?
Is my metabolism just slower than other people's or is it so high I need to eat more to maintain energy to lose weight?
Am I working out enough to burn enough calories to lose weight?
How many calories do I REALLY need? And how much calorie deficit do I REALLY need to lose weight not as an average of other people but based on MY body and what I do each day?
If you ask yourself any of these questions then the Bodybugg/gowearfit may be a good solution.
So let's go over the pros and cons I've found of the system. I'll begin with the pros:
Pros:
comparison to the heart rate monitor: I actually have used a Polar F11 heart rate monitor for 3 years now until I upgraded to the bodybugg when it went on sale for a spell. The F11 is rated the most accurate heart rate monitor by consumer reports as far as heart rate monitors go. Problem is heart rate monitors are not used for scientific diet experiments where the bodybugg is for the reason that they don't offer the same accuracy. Only testing your heart rate can issue wrong results as far as caloric expenditure. If you are taking blood pressure medication or other medications, for example, you wont get accurate results with a HRM and your heart rate alone doesn't tell the full story of caloric burn. The bodybugg measures true caloric burn many ways rather than just by your heart rate: accelerometer, heat flux, galvanic skin response, and skin temperature. Because a calorie is a measure of heat, you get 92% accuracy with the bodybugg. (one study I read said 91%). This is the highest rate of accuracy for any caloric measurement device aside from a metabolic chamber which isn't something you can carry around or typcially afford to install in your home because a metabolic chamber is an entire room in labs measuring how much energy (measure of heat) you give off which is equal to caloric burn :-) .
Also, you cannot measure your entire daily caloric expenditure with a heart rate monitor because you have to wear a body strap that's damp the whole day. It would dry out. So you can only measure your caloric expenditure for a short time like during a work out with a heart rate monitor.
Comparison to the pedometer: The bodybugg/gowearfit includes a pedometer so you can set step goals as well if you get the digital display (read the cons section and you'll know why I think this digital display is even more important)This provides even more motivation for me personally. It's just one part of all it measures. A pedometer measures steps, not energy or how hard you are working to make those steps relating to caloric burn (running vs. walking for example) so it's one part of the equation, but a pedometer alone wouldn't offer near the accuracy.
Also, with the digital display (thats the wrist piece which you can also clip on to your waist band or pocket). Separate. Sometimes free if you catch a good sale at 24 hour fitness on the bodybugg version of this which is the same and made by the same company as gowearfit.) you get immediate feedback on how many calories you are burning without having to download anything into the computer to see where you are. For example, I just stood up at my desk to type this because I have been sedentary for too long and my calorie count that is displayed right now shows that, for my goal, I'm too low right now. I just ramped it up a little. Now I'm kicking under my chair. :-) How's that for motivation? It's like having a personal trainer at work with me, at the grocery store, every second. I now walk circles or do jumping jacks while I heat something up in front of the microwave if I look down and see my caloric burn is low for that time of day. Crazy. But Effective.
Comparison to just counting calories:
Weight loss is simple. Burn more calories than you take in. Problem is, although you can get an AVERAGE of what many people your age and height burn per day online to figure out your caloric needs, you can't actually know what YOU really burn or need calorie-wise without this device. If for example, you are more or less active on some days, your caloric intake should also change to meet your weight loss goals as well as satisfaction. As the diet channel (you can find this online) mentioned when reviewing the bodybugg (I do LOTS of research before purchasing!) "A 22 year old 250-lb. NFL linebacker with 13% body fat is going to have different caloric needs and ouputs than a 55 year old 250 lb couch surfer." Your needs and caloric burn each day are not cookie cutter. This way there is no guesswork. For example, this week I set my goal for a 500 calorie deficit each day so I can lose a pound by the end of the week. If I have eaten 1500 calories by late tonight and burned 2000 calories according to my watch display (you don't have to wear it as a watch, more on that later) and I am offered a 200 calorie ice cream bar I have a choice. Eat it and then go walk the dog until my display shows I burn that 200 calories or don't eat it or eat it then make up the average the rest of the week. Total control. If, however, it shows I've burned 2,200 already...I get a treat! No guessing.
I also use it with my Weight Watchers points but that's a whole other story. (I use it to guage my activity each day. I love Weight Watchers)
No other device measures the energy YOU truly use the entire day. (calories are a measure of energy and heat; not heart beat. Not number of steps.) The gowearfit is the same as the bodybugg version 3 and that bodybugg and this gowearfit measure your sleep patterns for a full picture.
Comfort: The bodybugg/gowearfit is worn on your left arm. It's comfortable. I don't even know it's there. I wear sleeveless shirts even to a corporate job but it's easily hidden under a short sleeve shirt if you wish. Most people know what it is from the Biggest Loser and ask me questions and love it so for me personally, it's as though it's not there or it's a cool gadget. This version is so compact you could wear a short or long sleeve shirt and really not even see a bump. If I go to an outside meeting I do throw a jacket on over a sleeveless shirt but I would anyway.
You don't even need to turn it on and off. It's that easy...it senses when it's on your skin when you put it on. Slide it on.
When it was introduced in 2005 Popular Science Magazine gave it the "Best of What's New" award as far as research that would change the world.
The good news is that the display device I got for immediate feedback can be worn as a watch OR clipped onto your clothing or even just carried in your purse. This is a bonus for me because I began wearing my heart rate monitor when I used that as my watch but it's not too attractive. Now I wear my dress watch again but still know what I'm burning when working out. It even tells me I have a message at noon if I have reached my goal of activity by that point. It works several feet away...I lay it on a counter when I'm working out at home and it still picks up everything I"m doing at the other end of the room...but the clip is very secure so I usually clip it on my pants top and I cant even feel the display.
It has shown amazing accuracy in ALL I do and I get exact weight loss from it that it says I will.
CONS:
It's not perfect. It's accuracy, according to my readings HAS been perfect though. (In fact, based on what it tells me I should lose each week because of my caloric deficit that it shows...it is WAY more accurate than my heart rate monitor or my own head as far as the calories I've burned when working out & weight loss goals being met) BUT I recommend getting the display face that you wear as a watch or clip to your clothing and opt out of having to log on constantly to the website in order to even know how you are doing which to me seems extremely inconvenient. If you have the display face it instantly tells you how many calories you have burned as you burn them, all you need to know is how much deficit you should have which it will tell you the first day you set your gowearfit up and you can even figure out your calories in a journal without going to the website. (that's what I do. I use the dietminder food journal which amazon carries)
other con: the watch face is really ugly. I don't mean the armband which is compact on the...
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