As a personal trainer, I was ecstatic when the bodybugg calorie counting device first came on the scene. It’s been almost a decade now and large companies are now investing their money in creating their own. I have seen these devices work first hand. Heck, I’m even wearing mine as I write this article!
Are Calorie Counting Devices Worth Your Money?
YES, yes, and yes! They may not match your attire, but they will make you thin if you use them along with a calorie tracking system! When they first came on the market I was worried that they would put many personal trainers out of business. Lucky for me, people need others to keep them motivated!
Don’t be fooled, these devices aren’t just for losing weight. They have also helped many of my clients gain muscle. For those of you who have extremely high metabolisms, this device will help you gauge how many calories you are burning. Once you know that number, you can tailor your calorie intake to gain muscle. Next, workout like the hulk and you’ll be on your way to a ripped physique!
A Look At The Biggest Calorie Counting Devices On The Market
BodyBugg
Check out the bodybugg® systemOne the most recognized brands in Health and Fitness Tracking, the bodybugg calorie management system is a proven solution in weight loss management. The bodybugg system works by keeping an accurate daily record of calories consumed vs. burned making it easier to stay informed, make decisions and more effectively manage your weight.
What does it do?The bodybugg system includes sleek wearable devices that are complemented by a user-friendly web based program. Plus, with the bodybuggSP™ system, you can get real-time access to your daily activity through your smartphone* (Android™ and iPhone).
Additional benefits & features• Uses specialized sensors to track calories burned
• Manages calories consumed via a web based program (FREE for 6 months with initial purchase)
• Tracks your steps with a built-in pedometer
• PC and Mac compatible
• Runs on a rechargeable battery
The Bodybugg Sells for $139.00, without the digital display (watch). However, I suggest buying the bundle package. ($188.00) The watch is what makes this piece of equipment so great! It comes with a 6 month online member ship. After that is finished, it’s roughly $12.00 per month (if you pay monthly).
Jillian Michaels Body 360 Weight Loss Navigator
Look Familiar??? That’s because this is the same company that produces the Bodybugg! Body media is reaching all the fitness platforms to sell their product.
The BodyMedia FIT Armband automatically tracks the calories burned during your daily activities and monitors the quality of your sleep, an important factor in weight loss. The information tracked can easily be managed with the *online Activity Manager. Add in the easy-to-use food log and you have the information you need to improve your weight loss.
My 360° Weight Loss Navigator program is the ULTIMATE weight-loss system. The program is a total wellness solution designed to get you in the best shape of your life! My tough-as-nails approach combined with BodyMedia FIT technology will give you everything you need to lose weight and keep it off.
Armband requires active subscription–$6/ week billed quarterly. Purchase includes 30 days FREE.
Price: $ 179.99
* Keep in mind that the bodybugg comes with 6 months free online. It also comes with a watch for $8.00 more then the price of the 360. Love you Jillian but if we are looking to make the most out of our money then we’ll opt for the other version.
Get The Biggest Loser® SLIMCOACH™ — the same system used by the trainers and contestants on NBC’s hit show The Biggest Loser®. Like the contestants, your daily goal is to turn the Health Circle red to green. With a simple touch, it shows where you are and where you need to be. The SLIMCOACH™ helps to put you on the right track and keep you there to reach your goals.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- The Biggest Loser® SLIMCOACH™
- 1 year subscription
- Owner’s manual
PRODUCT FEATURES
- Senses, tracks, and analyzes your movements in real time
To help you reach your fitness goals. Monitors your caloric balance to help you make good decisions. - Personal online dashboard
Helps track your progress. - Provides real-time feedback
With the push of a button — like having a Biggest Loser® trainer at your side all day long. - 1-year membership to the MYTRAK® online system
Includes the MYTRAK online health community, interactive graphs displaying your progress, a dynamic lifestyle rating system and daily status of steps taken and distance traveled. - Also includes daily calories burned vs. daily target summaries, monthly energy expenditure, predicted health benefit and heart activity summaries, an interactive goal summary and prediction page and access to a nutrition planning and monitoring system
- Syncs with coded Polar WearLink heart rate monitor
To monitor activities such as yoga, swimming, cycling and more (heart rate monitor not included). Your favorite activities are used to calculate the time required to go green. - Clips to your side or pocket
For easy access. - USB cable
Allows a simple connection to your PC or Mac (source).
The Slim Coach Costs 129.99. It also comes with a full year of the online tracking system.
So what makes the slim coach different from the other products? Unlike the bodybugg and Jillian Michaels 360 (body media), it can track your heart rate (with a HR strap), it speaks to you, you don’t need to wear it on your arm. There is no need for a watch, you can get all your info from this compact “iphone looking” device.
- Whole Body Energy Analysis
- Movement Intensity Analysis
- Movement Type Analysis
- Movement Duration Analysis
- Heart Activity vs.
Body Motion Analysis
Listed above are the things that the Slim Coach takes into account to track your calories burned. In comparison to the bodybugg, I didn’t see anything that tracks the heat of your body. That was how the bugg was so accurate. I have my doubts about this device only because I am not clear on how it comes up with it’s numbers. Is it enough to use hear rate, and an activity sensors?
Nike Plus Fuel Band
This stylish bracelet may have the market cornered based souly on design.
How Nike Fuel Band Works
*Tracks Calories Burned
*Tracks Steps
*Has an app to view progress and calories
*Tracking device online for calorie intake
Using this band you will be able to set your daily goal and it keeps track. Once you reach that goal the calorie bar turns green. This band connects with your computer via USB port or Syncs over WIFI. If you use the App which seems to be for iOS you get more details and they say it’s good motivator.
It costs 149$ and Pre-orders available in limited sizes and quantities from 1/19 to 2/19. Arrives in-home on launch day, Feb 22 (source).
All in all after researching all of these devices, I’m still sticking with my Bodybugg. It may not be the most stylish but it appears to be the most accurate. If I purchase these other devices later, I will be sure to write a personalized review on my findings! If you know others that are interested in calorie tracking devices, be sure to share this fitness tip / article with them!
Adria Ali
Many people at the gym depend heavily on their cardio machines to tell them when they have burned enough calories to hit the locker rooms. I’d say about 40% of the people that use the wide variety of cardio machines depend on calories, not time, to give them permission to hop off.
Of course, as trainers we have already been telling our clients that the machines aren’t the most accurate. Instead, we would suggest using a bodybugg to measure their REAL calorie expenditure. Once they did, they understood the importance of having one!
Another important point is … the longer you do a particular type of cardio, the less amount of calories you burn! It’s human nature to adapt, improve and conserve energy. Therefore your body will find the best way to do an activity without burning up it’s precious fuel. That’s why you must consistently change the intensity, the type, or the time of your cardio to continually lose.
The Experiment
GMA technology contributor Becky Worley used the VO2 test on a treadmill, stationary bike, stair climber, elliptical machine and fitness watches. She used each for five minutes and, in each case, according to the VO2 test, the number of calories burned was overestimated.
On average, the machines overestimated by 19 percent and the watches overestimated by 28 percent.
Here’s the breakdown:
Treadmill: Overestimated calories burnt by 13 percent.
Stationary Bike: Overestimated calories burnt by 7 percent.
Stair Climber: Overestimated calories burnt by 12 percent.
Elliptical: overestimated calories burnt by 42 percent.
Are you shocked??? Human error can also really mess up the machines analysis. Your age, height and weight must be as accurate as possible to get a true reading. So if you are exercising next to some hot guy / girl and you deduct 20 pounds off of your weight (scared that they will see your real numbers), you’ll be staying on that elliptical a bit longer 
What Do The Manufacturers Have To Say?
According to the makers, calorie counting software doesn’t adjust to machine wear and tear. Also, machine resistance can change overtime, which skews the calculation. And none of the machines can calculate a user’s metabolism rate, health history and fitness level, all of which affect calorie counters.
The Answer : My personal favorite is a calorie counting device called the bodybugg. I use this with the digital display to see how many calories I’m really burning.
If you don’t have the money to buy extra equipment, the machine manufacturers recommend entering a slightly lower weight. This will compensate for some of the overestimation.
If you know a hard core gym bunny, then don’t forget to forward this on! This fitness tip should not be missed!!!
Adria Ali
BS, PES, CES, CPT
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