track your calories instead of guessing!

**bass** · 10-03-2013, 01:29 PM

what do you think, would something like this be more accurate than using an online calculator?

Zone C410 | LifeTrak

**t-dogg** · 10-03-2013, 01:30 PM

Myfitnesspal!

He's a great pal.

**bass** · 10-03-2013, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by t-dogg

Myfitnesspal!

He's a great pal.

but is that automatically calculated by a device or based on your input?

**GirlyGymRat** · 10-03-2013, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by bass

but is that automatically calculated by a device or based on your input?

Fitnesspal is Based on input. I don't use myfitnesspal for tracking workouts bc adds the calories back in so makes it look like I can eat 500 more calories after an hour of spinning. I rather take the deficit.

Device prolly requires input from you. Bf% 4 ex to figure out how much your body is using. I would think?!?

A piece of equipment like this would not help me achieve my goals since problem is on the intake of food.

Would love to hear your feedback if you buy!

**bass** · 10-03-2013, 03:14 PM

this is more to find out the actual calories you burn a day, not so much to track your diet. my diet is set and I know how many cals I put in, I just want to know exactly or close to what I burn and was wondering if this is accurate enough. yes I have to input my stats but that's only once and adjust as my weight changes.

**GirlyGymRat** · 10-03-2013, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by bass

this is more to find out the actual calories you burn a day, not so much to track your diet. my diet is set and I know how many cals I put in, I just want to know exactly or close to what I burn and was wondering if this is accurate enough. yes I have to input my stats but that's only once and adjust as my weight changes.

I am considering getting a heart rate strap and download app for iP. I rather not wear a watch like device and since I spend so much $$ on monthly cell phone, trying to be SMART and use what I have (and cut costs to buy my heels. LOL)

I have workout buddies that have similar devices and LOVE them. I will probably make an investment in the heart monitor strap once I start seriously training for the toughmudder. I would like to know if I am performing to peak performance! Now I just consider the equipment counters to be off by 20%.

**Docd187123** · 10-03-2013, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by bass

this is more to find out the actual calories you burn a day, not so much to track your diet. my diet is set and I know how many cals I put in, I just want to know exactly or close to what I burn and was wondering if this is accurate enough. yes I have to input my stats but that's only once and adjust as my weight changes.

BodyMedia Fit Core Review & Rating | PCMag.com

^^^something like this?

**Lunk1** · 10-04-2013, 09:22 AM

Bodybugg is fantastic. Even tracks your cals spent while sleeping. You can get it down to the nats ass with this.

**bass** · 10-04-2013, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by GirlyGymRat

I am considering getting a heart rate strap and download app for iP. I rather not wear a watch like device and since I spend so much $$ on monthly cell phone, trying to be SMART and use what I have (and cut costs to buy my heels. LOL)

I have workout buddies that have similar devices and LOVE them. I will probably make an investment in the heart monitor strap once I start seriously training for the toughmudder. I would like to know if I am performing to peak performance! Now I just consider the equipment counters to be off by 20%.

good idea to track your cals on the computer. unfortunately for me chest straps don't work unless I shave my chest

Originally Posted by Docd187123

BodyMedia Fit Core Review & Rating | PCMag.com

^^^something like this?

Thanks Doc, do you have any experience with it?

Originally Posted by Lunk1

Bodybugg is fantastic. Even tracks your cals spent while sleeping. You can get it down to the nats ass with this.

thanks i'll check it out.

**Docd187123** · 10-04-2013, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by bass

good idea to track your cals on the computer. unfortunately for me chest straps don't work unless I shave my chest

Thanks Doc, do you have any experience with it?

thanks i'll check it out.

No sir, no personal experience. I do know a few people who have used it and all but one thought it was a great device. It does become obsolete after a while if your schedule is the same and after a few months of tracking baseline expenditure many opt to resell it. I believe it also requires a monthly service to access the data from it. If you keep it it would be valuable in case some days you're more/less active and want to adjust food intake accordingly. Hope that helps Bass

**Lunk1** · 10-04-2013, 10:24 AM

Bodybugg is the same thing. They even look identical. I bought my wife one several years ago and she LOVED it. She no longer uses it after getting a solid idea of her normal day to day expenditure. I was shocked to see how close they calories burnt on the cardio equipment display was to the device. Usually within 10-15 cals +- during a 300 cal session

**Docd187123** · 10-04-2013, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by Lunk1

Bodybugg is the same thing. They even look identical. I bought my wife one several years ago and she LOVED it. She no longer uses it after getting a solid idea of her normal day to day expenditure. I was shocked to see how close they calories burnt on the cardio equipment display was to the device. Usually within 10-15 cals +- during a 300 cal session

That's only a ~5% variance, I'm impressed!

**GirlyGymRat** · 10-04-2013, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by bass

good idea to track your cals on the computer. unfortunately for me chest straps don't work unless I shave my chest

LMBO. I had no idea only work with hairless chest?!?! My bad. I don't have these same concerns.....thankfully. Hahaha.

**GirlyGymRat** · 10-04-2013, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by Lunk1

Bodybugg is the same thing. They even look identical. I bought my wife one several years ago and she LOVED it. She no longer uses it after getting a solid idea of her normal day to day expenditure. I was shocked to see how close they calories burnt on the cardio equipment display was to the device. Usually within 10-15 cals +- during a 300 cal session

Interesting on how close. I only been mentally tallying 80% which makes me stay on longer. Almost wish I don't know this now.

**Lunk1** · 10-04-2013, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by Docd187123

That's only a ~5% variance, I'm impressed!

We were shocked as we assumed that the cardio machines readout would be wayyy off.

**bass** · 10-04-2013, 10:56 AM

thanks for the feedback. yes i am sure i won't use it all the time, my goal is to see what I really burn during a normal day so I know how to tailor my diet.

**t-dogg** · 10-04-2013, 11:26 AM

I used to use myfitnesspal and a heart rate monitor. Only takes a few months and you know your body by heart. Great tools IMO.

**bass** · 10-04-2013, 12:19 PM

yes that's the idea, is to know exactly what your body is doing. of course our metabolism changes as we get older, so monitoring it once a year would be a good idea.

**btrizzyb** · 10-05-2013, 02:00 PM

So a heart rate monitor will tell you how many calories you are burning?

**bass** · 10-05-2013, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by trizzypballr

So a heart rate monitor will tell you how many calories you are burning?

its called Activity Monitor.

**btrizzyb** · 10-05-2013, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by bass

its called Activity Monitor.

My Samsung S4 has something called S Health, not sure if that would work for tracking calories or not

**cc5501** · 10-18-2013, 03:26 PM

I've been using MyFitnessPal since last March. It's nice because it remembers a lot of your foods and has just about everything I eat already in its database. I do put my exercise in and can look back over the weeks, macros, etc. It helped me find maintenance and its numbers are pretty close to reality (do have to tweak them a bit). I was going to do a heart monitor too, but this is good enough and is basically free.

**rollingthunder** · 10-22-2013, 02:30 PM

i do not believe these devices are particularly accurate for measuring calories burned during weight training...

**bass** · 10-22-2013, 04:30 PM

if they do what they claim they should work, the question is the technology reliable?

**rollingthunder** · 10-23-2013, 02:33 PM

i would be interested to know if and how this device would calculate calories burned during "resistance training". i have looked at the "fitbit" and another similar device (do not remember the name. body bugg, maybe?). they seemed to me to be nothing more than high tech pedometers.

nothing wrong with pedometers. they can be a useful tool.

either you can get a cheap-o pedometer for under $20, and do the math yourself, or you can buy one of these "high-tech" ones for $100 and pay a monthly subscription fee, and they'll do the math for you.

it does look like the one you reference, bass, incorporates heart rate, which might make a difference. i do not believe fitbit measures heart rate.

in my own evaluation, i determined that these devices would not calculate calories burned during my weight training sessions, and therefore would be of limited value to me.

**Lunk1** · 10-23-2013, 11:49 PM

Some of the devices are very useful at measuring calories expended during weight training. The Body Bugg for example, used 3 or 4 different methods of measurement at one time to calculate the rate. Movement, temp, skin moisture..cant remember all for sure. It will even tell you your calorie expenditure during sleep. Very accurate device.

**bass** · 10-24-2013, 09:07 AM

I got the MIO Alpha and my smart phone can't connect to it because it needs 4.3 Blue Tooth upgrade, so I have to wait until then. sucks!

**bartman314** · 11-27-2013, 12:57 PM

i have the new fitbit flex. overall i like it...

it is just a high tech pedometer. but it has a watch and an ability to set up a silent alarm. it's somewhat stylish and thus a good value for the $129 in my view. the app is free and i've integrated it with a fitbit digital scale for daily weight monitoring.

**bass** · 11-27-2013, 12:59 PM

nice, I still can't use my MIO due to Bluetooth versions. I may try fitbit!

**bass** · 11-27-2013, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by bartman314

i have the new fitbit flex. overall i like it...

it is just a high tech pedometer. but it has a watch and an ability to set up a silent alarm. it's somewhat stylish and thus a good value for the $129 in my view. the app is free and i've integrated it with a fitbit digital scale for daily weight monitoring.

BTW how's the battery life on Fitbit?

**bartman314** · 11-27-2013, 03:44 PM

a review i read says 7 to 10 days. i've had mine for 3 days and the battery level is still 'high.'

**bass** · 11-27-2013, 03:53 PM

cool thanks!

**Failure** · 11-28-2013, 10:38 AM

I'm using a bodybugg and it seems to be accurate. I made the mistake of inputting my body weight instead of lean body mass and was getting super high calories burned...like 5400/day. Entered LBM and now we are down to 3400 which i normal. I like it and barely feel it on me while I work. Bought it for $40 on ebay plus $7/month for sub.