coops32's Full Review: GoWear fit Lifestyle and Calorie Management System
Device Envy...
I have watched The Biggest Loser for years and have admired the BodyBuggs that they wear on their arms to keep track of calories burned. My mother got me a gift certificate for a Garmin Fitness GPS on Amazon and I hated it, but saw that The GoWear Fit was pretty much the BodyBugg so I easily exchanged the two and got what I wanted. Although it was a little more than the Garmin at around $190, I am thrilled with the purchase!
This is a really useful and amazing tool and I highly recommend it. Not only does it keep track of your steps like a pedometer, but it also tracks your caloric burn through the day and night through a variety of very techie means. This thing can actually tell me when I am just laying in bed and when I am sleeping. It knows and it is interesting to see my sleep efficiency (or lack there of in my case).
Getting Started...
Out of the box, you will need to charge it for about three hours initially (Charge last up to 5 days and is done solely through USB). While you are doing this, though, you can go ahead and go to the GoWearFit website and register your product and download the software you will need to read the data it gathers for you. There is a subscription cost to use the software online, but I highly recommend it. The monthly price varies on length of subscription you commit to, but generally $7-13/month range.
Making it work for you...
Once charged, online and set up - which went smoothly by the way, the device is ready to go! You wear it throughout the day and periodically you pop out the middle and attach it to a USB cord to download the info gathered. It is just fascinating and I found myself downloading three and four times a day in the first few days to see how many calories and steps I was burning with each activity.
The software gives you a choice to put in actual meals for calorie tracking or you can do a three day tally and let it pick an average for you. The best way I think is actual so you can account for those unexpected pieces of pie, etc... The system also has you pick a goal - whether it is to be more active or lose weight.
If your goal is to lose weight then it asks you for a goal weight which you can change at any time. It then asks you how fast you want to get there and chooses what your daily calorie deficit should be as a result of it. 3500 calories is a pound of fat so if you want to lose 2 pounds a week then you need to have a 7000 weekly calorie deficit (more calories burned than taken in) so that computes to a 1000 daily caloric deficit.
Must Have Accessory:
The GoWear Display can sync with the armband wirelessly every 60 seconds and tell you how far you have come in the day. It is a great piece of the puzzle and I highly recommend it, but you don't have to buy it. You can wear the display on the included clip or watch assembly - I like the clip. It is expensive - between $80 and $100 , but I would buy it once you decide you love the GoWearFit. It makes the whole concept go more smoothly and is a great tool for motivating me to take more steps.
Choosing this or the BodyBugg?
I did some research, but do not have any version of the BodyBugg, so make sure and do your own research, too, but I have heard that my GoWear Fit has a couple options not offered with the newer BodyBuggs - the GoWear has the ability to differentiate between moderate and vigorous activity and separates them on the read out for you. I have also heard that you can not log meal with the BodyBugg software. That seems odd to me so check it out.
Overall...
The whole system cost me about $300 and it was highly worth it. I am buying one for my husband next. I have never been a heart rate target exerciser so this is perfect for me - it is simple and keeps much better track of my steps and more accurately than any other pedometer I have ever had, plus it has taught me about my body and how it uses fuel. I am learning, but now I have the tools to succeed.
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