My little bug is here!!

Today is an exciting day.  Today I got my little bodybugg from Amazon.  I call it a bodybugg but it’s really the GoWear Fit Armband.  I think the term BodyBugg is actually a trademark to the Biggest Loser thing which is where I first found out about this nifty little device.  If you happen to be a fan of the show than you have probably seen those little arm band things the contestants are always wearing.  That’s the BodyBugg.  It’s kind of like a pedometer on crack.  Not only does it track your steps taken but it also monitors the calories burned while exercising.  From the online website, you can enter your meals for the day and it will give you a pretty little picture of how you’re doing overall.  It is a much more accurate way of tracking your progress when you want to lose weight or improve your fitness level.   Even though the Biggest Loser sells their version of this device, it was about $275.00 on Amazon.   Keep in mind that it did come with a full year subscription to their online website that you have to have in order to use this gadget.  That was a little steep for me so I did some research to see if I could find the same device only a bit more in my price range.   There are really only 2 that you can choose from.  There’s the Biggest Loser BodyBugg one from 24 Hour Fitness and then there’s the GoWear Fit from Body Media.  When I’m making a large purchase there’s always a few things I use to make my decision.  One is customer reviews.  I know, some of them are fake post by the manufactures which is why I tend not to put too much into the reviews that gush about how the product just simply changed their life.  I also compare to see which one gives me more for my money.  Sometimes a cheaper price means a cheaper product and that’s never good.  Remember, I made all these comparisons through Amazon which is where I buy pretty much everything.  And since this is just a comparison of how I made the decision on which one to buy and not the actual products themselves, it’s not exactly a professional review.     So here’s the breakdown: 

	BodyBugg Band	GoWear Fit Band	Winner
Price (before taxes)	$275.99 + $19.99 S&H for an overall cost of $295.98	$179.95 w/ Free Shipping I also purchased a 1 year subscription to the website and an extra arm band so I can switch them out between washings.   This brought the grand total to: $255.50	GoWear Fit Band:  Free shipping is always a plus and I also liked that it didn’t come in this huge colorful box which we all know is just for show.   The fact that I was able to purchase an extra arm band and still pay less than the BodyBugg is really what put it over the top.
Subscription Fee (required)	12-months free Renewal fees are:  $6.95-month to month $49.95- 6 months $79.95-12 months	3-months free Renewal fees are: $12.95-month to month $59.70- 6 months $83.40- 12 months	BodyBugg Band:  This was surprising.  I thought you’d have to pay more because of the Biggest Loser logo but apparently not.  What is also a little weird is that from what I can tell, both devices use the same company for their tracking website, BodyMedia.  Why the prices are different, I have no idea.
Customizing factors	According to the product description and reviews for the BodyBugg, it tracks calories burned throughout the day and compares them to the meals that you enter online.  You can customize your program based on your age, weight, height and personal goal.	I just finished setting up my account. Both programs have the same general set up, tracks calories burned and calories consumed.   It also has the same basic customizing features like age, weight, height and personal goals.  Some things it has that the BodyBugg doesn’t are that it keeps track of not only your weight but your waist size.  You can also track your sleep patterns and how many calories you burn through the night.  I thought that was pretty nifty.	GoWear Fit Band:  All the reviews that I read said that the GoWear Fit Band takes the lead in this area simply because it can be worn while sleeping and it can tell when you are just lying in bed or actually asleep.  I also like that I can keep track of my waist measurement and not just my weight.  Apparently the size of your waist is directly connected to your overall health.
Nifty little throw-ins	Free mobile application to keep track of your progress on the go as well as 1 free phone session with a fitness expert to help you find the best plan for you.	Free mobile application	Tie:  Having an application for my iPhone is a must for me, yes, I am an application junkie.  I really could care less about the free phone call.  I know what they are going to say.  Eat less, exercise more.  Since they both have mobile apps and I don’t care about the free call, it was a tie.
Overall customer satisfaction	On Amazon, the BodyBugg got an average of 3 out of 5 stars.  Most of the complaints were about battery life issues and poor customer service.	Again, on Amazon, the GoWear Fit only did a tiny bit better with 3.5 stars out of 5.  While it has a 90% accuracy (which is very good) it can be a little difficult to customize your program just right to get that 90%.	Another tie:  The overall reviews seem to say pretty much the same thing.  There are things people like and don’t like about the product.  Overall I think it comes down to which company you want to spend your money with.

So, not counting the nifty little features and customer satisfaction tie, the GoFit Wear Armband won 2:1.  Keep in mind; if you are thinking about getting one of these things, you have to be willing to commit to it especially if you want to get your money’s worth.  In the end, it was all about the price for me.   Now that my little bug is here, I am so excited to start using it.  Right now it’s charging but I have my profile all set up and ready to go for first thing in the morning.  I will continue to keep you posted and let you know if after all this, it was even worth it.