med gem test

what is it? i have absolutely no clue. is it painful? are any of the tests that you have to have done prior to surgery painful? thanks.

Bobbie, Its a very simple painless test that you take that shows how many calories you burn at rest. Heres some info from their web site below. Hope it helps RESOURCE CENTER :: HEALTHY LIVING :: SPORTS HEALTH :: OUR SERVICES :: ABOUT HEALTHSOUTH :: CAREERS :: MY HEALTH + Locate a Facility + Resource Center + Healthy Living + Sports Health + Our Services + About HealthSouth + Now imagine you have a weight management goal. A fitness program. Or a client to counsel. You can count calorie intake as much as you like. But unless you know - really know - how many calories your body burns, you'll never know how to manage for success. Balancing the number of calories in - and the number of calories out - is key to achieving your goals. That's where accurate measurement and monitoring of metabolism can help. What Exactly is MedGem? Where Can I Get My Metabolism Measured? How Do I Get My Results? How Do I Need To Prepare for the Test? What Do I Do With the Results? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What Exactly is MedGem? MedGem? is a handheld device that accurately and quickly measures your resting metabolic rate (RMR) and oxygen consumption, or VO2. In just a few minutes, MedGem calculates your metabolism to determine your body's internal efficiency and helps your healthcare provider understand your nutritional therapy needs for effective weight loss and fitness management. Inadequate nutrition can prevent you from reaching your health and fitness goals. MedGem provides the information you need to achieve greater personal control of your health. It can also assess and manage conditions such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, burns and liver disease. Back to top. Where Can I Get My Metabolism Measured? Testing with the MedGem device is now available at select HealthSouth facilities nationwide. At HealthSouth, our healthcare professionals can measure your resting metabolic rate in just minutes using MedGem by HealtheTech. Knowing how many calories you burn each day is the first step toward adjusting your diet so that you burn more calories than you consume. To locate the HealthSouth facility nearest you that offers MedGem by HealtheTech, email [email protected] or call 888-476-8849. Back to top. How Do I Get My Results? The test takes between 5-10 minutes and you will receive your results immediately after the test. Before you leave our facility, the professional who administered the test will give you a written record of your results. You will also receive an online version of your results. Our staff will enroll you in healthsouth.com, and your results will be delivered to your private and secure personal account within our web site. Only you can access this information by logging in with your username and personally selected password. You will receive login instructions along with your results. By having your results available on your private healthsouth.com account, you can monitor your weight management or fitness progress as well as track various health-related measurements with the tools available to you online. In addition, you can access a wealth of related health and wellness information and use this to assist you in reaching your personal goals. Back to top. How Do I Need To Prepare for the Test? To obtain a true resting metabolic rate, it is important that your body is in a calm and relaxed state. If you have been active, stressed, or if you have recently eaten or exercised, the MedGem measured RMR will be accurate for that condition but not representative of your actual RMR. Ideally, RMR is measured 8-12 hours after eating or exercise. If this is not possible, the following conditions should be met in addition to sitting quietly and relaxing for 15 minutes prior to a MedGem test: Avoid eating or drinking beverages that contain calories or caffeine for 2-4 hours prior to a MedGem test. Avoid exercising (cardiovascular and strength training) for 4 hours prior to a MedGem test. Avoid nicotine consumption for at least 1-2 hours prior to a MedGem test. Avoid taking nutritional supplements and medication that contain ephedra, Ma Huang, or pseudoephedrine for at least two hours prior to a MedGem test. Metabolism is different among individuals and is influenced by many factors, therefore you should measure your metabolism regularly during a weight management program. Metabolism can vary from day to day and within the same day. That's why it's important to measure RMR under similar conditions at the same time of the day, in the same position, and fully relaxed. If normal conditions for you include taking nutritional supplements, caffeine, nicotine, or medications, then it is important to acknowledge this as part of your daily routine. Back to top. What Do I Do With the Results? Knowing your "burn rate" will help you monitor your diet and exercise with greater precision. HealtheTech also offers health software to track your weight management and fitness progress. Adaptable for Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), Windows PCs, and the Internet, BalanceLog? by HealtheTech provides the exact information you need to fine-tune your performance. It's personalized software that looks beyond your basic profile to determine what it will take to help you reach your personal best. BalanceLog supports many nutritional programs, including those recommended by the American Heart Association and the USDA. Or if you choose, customize your own program. Track calories, nutrients and exercises as BalanceLog calculates your nutritional breakdown, daily calorie budget and exercise targets - with instant feedback on your progress. Features Fitness management based on your RMR Database of 300 exercises and more than 3,000 foods, including brand-name foods and national restaurant chains Tracks 13 nutrients including sodium, protein, carbohydrates, cholesterol, saturated fats, fiber, and more At-a-glance food calorie and nutritional facts Add your favorite foods and create personal menus Adjustable as your metabolism changes With help from MedGem and BalanceLog, you can develop a successful weight loss and exercise plan. To learn more, contact a participating HealthSouth facility today. To locate the HealthSouth facility nearest you that offers MedGem and BalanceLog by HealtheTech, email [email protected] or call 888-476-8849. Back to top. To locate the HealthSouth facility nearest you that offers MedGem and BalanceLog by HealtheTech, email [email protected] or call 888-476-8849. Portions of this content were reprinted with permission by HealtheTech. Print Friendly Email Article Welcome to HealthSouth! Please click here to Login or Register. Registration is easy and completely free. 09/06/2005 - Change to Board of Directors HealthSouth Announces Change to Board of Directors 08/02/2005 - HealthSouth Business Update HealthSouth to Provide Business Update on September 13, 2005 07/21/2005 - UAB/HealthSouth Reach Agreement UAB/HealthSouth Reach Agreement on Sale of Southside Hospital More Press Releases ... Privacy · Contact Us · Locate a Facility · Legal · Help · ©2005 HealthSouth

I had my medgem done at OSU last year. It really is easy and worth the cost to figure your calorie needs. Good luck

What is the cost? I see that they have one at Deaconess hospital and at all the Bally Fitness Centers.

Hey there WL sister! At Bally's it's 49.99 and it includes a personal training session. At Ohio State it's $50, so I suspect they are all around the same. Sharyn

Thanks Sis! Not too bad. I just might try it. Cathy

You might also check with the Jewish Hospital in Kenwood. I had it done a couple of years ago when I was agonizing over the fact that I was no longer losing weight after WLS no matter what I did. According to the test, I could consume 1600 calories per day to maintain my weight! So - I don't know how accurate the test is. There is no way I could maintain on that - I would be gaining! Sue

Mine showed I was capable of burning 3800 calories a day at rest. I must of really been shoveling the food in to keep gaining weight when I was burning that much fuel. It gave Dr Mikami a good idea that I was going to be a fast loser and what they should set my calorie intake at. I think I paid about 50.00 for the test as well and it was worth it to see how much of a oinker I was preop. I still think my problem was my addiction to Pepsi.. Drinking 4 of those big gulps a day of regular pepsi. The dietician said those are about 1100 calories a piece. Its no wonder I had gotten myself up to 310 pounds. Now I just love my water.. LOL 310/184/140 ( thinking of revising my goal to 130) Laura

Laura, i love you but I can't look at how fast you are loosing, LOL!! I'm happy for you and I'm alright with being average. What do they say on SNL.....I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and gosh darn it I like me.......or something like that, LOL!! Sharyn 307/250/148

What you are is not average and what you have lost is not average. When in the last years did you manage to take off 57 pounds??? Weight loss isnt easy for anyone, even with the WLS its a struggle every day to make the right choices. Slow and steady is whats working for your body. You should be proud of your accomplishment and the many more to come!!! You are a beautiful sweet young lady with a heart of gold ( even though you tell me you were tired and grumpy at the conference). I could see the person you are.!! And I fell in love with that sweet person. Love and hugs, Laura