Body Bugg-Biggest Loser?

Hi, Im just starting out and am trying to lose weight without surgery one last time before I decide to do it.  I am thinking about buying one of those body buggs you see the biggest loser contestants wearing. You wear it on your arm and it tracks the number of calories you burn in a day. I was wondering if anyone has used it and how it went for them. your comments will be greatly appreciated,

p.s. does anyone know if you have to keep the online subscription with 24 hour fitness after it runs out? will it stop working if I cancel it?

Thanks, LisaLynn

Hi Lisa,
Nice to have you! I'm just starting out, too. Glad to have someone here who is also giving it "one last try" before resorting to surgery.

On the BodyBugg thing... I've looked into that before, but it is SOOOOO expensive. There HAS to be another alternative. I decided against it at this point in my journey... and will re-look it later on down the road...

The reason for this is because your body burns up calories by JUST living every day. If you can calculate what your Basal Metabolic Rate is, (the calories your body burns up if you were to lay in bed all day), you can then calculate the calories that you need to consume in order to create a calorie deficit every day. In the beginning, when we are "heavy", our bodies need alot of calories to burn during the day -- so it's almost "easier" to create a calorie deficit in our diets when we are overweight.  Now of course, you cannot just keep cutting back calories until you reach the point of starving yourself. But, the more weight you lose, the less calories your body will burn up by "just living", so the more you will have to exersize to create more calorie burn.

In the beginning, nutrition is the main component. Then, as you get comfortable in your new food routine, gradually add an exersize routine (but in the meantime, try and walk at least 3x a week, just to get moving. If you are consuming less calories than your BMR, ANY movement will be an added bonus. Gradually increase this up to 5-7x a week while still focusing on proper nutrition habits). Once you've hit a point where you really cannot cut your calories back any farther and your weight loss is starting to stall/slow, then you should REALLY kick up the exersize.

Does that make any sense?? 

It makes perfect sense to ME!  After years of working out like crazy and dieting, my body hit a wall and said it wasn't releasing any more weight after a 129 pound weight loss.  I got to the point where I wasn't willing to put anymore effort than I was already putting into my workouts so I decided that I was just going to stay at this weight.  Damned set point! 

I'm in the process of getting my head wrapped around going into boot camp mode to get off the last thirty pounds.  Oy!

Mary

Thanks, I know it is very expensive,but i figure if it helps me lose weight and continue to keep it off it would be worth it i the log run.  If I had it, I think it would help me with the calorie defecit as I lose weight since my BMR will continue to change.  My resting BMR is 2160, i am currently 300 lbs.  My problem is that I eat way less than 2160 calories a day and i know ive read your supposed to gradually get up to calories your supposed to eat cause if you increase it all at once it can cause you to gain weight.  So should I get closer to my BMR or should I stay at the amt. I eat now until my BMR equals what I eat?  I am also trying to gradually increase my exercise. 
Thanks again, Lisa

There is a calorie calculation to use to determine how many cals you should eat a day in order to lose 2 lbs a week. It takes calories to burn fat, too... but your body will take your calories to fuel it's daily needs FIRST, and then use whatever's leftover to burn fat. If you eat too little, your body will think it's in "starvation" mode, and will shut down the calorie burning factory and just store absolutely everything you eat AS fat.

The 2160 calories is what your body needs to maintain it's current weight. More than that would result in weight gain.

Follow this link, and put in your height, weight, and goal weight... it will give you a run down of how many calories you should be striving for in different situations (i.e., 2000 cals to lose 1 lb a week without excersize, and then it goes through how much you should get if you exersize 30 or 60 mins each day.)

Calculator -- http://nutrition.about.com/library/bl_nutrition_guide.htm

Remember that the Body Bugg only calculates what your burn... it doesn't calculate what you eat. The only way to make it work for you is to know what you eat, keep track of what you eat, and recognize where your calories are coming from.

Have you checked out the HealthTracker feature here on your OH profile? You can input all your foods for the day and it will calculate your calories, as well as give you a breakdown of where your calories are coming from. You can also put in your exersize, and it will show you how much you burn and there are reports to compare burn vs. consume. Check that out first... since it's free... and see if you can get it to work for you.

Do some research on calories in vs calories out... obviously, it's not just a simple solution -- otherwise, nobody would be here! Take your time, do some research, get educated... you'll be fine :o)

Maybe consult with a dietition and go on a supervised eating plan? A dietition will be able to tell you exactly how many calories (and from what food groups) you should be taking in, and how much you should be burning in what ways. It may be worth a shot, especially in the beginning when you're getting your feet wet! I met with one the LAST time I lost weight, and her recommendations got me to lose 100 lbs. I'm trying to use the same principles again this time. (Emotional eating, and a pregnancy, is what made me gain it all back... so I'm working on my head first, knowing that if I don't fix it, I'll never be able to maintain any weight loss...)

Good Luck, and let us know if you have any questions! (And if you DO get the body bugg, let us know how it works!!)

(I just want to caution against using any products that are advertised on Biggest Loser...just be leery of them... think of it this way, those products aren't neccessarily chosen by the trainers AT ALL. They are products from companies who are investing their money into the show, in exchange for plugs and advertisements. The trainers are forced to "endorse" these products on the show by their producers...)

I hope someone replies back to you about it.  I've also wondered about it many times.  Good luck!

Hi LisaLynn, welcome to the board.  Wow, a Body Bugg would be a great high tech luxury to have indeed.  I don't know anything about them other than they are expensive, but it will be interesting to know if someone has used one and what their experience was, thanks for the question.

Here's the thing about dieting, whether you decide to have surgery or not.  You have to work on what's in your head that caused you to become overweight in the first place or you stand the chance of regaining after surgery, I know because I have four close friends who had it and they struggle with regain the same way that I do.  There's something about being a formerly obese person that makes our bodies want it's fat back so it's a constant battle to keep it off.  I wish you well on your journey.

Mary

Thank you to everyone, I appreciate your comments, to mwy : I have figured out that I am an emotioal eater.  I acctually gained most of my weight as a child and teenager, I had a rough time when I was younger and used food to deal with it.  My last 60 pounds Ive put on as an adult within the last 9 years, mostly thats due to lifestyle and not living healthy.  I am working on it.  I try to grab healthy food now instead of fatty food when I need to snack. I do think that once I loose the weight that I will be able to live a healthy lifestyle and keep it off.  Of coarse, I cant be sure but Im planning on contiuing the healthy lifestyle that I'm starting now. I really hav't had support systems before so i thik thats why it was soo hard to loose.  Im hoping that with obesity help and these forums etc. that I could maybe meet  people and have a support system.
Thanks

LisaLynn... I think you told the same story that most of us here, have to tell!! I'm pretty sure most of us are emotional eaters, too! I'm here trying to get a hold of my head... and sort through my emotional attachment and associations with food.

It's a conscious effort, and it takes work. But it's do-able!! Many of the post-op gastric bypass patients are hit HARD with this emotional eating problem after their surgery. All of a sudden their emotions are exposed once the weight is gone... some of them deal with it and are able to maintain. Others ignore it, and MANY end up transferring additions/obsessions over to alcohol, drugs, sex, or other compulsive behaviors.

Get a handle on your head... I'm sure you'll find the support of this board, and this website to be beneficial!! I wish you luck, and hope that you use the tools on this board to assist you in your journey!

Hi LisaLynn I too have really considered getting a bodybugg, but the price has always kept me from it. Not sure if I will ever give in and get one or not. I'd love to hear from someone who has used one and see just how well they believe they work.



Johnita