Frequently Asked
Questions
the following frequently asked questions provide basic information
about the bodybugg™ system. current users should refer to the
faqs included on the member’s site for specific information on
technical information and troubleshooting. if you don’t find what
you’re looking for here, please contact Apex Fitness Group's customer
service representatives at (800) 656-2739 or by e-mail at
bodybugg@apexfitness.com.
general
device
system
interface
general
how does bodybugg™ work?
the bodybugg™ is a totally personal tracking device that records
every move you make.
it monitors 5 different data points to track calories burned with
92% accuracy. and it also tracks every step you take. the online
bodybugg™ component calculates the calories you’ve consumed so
you’ll know exactly how many calories you can eat to maintain
your fitness goal. together, the bodybugg™ device and the web
interface show you your real-time calorie deficit status any time
of the day. you’ll see your activity minute-by-minute, every step
you’ve taken and your progress toward reaching your calorie deficit
goal—your magic number for losing weight.
what does the bodybugg™ system include?
it depends on the options you choose. the foundation of the program
is the bodybugg™ system interface, the online program for calculating
exactly what your average calorie deficit is. To help you estimate
and keep track of your daily calorie deficit, the online program
offers an easy-to-use interactive food log with more than 18,000
items, as well as customizable menus, exercise calculators, view
and print exercise programs, informative articles and so much
more! and you can access the interface from any computer with
internet access. to make the system even more effective, the bodybugg™
device allows you to accurately track your calories burned all
day, every day. no more guesswork! just slide it on and the device
does all the work for you, tracking every movement, step and even
your intensity. with just a couple clicks of a button, the device
is synched with your system interface, giving you the magic number
to your weight-loss success—your calorie deficit number. knowing
this number tells you exactly where you stand and what you can
do to manage your success.
how much does the bodybugg™ cost?
the bodybugg program is currently only sold with trainer sessions
through bodybugg™ licensed facilities. for more information on
how to get the bodybugg™ or to find a bodybugg™ licensed facility,
please call our customer service department at 800.656.2739 or
email bodybugg@apexfitness.com .
where can I find the bodybugg™?
the bodybugg™ is currently only sold through bodybugg™ licensed
health clubs and other fitness facilities. please contact our
customer service department at 800.656.2739 or email bodybugg@apexfitness.com
for the licensed facility near you.
How does the bodybugg™ measure calorie expenditure?
the bodybugg™ has 5 main measurement components: 1) accelerometer,
2) heat flux, 3) galvanic skin response, 4) skin temperature,
5) near body temperature. Our technology partner, BodyMedia, has
spent the past 5 years optimizing all of these sensors, and fine-tuning
algorithms that take the data to determine actual calorie expenditure.
In studies, when comparing calorie expenditure measurements from
the armband device to calorie expenditure measurements in a metabolic
chamber (the “gold standard” of calorie expenditure measurement),
the bodybugg™ armband achieved average accuracy rates of 92%.
For more technical information on how the bodybugg™ technology
works, please see the techs and specs section.
how accurate are the measurements?
the bodybugg™ device measurements (calories burned, steps taken)
have on average shown to be 92 percent accurate (see white papers
in the techs and specs section for more information). However,
regardless of whether or not you wear the bodybugg™ device, our
web interface software will be able to give you your actual average
calorie deficit number. This number is derived from your mass
change over a week, and since the scale doesn’t lie, neither can
the deficit equation. The great benefit of the bodybugg™ device
is that by knowing your real calorie expenditure measurements,
the web interface can also give you actual number of average calories
consumed per day. Instead of having to rely logging every bite
you eat, the bodybugg™ system can actually tell you if you ate
too much and give you examples on how to cut down. finally – the
tools you need to be successful.
do I need a computer to use bodybugg™?
Yes, you will need access to a web enabled computer in order to
utilize the bodybugg™ system.
what are the technical requirements to run
the bodybugg™ program?
The computer you use to access the Internet will need to following
features:
- PC with USB Port (multiprocessor
systems not supported)
- Windows 98/ME/2000 SP3/XP
- 128MB RAM or higher
- System software
- Internet access (high-speed
preferred)
- Internet Explorer 5.0
or later
is
the program supported by mac?
no. at this time, the program can only be used on a PC with Microsoft
Windows Operating Systems and Internet Explorer 5.0 or above web
browser.
what
is calorie balance?
your calorie balance is the difference between total calories burned
and total actual calories consumed. your balance will appear as
either a deficit or surplus. if you burn more calories than you
consume, your balance will be a calorie deficit. if you consume
more calories than you burn, your balance will be a calorie surplus.
to lose weight, you need to maintain a calorie deficit. your calorie
balance will show you if you have done this.
device
can I use bodybugg™ online without the bodybugg™
device?
yes. actually, the online program is the foundation of the bodybugg™
system. based on your body mass change, the system will determine
your actual calorie deficit (or surplus) on a daily basis, based
on a one week average. to help you stay on track without the bodybugg™
device, there’s an easy to use food logging function with a food
autosearch so you can keep track of calories taken in. there’s also
an exercise calculator to determine how many calories you’ve burned
through hundreds of activities. through the bodybugg™ online interface
you can customize and print your menus as well as view and print
your exercise programs. there are also more than 25 informative
articles to help you stay on track.
can one bodybugg™ device be used by multiple
people?
no, we do not recommend multiple users on one bodybugg™ device.
each device is linked to a particular bodybugg™ online program.
having multiple users wearing the same device would negate the accuracy
and effectiveness of the overall bodybugg™ program.
do I have to wear the bodybugg™ device 24
hours a day?
you'll wear the bodybugg™ device for the first five to seven days
during wake hours as the system "learns" how your body burns calories.
after this initial period, you can take it off during low or no-activity
activities such as sleeping, and the software will be able to automatically
and accurately estimate how many calories you burn. if you want,
you could also use the data from the first five to seven days to
act as a baseline going forward. however, the more you wear your
bodybugg™, the more accurate and effective you will be at maintaining
your calorie deficit goal.
how do I wear the bodybugg™?
the bodybugg™ is designed to be worn on the back of the upper right
arm (the tricep), against the skin and under your clothes.
Make sure that your upper
right arm is clean and dry. You should not wear any lotion or
body oil that touches the bodybugg™.
Strap the bodybugg™ onto
the back of your upper right arm with the logo facing up.
Adjust the strap so that
it fits on your arm comfortably, and secure the oval pull-tab.
flex the arm a few times to make sure that the strap is neither
too tight not too loose. it should be snug, but comfortable.
be careful not to over-tighten
the bodybugg™. if you feel constricted or loss of circulation,
simply loosen the strap and re-fasten it to a more comfortable
setting.
how
does the bodybugg™ measure how many calories I burn?
the bodybugg™ has 5 physiological sensors that measure skin temperature,
motion, galvanic skin response and heat flux. together, these body
parameters are analyzed using state-of-the-art algorithms that can
accurately determine you body context, intensity and how many calories
you are actually burning.
why
is the bodybugg™ more accurate than a pedometer?
the bodybugg™ is more accurate than a pedometer for calculating
calories burned because it is "watching" your body from five different
perspectives. a pedometer only measures steps. in addition to measuring
motion and steps, the bodybugg™ is able to see how much you are
sweating, your skin temperature and the rate at which heat is being
dissipated from your body. these additional physiological parameters
give the bodybugg™ a more complete picture of what your body is
doing and its level of exertion, all of which means a much more
accurate estimation of your calories burned.
does
the bodybugg™ measure my heart rate?
not at this time.
does
the bodybugg™ come in any other colors?
not at this time.
can
I get the bodybugg™ wet?
the bodybugg™ should be protected from water and should be removed
before showering, bathing or swimming.
does
the bodybugg™ device measure track I eat?
no. your calories consumed are calculated by the bodybugg™ interface
based on your weekly body mass change. to better stay on track of
your calorie input, the program also offers an easy-to-use food
log.
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