Part 1: BodyMedia FIT Introduction

With pregnancy comes a lot of changes to a woman's body. I've found that, although I am back to my pre-pregnancy weight, it's still more difficult to find clothes that fit right and feel confident about the way I look. I'd love to get more tone and overall, work on living an even healthier lifestyle. The problem is...crash diets and workout plans have never been something I'm very good at. Whether it be lack of time, or motivation, it never goes as planned. I need something easy and motivating, which is why I was excited when introduced to the BodyMedia FIT!
The BodyMedia FIT is an easy-to-use lifestyle management system that gives users the tools they need to life a healthier lifestyle and lose weight. When asked if I'd like to test drive this product, I have to admit, my initial thought was 'I'm not sure I'm the best one to ask, as I am not the most avid exerciser or motivated person when it comes to getting fit'. However, I decided to give it a shot, and am very happy I did! In fact, I am finding that this product is perfect for someone like me.

When the product arrived, it included the BodyMedia FIT Armband, USB Cable, Armband Strap, and BodyMedia FIT Display. At first glance, I was a little overwhelmed, as I really had no idea how to use it or get started. Thankfully though, there was a Quick Start guide with a few easy steps to get everything set up.

1. The Armband did not come charged, so first, I charged it up using the USB to plug it into my computer which couldn't have been easier to do.

2. I then visited BodyMedia.com to set up my Online Activity Manager. This is the really neat part about the BodyMedia Fit. Your body talks, and BodyMedia actually listens. The product plugs right into your computer, displaying the personal data it has collected. Setting up the Activity Manager was very simple too. By simply putting in my weight, how much weight I'd like to lose, and a little bit of information about myself to personalize it, I had a list of target goals with everything from calories consumed and calories burned to sleep duration and and steps taken right there in front of me.
3. Once charged, I then snapped it on the Armband to the Armband Strap and slid it on my upper left arm (with the sensors touching my skin). What makes this different from a simple pedometer, accelerometer or heart rate monitor is that there are four sophisticated sensors to track over 9,000 variables - from heat to sweat to steps to calories burned. I knew it was on correctly, because shortly after putting it on, the Armband made a series of beeps to let me know it was beginning to gather data.



4. I then held the Display up to the Armband and pushed the gray button in the middle of the device to sync them together. Once the display read 'in sync', I clipped it to my pants and went on with my day as usual - nothing out of the ordinary...just chasing around two little ones, making meals, doing dishes, folding laundry, etc.

Although I've forgotten to wear it a few times over the past couple of weeks, for the most part I've been wearing it whenever I can (other than in water). Throughout the day I find myself looking down at the user-friendly display to see how I'm doing. It shows things like calories burned, steps taken, and more! I can't even begin to tell you how motivating it has been to actually see my progress. It's like having a teammate right with me all throughout the day, motivating me to keep going. I had no idea how many steps and how many calories I was burning just from doing my daily routine. When I see the numbers going up and up, it only motivates me to do more. I love it!

Although the band is pretty discrete and fits snugly against the skin, I have noticed that it shows under tighter fitting shirts. Most times this is not a problem, as I'm usually in a t-shirt or sweatshirt...but for the times that I am wearing something like that, it's been more noticeable.

When it comes to syncing up the Armband to my computer to retrieve the data, it couldn't be easier to do! Using the USB Cord (just like I do when I charge it), I simply plug it into my computer and sync it up with the Activity Manager (the online component of the BodyMedia FIT System). The data is placed in a way so I can easily see how I'm doing each day and the areas I need to work on...like physical activity.

Even if you're not looking to lose weight, this device can be used by pretty much anyone. It's a great healthy lifestyle system. It's amazing how much I have been motivated to be more physically active during the day when I see the number of calories I'm doing. I can even track the calorie intake using the food log which pulls from a database of more than 30,000 items. This has really helped me see where I can cut back...it's amazing how many calories are in something as small as an Oreo for instance! I'm already finding that I'm more aware of the foods I eat and the activity I'm doing throughout the day. I can't wait to see how all the features of this product continue to help me reach my goals.

Stay tuned, as I will be sharing my thoughts and ongoing experiences using the BodyMedia FIT with you over the next couple of months.
Buy It: The BodyMedia FIT Armband retails for $189.99; display piece retails for $99.95; BodyMedia FIT Activity Manager subscriptions start at $6.95/month available at www.BodyMedia.com.

You can connect with BodyMedia on Facebook and Twitter.

**The product for this review was provided for free, however all opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way. The opinions of others may differ from my own.**