This week hear from Katrina, our Innovation Manager, about some great new product features for BodyMedia FIT:

Sometimes work doesn’t have to feel like work.  And, when you get a chance to work on and play with features in the new Activity Manager release, it doesn’t always feel like work.  And, as the Product Innovation Manager here at BodyMedia, I’m very excited that we can finally share some new features with BodyMedia FIT users.

Over the past month, we have launched four new features to the Activity Manager.  Some are open to all of our consumers, and others are BETA versions available to select consumers.  Why are some BETA, you may ask?  Well, that’s because we have great features, but we know that we’ll need input from you to make them better.

New enhancements and images include:

•  FIT coach personalized feedback was created thanks to all of the data and learnings from the data collected (5,000 data points per minute) from our users over the years. The system analyzes your daily calorie burn and food log data to predict whether you are falling short, right on track, or doing better than your daily calorie burn, activity, nutrition, and weight loss goals. If you are behind, it provides you with personalized feedback on how to reach your goals. Feedback will also provide praise and tips.  A little known fact, until now, is that many of the system tips were provided by the people who know the system best – BodyMedia employees.

You can read your feedback by clicking on the blue thought bubbles.  For physical activity, we built a little interactivity.  For any activity suggestion that we provide you with, you also have the option to choose from a list of other activities that you may like to do as well.  To learn more about the Feedback and view some examples, click here.

• Estimated Calorie Burn, available to all users, is utilized by the BETA Feedback feature to determine how many calories you are expected to burn by the end of the day.  The system calculates your daily expected calorie burn using your actual calories burned so far for the day and an estimate of your typical daily activities for the rest the day based on your historical data.  Your normal high intensity workouts, such as running or aerobics, are not included in the historical data estimate. Why? Because we want to motivate you to keep doing them and give you options to mix up your routine.  Scroll over the light blue bar in the calories burned row to see your estimated calorie burn number for the day.

• Heart Rate is a valuable fitness measurement and many users have expressed interest in viewing this data in the Activity Manager. The Activity Manager now adds the ability to import and display heart rate data from select devices.
• Detailed Weight Summary Bar was added by popular request.  Many users wanted a tool to quickly see where they stand within their current weight loss program and understand how much weight they’ve lost since starting with BodyMedia FIT. Learn more about the last three features here.

Know that we do listen to your ideas to enhance the BodyMedia product offerings.  And,  I hope you find value in the new features.  I did.  After a few weeks of product testing, this mom to a toddler was finally able to drop those last few pounds and fit into pants I haven’t been able to wear for a couple of  years.   I hope you find a similar reward for yourself for the holidays!

Let me know your thoughts! Post a comment.

Check out the post below from Andres Moran, co-founder of Earndit, about collaborating with BodyMedia to allow users to earn rewards for being active.

Is the simple pleasure of completing a great workout enough to keep you going back to the gym?  Well, sometimes, but earning rewards is definitely better. Earndit, a fitness rewards platform, is thrilled about the recent launch of the integration with BodyMedia and the potential it has for both communities. Earndit allows you to get free rewards from high-quality companies simply by being active. Devices, such as BodyMedia FIT, are a perfect integration with Earndit since we don’t allow users to manually enter their workout information. Points are awarded based on how active you are and then you spend your points on the rewards you want such as clothing, healthy snacks, jewelry, personal training, skincare, art, gadgets and more.  All of our rewards are generously provided by companies that share our mission to motivate you to lead a healthier life, so they want to recognize your efforts by making it possible for you to try their amazing products.

 In addition to getting free rewards, you can also compete in challenges on Earndit. There are two types of challenges that you can join.  Sponsored challenges are open to everyone, and the prizes are given by the company sponsoring the challenge.  You can also create your own private challenges among a group of friends, family or co-workers. These private challenges can even include a prize for the winner if you each want to pony up a few bucks for the prize (that always makes things more fun!).

 We’ve known for a while that BodyMedia makes a really sophisticated body monitoring device and has an avid, dedicated user base. It’s for those reasons that we were flattered when the company approached us about integrating with Earndit. Through this integration, we’re able to add value to BodyMedia by giving all of you free rewards for using the Armband, and in turn, you are adding value to Earndit by connecting with our reward partners and participating in challenges. Each of you brings a little spark to our growing community!

 Getting Technical

The integration of BodyMedia with Earndit was done by way of BodyMedia’s API (short for “Application Programming Interface”). BodyMedia provides a simple and secure API solution for developers to interact with their data. The data includes many different types of measurements from the BodyMedia FIT Armband (i.e. steps, calorie burn, activity levels, METs, sleep duration and efficiency) and information provided manually by users (weight, caloric intake, etc.). Using OAuth authentication, BodyMedia FIT users have complete control over their information by opting in to third-party services, such as Earndit, before these services can retrieve data from BodyMedia’s API.

 We have found the minute-by-minute breakdown of MET information to be particularly useful when developing a formula to accurately reward BodyMedia’s users for their activities. We give you points for every minute where your MET level is 3 or higher, and the higher the MET level the more points you get.

 Let’s Get Moving

Working with BodyMedia has been a positive experience as their team has been responsive throughout the implementation and enthusiastic in making sure we had a successful launch. As for you, we have found BodyMedia FIT users are not only a dedicated group, but have proven to be an extremely kind group, who are respectful of others and grateful for the rewards provided by our reward partners.

 Thank you! We look forward to seeing all of you earn rewards for being active and with the upcoming holidays, maybe you can spread the joy of rewards.

 www.earndit.com

This week hear from Steve, our CIO, about a recent Developer Challenge hosted by BodyMedia:

Anyone who is trying to make changes to their lifestyle knows that staying motivated and engaged increases your chances of achieving and maintaining your wellness goals.  At BodyMedia, we are looking closely at the tools we can give our users
to increase their chances of success.

As the Chief Information Officer, an area of focus for me is to enable the success of our users by looking at new ways to use the Armband’s data as well as through building new social media communities. One way we will accomplish our goals is through our API process, and working with developers to come up with new uses for our product.

Recently through Health 2.0, we hosted a Developer Challenge called “Get Moving” which was a challenge to address both overall health and fitness by creating social media engagements using our technology.

The winning team CTIS, which specializes in health information technology, created an app called FitTogether: A Social Application for BodyMedia FIT using Google+.

The new social media prototype application is a great example of using our technology to create connectivity among our users.  This allows users to participate in health challenges and seek out additional resources to help them manage their health. It also illustrates the many opportunities that can be created using our BodyMedia data.

Below, David Dimock, Sr. Health Analyst & Associate of CTIS shares his thoughts on FitToghether:

The FitToghether prototype application was developed to expand the capabilities of social media networks, promoting behavioral changes in health. Currently, supporters of social media technologies typically use interactive sites such as Facebook and Google+ to promote ideas and events, share social experiences, and participate in interactive application based games.  Expanding the social  media landscape to include health applications that engage patients in their wellness provides an avenue for long-term health maintenance.

The question now becomes what types of health applications promote long-term behavioral change?  Socializing fitness – an element that is central to our FitTogether application – supports peer encouragement and friendly accountability resulting in prolonged fitness and wellness.  The emergence of health devices, such as the BodyMedia FIT Armband, empowers people to be more health conscious by closely monitoring their health status. Through combining the popularity and influence of social media with technologies and devices to promote health engagement, we came up with FitTogether.

FitTogether is a dynamic fitness application developed for groups of people to encourage and challenge peers through shared biometric tracking.  Biometrics such as calories consumed, steps taken, and weight can be used a as an objective way to evaluate progress.  The Google+ users can selectively choose both who gets to see their respective biometrics and which challenges to participate in.

The FitTogether application will have a range of challenges suitable for every age and fitness level, allowing users to form groups around appropriate fitness levels. Awards and accolades are granted for participants completing a fitness challenge.  By altering exercises and the complexity of challenges, the users remain engaged in their health and socialize their experiences with peers, friends and family.

Using the BodyMedia data and metric dashboard provided a seamless fit for our concept.  The metrics from the BodyMedia FIT Activity Manager database are easily understood by the user and provide a comprehensive health snapshot – ultimately forming a holistic view of a person’s wellness profile.

As evidenced by FitTogether, there are emerging opportunities for social media to integrate within the healthcare space. Permeating the healthcare space is a progressive way that social media platforms can energize people to manage their health and wellness.

I believe it’s important for BodyMedia to be involved in both research and in building relationships with key opinion and thought leaders on subjects related to weight management and wellness.  I recently had the opportunity to attend the annual gathering of the Obesity Society meeting in Orlando, where I had the chance to see firsthand all of the great developments and passion in addressing America’s Obesity epidemic.

Conferences such as these provide a forum for participants, professionals and researchers who have a finger on the pulse of what’s happening – to discuss treatment tools, technology, and information.  It’s also an opportunity to form new collaborations that can advance the benefit of body monitoring devices and highlight the contributions BodyMedia is already making in this arena.

BodyMedia’s twelve years of body monitoring experience have put us in the unique position of having amassed one of the largest living databases of information about the human body.  We realize the value of this information, especially when shared with experts in related fields who share our goals of advancing the understanding and treatment of obesity and weight management.

During the conference, we presented research findings of an innovative new study conducted with Dr. Bob Kushner from The Northwestern Comprehensive Center on Obesity. I am pleased that as a lifestyle management company we were able to make a significant contribution to the dialogue on the importance that sleeps plays in weight management.

It’s no secret that a good night’s sleep can contribute, in some cases significantly, to improved overall health.  Our research focused on the role that gender and weight management play in overall sleep patterns and its impact on Body Mass Index (BMI).

The information used for the study was taken from participants wearing the BodyMedia FIT™ Armband.  It represents one of the largest epidemiological studies to illustrate a link between BMI and sleep using actual measurements taken from the body.  Following are some of the studies’ key findings:

• Although there is wide variation, there are significant differences in mean sleep time between certain BMI categories.
• Gender is an important factor in explaining the relationship between sleep and BMI.
• Overall, people with higher BMIs had less sleep, but the increase in weight and sleep is more closely related in women than men.

I was excited to be a part of some lively and thought provoking discussions at the conference in Orlando and left there believing, more strongly than ever, that we have an important role to play in addressing the obesity epidemic both at the research and patient care level.

Technology is becoming more embraced by obesity thought leaders and body monitoring is starting to gain momentum, but we have a tremendous opportunity for more collaboration and education.

Our technology is already being used and recognized by leaders and physicians in the field of obesity and weight management as an evidenced-based technology solution that can serve as an important bridge in the patient-healthcare professional relationship. Clinicians are able to monitor patients’ progress without having the patient visit the office on a regular basis.

I am committed to continue to develop and strengthen relationships among the medical community, in part by demonstrating that the data provided by our products can serve as a trusted partner to use in treating their patients, leading to more success, which is a shared goal among all of us in the field.

Note: The BodyMedia Armband has been used in over 120 clinical studies. Contact us at research@bodymedia.com  if you are interested in using the Armband for a study.

Note from Chris:  There are many aspects of the BodyMedia experience that make us unique, one being the versatility of the Armband. I must admit when I saw the success story of a rising star in the emerging sport of female cage fighting, it wasn’t a use I had thought of but it’s a great example!

Laura’s story illustrates professional strength and dedication. I’m thrilled that our Armband helped her win her competition and achieve an important personal milestone.  Laura has an amateur record of 3-1 for female mixed martial arts fighting and has been acclaimed as a rising star to watch in a sport that is just starting to see females as legitimate competitors.

Way to go on your accomplishments, Laura!

 Now here from BodyMedia user, Laura: 

  A lot weighs on my mind when preparing for a competition. Is my training regimen vigorous enough to get into shape or burn enough calories to qualify me for my weight class?  Am I eating enough of the right kind of foods? Mixed martial arts require a lot of body and mind preparation. Being in tune with your body and knowing its signs are keys to success.

 I feel like I’m on the cutting edge of an exciting sport that can really help women feel self-confident about their body’s ability.  It’s a challenging and self-empowering sport, one that gives me a lot of confidence about my physicality that also spills over into other parts of my life. But along with the highs from the sport, there are also many obstacles to overcome.

Four weeks from my competition, I find myself needing to lose 9 percent of my body weight in a month to fight in the Strawweight class – the class that will give me the best chance of winning and best matches my body type.

With a full-time day job as retail entrepreneur, I face the same challenges that a lot of people do – how to fit in my gym time and eat the right kinds of foods so my body can keep up with the demands of training.  I know it’s going to be quite a challenge, but the chance to compete in the sport I love is worth the effort.

There is one big piece of my training regime that helps keep me focused and motivated – my BodyMedia FIT Armband.  By using the Armband, I am able to count the calories I am burning from my workouts and understand my levels of vigorous activity. I log my food into the online Activity Manager or directly into the mobile app to understand my calories in and calories out, and identify eating trends to give me the optimal energy.

I use the Armband’s data to make needed adjustments to my diet and exercise.  For instance, after day one of training, I was able to see my calorie ratio was not going to be enough to reach my weight goal, so I had to make some changes.  I can also identify the activities that burn the most calories, like a crazy new exercise I tried one day (don’t try it at home) – a side plank with my free arm lifting a heavy rope and banging it to the floor to burn 7.4 calories a minute.

Using the BodyMedia FIT system, I am able to track my diet closely to ensure I know my protein, carb, and fat ratio. Ideally during my weight loss periods I consume 130-150g of protein, 75-100g of carbs and 50-60g of healthy fat a day. Keeping close track of my intake levels is essential and the Activity Manager is my best friend when it comes to helping me meet my diet goals.

Another great aspect is the accuracy. By gathering so many different data points off of the body like skin conductivity and steps taken, the Armband is able to give me numbers with precision accuracy which is imperative when it comes to weigh-in time. I am lucky to work with an amazing team of trainers, but having the valuable information has definitely been a secret training weapon.

With much fluxation and retooling, I make weight for my bout.  However there is one more glitch to overcome before the match.  The night before the Titan Fighting Championship, I learn my opponent is unable to fight.  So at 9 pm the night before, my mind begins to relax only to find hours later that an opponent was identified at the last minute, so I am back on!

I am excited about my win and with the next competition looming, the process will soon start over again, but I will be armed with my band and know I will be mentally and physically prepared, easing all of the pre-competition factors that weigh on my mind.

Did you know that over 75% of our users are women?  Did you also know that the vast majority of our users (over 80%) are using BodyMedia FIT^TM because they want to lose weight?   So what if you’re a guy– is BodyMedia right for you?  Sure it is.  We know that men have different metabolisms and needs, so we test our proprietary algorithms for the male body to help them meet their fitness goals.

And we also realize that our product is great for men who are trying to lose weight.  In fact, we’ve noticed that over the past few years men are starting to receive more attention with customized weight loss programs.

This newer focus is an important step in keeping our men fit and healthy as according to CDC data –  on average, men have higher BMIs than women. Men also tend to wait until they have developed health concerns like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, sleep apnea or other issues before they seek intervention. (I’m sure that comes as no surprise to some.)

At BodyMedia, men are a big part of what we do and our product is a great option for men looking to challenge their fitness or lose weight.   And if you don’t believe us… …during the Consumer Electronic Show this past year, we received the ultimate male seal of approval by being featured on the male-centric DIY network show, Cool Tools.

So although you may see more photos of women on our package and website, I want to assure you that we also spend a lot of time seeking input from men on everything from industrial design to package graphics. Beyond customizing our product, we have some other attributes that make BodyMedia FIT a great companion for men. Data shows that men like to incorporate physical activity into their diet programs and our unmatched accuracy for calorie burn can enable them to maximize their physical activity. Men also tend to seek out products that are FDA approved/regulated and safe.

One male success story that I am personally proud of is my husband. As an avid golfer, he spends a lot of time on the course.  So I encouraged him to wear the Armband to help him understand the fitness benefit he is getting out of golf.  Of course, this probably gives him more of an excuse to play but in addition to his game he is equally as excited to tell me about his activity level and calorie burn. We also use the Armband for a little healthy competition around the house and have used it as a great way to keep each other motivated.

So for all of you men out there, we value your feedback and want to continue to ensure our product helps you meet your fitness and weight loss goals. I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas as well as your stories. Visit our Facebook page or post a comment below!

Lose weight by watching television? Not usually, right?  In fact, at the end of a busy day, it’s hard to stay motivated to squeeze in a workout and it’s very tempting to plop down on the couch and watch America’s Got Talent.    But now, through a partnership with Panasonic®, we are offering a new app that will provide extra motivation to get you up and on the treadmill or to actually use some of that fancy exercise equipment you purchased to get a workout while watching television

Enabled by Bluetooth® wireless technology, the BodyMedia FIT™ Armband BW will collect users’ information such as calorie burn, steps taken, physical activity levels and sleep, through a wearable Armband, sending the results in real-time straight to their Panasonic  VIERA Connect™ HDTVs using the BodyMedia FIT App.*  The product can be used with up to four users at a time to allow healthy competitions with others (my husband, Dave, better watch out).

You can also create personalized workout programs based on a calorie goal, step target or amount of activity time.).  In addition to viewing your personal information while working out and watching television, it can also be useful for tracking information about our bodies playing video games or the wii.  While my kids might not necessarily appreciate the value of the information like you and I, I think it’s a great way to get them thinking about increased activity and a healthy lifestyle.

I hope you find this new technology a valuable tool for your family and maybe start some healthy competition while enjoying television shows or playing video games.  As always let me know what you think and your ideas for using this new app.

The BodyMedia FIT App for the VIERA Connect HDTVs is available free of charge in the VIERA Market.

*Bluetooth USB adapter required, as well subscription to BodyMedia FIT’s Activity Manager required.

The smartphone universe continues to explode.  Smartphone apps aren’t just a trend.  They are quickly becoming the portal for how people manage their lives. I believe I would truly be lost without my Worldmate Travel App that merges all my travel information into one easy place simply by forwarding confirmations (what does that tell you about my life!).  We are all so busy, and using different apps helps keep us on top of things with our daily activities.

New apps for managing your health and fitness continue to pop up.  BodyMedia’s unique sensor technology allows us to be on the cutting edge of this trend. At BodyMedia, we pride ourselves on the personal and accurate information that we give you as a result of our on-body technology.  Over our 12 year history, we have amassed an amazing amount of data and insights into lifestyle and behavior change – some tell us it is the largest database of its kind!

As you can imagine, the possibilities this data can create are endless. We want to continue to keep you engaged and motivated to reach your goals, while using our data in a meaningful way.  So today, we are announcing an open API for developers – basically giving “super tech savvy” third-party developers the ability to develop relevant and meaningful applications with our consumers’ data.*  For example, developers may come up with a game that uses your Armband data as the fuel you’ll need to achieve a task.  Or they might write code that allows your BodyMedia data to be inserted on a dashboard that includes metrics about your health or even an app that integrates with other apps you use. The possibilities are endless!

The end results for you will be new and additional ways to use the BodyMedia data.  I’ll let your imaginations run wild with that.  If you can think it, the BodyMedia technology may just have an application for it.  

As always, please share your thoughts.
 

*Rest assured, your individual data is ALWAYS protected.  All of our users’ data and individual information is kept private.

As a mom, I understand that being “in the know” is essential to staying one step ahead of my kids.  I love it when my kids sometimes look at me with that” how did you know I did THAT at school today” look….

Well, it is true – information can be very powerful!  It’s a statement that we also hear a lot from our satisfied customers, and one that fuels our new products ideas at BodyMedia.

But there are some hurdles that need to be overcome related to the power of the information.  Information needs to be easy to use, accessible and actionable.  Losing weight and getting fit require hard work and dedication.  But how do you stay motivated throughout the long journey of weight loss?  We think we have an answer with the new BodyMedia Sprint ID pack!

I’m very excited to tell you about the new BodyMedia ID pack, a customized bundle of widgets, applications, wallpapers, ringtones and other cool content for select Android™ devices.  The BodyMedia ID pack arms you with powerful information about your body!  The new technology makes it easy for Sprint wireless customers with BodyMedia FIT Armbands to get the best health and fitness applications and information simply by clicking the BodyMedia ID icon on their device.  With one click, a bundle of applications developed by BodyMedia and other leading third-party apps such as BigOven and Facebook will automatically load onto the 5 screens of your Android smartphone.

One really unique aspect of the BodyMedia ID bundle is the use of animal pictures and food icons.  For example, with the BodyMedia FIT Nutrition widget, you can click on the Granny Smith apple icon to quickly see where your calorie balance stands in relation to your intake goal (better than a picture of a brownie).   As you rack up your daily calories, more bites are taken out of the apple until all that’s left is the core.  And… if that isn’t motivating enough… the BodyMedia FIT Activity widget depicts your current activity level as a member of the animal kingdom.  Are you a sloth or a humming bird today?

Other applications and widgets in the BodyMedia ID pack will allow you to view your sleep quantity and quality in a whole new way using visuals of sheep; to monitor workouts you set right from your home screen; and to accumulate the latest nutrition and sleep related news from various sources on the internet.

We will continue to look for new ways optimize your health and weight loss investment, but for now why not “arm” yourself with as much useful, easy to use information as possible or at the very least to check out a friend  or family member’s animal status to give them a friendly nudge to get moving!

***The BodyMedia ID pack is free and is currently available on five Android smartphones when activated on a Sprint Everything Data plan: LG Optimus S, SanyoZio, Samsung Transform, Samsung Epic, and Galaxy Tab.  Follow this link and find out more www.bodymedia.com/sprintid

Just like your favorite pair of shoes, one of the great things about the Armband is its versatility. Unlike other standalone weight loss products or programs, BodyMedia is a great weight loss tool on its own, or as a compliment to other programs you may be using.

For instance, we are excited to announce a new partnership with the Jenny Craig® Metabolic Max program, which gives you the Armband’s power of tracking your calorie intake and burn and more knowledge and control over your weight loss. The program builds upon the existing success of Jenny Craig by combining one-one-one support, Jenny Craig cuisine and the BodyMediaFIT™ system.

Clinical Research has shown the power of self-monitoring and knowing your numbers. Wearing BodyMedia’s technology while participating in a lifestyle intervention program increases your chances of success. It makes perfect sense if you think about. I know I always feel a lot more confident when I have the knowledge/background I need to make important decisions and combine that with the support of a friend to help me through change or an event in my life and it’s a perfect formula for success.

I have spoken in the past on how weight loss is as much about motivation and willpower, (which the Armband can help you with) as it’s about ensuring you are making the right changes to your lifestyle to help enable success. Breaking bad habits, recognizing patterns of mindless eating, the impact of stress on your eating habits, ect….these are all important pieces of the weight loss puzzle that lifestyle intervention and tracking your habits can help you with.

Follow this link to find out more information about this great program: jennycraig.com/MetabolicMax

Now for the Armband actually matching your favorite pair of shoes??? Well, we do offer fashion straps.