Forgive a newbie posting but I've been trying to lose weight since after my second child was born two years back and despite working hard for it on Atkins, Weightwatchers and so on the weight comes back on. I just bounce back which makes me feel like I'm getting nowhere.

My husband bought the wii fit which I used then stopped because it's just not working.

Anyway, I watched the US version of the biggest loser last night on Sky and they heavily promoted the bodybugg. I see that there's an English version called Ki Fit but didnt know if anyone here could give me feedback on how it works. All the US sites rave about it and teh testimonials on the Ki Fit site are good but obviously not independent.

I've got a scientific background despite being a humble housewife and the data of calorie expendture sounds ideal but am very eager to hear what other users have to say about it or other similar devices before I commit to buying one!

THanks

Sal

bodybugg is an excelent TOOL-- tool, because although it is not the gospel truth, it DOES give you a great idea of how active you are through out the day

I use a polar HR watch and strap and then signed up with their training stuff. Far cheaper and easiy to use! Lots of graphs, loads of help and keeps a good record of your progress.

The price of the Ki Fit just scares me!

Thanks for the responses. Good feedback on the bodybug - that's interesting.

I've looked at Polar as well as Garmin but I'm not clear how they can calculate calorie burn, there's a lot of presumptive calculations that make me really suspicious. How is it working for you Stef?

I'm going to be a real geek and email Ki Fit tonight to see if they'll send me a copy of the scientific journal that proves the accuracy.

God, why don't I just buy this thing?!! I can afford it but have been let down so much by "solutions" that dont work that I want to be really sure.

The calcs will be made in much the same way by both - your age, weight, height, gender etc worked into quite a simple calculation (I am a sports scientist and do mine by hand, how sad is that?)

The polar uses heart rate and time exercised as its base data and you can adjust it to suit really easily. The Garmin adds its GPS calculated distance (not really vital given the other data - but nice to see).

Both have FREE training centres were you can track your progress and get laods of useful info!

Ki Fit claims to measure 5 things:
galvanic skin response: sweat response and (if it really does measure GSR) the electrical 'current' across your skin. The first measures changes in your sweating and assumes it is not because you have eaten a curry but because you have moved a bit. The second assumes that your movement has made your sympthetic nervous system more active, rather than your emotions are running high (being embarrassed and jogging will give the same reading).
Skin temperature: shows that your blood is being diverted to the surface of your skin in order to be cooled - might be from exercise, a hot day, a hot bath, a curry again!
Heat Flux: Mmmmmmmm! Not really sure about that one as all it means is the change in skin temp, see above.

Now all of these are used medically to assess health and fitness, but all within a much larger exploration. So there will be scientific proof for them - it just may not be applied properly. Think about those pads they sell that give your muscles shock. They claim to be working your muscles and, as the muscle does indeed contract you can see and feel it. BUT those machines are only really keeping the nervous system working, used in people who have damaged a joint!

Motion sensor: Yes! of your arm! it can be 'cheated' in exactly the same way as a Wii and even when used 100% properly is counting your ARMS yet is being used to produce data on your STEPS!

Any of their scientific proof will consist of a lot of fuss, excerpts from studies that show the accuracy of such calculations, the success rate in those that use any gizmo properly they may even show you the drop out rate for gizmo users. They can't have any independent, real, long term, lots of people research about the Body Bugg as it has not been evaluated by anyone other than themselves - yet! I know they claim independent but that does not mean anything other than the owners didn't run it - a sister company did!!

I think there may be a properly independent study underway looking at the Wii, Body Bugg and a number of other electronic trainers! But it won't publish for a few years yet!

The Ki also gives you access to a whole host of support and charges you through the nose for it! All such support can be accessed for free across the web - that's why the other two don't charge you!

Just a few thoughts that might help you!

Having read all that again I have edited the atrocious spelling

I my self use the polar HR watch as well, i have to say that they are quite cheap as it is and they give you an amazing experience all together.