Every January, I get the blues. I think it’s the post-holiday slump, coupled with “cold” weather (Southern California doesn’t really get that cold, I’ll admit) plus a few extra pounds put on from too many holiday goodies. At the beginning of this year I was really unhappy with the way I felt about my body, so I decided to make a change. I started exercising more, tracking my calories and trying to make better choices, and as a result I lost  almost 15 pounds in about 5 months. Those last few pounds are the hardest and I still fluctuate from day-to-day, but I have definitely maintained my 10 pound weight loss and am struggling to work off those last 3-5. There are many tools to help with weight loss and maintenance, but one tool that has been helpful is the BodyMedia FIT LINK Armband.

According to the BodyMedia website, “The BodyMedia system equips consumers with information they can use to make sweeping changes to their own health and wellness beginning with weight management” and “is proven to improve weight loss by 3 times versus behavioral support alone.” It also claims to be “the most accurate device in the market for measuring calorie burn.”

The BodyMedia FIT Armband is not just a pedometer, nor is it only a weight-loss tool, but it is a Fitness Tracker. It can help you set to goals to lose weight, maintain weight, or live a more active lifestyle without tracking your weight. BodyMedia’s armbands are the same bands used by the contestants on The Biggest Loser, so you know this is good technology! The armband features multiple sensors which monitor motion, steps, Galvanic skin response (how much you sweat), skin temperature and heat flux. All those sensors make it extremely reliable when it comes to an accurate count of your calories burned for the day. BodyMedia FIT makes the CORE Armband which can transmit your stats to an optional Display device, and the Wireless LINK Armband which connects to your mobile device via Bluetooth.

I was sent the LINK Armband to review.  The Armband is adjustable and straps to your arm with a velcro closure. It mostly stayed put, but would occasionally slide off during heavy physical activity or if it had gotten moved around somehow (my daughter was usually the cause of this). It’s small for a fitness tracker, but sometimes felt large and out-of-place on my arm, especially when I was dressed up at church or out with friends. But overall, it’s not bad.

The cool thing about the LINK is that you can download the free BodyMedia App on your smartphone and check your stats on the Activity Manager throughout the day. Definitely a cool feature, but because my phone is old and not very smart, I mostly relied on checking my stats at the end of the day, when the sensor was hooked up to the computer and was charging. I loved seeing how many calories I’d burned each day, even just from walking around. It was fascinating to see how many calories I burned on a Sunday, when all I did was walk around for a few hours, versus a Monday when I would run in the morning then go grocery shopping in the afternoon then play as a family that night. I kept it on at night so I could track my sleep, and it was really interesting to see how long it took me to fall asleep, or the times I would wake up in the middle of the night, though I had no record of being awake!  Both the CORE and LINK Armbands connect to various third-party apps for easier recording of workouts, goals and activities. Here’s what the Activity Manager page looks like:

Overall, I liked the LINK Armband. It was helpful to see how hard I was working and to compare my days so I could work harder the next day. I had set a goal to lose 5 pounds in a month, and though I didn’t hit my goal, I do feel healthier and more in tune with my body. There are a ton of other cool features that I didn’t even get to use and don’t have time to mention, but it is safe to say that this Armband will help you to reach your fitness goals, whatever they may be. In order to access the online Activity Manager, you have to have a subscription, which is $6.95/month. However, a 3-month subscription is included with any purchase. The BodyMedia FIT Core Armband runs $119 and the LINK is $149, but if you buy right now, you can get 25% off! The BodyMedia FIT Armbands can be purchased online and at select retailers near you such as Target, Best Buy and Walgreens.  One lucky winner will receive a BodyMedia FIT LINK Armband for free!

Enter to win a BodyMedia LINK Armband!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

** This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only.

** The winner of this giveaway will be drawn no later than the morning of September 23rd, 2013, and will be emailed within 24 hours.  If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

** This posting and giveaway were sponsored by BodyMedia, but all opinions are strictly my own.