I initially looked at the GoWearFit (GWF) as a calculator only for the workout activity I try to do every day - I use an online database to track my hikes, bike rides and etc. and its automatic caloric calculator hasn't seemed very accurate. I planned to only wear the device for a couple hours a day to track my exertion, but upon receiving and using it I've been having trouble making myself take it off! I'm pleased to report that I've had it for about ten days now and literally couldn't be happier with it.
Like others, I was skeptical when I first purchased the product. Would it be bulky and uncomfortable? Would it track activity properly? And most pressing, in my world - would it connect to and upload to my Macintosh computer without problems?
When I first got the box from Amazon, I was alarmed to notice the "system requirements" printed on top of the box talked about Windows 2000 with various RAM configurations, etc. I unwrapped it and tried to keep all the packaging in pristine condition since I figured I'd have to return it - I'm a hardcore Macphile and simply won't use anything that requires me to install Windows of any flavor. However, I noticed upon unpacking the box that it came with a standard mini-USB to USB connector, which is good news when connecting to Mac - usually the device shows up right on the desktop and isn't a pain to configure, so I crossed my fingers.
As others have mentioned you do have to sign up at GoWearFit.com to even get the device to turn on and to collect data. Using Safari, I had no problems creating an account whatsoever, and - the best part - the device powered up like a champ, connected to my COM port right away and the software installation completed without incident. (It's not Firefox-compatible, which is strange, but as I routinely use both browsers it's not a problem for me.) Others have reported trouble with the Java applet interface GWF uses, but Apple system updates seem to have furnished the correct, updated version on my machine.
So I started wearing the armband. As others here have mentioned, it's almost spooky how well the GWF will calculate your activities. One afternoon I was sitting around the house knitting and at one point I got up to get a drink of water - later the spike of activity for my walking to the sink showed up in my GWF activity monitor. Imagine my joy upon discovering that moving some boxes in the garage burned up 300 calories!
Honestly, even after so little time I'm just not sure how I lived without this wondrous gizmo. Some information I realized early on that made me feel like a kid on Christmas morning: The website I use to track my workouts and other activities was UNDERestimating the calories I was burning on the elliptical and similar by as much as 200 kcal!!! This means I'm actually doing much better than I had realized, and only a few tweaks to my calorie count and diet are already showing results.
As others have mentioned, the GWF really does make you think up ways to burn more calories each day, especially if you're trying to hit daily caloric and activity targets. Since its timeline is so specific, this is easy to do - once you've walked up a certain set of stairs, say, and learned how many calories that burns, you can mix and match that with another activity to consume however many calories you like for that day. Earlier this week I realized some yard work and light chores around the house I'd been doing sporadically could easily add up to the extra 150 calories that let me eat an evening ice-cream treat without gaining weight.
As a final note, I'll add that I, like millions of Americans, suffer from ADHD - attention deficit disorder. I have a hard time remembering what activities I've done and what things I've eaten, and I tend to overconsume caffeine and most especially sugar - which has previously contributed to an unhealthy weight gain. Wearing the GWF has been a real "eureka!" experience - getting the exact number of calories I've burned and on what day (the GWF has been estimated to about 90% accuracy) has allowed me to target caloric intake vs. activity in a way I simply wouldn't have been able to accomplish on my own. While using the GWF along with another calorie-tracking program released for the IPhone, I honestly think I have a real shot at dropping the 30 pounds that have been dogging me for the past dozen years.
I'll revise the review later on as I have more information, but at this point I think the GWF system is going to result in real life changes for me.
The one and only downside has been that the unit isn't waterproof, so you can't use it to track calorie use during swimming or (my favorite athletic pursuit) scuba diving. I'm looking into getting a Polar heart rate wristwatch to monitor those activities. Also, if I don't move the GWF onto the back of my arm before I go to sleep I can wake up lying on it, which isn't very comfortable...luckily the fix is as simple as remembering to adjust it a little before bed.
My particular unit will go for five or six days before I have to recharge it. I have a little alarm set in my copy of ICal to remind me to leave it plugged in overnight every so often.
In short, this item is WELL worth the investment. As others have said, don't test fate - buy GWF and lose that weight! Good luck!Get more detail about GoWear fit Lifestyle and Calorie Management System.
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