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FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions)
Does it work?
The short answer - yes.
For those of you really asking if it actually tracks the information it says it will (we’ve all had pedometers that have been total disappointments), yes. While I have no way of proving that each measurement it gives me is absolutely 100% correct, they all seem to make sense and vary appropriately with my activities. If you and a friend are both wearing one, you will get different numbers for similar activities, as the M2/slimcoach is including your personal information (height, weight, gender, lifestyle level, etc) into its calculations. As I coach various people in the club, the numbers seem to be appropriate to their activities.
Now if instead you are really asking me "does it really get you up and moving?", well, yes. It is surprising how motivating a silly little green light can be. Seeing that first circle get more and more green through the course of the day works. Looking at it at decision points throughout the day let you know whether you need to get to your workout or are doing great and can skip it, can you sit down and watch tv or do you need to get the dogs out for a walk, etc. If you do nothing else with the M2/slimcoach and its web programs except turn the first circle green everyday, it is worth it. It really keeps you honest about how much activity you are or are not getting.
And the bonus for me is that wearing the M2, I have finally broken through the weight plateau I’ve been sitting on for way too long now and have started moving downwards again - yeah!!
Is the M2 the same thing as the BodyBugg on the Biggest Loser?
UPDATE JAN 2012 - The Biggest Loser replaced the BodyBugg with the MYTRAK M2 for the 2012 season. The M2 and the Slimcoach are identical except for the name on the case. The FAQ's and other information apply regardless of which one you have. The M2/slimcoach and the BodyBugg are similar, but different. I have not personally used the BodyBugg, so I can’t give you a direct head-to-head comparison of how one works against the other, but here are some comparisons as of April 2010:
Purpose – Why should you wear it?
• The M2/slimcoach focuses you on both the number of calories you have burned and the number of heart healthy minutes of exercise you have obtained. It works equally well for those that want to lose weight and those that simply want to make sure they stay fit and maintain a healthy life style.
• The BodyBugg seems to be focused solely on calories burned.
NOTE: Both the M2/slimcoach and the BodyBugg have pedometer functions, but that is not the major reason to buy either. Like the Wii, they both use accelerometers. Both have undergone testing for accuracy.
Obvious differences - the physical appearance and how you wear it.
• The M2/slimcoach is worn on your hip, clipped to a waistband or belt. If your shirt is out and over it, no one even knows it is there. If you have your shirt tucked in, it looks like a little iPod. It does not touch your skin. You can purchase and wear an optional heart rate belt if you choose.
• The BodyBugg is worn on your arm and is highly noticeable. If you want to wear it under clothing, you need a loose sleeve. It sits directly on your skin, which some people may find irritating.
Both accumulate and store information as you wear it, then synch with a web-based program to give you a user-friendly interface to analyze your results. They differ in how you see results while wearing the devices.
• The M2/slimcoach has a built-in display that shows you your progress during the day via easy to read lights, accompanied by audio alerts as appropriate.
• For the BodyBugg, you can purchase an optional display device that is worn on your wrist like a watch.
Both provide their web-based programs on a subscription basis. I have not seen the website for the BodyBugg, but the one for the M2 is easy to use and has great graphs that really help you understand your results.
• The M2/slimcoach comes with an initial 1 year subscription.
• The BodyBugg comes with an initial 6 months subscription.
Miscellaneous Items of Interest -
• Both have rechargeable batteries.
• The M2/slimcoach shows you total calories being consumed. It backs into this number based on what is happening to your weight and how many calories you are burning. It can be a shocking number to see for the first time!
The longer I wear the MYTRAK M2, the more impressed I get with both it and MYTRAK. The M2 is relatively new and as MYTRAK gets real world input from people wearing it they respond with improvements. The M2’s firmware can be updated when it is synched, so improvements do not make your smartcoach obsolete. Watching your circle turn green during the course of the day is satisfying and being able to look and see how much more you have to do before quitting for the day keeps you on track to make it each day. My results have improved dramatically, both in amounts and in consistency. My daily routine has changed permanently. The heart healthy minutes tracked really make you more aware of the type of exercise you are getting.
Is the M2 the same thing as the Slimcoach on the Biggest Loser?
The Biggest Loser replaced the BodyBugg with the MYTRAK M2 for the 2012 season. The M2 and the Slimcoach are identical except for the name on the case. The FAQ's and other information apply regardless of which one you have.
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