It's been eight weeks that I've been wearing the BodyBugg.

The small electronic contraption was first strapped to my arm over two months ago (when the picture to the right was taken. According to the pastiness of my upper body, you can see it was early spring).

Now that short sleeves are more weather appropriate, my arms and the BodyBugg get good deal more sun. And more people are able to spot it and ask, "What is that?"

Sometimes they don't ask at all - they just say things like, "Cool iPod" or "That part of your parole?"

My coworker insists it's my invisible fence. I also like to pretend it's an arm-mounted walkie-talkie and I'll speak into it when out in public.

But in truth, it measures my caloric output. I'm not privy to the details, but it has something to do with body temperature and pore size. But calorie counting is its function (though, side note to BodyBugg engineers, a small, high-powered lazer would be incredibly handy).

The Bugg comes with membership to an online program - you plug the contraption in, download the data and the online program shows you the calories you've burned.

It's actually pretty informative.

I learned I burn nearly 80 calories on my 10-minute walk to work.

I burned over 400 in the Kettelbell class.

Running three times around Mackworth: 600

Two and a half hours in a canoe: 650

I also gained the knowledge that I burn 54 calories an hour when I'm sleeping.

Thus, I burn the same number of calories during kettlebell as I would during a sweet 8-hour mid-afternoon nap. Hmm. Kettlebell or nap. Tough one,

Through the course of this Quest program, the BodyBugg and I have gotten to know each other pretty well. That happens when you spend so much time with together.

I learned that he digs cribbage, but is prone to cheating. I've also learned not to call him out on it (he also has quite the temper and won't hesitate to plunge a cribbage peg in your forearm should you question his scoring).

He's a lightweight, too. He'll buy all the drinks, sure, but you'll end up carrying him out by the strap after he insults everyone in the joint and passes out on the bar.


With summer impending, I'm a little relieved to be nearly finished with the BodyBugg experience. I don't need a semi-permanent outline of the thing burnt into my bicep. But it's been an interesting contraption.

If you're interested in a BodyBugg yourself, check out www.bodybugg.com