GoBe U: What are the Calories Received When You Don't Eat?

You might notice your GoBe device showing calorie intake even when you haven't consumed any food, particularly overnight. This is a common observation, and it's a sign that your GoBe is picking up on your body's internal energy processes.

Your Body's Internal Energy Sources

When you're not eating, your body doesn't just stop using energy. Instead, it taps into its stored reserves to fuel essential functions like breathing, maintaining body temperature, and cellular activity. These reserves primarily include:

• Stored Fat: Your body's primary long-term energy storage. When you're fasting or between meals, fat can be broken down into free fatty acids to provide energy.
• Stored Glucose (Glycogen): A more readily available form of energy stored in your liver and muscles. This is often used first but can deplete relatively quickly.
• Ketone Bodies: If you're fasting for an extended period, engaging in significant physical activity during long breaks from eating, or following a ketogenic diet, your body starts producing ketone bodies from fat. These can be used as an alternative fuel source, especially for your brain.

How GoBe Detects This Energy

GoBe's algorithms are incredibly sensitive. They're designed to record not only the physiological processes related to the digestion of food but also the bodily processes that occur during fasting and physical activity.

For example, when your body releases stored fat during sleep to provide energy, the fluctuations in the level of free fatty acids in your blood are what your GoBe displays as nighttime "peaks" in your energy intake. Similarly, the release of ketone bodies into the bloodstream under various circumstances (like fasting, intense activity, or specific diets) is also something GoBe can detect.

Continuous Improvement in GoBe's Algorithms

When we developed GoBe's algorithms, our goal was to isolate the energy processes specifically associated with food intake. However, we understand that our sensitive technology can also pick up on these other internal energy releases.

We're constantly working on refining our algorithms. Currently, we're preparing updates to more accurately identify and distinguish these "nighttime" and "fasted" energy peaks from the background of your body's other physiological processes. This will help provide an even clearer picture of your energy balance.

If you have more questions about your GoBe readings or how your body uses energy, feel free to ask!