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6 Things ToConsider Before Purchasing Fitness Wearable Technology

Just as you wouldn’t go out and purchase the first phone you come across, without doing some research, you shouldn’t go out and purchase the first fitness wearable tech you come across solely because you like the style of it. In this infographic, we present 6 things to consider before buying fitness wearable tech …

Price

This is the major thing to consider for most people before purchase. Determine how much you are ready to spend for a particular device. Of course, price usually goes hand-in-hand with how useful a gadget is to your specific situation

Brandand model

Many wearable devices fall under the category “fitness tracker,” but each one offers different features which you should definitely research according to your specific needs. For instance, the FitBit Charge HR is known for its heart rate monitoring, while the Jawbone UP3 has one of the best sleep-tracking feature of all current devices

Design/Wearability

Design is an important factor to consider because you will be wearing majority of these gadgets daily. Generally, the wearable device has to be comfortable

BatteryLife

It is important to determine how long a wearable device can go before it needs to be recharged. This is particularly important if you’re going on a long run or hike. Be aware that maintaining a gadget’s battery can become a task in the long-term

DataSecurity

One of the most important things to consider is how secured your personal data will be once you connect a device to a third-party website or app. Your personal information is of utmost importance so it is best to choose popular brands that are known for continuously testing their products.

CompatibilityWith Other Devices

Determine if the wearable device you plan to buy is compatible with your existing devices. Generally, the Apple Watch requires iPhone 5 or newer, while Android-based smartwatches won’t work on any iPhone

Investing into any fitness wearable technology is definitely a way to transform your health, hopefully these 6 important considerations will help you decide if a wearable device is appropriate for your situation or not, or ensure you buy the best one to fit your needs.

Garmin Vivofit 2 Review

There are many reasons why almost everyone wants to be in better shape. To lower the risk of heart disease, lower the risk of a stroke, to be firmer, fitter, to sleep better, and/or to help with depression and low energy. The list is long and the desire to get in shape may be there, but the motivation to either start or sustain a fitness routine isn’t. Activity trackers are neat little motivational bracelets that will hopefully keep you on the move and finally let you achieve your fitness goal.

Overview

The Garmin Vivofit 2 is an activity tracker similar to Fitbit and Jawbone. It is a wearable wristband that you never have to take off because it’s water resistant and the battery lasts for a year. The bands even come in different colors. While you wear it, it tracks your steps, calories, distance and time of day on its display so you are never far from your stats. It has an alert to remind you to get up and move after an hour of inactivity. In sleep mode it will monitor how well you sleep at night by tracking movement. .

One feature the Vivofit 2 has that the Fitbit doesn’t, is the ability to learn your current activity level and then assign you a daily goal you can attain. The Vivofit 2 automatically adjusts your goals as you meet your milestones. It can be paired with a heart rate monitor during cardio exercises and will record your heart rate in order to provide more accurate calorie burn information.

Connect the Vivofit 2 to your PC and it will sync giving you a dashboard display of all your fitness information, including your steps, distance, as well as sleep stats.

Specifications and Features

· Weight – 1 ounce

· 8.3x0.8x0.4 inches

· 2 lithium metal batteries

· 1 inch display

· Battery life – 8760 hours

· Move bar w/alert

· Backlit display

· Activity timer

· Auto-sync

· Water resistant

· Step tracker

· Automatically adjust fitness goal

· Monitors sleep

The monochrome band has a small screen that displays the time by default, but with a series of presses will cycle through the relevant fitness information. The pedometer is sensitive and accurately measures steps taken. This is an entry-level activity tracker so don’t expect it to have the fancy bells and whistles like its more expensive counterparts. That being said, there are some Pro’s just as there are con’s. To sum it up:

Pro’s

· Accurate step tracking

· Backlit display always on

· Interchangeable bands

· Long batter life

· Audible alerts

Con’s

· No vibration

· Doesn’t automatically sync

· Lacks detailed information in the Garmin app

· Lacks sleep alarm

· No diet tracking

· Non-touchscreen

What Others are Saying

The Garmin Vivofit 2 Activity Tracker has a 4 star rating on Amazon. It rates high in the looks department with its interchangeable bands as well as its backlit screen. Many customers have commented that being able to see the display in the dark and make adjustments if necessary is a huge help. The fact that it doesn’t need to be recharged and the battery lasts for a year is a plus, as is its ability to withstand water up to 50 meters. This means it can be worn swimming, showering, doing dishes etc.

On the flip side, customers were unhappy with the low tone of the alerts and the alerts are difficult to see on the display. The display also appears “frosted” or “hazy” which detracts from its appearance and makes it look “cheap”. Another very common complaint was the fact that the Garmin says it syncs automatically but in fact it does not. It will sync when you have reached 2000 steps within an hour. Many customers have also complained that the Vivofit 2 has minimal sleep tracking that isn’t always accurate and sometimes doesn’t work.

Conclusion

The always on backlit display along with its long battery life make this an ideal activity tracker for those who prefer things low maintenance. It is unobtrusive as it monitors your activity and sleep and once you put it on you can forget it’s there while you go about your daily routine.

While it is an alternative to other activity trackers, it lacks some key features such as a wake up alarm and heart rate monitor. Its main attraction seems to be the array of available wristbands.

It is perfect as a starter device but others in its class offer more features such as a better looking touchscreen, vibrating alerts, and notifications.

There have been numerous studies conducted regarding physical fitness for girls. The dominant result reveals that most teen age girls have turned their back from sports, and tend to neglect physical fitness.

For this reason, parents become anxious about their daughters health. When their little girls step into the period of adolescence, parents usually start their search on how to keep their daughter's interest on maintaining fitness as their son does.

The primary key to this problem is to orient the kids that it is a lifestyle choice to choose fitness. Likewise, keeping oneself fit is a lifetime endeavor.

There is no problem for boys when it comes to the consciousness on their fitness. They are usually sports oriented. It is really the girls who remain inactive on their fitness exercise as they step into adolescent.

A consultant on fitness education, Judy Notay, stated that girls, upon reaching 12 and 13, illustrate a dramatic fall in their enthusiasm towards sports and fitness. The performance of team sports for girls frequently plunges.

To keep the focus of these girls in maintaining their fitness, parents must be aware to choose a school which will be able to provide them good fitness programs. Not just the common fitness program, but the one that mirrors the girls' interests.

The logic here is simple, role modeling.

A Physical Education professor in University of Victoria, Rick Bell, said that according to his own perception, the decline of interest of girls in maintaining their fitness only reflects the occasions in schools.

According to him, the curriculum of the schools does not suit the interest of these girls, specifically, the sort of activities being offered. Especially the nature of competition, which is a normal element of the activities, does not conform to the perception of most girls when it comes to its significance.

The activities that will catch the attentions of these girls, according to professor Bell, are basically dancing.

Today, a number ofschools offer this kind of activities. Dance programs in its different classifications. Examples of this are jazz, social dance, and modern.

Other activities that capture the interests of girls are aerobics and programs on outdoor education. Truth is these programs are actually proven to be effective in catching the attention of children. In the same manner, these also make the girls active.

Notay stated that the kind of fitness program that parents should search is the one that offers a kind of activity that will be exclusive for girls. The purpose here is to meet the skill level of the girls.

Of course, the one that heads the program should possess a vast understanding of the needs of the girls. This is very applicable especially when the program will not be within school.

As a parent, don't think that this will be of so much effort. True, it will take a good deal of effort, but just keep in mind that it is all worth it.

By simply being conscious of your daughter's enthusiasm for physical fitness, you are already guiding your kid to be safe from the threats of illnesses. You are also helping her to cope up with stresses. Of course, through physical fitness, your daughter's confidence is also being developed through socializing with others.

Living a life of health and fitness may seem a huge sacrifice but the rewards are truly immeasurable. Not only will you be able to enjoy your life a little bit longer, you can also live it while looking good and looking young.

You don’t believe us? Here is a rundown of the benefits that healthy living can give. Read on and you may be tempted to leave the dark unhealthy side.

1. Active body Eating the right kinds of food and keeping your body in shape will result to having more energy and that will spill over to your work and your “play” time. You will be more active and will have more chance to shine in your line of work. People who are active also come across as more capable and more independent. They are also perceived as more approachable, confident and charming.

2. Younger looking People who live healthy are younger looking than those who smoke and drink in excess. This is because chemicals in alcoholic drinks and cigarettes dry up the skin and create a more older appearance. Chemicals in the body also reduce the nutrients that go into the body, thus depriving the body of vitamins and minerals that keep the skin and other organs healthy and functioning.

Being young looking of course gives you a whole set of benefits, from a remarkable love life to success with career and in your social life. After all, whether we admit it or not, appearance do count in a lot of ways and being young looking and attractive can take you in places. As shallow as it seems, you will have more friends and more romantic involvements. Everybody loves beautiful people.

3. Clear thinking It is not true that chemicals in alcoholic drinks and cigarettes and drugs can amp up creativity levels. These are actually just short-lived and as studies have shown, only in the mind. People who eat and live healthy are more able to think clearly. They are more able to focus on the jobs at hand and therefore are able to accomplish much with their work than other people. They are also more dependable when given instructions and their memories are often clear and good.

4. No illness People who live a healthy lifestyle are well, healthy. They are not prone to sickness that can slow down a person’s achievement levels. Thus, these people accomplish much of what they set out to do. They are not hampered by problems with their health or appointments with doctors that they have to go to. These people rarely take a leave of absence and when they do, they will often take a vacation and just relax. They don’t take a leave because they are sick.

5. Emotionally-secure Although there really is no direct relationship, people who live a life of health and fitness are happier. They are able to enjoy their life more and are not distracted by odd habits and health problems. They also have less worries and are able to cope better with stressors. This is perhaps because they do not need to rely on chemicals for coping with the hardships that they encounter. Early on, they have developed natural coping strategies that can help them get through the daily grind.