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. 

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One of the simplest and most effective ways to bring down  blood glucose levels, cut the risk of cardiovascular disease, and improve overall health and well-being is physical fitness and exercise. Yet, in our increasingly sedentary world, where almost every essential task can be performed online, from the driver’s seat, or with a phone call, exercising and being physically fit can be tough case to sell.

In reality, everyone should exercise, yet survey shows that only 30% of the United States adult population gets the recommended thirty minutes of daily physical activity, and 25% are not active at all.

Inactivity is thought to be one of the key reasons for the surge of type 2 diabetes in America, because inactivity and obesity promote insulin resistance and other factors that trigger other kinds of diseases.

The good news is that it is never too late to get moving, and exercise is one of the easiest ways to start controlling the onset of any kinds of diseases. For people who are already candidates for some serious diseases like diabetes and heart failure, exercise and physical fitness can improve the condition of some parts of the body like insulin sensitivity, lower the risk of heart disease, and promote weight loss.

In 2003, the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism had published an issue regarding the result of their study and found out that lack of exercise and physical fitness were the key factors behind obesity and other serious diseases like diabetes.

Hence, it is extremely important for a person to stay healthy and be physically fit in order to avoid such illnesses.

Getting Started

The first order of business with any exercise plan, especially if you are a “dyed-in-the-wool” couch potato, is to consult with your health care provider.

If you have cardiac factors, your doctor may want to perform a stress test to establish a safe level of exercise for you.

Certain complications of some diseases will also dictate what type of exercise program you can take on. Activities like weightlifting, jogging, or high-impact aerobics can possibly pose a risk for people with diabetic retinopathy due to the risk for further blood vessel damage and possible “retinal detachment.” 

Health experts also contend that patients with sever peripheral neuropathy or PN should avoid foot-intensive weight-bearing exercises such as long-distance walking, jogging, or step aerobics and opt instead for low-impact activities like swimming, biking, and rowing.

If you have conditions that make exercise and physical fitness a challenge, your provider may refer you to an exercise physiologist who can design a fitness program for your specific needs.

If you are already active in sports or work out regularly, it will still benefit you to discuss your regular routine with your doctor.

The bottom line is that physical fitness and exercise should not have to be a rigid activity and should not come off strong. Your exercise routine can be as simple as a brisk nightly neighborhood walk, walking the dog, or simply taking the stairs instead of the elevator. The important thing is that you keep on moving. Every little bit really helps a lot.

In the end, you will realize that the many things that good food can bring you are equally the same as what physical fitness can do for you.

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Did you know that the actual time of day which you exercise is important if you are looking to maximize your health benefits?Aregular exercise program helps boost heart health and maintain a healthy weight, and can even cut your odds ofcontracting type II diabetes. And by exercising in the morning as opposed to the evening or the middle of the day, you create a positive health routine that delivers multiple benefits beyond the physical.

Research has shown that those who exercise in the morning rather than at the end of the day tend to be more dedicated and consistent. When you think about it, it just makes sense. At the end of a long, hard and busy day, it is very easy to make excuses about skipping a daily workout session. Working out when you are fresh in the morning means sticking to this healthy routine.

You have fewer problems scheduling your workout sessions in the morning than at any other time of the day. Throughout a typical day, you are working busily in the home or at the office, and you may have several responsibilities involving your children. But when you schedule regular exercise in the morning, you can avoid any such scheduling conflicts.

The benefits of early morning exercise hang on throughout your day. Your body continues to burn calories for hours after exercise. That means that during the day, while you are consuming meals, your metabolism is boosted. This increases your calorie burn, and decreases your fat and weight retention.

Productivity is increased when you are alert. There is nothing like a good morning exercise program to get you going at the start of your day. And there are significant studies which show that once your endorphins get moving, your mental clarity can increase for anywhere from 4 to 10 hours after your exercise is over.

And although it sounds counterintuitive, exercising in the AM as opposed to the PM actually helps the quality of your sleep. Studies show that both women and men that exercise in the morning have healthier sleep patterns than those who exercise in the evening. This is probably because exercise is a stimulant. Exercise at night and your body has a harder time relaxing and allowing you to sleep peacefully.

When you choose to exercise regularly in the morning as opposed to some other time during your day, the benefits are plentiful and long-lasting. Better long-term results, fewer scheduling conflicts and improved productivity are just a few of the wonderful benefits you will enjoy when your early morning alarm wakes you to a regular AM workout program to start your day.

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