Than Your Fitness Watch Should Be ON Your Wrist, NOT Left In A Drawer!

I know, most everyone from time to time has tried to get on the fitness treadmill. But there always seems to be something that takes you off that healthy track and into the “Jungle of Guilt” where you’ve labored for a while, even though your intentions were good, you slipped over to the “Dark Side” of eating those “Fatty Foods” again and seeing yourself entering the movie theater instead of going inside your gym.

Some of us have used incentives to motivate ourselves into getting healthy by purchasing the latest and greatest fitness watch, aka… Activity Monitor. Sure, you made sure it has all the bells and whistles, even has a heart rate monitor too, cause you’re gonna make sure you're working out to your fullest.

But you soon find out that even the best fitness monitors are like gym memberships. In the beginning, their shiny, new and you like showing it off as you work out, especially when you're amongst your fellow “Grunters and Sweaters” at the gym. Then, three months later you find that the novelty wears off and you realize that you haven't developed the body of a chiseled athlete and bit by bit you're visits to the gym are getting less frequent.

Well, you’re not alone, there are stats out there that show that most people, who make the purchase of an activity monitor whether it be a Gamin, or a Fitbit,  or some other popular fitness device, actually stop using them within the first 6 months!

So, how do you fix it so that you’re not one of the fitness wannabe’s out there that has their fitness watch laying alongside their old Timex? The answer is really simple. It’s all about what you want and your commitment to getting there. You need to approach your new fitness tracker, no matter the brand, (Naturally we like the two Brands we’ve spotlighted named above) with the right mindset!

Remember, just because you've strapped a tracker onto your wrist, doesn't mean you're going to get fit. What you've got here is a tool, and if used correctly, it can be a great, even life changing tool to aid you in staying motivated.

But if you asked us for our own personal favorite, we think the Garmin Forerunner 920XT Multisport GPS Watch  fits our purpose, quite nicely. It’s a multi-function activity tracker, so whether you run, bike, walk, jog or even swim laps or take a dive out in the ocean. This activity tracker does just what it says it will do. Track your Activity, period! It also monitors your running dynamics, which includes tracking your cadence, vertical oscillation and ground contact time. Yep, we are talking an advance tool but also one that can easily be worn during your workday, or social outing because it looks great on your wrist!

But this activity watch, like any other tracking device, Is NOT a replacement for your own desire to succeed. You may have been thinking about getting in shape for months or even years but you simply did nothing about it. You may have even made multiple attempts before this to get in shape, even purchasing other exercise devices to help get you there. Just like the rowing machine, set of free weights or that yoga mat you bought, but the reality is, if you don't interact with it and use it, it won't help! If you accept from the outset that the hard work and a lifestyle change is still down to you, you'll have more success.

Most fitness trackers come with preset step goals. Your current lifestyle might mean you can hit these targets with ease. But we all know doing what you've always done isn't going to bring about the change you're looking for. Use the tracker for a week and see how you compare and then change the targets to be more demanding.

At the same time make a list of the times during your day when you realistically have the opportunity to add in more steps. This will help you understand where you might need to make bigger changes for greater impact.

Challenge yourself or Ramp up your daily activities. Once you've made your list, it's time to work out how to change your behavior. One big problem with fitness trackers is that they'll sit there recording what you do all day but won't actually have any effect on your daily habits. One way to change that is to create micro targets during the day. Walk more steps on the way to work or at lunch.
Challenge yourself to walk at least 100 steps per hour. These small targets and goals help you focus during the day rather than just drifting to the an-end-of-day total.
In order to boost fitness and stay healthy, it's important to avoid being sedentary for long periods of time. Worse than that, sitting for long periods of time can actually increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer. So if you’re like a lot of us, you spend your days sitting at a desk only getting up for lunch and the occasional coffee or heaven forbid a soda, diet or regular,  please note, both are NOT good for you, so, this is one habit to change.

Moving for five minutes every hour has been proven to aid overall wellbeing and fend off some of the bad habits mentioned above. Many of the latest fitness trackers including those from Garmin and Fitbit come with handy reminders. Make sure these are set to on and don't ignore them. Use your hourly strolls away from your desk as an excuse to go get a drink of water for a healthy double dose of good.

The bottom line on all of this is, the activity monitor of your choice, (we’ve picked our favorite lines above) are meant to make you aware of your progress, or lack thereof, in order for you to improve your health. But you need to accept the fact that you are responsible for YOU.

At HeartRateMonitorsUSA.com, we are here for you to help you achieve a life goal of being healthy. Feel free to send us an email, to let us know we are helping you in changing up your lifestyle habits. We hope WE ARE!

Your friends in attaining good health. The staff here at HeartRateMonitorsUSA.com.

We walk. That’s a statement and a fact. But over the past decade we have been told that because of today’s society, the average American is NOT walking enough. This statement is undoubtedly true when you consider that in America over 36.5% of us are now obese!

With these climbing stats, it’s no wonder that more and more Americans are now suffering from the medical ailments that have been associated with being overweight! Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, some of the leading causes of preventable death.

The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. was $147 billion in 2008 U.S. dollars; the medical costs for people who are obese were $1,429 higher than those of normal weight.

It’s because of these growing figures that the CDC has prompted warnings that it's important that Americans adopt a new health conscious mindset to become healthier, and the sooner the better. The CDC, Mayo Clinic and other prestigious medical institutions state that walking is one of the easiest ways for us to back our bathroom scales down a few notches.

Walking an extra 40 minutes every day can reduce the number of days in the hospital for people, and lower the risk of cancer. And continually increasing our daily steps can decrease the amount of days we may be spending in the hospital for related diseases. People who increased their steps from 4,500 to 8,800 steps per day spent an average of one less day in the hospital every three years, researchers from the Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Newcastle found. They adopted a mantra that states "Any exercise is better than no exercise, and more exercise is better."

That being said, when you finally realize that if you want to live a longer and more importantly, an active and mobile lifestyle when you get older you need to start now!

The first thing you need to do before you do any walking, strenuous or vigorous is get yourself checked out by your physician. Make sure you’re in good enough shape to begin and ask for advice on based on your examination, just how hard you should tackle your new lifestyle trend of getting in better health.

Once everything checks out and you get a clean bill of health from your physician, go and get yourself a “Good” pair of walking shoes. Ones that offer not only comfort but support for your arches and footpad. Get to a reputable shoe store, one that specializes in walking and running. Their staffs are usually well trained on how to fit you with the proper shoe based on the activity you’re going to be undertaking.

Next, get yourself a good, reliable pedometer or activity monitor. One that fits that bill is the Pedusa PE-771 Multi-Function Pedometer    It counts your steps, the distance you travel, your stride and the calories you’re burning during your walking session. It also has a 7-day memory so that you can track just how well you are doing each week and then record that data so you can compare each week against yourself and the goal you set for yourself! Then after a month, up the ante on the goal and increase it to another mile. Or go by the amount of time you set aside for your walk each day, and increase that. Or you can go one better, and step right up to an Activity Monitor like the Garmin Vivosmart Wireless Heart Rate Activity Monitor  that’s geared for the person who takes their fitness commitment seriously. Even though you’re just walking for now, later, when you get in better shape you have the tool already on hand, or should I say wrist, to monitor your heart rate along with your steps. The Garmin Vivosmart is built to track your workouts, monitor your performance stats, and gauge your progress. This watch has Garmin Elevate, which is Garmin’s own best in class wrist-based heart rate technology. The Vívosmart HR has a 3-dimensional accelerometer which is used to count steps (compared to a pedometer which uses a 1-dimensional accelerometer). It uses the user’s height from their profile to calculate their stride length. Because of the 3 dimensional accelerometer, the Vívosmart HR knows when the user is moving faster (running), so increases the stride length to better calculate the distance being covered. And you never have to worry about comparing just how well your doing since the Vivosmart HR Activity Monitor’s data can be uploaded to Garmin Connect, where you can track you're steps, distance and compare just how well you are doing against some of your friends!

So what are you waiting for? If your already doing your best and committed to walking that 10,000 steps and beyond, GOOD FOR YOU! But we’re sure you know some family members or friends that you can share this blog post with who could use some incentives to get their life on track to living a healthier, longer and active lifestyle.

Now you know about some of the cost savings that go along with being healthy. And you can keep your hard earned cash in your wallet! Instead of staying put on the coach and possibly succumbing to a variety of health ailments that could have been prevented by just increasing your physical activity!

Any questions, we are always here at HeartRateMonitorsUSA.com, just for YOU!

The summer Olympics of 2016 from Rio may be just over but if you’re looking to get your own fitness level up to that of an Olympian, you may want to check out the new Fitbit Charge 2. It’s the latest and greatest Fitbit developed to maximize your workout sessions while getting up to the moment heart readings as you push yourself to your limits, all without the restricting feeling of wearing a chest strap.

Whether you are a fitness enthusiast or a professional athlete, this innovative wearable technology acts as the “Ghost You” you have meant to compete with to maximize your performance and optimize you're fitness. Fitbit Charge 2 is specially tailored with some cutting-edge features like the PurePulse® heart rate monitor, which makes it easy to track your cardio fitness levels and get the most out of your workouts. The PurePulse® feature lets you check real-time heart rate to ensure you’re giving the right amount of intensity during workouts. The PurePulse® feature lets you maximizes your training by using simplified heart rate zones to tailor your workouts on the spot and make the most of your training time. And while your heart is at rest, you can track just how well you are doing as it measures this important health indicator.

When you are done for the day, your Fitbit Charge 2 is still working for you. The all-day activity tracking and auto sleep tracking feature, allows you to gather the necessary data on how your daily routine added up, which also includes monitoring your sleep too. Proper sleep is an important indicator of overall good health; therefore Fitbit Charge 2 automatically tracks your sleep to learn about your sleeping patterns.

If you’re a “Fitness Data Fanatic”, The “SmartTrack” feature enables you to record your workouts select exercises automatically and monitor real-time workout stats on a large screen. With a plethora of next-generation features and a stylish look, the Fitbit Charge 2 offers everything you need to perk up your fitness levels.

Remember, we mentioned above about training yourself up to an Olympian level, well that also means you need to get the proper rest periods in as well. The Fitbit Charge 2 provides you with monitored, “Breathing Sessions” The Charge 2 allows you to take out some “ME” time to calm yourself down. Personalized guided breathing regimens play on the display and prompts you through relaxing breathing sessions. It tracks your real-time heart rate using the PurePulse® technology and then shows 2-5 minutes guided breathing sessions to help you relax.

You’re not only going to be in the best shape you can be with this state of the art activity watch but you’re going to look good while you’re wearing it too. The Fitbit Charge 2 perfectly combines exceptional functionally and high-end style. A textured and comfortable leather band paired with interchangeable accessories makes the Fitbit Charge 2 just irresistible. Go with the textured band while you workout and then switch to the classic leather bands for the rest of the day. The Fitbit Charge 2 will keep you fit, and in style.

So tell me, just what are you waiting for. Click on this LINK to purchase the Fitbit Charge 2 and treat yourself to the Best "Training Coach" that sits right on your wrist, get it today from the on-line fitness store you have come to know and trust HeartRateMonitorsUSA.com

You've probably heard that logging 10,000 steps daily can help you control your weight and keep you healthy. But if you have an office job, spend a lot of time driving, or are constantly pressed for time, shooting for that number can seem overwhelming—if not downright impossible. Should you resign yourself to being a couch potato/desk jockey? Hardly!

While getting 10,000 steps (or more) is a great goal, upping your current activity level by just a little—say, an additional 1,000 steps—has solid health perks, say experts. What's more, almost anyone can tack on this seemingly small amount of movement by just doing a few common place lifestyle changes…. If you really want to that is.

Take a second to ponder the math, and you'll see that it really does add up: 1,000 steps clocks out to about half a mile, which works out to an extra 365,000 steps a year. That's nearly 180 miles of extra movement, and it will absolutely change the way you look and feel. Now remember, like anything that matters, you need to track your activity and since we are talking steps, why not strap on one of the most popular activity trackers that have become almost a standard in the fitness world. Check out the Fitbit Charge Heart Rate Activity Band.
With no need of a chest-strap, the Fitbit Charge captures your readings and sends them along for accurate results. So now you can get a handle on just how long it’s going to take you to bank those 1000 steps.

Here are some of the perks that come with moving just a little more:

1. Your heart won't have to work so hard.
"Simply going from being sedentary to engaging in even modest levels of activity dramatically improves your health and begins decreasing your risk of heart disease," says Michele Olson, PhD, a professor of exercise physiology at Auburn University at Montgomery. Movement makes your muscles better able to pump blood throughout the body, so your heart rate comes down.

2. You'll slash your stroke risk.
Extra activity directly reduces your chances of having a stroke. It also helps keep your blood pressure in check—which further reduces your stroke risk. Double win! You won’t get those results sitting back in your office chair looking at your computer screen, now will you?

3. Your cholesterol levels may improve.
Got high LDL, the "bad" kind of cholesterol? Taking an extra 1,000 steps a day may be enough to make a difference. "When you move more, you burn up cholesterol and other lipids in your bloodstream so they have less of a chance of invading and damaging your blood vessels," explains Olson. So it’s that kind of incentive that should have you taking those 1000 steps and hopefully 9,000 more each day!

4. You'll stress less.
Taking a short, brisk walk may really be the best way to clear your head and lift yourself out of a funk. The physiological reason is twofold: When you exercise, your body produces feel-good chemicals called endorphins-(You Know This). Physical activity also cuts levels of cortisol—a stress hormone that can make you feel lousy and raise your risk of a slew of mental and physical health problems.

5. Your bones will get stronger.
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, any type of weight-bearing activity can strengthen your skeleton and fight osteoporosis. Why? Placing weight on your bones makes them work harder. That pressure stimulates cells called osteoblasts, which can turn into new brand-new bone cells.

6. You may lose weight.
OK, so you probably won't shed a ton quickly, but over time there's a payoff. Taking an extra 10,000 steps means you'll torch about 50 more calories a day, or 350 a week, says Nadya Swedan, MD, a board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist. "In about 10 weeks, you'll be able to notice any pounds you've started to drop.
To reap any—or all—of these benefits, you'll need to make extra activity a regular thing. "A thousand additional steps a day really add up, but consistency is key," says Pasternak. Some easy ways to make it a habit include; snagging the furthest (rather than closest) parking spot to your office door, marching around while you're talking on the phone, and ditching your coffee pot so you have to walk to a local shop for your morning cup.

Now the above are just a few examples of what you can do and why you should be taking at least those 1,000 steps each day. But again, you really want to look at getting more physical activity built into your day and that really is all about you.

You know walking is good for you, it’s probably one of the most inexpensive forms of exercise you can do to help yourself get in better shape. So what are you waiting for? Strap on those walking shoes and head on out the door to get your paper, and I don’t mean just by walking down to the end of the driveway. Go ahead and take a walk to that local paper-shop, or convenience store, but DON’T buy a cinnamon bun along with that paper… Walking with a healthy diet in mind will be a post for another day.