Setting Heart Health Goals with Staples and a Jawbone UP24 for National Heart Month! #GetUpAndGo
Jawbone UP24 from Staples.
It’s quite a health coach in a little package.
I’ll get into that below but first, I want to let you know that February is National Heart Month. For those who know me, know that the Heart and Stroke Foundation is dear to my heart. Heart disease and stroke runs in our family and I love spreading awareness whenever I can. Did you know that heart disease and stroke take one life every 7 minutes and 90% of Canadians have at least one risk factor?
That is astounding and I know that I definitely have risk factors, not only genetically but factors that are within my reach to change. Since early January, I’ve set goals to help me to embrace my old lifestyle of clean eating and exercise. To make a long story short, there was some life events in my life that strayed me away from my previous lifestyle. I am ready to become a yogi again, get to a healthy body weight and eat wholesome foods.
Get Started.
Working from home for a large part of my week, I am not as active as I’d like to be. With the bustle of working, deadlines and keeping a home–it can get busy. I believe that taking baby steps towards a big goal is very effective. Staples sent me everything I needed to start taking those steps and work towards my big goals.
As you can see, the Reebok Soft Weighted ball is a great way to start doing some strength exercise and the 100 cals are a perfect way to get a sweet fix without the added calories. While I’m not a big sports drink enthusiast, I do drink it when I need to replenish electrolytes immediately! Like some time on the treadmill, shoveling snow or playing with the girls gets me sweating and I need to get re-hydrated fast!
Jawbone UP24.
I was sent the Jawbone UP24 to try out and let me tell you, it has been a nice motivator. What I find about the Jawbone in comparison to other fitness aids, is that it focuses on lifestyle. While others are for the marathon runner/athlete, the Jawbone adjusted to my lifestyle and speed. It is helping me to really focus on the things that are lacking in my life or things that I want to take better control of.
For example, once I downloaded the UP24 app and set it up with my goals, and details, I was able to connect it to another fitness app that I use to control my daily food intake, MyFitnessPal. This helps me to have another network of people to support me and I love that it adds the calories that I burn through my activity everyday.
Motivation.
The UP24 app is super cool, it monitors all of your steps, exercise, sleep and food intake. I have a 10, 000 step goal that I’ve set and I love how UP24 will send me notifications during the day showing me my progress and to motivate me to reach my goal. I get a notification and reminder to keep moving every 2 hours, as I’ve set it to remind me to move every 2 hours. I’ve also set it to a goal of 8 hours of sleep a day and I set a reminder for it to remind me to start preparing for bed at 11:20PM.
Since I am not much of a breakfast eater, I have it programmed to remind me to eat my first meal at 10AM. It buzzes and vibrates on my wrist and lets me know, hey, it’s time to eat! You may laugh but, sometimes I am so busy that I literally forget to eat. Or I prepare the meal and then get swept up by something else and I end up finding my breakfast at the table way after lunch has passed. This has been a great push to eat and get my metabolism working like it used to.
Easy to Use.
The UP24 is super simple to use and has a great battery life. Unlike it’s predecessor, it is now enabled with Bluetooth and you no longer have to plug it in to sync data. It does it via Bluetooth. I have been using it since early January and had only had to charge it once and I always have Bluetooth enabled. So, if you are worried that enabling it will kill your phone life, it won’t. That was my main worry and I am able to use my phone all day and battery life is not affected.
It comes with a USB cable and you simple remove the Jawbone cap plug it into the end of the USB cable and charge it via USB. Either directly into your computer or you can use it with any charger that takes a USB port. It is extremely comfortable and that is an understatement seeing that I am not a watch wearer because I don’t like the feeling of it on my wrist. I’ve been wearing it and sleeping in it during the duration of reviewing it and I forget that I have it on.
Know Yourself. Live Better.
- Wireless syncing for in-the-moment notifications and personalized insights to keep you moving forward towards your sleep and activity goals.
- Track Sleep including total hours, time to fall asleep, number of wake ups.
- Track Activity including steps, distance, calories burned, active vs. idle time.
- Log what you eat and drink and track nutritional info by taking a photo, scanning a bar code, or searching the UP app database.
- Smart Alarm™ and Power Nap features wake you at the time that leaves you feeling refreshed.
- Customizable Idle Alerts remind you to move.
- Designed to be worn 24/7; up to 7 days of battery life.
My Goals.
I am starting simple but, going back to basics. I’ve set small goals to work towards and improve so that eventually I can see progress and get more heart healthy. I know that with motivation and support, I will get there.
GOALS:
- Move more. Up to 10, 000 steps a day.
- Do more yoga.
- Eat clean.
- Drink more water.
- Do not be idle for more than 2 hours.
- Sleep more.
These are small goals that I know that with time and practice will once again become second nature. I’ve been walking a lot and reminding myself to get up from my desk and move, even if it’s to do a couple set of stairs.
You can see updates and how I am doing by following me on Instagram, here. You can head over to Staples for more information or to get your very own Jawbone UP24, here. Don’t forget to follow the #GetUpAndGo hashtag to see mine and other’s journeys!
Do you have any fitness goals for National Heart Month?
Let me know, til then–cheers m’deres!
Nancy Polanco is a freelance journalist, lifestyle content creator, and editor of Whispered Inspirations. She is a proud Mom to Gabby and Michaela and partner and best friend to Darasak. Having worked as part of a health care team for almost a decade, Nancy is happy to be back to her passion. She is a contributor to the Huffington Post, TODAY’s Parents, and an Oprah Magazine Brand Ambassador.
You have great goals for the year and I'm sure this tracker will help you reach them. For me, a tracker like the Jawbone Up really motivates me to move more and reach my fitness goals!
I love that it pushes reminders, I need them!
My goals for February are to up my water intake and since I am participating in the Vionic Walkabout, I am walking for at least 30 minutes a day. Currently my goal is to get back to 5000 steps a day and I will increase that every month until I am consistently at 10000 steps a day.
Yay, slow and steady. You will get there!
I where a Fitbit, but I like the jawbone band better, sometimes I have a hard time with the clasps on the Fitbit. Great time of year to get one of these to help with everyone's resolutions!
I have both and I love them both for different reasons. The band is nice but, it is also that is geared to well being as well as fitness.
That Jawbone looks amazing. I have been in the market for something like this. Your post sure outlined a lot and was very helpful!
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My pleasure, hope it helps you!
I am terrible with sleep! I love your goals and I know you can reach them!!!
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Thanks, I figured I would start small and take baby steps. 🙂
Always great to aim for a healthier life style!
Thanks, I think so!
Oh I need one of these jawbones. I definitely need to get my heart healthier. Thanks for the info.
My pleasure, I think it is a great tool to get healthier.
I have been debating getting one of these. So happy to learn more 🙂
It is a great little gadget!
My goal is just to start moving! I sit at my computer all day everyday! O_O
I hear you!
My main goal is to get out and increase my activity. I'm really excited about it now that I live in sunny Florida instead of Rhode Island.
WOW, that is awesome! 🙂
I'm 6.5 pounds away from my target weight, but let me tell you that I need some extra motivation and to switch things up. A jawbone sounds awesome for me to use as I work to the end here.
It would help for sure!
I'm definitely looking into the Jawbone. I'm an avid runner, and this looks like just the thing to help me keep on track.
That is awesome, it will definitely help you track.
Oh I need to get this for my house!
I really need something like this to track my stats and help me reach goals!
It will keep you on track for sure!
That kind of gadget really does keep you moving. I have one and need to get it back out!
Baby steps!
I've heard so many great things about the Jawbone! Being 8 months pregnant, I try and go on a walk every day with my son. AFter baby number 2 arrives, can't wait to get back into shape!
Walks are great! 🙂
I work out 3-5 times a week doing something. right now I"m focused on boot camp type class for building muscle. I also do zumba classes and walk a lot. I am also cutting sugar and grains as much as I can stand.
That is awesome!
Those are great goals and a wonderful start. I used to do a lot of kettlebells in 2014 but have stopped – I need to get back into that. Plus, Zumba, I loved Zumba. If you enjoy it, it's much easier to take on.
Oooh, Zumba is fun!
I try to hit 10000 steps a day. It is hard when I work from home on the computer all day.
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I do too! I try to get up do some stairs, go for walks, dance! Whatever works.
Your downward dog is amazing!!!! …on a brighter note- I really need a jawbone. It's been on my list- I think the hubs needs a nudge!
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Those are some really great goals! Sounds like you have the perfect tool to help you achieve them!
Thanks!
These all look like great items to help people get in shape and stay active! The jawbone looks especially cool!
It is pretty nifty!
I love using a fitness tracker! It totally helps me stay on top of my goals too!
So true!
I have always wanted to try a jawbone. The fitness ball looks great too. I love your goals – I need to do more of that myself!
Small baby steps!
I've heard soo many great things about the Jawbone. I need to get one for myself. I could use the extra nudge.
It has definitely helped!
I was wondering about JawBone. Thanks for sharing your experience and information about it with me. Thanks
My pleasure!
I need that! I'm starting to try to get in shape and that would really help. Love how it looks like a regular bracelet, too, and isn't obvious.
Very true!
I have a goal set for this year hoping by 12/15 I will have reached it
This would be great for my hubby
I really want one of these or a fitbit!
Looks like another good option for an activity tracker. I am thinking that I really need to get one to get me motivated!
I had never heard of the Jawbone before. I need to get one as a motivator!