I’m so excited!!! This year I didn’t know what I wanted for Christmas from Charlie, so when he asked me I was all over the place with my answer. He had already planned a get-away to St. Augustine for us, but that was for the both of us. I had told him I needed a new hand-mixer and some better kitchen knives, but as he said that was not really much of a Christmas gift, so come Christmas morning I was not surprised to find money in my Christmas stocking.
I had recently bought the Time Magazine’s special edition, “100 New Health Discoveries” and in it I found something I thought would be my perfect Christmas gift. The article was under the fitness section and titled “Your Data Can Help You Doctor Your Health” by Bryan Walsh. Now I was not unaware of the new fitness wearables that let you track your vital signs by monitoring your heart rate through exercise and steps taken during the day, calories burned and the ability to log in your personnel information to create a history. I had been meaning to check into these new electronics to see just how I might use them and what device would be best suited to my needs, so this article really piqued my interest. To my surprise something popped up I was not expecting in the article. Jawbone’s UP3 will analyze your heart rate data, track and determine your REM, Light and Deep Sleep stages. Right then I knew this was my next electronic device. I have been experiencing sleep problems for months and now I have a way of tracking my sleep patterns. YEAH!
I’ve done a lot of research on both the UP3 and Fitbit Charge HR and believe both are top notch products. I hope you do the same research to find your best product, but for my personnel needs I believe the UP3 is the best device for me. Be careful when doing your research and be sure you are getting current and accurate information, because when Jawbone first came out with their UP3 there were a few kinks they had to correct, but now most reviewers agree Jawbone gives a lot of bang for your buck. Jawbones UP3 tracks heart rate using bioimpedance sensors, which measure the resistance of body tissue to a tiny electric current generated by the bracelet. The Jawbone UP3 is built on an advanced multi-sensor platform that includes a newly designed tri-axis accelerometer, as well as skin and ambient temperature sensors. The only disadvantages I found for buying the UP3 was that the fastener on the bracelet is a little hard to use and there is no OLED screen. For those of you who know nothing about these devices, the screen shows you things like time, stats, and incoming caller ID. I personally liked the smaller size of the UP3 and I do not need to know any of these things immediately……However, I do see the advantage, for example, a runner wanting to know their heart rate immediately. My exercise routine is yoga and biking which I alternate daily; therefore, my heart rate is just as easily checked when I check the rest of my daily stats. The Jawbone UP3 is the device for tracking your sleep patterns; no other device has this advanced technology. Other devices have similar capabilities, but fall short in tracking the three patterns of sleep.
You will find the UP3 a little pricier than the Fitbit Charge HR, but I found mine brand new on Amazon in plain black for $118. The UP3 can cost as much as $179 and the Fitbit Charger HR around
$149. I found a new Fitbit Charger for $99 on Amazon, so you can see they really are similar in price.
I’ll keep you posted on how it works out and check my article on the “Understanding Sleep and How it Affects Our Health.”
I know my daughter is also interested in the Apple watch which also does some similar things. Have you tried one of these devices what was your favorite? Share Below.
Until next time, enjoy the good life,
Exploring All Possibilities,