A step in the right direction n

Warning: Using a Fitibit is addicting.

This is the third Fitbit I have put on. I am talking about the recently introduced Fitbit Alta HR, which is cool and oh-so-sleek.

For starters, the Alta HR is the world’s slimmest wrist-based, continuous heart rate tracking device combining the benefits of PurePulse heart rate technology, automatic exercise recognition, sleep tracking, battery life of up to seven days and smart notifications in a slim, versatile design that is easily customized to fit your style.  

Although the Fitbit is also a sleep stage monitor, I much prefer to use it when I am awake and walking in the streets of the metro. 

But for those of you who do monitor your sleep, the Alta HR monitors sleep stages utilizing heart rate variability to estimate the amount of time you spend in light, deep and REM sleep, as well as time awake each night, to better understand your sleep quality.

 “Alta HR and these powerful new sleep features demonstrate our continued focus on evolving our innovative technology to deliver deeper, more actionable insights to help our users improve their health,” said James Park, co-founder and CEO of Fitbit. “The miniaturization of our PurePulse heart rate technology opens up exciting opportunities for future generations of devices and new form factors. Our advances in sleep will provide millions of users around the globe accessibility to invaluable insights that previously could be obtained only through expensive lab tests.”

 Just Walk

Just what is it about the Alta HR that I like? Its slim and sleek design, of course. It just makes counting steps more fun. At least for me, it does. 

Of course, Fitbit was able to bring PurePulse to its Alta HR by developing a one-of-a-kind chip that reduced the size and number of components needed, achieving a 25 percent slimmer design than Fitbit Charge 2.

So, with my Alta HR I can: 

• Better measure calorie burn all day, including during non-step based exercise like lifting weights and Kettleb ll training, to help me stay on track of my health and weight goals by tracking calories in versus burned.

• See real-time heart zones on my wrist and exercise summaries in the Fitbit app to work out at the right intensity for your health and fitness goals.

• View resting heart rate on-device and trends in the Fitbit app, and compare it to your activity to see how consistent exercise can improve your heart health over time.  A decrease in resting heart rate is a key indicator of cardiovascular health. 

 Fitbit also introduces two dynamic sleep tools –  Sleep Stages and Sleep Insights – that provide deeper insight into your sleep quality and guidance on how to improve, building on its popular sleep features that have empowered millions of people to track their sleep since 2012. 

After all, studies have shown that sleep is a key factor in overall health, but most people have very little insight into it. Good sleep plays a critical role in your health and overall well-being, from protecting against cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity, to boosting neuro-cognitive functions, mental health and longevity. 

Sleep Stages, powered by PurePulse, uses accelerometer data and heart rate variability (changes in time between beats), plus Fitbit’s proven algorithms to more accurately estimate how long you spend in light, deep and REM sleep stages, as well as time awake, each night:

• Light Sleep (including sleep stages N1 and N2) occurs throughout the night and is important for memory, learning and letting your body recover from the day; for most people that’s 50-60 percent of your night. 

• Deep Sleep (sleep stage N3) promotes a healthy immune system and muscle growth and repair; for most people that’s 10-25 percent of your night (depending on your age). 

• REM Sleep is when most dreaming occurs and is important for mental recovery and memory formation; for most people that’s 20-25 percent of your night.  Most REM sleep comes at the end of the night, and is often the stage to be cut short when your sleep duration decreases.

• Awake periods (between 10-30 times) are a normal part of your sleep cycle each night.  

 Fitbit knows that everyone’s sleep cycle is different, but by better knowing your sleep quality and patterns, and realizing the impact they have on your day, you can make lifestyle changes that can help improve your sleep over time – such as diet, exercise, winding down before bed and keeping a consistent sleep schedule. For example, if you wake up feeling exhausted each morning, despite seemingly getting enough sleep, you may not be getting sufficient deep sleep.

One day, I promise to get into the Fitbit sleep measure habit – but for now, I am all into how helpful Fitbit has been during my waking hours. 

 Keeping Top Form

In addition to the advance health and fitness tracking experience PurePulse brings to Alta HR, other popular features are: 

• All-day, automatic tracking of your most important stats (heart rate, steps, distance, calorie burn, active minutes) day and night, powered by battery life of up to seven days. 

• SmartTrack automatic exercise tracking records activities like walking, running, cycling, elliptical, sports and aerobic workouts in the Fitbit app, giving you credit toward your weekly exercise goals.

• Reminders to Move help you stay active throughout the day. Reducing sedentary time can play a significant role in the prevention of diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. 

• Call, text and calendar notifications keep you connected so you can focus on your day.  

 “For me, a big part of staying healthy and active is understanding how the things I do every day – like hiking with my dogs, hitting a dance class and how well I sleep – impact my overall health and fitness goals,” said Julianne Hough, Fitbit ambassador, actress and dancer. “I love that Alta HR is so stylish, I can wear it with any outfit no matter what I’m doing so I stay motivated and on track.” 

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Fitbit Alta HR is priced at P8,490 at Digital Walker, Beyond the Box, select Toby’s stores, iBOOK, iCenter, Mobile1, Globe, Gadgets in Style, Hivemind, Lazada, Zalora, Timeline, The Inbox Store, iLiberty and Rnnr stores.  The Special Edition Alta HR is P9,690.  Classic fitness bands, P1,448.00; Luxe Leather bands, P3,380.00; and Luxe Metal Bracelet,  P4,950.