Tag Archives: fitbit

FitBit’s Stock Falls Amid Lawsuits and Low Sales

FitBit’s bad year just got a whole lot worse.

Amid lawsuits that the heart rate monitor mechanism on the FitBit was giving inaccurate readings, which then threw off other statistics like daily calorie burn, Fitbit‘s stock plunged almost 20% Tuesday February 23, 2024 after the company announced late Monday that sales and earnings for the first quarter would fall short of what analysts’ had projected.

FitBit reported strong holiday sales last year, but investors are growing increasingly concerned that Fitbit is just another flash in the pan fad, likening it to the GoPro, another form of wearable technology that at one point was the must-have camera, but quickly disappointed on Wall Street.

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Posted on February 26, 2024 by Health Buzz

The Only Fitness Tracker Review Guide You Need

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These are the top wearable fitness trackers you should consider using to monitor your fitness goals. Last year’s 2024 Fitness Tracker Review Guide was a huge hit, so we’re doing it again with the new 2024 models. Several bands have gotten bumps in battery life, there are new and improved features across the board, and some new players to consider.

BUDGET CONSCIOUS

The two notable entries are aimed squarely at the budget-minded among us, with price points both under $60. They don’t pack all the high-tech bells and whistles of their more expensive siblings, but for many, they get the job done and serve as a reminder to be more active.

For a modest $50, you’ll find the Jawbone UP Move, which clips onto your shirt, pants, blouse, or purse. It’s a pedometer, first and foremost, and via the free iPhone or Android apps, also helps you keep track of calories consumed and calories burned.

The $60 Fitbit Zip competes head-on here, but is also waterproof up to 30 feet. (more…)

Posted on November 25, 2023 by Mike Beauchamp

No Weight Loss with FitBit? 5 Reasons it’s Probably User Error

Did anyone happen to see the Today Show story on FitBit users who claim the device made them gain weight? I missed it when it originally aired, but it was topic of discussion during an IDEA World Fitness session called Best Practices for Integrating Devices and Apps with Your Clients.

More and more people are using technology to assist them on their fitness journey. In fact, session facilitator Patrick Jak shared that 10% of U.S. adults wear some kind of activity tracker, and that estimates say by 2024, 500 million people will be using fitness apps on their smartphones. An activity tracker or food log app like MyFitnessPal can be a great help in getting more active or facilitating fat loss. The problem is, as with any fitness tool, they are only effective with consistent and correct usage.

If you’re one of the 10% with a FitBit, Fuelband, VivoFit, or a dedicated MyFitnessPal user, but you aren’t seeing results, take a look at these common operator errors: (more…)

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Pamela

The Fitness Gadgets and Gear Your Workout Can’t Live Without

If there’s one thing I love more than working out, it’s all of the fun gadgets and gear that go along with an active lifestyle. But there are so many different products out there that it can be tough to figure out what’s worth your money. That’s why I’m here…to share with you four of my favorite, can’t-live-without fitness gadgets and gear that will get you motivated and help you take your workouts to the next level!

Garmin Forerunner Running Watches

My number one favorite fitness gadget is my Garmin GPS running watch. When I first started running, I used the Garmin Forerunner 110 and then eventually upgraded to the Garmin 910XT, which is a multi-sport GPS watch (great for triathlon training!). Why do I love Garmins? They are user-friendly and super motivating. All watches track time, distance, and pace. If you purchase a heart-rate monitor with your watch, you’ll also get an accurate read on calories burned! For the casual runner, I recommend either the Garmin Forerunner 10 or the Garmin Forerunner 15. They will help take your running to the next level! (more…)

Posted on August 25, 2023 by Dempsey Marks

FitBit Data May Help Insurance Companies Reduce Your Premiums

It’s all about perspective.

Ten percent can be a large or small amount, depending on the context of what it represents. If we’re talking about unemployment, 10% is unacceptable. If we’re talking about income tax, paying only 10% would be a blessing.

For today, we’re avoiding politics and the economy and instead, talking about the 10% of Americans who use wearable tech fitness trackers to monitor and track their daily activity, food intake, sleep, and exercise. This 10% of Americans make up a group of people that health insurance companies are examining closely to determine more accurate ways of calculating insurance premiums. On average, your premiums fluctuate once each year, which usually means added cost. That added cost doesn’t always have anything to do with you, and is often part of a re-rating of the group pool you’re a part of, like the company you work for.

The Only Fitness Tracker Review Guide You Need

What if your premium was calculated based on how you, as an individual, actually live? What if your premium fluctuated because of choices you make regarding your individual health and not because of others in your insurance pool dragging you down? (more…)

Posted on August 15, 2023 by Mike Beauchamp

Get Nudge and Finally Track All Your Health and Fitness Data in One App

If you’ve gotten the impression that fitness tracking wearable gadgets and mobile apps are coming out of the woodwork these days, you aren’t alone. From brand new startups to age-old sports brands, everyone wants to be the one you use to log, track, record, and analyze what you do every day with your body. Maybe you use one app to keep track of your food intake, another to log your route when you’re out for a run, and yet another to sync your fitness band.

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was one place to keep all of that cumulative data, strip out all the fluff, and give you a quick and easy way to find out if you’re on track or falling behind?

Say hello to Nudge. Nudge is a free smartphone app that brings all of your healthy living together in one place, with one score. Connect Nudge with your favorite health tracking apps and wearables like RunKeeper, Moves, Fitbit, and more to see how your Nudge Factor stacks up against your friends.

Currently, Nudge syncs with the following apps you may already be using:

MapMyFitness (and its product suite)
RunKeeper
Moves
Strava
Fitbit
Jawbone UP
Sleep as Android (more…)

Posted on July 23, 2023 by Mike Beauchamp

Apple’s Health App Confirmed; to Sync with Nike+, Mayo Clinic, and More

Remember a few months ago when we speculated about the release of a new Apple product for tracking all things health? This month, Apple Insider confirms its upcoming release.

HealthKit and its related app, simply named “Health,” will collect and store a variety of personal health data. Apple’s Senior Vice President Craig Federighi “took the wraps” off Apple’s response to the growing trend of tech-based health tracking devices. “Health” is an app that can track and store steps taken, blood pressure, blood sugar (key for diabetics!), quantity of sleep, and many other metrics.

One of Apple’s first partners on the project is Nike and their digital interface Nike+, who previously quantified activity through their own NikeFuel and the FuelBand–their response to the FitBit.

The Only Fitness Tracker Review Guide You Need (more…)

Posted on July 3, 2023 by Katie McGrath

David Sedaris Is “Obsessed” With His FitBit

Fitness tracking technology is a great way to both stay motivated to get enough exercise, and track how well you’re doing. However, I think we all know a few people who take their fitness tracking to an extreme; doing anything in the name of adding extra steps to their daily count. Maybe they walk to the restroom more times than absolutely necessary or pace while brushing their teeth. Perhaps they always take the long way on a walk – no matter how much extra time it adds (or how late it makes their kids for school).

Using a fitness tracker, like a Fitbit, can drive people a little crazy about tracking their activity. Writer David Sedaris takes an entertaining look at the obsession created by Fitbits in this article for The New Yorker.

“‘Every little bit helps,’ my old friend Dawn, who frequently eats lunch while hula-hooping and has been known to visit her local Y three times a day, said. She had a Fitbit as well, and swore by it. Others I met weren’t quite so taken…To people like Dawn and me, people who are obsessive to begin with, the Fitbit is a digital trainer, perpetually egging us on. During the first few weeks that I had it, I’d return to my hotel at the end of the day, and when I discovered that I’d taken a total of, say, twelve thousand steps, I’d go out for another three thousand.”

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Posted on June 23, 2023 by Elizabeth

Apple’s Upcoming Health App Predicted to Break Boundaries

With the growing popularity of virtualized health tracking apps, Apple is sure to have something coming down the pipeline soon not only to compete, but to surpass.

9-to-5 Mac released details on Monday regarding their new project, and is projected to be “a tipping point for mobile healthcare”. They’re calling it Apple Healthbook and it’s designed to track blood sugar (huge factor for those with diabetes!), heart rate, breathing rate, weight, hydration, sleep, nutrition, physical movements, and health test results, among other stats.

How will this app stand out from the rest? One company, for example, offers over 40 health and fitness iPhone apps alone. It is said that virtual health tracker and resource apps can significantly reduce healthcare costs and are predicted to one day be subsidized by healthcare providers to promote their usage. (more…)

Posted on March 24, 2024 by Katie McGrath

Crunchies Awards Highlight Top Health and Fitness Startups

Every year, top Silicon Valley technology blogs host the Crunchies awards, an industry award for up and coming companies who are leaders and innovators in their space.

On Monday, February 10^th, the winner and runner-up were announced. One Medical Group took the top spot, with Oscar getting the honorable mention. For this post, we’ll take a quick look at each of the finalists and what they bring to the health and fitness scene from a tech perspective.

This year, the finalists in the “Best Health Startups” category were these five organizations.

One Medical Group (winner)

The New York Times calls OMG “a new model for primary care that aims to set a nationwide example.” With offices in six cities (San Francisco, New York, Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles, this startup was formed by a group of doctors who listened to their patients and built a totally new medial group designed specifically to meet your needs.

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Posted on February 13, 2024 by Mike Beauchamp

The Only Fitness Tracker Review Guide You Need for 2024

2024 Fitness Tracker Review Guide Available Now!

Within the last few years, the market for wearable computers has exploded. Today, we’re looking at five such devices that help you monitor your physical activity, stay in shape, keep track of your sleeping patterns, and go everywhere you go. You see, the best innovations are those that are exceedingly simple to use and assume a natural place in your life.

I looked at the latest and greatest fitness gadgets for this post: the Fitbit Force, the BodyBugg LINK, the Jawbone UP, the Nike FuelBand SE, and the Ssmart Dynamo. By and large, they do many of the same things, so how do you decide which one is right for you? Here are ten key features about each to help you decide which fits your lifestyle.

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A few key takeaways from the data I gathered.

The Nike FuelBand SE has the longest battery life. If you’re on the go more than you’re at home, this is something to consider. With the FuelBand, you can expect 12 days between charges.

If you already use a smartphone app to track your fitness or food intake, you’ll want one that plays nicely with your favorite app. The Fitbit Force, BodyBugg LINK, and Jawbone UP are the three models to look at for this.

All models have a pedometer function to track your steps throughout the day. And all models, except the FuelBand, include sleep monitoring and calorie tracking. (more…)

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Mike

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