Review of the Fitbug Orb Activity Tracker

This review was originally published on FitnessTechMD by @DrJosephKim

Over the past few months, I've had a chance to test and use a number of the newer wearable activity trackers (also known as fitness trackers or wearable activity monitors) like the Polar Loop and the Bowflex Boost. In this review, I'll write about my experience using the Fitbug Orb.

The Fitbug Orb is a round activity tracker that is priced at $49.95 and it can be worn on a wrist strap, on a belt clip, or on a magnetic clip. It comes in pink, black, or white and has a single button along with a single LED light that glows different colors. I've been using the Fitbug Orb for several weeks, wearing it every day at work, when I exercise, and when I sleep.

The black elastomer band holding the Orb around my wrist was comfortable during the day and while sleeping. Overall, the plastic device is light, but it is thick. It's much thicker than the Misfit Shine (which is made of aluminum). The wristband buckle (on the underside of your wrist) has a low profile so it did not disrupt my typing (compared to the Nike+ FuelBand which is much thicker and fairly rigid on the underside, so you'll feel it when you're typing). Since there is no metal touching my skin, you won't develop a nickel allergy rash (due to contact dermatitis). Some Fitbit Force users have reported such a rash recently.

In the picture below, you'll see the Fitbug Orb (in a wristband) on the far right. Nike+ FuelBand is on top, the Misfit Shine is in the middle, the Polar Loop is on the far left, and the Bowflex Boost is on the bottom:

In the picture below, you'll see the Fitbug Orb on my wrist against several other activity trackers: (top to bottom: Misfit Shine, Bowflex Boost, Fitbug Orb, Polar Loop, Nike+ FuelBand):

Unlike some of the other wrist-worn activity trackers, the Orb does not display time directly on the device (neither do the Fitbit Flex, Jawbone Up, Bowflex Boost, etc.). Wrist-worn trackers that display time include examples like the Fitbit Force, Nike+ FuelBand, Misfit Shine, and Polar Loop.

The Orb is a nice option for people looking for a lower-priced wearable activity tracker that you can wear on your wrist, belt, underclothes, etc. Many activity trackers (like the Fitbit Flex, Nike+ FuelBand, Jawbone UP, or Polar Loop) are designed to be worn exclusively on your wrist. That may work for people who don't mind having something on the wrist all the time, but for others who want that flexibility to wear the tracker on different parts of the body, devices like the Fitbug Orb may be an attractive option.

Since the Orb is not waterproof for swimming, it's also not waterproof to handle your washing machine. So, if you accidentally throw your clothes in the wash with your Orb clipped to your waist or pocket, your Orb may come out non-functional. This is another reason why I advocate for wrist-worn activity trackers. There is less likelihood that your device will end up in the washing machine if it's always around your wrist.

My review of the Polar Loop activity tracker #wearables #quantifiedself @PolarGlobal

This review was originally published on FitnessTechMD by @DrJosephKim

These days, stories are buzzing about "wearables" because of the hype generated at CES in Las Vegas. We're seeing LG, Sony, Epson, Garmin, and a host of other companies launching their wearable activity trackers. Don't want to wait for the latest and greatest? I've been testing multiple wearable activity trackers for the past few weeks/months and here I'll be writing about the Polar Loop which retails for $109.95.

I've owned Polar heart rate monitors for well over a decade. Polar is a global, established brand among fitness enthusiasts, runner, triathaletes, and cyclists. At CES this year, Polar announced the V800, a GPS Bluetooth smartwatch that syncs with other Polar peripherals that use Bluetooth Smart. I can't wait to try it out later this year when it comes out in April.

Now, back to the Polar Loop. The wristband closest to my hand in the picture below is a Nike+ FuelBand. The next one up is the Polar Loop:

The Polar Loop is Polar's first dedicated wearable activity tracker designed to be worn 24 hours/day and is competing against other wrist-worn activity trackers like the Fitbit Flex/Force and Nike+ FuelBand. The Loop is different from other trackers like the FuelBand primarily because of 2 unique and distinguishing features:

1. It is fully waterproof (to 20 meters) and can be worn while swimming (most wearables are only water "resistant" and not recommended for swimming. The Misfit Shine and the Spark Activity Tracker are a few examples of other fitness trackers that are waterproof for swimming)
2. It connects with Bluetooth heart rate monitoring chest straps like the Polar H6 or H7 and tracks/stores and displays your heart rate information on the device. This is especially useful when you're exercising. But, keep in mind that Bluetooth signals don't travel under water, so you can't wear a Polar H6 or H7 and monitor your heart rate while swimming if you're using the Polar Loop.

The Polar Loop is also different from most fitness trackers because you have to cut the elastomer band to size it and fit it to your wrist. Since the holes are 5 mm apart, you can adjust the band in 5 mm increments. Once you adjust the size by cutting the band, you're not going back to a bigger size. With a stainless steel buckle clasp, the Loop wears more like a very light sports wristwatch than a rigid wristband.

Here's the Loop next to a Nike+ FuelBand:

And here is another shot where you'll see the flat capacitive button on the Loop next to the raised physical button on the FuelBand:

The Loop also uses a capacitive button to let you scroll through the various display screens:

• TIME
• ACTV (activity bar)
• CALS (calories burned)
• STEP (pedometer)

Since the flat button is capacitive, you only have to touch it lightly for it to work. However, it won't work if you're wearing non-conductive gloves.

Also, the button only works if the charging connector of the underside of the band is in contact with your wrist. People who don't realize this may get frustrated if they press the button and don't see anything happening on the display. The charging connector requires a proprietary cable which attaches magnetically and it charges and syncs using a standard USB port.

Once you sync the data on your Polar Loop to the Polar Flow mobile app on your iPhone, you can also view the data on the web and see the global community of Polar Flow users. Right now, if you already own a Polar heart rate monitor, you may be using Polar WebSync to upload all your training files to your Polar profile on www.polarpersonaltrainer.com.

Polar Flow is a separate site (as of now) and so your training files on Polar Flow will not appear on www.polarpersonaltrainer.com and vice versa. I would't be surprised if Polar will eventually migrate www.polarpersonaltrainer.com into Polar Flow, but we'll have to wait and see if that happens.

The Polar Loop syncs with your iPhone using Bluetooth 4.0, so it continually syncs in the background. I found that sometimes I had to tap on the Loop button to get the Loop to sync with my iPhone. Polar rates the battery life as "up to 6 days" but I suspect that you can expect shorter battery life if you're constantly syncing your Loop with your iPhone over Bluetooth.

Here's a tip: you can save battery life on your Loop and your iPhone by "closing" the mobile app on your iPhone (you can close an app on iOS 7 by double pressing your home button and then swiping the app up so that it's no longer running in the background).

When I started wearing the Polar Loop, I became highly motivated to exercise regularly. I was already exercising somewhat regularly, but now that I knew I was going to share my progress online, I became even more motivated. Here is the Polar Flow mobile app showing my daily activity:

If you tap on the circle, it gives you greater detail on your physical activity for the day:

Scroll down and you'll see how many calories you've burned and how many steps you've taken that day. You'll see that I reached 22,094 steps!

So, how did I do for the week? (I've been highly motivated to exercise ever since I started wearing these activity trackers and writing about it.)

The Loop also tracks my sleep as long as I'm wearing it in bed. I don't have to press any buttons to enter into sleep mode. It detects my sleep automatically and then displays some type of  "good morning" message when I press the button in the morning.

If you've been sitting too long, the Loop will send a signal to your iPhone and "alert" you to get up and move. These inactivity alerts can be useful for people who have a desk job and sit all day. Get into the habit of taking some breaks to drink some water or to walk around the office.

Here are some other distinguishing features of the Polar Loop:

Smart Coaching:

• Daily Activity Goal provides the user’s personal activity goal with guidance on how to reach it
• With optional heart rate sensor: Smart Calories – accurately calculates personal calories, taking into account gender and age; and EnergyPointer – shows the impact of exercise (burning fat vs. improving fitness)

Analyze:

• Provides daily, weekly and monthly views of activity at the different levels of intensity through Polar Flow on desktop or mobile. These include useful guidance on how to become healthier, look and feel better, sharpen mental alertness and reduce long-term risks of lifestyle diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
• Polar Loop accurately measures all physical activity and compares it with globally recognized physical activity guidelines from the World Health Organization.

If you like to monitor your heart rate when you exercise, the Polar Loop is an excellent daily activity tracker that will keep you moving when you're not actively exercising. When I exercise, I almost always wear a heart rate monitoring strap so that I can quantify my fitness level and my exercise intensity. Having that information helps me know if I'm overtraining or undertraining.

So, whether you're exercising to stay fit or you're training for a race, monitoring your heart rate during exercise can improve the effectiveness of your workout.

Pros:

• Waterproof for swimming (The vast majority of other wearable activity trackers are only water resistant for showering and not recommended for swimming).
• Connects with Bluetooth Smart heart rate monitor chest straps (for safely exercising and training based on your heart rate "zones").
• Comfortable wrist strap that minimally interferes with typing because of the low profile and the watch-type buckle and feel. Sizing adjustments in 5 mm increments. 
• Upload your activity data and connect with a global community of users on Polar Flow.

Cons:

• Currently only syncs with newer iOS devices (Bluetooth 4.0) and lacks Android support (but Polar will be coming out with an Android app for mobile devices that have Bluetooth 4.0). 
• The capacitive button only works if the charging connector (on the underside) is touching your skin. If your Loop is too loose on your wrist, then this could be a problem for you. I rarely experienced a non-responsive button.
• You must cut the wristband to adjust the size. This will make it more difficult for you to sell your Loop when it comes time to upgrade or replace it. 

Summary: The waterproof Polar Loop combined with a chest-worn heart rate monitor (like the Polar H7) provides an excellent platform for daily activity tracking and exercising based on your heart rate goals.

I'm a big fan of wearable activity trackers because I believe they can really make a difference it the overall health of an individual. If these gadgets are used continuously for several weeks and people share their activity progress with others, they are highly effective in helping people change their habits to be more physically active.

A growing plethora of wearable activity and fitness trackers at #CES2014

You don't have to be in Las Vegas to realize that the Consumer Electronics industry is exploding with wearable activity and fitness trackers. This year at #CES2014, there are a plethora of wearable gadgets that are attempting to differentiate themselves from the 1st and 2nd generation quantified self (QS) wearable activity trackers: Fitbit, Nike+, Jawbone UP, etc.

Follow updates on FitnessTechMD.com to read about some of the latest wearable gadgets designed to motivate people to live healthier, more active lifestyles.

Reviewing the Bowflex Boost wearable activity tracker

This was originally published by FitnessTechMD.com by @DrJosephKim

I've been an early adopter of wearable tech. For the past few years, I have been using different types of wearable activity trackers (also called Quantified Self or QS devices/gadgets) to measure my level of physical activity (or inactivity during those long days when I’m glued in front of a computer). The wearable activity tracker market has exploded as major manufacturers and start-up companies have developed gadgets that are designed to motivate us to live healthier, active lives. I have used activity trackers like the Nike+ FuelBand (far left), the Misfit Shine (far right), and a host of others in between (can you identify them in the photo below?). The Bowflex Boost can be seen in the middle (3rd from the Left):

The Bowflex Boost is one of the newer activity trackers and it is only $49.95. Given that many of the other wearable activity trackers are over $100, the Boost makes for a nice lower-priced option for Apple iOS and Android users who have newer devices that support Bluetooth 4.0 (also called Bluetooth Smart). I want to thank Bowflex for providing me with a unit that I could test and use for a few weeks. This gave me the opportunity to review the unit, collect some personal data, and compare it to some other wearable activity trackers.

The Bowflex Boost comes on a strap that is very light, appears very durable, and is comfortable on your wrist. The strap is easy to put on and the buckle holds it securely. I had no problems with the strap coming loose or falling off. The tracker can be removed from the band so that you can wash the band. Compared to the Nike+ FuelBand, the Boost has a much thinner section on the bottom portion of your wrist since the buckle and activity tracker are on the top portion of your wrist. So, the wrist strap minimally interferes with typing.

The tracker magnetically clicks to a small charger that plugs into your USB port. According to Bowflex, the Boost has a battery life of approximately 11 days, depending on how often you sync it with your mobile device.

Here, you'll see the Bowflex Boost next to several other activity trackers that can be worn on the wrist. The Boost is the device on the upper right corner of the image:

As an activity tracker, the Boost is very simple to use. Install the mobile app and set an activity goal (or use the default settings to start). Then, go about your day. To check your physical activity progress, press the button on the strap and the LED light will glow red, yellow, or green to indicate your level of activity towards your goal. But, the color doesn't represent a single metric such as steps or calories. It combines steps, calories, and distance to give you an estimated activity level:

• Red: 0-50%
• Yellow: 51-99%
• Green: 100%

When the LED goes from red to yellow, you know that you’re making significant progress, but you need to sync the Boost to see exactly how much progress you’re making toward your goal. I suspect that many people may not be aware of how inactive they tend to be during the work week. If you spend a few days wearing the Boost and find that you’re in the red zone for the majority of your day, you’ll need to be more intentional about incorporating some exercise into your daily routine. It’s a very rewarding feeling when you hit the yellow zone before noon and then hit the green zone before going into the evening.

To sync the Boost with your mobile device, open the app and hold the button on the Boost for 5 seconds until it blinks blue. The button can be difficult to press because the strap’s rubbery material is relatively thick. This may prevent accidental button presses, but I would prefer to see a design where the button is larger and easier to press. After the light turns blue, you’ll see that the app detects the Boost and starts syncing. It only takes a few seconds to complete the sync process.

On the screen below, you’ll see that you can set your target goal values. By default, mine were set to 10,000 steps, 500 calories, and 3.0 miles. On this screen, you’ll see that I’m in yellow, but I'm making progress:

Here's a day when I hit the Green zone after I went to the gym for 30 minutes and exercised on the treadmill. I saw that I reached 208% of my goal that day!

I can also track my weekly/monthly/yearly progress to see how I did each day. This type of feedback helps me stay motivated and keeps me accountable to the goals that I set each week or month. Here's a snapshot of my first week using the Boost and you'll see that on some days I exceeded 100% while I fell short on other days:

Here's how week #2 looked (got more motivated to exercise on Thurs, Fri, and Sat):

And here's week #3 that shows you that I even did some running on Christmas Day and then hit the gym on Thurs to burn off all that extra food!:

The Boost also tracks your sleep. Simply hold the button for 3 seconds until the LED changes to purple to enter sleep mode. I didn't test the sleep tracking function too many times because my sleep is too interrupted these days (small  kids, crying babies - you know the routine if you're a parent).

Now for some off-label discussion (by off-label, I mean that you won't find the following information on the Bowflex Boost website):

• Although the Boost is designed to be worn on the wrist, I tried wearing the Boost on my ankle on a few occasions. I found that it worked to track my activity (relatively speaking), although the data that I collected was probably not extremely accurate since the Bowflex activity tracking algorithm is probably designed specifically for wrist-worn activity and not for ankle-wearing.
• I also removed the activity tracking module from the band and carried it in my pocket. Once again, this probably didn't yield the most accurate data, but it still provided me with some relative information. 

Pros:

• Relatively low cost ($49.95 compared to many others that are over $100).
• Comfortable adjustable wrist strap that minimally interferes with typing because the tracker and buckle are on the top of the strap, not the bottom.
• The overall simplicity of the device: one button and one LED.
• Water-resistant (up to one meter, so it's fine for showering but not recommended for swimming).
• Mobile app for iOS and Android lets you view and track your data, share your progress on Facebook and Twitter.
• Long battery life (up to 11 days according to Bowflex).
• You can remove the tracker from the band and carry it in your pocket (although this would be considered off-label use).
• Syncs with newer iOS or Android devices that support Bluetooth 4.0 (Bluetooth Smart).

Cons:

• The button on the device is small and difficult to press (but once you remove the device from the strap, the button is easier to press).
• The wrist-worn device itself provides simple feedback via the LED, so you'll need to sync and view your details on the app. The wrist band does not display time or provide other metrics. 
• Currently lacks an online community of users where you can create groups, compete against other users, etc. (I suspect that this will eventually get built in the future).
• Currently lacks an option for continuous sync in the background. You have to press and hold the button on the Boost to sync it with your mobile device. Although this sync method improves overall battery life, I suspect that Bowflex may offer an option (in the future) to provide continuous background sync at the expense of decreased battery life.

Summary: The Bowflex Boost is a great lower-cost option for those who want a simple, reliable, and comfortable wrist-worn device designed to improve their overall fitness level. The mobile app provides a summary of your daily, weekly, and monthly progress at a glance so that you can share this information with others and maintain social accountability.

I'm a big believer of wearable activity trackers. If they are used continuously for several weeks, they can help people change their habits to be more physically active.

Simple workouts to stay fit, so get up and exercise!

How much time do you spend exercising? When you don't have much time, you want to be efficient. Here are some ideas for you to consider:

Via: Spectrum Clubs

A month of wearing the Misfit Shine every day (and night)

I've been wearing my Misfit Shine every day for a month. It's always on my right wrist. I've worn it swimming. I've worn it while sleeping. I've worn it to the beach. I've worn it while traveling.

I now have a month of data on my daily physical activity (or lack of) and this device hasn't missed a single moment. I can look back on the last month and see when I was really good about exercising.

What I really appreciate about the Misfit Shine is that I never have to take it off. I sleep with it on my wrist. When I wake up, it's already on me. I don't have to worry about recharging it since it uses a coin battery that's designed to last 4+ months.

Although the instructions tell you to place the Shine on the iPhone screen, I simply hold my wrist right up to the device and tap the circle with my finger to sync. This way, the Shine stays on my wrist the entire time.

If you've never worn an activity tracker, you'll experience an interesting phenomenon the first time you put it on. You'll feel a sense of obligation to move more. You'll want to move more so that you can see how your physical activity gets measured and displayed on the app. You'll feel more motivated. People will ask you, "what's that on your wrist?" You'll want to have a good story about how you've been exercising more.

So, I'm going to share my progress report from last week:

You'll see that I was very good until Saturday. That's when I was on a plane for 6 hours, so I didn't get to do much walking or running that day. I made up for the lack of exercise on Sunday when I reached nearly 200% of my daily exercise goal.

Wearable self-tracking gadgets like the Shine can be powerful behavior motivators IF you wear it. The key is to find a gadget that you'll commit to wear every day. They are not nearly as useful if you casually wear them periodically or if you forget to wear them consistently. But, if you wear it every day, they can sustain behavior change that can ultimately translate into a healthier lifestyle. They can provide a level of social accountability that will keep you moving and exercising.

The Misfit Shine on my wrist has become a part of me now. It's on me every day because it motivates me to move, exercise, and eat healthier. It may seem a bit sad to think that I need something on my wrist to remind myself to live a healthier active lifestyle, but if it works, then I'm going to continue wearing it.

My review of the Shine by Misfit Wearables #QuantifiedSelf

I'm an early adopter of wearable technology and fitness gadgets. I still have my original Fitbit Classic. Unlike some others, I haven't lost my Fitbit and I haven't accidentally thrown it into the wash with the rest of my laundry. I've also tested the BodyMedia FIT armband, the Nike+ FuelBand, and other self-tracking fitness gadgets/pedometers. I was even a Zeo sleep headband user (but they closed their company).

Most recently, I have been wearing the Shine by Misfit Wearables to track my daily physical activity. This is one of the newest self-tracking gadgets to hit the market. The Shine is a small, round, smooth metallic device that has 12 LEDs that light up to tell you about your physical activity progress and to indicate its sync status. The Shine syncs with my iPhone and it also tells time in 5 min increments since it has 12 dots that light up.

You can wear the Shine using a magnetic clip/clasp or on a wrist strap. I've been wearing the Shine on my wrist, but at times I've clipped it on my clothing when I've been in more formal/business settings.

Here's how the Shine basically works:

1. You set a numeric daily activity goal. The default setting is 1,000 or approximately 1.5 hrs of walking, 35 min of running, or 25 min of swimming. Sync with your iPhone by placing the Shine on the screen of your iPhone (I also found that it will sync if you hold the shine close to your phone and tap the circle on the screen).

2. Wear the Shine all day. Tap it twice to see how you are progressing towards your daily goal. You will see the LEDs light up to show you how you're doing. Once you meet your goal, those LEDs will do a little dance for you and you'll feel all jazzed up! That's enough to get you motivated to move every day.

3. Sync with your iPhone to see a graphical representation of your activity levels throughout the day.

4. Want to go for a swim? Set your "activity tag" for swimming and tap your Shine 3 times. That will let the Shine know that you're about to go swimming and the device will track your progress through that activity. You can also set your activity tag to cycling if you're a biker.

5. At night, you can change your activity tag to sleeping and then triple tap your Shine before you go to bed. Shine will know when you wake up.

I've been wearing my Shine throughout the day and night. In fact, I never take it off because I don't need to (unless I'm going through airport security). That's definitely one major difference compared to my Fitbit. I don't wear my Fitbit in the shower or when I'm in the pool. I also don't wear my Fitbit during sleep since I charge it at night.

The Shine is unique because of these key features that distinguish it from other self-tracking gadgets:

1. Waterproof for swimming. I have been swimming with it almost every day and it works really well to track my swimming progress. You can either clip it to your swimwear or wear the Shine on your wrist. If you're wearing it on your wrist, you don't need to be worried about getting it wet when you wash your hands.

2. Uses a common coin battery that lasts 4-6 months, so I don't need to recharge it. I can wear it all day and all night (it tracks your sleep too).

3. It syncs using a proprietary wireless technology. It's not WiFi or NFC. Can you guess how it works? It's ultra-low power.

4. All-metal construction with aircraft-grade aluminum. No buttons to push or that may break off.

5. The design is so elegant that you can wear it to business and formal functions. In face, the Shine is the most "wearable" self-tracking fitness gadget that I have ever seen.

The Shine has replaced my old Fitbit and has become my new daily fitness tracker. I really like the fact that I can wear it when I swim and that I really never need to take it off.



Learn more about the Shine here: http://misfitwearables.com/

Jawbone Acquires BodyMedia

I have a BodyMedia arm band. I also have an original Fitbit, along with several traditional pedometers. I don't have a Jawbone Up or a Nike + FuelBand, but those items are on my Amazon wishlist and I'm waiting for the 2nd or 3rd generation devices before I make a purchase. 

Jawbone is making a serious move into the Quantified Self (QS) movement of self-tracking gadgets and they are acquiring BodyMedia for over $100 million.  BodyMedia has had more than 80 patents issued, so it's a valuable company because of its technology and its people.

Do you wear a fitness gadget or use a fitness tracking app? If you do, then stay tuned because a host of new gadgets like the  Misfit Wearables SHINE and many other new gadgets will be coming in 2013. 

I am joining the QS (Quantified Self) movement!

After attending the Medicine 2.0 conference at Stanford over the weekend, I decided that I needed to join the Quantified Self (QS) movement. First of all, I love gadgets, so I'm excited about the idea that I'll be wearing a gadget(s) on me all the time so that I can track my biometrics over time.

Are you familiar with the Quantified Self movement? If you've ever worn a heart rate monitor at the gym, then you've had a taste. If you're a patient with diabetes using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), then you probably have a good idea of what QS is all about. Here's a brief description of QS:

Quantified Self is a collaboration of users and tool makers who share an interest in self knowledge through self-tracking.

Simple, right? QS devices can be useful tools that can motivate you to change your behavior. Join a QS community and gather, inspire, and learn from each other as we share and collaborate on self-tracking projects. Over the next several weeks, I'll be getting my hands on several QS devices and I'll be testing some for short-term and potential long-term application. Stay tuned to hear more and to see how I do as I track my own personal activity over the course of time. I'm doing some traveling this fall, so it'll definitely be interesting to see how much activity I get when I travel for business.

Have you been exercising?

Many people make New Years resolutions around the theme of diet/exercise/fitness/nutrition. Did you? Have you been exercising to stay fit? On average, I probably go to the gym 3 times each week.

My wife and kids are at the gym this morning and I'm at home typing away. What's wrong with that picture? I'll be going to the gym later (by myself) since I need to lose a little bit of that holiday weight. When I'm at the gym, I'm using all sorts of gadgets ranging from electronic heart rate monitors to "virtual trainers" that push me to exercise harder. Plus, I'm wired with an iPod and I'm catching up on podcasts.

Are you gaining weight this holiday season?

I ate so much yesterday. On average, an adult living in the United States gains approximately one pound each year. Have you been gaining weight over the past 5 or 10 years? It's so difficult to maintain a negative calorie balance over the holidays, but you can control your portions, select healthy food selections, eat desserts in moderation, and make time to exercise.

Did you get (or give) a gym membership this holiday season?
Did you get (or give) any fitness equipment this holiday season?

It's the day after Christmas and I'm in the mood to go to the gym today. Who's going to join me? The other great way to exercise is to go walking. I'll be doing some of that by heading out to the malls to do some shopping!

Wine, chocolate, and our health

People often pair wine with cheese. I like cheese, but I love chocolate. Now, I don't drink much wine, but I consume a fair bit of chocolate. Anyone who knows we well can attest to that! I'm eating chocolate right now as I type this blog post (Lindt Lindor dark chocolate truffles).

Let's look at these two common elements that frequently get consumed during the holiday season because they make great gift ideas:

Wine: Now wine contains alcohol and is also quite high in calories. Alcohol is a sedative and some people may be addicted to alcohol. The truth is that many people actually abuse/misuse alcohol but they don't even realize it. As a result, alcohol has become a menace to society in that it has contributed to significant health problems (cancer, cirrhosis, alcoholism, etc.) and public health concerns (drunk driving, decreased workplace productivity, etc.). However, wine appears to have some health benefits if it's consumed responsibly. Wine (in responsible moderation) may benefit the heart, lipid profiles, etc.

Chocolate: I love chocolate, but we all know that chocolate is heavy on the calories. They say, "A moment on the lips, but a lifetime on the hips" (you may as well add: waist, belly, thighs, etc.) I make it to the gym several times each week just so that I can maintain my chocolate habit. We've been uncovering more health benefits tied with dark chocolate, but it's hard to justify most of these benefits when you look at the obesity epidemic in the United States. I don't think any  physician will encourage an overweight or obese individual to consume chocolate for health benefits.

So, what are we to do about wine and chocolate this holiday season? I'm going to cut back on wine so that I can eat more chocolate. This way, I can still burn the same amount of calories each day and still enjoy my chocolate.

Swim for fitness

Our new home has a pool in the backyard. Since we just moved in, we didn't get a chance to use it. However, I'm excited to use the pool next summer and I can't open to get in there and get back into swimming shape. Right now, I still get to exercise at the gym several times each week. The gym has a nice pool, but it gets crowded so it's hard to swim laps without bumping into people. There are times when I wished that we had a Swim Spa in our home. We're already spoiled by an outdoor pool, but we can't use that pool in the winter (I'm not a polar bear!). I actually jumped into a New England ocean in January with several other people, but that was a long time ago.

Indoor Swim Spas are great to have because you can use them throughout the year and still get your swimming exercise. There's nothing like using a water treadmill for some great indoor exercise. One of the main reasons why I enjoy swimming is because it's a great way to exercise multiple muscles in a short amount of time. My wife has been talking about expanding her medical practice and she may eventually add some physical and occupational therapists. I'm hoping that she will also invest in some aquatic therapy equipment.

So how do you stay in shape during the winter? It's often too cold to go running or biking outside. Unless you belong to a gym, it can be difficult to exercise effectively in the cold weather. I'm glad that I can do some exercises at home and I'm looking forward to the warm weather so that I can use my outdoor pool.

Heart transplant cancer patient running the Ironman World Championship

Wow! This story just makes you want to go to the gym and jump on a treadmill. Heart transplant recipient and cancer survivor Kyle Garlett will compete in October's Ironman World Championship! What an amazing success story of someone who defeated a serious illness.

• Kyle was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma as a high school senior in 1989.
• He developed leukemia as a result of his earlier chemotherapy.
• He received a heart transplant in 2006.
• Now he's running marathons and competing in triathlon.
  

Isn't it amazing what some people accomplish in their lives? I also really admire Lance Armstrong who battled testicular cancer and won multiple consecutive victories in the Tour de France. Time for me to go to the gym!

Read the amazing CNN story here.

China: exercise in a gym or outside?

It looks like indoor gym memberships are really becoming popular in China. These gym memberships aren't free, but it's free to exercise outside. Watch this CNN video that talks about current exercise trends in China. How often do you see people practicing Tai Chi in the parks?

Run a half-marathon and help a child through the Fresh Air Fund

When I was a student at MIT, I ran the Boston marathon as a bandit (unofficial, non-qualified runner). I wasn't a runner. I just wanted to give it a try and I finished it in 4 hours. "Heartbreak Hill" was brutal. If you enjoy running, perhaps you'd consider running the NYC half-marathon next month. It's a relatively flat run (so you won't have to worry about a heartbreak hill experience). You can help children while you're at it. The Fresh Air Fund is looking for runners and sponsors to join the Fresh Air Fund-Racers team for the NYC Half-Marathon on August 16th. http://freshair.org/racers

Last summer's NYC Half-Marathon was a huge success and the Fresh Air Fund-Racers raised more than $125,000.

Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer experiences in the country to more than 1.7 million New York City children from disadvantaged communities. Each year, thousands of children visit volunteer host families in 13 states and Canada through the Friendly Town Program or attend Fresh Air Fund camps.

The Fresh Air Fund is also still in need of Friendly Town hosts for next month. Host families open their hearts and home to a NYC child who would not otherwise have the opportunity to escape the hot, crowded city streets.

To learn more about the Fresh Air Fund, visit: http://www.freshair.org
You can also follow the Fresh Air Fund on Twitter @FreshAirFund

Contest eaters face serious health issues

In a former life, I was almost a contest eater. Not for speed, but for quantity. That was a very long time ago. Do you ever watch those food eating contests? They are crazy! CNN has a story titled, "Speed eaters gain weight, clog arteries but have few regrets." Maybe they don't have many regrets while they're still young and relatively healthy, but this type of behavior can catch up to you, especially if you're Don Lerman who set a record by eating seven sticks of salted butter in five minutes. During six years of competitive eating, he gained 100 pounds! The average adult in the U.S. gains 1 pound per year. If you gain 100 pounds in 6 years, how many pounds are you gaining each year? (certainly you're above the mean)

In 2007, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine doctors who specialize in gastroenterology and radiology conducted an experiment on the stomach activities of a competitive eater and an average eater. Do you know what they found? Competitive eaters lacked muscle contractions called peristalsis, which move the food down the digestive tract. The researchers published a paper where they warned about: possible "morbid obesity, profound gastroparesis, intractable nausea and vomiting, and even the need for a gastrectomy." Yikes!

I wonder what we're going to learn about competitive eaters over the next decade. If you exercise, can you eat anything you want to eat? Does exercise give you freedom to eat? (It does for me - that's why I can enjoy ice cream and be guilt-free). Read the CNN story here.

My lunchtime ice cream experiment has backfired

Earlier this week, I asked the question, "Is it better to eat ice cream after lunch or dinner?" Many people answered, "yes!" I'm an ice cream lover too! I had been eating ice cream after dinner, but this week I wanted to try something a bit different. I was going to eat ice cream after lunch. My little clinical study backfired when I couldn't control myself from eating ice cream after dinner every night! So, I've decided that I should limit my ice cream consumption to once/day (otherwise, my BMI will go through the roof). However, now that I've gotten used to eating ice cream after lunch, I'm having a difficult time breaking that habit.

Is it better to eat ice cream after lunch or dinner?

In the U.S., people have a tendency to eat a lighter lunch and then a heavier dinner. This is one of the main reasons why salads are so popular during lunch. Well, I love ice cream and I tend to eat ice cream after dinner. Fortunately, I have a healthy BMI (body mass index) and I exercise regularly, so my ice cream eating habit hasn't made a big impact on my weight yet. However, I think about my health whenever I eat ice cream. For the last few days, I've been thinking about switching my routine ice cream eating routine. Instead of eating ice cream after dinner, I think I'm going to eat it after lunch. After all, I tend to eat less for lunch (I've succumbed to the American way of things) and this way, I get to burn those ice cream calories during the day.

So is it better to eat ice cream after lunch or dinner? I don't think you'll find many clinical studies answering that question. Allow me to conduct this little study on myself and I'll report my findings. Consider this a case report: ice cream after lunch vs. after dinner.

Job Loss Linked to Health Problems?

Do you know anyone who has recently lost a job? CNN has a story about how the risks of hypertension, heart disease, and arthritis are higher in those who lose their job.

As someone trained in public health, I often wonder whether we're talking about association or causation. In other words, does job loss cause these conditions? Probably not. However, the association is an interesting one and it may point to some issues that revolve around healthcare disparities. These findings were recently published in the journal Demography by Kate Strully, assistant professor of sociology at the State University of New York at Albany. Demography is the statistical study of all populations. What an interesting name for a journal. I'll have to keep my eye out for this edition. Image source: CNN.