The health kick has begun. My previous attempts to get rid of the Dad Belly have failed. I need help.
At the same time that my health kick was restarting, Beets Blu got in touch with me to ask if I wanted to check out their range of tech health gear. Perfect timing!
First up were the Beets Blu Bluetooth Scales.
They arrived well packaged and with the batteries needed to run them. It’s a good quality set of scales. They’re not plastic – but rather glass and metal with a large, clear digital display. They look slick too.
The instructions were short and sweet but told you everything you needed to know. There were also some handy hints about where scales should be placed to get accurate measurements (not on lino, for example). I got the partner app from the Android store with no fuss, then I was all ready to go. The app works with Apple iPhone (4S and later), iPad (mini, 3, 4, Air) and Android (4.4 and later).
Pairing the phone with the scales was simplicity itself. A couple of button presses and a couple of beeps, and everything was set up. As long as your phone has Bluetooth 4.0 (which most recent ones do) then it’s really that easy.
App
The scales, when combined with a free app, become an excellent health monitoring system. You are told your weight, obviously, and then your body’s fat & muscle percentage level, and also your BMI. You can adjust the app to display your weight in kg, lbs or stone. You can also sync the app with Google Fit to share your weight / progress, which is a rather smart feature. You’re also given advice by the app on the best time of day to weigh yourself and similar useful tips.
When this comes into its own, however, is when it’s used over a period of time. If you are on a health kick, then this can be used to monitor your progress. The app charts your measurements as you go, simply displaying in a graph how you’re getting on. Perfect if, like me, you’re keen to see if all this bloody exercise and beer avoidance is working!
I’ve been using it for a few weeks now. Week by week, you can easily see how you’re getting on. (Luckily for me, it’s going in a good direction!)
Heart Rate Monitor
The second device from Beets Blu was a Smart Cardio Heart Rate Monitor. Again, working with a range of devices, it’s a handy home device for accurate heart rate readings.
Coming with a soft chest strap (fits chest size 28″ to 48″), it works by placing it over your rib cage with a little lubrication (gel or water) and then linking it up to your phone or tablet with an appropriate app. The app then measures & records your heart rate.
Once the battery is in, it doesn’t need to be switched on. It automatically starts up when it detects your heartbeat and then can be used with a whole selection of apps including RunKeeper, My Fitness Pal, MapMyRun, Endomondo, Strava and many others. Ironically, it found it easier to connect to some 3rd party apps than the app provided by Beets BLU.
I’ve used the heart monitor a few times. The first time was when I was at rest. I was curious to see what my heart beat was when I was relaxed. Ideally, it should be between 60 and 100 bpm, generally the lower the better. I was sitting at 69bpm, which made me quite happy!
There’s also been a couple of times when I’ve been on the exercise bike and used the monitor. It definitely adds an extra dimension to exercising. My targets, when pedalling away on my bike, have always been distance / speed / time. With the monitor, I now set a target of heart rate. I try to get my bpm up to about 120 and break into a sweat. It’s a great motivational tool!
It’s comfortable to wear and does exactly what it’s meant to.
Beets Blu are making some fine, affordable health gadgets that connect seamlessly to your phone / tablet. If you’re looking for another level to your health kick and good, easy ways to monitor your performance, I’d recommend both of these gadgets!
Holy!! That scale is amazing! Ive had my fair share of disappointments with scales and this is great!! I love how techy it is!
The scales look amazing – I have the heart rate monitor, it is really good. Kaz x
Don’t those scales loo great. It is hard to lose that belly isn’t it. I think that’s probably the hardest part to shift. Good luck x
What a lovely scale. We are actually looking for a new one at the moment as ours broke! 🙂
http://lilinhaangel.com/
I have a love hate relationship with scales and have never replaced in the battery in mine as I found them so demotivating!
This looks like just what I need, hope it is working for you
Ooh how fab are these!! We don’t have scales in our house due to my previous struggles with anorexia but if we were to have scales, these one look pretty amazing!!
my latest health kick has given me the confidence to start running. I have recently lost over 3st and these scales would be great for my slimming journey
Changing all my oils to coconut oil has done amazing things 🙂
I have been on a bit of a health kick this year with long walks, cycling and in the last few days I have started to use ecigs rather than ordinary cigs.
I managed to slim down from 19 to 16st about five years ago, Sadly I hurt my leg and was out of action for a while, which led into out of action for forever and I’ve put it alL (and more back on).
Definitely in need of a health kick again!
my most successful health kick was when I decided to take up road running having never run in my life before. Within 16 months I was running the London Marathon. Completed it in 4 hours 11 minutes.
Going on a detox diet by juicing and making smoothies
FODMAP diet – look it up – I had to!
My most successful health kick I lost 4 stone and after serious illness out straight back on. I have the fat condition lipoedema which means I put on weight I can’t lose. I’m desperate to lose all non lipo fat so would love to win this.
I jog for one mile every day and have lost two stone in the last year
Yoga has helped me to tone up my body!
I did a lot of walking over the summer, and tho my meds meant I didn’t lose weight, I feel better for it and healthier for all that fresh air and exercise xx
These scales look great, I’ve not stepped on mine in ages but need to now I have just joined a running club 🙂
We quit smoking after 9 years and many attempts.My partner was havbing palptations and it scared him so he quit and i said id do it with him.We quit on the 5th oct 2015 i remember the date as its when the carrier bag charge came in lol.
I am recovering after a two year period of ill health so am trying to regain my fitness and lose the weight I have gained – so firstly I am going for a daily walk and trying to build up my exercise slowly as advised and also I have cut out all snacking in between meals so no cake chocolate or biscuits etc
I’d love a heart rate monitor to keep me on track and help me pace my activity as I start to build up my exercise gradually x
Best health kick was learning to run, did the London Marathon in 2012, but busted my knee on a discarded water bottle so managed in 7 hrs 50 mins rather than the 5 hours expected. Still well worth it though
my Fitbit helps me reach my daily goals
i started doing lots of walking
Definitely yoga, its low impact so doesnt cause a problem with my knees but its really helped me to get some muscle definition and tone up!
pilates is enough to keep me going but I prefer to walk and cycle to car any day
I do gym circuits I am in my 60s and everyone of a certain age could this piece of equipment it’s great
Finding something that I am both good at and enjoy. I swim, I don’t find it a chore so am happy to go most days 🙂
I stopped eating bread…hello six-pack…well 3 or 4 anyway 🙂
Joining the local fitness centre
I lost 6.5 stone using Lighterlife – difficult but worth it 🙂
These scales look amazing, just what I need to boost my motivation
Cutting out sugar in all my drinks and on cereal
The fitbit is our new craze x
joining slimmers world!!
The 5:2 worked for me.
Trying to cut down on what i am eating especially in the evenings
giving up smoking was the best thing I did to help my health
Stopping smoking best thing I could ever have done
I am trying not to eat before 12.30 and after 8.30. Seems to be doing the trick as long as I don’t try and stuff my face before 8.30
I was over 20 stone and have now managed to slim down to just over 11. I aim to lose more but just maintaining at the moment
joined a local slimming club x
I don’t drink or smoke so i consider that successful ^,^ well i quit drinking & smoking 8+ years ago 🙂
I’d love this prize as i’m having problems with my heart rate & would love to keep track of it. I’m only 28 years old
Thanks for the chance xo
quitting smoking aqnd slimming down
I’ve been dionosed with severe Lung disease so I’m on a HUGE health kick and overhaul! From diet and excecise, to lifesyle choices, where I go, what I wear-everything has to
Change and I’m not really liking it all one bit! ????????
Tracking my macros and playing around with fats, carbs and protein ratio until I found a balanced that worked for me.
i used a trampoline everyday and lost weight
I have lost two and a half stone by cutting out bad fats and go to the gym three times a week now to keep trim
I walk to work instead of driving
Giving up sugar….made the weight drop off : )
giving up smoking best thing ever x
My biggest health kick was when I joined a gym nearly 5 years ago, I still enjoy doing 4-5 gym classes a week and am a lot fitter now than I was im my 20s.
The one I’m on currently – 2 years along the line and I’ve lost 4 stone (1 more to go) and got SO much fitter. Little changes make a big difference.
I like the look of these scales they look wonderful as I’ve started to go swimming once a week in my local pool#need to go more.????????
Not my health kick, but my husbands, he just had a massive heart attack, so now, his health kick is loose weight and exercise more. That is his orders and he slowly getting into a rhythm. We never going through that day again.
Playing Squash to keep healthy/fit 🙂
I started jogging, for the first time ever and from being a sloth, in April, and I’m up to 3.5 km on average every other day. I have only lost 1.5 kg at the most! What a battle it is! The battle of my life, literally. I only hope that the visceral fat covering my organs has decreased.
Doing the school run on foot! A mile and a half there and back everyday times two was amazing for my fitness levels!
Eating lots of salads and fruit. I love the crunchy stuff.
I was on holiday and decided out of the blue to go for a run, I felt great after so decided to carry it on when I got back
i use my treadmill every morning for half hour x
I cycle everywhere, it keeps me fit and gets me where i need to go.
My discovery of coconut oil! (I give it to my dogs too!)
I joined the gym last year for the first time ever lasted about 6 months on a health kick need to get back on it
When I started doing yoga a few years ago was a big step in my overall health.
This just what i have been looking for
Those scales really do look amazing!
I’ve lost 4 stone through weightlifting and would love a new set of scales as I continue to lose body fat. I feel as though they would help me reach my goals and give me a clearer picture of where I am 🙂
The only thing I do is play badminton sometimes then I have to go to the pub to cool down after. I’m bit of failure when it comes to health kicks
Would love this one in my house!
Lovely prize 🙂 Thanks and goodluck all
I try to walk a couple of miles a day
My most successful health kick was after I was told that 30% of my entire body weight was fat so I started going to the free gym at my office. I lost 3 stone. Yay!
i stoped eating too much and started to work more. i lost 4 stone yesssssssss
In ten days I will have stopped smoking for 1 year.
Cut down dramatically on saturated fats and the weight just fell off me
Taking over dog walking duties, it makes sure I get out and walk a good distance at least once a day
Cut out alcohol, and general processed sugary rubbish and eat meat, fish, fruit and veg and lost 2 stone easily
My health kick at the moment is running & glutathione. .
I found little targets work best. I make sure I walk at least 2 miles a day and swim once a week
Cutting processed sugar out of my diet. I lost 2 stone and feel great
Yoga on the wii fit
Cutting out chocolate for health reasons
Eating less and moving around more has worked wonders for me.
My most successful health kick is going on at the moment after a health scare it has made myself and my family take a stance to get fitter
my most succesful health kick is losing 1 stone
great post, have been looking for a HRM recommendation! my most successful kick was losing the baby weight – i realised i didn’t even need to leave the house & started some online programmes when the kids were in bed. This gave me real boost and is now part of my daily routine. A stone lighter and feeling much more toned, I have completed a 50 mile duathlon and a 90 mile cycling event this year 🙂
so far Iv’e lost 3 stone doing slimming world, I am a bit of a sneaky mid week weigher and borrow my neighbours scales, Would be nice to own my own xx
Growing our own fruit and vegetables has definitely given our health a kick.
Only drinking alcohol at weekends unless there is a celebration or meal out. Thank you for the lovely giveaway xxx
Cutting down on sugar and eating lots more fruit & veg. Also cutting out processed foods…………………fresh and natural all the way. I feel so much better for it. Now to start exercising x
Regular push-ups and sit-ups worked for me.
A 2 mile walk to the train station in the morning for me
My most successful health kick…taking up Pokemon Go, because I now make excuses to walk everywhere with the kids intead of driving and it’s paying off! I feel much fitter for all the walking and we have fun catching the Pokemon on the way so it’s WIN/WIN !
me and my wife go to slimming world i have lost over 4 stone my wife lost 1 and a half stone we play pokemon go aswell which gets us out and about instead of sitting infront of the tv
I suffered with blocked sinuses and gave up dairy, it has worked a treat
After my second child a daily routine of running and stretching plus a swim and a spin once a week helped to get me back in shape and fit to complete tough mudder!
I learned all about stretching. The difference was amazing.
I walk to keep fit
These look amazing! My most successful health kick was when I decided to make sure I always got my five a day and just generally ate more healthily (though not cutting out anything!). That was over a year ago – and I’m still on it 🙂
My health kick……EAT THE RAINBOW ! Fresh is best & looks and tastes great too!
My most….(ahem…only) health kick was quitting smoking when we started trying for a baby 8 years ago…never touched one since!
I recently discovered HIIT (high intensity interval training) and love it!
Keeping healthy diet and cycling
Earlier this year I got to my lowest weight ever in my adult life by clean eating and light exercise, sadly I let it slip over the school holidays but I’m not on day 3 of a healthy new me again!
Walking to the shops & carrying my heavy shopping back. Up a steep hill.
Cutting down on carbs..I’ve always watched what I’ve eaten but recently started limiting the carbs..I have always eaten way to much of them and since reducing I have lost over a stone
I want lose 1 stone for my wedding next year 😉
Walking everywhere I can and not eating as much chocolate has helped me tone up
I haven’t had one yet I’m hoping if I win this it might help
I stopped smoking so have put on weight and would love to lose it x
getting a dog for the family we walk her everywere
Buying a treadmill so I got fitter, it enabled me to RACE in a 10km run xxx
I love the 16:8 diet
Stopped having two sugars in hot drinks.
2 young sons keep me fit!
When youngerI managed to loose weight by cutting down on snacks, and exercising by walking. I walked many miles per day. As I walked everywhere that I needed to go.
I was also successful in loosing weight years later by cutting down in snacks, sweet treat, exercise and I would treat myself to new clothes. That encouraged me to keep the weight off for quite some time.
Unfortunately as I have aged and developed Arthritis etc, find it impossible to loose weight. Probably as I find mobilising difficult due to stiffness and pain.
When I was younger I used to walk a lot. Then I tore a muscle in my left leg, followed by arthritis in my left ankle, followed by type 2 diabetes. Then came Parkinson’s. I don’t do much these days except turn over in bed a lot!
I’ve stopped eating chocolates
This is an amazing gadget. I’ve been left with a lot of health issues since a recent operation went wrong and i’m desperate to get my fitness levels up since being left with one working lung and this would help monitor my heart too!
Hopefully I would weigh less on these!
Fingers crossed
Brilliant,it’s a life saver!
Growing our own fruit and vegetables has definitely given our health a kick xx
Wow ,never heard of this little gadget before ,it sound amazing would love to give it a go .
Started learning how to swim
have arthritis and the hydro pool has helped me exercise without huge impact on my knees and hips! Love it!
I live near the Lake District so enjoy lots of walks and hikes on its many great trails.
Getting a dog made us more active!