Tag Archives: health

Fitdigits Apps Menu & Navigation

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Fitdigits now features a revamped user interface for iCardio, iRunner, iWalker and iBiker. The streamlined menu allows you to navigate throughout the app easily and quickly.

To access the menu, tap the three horizontal bars in the top left of the home screen.

Tap the three horizontal bars to access the menu

Tap the three horizontal bars to access the menu

After tapping, the menu will reveal. Let’s briefly go over all of the menu items

Heart rate training app navigation

  1. Profile / Name – Set and edit information like your name, profile picture, height, weight, fitness level, email and more.
  2. My Upgrades – This will show you your current purchases or allow you to upgrade for some great features and functionality.
  3. Activities – View a complete list of all workouts and activities tracked with Fitdigits.
  4. Daily Activity – View your steps and calories over small and large periods of time when paired with Apple Health, Google Fit or one of our other daily activity providers.
  5. Goals – Set goals for activity, steps, weight and more.
  6. Health Vitals – Keep track of weight, blood pressure, resting pulse, sleep and connect, either manually entered or through our health partners.
  7. Groups – List and manage the groups you belong to or start your own group if you are a Star member.
  8. Partners – Link and manage all your partners, daily activity and steps providers, and other health partners and providers.
  9. Sensors – Go here to pair and manage compatible Bluetooth Low Energy Sensors.
  10. Sync – This syncs all of your data to make sure there is a safe backup and so you can view workouts on my.fitdigits.com.
  11. Settings – View your app settings and customize them.
  12. Support – Email support, send a Debug log, read tips and tricks about using and troubleshooting the apps.

Where did Fitness Assessments go? 

Since the activity you do the Fitness Assessment in is so critical to the assessment, access them from the gear / options icon to the left of the quick start button when you are in the home screen with the activity type you want to do the assessment with selected.

Tracking Resting Heart Rate with Fitdigits Apps

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Your resting heart rate tells you a lot about your heart health and training levels. See The Importance of Resting Heart Rate to check out all the fun ways your resting heart rate can help you on your journey to a healthy and fit life! And we make it easy to track.

Taking your resting pulse is simple and only requires your fingertips and a stopwatch. We also take your lowest heart rate reading every day automatically with the Apple Watch, if you have one. Ideally, take your resting pulse in the morning right after you wake up.

To manually enter your resting heart rate:
1. Launch your Fitdigits app, tap Menu > Health Vitals
2. Tap Resting Pulse.
3. Tap “+” sign located at the top right of the screen.
4. Enter your Resting Pulse, tap Save.

You can also change the date and time if you are entering a resting pulse from a previous date.

Resting heart rate

To manually delete a resting pulse entry:
1. From the resting pulse screen, swipe from right to left to delete any of the manually entered entries. (A red delete icon will appear.)
2. Tap delete and the entry will be erased from your dashboard.

Tracking Sleep with Fitdigits Apps

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The Importance of Sleep

Sleep is critical for boosting brainpower, peace of mind, improving your exercise and performance and even necessary if you want to lose weight. Sufficient sleep has been linked to lowering risk for heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Get enough sleep to perform, look and feel your best.

Why Should I Track My Sleep?

Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or frequently waking up? Track your sleep to help identify your sleep challenges and trends. Often, making a few changes to your habits and routine can positively affect your ability to get a good night’s sleep.

How to Track My Sleep

Fitdigits offers two options to track your sleep. You can either use a Fitdigits compatible sleep tracker and have your information automatically sync to Fitdigits, or manually enter in the sleep information.

Sleep Tracker
Here is a list of sleep trackers Fitdigits is compatible with:

Just link your account on the my.fitdigits partners page or from the Partners section in your app, and your sleep data will fill in automatically!

Manual Entry
In Fitdigits you can manually enter in your sleep data as well.

1. In Fitdigits Apps, tap Menu > Health Vitals
2. Tap Sleep
3. Tap the “+” sign in the upper right

4. You will now be taken to the Sleep Input page. Enter in your Bed Time, Wake Time, Awakenings, Times Up, the Quality of your Sleep and any comments you may have. All of these factors will determine your sleep score.

Input your sleep data

5. Tap Save when you are finished. You will now see your sleep score.

It is important to track your sleep, and now you can with Fitdigits!

Stay Healthy Through the Holidays

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How to Fit Fitness into Your Busy Holiday Schedule

While the holidays are often thought of as a magical time of year, this season can also be stressful for those who gripe about money, family issues and putting on extra pounds. In fact, a survey by Consumer Reports found that 34% of Americans say gaining weight is what they dread most about the holidays.

Luckily, this worry can be easily avoided by simply working off the extra calories. However, carving out time to go to the gym or on a run is an entirely different issue. While most peoples’ schedules are jam-packed with corporate gatherings, holiday parties and family obligations this time of year, it’s important to find ways to fit fitness into your daily routine.

Follow these six workout tips to stay fit and beat the holiday bulge.

    1. Turn your commute into a workout.
      Whether you’re going to work or taking the kids to school, your morning commute is the perfect time to be physically active. You can walk or ride a bike to work or school and burn extra calories. Just make sure to plan extra time in the morning to get to your final destination.

 

    1. Plan active activities with your family.
      Instead of sitting around and indulging in chips and sweets while watching reruns of the Christmas Story, get the family out on a walk around town to look at store window decorations and holiday lights, or perhaps go for a fun ice skating outing.

 

    1. Track your weight and activity.
      The holiday bulge can creep up when you aren’t watching, and that’s why it’s important to monitor your calories, weight and activity to ensure you don’t slip up. Fitdigits’s iCardio App keeps your cardio in check by tracking calories burned during any cardio activity like walking, running or riding a bike. As a Fitdigits MVP member for less than $5 per month, you can set specific fitness goals, receive advanced heart-rate charts and training graphs, and much more. The data syncs with MyFitnessPal’s food journal and Fitbit’s step activity tracker for a complete overview of your all-day activity and nutrition, which will motivate you to make better food and fitness decisions.

 

    1. 10 minutes is all you need.
      A study published by the New York Times found that three 10-minute cardio intervals were just as effective as one 30-minute sweat session. Go for a 10-minute jog before work, complete 10 minutes of lunges and squats at lunch, and end the night with 10 minutes of push-ups and sit-ups. Splitting up your fitness sessions during the day ensures you keep burning calories throughout the day and works with any busy schedule.

 

    1. Challenge your buddies.
      Find a fitness buddy to help you stay on track. Working out with a friend or family member holds you accountable, whether it’s meeting up at the gym or at the outdoor track. During the holidays it’s easy to lose your fitness focus. Stay connected with your buddy through a friendly fitness competition. For instance, commit to a Calorie-Burn Challenge to see who can burn more calories through the end of the year. Track and share results using Fitdigits’s heart-rate monitor and keep each other motivated!

 

    1. Bring fitness with you.
      One of the biggest deterrents to working out when traveling during the holidays is not having access to a gym. Anticipate this obstacle and bring your fitness gear with you. Lightweight resistance bands, a jump rope and a laptop are all you need to get your sweat on whether you’re staying in a hotel room or your grandmother’s basement. You can access free fitness videos online at sites like fitness.com or BodyRock.TV and set your phone timer to ensure you get in a full 30 or 60-minute cardio session.

 

Written by Andrea Woroch

60 and Still Kicking!

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Testimonial by Fitdigits User Greg R.

I have been using Fitdigits for quite some time, and my iPhone has a record of 369 workouts. I use it to sync with both a MIO Alpha wrist heart rate monitor and a Polar H7 chest strap HRM. The primary use is to log P90X type workouts and I have been through the original P90X, five times; P90X3 once and am currently in the second phase of P90X2 for the second time. I also use it to log workouts at the gym on a treadmill or an elliptical.

Heart rate monitoring is a great motivator for me. For example yesterday I did the 30-minute kick boxing routine from P90X3 called MMX. It is intense; a 30-minute HIIT workout. Today’s workout was the original kick boxing routine from P90X called KenpoX. Attached are the heart rate graphs for the two. You can clearly see how the MMX is more intense, but KenpoX is almost an hour and burns more calories. (Comparison was 400 cal. vs. 565 cal.)

MMX Workout. 400 Calories

KenpoX Workout. 565 Calories

 

What else can I say but thanks Fitdigits! I¹ll be 60 years old in February. Fitdigits is helping me to maintain my fitness and health, which are two very important aspects of life. I was able to run in a Warrior Dash in August with my two sons no doubt because of my commitment to fitness and Fitdigits has been a big help in keeping me on track.

Check out My Fitness Blog and My Website, where I write a weekly column about monitoring fitness and other parameters of life on my iPhone.

Sharing with Apple Health

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The Health app provides daily steps, active & total calories per day and other metrics that help you gauge your activity levels. Fitdigits apps also post to Health with information about your tracked activities within our apps iCardio, iRunner, iWalker and iBiker.

Linking Fitdigits & Apple HealthLinking Fitdigits Apps with Apple Health

To link your Fitdigits account with Apple Health on your iPhone or iPod Touch:

  1. On the main screen of your Fitdigits app, tap Menu > Partners > Apple Health
  2. Tap Enable Sharing
  3. Choose what data you want to send to and from the Health app and Fitdigits (see screenshot). The best thing to chose “Turn All Categories On”.
  4. Tap “Done” in the upper right of the Health app
  5. If you allowed reading daily activity metrics, you will be prompted to sync your data. There are two options:
    1. Starting Today – this will only upload data from the day you tap onwards
    2. All Time – this will sync all days with data on the device. If you previously had data on a date that also has data from this device, it will overwrite the conflicting Apple Health days data from the previous device. If there is no data from the new device, old device data will be maintained (so for most people upgrading, you have a continuous Apple Health data stream).
  6. When the sync is complete, you will be asked if you want motivating messaging through the day, just a daily report of the previous days activity, or no Notifications at all. You can always change this setting by visiting the Partners page.
  7. To view your daily activity, tap Menu > Daily Activity within your Fitdigits app.

Please note: Apple’s Health app is an iOS app that comes standard on the iPhone and iPod Touch. It is a device specific app, it does not share data across devices. You can only be paired with one device and Apple Health at a time, and Apple Health is only supported on iOS 10 and above.

Sharing Workouts to Apple Health

If there is a past workout that somehow didn’t get synced to Apple Health:

  1. Tap that workout
  2. Tap the Share link in the upper right in the workout detail

See Sharing Workouts for more.

If you see a difference in Active Calories posted to the Apple Activity app and what is shared to Apple Health, this article on the subject is quite helpful (here).

Daily Activity Notifications

One of the first things you may notice, depending on your settings, is the daily activity notifications. We hope you like them and find them motivating. However, not everyone does. See how to manage them here:

Managing Notification Preferences

Troubleshooting PairingPreferred Partner

If you are not seeing any data from Apple Health to your Fitdigits app, check the >Partners page, make sure Apple Health is set as your preferred daily activity source. We only show and utilize data from one paired source, which can be modified in your Profile section online.

Re-Enable Apple Health Link

  1. Tap Menu > Partners > Apple Health
  2. Tap Disable in the upper right
  3. Tap Enable again to re-enable linking.
  4. Make sure you choose ALL categories for both read and write when prompted.

Check for Synchronization Errors

  1. Tap Menu > Settings > Synchronization.
  2. If the last synchronization date is older, tap Retry.
  3. If you need to rebuild data, tap Sync Date Reset.
    1. The reset should replace the date under Apple Health with either the date you originally specified (if you initially chose “Starting Today”) or say “All Time”.
  4. Tap Retry next to Apple Health to initiate sync.

Sync SettingsIf you are getting prompted in the app that there is another device currently linking with Apple Health on your account, but want to change devices, please disable then re-enable the Apple Health link (see Troubleshooting above).

  • Note: pre-iPhone 5S devices not supported. Phones must have either Apple Health enabled on a device with an accelerometer to get daily activity detail.

Modifying Fitdigits / Apple Health Share Permissions

  1. Open the Apple “Health” app
  2. Tap Sources on the bottom tab menu bar
  3. Scroll down and tap the name of the app (iCardio, iRunner, iBiker, etc)

You can review or change any read and write settings from there at any time.

What Data Shares with Apple Health?

If you are paired with the Health app using the steps above, after you complete an activity, it will be shared with Apple’s Health app and stored there for review. Fitdigits will receive basic daily activity data such as steps and distance, depending on permissions granted and current levels of support.

Fitdigits will not send data pulled from partners (such as steps from Fitbit) to Apple Health, as Apple expressly does not allow it. Apple has advised developers for the Apple Health Kit to not send their data to other activity tracking companies as well.

Also note Apple’s Health data does not sync to multiple devices. So if you have an iPad and iPod Touch, Apple Health will treat this as two separate accounts, leading to possibilities for missed workouts or duplicates (data doesn’t sync to Health across devices).

Fitdigits is excited about the possibilities Apple Health offers, and we will continue to evolve our integration and functionality as Apple does the same.

If you see a difference in Active Calories posted to the Apple Activity app and what is shared to Apple Health, this article on the subject is quite helpful (here).

What is FitRank?

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Countless Fitdigits Crusaders constantly consider FitRank, a metric proudly presented in perpetuity on the Profile page. Your quest for truth ends here. You can easily change your FitRank or VO2 Max by tapping on the respective areas – they are tied though, so change one you change the other!

My Fitness in Profile

 

Fitdigits’s FitRank is a metric that is designed to take a persons’ VO2 Max, estimated by an Assessment or manual input if you know it from a Metabolic Assessment, and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100 based on your Age. We don’t give out more than a 100 – sorry! 100 is excellent, a 1 certainly could use improvement.

We used Polar’s VO2 Max tables – they have pulled them down since but standard tables are fairly common around the internet like:

http://www.topendsports.com/testing/norms/vo2max.htm
http://www.machars.net/v02max.htm
http://www.whyiexercise.com/VO2-Max.html

We went a bit further than these, however, and actually did a 1 to 100 allocation and again a year-by-year age allocation, so, for example, instead of Ages 18-25 having a “good” VO2 Max value of 52-60, we allocated the range of 52-60 over the years 18, 19, 20, etc.

We hope you enjoy the FitRank metric, and watch it go, as you get healthier, all the way to a perfect 100!

The 12 Days of Fitness Christmas

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Twas 12 nights before Christmas, when all through the land
Not a person was exercising, no workouts were planned.
The ham was carved, candy eaten without care,
10 pounds later we complain life isn’t fair.

This holiday season, before you snuggle into your bed,
Make sure to have a Holiday plan in your head.
Fitdigits is sharing the year’s best fitness tips,
To help you avoid adding winter weight to your hips.

Like Fitdigits on Facebook for a Chance to Win a Bike Case!

December 13
12th Day- 12 Tips to Survive the Holiday Season

December 14
11th Day- 11 K Steps a Day

December 15
10th Day- 10 minute workouts, 3 times a day

December 16
9th Day- 9 Ways to Talk About Fitness

December 17
8th Day- 8 Reps, 3 Sets

December 18
7th Day- 7 Wonders of the Fitness World

December 19
6th Day- 6 Times a Day Leave Your Desk

December 20
5th Day- 5 Ways to Get Your Metabolism Moving

December 21
4th Day- 4 Stretches For After a Workout

December 22
3rd Day- 3 Workouts a Week

December 23
2nd Day- 2 Tools to Use With Fitdigits to Lose Weight

December 24
1st Day- 1 You

December 25
Merry Christmas!

Tell us what you have learned in 2013 by taking a brief Survey.

12 Tips to Survive the Holiday Season

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Twas 12 nights before Christmas, when all through the land
Not a person was exercising, no workouts were planned.
The ham was carved, candy eaten without care,
10 pounds later we complain life isn’t fair.

This holiday season, before you snuggle into your bed,
Make sure to have a Holiday plan in your head.
Fitdigits is sharing the year’s best fitness tips,
To help you avoid adding winter weight to your hips.

12th Day- 12 Tips to Survive the Holiday Season

As Thanksgiving becomes a distance memory and we plunge headfirst into the holiday season, it becomes more and more difficult to lead a healthy lifestyle. Just because Mr. Claus has thrown up the white flag in the battle of the bulge does not mean you have to follow suit. Yes, tis season for parties that offer plenty of festive food and some heavy-duty Holiday *ahem* spirits, but if you follow the Fitdigits Holiday Survival guide you can make it through the sleigh bell season without adding a “winter coat”.

  1. Plan ahead. If you know that you will be going to a party or having an extravagant meal, skip the booze and eat extra healthy in the week leading up to the event. This is called having a “cheat” day, and is recommended by many health experts for those trying to lose weight.
  2. Exercise. It is easy to look at dreary weather and want to curl up by the fire, but nobody said staying healthy would be easy! Try out some interesting indoor workouts if mother nature keeps you indoors.
  3. Stay Hydrated. Making sure you drink enough water is more than a holiday tip, it is a way of life. The benefits of staying hydrated are too extensive to list, but on the most basic level water is the essence of life. A good way to make sure you are guzzling down enough H2O is to have a 32 oz water jug and carry it with you at all times. Whenever it is empty, immediately refill it. A good test to see if you are hydrated properly: your urine should be clear or only have a slight yellow tint.
  4. Swap Sugar for Stevia. When you are baking Christmas cookies for Kris Kringle and Co., ditch artificial sweetener and sugar for Stevia. Stevia is an all-natural sugar substitute with no calories, carbs, or glycemic index. Indulge yourself without the guilt with a great recipe for not Sugar Cookies, but Stevia Cookies .
  5. Drink Green Tea. When the weather outside is frightful, a cup of hot cocoa may sound delightful, but save those calories for your Christmas Ham! Instead, try drinking a hot cup of green tea. Green tea is loaded with antioxidants and recent studies show that green tea can help battle cancer, reduce your risk of coronary disease, and battle obesity. Not only can caffeine help speed up your metabolism, but properties found in green tea can also lower your blood pressure and cholesterol.
  6. Try A Winter Sport. Nothing is more apropos for the Holiday season than participating in a winter sport, and it is a perfect way to burn calories and have a great time. Even if you do not live near a mountain or have the necessary funds to go skiing or snowboarding, you can probably find a local Ice Skating Rink and channel your inner Apolo Ohno!
  7. Focus on Family and Friends, not Food. Often people make holiday plans around eating, be it going out to dinner or making a big meal. Instead, emphasize activities that take advantage of the time you get to spend with the people you love. Try out some fun games such as Loaded Questions or Apples to Apples, or stretch out the vocal cords with some Christmas Caroling! Remember, food is merely a way to fuel your body, not an activity.
  8. Take Your Vitamins. If it is cold outside, it sometimes is hard to muster up the energy necessary to work out. A great supplement is a B-Complex. If vitamins are not your style, try FRS.
  9. Give Healthy Stocking Stuffers. Usually stocking stuffers consist of chocolate and candy canes. Try to encourage a healthy lifestyle with your stocking stuffers. Instead of sweets, try giving a jump rope, Fitbit Zip, or a Heart Rate Monitor.
  10. Try Not to Stress Out. The Holidays can be a stressful time. Family and friends coming from out of town, big meals to cook, presents to buy, and the pressure to live up to the idealized version of Christmas we see in the media can make even the most laid back person tighten up. Stress can lead to heart disease, binge eating, and weight gain, so take a deep breath. The holidays should be a fun and happy time. Try some tips on how to manage stress during the holidays
  11. Check Out Some Christmas Lights. The Holidays offer plenty of opportunities to get moving. A great way to be active and feel the Holiday cheer is to go on a walking tour of an area that specializes in extravagant Christmas decorations. Make it a Christmas Eve tradition!
  12. Have a Merry Christmas! If you have been following all of our health and fitness tips, you deserve a day off. That does not mean you should waste all of the hard work you have done and eat until you feel sick, but don’t count calories. Enjoy your family, friends, and the feeling that comes with being fit and staying healthy!