by | Nov 30, 2015 | Fitness, Review |
Hello Beautiful People!
Whether you are new to exercise or have been active for many years, the key to achieving a healthy lifestyle is setting and achieving fitness goals. With so much information out there about fitness and nutrition, it may be overwhelming to the beginner. Without the help of a personal trainer, you may not know how to get started. Working with a personal trainer can be have its benefits, but at a price that may be out of reach for many people.
Instead of investing in a trainer, there are other options available. You may want to purchase a fitness tracker that can guide you in the right direction. The popularity of fitness trackers have taken off in the last few years because so many more people are taking charge of their own health. Recently, Verizon Wireless provided BubbingwithEleganceandGrace.com with an opportunity to sample one of these fitness tracker – the Fitbit Charge HR. After trying the Fitbit for twenty-one days, I would recommend it to anyone who wants a better understanding of their current fitness level and how to take it to a higher level.
Getting Started
Setting up and getting started with the Fitbit couldn’t be any easier. Firstly, I downloaded the Fitbit app to my smartphone and created an account. Once I created the account and signed in, I followed the step-by-step instructions on my phone on how to to sync the Fitbit with my phone and how to get started. In only a couple of minutes, I was ready to go. Out of the box, my Fitbit needed to be charged. Included with the Fitbit is a charger that connects to my computer. Charge time is one to two hours, depending on how low the battery is. A fully-charged battery will last about five days. One great feature of the Fitbit is that you will get a notification on your phone and via email when the battery is low and needs to be charged.
Jay using the Fitbit Charge HR while doing P90.
Use for the Fitbit Charge HR
Fitbit offers several choices when selecting the tracker that is right for you. Each type of Fitbit monitors steps taken per day and miles walked; but I wanted one that would also monitor my heart rate; so I selected the Fitbit Charge HR. The Charge HR also monitors the quality of my sleep and allows me to add my daily water intake and weight change. Also, the HR ensures that my heart rate was within the acceptable levels while at rest and that it was elevated enough during my workouts.
Fitness experts agree that an active lifestyle leads to a healthy lifestyle. Being active means walking at least a minimum of 10,000 steps each day. With the Fitbit, its easy to see if you are on track with this number. With just a glance at the FitBit, the display monitor lets you know how many steps you have taken for the current day. Depending on how active you are, this goal may seem to easy to achieve or difficult to reach. After using the FitBit for a week, I realized that I was not getting to the 10,000 level of steps on a consistent basis and the FitBit motivated me to reach that level. I made sure that I was active throughout my day, at home and at work because I wanted to make sure that I met that goal. You can monitor the number of steps on the FitBit or on your smartphone using the app.
Screenshot of the FitBit app showing my daily progress.
A second feature that I like about the FitBit Charge HR is that it monitors my heart rate throughout the day and while I am exercising. Having your heart rate in the right zone, whether at rest or while exercising, is key to a healthy lifestyle. I recommend checking with your doctor to see what your passive heart rate should be and then use the FitBit to ensure that it stays within this level. You can also take the information gathered by the FitBit and give it to your doctor who can determine any additional monitoring is needed.
Heart rate monitored throughout the day.
While exercising, your heart rate needs to be elevated to a certain level to be considered in a fat-burning stage or a cardio stage. When setting up the FitBit, these levels are determined by your age. Once your rates are established, the FitBit will tell you if you are in the right zone when exercising. One of my regular exercise routines is the stationary bicycle. The first time I rode for 30 minutes and realized that my heart rate was not elevated high enough to be considered a good fat-burning exercise. I needed to increase the speed on the bike and then found the rate zone that I needed to be at to be the most effective for me.
Heart rate during a P90 cardio workout.
The image above shows my heart rate during a 40 minute cardio workout. Without the FitBit, I would not have known if I was in the right zone or if my exercise was effective. Based on this information, I could increase the intensity to have better overall effects.
Thought out the day, the FitBit will send notifications to your smartphone or to your email, letting you know if you have achieved a goal, or if the battery needs to be charged. This provides great motivation to keep using the FitBit and working towards a healthy lifestyle.
Smartphone notification after achieving the 10,000 step goal.
After trying the FitBit Charge HR for 21 days and seeing what it can offer, I would recommend it to any one who would be interested in taking charge of their health and making some healthier adjustments. I found out that I was not as active as I had originally thought and that I needed to increase my cardio workouts in order to achieve a fat-burning heart rate. Without the FitBit, I would have not known these things. In addition, after talking with a friend at work about what this FitBit can do, it motivated her to purchase one of her own. Being healthy is such a key to enjoying and having a long productive life. And if a small device that you wear on your wrist can help with that, I would highly recommend it. Don’t wait until the new year to make any changes, start now. Your body will thank you.
DISCLAIMERS:
Verizon Wireless gave BubblingWithEleganceAndGrace.com the FitBit Charge HR to demo for 21 days, after which I returned it back to Verizon. I did not receive any monetary compensation to write this review. All opinions and comments are strictly my own.
With diet and exercise, always consult with your doctor or your health professional before using a fitness tracking device, starting any new exercise routines or if you have any medical issues that would prevent you from exercising.
by | Nov 29, 2015 | Food, Review |
Hello Elegant Readers!
I pray that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with your family and friends. I believe that Thanksgiving is not limited to one day a year, but it must be a lifestyle of gratitude and thanks.
In addition to thankful lifestyle, we must also live a healthy lifestyle. Along with regular exercise, we must eat the right foods in the right amount at the right times. Dietary experts tell us that Omega 3 is an essential ingredient in that healthy lifestyle. Omega 3 is found in many types of seeds and fish, like salmon, caviar and sardines. But if you do not like fish or want to get more Omega 3 in your diet, you may want to consider adding a supplement to your daily routine. I love fish; but I also want to take an Omega-3 supplement almost everyday because I want to have as much Omega-3 in my diet. I recently received a complimentary bottle of the Omega-3 Supreme Fish Oil supplements from Life & Food, Inc.
Omega-3 Supreme 1400mg Fish Oil with +75% Omega-3
Information about the supplements, as provided by Life & Food, Inc.
○ Highly concentrated and pure, pharmaceutical grade
(above 75% Omega-3)
○ 644/336 EPA/DHA levels
(Meeting GOED standards).
○ Fish Oil concentrate made from IFOS 5-star
certified fish oils (raw material).
○ Contains the minimum recommended 1,000 mg
of Omega-3s per serving.
○ Sourced from wild Alaskan caught Pollock.
Sustainable and certified operation by MSC.
○ USA Manufactured and laboratory
tested in FDA, GMP, NSF certified facilities.
○ Molecularly distilled, clean refined and tested.
○ Easy to swallow soft gelatin capsules.
○ Enteric coated for max absorption and no fish burps
Why Omega-3 Supreme 1400mg Fish Oil
Visiting your favorite vitamin store or searching online, you find many brands and types of Omega 3 supplements, at all price ranges. After trying Omega-3 Supreme Fish Oil softgels for the last month, I recommend that you give them a try, for the following reasons.
2 softgels contain 1400 mg pure fish oil concentrate
○ The softgels are easy to swallow because they are round and fairly small. They go down easily with only a small amount of water. I have tried much larger capsule from other brands and had issues swallowing them because they would get caught in my throat. I did not have this problem with these from Life & Food, Inc.
○ There is no fishy aftertaste or burps, which is a common issue with many Omega-3 capsules. You want take the fish oil capsules for the benefit of the fish, but you don’t want to taste the fish. With these Life & Food softgels, you will not have that issue.
○ There is 1400 milligrams of high-quality Alaskan pollock oil in these softgels. The fish oil is sustainably collected and is certified from the Marine Stewardship Council, a non-profit organization that addresses the problem of unsustainable fishing, and safeguard seafood supplies for the future. Having this certification is important to me because I know Life & Food, Inc shares the same concerns that I have for the environment.
DISCLAIMER:
I received the Omega-3 Supreme softgels at no cost in order to write to this review. All comments are strictly my own.
by | Nov 19, 2015 | Inspirations |
Are you struggling to make ends meet? Read on to find out you can improve your family’s finances.
Use a Savings Jar
This old trick still works as well as ever before. All you need is a big jar that you can put money in. Then whenever you get some change, or you have a spare note, you can put it in the jar. It will prevent you from being tempted to spend the money on things that you don’t really need. After you’ve been saving up money in the jar for a year or more, you can see how much you’ve got. It can then be used to pay off a debt, or it could help with the expense of Christmas shopping, for example.
Photo Source
Do More at Home
Going out is always more expensive than staying in. I’m not suggesting you sacrifice your social life completely. But there are lots of things that you can do in the home that are cheaper than going out for them. For example, do you go to the gym? If you do, you’re probably spending a lot of money on your membership. But is it really worth it when you can run outside and lift weights in the comfort of your own home? And eating out is another big waste of money. Prepare your own food and see how much money you save.
Set Personal Financial Goals
It’s always a good idea to set targets for yourself when you are trying to improve your finances. It could be an aim to spend less. Or it could be an aim to improve your savings balance by a certain amount. This will give you something specific to focus on. When you’re tempted to buy something you don’t really need, your goals might stop you from making that mistake. It’s important not to make those goals too difficult though. That way, you won’t simply give up when things get difficult.
Find Ways Around Bad Credit
Having a bad credit rating can get a lot of people down. It makes it hard to get loans, and you can feel very financially restricted. There are some ways to get around this problem though. You can find bad credit catalogues here. They will allow you to buy items without taking your credit rating into account. You could also try to improve your credit rating by paying off your debts and making sure you pay all your bills on time. All of those things will help to improve your poor rating.
Declutter
Decluttering is always a positive thing to do. If you live surrounded by junk and things you no longer want, it can be pretty depressing. But it can also save you some money. That’s something that not so many people think about. If you can get some money for that stuff you regard as useless junk, then why not go for it? It makes perfect sense. Just because it’s junk to you, that doesn’t mean someone else won’t want to buy it. You can use auctions sites, like Ebay, to reach a large audience and make quick sales.
by | Nov 18, 2015 | Accessories, Fashion |
Hi Beautiful People,
It’s been a rainy couple of days; but with the right piece of jewelry, it always make the day seem bright and sunny!
Delicate Earrings work with long hair
I remember getting my ears pierced for the first time, my mother took me to Sears when I was five with my grandmother. It’s in my blood and I don’t feel complete without wearing some piece of jewelry.
I had the opportunity to style for you these beautiful Oval Garnet and Diamond Shell Earrings in .925 Sterling Silver from Angara.com. Any lady on your Christmas gift-giving list would not mind getting these earrings. They are currently on sale for $119. You can purchase them and pay for them in two or three monthly installments. This is a big plus because if you are not able to pay the full price for your piece of jewelry, you have the convenience of paying only $39.67 for three months. There is also a 110% Refund Policy, 0% Interest Financing, 60 Day Return Policy, and Free Shipping within the USA. Angara also ships free to 64 countries on all international orders over $500. Check out Angara’s website for more details.
The Garnet and Diamond earrings are delicate and small; but eye-catching and attractive.
JTWisdom in Garnet and Diamond Earrings
I wore them in my second hole and it again showed the versatility. The Garnet in the Angara earrings is very clear and not cloudy at all.
JT Style
These earrings are versatile and can meet all fashion needs. I can wear them with a nice dress for a more elegant look. Or I can be more casual, wearing them with jeans and a sweater, playing in the backyard.
Enjoying a Cool Fall Day!
Classic elegance at its best from the minute I opened the box.
The Presentation of the earrings in the Angara box
Who is Angara?
Angara is a family-owned business that puts the customer first, because they deserve the very best.
One great feature about Angara is that you have a wide-range of options available to you when making your decisions, from metals to gemstone quality. For example, if your favorite gemstone is ruby, you can look through the many ruby pieces that are available. After finding the right piece, you can then select what metal you want it to be – anywhere from Sterling Silver to Platinum. You can also select the grade quality of the gemstone – from good, to better, to heirloom quality. Of course, selecting these options will effect the final price of the piece; but you can work it into your budget
If you have questions, Angara has 24/7 costumer service and live chat available on its website.
If you are looking for quality jewelry at a great price please check out Angara.com. I really enjoy the earrings that I received and I know you will like the pieces you will receive as well.
* Disclaimer: Angara sent me these earrings at no cost in order to write this review. All opinions about the company and the earrings are strictly my own.
by | Nov 15, 2015 | Haircare |
Hi Beautiful People,
Hope you are having a wonderful day!
I enjoy making DIY products for my hair and body. There is something about making your own products that is so gratifying and satisfying. It is something about fall and cool weather is a wonderful time to make products for yourself, family and friends. A few months back, my hubby and I made a DIY hair treatment with avocado and oils. It took little time to get it right, but it turned out good. The avocados were a little old, so the color wasn’t a bright green and the blender didn’t blend as smooth as I would have wanted. In spite of this, the treatment made our hair shiny and soft.
Today, we wanted to try the recipe again; but used fresh avocados and a better blender. The difference was amazing and very noticeable.
My hubby bought avocados through Fruit my Cube; which will deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to workplace every Monday. Last week, avocados were on sale and the first thing we thought of was Deep Hair Conditioner, not Guacamole Dip.
We recently upgraded our blender when we bought a Wolfgang Puck commercial blender. We really like the quality of this blender and its power is awesome. It rivals the expensive blenders; but it costs about a third of the price. This was the first time we had a chance to try the Avocado Deep Hair Treatment recipe.
Wolf Gang Puck Blender
1) I collected some of my oils I wanted to add for softness and shine.
Oils
Oils
4 Tsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
10 Tsp. Macadamia Nut Oil
10 Tsp. African Royale Hot Six Oil
10 – 15 Tsp. CoCasta Shikakai Oil by Hairveda
10 Tsp. Jojoba Oil
4 Tsp. Carol’s Daughter Khoret Amen Softening Hair Oil
Cutting of the Avocados
2) I cut open the Avocados and put them in the blender.
Avocado in the Wolfgang Puck blender
3) I blend the avocados in the blender and added the oils. If it is not blending well, add more oil and pulse until you get a creamy, almost whipped cream consistency.
Creamy-Avocado-Deep-Hair-Conditioner
4) I put into containers and freeze. When I am ready to condition my hair, I will let the mixture unthaw in the Fridgerator a day or two.
Avocado-Hair-Treatment-in-the-Container
I usually leave the deep conditioner on my hair for 45 minutes and rinse before cleansing my hair. If you would like to do another rinse, you can; but the key is to blend the oil and avocados in the blender well enough so no pieces of avocado are prevalent.
You don’t have to use the oils I use. If you have favorites, please add them in. You can add in honey, coconut oil, the options are endless.
If you use the recipe please let us know your results. If you have your own recipe, please let me know.
Please note: If you are expecting or taking medications please check with your doctor to make sure oils are okay for you to use in your hair.
Photo Source
Follow!