When I first got my Jawbone UP I was excited but hesitant. I had heard mixed things about it and wasn’t sure if I would like it. Now that I have been wearing it for about a month I wanted to do a quick update about how it has been going:
- Sleep is still an issue. I don’t think that will ever change but I am doing everything I can to improve the quality and amount of sleep.
- Even with workouts it can be a challenge to get 10,000 steps in. I have an office job and for most of the day I am sitting at my desk not moving. That can’t really change! But what can change is to pay attention to that notification if I have been idle for too long and get up and move around. A quick lap around the office, getting up to go fill my water or make a cup of tea. Those steps can get me towards my goal of 10,000.
- I like the tracking for workouts but really wish I could attach my heart rate monitor to get a more accurate calorie burn. Since I’ve been using one for years it’s part of my workout routine and it feels strange to not have it connect to this.
Things I Love:
- The notification it is time to get up and move. It’s just a vibration on my wrist but it is a great reminder to get up and move. I get so focused on a task at hand and forgot to move for an hour or more at a time and this pushes me to take a quick break.
- The battery life is amazing. With my Fitbit (the one I washed) and my Polar Loop I had to charge them at least every other day. The Jawbone UP can go 3-4. It’s pretty impressive.
- It’s better looking. This is closer to a bracelet then a big tracking device on your wrist. I don’t really mind that device especially since it is getting into long sleeve season here. But it is much prettier to look at.
Things That Are OK:
- The app. I switched from an iPhone 5 to a Galaxy S5 last week and while I had no connection issues with the app on my iPhone it seems to not sync as well on the Galaxy.
Things That I Don’t Love:
- Workout tracker. No way to edit calories and it’s not very accurate.
- It gets dirty easily, maybe I should have gotten black rather than persimmon but I couldn’t pass up color!
- No display. I wish it would show me the number of steps!
Here is a quick look at Sunday. I cleaned the house and was doing normal Sunday chores, managed to sneak a 20 minute nap in and did get a good cardio and back workout in at the gym. All of that activity and I was just above 11,000 steps.
Will I keep wearing it at the end of the program? Yes. I like the data and the extra motivation to move. Now that I have looked at most of the fitness trackers on the market I would encourage you to purchase a Jawbone if you are looking for one. There are a few other I would recommend but that will be a separate post.
Disclosure: I was sent a Jawbone UP24 to try and write about my experiences and will be compensated for my posts.
