Susie Felber, who is also known in the Romance universe as “Edith Layton’s daughter,” has a cool new job with a French company, Withings, which makes connected health and fitness devices. She reached out to me to see if I’d be willing to host a giveaway of two of their Activité fitness trackers – a gift for Valentine’s Day that’s the opposite of chocolate, as she put it.
Mais oui, s’il vous plait!
I know that many of you probably set up some personal fitness resolutions for this year. Since taking care of yourself and making sure you feel healthy and happy is very important, I think this would be a great boost to any of your fitness goals. I rarely talk about fitness because, well, I have been on the receiving end of long monologues about workout routines and I don’t want to inflict that on anyone! But I got serious about my health a few years ago, hired a personal trainer (whom I miss a LOT now that I’ve moved), and started working out almost daily. Since then, I have learned that, to quote Peter Drucker, “What gets measured gets managed.” In other words, if I’m paying attention to what I do, what I eat, what I lift, and when I do all of the above, I see the progress I want. Trackers like these can help a lot with all that measurement and monitoring.
Thanks to Susie, we have two to give away! AND a coupon. Thanks, ma’am!
There’s the Activité Steel, which will come with two bands in raspberry and white:
And the Activité Pop, in limited edition Coral Pink:
What’s it do? It tracks steps, swimming, running and sleep, and syncs to their Health Mate app, available for iOS or Android. In the app, thanks to the tracker, you’ll see distance traveled, calories burned, activity, sleep data, and all that fun stuff. Health Mate also syncs to other apps you might already use, like My Fitness Pal.
On the device itself, you’ll see the time, because it’s a watch. Plus there is a small dial that tells you how much of your daily activity goal you’ve achieved.
The Activité does not need charging, either. It runs on a standard watch battery (aka one of those little silver button cell batteries) and one battery should last up to 8 months.
The Activité Steel retails for $199, and the Pop in coral retails for $149.
Plus, we have a coupon should you wish to check out the other products at Withings.com! With coupon code WITHSBTB you’ll get 20% off your purchase. They make Wi-Fi scales, a home camera, and other health tracking devices as well.
Susie also sent me an Activité Steel to try out, which I’m terribly excited about. I’d been trying to decide which fitness tracker to buy, and having one that is a watch and a monitor is very cool. If anyone would like a review, I’m happy to write one up after I’ve used it for awhile.
Standard disclaimers apply. Void where prohibited. Open to US residents only (sorry sorry!). Must be over 18 and prepared to work it out in order to win. There is a correct way to tie your shoes, but really, whichever way you do it so you don’t trip is good. Measure twice, cut once. If you drop the beat, please clean up after yourself. Objects in mirror may be closer than they appear. Anyone who allows party rock to enter the house tonight will answer to management. Do not remove internet under penalty of law. Two winners will be selected to each win one of the two watches by random integer from the comments at or close to noon ET on Sunday 14 February 2016. Winners will be announced that day.
Want to enter? Yay! I hope so.
Just leave a comment and tell me what you do – or would like to do – to help keep yourself healthy. Health means different things for different people, and figuring out what helps you personally is, I think, very important.
Good luck!
ETA 12/14/16: Congratulations and hooray, we have winners!
The winner of the Activité Steel is Kristen, and the winner of the Activité Pop is Brandy.
Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to everyone who entered! I wish you all success on your fitness goals – you can totally do it.
I was recently laid off from my basically sedentary job but was luckily picked up to work in a different department with the same company. This new job is very physically challenging (my colleagues are all twenty-something young men, I am 49) and while I ache in all kinds of muscles and joints at the end of the day I feel like I MUST be making some inroads on my overall health. I would love to track it and know for sure!
What I to keep myself healthy… As one in recovery from an eating disorder (EDNOS–Binge-type), I currently:
1) Do exercise that makes me feel great! (Pilates, yoga, walking)
2) Eat when hungry of REAL food.
3) Take less crap from mean people.
4) Treat myself with the same kindness I used to reserve for everybody else.
Namaste, Fair Ladies of the Bitchery! =)
I just got some not great (but not really terrible) health news, and I’ve spent the past few days thinking a lot about how I can increase my chances of staying mobile as I age. I’ve had to stop running, which was difficult to accept; I started after I had a baby, and it was a huge step for me as a non-athletic person to get better at something I never thought I could do, and to take this positive step as a mother to keep myself play-ready at all times.
I’m getting back into swimming and biking, but the most important step I’m taking right now is letting other people into my fitness. Not only my physical therapist, but my friends and family. I’ve never considered myself athletic, though at times I have been in really good shape, and often I’ve been too embarrassed by my imperfections to ask for help or even for support. I’m trying to set a better example for my kid and to let myself believe that despite my imperfections, I’m good enough to deserve support.
And my fitbit just died, so I’ve been shopping around, and the Steel is lovely.
I’ve resolved to drink lots more water! Also using weight machines at the gym.
I try to ride an exercise bike now since the cold has become rather too bitter for walking.
I try to stay hydrated, work out several times a week, and try to eat my macros. But I struggle with sleep and chocolate 🙂 Oh, and this month I’m doing a planking challenge on Instagram!
I really need to strengthen my core (abs shot to pieces by pregnancy), but with little kids at home, it’s hard to find time for self care. I’m doing barre3 workouts at home, and actually have a rare chance to go to a barre class tonight. Yay!
Regular massages help keep my neck and back in good working order!
I would use an Activité to remind myself to “Steel” (yuk yuk yuk) time for exercise! I’ve lost about 50lbs out of a target 70lbs weight loss by making exercise (5-7 days a week including cardio and strength training)/good nutrition (cooking most meals with lots of veggies and water) a priority. However, as a full-time pre-med student who’s also working part-time, it’s easy to put wellness on the back burner and focus on tackling the stress of my to-do list. Having an Activité Steel (or Pop!) would serve not only as a pretty activity tracker, but also a subtle reminder of how important it is to incorporate healthy choices in every day life.
Take the stairs at work. Simple task and it could get me in better shape.
I try to get enough sleep, not easy with a busy schedule, and am moving to a more plant-based diet. This week it’s been lots of oranges, avocados, and chickpeas. I’m also trying to force myself outside more with my dog, even though it’s freezing cold and often either wet or icy.
I’ve been eating more veggies lately, and going to the gym at least twice a week. Woooo!
I trick myself into being more healthy (read: feeling more better) by Learning Awesome Things. I get bored with exercise pretty easily, but who wouldn’t want to learn to pole dance? Or paddle a dragon boat? Or be a ballerina (or at least try to be one with the other awkward adult ladies at the community center)? It also helps that I live just-barely-walking-distance from fun stuff like bookstores and bars.
I’m an intermittent Weight Watcher (I’m “on” at the moment), and I would like to lose enough weight to feel confident enough to adopt a less boring exercise plan, such as a martial art or something with paddles instead of sneakers.
I’ve been trying to walk more & increase my veggie intake
Now that the weather is starting to dry out up in the PNW, I’m taking long walks with my beloved. I’ve also recently started juicing and drinking my veggies.
Couch to 5k, then into hiking. Weightlifting (beginners version, anyway)
I’ve been keen on keeping myself healthy for a while now. After a bout of illness(ssssss?), I started doing yoga last year. I loved it so much! It really made a difference after a couple of months and I kept at it. I took to for health reasons, but in the process gained flexibility, some peace of mine and a stable weight. I’ve recently also taken to dance classes and I’ve never felt so free and wonderful! Being active really is the best! 😀
To it*
mind*
Sorry for the grammatical mistakes! It’s driving me crazy that I can’t edit it.
Zumba and yoga! I love both equally. Nothing makes a bad day better than dancing to some Latin music!
@Libraryldayl: I’m with you there! I love Zumba. It’s ridiculous fun!
I went back to using MyFitnessPal to log food and exercise, and I ellipticize while watching reruns of Gilmore Girls on Netflix 🙂
I’m drinking more water, eating more fruits and veggies, and cutting down on sodas and sweets. I’ve slacked off on the gym in the last couple of months. I’ve got to get back on it asap.
Walk some more! The icy winter sidewalks have been putting me off lately but I feel so much better when I’m walking to work.
I need to keep moving and cut down on the cards. I do these things spottily and obviously that doesn’t work. Must be more mindful.
For me it is exercising and keeping in shape
I’ve definitely gotten into an exercise rut, and have a hardcore sweet tooth (not that my desserts are super-sweet, but I do like to have ’em). So, I could do with some more exciting exercise, and more enthusiasm toward healthy treats OTHER than bittersweet chocolate…
I’ve been giving up sugar for the past two months- it’s been hard as my sweet tooth is enormous but my moods have been much more even!
In order to keep healthy I keep a 34 oz. water bottle to monitor my water intake. I also eat a high fiber, high calcium, low fat diet. However, I’ve just realized that bacon and alcohol have the same calming/relaxation effect on me (when you can’t drink at work, eat bacon). Happy hours is great, but sometimes stress starts at the beginning of the workday. As a result, I’ve been trying different tea combinations to help me achieve that same level of relaxation.
Treadmill desk! I built a removable wooden desktop for a second-hand treadmill and voila – I can work/read while walking.
I’m a full-time mom to 3 kiddos. My days consist of chasing around a 2 yo & 8 month old, cleaning, & then some. To try & keep active I will exercise with my youngins. Use them as my weights and do lifts& lunges. To them it’s fun. 🙂
Love to win this, on a quest to become more physically fit so I can bike with my grandkids…
I have horrible knees so I ride a stationary bike and walk. Not sure if these would work with the bike but it’s be nice…
I enforce “all the sleeping” as much as I can, drink loads of water, and run 🙂
I would LOVE to use my activite for my health & wellness at work. I also would like to track my sleep. Plus they’re beautiful!!
Walking the dog!
I drastically cut my consumption of Diet Coke and increased water. And I take vitamins everyday along with calcium and fish oil.
I need a tracker to help me get motivated to move! I’m eating lots of protein & keeping my carbs, sugar & fat low. That’s working – but I’ve got to get moving to get healthier.
I drink filtered water from a Berkey that removes chlorine and fluoride. I cook from scratch and avoid chemical laden food as much as possible. I also have Celiac disease and food allergies so I am extra careful about the food that I eat. My health is only as good as the food that I eat.
Omgosh so many comments. I’d love to increase my stamina. I hate being the person that slows my friends down.