Tech Obsession | Fitbit Charge & Fitbit One

First let me start off with the fact that I've had the Fitbit One for a year now and I've enjoyed it very much.  While the Fitbit One is good and has good features, I wanted to upgrade a little bit, so I had a choice to make. I went back and forth for a while on if I should go with the Charge HR or the Charge. I weighed the features versus the costs and decided to go with the Charge.

Photo credit: fitbit.com

I've been wearing the Charge everyday for a month now and I'm really liking it. I like the ease of use and the ability to quickly tap a button on the unit to see all of my stats. I'm enjoying that I can wear it all day and night and not even notice it. It's light weight and comfortable. Style-wise, while I like the sleek look of it, I wish that it had the same closure as the Charge HR version. I'd prefer to take it on and off like a watch instead of clipping it closed.

I found one flaw that bothers immensely, and it happens every 6-7 days. What happens in that time frame? It's time to charge the unit. I've found that every time that I charge the unit, once I disconnect it from the cord, it no longer syncs with the Fitbit app. This happens every time.  I did some Googling and found that when this happens you have to basically restart the watch. So, now every time I charge it, I hold the button down to restart it right before I remove it from the charger and then it's fine.  But if I ever forget to do so, hours later I realize that it's not syncing and that's no fun.

Speaking of the Fitbit app.  I'm using it on my LG G2, which is an Android device running Lollipop 5.0.2 and in general it works great (minus the syncing issue). The many updates to the app have improved the user experience little by little. With each update I believe the experience will get even better and more user friendly.  At this point in time, the one feature that stands out to me as missing is the ability to interact with the groups that you've joined on fitbit.com. 

Included in the most recent update they fixed another issue that I was having. Prior to the update we could only connect one Fitbit model.  Now we can link up more than one Fitbit at a time. This is wonderful because now I can switch back and forth with the One and Charge depending on what I want to wear that day.

Photo credit: fitbit.com

I bet you're wondering- how does what you wear matter?  I happen to think that the Charge is sporty looking. As one who dresses business casual for work everyday, I likes to wear chunky watches and cute bracelets, and the Charge doesn't exactly match. Not to mention it's just plain weird to wear two watches. The app feature that I just mentioned has alleviated my issues because I can now switch back and forth without any issues. No more having to swap out the model on the app every time.  It's quick and easy.

As I've mentioned the Fitbit One in this review, let me tell you about it.  I like it. It does what it's supposed to do, it's reliable, and it's easy to conceal. I usually wear mines in the middle of my bra in the front so that it's well hidden plus I never have to worry about the clip sliding from my pants or skirts. I don't like that I have to take the unit out of the clip and put it into a uncomfortable and very wide fabric wrist band to track my sleep at night.  The velcro closure on the wristband is annoying, it seems to come apart after a while and no longer stay closed, not to mention the mesh part of the band is so slippery that the One has slipped out of it during the night on more than a few occasions.

When it comes down to one versus the other, I couldn't choose. Both have their strong points and while neither model is perfect, I enjoy them both for different reasons. I'd recommend either of these to anyone that wants a activity tracker. The decision on the model just depends on what your specific needs are.

In the market for a Fitbit? Check out their website for in depth comparisons.  Last but not least, pick up yours on Amazon. I've found that the prices are most competitive there. I looked at pricing from several other online stores, plus Costco, and Amazon came out cheaper.

What about you? Do you have a Fitbit? If so, please share what model you have and what you like best about it.

Live Lavishly,
~Tamara

Does It Works! Really Work? | Ultimate Body Wrap Review

Before I start please remember that this review is strictly my opinion. I am NOT a healthcare professional, a weight loss coach, or any type of health professional.

A friend of mines gave me one of the wraps that she had left from her stash. Apparently she didn't care for the wraps and she said that didn't work for her.  I'd heard so many good things recently, I decide to give it a try myself. In the interest of full disclosure, this wrap is about 9 months old. I looked and looked all over the packaging and I saw no expiration date.  The lotion was a little bit sticky, which could be due to the age of it.

The smell of the lotion on the wrap is positively disgusting. It reminds me of a mix of menthol, eucalyptus and Bengay. Yuck. If I had a stuffy nose the smell of this wrap would have cleared it up right away.

I was very careful with my measurements. I took measurements on three areas of my stomach before and after. I was sure to measure the exact same place and in the same manner before and after. For example I did not pull the measuring tape any tighter after the wrap, I tried to maintain the integrity of the measurements.

I wrapped myself with saran wrap and stayed in the wrap for 2 hours. At the end of that time I shrank a total of a ½ inch overall.  24 hours later, that ½ inch lose was gone. It should be noted that, I followed the instructions, and drank lots of water.

Would I suggest this product? Probably not. Especially not for the high cost of them. I'm sure this product works for some people, just as I'm also sure that it won't work for just as many people.  

Have you tried them? What was your experience?  When you post your feedback on the wraps, if you are a wrap representative selling them yourself, please say so in the interest of honesty and full disclosure.

I'm looking forward to hearing others experiences with this product!