Inspiration to move with the Polar A360
This post is sponsored by Fitfluential on behalf of Polar.
Heading into the New Year, my fitness goals are pretty straightforward. I’ll write a post about it, but I’d love to increase my strength and cardio endurance, run another half marathon, and build some lean muscle.
My number one priority is moving on a consistent basis again, and with the Polar A360, it’s been a great nudge to get back into it.
Since I took off the necessary 6 weeks postpartum to recover from birth, at first, I thought it would be like a fitness vacation to recharge and hit it again with gusto when I was cleared to resume activity. I was like, “Oh, this is nice, I’m going to feel so refreshed when I can return to the fitness game. “ After the first week, I felt completely normal and my attitude changed. I was itching to move again. I feel so much better when I get in a sweat session, and it’s a fresh breath of “me time” amidst the many actions involved in keeping two small children alive, happy, fed and entertained. When the midwife cleared me to work out again, of course I was excited, and then I was like, “How am I going to have time to work out?” It can be a little tricky when you feel like you don’t take a breath until you collapse into bed.
Needless to say, I was pretty thrilled when Polar sent me one of their new A360s to test out. Not only would it provide some motivation to safely resume my activities, but also a way to monitor my heart rate throughout workout sessions.
Here are some of the things I’ve noticed:
Even though I feel like I’m on the move all day, since we’re still not quite out and about as much, my step count has gone way down.
I was excited for the insightful data from this monitor… except the sleep part. I didn’t need to know how much sleep I’m (not) getting. Haha.
When you wear a fitness tracker, you’ll get a lot of questions! I always love to ask about how people like their fitness trackers, so I’ve been happy to share the love and how much I’ve been enjoying the A360.
Pros:
Motivation to move. Just knowing that you’re trying to reach a 10k step goal is extra encouragement to take small actions throughout the day to accomplish it, like parking farther away, taking the steps whenever possible, or extending the dance party time with your preschooler. For the record, if you find that you’re low on steps, just do some Zumba songs. (YouTube has a ton.) BOOM. It’s an easy and fun way to get some extra movement!
I love the giant touch screen. I haven’t tried anything like this, and you can easily scroll to view your day, heart rate, the time, and what you’d need to do to reach your 10k goal.
The app is extremely user-friendly. You can access it on your computer or phone, and quickly sync to see how you’re doing. I’ve found that since the tracker itself provides a lot of information, I don’t usually need to check into the app much throughout the day. It’s a nice way to view patterns over the span of a month or week.
The A360 also tracks your heart rate. This is particularly awesome for classes or activities that don’t register as high step counts, but are still great workouts, like BODYPUMP and Spin.
It’s also waterproof and you can get notifications, like incoming calls, messages and your calendar. I love that they added some smartphone features!
Cons:
The only con I’ve noticed is that the band and screen are very large on my freakishly small wrists. Even so, it’s very comfortable to wear and use.
Is there a daily goal you try to hit? For me, I always try to make sure I get enough water, and some type of protein and produce in every meal and snack. When I’m wearing a fitness tracker, I like to try and crush my 10k step goal.
Leave a comment below, and I’ll surprise a lucky reader with an A360 of their own. 😉
xoxo
Gina
This is a sponsored post, but the giveaway is being sponsored by yours truly. Thank you so much for supporting this blog and the companies who help to support our family.
This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of Polar.
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Having one would be so fun! Plus I do need to find a way to get moving again after cancelling my gym membership that was collecting dust. This would be amazing motivation!
What a wonderful post and great sneaky giveaway!
It is so hard to wait those six weeks out! By the time I was cleared to go I was having dreams about running intervals and swimming laps! Thanks for the review, I have been considering a fitness tracker but so many of them seem to be for fairly inactive people and don’t have the features I’m looking for but this one seems to maybe fit the bill!
I would love a new heart rate monitor! These do a great job helping me maximize my workouts!
This would be a great way to keep me motivated and accountable…remind me to keep moving even though I sit behind a desk all day!
I want to try this one!! It looks so cool. I am trying hard to get back in shape after baby and I think this would definitely help me MOVE!!! Happy New Year!
I love reading your blog and look forward to your posts everyday 🙂
I am trying to get back on track after the holidays. Would love to try this!
The heart rate aspect of the A360 sounds awesome because I spend a lot of time on the bike or treadmill during the winter- making my Garmin somewhat useless! Thanks for inspiring me to get moving, Gina!
Great review! I will be looking for something new in the spring time after having our second baby!
I’ve been looking at fitness trackers to try! I have the Jawbone UP but I lost the charger attachment in my recent move and have been contemplating not replacing it and getting something different. I like the Jawbone, but I didn’t like that it didn’t have a screen to look at the data. Thanks for sharing your input!
Oh I just lost my garmin vivosmart! This looks like it would be a great replacement
The way I have been feeling lately, I could really use something to monitor and track things for me!
Hey Gina! I’ve been using the fitbit for a long time and I am looking for a change! Your review of the A360 was really informative and may have swayed me into purchasing it! The A360 looks so cool, and since its my birthday I may treat myself to one! Hope your Christmas went well!
I have wanted a fitness tracker for a long time. Winning one would be a great start to the new year. Happy new year to you and your family!
I have not jumped on the fitness tracker boat yet, but the Polar a360 actually looks like it would be worth the investment especially since I prefer HIIT and TRX, something that others just don’t look at when they are only counting steps.
I have been thinking about getting an activity tracker. Thanks for the great review!
Interesting features! Would love to try it out and compare to my Fitbit….
I need to make sure I get 10k steps a day and have been thinking about an activity tracker for that purpose. I work out most days but when I don’t it would be a nice reminder to keep moving!
I would love one of these to keep me accountable and get me back on track! I have been struggling since my knee surgeries to find what works now that running is out, I think this would really help give me the bump I need.
I have a Fitbit and love it but it’s the one that’s hidden in your waist. Like you, my wrists are really small plus I want that space for retry jewelry. I wish they would make something that did not go around the wrist.
Have you seen the leaf one? My friend has one and likes it (though I’ve never tried it). You can wear it a bunch of ways.
Fun! Right now, I’m looking at how to get more activity in during the day because of a schedule change that is making it difficult to get my workouts in.
I’ve been looking for a new tracker since my Fitbit died – glad you like this one!!
My biggest goal right now is getting enough water. I’ve been slacking on that lately and my entire body suffers for it.
This would be great encouragement to continue with my fitness and health goals- I am 9months post part today (crazy/movingwaytoofast)!
I’d be interested to see how steps I get in a day! I’m pretty good at getting my workouts in but then sit at a desk most of the day 🙁 trying to get up to move every hour!
I would love to win, would give great motivation in the new year
Looks neat! Would like to try it.
I try to make it a daily goal to consume three full water bottle fill-ups over the course of the work day. To meet the goal, I set mini marks throughout the day (one bottle downed before I get up from my desk for lunch, another before my afternoon coffee, and my third by the time I pull in to my parking space at home at the end of the day). Some evenings I end up sitting in my car chugging the water before I let myself get out to go inside, but setting those little markers throughout the day make it seem super easy, and no matter what else I did or ate/drank that day, this always feels like a little success.
I’ve been eyeing those for awhile! I have a Fitbit but I don’t have the heart rate monitor one… I really want one that will show all my effort in classes or at home workouts!
Great post. Love sneaky giveaways!
Does this require the use of a chest strap? I am curious about the heart rate monitoring. I’ve been on the fence about the Fit Bit HR’s because they don’t seem to perform well with interval and lifting workouts based on reviews.
no chest strap!
I love that it has a heart rate monitor. I tried Orangetheory for the first time a couple weeks ago and that’s one of the things I really liked was really knowing how hard I was pushing it based on my heart rate.
Ahh I’ve been looking at trackers with heart rate monitors! My main forms of exercise are spin and yoga and they’re both hard to get a handle on just how much i’m burning. This would be perfect! (also love the bella cameo in the picture!)
I definitely like to track my water and move as much as possible. I work as a special Ed TA and have to travel from class to class so I generally walk a lot during the day. However, since we’re on break I have found myself sitting a lot, and it’s driving me crazy! I shouldn’t complain because it’s a much-needed break, but it’s weird nonetheless. 😉
I’d love to try this out!
I’ve been using a fitbit for a few years, and it has without a doubt increased my activity. I love competing with myself and others to get steps! I do find that the heart rate monitor attached to it is pretty inaccurate though. I know my rate is higher than it says it is after a few years using other monitors.
Hope you are on the mend soon!
That looks great! I love having a goal to work towards and a way to efficiently track it. The heart rate monitor on this would be wonderful – so nice that you don’t have to wear a chest strap!
I would love this! I’m a new mom and I need motivation to get moving again.
Would love to see how much I move at work!
I love sneaky giveaways, and I love your inspiration to keep moving!
Happy New Year!
I usually try to exceed my 10k step goal every day, even if it means marching around the living room at the end of the night!
Great review Gina! Isn’t it a wonderful to get back moving? I just started, my goal being 30 minutes at least 3 days a week and I feel so much better! Happy New Year!
I’ve been looking for a new HRM. This one looks awesome! Thanks!
I like to get at least 5 days of workout in every week. Great giveaway. Happy New Year!
My goal is to get in some sort of activity every day, whether it’s a run or a quick ab workout, whatever I can squeeze in!
A fitness tracker would be perfect to hold me accountable to my fitness goals for 2016!
I have a fitbit flex and have been wondering about upgrading. I find the tracker so helpful in staying motivated and it fits my data-freak mentality 🙂 The Polar sounds pretty cool!
Sounds like a really great tracker! I’ve been in the market for one and will have to check this out!