I just found out about the workout App Aaptiv during the launch of their pregnancy program and stroller workouts.

They are launching workouts specifically designed to help you feel your best during all parts of your pregnancy.

Fitness was a HUGE part of both of my pregnancies and I wish they had this when I was pregnant because I totally would have used it.

The workouts are led by pregnancy and exercise guru Kira Kohrherr of FitBump and they have several other wonderful trainers that guide you through safe, effective workouts.

I remember feeling so sluggish during my first trimester but exercise always helped with my nausea and energy. During my second trimester I felt so much more like myself and that’s when I was able to workout more consistently. Their maternity program is great for new moms, current moms and moms to be that need to get moving!

A little bit about Aaptiv…..

Aaptiv just recently launched stroller workouts and workouts for each trimester during pregnancy. Each week includes both strength and cardio exercises specifically designed to prepare a woman’s body for birth. I think it’s awesome that they are guiding you through workouts during your pregnancy, but then they are with you to get that pre baby body back after you have the baby! Whether you’re a marathoner or novice runner, getting back into shape with a stroller or a busy schedule is a new experience for any mom.

I know the thought of getting in shape can be stressful and seem expensive but this app is affordable and the workouts are quick and effective!

Aaptiv offers audio fitness classes through your phone with real coaches guiding you every step of the way. They offer various cardio exercises and strength training routines.

The cost $$$$

The  subscription costs $9.99 per month, not bad!

I have done a bunch of their HIIT workouts and some of the workouts involving strength training. I loved the variety of classes they had to offer and the simplicity of the exercises plus as a trainer I got a break from planning my own workouts

Ready to get started? Log into the Aaptiv app and check it out!

If you want a FREE one week trial, send me an email or comment below.

It’s no secret that fitness trackers have become a popular way to track and boost activity levels. But with so many options available, it is often difficult to determine which ones are worth the investment. There are many different factors to consider when choosing the right one for you. It’s common sense that complicated, feature-loaded fitness trackers aren’t the best option for everyone. The more sensors and tracking capabilities you cram into a device the size of a wristwatch, the more it’s going to cost you. Not everyone needs to track their position by satellite, either.

To meet the basic needs of any athlete take a look at these key capabilities:

• Wireless syncing lets your device update its companion mobile app in real time, as you’re exercising.

• Activity notifications alert you when it’s time to move, and when you’ve accomplished your goals.

• Water resistance is mandatory for something you’ll be sweating in.

• Minimum one-year warranties demonstrate that the manufacturer is willing to back its product.

• Unisex designs so the device feels comfortable on any wrist.

After analyzing 87 of the top trackers on the market to see which ones offered the most accurate and useful data to help fitness enthusiasts achieve their goals, Reviews.com came out with three different types:

• Basic fitness trackers can count the approximate number of steps you take and calculate the distance you’ve traveled using that data. They’re best for those who want to log primarily distance-based workouts like walking and running. These are typically the only devices you can find under $100.

• Heart rate monitoring trackers do everything a basic fitness tracker can, but they also have sensors that can monitor changes in your heart rate. These are typically marketed to people looking to log the calories they’ve burned throughout the day. Since the sensors are fairly inaccurate, however, we don’t actually recommend relying on them outside of monitoring approximate long-range trends.

• Heart rate monitoring trackers with GPS can do all of the above, plus communicate with satellites to triangulate your position anywhere on the globe (provided you’re not inside). This makes them a smart option for cyclists, trail runners, or anyone else looking to log distances outside.

They consulted with fitness experts and evaluated everything from sensor accuracy and battery life. Once they narrowed down their list, they spent six months hand-testing the finalists and came out with their top three picks:

• Garmin Vivofit 3: Best Fitness Tracker Under $100

• Fitbit Charge 2: Best Heart Rate Monitoring Fitness Tracker

• Garmin Vivosmart HR+: Best Heart Rate Monitoring and GPS Fitness Tracker

Bottom line when it comes to Fitness trackers, they enable you to make changes to your health by giving you consistent (although, not entirely accurate) data on your daily activity levels. That’s why the best devices are both comfortable and easy to use all day, every day.

Do you use a fitness tracker? If so which one and do you like it?

I currently use a Fitbit Charge, I love it however the Charge 2 has much better tracking and functions so I think I need an upgrade soon!

 I don’t know about you guys, but the warmer weather and spring time excites me. There’s something about the prints on these diapers that might just lift our spirits and let us know that winter is coming to an end.

My little boy Bradley is a sweaty baby and he prefers to be sans clothes. The second you take off his onesie he kicks his little chunky legs around. He’s trying to let me know he’s happy that he can breathe a little. I’m pretty sure we will all appreciate these adorable prints on him when he decides he doesn’t want me to put that onesie back on!

Besides the cute prints, I am loving all the details behind these diapers:

• Made without: chlorine processing, latex, lotions, fragrances, phthalates, optical brighteners, organotins (MBT, DBT, TBT), or most common allergens

• Made without chemical bleaches

• Simply pure — made without latex, fragrances or lotions

• Ultra-soft plant-based (PLA) inner and outer layer — gentle on your baby’s bottom

• Naturally derived odor blockers from citrus and chlorophyll

• Bio-based wheat / corn blend in super-absorbent core, with less sodium polyacrylate

Aren’t they so cute!

I am a fan of these diapers for a couple reasons….they are eco-friendly and they don’t have all the additives/chemicals that most diapers out their have!

Plus they are SUPER adorable and come in 5 different prints. I really can’t wait to try them out. 

To get your hands on some, head over to the DIAPERS page on the Honest Company website!

Some people don’t own a scale and I understand their reasoning. Scales can be your enemy but I really don’t look at it that way. I look at the scale as a tool to help me live a healthy life.

Growing up we had a scale in our house and I never feared it. I’d get on and except the number. The scale doesn’t lie. For most of my life I never had to worry about that number either and I’m thankful for that, but there did come a time that I got on the scale and I wasn’t happy with the result.

From that point on, I worked until I got where I wanted to be and proved to myself that hard work pays off and you really can do anything you put your mind to. The scale proved to be a useful tool in helping me achieve my goal and the results that I wanted.

I was asked to review the Beets Blu Scale and I didn’t hesitate to say yes.

I already had a great scale at home but I do use one and I use them with my clients so why not test out a new one?! This scale intrigued me for the pure fact that it registers your body fat. To me the body fat percentage is the most important number. Yes your weight is important too but that number doesn’t show you how much muscle or how much fat you have.

When I saw this on the product information I was anxious to try it.

Here is some of my feedback:

Beets Blu Scale Review 

Why do I need Scale?

Beets BLU Bluetooth Scale is a simple device with an elegant design dedicated for monitoring your
weight, fat percentage, body water and muscle mass. The scale is helpful in forming a habit of measuring your body in the simplest way ever.

• It performs the most accurate weight and BMI measurements.
• It uploads the data wirelessly via Bluetooth to the native application or to many other fitness and health applications.
• It helps you to analyze the data and choose the most apt way to track your weight loss.

Pros

• I love the sleek look of the scale
• it’s lightweight
• easy to use
• there is an audio feature from the app that tells you your stats

• it logs your numbers and compares your weekly and monthly scale results
• the app is easy to set up and you can store multiple users

Cons

• The only bad thing I have to say about this scale is that my body fat percentage was off a couple times. One reading said 20% and another said 5.4%. I knew my body wasn’t at 5.4%. I just had a baby and I had some extra fat hanging around if you know what I mean!!

Besides that, I love the features and the product!! This will definitely be a tool that my family will use on a regular basis. I think Marc may like it the most, he’s used it way more then I have

To find out more details or to purchase the Beets Blu Scale for your family the Beets Blue Scale is available through Amazon.com for $59.95.

*DISCLAIMER*  THE FIT SKOOL IS A PERSONAL BLOG WRITTEN AND EDITED BY MYSELF ONLY, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. MY REVIEWS ARE COMPLETELY BASED ON MY OWN OPINION OF THE PRODUCT REVIEWED. THESE PRODUCTS WERE SUPPLIED TO ME AS GIFTS TO TEST AND REVIEW.

I didn’t but it sounds about accurate!! I misplace my phone and keys constantly, do you??

I was given an opportunity to review the Beets BLU PagerTag. I jumped all over the opportunity because Marc and I lose our keys/phones ALL the time. I wonder if it has anything to do with our 2 year old?

I set up the Beets BLU PagerTag with an iPhone 6 as a key finder since that’s usually what we tend to lose.

The general setup is fairly easy, but I have yet to set up specific “regions” for the phone and pager tag. I guess I’m not really tech savvy but there are a lot of functions with the app that I haven’t gotten the opportunity to use.

When setting up the PagerTag I wanted to hit a button on my phone and be able to find my keys quickly. The Key Finder makes a loud beeping noise which made it easy to find my keys inside the house. So right there it’s worth it.

The Tag can be attached to anything you might happen to lose track of. In our house our keys are constantly misplaced as well as our phones. I am definitely going to try on of our phones next.

Once you download the app, it has a simple feature to send an alert to the unit that is attached to (for me) my keys. To test the range of the PagerTag my husband tested it from our bedroom and our keys were on our key rack by our back door. It was very easy to locate them by sending the alert from my Iphone.

You can also hook up additional PagerTags to the same app for multiple items, such as phone, keys, gym bag, purse. Their are tons of possibilities there.

Why do I need a Beets BLU PagerTag?

• If you can’t find your keys in a rush or you can’t find them in your bag
• if you left your wallet or purse behind or misplaced it
• if you attach PagerTag to your travel bag, your phone will notify you when it is nearby at the baggage claim area
• if your tagged pet is outside of a set range
• if your item has been stolen

Product info:

• Keep track of your valuables (keys, wallets, suitcase, laptop, bag, backpack- whatever is tagged with PaperTag)
• Detect the proximity of lost or forgotten items wirelessly
• Alert you when your item shifts outside of a connection range (about 15 feet/5 meters)
• Send sounds and enable an LED light to alert you
• Save the battery life using Bluetooth Low Energy protocol
• Save you a lot of time and anxiety
• Can be used as Android Trusted Device for automatic screen lock (android 5.0 or later required)

For only $24.95 the Beets Blu PagerTag would make a great gift for someone! I’m thinking I may get my mom or dad one for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day

We all lose things right?

I have been keeping an eye on my heart rate throughout my workouts. I don’t look at it every second but I am trying to make sure I don’t overdo it with exercise. For someone that’s used to pushing 110% I have to remind myself to keep my exertion at a moderate pace.

When I was asked to review the Beets Blu heart rate monitor strap I was super excited and immediately said yes. I currently have a Fit Bit and Polar Heart Rate Monitor watch/strap but I question their accuracy.

Here’s some information from the Beets Blu website about monitoring your heart rate:

Why do I need to monitor my heart rate?

“Control of your heart rate is very important for your training, as it helps you to achieve your desired results. Depending on the goal of your workout, you can:

• Strengthen your cardiovascular system
• Increase your stamina
• Burn fat
• Avoid your heart beating too fast

This is especially important for those over 50 years of age or for those recuperating.
The results of your training depend on your heart rate zone. This has a lower and upper limit. If your heart rate is in the target zone, you will achieve the expected results from your training.”

Product info:

• adjustable strap: small to x-large
• lightweight: 16g
• slim: 11mm
• 1 year battery life
• you don’t need an adapter just a compatible smartphone
• no connecting or adjusting you use an app to monitor heart rate

When I first tested out this product I downloaded the free Runtastic app to pair it with. I didn’t really like that app so I deleted it and downloaded the free Runkeeper app. It was super easy to set up and paired quickly with the bluetooth function. I actually really liked that I didn’t have to connect anything else with it. I was able to review my workout at the end and view where my heart rate was at it’s max during my exercise routine.

You need a phone device with this product which for me was simple. The only time I had an issue with the product was when I was teaching my fitness classes. Sometimes I went out of the 25 foot range of my iPhone so it wasn’t picking up my data. For those who keep there phone in their pockets, or strapped onto their arms or waist this product would be perfect.

If you have your phone around during your workout you can easily check your heart rate to see your progress.

(this shows the back of the strap where the sensors read your heart rate)

The strap was comfortable and to be honest I was used to wearing it from my old watch so that didn’t phase me. It’s kind of like wearing a tighter sports bra, for guys maybe it would be a little weird but I think it’s something you get used to

During one of my workouts I wore my Fit Bit along with the Beets Blu strap to see the difference in my heart rate throughout a boot camp workout. I felt that they were both pretty similar but I trusted the Beets blu more because it was strapped to my chest and not my wrist. I find the Fit Bit to have a harder time tracking the heart rate from the wrist.

Overall I really liked the product and would recommend this heart rate monitor to anyone looking to strengthen their cardiovascular fitness!!

The Beets Blue Heart Rate Monitor is available through beetsblu.com for $44.95.

*DISCLAIMER*  THE FIT SKOOL IS A PERSONAL BLOG WRITTEN AND EDITED BY MYSELF ONLY, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. MY REVIEWS ARE COMPLETELY BASED ON MY OWN OPINION OF THE PRODUCT REVIEWED. THESE PRODUCTS WERE SUPPLIED TO ME AS GIFTS TO TEST AND REVIEW.

My first priority is comfort. You can tell right away when you put on a pair of shoes if it fits like a glove or if something is off. Remember every foot is different. What works for me might not work for you. If you are looking for a running shoe and your foot has room on the sides then you should try out some new options.

I find that Nike tends to run wider and as much as I love their style I usually end up having some foot discomfort after a couple of weeks. Adidas shoes fit me a little better since my foot is narrow and there shoes are for the most part not too wide.  Below are two shoes I am currently wearing that I really like!

REEBOK SubLite Train 1.0

I just recently received the new Reebok SubLite Train 1.0 sneakers. They are very comfortable and great for circuit training or every day gym use. They also make them in men’s sizes, you can check it out on their website.

I love the color selection of these shoes, they have about 10 different fun color options! These sneakers are great for indoor circuit training workouts. I have a narrow foot and there is a little extra room at the front of the foot so I wouldn’t use these for agility training or lateral quick movements but they are great for strength training and doing indoor cardio.

ASICS GEL-SUSTAIN TR

Zappos- Asics

I ordered these sneakers from zappos a few months ago. You can click on the link and it will bring you to the website. I found these sneakers to be SUPER comfortable. I can wear them at work for hours and my feet don’t hurt. As far as my training with these shoes, I mostly do indoor circuit style training. I do not run in these shoes, but they are great for my boot camp workouts. An added plus is the colors and they are extremely light. I think they are comparable to the nike free.

I am definitely going to order another pair in a different color because they have definitely held up well.

What is your favorite sneaker brand and why?