Polar FT60 Review!

Polar USA was generous to send me a FT60 to review and try out. I had been using my FT7 for months and loved it. I was happy to try a new monitor and see if it would help my training.

This monitor has so many features and this is why it has taken me a little while to write up a proper review. I loved using it and since I received it I have abandoned my FT7 hehe. Do not get me wrong I love my FT7 but the FT 60 just takes training to a whole other level! If you are ready to have workouts customized and you need an extra push to keep you moving then this is the monitor for you!

The monitor measures your resting heart rate, takes your body measurements and creates a custom workout plan for you! It sets goals of time and calories burned for you to reach every week. It breaks the heart rate goals into 3 different training zones. Each zone is used to help you maximize your workout. You can also manually set the zones you want and target heart rates of course.

There is a fitness test you can perform using the monitor as well. This is helpful to check monthly to see if you are indeed improving your physical fitness. One of my favorite features is the calorie counter! This is my main motivator during a workout. I love how the monitor breaks down how many calories I burn during a workout and tells me what percentage of the calories went towards fat burning.

Of course your heart rate is monitored throughout the workout and I like how at the end it tells me what my average heart rate was and also what maximum rate I reached:

The monitor takes it a step further when it sets your weekly goal. This really helped me understand my workouts better and know exactly how much I needed to do every day. For the first few weeks I did not work out enough. Then I got myself into a rythm especially now that I am training for my half marathon. Finally last week I reached my target for the week!

I finally had a good training week and burned 2777 calories! After every workout I knew I was improving of course because the monitor lets you know

Another great feature of this monitor is it has GPS software capabilities. So for all of us runners, walkers, cyclers out there yes we can track out fitness and miles as well!!! If you wish to start measuring your miles as you exercise then you can purchase the additional monitor. There are 2 options available: one that measures miles you cover and goes on your arm, or the other which attaches to your foot that will keep track of your pace and miles. Of course the runner in me cannot wait to purchase the foot monitor. I would love to train all with one monitor!

Only a few things I did not like. Polar monitors are expensive, the average monitor can run you anywhere from $80 to $300. The strap of the FT 60 was shorter than the FT 7, I do not know if it would have fit me at my beginning weight. When using it at night you can illuminate the screen but it only stays lit for 5 seconds I would prefer it to light up for at least 30-60 seconds so I have time to scroll through my screens and check on my workout. Just a few minor details ;)

I would recommend a monitor to anyone looking to improve their fitness and get serious about monitoring their training regimen. Wearing my monitor during every workout keeps me motivated to keep improving. I know how affective a workout is and I keep checking during a workout to see if my heart rate is raised enough to be improving my fitness.

Polar has several different options on their website and I suggest you go over there and take a look! Whether you are just starting out an exercise routine or looking to improve your current fitness routine, there is a monitor available for you. I have been on my journey for 10 months and 4 months into it I got my first monitor, it made a world of difference. It has allowed me to be more in tune to my body and how it responds to different types of exercises.

If you have any questions or comments, or if you have a monitor and love it share it here!!!

Maybe we will be hosting a give away soon ;) Stay tuned!

Weigh in Wednesday Week 1 Power of 1 Check In

Well folks its that time of week again yes it is Weigh in Wednesday. It is also the first week into the Power of One challenge over at the Sisterhood. I had a good week doing the challenge I set some realistic goals for myself and did some toning work with my kettle bells and Jackie Warner DVD.

I had a great week. I racked up a total of 19 miles while running to train for my half marathon! I am happy about that. My long run this week was 6.5 miles and I was able to do it in 53 minutes. I am looking forward to this week's long run of 7 miles hopefully outside this week. All the snow is finally melting and we can see the sidewalks.

So at weigh in at Weight Watchers last night I was not surprised to be down more weight! 1.8 more pounds are gone :) I am getting closer and closer to goal every week!

So between Christmas week and new Year's I am down 3.8 pounds! Go Me!!! No really I learned that the holidays do no have to be about over indulgence and excess food. I made it through without any of that and I feel awesome. I cannot remember the last time I got through a holiday season being down some pounds!

How was your first week on the new challenge?

Level 2 of Shred It With Weights Review!

Well I finally attempted level 2 of Jillian Michaels' Shred it With Weights using my 15 pound kettle bell. Let me tell you, that workout is not for beginners! I love Jillian, and this is why, she never fails to KICK MY ASS. No I mean level 1 is hard, do not get me wrong I reviewed it when it first came out. After some time doing a workout it becomes routine and I feel you should switch it up. I had come to a routine with level 1 so I knew deep down inside even if I did not want to I needed to go to level 2.

First I had to go buy another DVD since my lovely toddler scratched my first one! I have been following along level 1 on On Demand for free under exercise TV, so if you are interested in trying it first I suggest you do! They were on sale at Target for $9 so I grabbed one today. Today during half time of my Patriots game I popped it in and got prepared to sweat.

Well sweat was an understatement! I took a picture when I was done so you could see how beat I was haha

I had fun! But I was exhausted. I knew I was in for an ass kicking right as her warm up began with "pick up your kettle bell". That's right, right from the beginning you are doing jumping jacks holding the kettle bell! And the warm up becomes a workout in itself from there on out.

The workout is broken up into 3 sessions of intense 30 to 60 second intervals. There are 2 women to follow, one is doing beginner's version of the moves with a hand weight and V the tough chica is doing the advanced moves with her kettle bell. During the old video I could always keep up with V, and this time it was a lot harder obviously.

There are more advanced versions of kettle bell swings, combined with walks and jumps. There is more oblique work and then there are the kettle bell push ups. Even V was doing these on her knees and I could barely complete them on my knees as well. I was impressed with Jillian's ability to crank them out and it gave me some motivation to just push myself harder.

Level 2 ends and you do a nice cool down. I collapsed literally on the floor after doing the final move, you are sitting and whipping the kettle bell back and forth across your body and it is just hard but in a good way ;) The only thing I found missing was some ab work. I guess you work your core hard through most of the moves anyways, but I just like a little extra for mine sometimes.

All in all I would definetly reccomend this workout to anyone looking to push things to the extreme and tone up their body. Level 1 is a great start and level 2 is just plain insane! I am excited I got through it and I plan to do it 3 times per week. I know it will help me tone up even more and I am looking forward to it!

The calories burned were much more, level 1 I usually burn around 150-160 and level 2 was a whopping 239!

Have you tried Shred it With Weights yet?