Two and a half years ago, I was given an activity tracker watch (not the advanced Polar Loop) for the first time. As a previously inactive person who was really trying to make a lifestyle change, this was the best present ever!

For the first few months, I hit my goal nine times out of ten with activities like Zumba, other aerobics classes, walking the dog and the occasional jog.

Goodbye Basic Activity Tracker

Later, I became interested in strength training, and no longer reached my activity goal. I was getting leaner and fitter by the day, but it was becoming harder and harder to reach my activity goal. Why is that? Because it’s a motion sensor. It doesn’t account for weight-bearing movements. So when I’m squatting heavy weight, for example, my heart rate certainly gets up, and I’m definitely getting a good workout in, but the motion sensor can’t tell the difference between an air squat and a 120 lb back squat. You can imagine my frustration when I would do a class like Les Mills Body Pump, burning around 700 calories a class and not getting the credit for it. Since you remain relatively stationary for the class, I would show very little activity for that time. So now, that basic activity tracker is sitting at home collecting dust!

Tracking your progress and having a daily goal to reach certainly got me excited to get active!

Fast forward a few years, and I was given the Polar Loop. I’ll admit that I was skeptical at first because it seemed very similar to the previous activity tracker that I had.

polar loop

From my past experience, I knew I didn’t get the results I was looking for because the majority of my exercise and calorie expenditures weren’t from walking or running distances. I did a little research, and I found that the Polar Loop is the only activity tracker on the market that you can pair with a heart rate monitor. You can now account for weighted movements that get your heart rate up and activities like rowing and skipping. The Polar Loop is great if you are big into certain activities that are more stationary.

Hello H7 Heart Rate Tracker!

With the H7 Heart Rate Strap, your calorie expenditure will be much more accurate since your heart rate doesn’t lie. If you’re interested in your calories, you’ll probably be looking to see if you are in the calorie surplus or deficit. If you don’t know how much you are spending on an average day, then it’s a struggle to know your calorie intake. If you have any weight-related goal, knowing exactly what goes in and what is being used up daily is very valuable information.

The H7 is very comfortable and can be worn all day if you want. I wear mine all the time, and sometimes I forget it is even there!

If you love to swim, there is another great advantage to checking out the Polar Loop. You can wear both the Polar Loop and the H7 in the pool or lake. You don’t have to play the guessing game when trying to calculate the results of your extra activity. It makes it very effective if you enjoy swimming laps or participating in a water aerobics class. For me, it’s a great tool to measure those extra bits of activity on top of my regular exercise routines.

There’s An App For That!

Whether you are a beginner or not, the Polar Loop is a great motivational tool. You can interact with your friends through the Polar Flow app and keep each other accountable. The Polar Loop tracks your steps (walking & running), your sleep and how much time you spend sitting and standing. It will even alert you if you are sitting for too long! Staying organized and committed to your fitness routines is easier and more effective with the Polar Loop.

“The Polar Loop is a great all-around activity tracking tool that will work for anyone.”

If you have any questions about the Polar Loop or want to try one for yourself, please e-mail ftp@fitnesstown.ca or stop by Fitness Town Port Coquitlam, where I would be more than happy to answer all your fitness questions! Remember, the key to success is to…

Polar Loop & H7 Heart Rate Strap: Product Review