The Leaf experiment lengthens.

The Leaf review is going to take a while. 

The first afternoon it underestimated my steps by about 70%, and the next day by about 30%... for reference, the Fitbit undercuts my steps by only about 5%.  Sleep tracking was hilariously incorrect the first night (guess I can't wear it as a necklace as suggested!) and only chuckle-worthy wrong the second night.


My formal evaluation of it starts today.

I'll be wearing both the Fitbit and the Leaf, and I'll go on long walks to formally count my steps.  Here's the plan:

Phase 1:  Both fitness trackers side-by-side in the same location

- Sunday:  on left wrist
- Monday:  on bra
- Tuesday:  on shirt
- Wednesday:  on necklace

Phase 2:  Fitbit on bra (the most accurate place), Leaf in variable places
- Thursday:  on left wrist
- Friday:  on bra
- Saturday:  on shirt
- Wednesday, on necklace


This should give me all the data I need to know!  The Leaf claims to be 95% accurate, so I suppose there's a chance that I either received a broken one or that it really does "learn" from your behavior and it needs some time. 

For sleep I'll keep them both on the same wrist and manually adjust my sleep window in the app each night.  The Leaf is supposed to learn from your habits to be better at figuring out when you were actually asleep. 

The Leaf is here!

Whoa, that was quick.

The Leaf was supposed to arrive Sept 3rd, but it somehow ended up on my doorstep today, 2 weeks early!
 

Mmmm, leafy fitness tracker goodness.

I'm going to wear the Fitbit and the Leaf at the same time for a couple of days, and compare them to see how accurate the Leaf is with regards to steps and sleep.  Hooray for science!!

The Wait for the Bellabeat Leaf

It's time for a fitness tracker upgrade!

Ryan's been a bit interested in getting a Fitbit, and I've been quite interested in a "functional jewelry" fitness monitor by Bellabeat called the Leaf.  I don't need another fitness tracker, but Ryan is totally an enabler, so he's taking my Fitbit and I ordered the Leaf which will ship out on Sept 1st.

 This picture is from the Bellabeat website... *gasp!* 

I know, it's shocking that I would use someone else's photo, but I don't have it yet.

The Leaf is similar to the Fitbit One:  it tracks steps, distance, calories burned, sleep, can be worn as a clip or bracelet, and also vibrates for an alarm.  The main differences are that it tracks your breathing rate, can vibrate if you want it to remind you to when you're being too inactive, can be worn as a necklace (and the leather bracelet is far more attractive than the Fitbit's), and doesn't need to be recharged every week (replaceable battery lasts 6 months).  The downsides are that it's bigger than the Fitbit and doesn't track altitude/floors.   

It's definitely targeted at women.  The app is interesting because it theoretically translates your breathing and activity into stress and then vibrates an optional alert to help you identify what is stressing you out and remind you to calm down (it can guide you through breathing exercises to calm you).  It is also claimed that the app combines info about your menstrual cycle, sleep, activity, and stress to show you how they are related and give suggestions for improvement... though I hear that Bellabeat is still working out some bugs and adding these and more functions.  If it works how they say it should, it'll be an awesome tool for self/health-improvement.

Most importantly of course, the design is that of a leaf, and has real wood on it.  This really appeals to my nature-loving side, and I won't feel the need to hide it by wearing it in uncomfortable places. 


And as a fun bonus...

The wood in the Leaf is ash, and I remembered ash being important in Celtic lore, so I looked it up.  Oh yeah, it's Yggdrassil, THE  tree!  Hahaha, how soon we forget.

Ash is also a wood that represents fire, since it burns well whether it's green or seasoned and is prone to being struck by lightning.  It's considered a tree of healing.  There's also an element of strength and action, because its wood was used for the handles of weapons due to being strong yet flexible.  Perhaps I can remember these elements when I wear it, and feel the fire of motivation.  Or maybe it'll just look cool.


Just in time!

In any case, it will arrive around the time that vacation ends, so I will officially start the Kaiser insomnia plan at that time.