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Matt’s First Impressions: Misfit Shine

matt with misfit shine

Matt is one of our BlueCross employees testing five popular fitness trackers and sharing his experiences so you can make a better choice about which one is right for you.

For most people, becoming a parent is life-changing in many different ways – especially when it comes to your health. It can be easy to neglect your health when no one else is depending on you.

That was true for Matt, one of our employee testers. When he was just 21, he wasn’t making great choices. He drank four to five sodas a day and never exercised. His doctor told him he had prediabetes, high cholesterol and an increased risk for a heart attack. So Matt stopped going to the doctor.

“That was in 2003, but I knew that mindset had to change the day my daughter was born in 2007. I knew I couldn’t become healthy overnight though,” said Matt, who reconsidered his doctor’s advice after becoming a parent – losing more than 60 pounds after taking up running.

Easy-to-Use Goal Setting

“Since beginning my journey towards good health, I learned there are tools that can help you set and achieve goals. So you can bet I was happy to test out some fitness trackers for BlueCross.”

Matt’s been using the Misfit Shine. If the thought of using a fitness tracker intimidates you, the Misfit Shine might be the device for you.
“I’ve used devices that are a chore to set-up and use – the Misfit Shine is not one of them,” explains Matt. “The instructions were straight-forward and set-up was quick. You’ll get immediate access to the number of steps and distance you’ve achieved anytime of the day. I run longer distances, and so far the tracker has been pretty accurate.”

Matt has competed in marathons and half-marathons since his transformation, and he compliments the goal-setting feature of the Misfit Shine.

“It’s easy to set goals and make adjustments if they’re too hard or easy,” he said. “It’s fun to share achievements with your family. My wife and kids are my biggest fans as I train so I’m motivated by their support as I share my progress with them.”

Thinking about buying a fitness tracker? Read our fitness tracker reviews.

Sleep-Tracking Feature Stands Out

The most surprising feature of the Misfit Shine helped Matt improve his sleep schedule. “The sleep-tracking feature was a little creepy at first. It tracks every bit of movement while you sleep,” Matt explains. “But it’s interesting once you understand how quality of sleep relates to your daily activity and workouts. If you’re not sleeping well, it can show throughout the day, and you can use the information the tracker provides to try to make adjustments.”

Whether you’re training for a race or just kicking it around on the weekends, Matt calls the device ‘simple and easy-to-use’ but also chuckles when talking about how it fits.

“It has a very strong magnet so while it’s great that you can attach it almost anywhere, it can stick to other things,” he said. “You won’t notice it unless it sticks to something else. Really there’s really nothing negative to say about this device. It can fit in well with even the busiest lifestyle, which goes a long way when you’re trying to stay healthy.”

Reviews are not scientific and are the sole opinions of the reviewers, not an endorsement by BCBST of any specific device.
Consult your doctor before beginning any diet or exercise program.

Ali Whittier, CHES®

Ali joined the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee corporate communications team in 2014 and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). A native of Iowa, she has more than a decade of experience in health promotion and community engagement, as well as health care communications. When she’s not at BlueCross, she and her husband Spencer are racing their bikes, spending time outdoors or cooking healthy food and treats in their kitchen.

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Get more information about specific health terms, topics and conditions to better manage your health on bcbst.com. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee members can access wellness-related discounts on fitness products, gym memberships, healthy eating and more through Blue365®. BCBST members can also find tools and resources to help improve health and well-being by logging into BlueAccess and going to the Managing Your Health tab.

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  1. Pingback: Five Fitness Trackers & You: Reviews for All Walks of Life | BlueHealth Solutions

WellTuned provides inspiration and practical advice for healthy living.
WellTuned does not offer medical advice. Any personal health questions should be addressed to your doctor.

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