Wellness

Health: Yunmai Premium Smart Scale for Meeting Health & Fitness Goals

November 17, 2018 · Leave a Comment

I’ve had the same scale in my bathroom for most of my life, and it has long lost its’ precision. So when I get weighed at the doctor or weigh myself at the gym, on occasion, I’m in for a bit of a shock. And an overall weight isn’t indicative of several factors, such as muscle mass, my percentage of fat, or percentage of visceral fat. So I’m thrilled to have found the Yunmai Premium Smart Scale which not only measures these important weight-related statistics, but pairs with its’ own Yunmai APP to sync with Apple health, Fitbit, and Google Fit to help track and achieve the overall fitness goals of the entire family.

FEATURE OVERVIEW

The Yunmai Premium Smart Scale measures ten important statistics of weight and overall health. These statistics can upload via Bluetooth to the Yunami app to monitor progress, track goals, or get an advisory report. The ten important statistics include:

Weight
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Body fat ratio
Water weight
Muscle weight
Bone weight percentage
VisceralÂ Fat
Protein
Body Age
Basal Metabolic Rate

Not just a regular scale, it weighs and calculates multiple weight factors

The Yunmai APP is available for iOS (Apple) and Android smartphones. There is also a version for the iPad. The app is free to download and syncs itself up to the scale and can also be used with Apple health, Fitbit, and Google Fit.

The app is available for Android and Apple devices, including iPhone and iPad tablets.

ABOUT THE SCALE

PACKAGING

The packaging is understated and elegant. It is suitable for gift giving. The outer box contains the scale in a good looking inner box, and it is packed quite securely. The scale is secured even in the inner box with a foam wrap envelope. The batteries are included.

Yunmai Premium Smart Scale gift box

It is wrapped and secured exceptionally well.

Sturdy internal packing materials keeps scale safe

Sturdy internal packing materials keep the scale safe

Well packed

Well packed and comes with a concise User Guide

AESTHETIC & DESIGN

The scale itself is sleek and modern. The surface is highly reflective but gives an almost enameled look. It is a simple design, but eye-catching.

Yunmai logo on the sleek scale surface

Yunmai Premium Smart Scale comes with batteries and is designed to be stable

Sturdy feet has slip-proof grips

The LED display is clear, crisp and easy-to-read with a modern chrome circular design.

The display shows weight in lbs or kg based on your settings

ABOUT THE YUNAMI APP FEATURES

The Yunmai Premium Smart Scale is a Bluetooth-enabled scale that gives precise measurements of a number of body composition factors. Since it is a scale, it does indeed measure weight, but it gives the reasons behind that weight.

The Bluetooth feature allows you to connect up to the Yunmai App, which is available for both Android and iOS. The Bluetooth pairs effortlessly and automatically shows detailed results of your weigh-in. It keeps a history of your stats so you can track your progress over time. This doesn’t just apply to weight, but all stats that are calculated with each weigh-in. For instance, it tracked that I lost nearly a pound of fat in a week’s time. Considering that a standard weight in pounds (or kilograms, the app gives both options) can be affected by the loss of muscle, water weight, etc., I was glad to know that the lost was fat.

Follow the step-by-step instructions in the Quick Start guide to connect the scale and app.

MY EXPERIENCE USING THE Yunmai Premium Smart SCALE & APP

The app’s comprehensive analysis feature allows you to see both an overview and individual statistics. For instance, my general health report showed that I lost 1.2 lbs over the course of seven days. It gives the option to share this information on Facebook and/or Twitter. This is a helpful option if you and your friends are supporting each other in a quest to get healthier.

The app then gives specifics of Body Components and how they factor into overall weight and health. Here’s an overview of the Body Components:

The first component is BMI. The app explains that BMI (Body Mass Index) is a value derived from the weight and height of a person. It shows where your figure falls on the spectrum of health to unhealthy numbers. I have a BMI of 18.6, which is pretty good.

Screenshot: Yunmai Bluetooth 4.0 Premium Smart Body Fat Scale

The second component is your Body Fat percentage. The percentage comes from the total mass of your fat divided by your overall body mass, so it shows what percentage of your body is fat. This is an excellent percentage to know in order to ascertain what lifestyle changes you might need to make.

Screenshot: the measure of body fat

The third component is Muscle mass. Muscle weighs more than Fat, it is good to know the two percentages. If you have been doing a lot of muscle-building exercises, your weight can go up, even though you are losing fat. So knowing both your fat percentage and your Muscle Mass can give a better understanding of how your efforts affect your overall health, not just your weight.

I never gave Body Water much thought, but it is an interesting statistic to know. It is the total amount of fluid in the body. This is important to know when you may under or over attribute a weight gain or loss to high-sodium foods, or even if you are dehydrated.
Track water weight screenshot
Protein Percentage is a good statistic to have as it is the most abundant kind of molecule in the body aside from water. It assists in the growth, repair, and maintenance of the body, so it is essential to have a proper amount of protein in your system.
A component that is very good to know is the amount of Visceral fat in your system. Visceral fat is the fat that is stored in the abdominal cavity and surrounds many internal organs. Since a high level of Visceral Fat can be a predictor of metabolic disease, this is a very important statistic to track over time. I was glad to see that my figure was low but healthy.

Yunmai app screenshot

Bone Mass is the estimated weight of bone mineral in the body. Many women have lower than expected bone mass, but this can be reversed with dietary modifications if it is caught early enough. This feature is very helpful.
BMR is a very interesting statistic. Your Basal Metabolic Rate is the amount of energy expended while at rest. Basically, it is the number of calories per day that you burn if you are sedentary. My BMR is 1222, which motivates me to get in a little bit of extra exercise since I can burn off weight fairly quickly if I eat a healthy diet.
Body Age is the last component and is a rather motivating one. It shows the age of your body based on health and fitness based on all of the Body Components combined. My Body Age is two years younger than my chronological age, but it does motivate me to work harder to keep my body and health at its’ optimal!

NOTABLE FEATURES

This is a great scale for families. The app can track the stats of up to 16 individual users and can be used on separate devices.

The app allows for adding up to sixteen family members to monitor and track progress

A screenshot from the app which allows for adding up to sixteen family members to monitor and track progress

The extra large display is very useful: my vision isn’t terribly bad, but some scales are hard to see. The digital display is quite clear on this scale.

Another feature of this scale is that it still works even if the floor surface is not entirely flat, such as an older house, or on wide wood beams, tiles, or carpeting. This assures consistent results.

This scale is quite beautiful and works with a variety of decors, and it gives very helpful information to help you better manage your health. Of course, you should always work with your doctor if you are making any major lifestyle change, especially if you have a pre-existing condition.

WHERE TO FIND IT

Find the Yunmai Premium Smart Scale at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C6E2YSI/smart+body+scale?fbclid=IwAR2fjDsNpVMSg0ov71oL2VhAakQViVbghjoMKPXodbbwbrEZpYku05jLQtw&th=1

I received this product in exchange for my unbiased review and received compensation for my time and effort. However, my experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.

Sponsored Post: Beauty Wellness with the Eucerin “Prepare to Repair” Video Series

February 22, 2018 · 34 Comments

Here at Style Chicks, we love the concept of Beauty Wellness: the things you do for your wellbeing that have an added beauty benefit, whether it is better posture, better sleep, or simply doing something that puts a glowing smile on your face. There is also no denying that we are huge skincare enthusiasts here, and we know you are too. The folks at Eucerin have combined Skincare and Beauty Wellness into a fantastic video series called “Prepare to Repair!

The Eucerin “Prepare to Repair” video series has simple, effective tips from board-certified dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman to help repair skin’s moisture and from Fitness Instructor Kirsten Trued to help repair muscles. These tips will help optimize your total wellness efforts! In this series, Kirsten teaches a series of exercises that use a small ball for gentle firm pressure, emulating a known therapeutic sports massage technique.

HANDS AND FOREARMS

Our hands endure plenty of wear and tear during the day, ranging from using computer technology gear to washing dishes. The repetitive motion can be grueling to the tendons and muscles of the hand, which makes regular, gentle stretches so beneficial.

Fitness Instructor Kirsten Trued recommends two effective stretches to ease achiness and repair both hands and forearms, while moisturizing skin.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OHcprlx_hw[/embedyt]

ECZEMA CAUSES

Winter wreaks skin havoc, causing dryness and redness, including Eczema flare-ups. To help pre-empt a flare-up, Eucerin Eczema Relief Body Creme contains colloidal oatmeal that soothes while Ceramide-3 acts a barrier to lock in moisture. I especially like to use this in dry environments such as those with indoor forced air heat, like my office building.

POST WORKOUT ECZEMA RELIEF

Sweating during a workout can provoke eczema breakouts, which means regular workouts can begin a vicious cycle. Eucerin Eczema Relief Flare-Up Treatment Creme is intended for use during an active flare-up. It contains Licochalcone A, a licorice extract which is clinically proven to significantly improve the skin’s appearance during flare-up phases.

The rich-feeling creme is fragrance-, steroid- and dye-free.

BACK AND CHEST

Keeping the muscles in your back, chest, and neck strong and toned is vital for proper posture. Good posture makes you look slimmer and taller, and feel younger and healthier. Have you noticed how people round their shoulders and extendedly bend their necks forward while using their phone, tablets, and laptops? These simple exercises not only will help undo some of the stress we put our neck each day but impart a smoother, more elegant neckline and collarbone.

I’ve been remiss over the years about upper body skin care. While I carefully slather my face and throat with skincare topicals and sunscreen, I’ve been haphazard with my shoulders, decolletage, and upper arms. But these areas all belie age with sun damage, dryness, lack of firmness and wrinkles.

What can be done to compensate for upper body skin neglect? Two Eucerin products that help reverse time are Eucerin Intensive Repair Lotion and Eucerin Advanced Repair Lotion.

AHA TO PROMOTE FIRMNESS, COLLAGEN, AND SMOOTHER SKIN

Eucerin Intensive Repair Lotion contains one of my go-to favorite ingredients: Alpha Hydroxy Acid, also known as AHA. AHA, a natural acid found in foods, is a superstar of the skincare realm. AHA’s are often used in anti-aging products and treatments due to their ability to gently but effectively remove dead skin layers without the unsightly peeling or redness that manual exfoliation can cause.

For those with sensitive skin, AHAs can be drying, but Eucerin Advanced Repair Lotion and Eucerin Intensive Repair Lotion contain several buffering ingredients that keep skin hydrated enough to stay soft and supple while benefiting from AHA. What a great duo these two make to treat, protect and hydrate!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVSIAFq7c_8[/embedyt]

As a side note, I find the AHA in Eucerin Intensive Repair Lotion quite helpful with Keratosis Pilaris (KP), better known as those “chicken bumps” that appear on upper arms. For optimal skin health, KP treatment requires both exfoliation and hydration which makes Eucerin Intensive Repair Lotion and Eucerin Advanced Repair perfect for the job. And I like that they are fragrance-free and absorb quickly without leaving residue on skin or clothes, which is highly preferable to any medicated KP treatment. Eucerin Advanced Repair Lotion keeps you hydrated for 48 hours.

QUADS AND HAMSTRINGS

Are your legs sore at the end of the day? Whether from wearing high heels or chasing toddlers the leg muscles often need attention. These exercises work the entire quad and hamstring inch by inch and add in a stretching component for a deep muscle massage. Doing these exercises daily makes legs far more comfortable, even after a busy day on your feet.

And because even skin that is not exposed to the elements can still become very dry, this Eucerin series pairs Eucerin Original Healing Lotion uses simple, safe ingredients to help repair skin. It is paired with the Eucerin Skin Calming Creme for a total beauty wellness leg care plan. The Eucerin Skin Calming Creme is formulated with natural oatmeal to calm skin and keep it moisturized.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC_Q1cYTUM8[/embedyt]

CONCLUSION

The Eucerin “Prepare to Repair” video series makes the most of easy to implement, reparative stretching exercise techniques paired with effective skin products targeted to specific skincare needs. The Eucerin Repair line provides dry, itchy, rough skin with long-lasting hydration, using safe, effective ingredients that are non-irritating. Skin instantly looks and feels so much better. Eucerin replaces the dull, dry look of winter skin with a hydrated and smooth glow that quickly dries down to a non-greasy finish. Warmer weather is just around the corner, and it’s time to get skin ready to be seen. You put time and effort into your beach body workouts, don’t forget your skin!

Style Chicks wrote this article and received compensation for our time and effort. However, the opinions expressed are 100% ours.

Health: Effective Natural Products ENP Super B-Complex Liquid

October 31, 2016 · 3 Comments

B Vitamins have gotten more attention recently because of their impact on brain function and energy levels, their role in combating stress, regulating metabolism and nerve function, and, of course, their beauty benefits. Some expensive Vitamin B supplements are available marketed towards improved hair and nail growth as well as for promoting youthful, glowing skin.

WHY TAKE A VITAMIN B SUPPLEMENTAL COMPLEX?

Many women including myself have inadequate levels of one or more Vitamin B’s, leading to feeling tired, sluggish, and just mentally foggy. Some seek a multi-vitamin or B Complex supplement to address general tiredness in the hopes of gaining more energy. A Vitamin B Complex can be especially beneficial when taken in liquid form instead of capsules or pills. These tablet form vitamins do provide some benefit but do not absorb nearly as well as a liquid Vitamin B Complex. One liquid complex we especially like is Effective Natural Products ENP Super B-Complex Liquid.

Effective Natural Products ENP Super B-Complex Liquid

MY EXPERIENCE WITH ENP VITAMIN B-COMPLEX LIQUID

I have long struggled with low Vitamin B levels; it got worse as I burned the proverbial candle at both ends in grad school. I have gotten Vitamin B12 injections at the doctor, and post bloodwork follow-up calls from said freaked-out doctor urging me to go out and buy a Vitamin B Super Complex RIGHT NOW and start to take it daily. These phone calls include warnings of what can go wrong with low B levels including the risk of nerve damage and low red blood cell production. The doctor also told me I’d be less tired if I take Vitamin B, so now I do so regularly, and supplements do help. I can usually tell quickly if a Vitamin B supplement works for me or not by three factors:

I quickly feel like I have some physical energy and during the hours that follow, increased mental focus
My metabolism kicks into high gear
In a few weeks, my otherwise stubby, brittle, weak fingernails start to grow like weeds

I’ve tried all kinds of Vitamin B supplements ranging from drugstore generics to super expensive brands including some supplements geared towards hair and nail growth. So far, on the drugstore brands, I probably have improved levels of Vitamin B medically speaking, but I don’t feel much improvement in my energy, stamina, and metabolism. I saw no improvement in my hair growth and my fingernails were still weak and brittle. I have been on a more expensive brand of Vitamin B, which does improve my energy levels to a degree and my nails grow fast. But even this expensive Vitamin B complex doesn’t contain all of the Vitamin B range I was told by the doctor to take, so I still have some gaps despite taking a B Complex daily.

Effective Natural Products ENP Super B-Complex Liquid

SOME BENEFITS OF ENP VITAMIN B-COMPLEX LIQUID

ENP Vitamin B-Complex Liquid has all of the B Vitamins I was told I needed in a complex. That is a good start. It is annoying to be taking a B Complex and realize you are still missing some important ones. Each of these B Vitamins works with other Bs in the supplement to convert food to energy.

HIGH ABSORPTION RATE
Another vital feature is ENP’s liquid B-Complex is has a very high absorption rate. I always knew it was better to get your B’s from food instead of supplements whenever possible, but didn’t realize even amongst supplements that the form of supplement is highly correlated to how well the body can use it to its’ benefit. Pills and capsules must be digested, which doesn’t leave as much Vitamin B left to get into your bloodstream. But a liquid has a much better chance of your body absorbing the nutrients it like food, a far superior means of attaining Vitamin B. Statistically speaking, liquid absorption beats out pills and capsule by a long shot, it is more than twice as effective.

A superior feature to ENP’s Liquid B-Complex amongst Liquid Vitamins is that is it cold-processed to preserve the nutrient values intact. This is a rarity amongst liquid vitamins.

VEGETARIAN-FRIENDLY FORMULA
Vegetarians often have difficulty obtaining adequate levels of Vitamin B strictly from their diet alone. Unfortunately, many supplements, especially capsules use animal products. ENP Liquid B-Complex contains no animal products and is considered vegetarian-friendly.

NO FILLERS OR ARTIFICIAL INGREDIENTS
According to their packaging and website, ENP Liquid B-Complex does not contain artificial color or sweeteners, yeast, wheat, sugar or dairy products, egg, fish, crustacean shellfish, treenuts, peanuts, or soy.

TASTE AND TEXTURE
ENP Liquid B-Complex mixes well into juice or tastes good alone. It is not gritty, slimy or chalky, it tastes and feels like a mixed blend juice.

MORE ON ENP LIQUID B-COMPLEX INGREDIENTS
Eight B Vitamins function together, but not all supplements contain all of them. Here are all eight B Vitamins in this complex and what each of them does:

B1 (Thiamine) works with the other Bs to turn food into energy
B2 (Riboflavin) is a co-enzyme required by certain vital proteins to function.
B3 (Niacin) regulates cholesterol. A lack of Niacin can result in anemia, headaches, and tiredness.
B5 (Pantothenic Acid) converts food to energy, specifically synthesizing and metabolizing proteins, carbohydrates, and fats
B6 (Pyridoxine) works to convert food to energy
B7 (Biotin) is responsible for maintaining proper blood sugar levels
B9 (Folate) also known as Folic Acid, it is involved in DNA, red blood cell, and RNA production. Folate prevents anemia
B12 (Cobalamin) maintains the brain, nervous system, hair, skin, and nails

Other ingredients:

Aloe Vera is exceptionally good for you because it contains nutrients for cleansing and repair of the body and the reducing of inflammation. Drinking Aloe Vera also makes skin look radiant. I could never quite stomach drinking Aloe Vera Juice drinks, but find it doable within this supplement liquid.

Choline helps synthesize cell membrane components. Women tend to not get the recommended intake of choline, especially postmenopausal women.

Inositol is a vitamin-like substance found in plants. It works to balance body chemicals and thereby promotes hair growth and reduces insomnia, attention disorders, and depression.

Dimethylglycine is an amino acid found in liver and beans. It is believed to function with the immune system to reduce stress and inflammation in the body. If you are pregnant or nursing, talk to your doctor about how much Dimethylglycine (DMG) intake is safe for you.

Effective Natural Products ENP Super B-Complex Liquid

TRYING THE SUPPLEMENT:

SERVING: Shake the bottle well and drink one ounce (one capful) alone or in juice once a day. Can be mixed with juice or consumed directly.

– Taste: A sweet, non-acidic somewhat citrusy taste. Tastes good by itself as well if you are not a daily juice drinker.
– Smell: like a non-descript fruit juice, pleasant.
– Texture: Not quite as thick as a nectar yet thicker than orange juice in consistency, but not slimy or gelatinous. Not chalky or gritty. Mixes well into my morning juice without being detectable or feeling slimy when swallowing it.

Easy to drink, it blends into my juice without stirring, and it is not particularly detectable in flavor or texture in grapefruit or other citrus juices or juice blends.

Effective Natural Products ENP Super B-Complex Liquid

RESULTS
I was very pleased with the results of ENP Vitamin B-Complex Liquid! I have been using an expensive combination of Vitamins to supplement my Vitamin B needs, and while they have helped, I still did not feel like I had much energy. ENP Vitamin B-Complex Liquid seems to make my mental focus clearer, and I feel more awake during the day, similar to how I feel when I have an afternoon cup of coffee but without the caffeine. My energy levels are more even, and I don’t feel a suddenly exhausted crash at mid-day. I have been using ENP Vitamin B-Complex for about a week now, but I only felt I needed a cup of afternoon coffee one a day this week instead of my daily routine of multiple cups of coffee during the day, which for me is wonderful! For a 2-3 cups of coffee per day person to just have morning coffee and the B-Complex liquid in my juice is pretty impressive results in my book. ENP Vitamin B-Complex Liquid comes in a 32-ounce bottle, so I am excited to see the results after an entire month of use and beyond!

Of course, consult your physician before starting this or any other vitamin or dietary supplement.

Find ENP Vitamin B-Complex Liquid at CPVitaminSales.com.Â Style Chicks readers get 15% off with promo code STYLE15.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2W4Wm4m_f8[/embedyt]

Health: Islands Miracle Ultra 50 Probiotics

August 28, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Islands Miracle Ultra 50 Probiotics

Most of the time, we think of digestive health when we think of probiotics, and they are great for that purpose. However, a lot of the other amazing effects that Probiotics have are often overlooked. For instance, probiotics can help with energy. Additionally, since probiotics assist your body in detoxifying, they are wonderful for skin. For these effects, I looked for a good brand of probiotics, and Islands Miracle Ultra 50 Probiotics seemed especially promising.

Islands Miracle Ultra 50 Probiotics is a quality formula. Many probiotic formulas only contain a few strains of good bacteria, but this formula contains eighteen high potency strains. Additionally, it contains prebiotics. I have tried using prebiotics and probiotics in the past, but they have been different pills at different times of day, so being able to take two pills once a day that contains both prebiotics and probiotics is nice. And since it is a time-release formula, it doesn’t wash through your system fast; it works to keep your system running well all day.

I have been kind of dragging in the past couple of weeks. I’ve been busy, and it has been taking its toll. After a few days of the probiotic, I noticed that I had more stamina. Not enough that I felt like running 10 miles every morning, but enough to be noticeable. I wasn’t doing anything else that could account for my extra pep, so I think it is likely the probiotics.

Likely due to being tired, my skin started looking a little dull before taking the probiotics. I tried all of my usual creams etc., but when you are tired, it shows on your skin. After a few days on the probiotics, I noticed the color started returning to my face. More impressive than that, I noticed that my skin was less congested. So, if you are a fan of facials, consider this probiotic as a nice add-on for achieving clear skin.

One of the things I like about Islands Miracle Ultra 50 Probiotics is that they are wheat-free. While I don’t have a gluten sensitivity, I do recognize that wheat is hard on the body, and I try to be moderate in consuming it in foods. However, it doesn’t make sense to ingest it in a probiotic! I never really thought about it until I saw that Ultra 50 Probiotics doesn’t have wheat, and then went and checked other brand’s probiotics, and sure enough, they do contain wheat. So if you do have gluten sensitivity, then this is definitely the brand for you! I am, however, definitely lactose intolerant, so the fact that it is also lactose-free is a definite help. It would make even less sense for me to take a probiotic that contained an ingredient that made me sick to my stomach.

As far as digestive help, I noticed that my stomach seems a little flatter this week, so taking this probiotic is a definite help there!

I am happy to have found a superior formula like Islands Miracle Ultra 50 Probiotics. It’s an easy way to add potent probiotics to your diet!

Find Islands Miracle Ultra 50 Probiotics at Amazon.

Islands Miracle Ultra 50 Probiotics