If you find the name Actxa familiar, that’s because it supplies the step trackers for the National Steps Challenge for the past years. Actxa is a Singapore brand formed in 2015 and focuses on developing health and fitness related products. Their software arm, Activate Interactive Pte Ltd, develops apps like Health 365, and games for health and fitness since 1997. Their experience in this area clearly shines in the Actxa app. The Actxa Spur+ is the flagship fitness tracker retailing at S$109, with current ongoing promotion at S$94 . Other basic trackers only count steps, and the Tempo 2 issued by the National Steps Challenge Season 4 comes with a heart rate monitor. The Actxa Spur (no “plus”) is similar spec to Tempo 2 but runs on Actxa App which has more fitness stats. While it comes in only one strap size, there are enough holes to fit even my daugher of 11 years. The Actxa Spur+ comes with colour display plus VO2 Max monitoring. It is functionally comparable to Garmin Vivosmart 4 or Fitbit Alta HR (which does not have VO2 monitoring), but both are more expensive and no colour display. What is VO2 Max? It calculates the maximum amount of oxygen a person can consume during a workout. It is a good indicator on how much endurance a person has for prolonged exercise. Without any clinical machine to measure, those VO2 Max monitors on the wrists are usually based on formula around the measured heart rate. In short, a higher VO2 Max reflects better fitness level. Design-wise, the Actxa Spur+ has 2 diagonal strips printed on the glass surface. The strap is smooth on the underside while the outside is textured. The standard watch buckle ensures the strap does not come loose easily as compared to most other fitness trackers. Charging is via proprietary magnetic charging dock. There are no physical buttons, so the only way to navigate the tracker is to tap the screen. Connecting the watch to the smartphone is a breeze. The best part is that you can connect to any smartphone without having to re-pair or reset the watch. Just disconnect the watch from the old phone, install the Actxa app to the new phone, log in, and sync. Using Bluetooth Low Energy protocol, the device is authenticated through the Actxa app instead of the phone Bluetooth settings. The watch shows real-time stats like steps, distance walked, heart rate, etc. but the screens are fixed. Also, you can see from the above screenshots that you can enable a few features on the tracker, like main display, alarm, notifications, move alert, wake-up gesture. All the data is synced to the smartphone app, where there are dozens of screens to present the stats. Like all fitness trackers, the app offers interesting insights on your health stats. The Actxa Spur+ offers more stats than most other trackers for the same price. Here are the metrics in detail: Intensity Minutes Workout Tracking Heart Rate Monitoring Steps Monitoring Calories Tracking Active Time Tracking Distance Tracking Weight Tracking Sleep Tracking From the daily dashboard, you have a summary of each of the above stats. The step tracking is a bit more sensitive than my Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro, which is a good thing specially if you depend on it to clock your daily 10,000 steps to earn your rewards. You can drill into the details on each of the metrics. Here is what it looks like for all-day heart rate monitoring. If you have recorded any workout activities (long-press on the tracker), then the app will show the heartrate chart and the intensity level, among other information. One issue: when battery is low, it cannot start a new session. Or during workout when the battery hits low, the workout will end prematurely. The VO2 Max will also be plotted over time, with every workout you record. This page below shows sleep quality. On certain nights, Actxa Spur+ could not detect my sleep duration accurately, for reasons unknown. Verdict The Actxa Spur+ is a full-featured activity tracker designed to provide loads of fitness metrics for the wearer. These metrics are indicators of fitness level, and like most wrist trackers, they are not as scientifically accurate as clinical equipment, but captures the fitness trends of the wearer over a period of time. While there are many inexpensive products from China, many of them are not designed by English-proficient developers resulting in some challenges in understanding the user interface. Compared with the established brand trackers, Actxa is value for money. If you participate in the National Steps Challenge and needed a more advanced fitness tracker with more health stats, the Actxa Spur+ is a great choice for less than S$100. The Actxa Spur+ is available at selected retail outlets, Lazada, Actxa website, and Singpost branches, at a launch promo price of S$94 (RRP $109). Likes Loads of fitness metrics including VO2 Max which is only available in more expensive trackers Able to switch smartphones without wiping tracker stats 6-day battery life, longer if you disable heart-rate monitoring Works with Health 365 (National Steps Challenge) Dislikes Cannot start workout activity sessions when battery is low Wake-up gesture is not as sensitive Proprietary charging dock (most trackers have this constraint) Product is not rated waterproof for swim use Actxa Spur+: Summary Specs Battery: 130 mAh Water Rating: IP67 Display: Colour TFT 0.96-inch with touch sensor Weight: 27g Material: hypo-allergenic flexible TPU strap Source: https://musicphotolife.com/2018/11/actxa-spur-plus-review-fitness-tracker-vo2max-heartrate-monitoring/

In case you missed it, here is Actxa’s CEO, Lim Chun Hong’s interview with CNA938 streamed last Saturday. In his interview with SportsTalk host R. Sasikumar, he shared Actxa’s vision as well as how Actxa’s unique, high-value, outcome- and evidence-based solutions can be customised to help communities such as interest groups or corporations meet their specific goals. About Actxa Our values stem from the need to be present: for the people and causes that matter, in our children’s lives for years to come, and for our parents to be in ours too. We also believe that through bettering ourselves, we will better the people around us, and ultimately our communities and cities. With the prevalence of easy-to-use smart devices in the pockets or on the wrists of people in all stages of life, we want to create a world where everyone can see how they’re really doing, which can often be different than how they feel they’re doing. Through awareness, of where we are and where we want to be, we can close the gap and make the right moves to journey towards our best selves. Actxa brings together people, partners, science, technology and data to create positive changes to the health, quality of life and well-being of every individual and community. In addition to offering evidence-based wellness programmes to individuals, communities and corporations, Actxa is proud to have been supporting population health initiatives such as the National Steps Challenge, a nationwide get active and healthy programme in Singapore. Since the programmes’ inception in 2015, we have positively impacted the lives of more than 1 million individuals, and counting. Email: marketing@actxa.com Website: www.actxa.com

Last month, the Heart Wellness Centre at Singapore Heart Foundation hosted a ‘Let’s Talk About Sleep’ webinar as part of their health talk series to help their cardiac rehab clients lead a healthier lifestyle. Actxa’s CEO, Lim Chun Hong, was invited as a speaker where he shared about the importance of sleep and how it is the foundation of a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Sleep was once considered an inactive, or passive, state in which both the body and the brain ‘turned off’ to reset and recover from the day’s waking activities. However, this is no longer believed to be true as scientists have found that your brain goes through characteristic patterns of activities throughout each period of sleep and sometimes your brain can be more active when we are asleep than we are awake. Watch the Webinar to Learn About: What is sleep? (01.10) Why is sleep important for well-being? (02.43) What happens to the mind and in the body when we don’t get enough sleep or quality sleep? (03.49) How much sleep do we need to thrive? (08.59) Are you recovering during sleep? (12.04) Habit changes that will vastly improve your sleep (18.14) Importance of a balanced lifestyle and how Actxa’s proprietary Healthy Living Score can help us gain awareness on where we are in our preventive healthy journey (29.16) Q&A session (31.46) About Actxa Our values stem from the need to be present: for the people and causes that matter, in our children’s lives for years to come, and for our parents to be in ours too. We also believe that through bettering ourselves, we will better the people around us, and ultimately our communities and cities. With the prevalence of easy-to-use smart devices in the pockets or on the wrists of people in all stages of life, we want to create a world where everyone can see how they’re really doing, which can often be different than how they feel they’re doing. Through awareness, of where we are and where we want to be, we can close the gap and make the right moves to journey towards our best selves. Actxa brings together people, partners, science, technology and data to create positive changes to the health, quality of life and well-being of every individual and community. In addition to offering evidence-based wellness programmes to individuals, communities and corporations, Actxa is proud to have been supporting population health initiatives such as the National Steps Challenge, a nationwide get active and healthy programme in Singapore. Since the programmes’ inception in 2015, we have positively impacted the lives of more than 1 million individuals, and counting.

For Immediate Release SINGAPORE, (21 February 2018) – Actxa, local developer of digital health and fitness products, recently acquired the exclusive rights to launch and distribute Firstbeat Lifestyle Assessment, a professional-grade coaching service, in Singapore. Using a unique heart rate variability analysis , the Firstbeat Lifestyle Assessment effectively measures beat-by-beat heartrate and provides insightful knowledge into one’s health and stress levels, helping users to take concrete steps to improve their lifestyle and productivity performance. Established in 2002, the Firstbeat technology (Firstbeat) is based on a spin-off from the Research Institute for Olympic Sports in Finland and the University of Jyväskylä, both of which are internationally acclaimed academic institutions known for their research and expertise in sports science. Leveraging on 20 years of study in the field of heartbeat and heart rate variability, Firstbeat created a unique digital model of physiology that turns heartbeat data into personal feedback and actions. Built with near-laboratory level accuracy for professional athletes, this technology is now made available for people from all walks of life through the Firstbeat Lifestyle Assessment. Using factual data from the bodyguard device that the user has to put on for 3 days, together with a web diary that logs down the activities that the user goes through during the assessment period, we can have personalised data to the user’s stress, recovery and exercise levels, and how they co-relate. By turning that information into rich, valuable and understandable feedback, individuals, corporates and even wellness professionals (such as coaches and gym instructors) can now connect the dots between the user’s lifestyle choices and well-being and identify steps to a healthier, fitter and more productive life. Individuals, with the inclination to take on personal responsibility of making lifestyle changes, can use the findings to complement annual health checks, or even integrate them into wellness initiatives (with the help of wellness professionals), such as weight loss, stress management or exercise programs. Corporations can help employees achieve positive occupational health and wellbeing for increased productivity and reduced absenteeism. Since its launch, over 250,000 people have experienced the Firstbeat Lifestyle Assessment with amazing results. 82% of them reported an improvement in their ability to manage stress, improve exercise habits and quality of sleep, 85% of them reported that they feel more productive at work and 88% of them reported an improvement in well-being. “We are proud and excited to introduce Firstbeat Lifestyle Assessment to the Singapore market. We hope that this unique service will help Singaporeans, who are living a demanding and fast- paced lifestyle, to better cope with daily stresses, reach their goals and most importantly feel good about themselves, both physically and mentally. With this new service, Actxa goes beyond designing and manufacturing digital health wearables to provide users a more holistic, and end- to-end approach towards monitoring their personal health and wellness,” said Mr. Lim Chun Hong, CEO of Actxa. The Firstbeat Lifestyle Assessment for individuals is available for purchase through its website at S$299.00 per assessment. Corporate companies and Wellness professionals looking to implement Firstbeat Lifestyle Assessment can contact Actxa directly at sales@actxa.com. About ACTXA Formed to enhance the quality of lives, Actxa, established in 2015, started as an Internet-of- Things unit of Activate Interactive Pte Ltd – a multi-national technology services company headquartered in Singapore. Today, as a developer of health and fitness-related products, Actxa aims to promote a healthy and active lifestyle whilst challenging people to push their limits and strive for their personal best. Actxa is steered by a team focused on designing, developing and delivering the latest fitness technology at affordable prices. Helping track 5 billion steps made by the 156,000 participants in the National Steps Challenge organised by the Health Promotion Board in 2015, Actxa was and continues to be the official tracker partner for the 2nd and 3rd seasons of the National Steps Challenge in 2016 and 2017. Actxa’s tagline ‘Mind Your Fitness’ is about empowering customers to embark on healthy lifestyles through a range of innovative products all easily connected via a smart app. From daily activity trackers to a smart scale, minding your fitness is powered by Actxa’s wealth of experience in technology and biomechanics, simplified for the busy life. For more media information, please contact: Heylee Email: heylee.yeow@actxa.com Website: www.actxa.com

All you need to know about your health is at the touch of a button with these crowd-favourite activity and fitness trackers Like your numbers and figures? Monitor your health and activity effortlessly with these smartwatches and fitness bands – we put 4 to the test and see how well they measure up to the demands of daily life. Polar A370 A sleek fitness band that’s equipped with a colour touchscreen, a single side button and changeable wristbands. The A370 is Polar’s first unit to offer continuous heart rate tracking but one of its most unique qualities is its advanced sleep metrics. It offers an in-depth insight into your sleep quality, differentiating between ‘bed time’ and actual sleep time, along with any sleep interruptions and provides feedback on ways to achieve better sleep. Within the training function, there are various pre-set sport types such as ‘Group Exercises’ and ‘Running’ but you can customise your own exercise profiles on the app and load them into the unit. The verdict A slim and sporty fitness tracker that’s relatively straightforward to set up and use. Best for the casual gym-goer. Actxa Spur The most affordable of the lot, the Actxa Spur is the training wheels’ equivalent of a fitness band. Actxa first produced the Stride as a free step counter for the Health Promotion Board and the Spur is its jazzed-up, upgraded version. It supports heart rate monitoring through six heart zones: Relax, Warm Up, Fat Burn, Cardio, Intense and Max, and shows you the duration spent in each zone in a handy coloured chart on the app. While you can’t swim with it, it’s able to withstand sweat and lasts up to 10 days in between charges. The verdict An entry-level, easy-to-use activity tracker for basic day-to-day tracking. Best for the tech-adverse lot. Apple Watch Series 3 The third iteration of the Apple Watch takes the best features of the Series 2 and plays them up – it straddles the line between smartwatch and phone, especially the recently launched version with both built-in GPS and cellular service. It comes with all the notifications functions you need, altimetre, 50m water resistance and allows you to talk to Siri too. Of course, you have full access to the app store which is an unbeatable quality. The verdict An all-round smartwatch that gives you on-the-go connectivity. Best for busy folks. Fitbit Ionic Fitbit Ionic is the brand’s first foray into fitness smartwatches – it allows you to make payment with your pre-saved credit card and pops notifications of your fancy. There are a handful of apps to tap into, including Strava and the Weather app, but nothing to shout about. Its fitness tracking functions, though, are impressive – steps, distance, heart rate and quick access to workout modes are all neatly visualised in the app. There’s also a nifty built-in Relax function that reminds you to rest and meditate. THE VERDICT A lightweight smartwatch that’s better as a fitness tracker than as a smartwatch. Best for the sporty crowd and zen-seeker. Source: https://www.timeout.com/singapore/sport-and-fitness/tried-and-tested-best-fitness-trackers-to-buy

Smartband that indicates the level of sugar I came across this device absolutely by accident. A small smartband that looks similar to, for example, Xiaomi Mi Band 3 has one quite unique functionality - it can determine whether the user's blood sugar level is high, low or maybe appropriate. Marcus Soo, product manager of Actxa from Singapore, explained to me how the device works. It uses a database collected on the basis of many studies in Singapore hospitals (the company has a contract with the local health care). It compares the measured parameters (mainly heart rate and body temperature) with the results in the database and returns one of three results (low, normal, high). Of course, it will not replace a glucometer for people with diabetes, but it will work as an early warning system against sugar drops. Source: https://www.chip.pl/2018/09/ifa-2018-roboty-przyrzady-medyczne-i-ogromna-klawiatura

For immediate release ACTXA STEPS UP ITS FITNESS GAME WITH IMPROVED ACTIVE WEARABLE, ACTXA SPUR+, FEATURING ALL-NEW VO2 MAX AND FITNESS AGE FEATURES Level-up your exercise, fitness and health by tracking and stretching your cardiorespiratory/aerobic fitness with the all-new Actxa Spur+ SINGAPORE, November 2018 – Actxa, local developer of digital health and fitness products, has launched its all-new active wearable, the Actxa Spur+, to empower not only the fitness enthusiasts but also the average Joe on the streets to be in better control of their fitness and enjoy the health benefits that come with improved fitness levels. The Spur+ now includes a new key feature – VO2 Max – the gold standard metric that defines an individual’s cardiorespiratory and aerobic fitness level. It describes your body’s ability to bring oxygen into your body through your lungs, transport it through your blood supply to your muscles, and use it as part of your body’s most efficient energy production method. The Spur+ accurately measures VO2 Max using a proprietary method from Firstbeat Technologies, the leading provider of physiological analytics for sports and well-being, founded in the hub of sports sciences of Finland with the University and physiology labs. According to a white paper by Firstbeat Technologies, an individual’s VO2 Max decreases by 1% every year after the age of 251. However, individuals can actively improve their VO2 Max regardless of age, by engaging in regular exercise to maintain fitness performance and endurance for overall health and well-being, for longer work ability, better quality of life and longevity. 1 Firstbeat Technologies White Paper (2014). Automated Fitness Level (VO2max) Estimation with Heart Rate and Speed Data With the all-new VO2 Max feature, the Spur+ is also able to determine an individual’s Fitness Age in comparison to their chronological age. The higher the VO2 Max , the more aerobically fit a person is, and the lower their Fitness Age is. Available in a sleek black or midnight blue design, the Actxa Spur+ wearable is water-resistant and comes with a face-lifted interface that features a colour touchscreen display. The gadget tracks and displays “Intensity Minutes ” , giving wearers the instant visibility of their progress as they work towards achieving the WHO-recommended weekly goal of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activities (MVPA). To get a personal VO2 Max reading, users simply need to record a workout of at least 15 minutes, either by jogging or brisk walking. The improved gadget also provides All-day Heart Rate Monitoring , with a five-minute reading interval. It also features Move Alert to remind users when a (customisable) period of inactivity is detected. With all these data and information effectively synchronised to the Actxa mobile app, users are presented with an easy to use interface to view and track their data as actionable insights. “We are excited to launch the Actxa Spur+ this October. The product has been carefully designed with new features that give users more in-depth and meaningful insights into the effectiveness of their exercise regimes. By capturing data that sheds light on how workouts and day-to-day routines translate into improved fitness levels, we hope to make the Actxa Spur+ a big part of our users’ lifestyle as they strive for a more healthy and active living,” said Mr. Lim Chun Hong, CEO of Actxa. The Actxa Spur+ is available for purchase at retail outlets island wide at S$109.00. Tag & Hashtag Us: @Actxa | #ActxaSpurPlus | #ActxaSG

Actxa has launched its all-new active wearable, the Actxa Spur+, to empower not only fitness enthusiasts but also average Joes (like me) to be in better control of their fitness and enjoy the health benefits that come with improved fitness levels. Tells You Exactly How Fit You Are The Spur+ has a new feature called VO2 Max that attempts to define your cardiorespiratory and aerobic fitness level accurately. It describes your body’s ability to bring oxygen into your body through your lungs, transport it through your blood supply to your muscles, and use it as part of your body’s most efficient energy production method. With the all-new VO2 Max feature, the Spur+ is also able to determine your Fitness Age in comparison to your chronological age. The higher the VO2 Max, the more aerobically fit you are, and the lower your Fitness Age is. Convenient and Clear Interface Available in a sleek black or midnight blue, the Actxa Spur+ wearable is water-resistant and comes with a face-lifted interface that features a colour touchscreen display. The gadget tracks and displays “Intensity Minutes ” , giving you an instant visual of your progress as you work towards achieving the WHO-recommended weekly goal of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activities (MVPA). To get a personal VO2 Max reading, you simply need to record a workout of at least 15 minutes, either by jogging or brisk walking. The improved gadget also provides All-day Heart Rate Monitoring, with a five-minute reading interval. It also features Move Alert to remind you when a period of inactivity is detected. All these data and information are synchronised to the Actxa mobile app, so you can track your data and take the necessary course of action. The Actxa Spur+ is available for purchase at retail outlets islandwide at $109.00. Source: https://nxtmag.tech/2018/11/03/actxa-spur-plus-fit-wearable/

All you need, in a heartbeat. With the festive season rolling around, we aren’t counting calories but we are counting steps! That sounds like a job for the Actxa Spur+, the all-new digital wearable that empowers any average Joe, like you and I, to be in better control of our fitness levels and health! Not only does the Spur+ include a pedometer, it also comes with All-day Heart Rate Monitoring, so that whether you are at rest or sweating it out at the gym , it gives you immediate feedback on what your heart is saying. Keep tabs on your steps, heart rate zone, distance covered or calories burnt, this little piece of wearable tech keeps you accountable for your health! The Spur+ showing my heart rate after my powerwalk from the MRT Station to the office. The Spur+ also comes with one of my favourite features, Move Alert, a gentle buzz on your wrist when you’ve been sitting down for too long, to remind you to get up and take a walk ! It’s especially useful for people, like me, who are confined to our desks for the most part of the working day; how convenient it would be for the Spur+ to remind us to get up and stretch! If keeping to your new year fitness resolution is something you want to achieve in 2019, the Spur+ also has a VO2 Max monitoring feature that tracks your individual cardiorespiratory and aerobic fitness levels, so you can plan your personal workouts and monitor your progress at the same time. It describes your body’s ability to bring oxygen into your body through your lungs, transport it through your blood supply to your muscles, and use it as part of your body’s most efficient energy production method. According to a white paper by Firstbeat Technologies, an individual’s VO2 Max decreases by 1% every year after the age of 25. However, individuals can actively improve their VO2 Max regardless of age, by engaging in regular exercise to maintain fitness performance and endurance for overall health and well-being, longer work ability, better quality of life and longevity. With the all-new VO2 Max feature, the Spur+ is also able to determine an individual’s Fitness Age in comparison to their chronological age. The higher the VO2 Max, the more aerobically fit a person is, and the lower their Fitness Age is. With all this data and information effectively synchronised to the Actxa mobile app, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to use the interface to view and track your data as actionable insights! Source: https://weekender.com.sg/style/tech-and-gadgets/the-actxa-spur-is-the-new-wholesome-fitness-buddy-you-need/

Fitness trackers have spiked in popularity in recent years, with more paying attention to their health and activity levels. Actxa is a homegrown brand, and has been providing hundreds of thousands of Singaporeans with fitness trackers via the National Steps Challenge since 2015. Here’s their story. Never has counting the number of steps we take daily been a common method to measure our activity levels (or score shopping and grocery vouchers ) – until recently. Of course, pedometers have been around for hundreds of years , but they were typically singular in their purpose, and thus only appealed to a smaller group of consumers. Now, pedometers are integrated into our smartwatches and fitness trackers, both of which do so much more than just count the number of steps we take. With the introduction of the annual National Steps Challenge by the Singapore Health Promotion Board, Singaporeans of all ages and backgrounds have also become more aware and incentivised to pay more attention to their activity levels. To help Singaporeans get started on their fitness tracking journey, the Health Promotion Board also gives out fitness trackers to participants every season. What some might not know is that the trackers are made by Actxa , a Singaporean company that also made its debut with the first-ever National Steps Challenge in 2015! Activate Interactive , the parent company of Actxa, is also the developer of Healthy 365 , the official app for the National Steps Challenge. I got in touch with the CEO of Actxa, Mr Lim Chun Hong, to find out more about how its founders went from developing games for dementia sufferers to creating pedometers for Singaporeans of all fitness levels. From Activate Interactive To Actxa Actxa was established by the founders of Activate Interactive, a local developer of digital health and fitness products that aims to improve the quality of people’s lives through technology. Founded in 1997, Activate Interactive has gone from developing games for individuals who suffer from dementia to designing products that help diabetic patients monitor their blood glucose levels in a non-invasive manner. Its founders, Leslie Wou, Dawn Teh, and Karen Ho all have backgrounds in game development, mobile and interactive media. They have also won awards for their products along the way, including the Singapore Infocomm Award, GSMA Global Mobile Award, Nokia Forum Pro Award, Asia Web Design Award, and World Web Design Award. In 2015, Mr Joel Chin, the current CEO of Activate Interactive, came into the picture with the acquisition of the business. He then founded the latter within the same year. Under his leadership, Actxa was positioned to be the Internet of Things (IoT) arm of Activate Interactive to “focus on bringing digital health products and services to market, while Activate Interactive continues to focus on software and technologies”. “Back in 2015, good quality fitness trackers were costly,” explained Mr Lim. [Mr Chin] believed that health and its associated technologies should be made affordable and easy to use to benefit as many people as possible. Making Strides Since 2015 Mr Lim shared that the starting days were “tough, […] considering that there were many firsts” that they were embarking on with the manufacturing process of fitness trackers. 2015 was also a particularly eventful year, with them winning the tender to supply fitness trackers for the very first season of the National Steps Challenge. Working with manufacturing partners, conducting integration, testing, all the way through to going live in an 8-week span… it was really sink or swim, and I’m glad to say that we managed to swim. The Actxa Stride, their first product, was released to the public in the same year. “The reception was overwhelmingly positive with roughly 250,000 Actxa Strides ending up on the wrists of the public by 2016,” revealed Mr Lim. Sold Almost 800,000 Fitness Trackers So Far Since its inception 3 years ago, they have sold “a little shy of 800,000” fitness trackers. Most of their current customers and users are located in Singapore, but their products have also made their way around the world. “We have recently started efforts to distribute our products globally,” said Mr Lim. Actxa through the years He has also noticed a “steady rise in awareness” of the importance of an active lifestyle among Singaporeans, and credits it to “national-level programmes like the National Steps Challenge”. Globally, the credit goes to the work that has been done by established fitness tracker brands like Fitbit and Garmin, and we hope that in the very near future, Actxa. As for future plans, Mr Lim shared that users can look forward to the launch of the Actxa Glo in January 2019, a fitness tracker that can predict a person’s blood glucose levels non-invasively. “We believe this product will help, in a very big way, to prevent the onset of the diabetic condition for a lot of people, as well as help users understand how their body is reacting to sugar over time,” he beamed proudly. He also teased that the team has started work on “an interesting solution” that will help children form good health habits. 2019 will also mark the year when the homegrown brand looks to accelerate their overseas expansion plans which have already taken root this year. I’d like to thank Mr Lim for his time! Take the first step (pun intended) and check out Actxa and their products here . Source: https://vulcanpost.com/652248/actxa-fitness-trackers-singapore/

Firstbeat started off as a technology company, but today Firstbeat feels more like a human company . Firstbeat’s role is to make biological information visible and to help people to live better lives. It is inspiring to see people becoming interested in their health, armed with the personalized insights necessary to achieve their dream of a healthier life. Each one of us can learn from our own physiology for a more balanced future. As a distributor of the Firstbeat Lifestyle Assessment, we hope to inspire more people to walk the journey of preventive health. Read more on: 15 Years of Firstbeat – What Have We Learned?

The Actxa app automatically uses the standard formula of 220 minus your age to get your Maximum Heart Rate, which would be used to calculate the range for your five training zones. Tracking your heart rate with a heart rate monitor and understanding what’s happening in each heart rate zone is important if you want to fully utilise your workout and fitness tracker. There are five different zones you can train in, with different benefits to each. 50-63.9% of Max HR Warm Up Zone You can reach this comfortable zone by walking briskly. Exercising in this zone will improve your general health but not your endurance or strength. This is a good zone to be in for those with heart problems or are starting to work out on a daily basis. Workouts in this zone usually include long, slow runs or easy recovery workouts. As this is at a very comfortable effort level, you can use this zone for warm-ups and cool-downs. 64-69.9% of Max HR Fat Burn Zone Reach this zone by jogging slowly. Perfect for easy rest and recovery days, training in this zone improves your body’s ability to utilize oxygen and general endurance. Your body will get better at burning fat and you’ll build muscular fitness. 70-79.9% of Max HR Cardio Zone Most training is done within this zone, which should feel comfortable enough for you to hold a conversation. Effective for overall cardiovascular fitness, exercising with moderate effort helps increase your body’s efficiency in transporting oxygenated blood to your muscles, and carbon dioxide away from them. Over time, your heart increases in strength and size, and you metabolize carbohydrates and fats equally. This is also the zone in which lactic acid begins to build up in your bloodstream. 80-89.9% of Max HR Intense Zone You can reach this zone by going harder, as you get faster and fitter. Exercising at this intensity feels comfortably hard and you should still be able to say short, broken sentences. However, this is where you will “feel the burn” and most people won’t be able to keep exercising within this zone for more than an hour. Here, you’ll improve your speed, endurance and lactic threshold. You’ll be breathing hard while your body gets better at using carbohydrates for energy. 90-100% of Max HR Max Zone This is where you go “all out” for a few minutes. You won’t be able to hold a conversation at this pace while your lungs and heart work at maximal capacity. Training in this zone is hard, and often reserved for those who are very fit. However it doesn’t mean you should avoid exercising in this zone. You can incorporate exercise in this zone safely with interval training or HIIT workouts. Be careful though, as most injuries happen during workouts here.