3PedalJake Yes I agree with the comments about the healthcare system. It’s not set up for cost effective *and* medically effective health improvement. It’s organized around critical care and the rest is very inefficient and of questionable effectiveness in my view.
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3PedalJake Yes I agree with the comments about the healthcare system. It’s not set up for cost effective *and* medically effective health improvement. It’s organized around critical care and the rest is very inefficient and of questionable effectiveness in my view.
chassis How receptive is Quest to you just scheduling your own tests? I haven't tried, but even when I went in for my normal HA1c before a scheduled Dr. visit, if the Dr. didn't order, they didn't want to draw any blood.
The bigger concern to me would be if my health insurance would pay for the lab work without my doctor ordering it. Fortunately, my primary care doctor will gladly add additional lab tests to my order if I ask.....
UncleWede wroteEasy. Any test listed on their website is no problem. If you need/want a test that is not listed, I have no experience with that. Also look at Jason Health, they issue lab orders online and the sample collection can be done by Quest. Jason Health was referred to my by a physician during a phone consult.
It’s been a while since I looked, but I thought Jason Health offered a wider menu of tests that can be ordered by the consumer.
HSA can be used to pay for Quest work. Self pay via credit card also an option. Don’t know about insurance.
geytusokva wroteNo issues whatsoever. The ECG trace can be sent to a cardiologist online using the app and a physician determination delivered within 20 minutes on a holiday Sunday. Awesome service in terms of response time and cost. I strongly recommend the Kardia mobile ECG device without hesitation.I wouldn`t rely on a portable ECG device. After all, this procedure is done in clinics under the supervision of a doctor for a reason.
What apps and trackers is everyone using?
Apps: I use Kardia and Fitbit to log ECG, weight, BP, body temp, sleep, exercise sessions and heart rate/cardio fitness.
Devices: I have an Omron BP cuff, digital thermometer, digital scale, Kardia 6-lead ECG device, and a wrist-worn Fitbit.
The BP cuff and scale are not "smart" and not connected to any of the apps, so I manually enter data into the Kardia and Fitbit apps which I all my "trackers".
I like to see trends over time and I like to stay in a target range for weight and cardio score (VO2max).
What is everyone using these days? Apps, devices, trackers, goal setting? Let's hear about it!
For indoor riding I have a Wahoo trainer and use Fulgaz for videos. I have a Concept 2 rower that I use with a rowing program called EXR. Still standing on a dumb scale. My weight has been consistent (+/- 2lbs) for well over a year, so there's not much to track there.
I use Strava to keep track of it all.
M_Six wroteNice setup! Thanks for the Wahoo reminder. This past summer I got Wahoo speed and distance sensors for outdoor cycling, love them!Apple Watch/Apple Health for most metrics, including sleep. For outdoor riding I use a Wahoo Elemnt Roam v1 paired with Assioma power pedals and a Polar Verity Sense HR armband.
For indoor riding I have a Wahoo trainer and use Fulgaz for videos. I have a Concept 2 rower that I use with a rowing program called EXR. Still standing on a dumb scale. My weight has been consistent (+/- 2lbs) for well over a year, so there's not much to track there.
I use Strava to keep track of it all.
I also got a calcium CT scan, pretty impressive test. The online digital test report showed video of my heart beating, with contrast running through it. Love the tech! Less than one hour from check-in to walking out of the facility. I did this test on a stand-alone visit.
Runkeeper for if/when I move faster than a normal walking pace, aka running
Libre 3 CGM/app for blood sugar. Still hasn't made great strides in reducing A1c levels, but at least I know when I'm going off track, and what's going on overnight. I bounce off the bottom a lot between midnight-3am. Alert when I go real low is good.
chassis wroteOn this vein, we recently got a Dial H30 body composition analyzer. I had been looking for a "smart scale" for a while and never bought one because I didn't think they were accurate.In the "data" category of this thread, in 2024 I got a DXA scan, which I have wanted to do for a long time. The reason is to simply quantify my body composition in relation to my digital scale and tape measurements. I did this test as part of a comprehensive physical exam. On a stand-alone basis the DXA takes approx 10 minutes, so in theory it could be a 30 minute time investment from check-in to walking out of the facility.
I also got a calcium CT scan, pretty impressive test. The online digital test report showed video of my heart beating, with contrast running through it. Love the tech! Less than one hour from check-in to walking out of the facility. I did this test on a stand-alone visit.
Our son got tested as part of a sports workout program on an InBody 580 machine, which is like $15k professional level.
https://inbodyusa.com/products/inbody580/
The amount of detail was pretty remarkable. After three tests showing results that correlated with what we were seeing in his change in phisque, I bought the consumer version
https://inbodyusa.com/products/dial-h30/
it shows fewer parameters but I had him measure on this vs. the pro machine and the results were pretty close. Close enough that I believe it will help me track body fat, etc. with decent enough accuracy to see if diet and exercise changes are working.
Needsdecaf wroteInteresting device. I agree that correlating with gold standards is a good way to understand how less-accurate measurements can be used as approximations. I have a non-smart scale that "measures" body fat using impedance. It is considerably higher than my DXA scan. I have used tape measurements over the years, and these are surprisingly close to the DXA scan.On this vein, we recently got a Dial H30 body composition analyzer. I had been looking for a "smart scale" for a while and never bought one because I didn't think they were accurate.
Our son got tested as part of a sports workout program on an InBody 580 machine, which is like $15k professional level.
https://inbodyusa.com/products/inbody580/
The amount of detail was pretty remarkable. After three tests showing results that correlated with what we were seeing in his change in phisque, I bought the consumer version
https://inbodyusa.com/products/dial-h30/
it shows fewer parameters but I had him measure on this vs. the pro machine and the results were pretty close. Close enough that I believe it will help me track body fat, etc. with decent enough accuracy to see if diet and exercise changes are working.
Next time I see a hand held body fat impedance device, at a gym for example, I will give it a try. It has been a while since I used one.
There was a U.S. Navy body composition calculation that used 9 tape measurements plus weight and height to calculate composition. Now it seems the U.S. Navy is using a much reduced set of measurements. I can't find the old USN method. If anyone has a link to this it would be appreciated.
It also has the pulse oximeter, which I have off except it does a test at night while sleeping. I use the Garmin app exclusively, it does everything I need. It also syncs with the coaching software my coach uses, as well as Myfitnesspal which I am using right now to help burn off the holiday cookies.
We have a smart scale that measures as much as they can from the sensors on the pad and using bare feet. I don't use that software as I'm only interested in my weight, resting hr, and type of calories I'm taking in.
I'm thinking of doing a test also to see what foods cause my body to react negatively, can't remember the name of it right now
Swimming 2000yds per week this season has been more helpful than I expected.
My overnight resting heart rate last night got down to 48, a new low for me. Low RHR = good. My brother the marathon runner, 2 years younger than me, has a RHR in the low 40s, similar to my son.
I recently got a Garmin Forerunner 965 to replace the Fitbit Versa 4. The Fitbit was good for 5 years, and it was time for a change. I wanted more swimming-oriented data than the Fitbit could offer. And I don't care for Google's user account management approach with the Fitbit.
Here is my current health and fitness measurement device suite:
Garmin Forerunner 965: SpO2, VO2max, sleep, heart rate, workout tracking (time, distance, pace, etc.)
Omron blood pressure cuff: blood pressure, pulse
Electronic scale: body weight
KardiaMobile 6L: EKG
Wahoo bicycle devices: distance traveled, speed and cadence
All of these work well and give useful information. Information is knowledge, and knowledge is power!
What upgrades or changes has everyone made to their health or fitness data workflow?
Also recently bought a Garmin S2 scale so I could have that data in the one app. I have an Eros scale as well and I actually like it better as far as the app and data tracking is concerned. I have been weighing myself on both and comparing.
I probably need to get in the habit of logging food and tracking macros but everytime I start I end up not following through. Too lazy I guess lol
Grabbing a handful of spaghetti out of the box means more calories than I need. Shake a bunch of cereal into the bowl means more calories than I need. Full disclosure I eat a fairly high carb diet. Having said that, I eat all food groups, every day.
I have been on a six meal per day plan for more than 10 years and it works for me. This is the opposite of intermittent fasting.
On the other side of coin, I have a rough idea of caloric expenditure based on my level of activity. Fitbit, now Garmin, helps with that.
Scale weight is a net result feedback point combining all input and output factors.
I have maintained weight for more than 10 years, and in the past 2 years have dropped some weight based on a big increase in cardio activity.
It takes time to reach the knowing/feeling point with food, exercise activity and weight.
