W/Me by Phyode ($169.99)
3 out of 5 stars
W/Me by Phyode is another wristband, like Fitbit Flex and Up by Jawbone, that monitors your health. What sets W/Me apart, is its ability to inform you of your mood and your body's vitality level. This fact alone was enough to inspire me to try out W/Me, but it also has some other really cool features. I received a free evaluation unit from Phyode, the company that produces W/Me. 
Basically W/Me is a tool to balance your body through rhythmic breathing. Your autonomic nervous system controls involuntary functions of the body, including breathing. If you concentrate on your breathing it really can balance your emotions. That's why we're told to take a deep breath when we're upset.
As someone who suffers from generalized anxiety, I took up meditation several years ago to help me relax. The first thing I learned was to concentrate on my breathing. Now, whenever I get anxious, I remember to breathe using my abdominal muscles instead of taking shallow breaths through my chest.
If you've never focused on relaxation techniques that focus on breathing, W/Me is a great product to get you started. Even if you are trained in breathing exercises, the wristband can be a great reminder.
When I received the product, it was packaged in an attractive wood box. Inside was the W/Me along with five different colored wristbands. You could choose each band depending on your outfit choice or your mood.
After choosing the lime green band because my kids liked the color, I turned it on. It welcomed me with a digital "Hi," scrolling across the band.
I downloaded the free W/Me app from the iTunes Store and it easily paired with my iPhone. There are no yearly subscription costs to use W/Me.
The app asked me to enter my sex, height, weight (ugh!), and age. This is used for what Phyode calls your life spectrum analyzer. After that, I started the measurement.
I had trouble getting the measurement to work while wearing the band. I wore it on my left wrist and touched the button on top of the band with my right index finger. I kept getting a message on the app to keep still. I stayed as still as a statue, but it wouldn't take my measurement. So, I removed the band and held the button on the inside of the band with my left index finger and touched the top button with my right. Then, the measurement began with no problems. 
The app encouraged me to stay calm and the timer was set for three minutes. You would be surprised at how long three minutes feels while taking the measurement, but the whole point of the device is to calm you, so three minutes is actually worth it.
As I continued to hold the buttons, I could see my heartbeat on the screen and a cartoon image of a beach and ocean were shown. The water level of the ocean rose and fell with my breathing. Occasionally a cute little fish would jump out of the water. Soon, the band vibrated. Time for my results.
The app showed my subconscious mental state was in the balanced circle but edging towards excitable. Maybe that's from the three cups of coffee I consumed that morning before taking the measurement.
Here's the rest of my summary: Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Age 40, Agility 74, heart rate BPM was 72.
I was a little confused about what my ANS age meant. I am 42 years old and my results showed me two years younger.
I asked a Phyode representative, named Bruce, what this meant.
"After measurement is finished, the app will compare your data with (our) database then tell you your ANS age is younger or older than your real age," he said. "If your ANS age is under your real age, it means your ANS status is better than people in the same age. Otherwise, it is worse than average.
"This is because ANS status becomes worse as people get older. That's why we need to compare with people the same age. "Your ANS age is okay," he informed me, "but if you want better, keep doing abdominal breathing."
I wonder how much breathing it would take me to get my age back down to 21?
The agility score indicates my body's ability to adapt to the changing environment.
Bruce told me, if my agility score is higher, my ability to adapt to the environment (and face stress) is higher.
"Your score, in the 70s, meets average," he told me.
The app is personalized to you, but also has the option of a guest using it to measure their mood and vitality.
There are five different levels of coaching through the app and one programmable level to practice abdominal breathing. Each level is defined by a different breathing rhythm. The higher the level, the slower your breathing needs to be. The app features a cartoon fitness whale called Attu that rises out of the ocean and disappears back under with a burst of bubbles in order to direct your breathing process. It's purpose is to help improve your ANS agility. There's also a customizable level you can program to help fine-tune your coaching.
I chose the highest level to start, since I have some experience in rhythmic breathing. After a few minutes, the reading showed an ANS age of 43 Agility 69 and BPM of 72. My ANS went up and my Agility went down so I guess I'm not as experienced as I think I am. Actually, while I was breathing I could tell I wasn't as relaxed as I'd like to be.
Another measurement I took later that day indicated I was in a passive state. Other mental states are pessimistic or anxious.
Attu the whale is a bit childish, but maybe that's the point. Maybe something as simple as a cartoon whale can stimulate relaxation.
Now, here I'm going to sound like a TV commercial. Because, not only does W/Me coach you on your health and rhythmic breathing, it's also a watch, email, and incoming call notifier, phone finder, flashlight, and camera shutter. Seriously.
W/Me gives you a digital readout of the time at the push of a button. If you so choose, it will notify you when you have new email or when you have an incoming call by vibrating on your wrist. If you've lost your phone press the button on your wrist and your phone will make a sound. W/Me can be used to trigger the camera shutter on your iOS device or check in on Facebook with your health stats. Another cool feature is a built in flashlight. The top of the band lights up to give you direction in the darkness. With another press of the button, it gives you a strobe light for others to find you.
Here are my overall thoughts on W/Me:
Pros:
- W/Me measures breathing and moods where other fitness wristbands don't. It coaches you on breathing techniques to help you relax and deal with stress better. It has some cool extra features.
Cons:
- The W/Me band will not fit extra-large wrists. It only fits medium sized wrists with a 6-7 inch circumference.
- The band is about twice as wide as other fitness bands, but that's because of all the extra features.
- It doesn't always perform measurements while actually on your wrist. I had to remove it and hold in my hands to get accurate measurements. And I don't usually wear large bracelets, so I don't think I would constantly wear the W/Me wherever I go.
The Final Verdict:
W/Me is a unique health wristband because it does what others don't by measuring moods and coaching relaxation techniques. If you're someone who struggles with relaxation and stress levels, and are willing to part with $170 bucks, I believe W/Me is worth a try.