This Walgreens Balance Rewards for healthy choices Program shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., and its advertiser. All opinions are my own.  #BalanceRewards #CollectiveBias

Walgreens Balance Rewards for healthy choices™ #BalanceRewards #cbias #shop

I need something to keep me keep my healthy choices on track. My health goals don’t include running a marathon, they’re all about wellness and doing what’s right for my body. But I do have goals for increasing my activity level, but unfortunately, I have two medical issues that make starting and completing activity goals difficult. But that doesn’t mean I’ve given up. In fact, I’ve been introduced to a program Walgreens offers through their Balance Rewards program that will reward me for making healthy choices and keep me accountable for setting and tracking goals, and that may just be the return I need to make some progress on moving more.

There are several ways to use the program and I’m going to explore the options and see which fits my needs and in the process, maybe you’ll find the program fits your needs and goals as well!

Walgreens Balance Rewards for healthy choices™ – What’s in it for Me?

I suppose first I should explain why you’d want to take the time to connect and participate with the Balance Rewards for healthy choices™ program. Beyond helping yourself make and meet your wellness goals, as the name of the program suggests, you’ll be rewarded. In addition to Balance Reward points, you’ll get have access to exclusive member offers and as a member, you get sale prices at both Duane Reade and Walgreens’ stores, online and in store, and you can earn points on items that are featured each week (just look for the blue Balance Rewards tags on store shelves). You can also earn points by participating in the prescription auto-refill program and for every immunization and prescription you purchase.

Walgreens Balance Rewards Point System

All of these points are added to your healthy choices™ points so they add up quickly. Use those points on your next purchase like cash. For example, every 5,000 points = a $5 reward which you can redeem on your next purchase. Let them add up, at when you reach 40,000 points that’s $50 off!  Now you’re seeing the power of points! Adding the healthy choices™ program to your Balance Rewards card and completing the steps to track your progress will help you add points even faster and get you saving big in no time!

Walgreens Balance Rewards for healthy choices™ – Register

The first step is to register for Balance Rewards if you’re not already a member. Signing up is easy and you can access the program via the Internet or you mobile device with a free app. You’ll now have full access to the wellness program as well as coupons, prescription information, and more. If you’re already a member, just look for the icon for the wellness section.

Walgreens Balance Rewards for healthy choices™ – Get Connected

For the fitness aspect of the program, Walgreens made it easy by making the program compatible with many of the popular fitness trackers on the market. To connect your favorite fitness app or tracker, you’ll need to connect and register it online at https://www.walgreens.com/balancerewards/balance-rewards.jsp instead of via the Balance Rewards app. Once you’ve done this step, you can access it from the app on subsequent visits.

Connect your Compatible Tracker Video

The current compatible trackers include: Fitbit Flex, Fitbit Zip, iHealth Wireless Activity and Sleep Tracker, iHealth Wireless Blood Pressure Wrist Monitor, and Jawbone Up24. When you connect any one of these devices to the Balance® Rewards program, it automatically syncs your data.

You can also connect to fitness apps you may already be using. The current the list of compatible apps includes:  MapMyFitness, MyFitnessPal, and RunKeeper.

Connecting is easy and explained well, so once you’ve connected your fitness device or app you’re ready to go. For the complete list of trackers, apps, and other health equipment compatible visit the Walgreens site. But what if you’re not using either an app or tracker or your apps and tracker aren’t listed? You can still participate!

Walgreens Balance Rewards for healthy choices™ – Connect Manually

If your tracker device or favorite fitness app isn’t one supported currently by the program, don’t worry, there’s no need to switch, though it does make it easier (and you can buy compatible devices from Walgreens). You can manually enter your information in the Balance Rewards system so you can still participate.

The first step is to add your weight. Then you can start adding your numbers for the day. They can including the number of steps you’ve taken, and if you own any specialty medical devices you can track your Pulse O2 aka Pulse Oximeter which monitors blood oxygen levels, your blood pressure, and Blood Glucose (though some of these don’t earn you points, but they do help you monitor your health!). The last bit of information is the hours that you slept. This is where those connected trackers really help, but manually entering the information only takes a few seconds.

Adding data manually without a tracker on the Walgreens Balance Rewards for healthy choices™ App - #BalanceRewards #shop #cbias

Adding data manually without a tracker on the Walgreens Balance Rewards for healthy choices™ App

While you’re on this page, you can also set walking and running goals. First give them a name – say “Get up and Move 5000 steps a Day” and then set a start and end date (or leave the end date open). It can be as specific has how many steps, how far you want to go, how many pounds you want to lose, or how often you want to do something. Your goal could be as simple as, “Be active 1 day each week.”

Walgreens Balance Rewards for healthy choices™ –  My Wellness Goals

One of my wellness goals is to start taking my vitamin supplements more regularly. I purchased a weekly pill container and am using it now – so far I haven’t missed a day! I fill it once a month for both myself and my husband, and now he’s taking vitamins too. I happened to visit the store on a buy one/get on free day, so my investment in our health was $7.99 and it’s been worth every penny and more. My husband uses his as a 4-week pill container instead of a 7-day, 4 times a day, pill holder. I dated mine, 1 through 28 and use it on the calendar date.

Making Vitamins Part of my Wellness Plan - I need something to keep me keep my healthy choices on track. My health goals don’t include running a marathon, they’re all about wellness and doing what’s right for my body #BalanceRewards #shop #cbias

My other goal is to move more every day. While 10,000 steps is recommended for everyone, I want to work up to that so I’ve set a mid-goal of 5,000 steps a day. Some days I’m in the 7K range, but most days 3K, so 5K is going to push me to work a little harder. I already eat well and lead work on stress-relief on a daily basis. All of these things combined are helping me lead a healthier life and one that’s more balanced and rewarding.

Walgreens Balance Rewards for healthy choices™  – The Results

Now I can see at a glance how I’m doing. Whether I’m getting enough sleep, moving enough, taking my vitamins and whatever other goals I set for myself. I”m a firm believer that seeing the info will help reinforce healthier habits and as soon as I find my Fitbit, I’m going to start doing it all automatically. I’m not sure if I’m going to wear it in addition to the non-compatible tracker I’m wearing now that offers other features, or switch back. I’ll decide that when I remember where I put it for safekeeping…maybe taking a memory pill every day should be one of my goals!Walgreens Balance Rewards for healthy choices™  - Seeing the Results #healthychoices #shop #cbias

 

Walgreens Balance Rewards for healthy choices™  – What are Your Wellness Goals?

Want to join me? Sign up and start tracking your health and wellness progress as well. We’ll both become more aware of healthy choices and we’ll be rewarded for our efforts!  What is your healthy goal and will you use your points to purchase?