Updated Nov. 3, 2025: I’ve upgraded to the Apple Watch Ultra 3, and I now use the Abbott Lingo instead of the Dexcom Stelo. I have also started using the Eight Sleep Pod 5 Ultra sleep system. See more information about these in their respective sections. I’ve also added the section about the importance of Apple Health integration.
Over the past few months, I’ve been making some big changes to my health, fitness, and lifestyle — and honestly, it’s been one of the most rewarding projects I’ve ever taken on. One thing that’s kept me motivated is my “Health Stack”: the collection of devices I use to track progress, get insights, and sometimes just geek out over the data my body produces.
If you’re curious about what’s been working for me (or maybe looking for a nudge to start your own health journey), here’s a breakdown of my stack — what I use, why I love it, and how it all fits together.
Apple Health: Glue That Holds It All Together
One of the biggest advantages of using many of the tools in my health stack is that they feed into Apple Health, the true hub of my health data. When your devices all talk to each other, the results are powerful:
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Deeper insights and trends: Apple Health combines data from multiple sources to reveal patterns over time — how your recovery improves with sleep, or how your glucose stabilizes as your fitness builds.
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Personalized alerts: You can set up notifications for heart rate anomalies, blood pressure trends, or sudden changes in resting heart rate or oxygen saturation.
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Data sharing for peace of mind: You can share select health data with loved ones or your doctor, so they can also receive alerts or view trends about your health when needed.
In short, Apple Health ties together all the different parts of my stack and turns them into one clear, continuous picture of my overall health.
Body Measurements and Tracking
Withings Body Comp
Regular Price $229.95
This is my daily go-to scale. It does more than just measure weight — it also calculates body composition (fat % and muscle %), and it syncs seamlessly with Apple Health.
I used to have the Withings Body Smart, which is a fantastic entry-level option, but I upgraded to the Body Comp for its extra features like nerve health measurements. Honestly, for someone my age and fitness level, nerve health isn’t a big concern, but it’s nice to know it’s there.
The coolest part? I’ve compared its results against the big, expensive body composition machines at my gym — and the numbers line up almost perfectly. Plus, you can set it up for multiple users, so the whole household can join in.
Renpho Smart Tape Measure+
Regular Price $59.99
This is a new addition for me, and I love it. Sometimes, even if the scale shows progress, you don’t always see the difference in the mirror. The Renpho tape measure helps me track actual inches gained or lost around my chest, arms, and waist — a very motivating reminder that small daily choices really do add up.
Fitness & Activity Tracking
Fitness trackers are incredible tools for capturing the data that actually matters when you’re working to improve your health. Most will give you heart-based metrics (resting heart rate, workout intensity, recovery), GPS tracking for runs or walks, and even estimates of strain during weight training. But here’s the real game-changer: when you’re trying to lose weight, a tracker helps you get a much more precise picture of your daily active burn. That number is key for managing caloric deficits in a sustainable way. Instead of relying on a generic TDEE estimate, you can calculate your actual burn day-to-day and make smarter adjustments.
Whoop
$159-$359 Per Year
Okay, I admit it — I splurged on the fancy Whoop MG. But no regrets. Whoop takes a strain vs. recovery approach, using continuous heart rate data to give incredible insight into how hard you’re pushing your body and how well you’re bouncing back.
Unlike trackers you have to charge daily, Whoop has a genius clip-on battery pack that lets you charge it while still wearing it. That means it can truly be worn 24/7, collecting a mountain of data on your heart, sleep, recovery, and workouts. It also plays really nicely with Apple Health, Withings, and Strava (which I use to keep myself accountable).
The bottom line: if you love the idea of maximizing your workouts and your rest, Whoop is worth checking out.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Ultra 3
Regular Price $799 and up
I’ve recently upgraded from the Ultra 2 to the Apple Watch Ultra 3, and the improvements are noticeable — better battery life, a brighter display, satellite communication, and 5G connectivity.
Although I still wear my Whoop 24/7, I rely on the Apple Watch to track my indoor and outdoor runs and walks, as well as to trigger strength training sessions. I was already using it for treadmill runs — especially since many treadmills now have Apple HealthKit integration, which makes syncing data seamless. Whoop doesn’t estimate distance for indoor runs or walks, which is an important metric for tracking progress in apps like Strava.
For outdoor workouts, Whoop relies on its app for GPS data, but I’ve found that connection to be a bit unreliable at times. The Apple Watch Ultra 3, on the other hand, has dedicated GPS and satellite hardware, which makes distance and route tracking far more consistent and accurate — especially during long runs or when I’m in areas with weaker cell coverage.
With the new WatchOS version, I’ve also been loving Workout Buddy, an audio notification feature that keeps me motivated and on pace during workouts. It’s simple but surprisingly effective, and it’s highly customizable for different training goals.
While my Whoop remains my main tracker for recovery, strain, and sleep, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 has become my active training companion, helping me get the most out of every workout while feeding all that detailed data into Apple Health.
Sleep Optimization
Eight Sleep
$2,649+ and $299+ per year
For a long time, I thought I knew what good sleep was — my Whoop data showed solid recovery, and I felt rested most mornings. Then I added the Eight Sleep Pod 5 Ultra, and it completely changed my definition of great sleep.
The Pod has become an essential part of my sleep sanctuary, and the difference has been clear both in how I feel and in the numbers. My recovery data jumped noticeably, especially when comparing nights at home versus trips away without it.
I like my side of the bed cool, my wife likes hers warm, and the Pod makes that effortless — plus we’ve noticed we run the AC less since it regulates temperature so well. I still remember my first couple of nights: waking up after only three hours, feeling like it was morning already because I felt so rested — an incredible experience.
It also integrates with Apple Health, syncing sleep data alongside my Whoop metrics for an even fuller picture of my rest and recovery. One thing to keep in mind: it’s a water-based system with a refillable tank, it’s pricey (more than many high-end mattresses), and it requires a yearly subscription.
Still, it’s been one of the most transformative additions to my health stack — proof that great sleep really is a superpower.
Heart Health
Heart and kidney health have been top priorities for me. Kidneys mostly require lab work and doctor monitoring, but for the heart, I’ve added a couple of powerful tools for peace of mind.
AliveCor KardiaMobile 6L
Regular Price $129
This tiny gadget (smaller than my palm!) is basically a personal ECG. Place your fingers on the sensors, and it records a 6-lead electrocardiogram in 30 seconds. Results sync with the mobile app and can be exported as a PDF to share with your doctor — or just to geek out over. It also syncs with Apple Health.
Withings BPM Connect
Regular Price $129.95
When I want to check my blood pressure, this is the device I trust. It’s wireless, simple, and logs everything in the Withings app, which syncs directly with Apple Health. Multiple users can set up profiles, which makes it family-friendly, too.
For Curiosity and Learning
Dexcom Stelo Abbott Lingo
Regular Price $99 for 30-day Supply
I’ve recently switched from the Dexcom Stelo to Abbott Lingo, and I’ve been impressed with how much more feature-rich and intuitive the app is. Both devices are targeted at non-diabetics, painless to apply, integrate with Apple Health, and sample glucose every 5 minutes — but Lingo adds a whole new layer of usability.
The glucose event logging feature lets me tag meals, workouts, and moments of stress to see exactly how they affect my glucose levels. The resulting insights have been eye-opening — for example, noticing how a morning run or a high-protein meal changes my glucose curve. The interface itself is smoother, cleaner, and more interactive, making it easy to stay engaged and curious about what’s happening inside my body.
This kind of real-time biofeedback has been one of the most fascinating parts of my health journey.
Wrapping It Up
My Health Stack isn’t just a bunch of gadgets — it’s a connected ecosystem that helps me understand my body better than ever. By syncing everything through Apple Health, I get a 360° view of what’s working, what needs tweaking, and how my choices translate into measurable progress.
The goal isn’t to obsess over numbers — it’s to stay curious, stay consistent, and stay motivated. These devices make that possible. They turn invisible progress into visible proof, and they make the journey fun.
If you’re thinking about starting your own health stack, begin with just one or two tools — a scale or smartwatch is more than enough to start seeing results. Then, as your curiosity grows, you can build from there.
After all, this is the fun part: experimenting, learning, and discovering how your body responds — one data point at a time.