Why Myzone matters and is it your time to Switch?

Many readers will have already heard of Myzone and if not regularly using the  themselves, they may well know others that do.  At the RAF Central Fund, we got onboard during the first Covid-19 lockdown as we quickly identified it as an opportunity to encourage our beneficiaries to be physically active at a time when RAF Sport was put on hold and Station gyms were temporarily closed. With a great offer available for all serving personnel for the MZ-3 belts we now have a community of over 1,500 registered on our Fund’s facility code (RAFCFUK000).

So how does Myzone work and why have so many of our beneficiaries embraced it?

Myzone is a community tool that has made exercise habits stick, both by incentivising workouts through the earning of MEPs and Myzone Status Levels and through the platform’s App which enables connections to be made so communities can encourage and support each other. Furthermore, Myzone rewards effort instead of ability alone which means that everyone gets to feel good about exercise no matter what they’re able to do or how they wish to workout. The heart rate zones are tailored to a user’s percentage of maximum heart rate that is based on their age but can automatically adjust as a result of their individual workout levels.

Research has shown that social connections built through a physical activity-focused digital network like Myzone increase exercise levels by more than 40 percent compared with instances where members move in isolation. Data also indicates that users who receive four or more comments on their workouts exercise 132 percent more than average, and users that give four or more comments on other users’ workouts exercise 140 percent more than average.

Time to get onboard or time to Switch?

Since the launch of our first subsidised Myzone belt offer in May 2020, we have seen the Myzone community grow substantially and across the RAF there are now over 7,500 registered users with 1,634 of those on the RAF Central Fund’s Facility. Those who are not part of the RAF Central Fund Myzone community have joined Sports Association or Station groups with several of the Stations now receiving enrichment grant support for belts, tablets and five-year licences.

Last year Myzone launched MZ-Switch, a heart rate monitor designed to go around the wrist or forearm with a flashing coloured light providing live heart rate zone feedback without having to be connected to the App. What’s more, unlike the MZ-3 belt which is worn around the chest, the MZ-Switch monitor is waterproof which means it can be worn for swimming and other water sports.

Our charity is now in a position to offer discounted MZ-Switch monitors to all serving RAF personnel at a cost of £61.63 (RRP £139.99) per unit – including next day delivery if ordered before 2pm. To take advantage of this offer please send an email to myzone@rafcf.org.uk confirming your serving status by providing your name, MOD and civilian email addresses. With the MZ-3 offer still available at a cost of £48.00 (RRP £129.99) please indicate which monitor you wish to receive a discount code for.