The market for wearable technology in the past few years has been on a rapid rise. Basic clip-on pedometers are a thing of the past. As society sees an increase in the use of wearable fitness devices such as the Fitbit and the Jawbone, some of us might feel torn. Physical activity is rapidly shifting to a reliance on these devices, apps, and other screen-based methods of recording our nutritional intake, our steps, and our workouts. We often claim to use our physical activity as a method of disconnecting or letting loose. So is it a good thing that we’re relying on technology more often than not, recording every step we take, every day? Is purchasing one of these wearable pieces worth the big bucks? There are plenty of apps and websites that offer free accounts where you can track your health data. Most smartphones now have a step-counting feature as well— but is this enough to give us all the information we need to stay healthy?
The answer, truly, is that it depends. The questions that you need to ask before you can answer whether investing in a wearable fitness device is a good choice for you as an individual, are ones such as “Why am I exercising?” “What value will this add to my lifestyle?”, and “What kinds of exercise am I doing?”. Keep in mind throughout this process that health existed before any of this technology— it IS possible to be healthy without recording every bite you take and every step you eat, although having a visual once in a while definitely does keep you in check.
If your goal is to cultivate a more active lifestyle, these devices are great for measuring your activity. While we don’t advise putting full faith into the accuracy of the numbers, the ballpark range is enough to give you a general idea of where you stand and where you should be. If your motivation is to hit a target amount of steps daily, research has actually shown that your phone is more accurate at counting steps than most wearables.
If you’re regularly engaging in a kind of physical activity where having a phone on you isn’t the best option (swimming, playing sports, doing Zumba or yoga, and the likes) a wearable fitness device might be something to consider. These devices are secured on your person, and for many, the heart rate monitor that some of these devices have built in is another appealing, even necessary, feature.
Wearables are also a good option if losing weight is your motivation, as some of these devices track physical activity, heart rate, and even sleep quality, which, as we’ve previously mentioned, is a huge factor in your health as well. A well-rounded plan that includes all of these aspects is important when creating a weight loss plan, and these devices make this information readily accessible to you. However, becoming obsessed with the numbers is definitely something to be aware of. Focusing too heavily on how many calories you’re eating or burning will make you dread your workout routines, and can even cause some more extreme health issues such as eating disorders or anxiety.
The purpose of these wearable pieces is to help you succeed in your fitness goals, but depending on what those goals are, there might be ways to achieve them that are more cost effective, more fun, more convenient, or, depending on the person, better for your overall personal well being. Just like these devices, GYMGUYZ is here to help you along on your journey— call us today to let us know what we can do to help you along the way.
