Are Fitness Trackers Really Necessary?

Technology has come a long way in the last decade or two. Phones are smaller and have multiple apps to provide products at your fingertips or answers to tough questions. It’s entered the personal health market with fitness trackers and ways to track everything from heartbeat to miles traveled. Are these beneficial for people focusing on health or simply a novelty that’s fun to use? Not all fitness trackers look alike. Some are rings, some watches, and some are apps for your phone. Your needs will determine the best one for you.

Why are you getting a fitness tracker?

One phone app you may have seen advertised monitors your heart rate for irregularities. Before you shop for your tracker, determine why you want it. Are you trying to lose weight or get in shape and want something that tracks your exercise and steps? Are you training for a marathon and need a tracker to measure miles, time, and heart rate? When you purchase this type of technology, your goals should match your performance. If you don’t, you’re wasting your money. It’s like buying a gym membership and never going to the gym. You won’t get fitter if you don’t use it.

Does the fitness tracker have too many functions or not the right kinds?

You probably don’t need to know your Vo2 levels unless you’re an advanced athlete. People just entering the world of fitness trackers with average to limited technology knowledge are better off using simple ones with fewer, less complicated functions. Ones that track activity, sleep, heart rate, or blood pressure can be beneficial. Before you purchase a fitness tracker, learn how to use it and what it measures. It may have multiple functions, but not the one you need. Being too complex is one drawback of more sophisticated trackers.

If you’re tracking your health metrics, you can help your doctor.

Trackers offer all types of information. If you think you’re constantly tired, tracking your sleep can help. It can identify the quantity and quality of sleep. Blood pressure monitoring is another benefit, like the tracker that identifies irregular heartbeats. Sleep scores, blood oxygen levels, period predictions, and other information can be beneficial, too. Tracking calorie intake and expenditures is also valuable for people trying to lose weight. As with every tool, knowing how to use it and consistently using it improves results.

  • If you’re sedentary, fitness trackers can help get you moving and keep you moving. It makes exercising a game where you’re challenged to improve every day.
  • Apps that track the intensity of your workout can lead to a more productive session. It functions like a personal workout buddy to help keep you on track and pushing hard.
  • One drawback to many apps and trackers is the lack of accuracy. A waterproof tracker is also important if swimming or the potential for water damage exists.
  • If trackers have multiple features you’ll never use, you pay extra without getting the benefits. It also depletes the battery faster. Fitness trackers are beneficial, but only if you choose the right one for your needs.

For more information, contact us today at Iron Fit San Antonio


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