Monitoring your daily activities can help you be more mindful of your health. Here are 10 health benefits of wearing a fitness tracker.
Fitness trackers are one of the latest gadgets to take the market by storm. They are designed to be worn like watches and sync your health data with your phone to give you an overall picture of your fitness.
Fitness trackers came on the scene a little over a decade ago. Not surprisingly, the new technology sparked some interest, but it did not really takeover. However, this new boom in health-tracking and fitness enthusiasts is making the whole thing more interesting.
Fitness trackers are more popular than ever these days, but not all of them are created equal. As a matter of fact, most of them are downright useless. The sad part is that most people have absolutely no idea which fitness tracker they should be buying. Well, I am here to shed some light on this topic for everyone out there. I made a list of the top 10 health benefits of wearing a fitness tracker so keep reading if you want to learn more.
Wearing a fitness tracker can help you to take your health seriously. You, too, can be motivated to work out regularly. All you need is the right fitness tracker paired with the best smartphone apps and smartwatches. These gadgets will offer everything from sleep analysis to calorie-burning goals, which is great for people who want results from their workout regimes.
Table of Contents
Health benefits of wearing a fitness tracker
It helps you stay healthy
The first benefit of using a fitness tracker is that it keeps you aware of how much activity you’re getting throughout the day. This way, you won’t miss any workouts or exercise sessions because you were busy doing something else. If you don’t wear a fitness tracker, then you might end up skipping important exercises just because you didn’t notice when you had time to do them. That would mean missing out on valuable gains and muscle mass growth. So, make sure you get yourself a good fitness tracker before starting working out again.
Heart rate monitors let you know when you’ve reached your target zone
Heart rate sensors allow users to monitor their heart rates during different types of physical activities. It also lets you set certain targets such as resting heart rate, maximum heart rate, etc., depending on what type of training program you follow. For example, if you plan to run long distances, you may choose to set your maximum heart rate at 180 beats per minute. On the other hand, if you prefer weight lifting, you could set your maximum heart rate around 160 bpm. In both cases, the goal is to reach those numbers without having to stop exercising.
If you’re trying to lose weight, you definitely need to eat fewer calories than you burn off each day. And since we cannot control our hunger levels very easily, tracking our food intake becomes crucial. However, many people struggle to maintain an appropriate diet plan due to a lack of knowledge regarding their daily caloric consumption. Thankfully, by keeping tabs on your heart rates, you can quickly determine when you’ve eaten enough. When you feel hungry, your HR increases significantly. Once you finish eating, your HR returns to normal. This simple trick makes it easier for you to stick to your meal plans.
It motivates you to move around
If you use a fitness tracker every single day, then you will know exactly what kind of physical activity you’ve been performing during each session. For example, you could set specific targets such as walking 10 km per week or running 1 mile per hour. Setting those kinds of goals will feel compelled to go beyond your normal routine and try harder to achieve them. In addition, you will also start feeling proud about achieving certain milestones. After all, you only become healthier when you push yourself physically.
It gives you insights into your sleeping habits
Another reason why you should consider wearing a fitness tracker is because you can use its sleep tracking feature to analyze your sleeping patterns. For example, you can see how well you slept last night and whether you snore while asleep. Knowing these things can help you improve your quality of life. In addition, you can also monitor your breathing rate and body temperature through the device. This information could prove useful in case you have insomnia or other medical conditions.
It helps you track Sleep Disorders
A lot of people tend to ignore their sleeping patterns. But, according to research conducted at Harvard University, poor quality sleep has many negative effects on our bodies. One study found that lack of sleep leads to weight gain and obesity. Another study showed that insufficient sleep causes high blood pressure levels. On top of that, people who slept less than six hours per night experienced higher risks of heart disease and stroke. Therefore, tracking your sleep pattern through a fitness tracker is essential. When you see that you spend far longer than usual in bed, you may find it hard to fall asleep. Instead of lying down hoping that you will eventually drift off, you should wake up earlier and avoid staying awake late at night.
It monitors deep sleep cycles
When you wear a fitness tracker, you can measure your REM cycle. According to experts, this stage of sleep plays a vital role in improving brain function. It allows us to process new memories and learn more efficiently. If you want to get rid of stress and anxiety, make sure that you have sufficient REMs throughout the night. You can do so by getting adequate rest and avoiding caffeine afternoon.
It helps you track your fitness goals
Most fitness trackers have in common that they allow users to keep tabs on their progress towards reaching various health-related goals. You can easily check if you are meeting your daily step count goal by looking at the number displayed on the screen. Similarly, you can view your calorie consumption for the past few days so that you can adjust your diet accordingly. Some devices offer additional features like measuring your heartbeat rate and displaying your pulse waveforms. These data points give you an idea of how healthy you really are. They also provide evidence that you are making significant improvements over time.
It measures your activity
Walking isn’t just one of the best ways to stay fit; it’s also one of the easiest exercises to do. However, if you want to increase your stamina and strength, you must perform different workouts. That’s where a fitness tracker comes in handy because it allows you to track your activities and compare them with others. The data collected by the device can give you valuable feedback regarding your performance. It helps you identify which type of workout works best for you. Moreover, you can also keep tabs on your improvement over time. As soon as you notice that you’re getting stronger, you will naturally begin looking forward to going back to the gym.
It allows you to manage your diet
If you eat unhealthy food every day, the chances are high that you’ll eventually put on unwanted fat. However, if you constantly check your calories intake, you can easily cut back on junk foods and replace them with healthier alternatives. Also, knowing exactly how much energy you burn each day can help you lose weight faster.
When we think of eating well, we usually imagine ourselves sitting down to enjoy delicious meals prepared by chefs. However, studies show that most people fail to consume enough calories even though they often overeat. To ensure that you aren’t consuming too few calories, you must monitor your daily food intake. With an app like MyNetDiary, you can easily log your diet and calculate your caloric needs based on your age, gender, height, weight, body fat percentage, etc. Once you figure out your ideal number of calories, you can adjust your meal plan accordingly.
It helps you stay motivated
Most people don’t exercise because they lack motivation. If you want to make sure that you stick to your workout routine, you need something that motivates you. That’s where fitness trackers come in handy. You can count your steps, compare your results over time, and receive feedback based on your performance.
Many people struggle to stick to healthy habits because they don’t know where to start. This is why having a fitness tracker handy can be extremely helpful. You can glance at its display whenever you need motivation. For example, when you realize that you haven’t exercised for days, you’ll instantly get excited about starting your workout routine again. As another bonus, wearing a fitness tracker also makes exercise more fun! It’s not just a boring chore anymore; instead, it becomes part of your lifestyle. So whether you’re looking to shed some pounds or improve your overall health, using a fitness tracker is one way to achieve both.
It keeps you accountable
The best way to ensure that you follow through on your promises is to keep yourself honest. With a fitness tracker, you have no choice but to be truthful about your activity level. After all, nobody wants to disappoint their friends and family members who support them.
It’s easy to slack off when no one else knows what you’re doing. That’s why keeping track of your physical activity becomes important. After all, nobody wants to look bad in front of his friends. The best way to keep yourself honest is to wear a fitness tracker during workouts. Whenever you complete a session, you can quickly view your data and compare it with your past performance. In addition, you can share these numbers with other members of your family or social network. They won’t judge you but instead, encourage you to continue improving.
It boosts self-esteem
Wearing a fitness tracker gives you something to strive towards. Even if you never achieve your ultimate goal, you still benefit from being able to say, “I did my best today.” And since you already feel good about yourself, you will likely work harder than before. When you see positive changes in your stats, you’ll become increasingly confident, which could ultimately boost your self-esteem.
It prevents overtraining
Exercise isn’t just beneficial for our bodies; it has numerous mental health benefits as well. One such advantage is preventing overtraining syndrome. OTS occurs when athletes push themselves beyond their limits without sufficient recovery between sessions. Symptoms include muscle soreness, fatigue, lack of concentration, and irritability. Luckily, wearable devices provide instant feedback regarding your current state of mind and overall progress. Thus, you can take appropriate measures to recover fast and return to peak condition.
Best activity trackers
If you plan to buy an activity tracker, here are the top ten options available right now. We’ve reviewed each device thoroughly so you can easily choose the most suitable option for your needs.
Fitbit Charge 4
- Use built-in GPS to see your pace and distance on screen during outdoor runs, rides, hikes and more and see a workout intensity map in the app that shows your heart rate changes along your route
- With Active Zone Minutes, feel a buzz when you reach your target heart rate zones during exercise, and celebrate when you earn extra minutes outside of exercise
- Use 24x7 heart rate to track resting heart rate & better measure calorie burn. Syncing to mobile devices requires Bluetooth LE and internet connection. Syncs with Mac OS X 12.2 and up, iPhone 5S and later, iPad 5 gen. and later, Android 7.0 and later
- See your SpO2 nightly average and range on wrist, and view trends over the past week in the Fitbit app (SpO2 is not available in all markets. The SpO2 feature is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition or for any other medical purpose)
- Track your skin temperature each night to see how it varies from your personal baseline (Not available in all markets. Only available in the Fitbit app and only displays variation. Not intended for medical purposes)
Last update on 2021-11-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This smartwatch comes with built-in GPS tracking capabilities. However, unlike many competitors, this model doesn’t require any additional accessories. Instead, it relies solely on Bluetooth connectivity. Therefore, there’s no need to pair it with smartphones or tablets. Plus, it offers excellent battery life. All things considered, this watch is ideal for those seeking a simple yet effective solution. It also features various third-party apps, including Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, Google Maps, etc. You can even use its microphone to make calls via Skype.
With advanced technology in a lightweight design, Fitbit Charge 4 Wirelessly tracks all-day activity, exercise, and sleep and now features a larger touchscreen with new clock faces and updated stats and goal progress to keep you motivated and on track reach your health and fitness goals. With multi-sport modes, automatic exercise recognition, and guided breathing sessions, you can better track workouts, exercise, sleep, and more to reach your goals every day.
Garmin Vivoactive 4
- Keeps track of your energy levels, Pulse Ox (this is not a medical device and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or monitoring of any medical condition), respiration, menstrual cycle, stress, sleep, estimated heart, hydration and more
- Easily download songs to your watch, including playlists from Spotify, Amazon music or Deezer (may require a premium subscription with a third party music provider), and connect with headphones (sold separately) for phone free listening
- Record all the ways to move with more than 20 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps, including yoga, running, swimming and more
- Get easy to follow, animated workouts right on your watch screen, including cardio, strength, yoga and Pilates
- Battery life: Up to 8 days in smartwatch mode; Up to 6 hours in GPS and music mode
Last update on 2021-11-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Garmin Vivoactive 4 is another great choice among activity trackers. This wristband includes advanced heart rate monitoring technology along with GPS functionality. As a result, users can enjoy accurate distance calculations while running outdoors. Moreover, it provides detailed calorie burn information based on your activities. Furthermore, it allows you to monitor sleep quality using its Sleep Stages feature. Additionally, it supports music playback functions like shuffle play, repeat, pause, skip forward/backward, and more. Finally, it lets you control compatible smartphone notifications directly through the band. Overall, this product delivers outstanding value considering its price tag.
Whether you’re heading out for a morning jog or off for a weekend adventure, the high-resolution touchscreen display on the GARMIN Vivoactive 4 lets you easily view your stats throughout the day and get notified of texts and other alerts and notifications right on your wrist.
Xiaomi Mi Band 4
- GPS model lets you take calls and reply to texts from your wrist
- Measure your blood oxygen with an all-new sensor and app
- Check your heart rhythm with the ECG app
- The Always-On Retina display is 2.5x brighter outdoors when your wrist is down
- S6 SiP is up to 20% faster than Series 5
Last update on 2021-11-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 tracks your daily activity, including time spent walking, running, or cycling. It tracks your sleep duration and quality and also monitors your daily heart rate. It tracks your swims and displays swim duration and the number of laps. Step tracking, remote camera, sleep monitor, android assistant, display caller ID, notifications from WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Wechat, Skype, information from your calendar, and much more.
Mi Band 4 is equipped with an Advanced 0.78 inch OLED touch screen display. Its full-color OLED display can show time, call, text, music playing, weather, steps, calories burned, distance covered, heart rate, steps taken, and rings. It also supports call, text, and app notifications. Mi Band 4 is water-resistant. Quick-drying hard resin case provides protection from sweat and splash water.
Apple Watch Series 6
- Full colour AMOLED touch display View call, text, and app notifications Activity and swim tracking Water resistant up to 50m*； 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope Up to 20 days battery* A single charge lasts up to 20 days.
- Instantly view call, text, app notifications and music in play. Keep your hands free as you keep up with life.
- Running Tracks your pace and step count Maintain a safe workout, whether you're running short or long distance.
- Swimming 5 ATM water resistant up to 50m Recognizes 5 different swim styles Records 12 data sets including swimming pace and stroke count
- Sleep monitoring Accurately tracks light and deep sleep as well as heart rate during sleep to help you adjust your sleep patterns.
Last update on 2021-11-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Apple Watch Series 6 is one of the best choices for looking for a reliable activity tracker. The latest version sports improved performance and enhanced design. For instance, it boasts longer battery life than previous models. And, it’s waterproof up to 50 meters. Besides, it uses the same Taptic Engine found in iPhones. As a result, you won’t feel any vibrations during workouts. What’s more, it displays alerts quickly and accurately. Also, it enables two-way communication between iPhone and Apple Watch. That means you can reply to messages right away without having to unlock your phone first.
The Activity app helps you reach your daily goals by keeping track of your activity, including steps, distance, and calories burned. Ultimate durability and a broad range of features make the Apple Watch Series 6 the ultimate fitness companion.
Conclusion
So, now that you understand the importance of using a fitness tracker let me tell you where to buy one. First things first: Make sure that you choose a model that suits your lifestyle. Some models cost hundreds of dollars, while others come with free apps and features. Also, consider whether you prefer having a wristband or clip version. If you want something simple, opt for a band-type device. You don’t have to worry about charging cables since these devices run on batteries. Lastly, make sure that you get a model that works best for you. The more accurate it is, the easier it will be to keep track of your progress.
In conclusion, there are many reasons why you should consider buying a fitness tracker. This device has plenty of benefits, whether you use it as part of your health regimen or just as a fashion accessory. So go ahead and buy yours now!
