Wearable fitness technology has been in the news in recent years – and judging by its sustained popularity, it will only become bigger. The likes of Apple, Garmin, and FitBit are constantly offering new updates to their products and services. The fierce competition for consumers’ attention has certainly benefitted the end users mainly through better wearable technology, especially in terms of accuracy, connectivity and wearability.
But even when you have the best fitness trackers, you are not likely getting the best use from them for many reasons. You may, for example, wear your fitness watch because it’s on-trend but you’re not using it as an effective tool in your exercise regimen. Here then are tips that you can use in getting the most from your fitness trackers.
Treat It as a Tool
Your new fitness gadget is just a tool that can be used in achieving your fitness goals. You shouldn’t treat it as a magic wand or a fashion statement because then you’re wasting money on it.
Instead, you should treat it as a tool that will provide basic information about your exercise performance – heart rate, distance travelled, and number of steps taken, among others. You can then use the information in planning your next steps, whether it’s increasing the number of reps or the intensity of your movements.
Forget Calorie Counting
Many people still mistakenly believe that fitness trackers can be used in determining the optimum daily calorie count, both in terms of the number of calories consumed or burned during exercise. This isn’t so because their calorie counts are typically inaccurate since their readings are based only on a few vital stats, such as height, weight and age.
Instead, you must forget about counting calories. You should instead focus on achieving the optimum heart rate according to your HIIT program. You will find that calorie counting can be a tedious task, too, when you can just focus on eating more fruits, vegetables and lean meats.
Reward Yourself for Small Goals Achieved
Most fitness trackers have a function that allows for setting goals. Instead of setting goals on a monthly basis, you can set weekly and daily goals so that you’re able to monitor your progress, too.
When you hit your micro-goals, you should reward yourself with an indulgent treat, a cheat day, if you will. Your mind and body will not so easily succumb to the temptation because you’re not depriving it so much.
The next time you hit the 24 Hour Fitness gym, wear your fitness tracker and actually start using its features!