A fitness tracker is a wearable device that allows you to track several metrics related to health, weight loss, and exercise. Up until recently, many fitness trackers were merely pedometers, or step trackers, that counted the number of steps you took every day. But now, devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers can measure additional metrics such as calories burned, heart rate, and sleep quality, among many others.
Regardless of whether you want to lose excess weight, build muscle, or enhance your sports performance, a fitness tracker may be the missing key to helping you learn how you can achieve your short- and long-term health goals.
What Can a Fitness Tracker Do?
Fitness trackers are becoming more advanced with each new release, and you may be surprised by what most of them can already do. There’s an ideal fitness tracker for everyone based on their favorite activities — and on what they hope to accomplish in terms of fitness and health.
Fitness trackers can do the following:
- Track your steps
- Track your heart rate
- Track your sleep patterns and sleep quality
- Monitor your blood oxygen levels
- Track your distance using GPS technology
- Analyze your body composition
- Track your body temperature
- Measure your sweat and stress levels
- Track your menstrual periods and ovulation
- Remind you when to breathe during workouts
- Guide you through yoga and meditation
- Log your meals and water intake
- Track your workout activity
- Monitor your workout recovery
Many fitness trackers are waterproof, so you can wear them while swimming and while sweating. Some are designed for outdoor use and rely on solar power technology so you don’t have to worry about traditional charging methods. Many fitness trackers can also be paired with smartphones and apps so you can talk on the phone, send emails and texts, and listen to music during your exercise routine. You can also compile data using their paired apps.
What Are Features to Look For in a Fitness Tracker?
When choosing a fitness tracker, it helps to consider what you plan on using it for, and decide which metrics are most important to you. For instance, if you enjoy running outdoors, consider a fitness tracker with GPS technology that can easily track your distance. Or, if you have a heart condition, consider a fitness tracker with advanced heart monitoring features that can track your heart rate, body temperature, and blood oxygen levels.
Other features and factors to consider in a fitness tracker include:
- Battery life
- Waterproof technology
- Appearance and design
- Comfort
- Sports activities, including obscure sports like kiteboarding
- Smartphone compatibility
- Wearable type (watch vs ring)
- Fitness app subscriptions
- Cost
Fitness trackers that have long lists of specifications and features tend to be costlier than trackers with just a few key features. Knowing exactly what you want in a tracker could help you narrow your options and avoid paying extra for features you may never use.
How to Use a Fitness Tracker to Stay Fit
You can use all the tools, metrics, and features on fitness trackers in various ways to get into shape. Consider the following tips and tricks for using your fitness tracker to reach your health and fitness goals:
- Enter your personal biometrics and update them frequently. Most fitness trackers use basic data including your age, weight, height, and gender to monitor your progress and update you with where you are in terms of reaching your goals.
- Wear your fitness tracker every day to establish a routine. Wearing it daily can help you stay accountable and aware of the actions you are taking to improve your overall health and fitness.
- Set reminders that tell you when it’s time to get moving. Even 10 minutes of exercise a day can be a good initial goal, and the reminders your fitness tracker provides can help you stay active.
- Participate in health and workout challenges. If your fitness tracker can be synced with one or more apps, look for those that offer daily or weekly challenges (such as daily pushups or plank challenges). These can motivate you to work harder and stay on track.
- Use the food log. Tracking the foods you eat can open your eyes to where you might want to make healthy changes.
- Set realistic goals. Getting a new fitness tracker can make you feel more excited and motivated than ever to work out and get into shape, but setting unrealistic goals can lead to negative feelings like guilt and disappointment that could make you feel like giving up. Start small with realistic goals, and gradually change them as your fitness level increases.
Before settling on a fitness tracker, read its ratings and reviews to make sure it has all the features and specs you want based on your health goals and favorite activities. If it seems like you’ve been working toward reaching your fitness goals without many changes, a fitness tracker may be exactly what you need to finally get there.
Resource Links
- “Tips to Keep Moving” via National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- “Our favorite gadgets to track your health and wellness” via University of Massachusetts Global
- “Wearable Activity Trackers – Which Is Right For You” via University of Michigan