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Optimal Health
Fitness Trackers: “What
Do They Do and Do I Need One?”
Fitness trackers are growing in both number and popularity; the Fitbit,
the Jawbone, the Garmin Vivofit, and the Sony Smartband are just some examples
of fitness trackers, but what exactly do they do and do I need one?
What Does It Do?
If used correctly and you know what you want from it, a
fitness tracker can be a useful tool in helping you achieve your fitness goals.
It can:
-
Increase your awareness - Fitness trackers can increase
your awareness of how much walking and physical activity you are actually doing.
Some people believe they are very active but have never truly measured their
physical activity level; when using one of these devices, you might be surprised
by how little or how much you actually move. Although dependent on which type
of activities you participate in, fitness trackers can give you direct feedback
on how much you are moving. The simple process of measuring your movement can
help drive change as you become aware of your activity level.
-
Set goals - Once you have your baseline and know
what you want to accomplish, you can set a goal and very easily measure your
improvement.
-
Monitor change - You can track patterns
regarding the type of activity you perform, when you are exercising, as well as
the duration of activity.
-
Monitor sleep patterns - Most trackers monitor
your sleep habits and sometimes even include the different levels of your
sleeping patterns. This can be useful information used to ensure you are
getting enough rest for the physical activity you want to do.
-
Other functions - Some fitness trackers can monitor
your heart rate, act as alarms, can be used as stopwatches, and also alert you
about inactivity or peak activity; there are even fitness trackers designed for
different sports such as biking and swimming. There is substantial growth in
the industry and new functions are being added every day.
Do I Need One?
A fitness tracker is just one of the many tools that can
help you become aware of your activity patterns and this awareness may help you
make changes by setting and monitoring your goals. If you believe a tool such
as this will help you determine and reach your goals, it can certainly be
useful for you. However, it is important to remember that the ultimate goal is
to make physical activity part of your everyday life so you can reap the
benefits that come along with leading a healthy lifestyle.
How Do I Choose One?
I have included the link to a short article, from The Heart
and Stroke Foundation, which outlines 6 steps on how to choose a fitness
tracker:
http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ikIQLcMWJtE&b=4016859&ct=14644903&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Healthline_EN_May_2015&utm_campaign=HealthlineNewsletter#.VVSfazPSxV8.email
Our health professionals can guide you to
Optimal Health!
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