In a world that is becoming more and more reliant on technology and health-concsious, it is not surprising that these two worlds have merged and there are an abundance of technological fitness products. It's turning in to a bit of a mine-field! However I do believe sometimes these products can be more of a hinderance than a help - which is totally not the point of technology!
Below, you'll find information about the products I used or have used in the past to help me on my fitness journey, plus some great information about how these two fields are fusing to benefit people!
Apps
Smart Phones have become indispensable in my life. I absolutely love my iPhone and there are so many user-friendly fitness-focused apps. Fitness apps are great because they're so convenient, you can so many great free ones and there are loads with fab content! Some of my favourites include:
Map My Run - Free
Map My Run is a great resource if you do any kind of exercise outside, it doesn't just need to be running. On Map My Run you can track the distance you have ran, waked, cycled or even the number of stairs you have climbed. The app stores all of your sessions so you can look back, see how you have improved and compare.
There are so many distance tracking apps out there. I know a lot of people also love the Nike Run and the Lorna Jane app, Map My Run just happens to be my favourite and I think it is the most comprehensive, in my experience.
My Fitness Pal - Free
My Fitness Pal (MFP) is truly a great resource for people looking to manage weight by controlling calorie intake. It's also a great app if, like me, you just want to be calorie aware. MFP was so useful to me when I lost the bulk of my weight. Whilst I actively used the app, I lost 21 lbs. You're able to monitor progress for weight loss, set goals and there is a HUGE number of foods stored in their database. You can create recipes, scan in your own foods (one of my favourite tools) and it truly is a fantastic app.
I do however think you need to be weary about obsessively tracking calories. It's very easy to get swept up in it all and lose sight of the bigger picture. Being calorie-aware is a great thing for anyone trying to lose weight. But, like I said in the introduction, counting calories can sometimes be more of a hindrance than a help. Remember that there is more to life that inputting every single meal in to an app - trust me, I learned the hard way!
Also, just a warning, after inputting your goal weight and the time frame you want to do it in, MFP will often tell you to aim for less than 1200 calories a day. This is not healthy!! Your body will go into starvation mode and you will retain fat, not lose it. ALWAYS eat 1200 calories or more a day.
I love the Tone It Up app as a fitness resource. If you're in the gym and not sure what to do, there are tons of workouts readily available to go on their app!
A free equivalent is the Nike Training Club (NTC) app which is also fantastic in my opinion!
Leave a comment if you're interested in a "What's On My iPhone" video/blog!
Wearables
Wearable fitness monitors have increased in popularity HUGELY lately! There are so many different kinds out there, although if you're using just the basic wrist strap technology you do need to be weary about their accuracy; as long as you do not take their word as golden, you will be fine.
That being said, they are a GREAT motivational tool and if you're like me, they're really good at keeping you informed, and I LOVE being in the know ;)
I have owned a Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor for a few years now and if you're really interested in accurately knowing how many calories you have burned, a heart rate monitor is definitely the best resource for this as you input your weight, it measures your heart beat and tells you the calories burned whilst wearing the monitor. I, personally, have no issues with the chest strap being uncomfortable.
I am SOOOO tempted to get a Fitbit!! I love how sleek they look, they're very unobtrusive and I think they're fun! If fitness is fun then it's going to be much more enjoyable and so much easier to make that lifestyle change!
Developments
I have to say, I love the fact technology is making it so much easier to track my fitness goals and my journey. Being able to physically see progress is fantastic and hugely motivating and it's just getting easier and easier.
I also love the fact that companies are seeing the benefits too! For example Oscar Health Insurance Company, who operate in New York and New Jersey, provide their customers with a MisFit Wearable fitness tracker, allowing members to keep better track of their health and move towards the overall goal of living a more balanced, active, healthy lifestyle. I just LOVE this!
If more companies took a more active role in promoting healthy lifestyles, think about how much could change. Oscar is a great example of positive changes in this area and I want to thank them for reaching out to me, giving me inspiration for this post and telling me about their great initiative!
What do you think? Is health and technology a fantastic fusion? Or is it something you could do without? Do you want a Fitbit just as much as I do or do you think they're all gimmicks? I would love to know!
Love Always
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