THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 HEALTH TRACKERS

 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 HEALTH TRACKERS

“A fit, healthy body—that is the best fashion statement” ― Jess C Scott

“A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise.” ― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

“Exercise is a dirty word. Every time I hear it I wash my mouth out with chocolate.” ― Charles Schulz

“No one wakes up in the morning and says, 'I want to gain 150 pounds and I will start right now!” ― Tricia Cunningham

Research: Fitness Trackers and Apps Do Up Activity | Everyday Health

“Can a wearable fitness tracker or smartphone app really prod you to exercise more — and stick with it? In a new analysis of 28 studies involving 7,454 people, using these popular digital physical-activity aids was linked to users logging an extra 1,850 steps per day compared with non-users (nearly a mile more).  (For me, about 2,000 steps is a mile)

“And the fitness app and tracker users were still moving significantly more at 13 weeks later.

“The wearable trackers and downloadable apps worked best when they provided feedback on progress, enabled users to set personal goals, or reminded users to get active via text messages, according to the study, published December 2020 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.”

“Continuously monitoring your progress and receiving feedback from an app or tracker can lead to significant changes in overall physical activity,” says lead researcher Liliana Laranjo, MD, Ph.D., a research fellow on the faculty of medicine and health at the University of Sydney’s Westmead Applied Research Centre in Australia.

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Two years ago I was ready to buy a fitness tracker.  I actually had ordered a Fitbit online from an athletic store.  I went to the store to pick it up - and they didn’t have one in stock.  (The website indicated they did).

They could have gotten me one from another store, ordered it for me online, but I stopped about 15 minutes before the store closed, and the clerk just seemed indifferent to doing anything extra in his last 15 minutes of work.  But, I don’t blame him.  He was a kid working part-time after school.  He wouldn’t make any more money if the store found me a Fitbit.  He would have had to call a manager in to do the work, but the manager was busy walking the floor checking to see if all people had been served.  He might have gotten reprimanded if he called a manager up to the check-out - so “Sorry that is out of stock.  Could you come back in a few days when we’ll have it back in stock” was a good answer.

Money was tight then (it was my first year being out on my own) so I just passed on it.  

I mentioned this to a friend who indicated that I already had a “Health” app on my iPhone that counted steps.  And, that was that.  

I have used that Health app to count my steps for three years.  I then translate my steps into the “Map my Walk” app (also on my phone).  I did use the Map My Walk app prior to this, but I didn’t want that app to run in the background all day long - which is what the Health app already was doing.  I would have to charge my phone sometime during the day.  

Last year, 2020, I was in the top 1% of users of the Map My Walk app.  (With the pandemic, I did walk a lot.)  So far this year (2021), I’m stuck in the top 4% of users of the app.  My life has gotten busier with two orchestras, granny basketball, bridge, friends, and more.  

Granny basketball is my “aerobic class” as I get about from 1.5 to 2 miles (in terms of steps) during practice.  [Aside, last week at our game, I barely got 1 mile - so I work harder in practice!!!  And, another comment - “I don’t sweat I perspire” - after all, I was a professor!!.  I don’t have “sweatshirts”, instead I have “perspiration jackets”!!!]

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So, fitness trackers do help (generally) with fitness goals.  

And, over time they are getting better.

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Best tracker/watches in 2021

.1 FitIIGo (fit 2 go)  about $50 (article suggested it was normally at $100)

.2 KoreTrak Pro   about $50 (no GPS)

.3 Garmin   about $300!!  (maybe out of my budget)

.4 Apple Watch - also about $300 (again a bit pricey)

.5 Polar - about $120

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Who knows - maybe I’ll get a fitness tracker/watch someday.  Consumer wearable trackers/watches have improved over the past few years.  Maybe the cost/benefits will continue to improve.  It is cool to have a tracker on one’s wrist - like having an Apple Watch on your wrist!!!

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Overall, some kind of tracking device seems to help a person mentally keep up their exercise routine.  As an old math major, I like counting things - and counting steps and calories makes sense to me!!

LOVE WINS!!

Karen