These days, it seems as if every technological device has a fitness tracker. In fact, many smartphones come with pre-downloaded health apps that can record your medical information and count your steps. However, there is often a disconnect between the users of fitness trackers and the knowledge of how expansive their services are. Here are some lesser known features that can help you take better control of your health.
Measure Physical Activity
Have you explored your fitness tracker’s complementary app? If you haven’t already created an account within its portal, then you are missing out on using this data in your health assessments. By inputting information such as height, weight, and gender into the app, your fitness tracker can better assess how much activity is needed in order to meet your short term and long-term goals. In addition, you can log periods of intense physical activity such as running, jogging, and cycling that burn a higher number of calories than walking.
Track Your Food and Water Intake
Tracking your food and water intake is quintessential to any fitness goal. After all, weight loss is 80 percent diet. Based on the vitals that you provide, your fitness app will be able to calculate how many calories you need to burn a day in order to lose, gain, or maintain your weight. It can also tell you if the foods that you are eating are providing you with the proper amount of nutrients, and will keep you accountable for your water consumption.
Setting Goals and Staying on Track
Lofty fitness goals are easier to achieve when taken one step at a time. The journey to a healthier lifestyle involves a series of breaking bad habits and forming better ones. Fitness apps can help you set and meet goals such as increasing your daily step count or reaching a weight goal within a specified amount of time. The badges that they offer for reaching milestones within the app are also helpful for those who need words of encouragement to keep pushing forward.
Monitor Your Heart Rate
This feature is reserved for those who have a wearable tracker, but it is potentially one of the fitness realm’s best kept secrets. Maintaining a steady heart rate is not only important for your health, but for your fitness goals as well. Based on your personal vitals, there is a specified heart rate zone that you must remain in while exercising in order to burn fat and not gain it. Trackers are a great way to not only help you calculate this zone, but to maintain it during high intensity activities.
Sleep Activity
Do you ever feel like you are sleeping, but not resting? Your fitness tracker might be able to provide some insight. It is important to wear your tracker consistently because it can measure your sleeping patterns and identify periods of restlessness. Over time, sleep deprivation can lead to serious health issues like poorer physical and mental performance, which is why it is important to correct these bad habits early on. Being able to visualize the hours and quality of sleep that you are getting on average will encourage you to establish better sleeping habits.
Competition
There is nothing wrong with a little healthy competition. Connecting with friends can be a mutually beneficial way to motivate each other and continue striving toward your goals. Many companies use wellness portals, whose portals offer challenges and incentives for employees to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Whether you enjoy beating your personal record or someone else’s, fitness apps can provide you with the best type of challenge needed to stay motivated and meet your goals.
The way that technology has evolved to educate and aid us in our quest for health is something to be taken advantage of. Now that you are aware of all of the services that your device has to offer, it’s time to put its features to use and improve your lifestyle.
