Pros + Cons to Workout Wearables - A Guide to Fitness Technology

Workout wearables are fitness trackers such as the FitBit and Apple Watch. These fitness trackers are designed to log your movement, sleep, and more.

Before we get into the positives of fitness tracking, I would like to touch on the importance of self-awareness beforehand. Tracking can become all-consuming for some people. I was so excited to wear my Apple Watch to motivate me each workout! However, it quickly became a toxic relationship, fixating on numbers. Before I knew it, I was associating my worth to how many calories I burned in a workout. Assessing your relationship with tracking is the first thing I would recommend. You need to know: your worth is not measured by numbers.

It is key to remember that most fitness trackers are not accurate. Many of them over-estimate calories burned. When I learned this, I questioned why I cared so much about numbers that don't tell the full story. So again...Your worth is not measured by numbers. Ever.

I just want to be clear that numbers on the scale, on the watch, on the app - in general, are not the full picture of your health and fitness. They are merely one tool to help you put the pieces of the picture together.

Positives of wearables include:

• Setting and achieving goals

• Monitor fitness levels

• Monitor sleep quality

• Feelings of motivation

• Accountability from wearable + friends

Consequences of wearables include:

• Not accurate

• Fixation or unhealthy relationship with tracking

• Can be expensive

Now that you have the information to weigh whether a fitness tracker is right for you. I highly recommend researching the market to find the best wearable for you! There are so many options with versatile features. This blog is just the first step in your research process. I hope it serves you well! Thank you for reading + follow along on socials for more content on all things fitness and wellness.