Part of staying on track with your fitness goals is keeping track of your progress! Fitness classes can be helpful for keeping track of reps since the instructor will count. Personal training can be helpful too, especially because of the customized plan designed to help you reach your goals. But you also need to be able to track your fitness on your own- and that's why wearable tech is amazing!
Benefits of Wearable Tech
Between 2006 and 2013, wearable tech for fitness became popular. Devices like Fitbits and Apple Watches became relatively common. In the last few years, many other companies have produced similar activity tracking wearable tech—and the tech has gotten progressively smarter.
Some of the main benefits of wearable tech for the gym include:
-
Insight into what's happening in your body (like your heart rate, sleep patterns, etc.)
-
Convenient ways to track what you eat, how many calories your burn when you workout, and more.
-
Offer feedback on your form, performance, and patterns. As well as GPS and elevation changes during runs or rides.
-
Having access to hands-free technology for tracking time, checking messages, etc.
Best Types of Wearable Tech
There are so many different types of wearable tech to choose from these days. Here are some of our favorites:
Free Apps
Did you know all the new iPhones include free health apps? There are tons of free apps for smartphones to help you count your calories, track your steps, and more. These apps from your phone can then sync with your wearable device.
Smart Fabrics
Recently, tech companies have announced smart fabrics. Innovators are working to make pants and shirts out of fabrics that can offer biofeedback and track your workouts.
Smart Shoes
Another type of new tech is for your feet. Smart soles, shoes, and sneakers with built-in chips can send data to your phone to help you track workouts and assess your performance during them.
Wristband Technology
Probably the most popular type of wearable tech is the kind worn on the wrist. Wristband tech ranges from basic activity trackers to smartwatches to advanced biofeedback devices. Some of the best options include:
Fitbits. There are a range of Fitbits to choose from. Most offer activity tracking, heart rate monitoring, and a timer. Some are waterproof or have other features, like easy integration with certain apps.
Smartwatches. Whether sold by Apple, Garmin, or another company, smart watches offer similar capabilities as Fitbit devices. However, most smartwatches also offer messaging, GPS, and other features that are convenient for life and fitness.
New Tech. Options like the new Atlas or Beast can offer feedback above and beyond other technology. Atlas, for instance, can help you correct your form. Beast can help you know how hard your body is working- and then help you decide how much more weight to add or how many more reps to do.
How to Best Use Wearable Tech
To make the most of wearable tech, use it for life and the gym! Transformation doesn't just happen while you're running on the treadmill or benching weights. Use wearable tech to optimize your lifestyle for your health.
Use our FREE 8-Week Shred Guide to spark your transformation.
Gold’s Gym SoCal is an association of separate clubs—click here for info.
