Everyone is on the fitness tracking bandwagon.
The Apple Watch will track your heartbeat, steps, and activity.
The Fitbit and Fuelband have been doing similar things for years.
But they arent perfect.
At best, the data is good encouragement, but at worst, it’s unreliable and misleading.
Here’s why all that data doesn’t equal better health, and what you actually can use.
On the bright side, that means they’ll be useful for some things.
If youuse them properlyand you’re already motivated to get in shape, thenfitness trackers can make a difference.
And none of these devices are water-resistant, so swimming is out of the question.
Even in areas where fitness trackers excel, their data can vary widely.
Fitness is an individual thing.
Most are great at being internet-connected pedometers that can give you immediate feedback to your actions.
Some are great at tracking your movements and restlessness while you sleep.
The best fitness trackers and smartwatches are also great at tracking bursts of activity and their times.
Some of the best trackers can even remind you of those fitness goals.
Are fitness trackers useful?
Can they help you get in better shape?
Well, the answer (and the science) is mixed.
Trackers alone, in a vacuum, simply don’t get the job done.
They’re also not the keys to better behavior and long-term habit changes.
In other cases, tracking became “the enemy: something they dreaded doing, and dreaded looking at.
Does that mean fitness trackers are a fad and a waste of money?
Not at alltheycanbe useful.
You also have tolearn to build better habitsthat feed back on themselves to help you make long-term lifestyle changes.
You also need to learn thatself-compassion is critical to your long-term success.
Title photo byJMicic(Shutterstock) andJMicic(Shutterstock).
Additional photos byTatsuo Yamashita, andAaron Parecki.
