The world of electronics and fitness technology has undergone a sea change. What was unimaginable a few years ago is reality now. In the midst of all the upgradation happening in day to day technology, it is obvious that there are a lot of questions in your mind.
When it comes to fitness trackers, even the most seasoned electronics enthusiast is unable to grasp the usefulness and relevance. This is where we step in. In this post, we attempt to answer the top 5 questions that most people have about fitness trackers. So let’s get started.
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What exactly does a fitness tracker do?
The answer to this question depends on which specific device you are talking about. First thing to know is that fitness trackers come in various shapes, sizes and forms. They may be bands or watches.
The most common task that a fitness tracker does is it counts the number of steps that you have taken or the distance that you have walked during the day. This data can be seen on the device (if it sports a display) or on an app on your smartphone.
Apart from this basic function, some bands like Huawei band 4 also offer proactive health monitoring. Many high end bands also offer sleep tracking, blood pressure monitor as well as blood sugar level monitoring.
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Do people exercise more with fitness trackers?
This is a tricky question but we will try our best to help you. Like any other device, fitness trackers are only as good as the human being using them. While fitness trackers can motivate you to start working out, they cannot change who you are as a person. That can only be changed by taking small steps at a time.
Most people who wish to get fitter struggle with consistency and goal setting. It is in these two areas where fitness trackers can help you. These trackers help you set realistic goals such as walking for 10 minutes a day. Further, they ensure consistency by sending you constant reminders so that you do not miss your streak.
If we look at these two mental blocks that the fitness band can remove, you would think that on some level, they certainly help people exercise more often than normal.
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What are the options when it comes to fitness trackers?
Essentially, there are three different types of fitness trackers:
- Distance measuring trackers are the most basic type of fitness trackers. They ensure that you walk or run more by keeping track of the number of steps taken or distance traveled by you. This data is then presented in terms of calories burnt and other relevant graphical representations.
- Heart rate monitoring trackers are the next level of upgraded fitness trackers. These types of trackers go one step beyond the distance-focused trackers and monitor your heart rate. The best heart rate monitors are helpful in ensuring that you do not underwhelm or overwhelm your body.
- Smart Watches are the highest level of fitness trackers because they combine all the above benefits of a fitness tracker along with GPS monitoring and cohesive linking with your smartphones. This helps you stay connected throughout your workout.
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Is owning a smartphone mandatory?
The answer is pretty simple. Most fitness trackers have been developed after the advent of smartphones and therefore a substantial number of fitness trackers work only in combination with a smartphone. Some devices like Apple Watch need you to have an iPhone in order to work at all.
Other brands like Samsung, OnePlus and Fitbit are generous and allow you to pair your fitness band with any smartphone. However, not all fitness bands require you to use a smartphone. Some bands require you to just create an account with their system and then that account will carry all your fitness data. This data can then be logged into from a website and analysed.
However, this entire process will be tedious as it will entail usage of web or mobile browsers and it just defeats the purpose of a fitness tracker which is to make it easier for you to exercise. Using a smartphone along with a fitness tracker is a very small ask if it makes you fitter.
This brings us to the most important question – how to buy the best fitness tracker? A couple of factors will determine which fitness band you should buy. These include your budget, the type of functions that you are looking for and whether you are brand conscious.
