You’ve probably heard the words fitness trackers and weight loss in the same sentence a thousand times. But have you wondered how they really help with weight loss?
Exercise is essentially stress, and when you repeatedly stress your body, it becomes better adapted to respond to the stimulus. Fitness technology is catching onto this and there are many promising products that allow you to bring cutting-edge recovery techniques into your own home.
Today, we’re answering all your burning questions about smartwatches and weight loss.
1. Tracks your every move
It is so satisfying to see the numbers add up. It’s good to keep track of the right stats instead of worrying about the number on your scale. Every step counts. A fitness tracker senses your different movements and gives you holistic feedback on your workouts.
Track your stress levels so you know whether you can handle your next set. Or use the tracker to get a baseline of your daily movement and then set a goal 2,000-3,000 steps higher.
2. You’re doing more than you think!
Yes, you do burn calories while doing mundane tasks like walking to work, fidgeting on your desk, and this is called NEAT- non exercise activity thermogenesis. This basically accounts for all the fat you burn while doing anything but eating, sleeping or exercising, and that could be quite a surprising amount.
A smartwatch tracks ALL your calories burnt and tells you what activity amped you up the most, and if you want to crunch in a few more cals for the day, just increase the intensity of your tasks.
3. The calorie calculator
Just as with exercise, people who log their food are more successful at losing weight. Sure, data entry can be hectic in the start but doing so not only increases your chances of sticking to your diet, you’ll be watching your food and hopefully eating the right stuff.
A health tracker only makes this task easier. Use the information from the tracker as a guide, not as permission to throw dietary discretion out the window.
4. Sleep well. Lose more.
Do you get at least 7 hours in every night? And that’s not a great number either. Sleep produces growth hormones necessary for athletic recovery and well, growth.
When athletes (and yes, you) are able to recover quickly, they can hit the next workout with their full ability and maximize performance. If you don't take enough rest after each session, you won't give your body enough time to reap the full effects and may even fall victim to overtraining.
Scientists are starting to discover that actively investing in post-workout recovery is just as, if not more, important than the time you spend in the gym.
5. It’s You V/S You
In the beginning, just hitting 3K steps a day makes a difference. It’s motivating to see your results come to life. Even better, seeing your progress accelerate overtime. How to use a smart device for weight loss-
- • See how close you get to your target goal each day, or if you crushed it!
- • Set a smaller, shorter-term goal so you'll feel successful right away; doing so will help you to stay focused.
- • Send yourself reminders to move if you've been sitting too long. (This is an excellent way to give yourself a jolt to help you break that bad habit.)
Use it as a motivational tool to encourage movement and as a historical record. If you have a bad day, you can look back and see that it was only one day among many good days. This perspective may keep you from falling off the wagon because of "all or nothing" thinking.
People who wear smart trackers do seem to be more physically active and report being more organized.
Remember- It works if you work it.
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