Fitness trackers have blown up in recent years. More recently, they’ve become popular among people of all fitness levels. Knowing all of the functions and features of your tracker can be hard because there are so many makes and models of fitness trackers. Because of this, it can be even harder to get the most out of your fitness tracker.
Understanding the features of trackers beyond their basic functions (like tracking heart rates, steps, or calories) can teach you more about your body, allow you to track your fitness progress, and give you better insight on your lifestyle.
Tips to Get the Most
- Wear your tracker on your less dominant arm. You should do this for two reasons. One, you’ll avoid bumping or knocking it as often. Two, because your less dominant arm moves less, it can provide more accurate data.
- Understand that the data isn’t completely accurate. This is in regard to certain features like built-in heart rate monitors. A chest strap tracker would be more accurate than one worn on the arm. However, this doesn’t mean that your data is wrong–it just means you shouldn’t be concerned if there’s a glitch in the system.
- Create an accurate profile when setting up your tracker. To get more accurate data throughout the day, it’s important to set up your profile with the correct age, weight, height, gender, etc.
- Sync your tracker with your phone and various apps. There’s a ton of apps that support trackers and can help enhance their functions and your overall experience. For example, you can track your food and calories with MyFitnessPal, track your runs with Map my Run, or Strava for more accurately recorded cycling data.
It’s also important to wear your fitness tracker as often as possible and to keep it charged. Doing those two things, on top of these tips should help you get the most out of your fitness tracker.
Written by GUADS staff member Toni with contributions from www.shape.com