The Value of Online Trackers, Part 1

A handful of years ago, a little device called a Fitbit took the world by storm. A few other companies, like Garmin, Apple, Xiaomi, Amazfit, Samsung Galaxy Fit, RealMe, Huawei, also hopped on board and created their own. Some are priced below $40 and do include tons of freatures. Then most major phone carriers began to integrate GPS, motion sensing and some other features into apps.

There are a lot of options for what type of health tracker to use and choosing can be overwhelming. So, I'm going to do a post/blog series just on fitness trackers for a few weeks to shed some light on the value, the features, how easy it is to use this for food and fitness tracking, even without a wearable, and about what some of the other features and measurements are.

Today's segment is about the basics. Part 2 will be on food tracking, Part 3 on fitness and exercise features, Part 4 on different models of wearables and Part 5 on the misc. health features, since you may have never heard of them before.

I figure, for anyone interested in something like this for Christmas, this info should help a lot.

Fitbit first went public in 2015 with its first couple models. I started wearing my Charge HR in 2016 and was angry when the band started peeling pretty quickly. The durability of all of the devices are far better now, and I currently wear an Alta HR that's a few years old. The battery is starting to have about a day less life lately. It used to last 6 with all of the features active.

I'd say that's pretty good longevity even now.

Bands are replaceable now and can have inexpensive color and material options online, like eBay and replacing a band is nothing now.

I use a woven metal band that adheres with a magnet. When i work out it's on my ankle.... So I can be on my phone... Drafting this post!

Yeah, yeah, I know. I like to multitask. I'm also in a step challenge, so I don't want any steps lost.

Fitbit obviously has changed the way I think, and I think this is it's biggest advantage.

The numbers are interesting! It's exciting to compare numbers from previous days, and the app is so quick and accessible that it makes it FUN to put in the EFFORT to see progress on the screen.

I kid you not, guys, it's kinda lile a video game.

But since I started wearing it on Christmas 2016, my healthy habits have never been completely derailed. My health metrics immediately started improving with first my resting heart rate and then my sleep. Both important things!

Then of course the drive to get 10k steps. It's literally a thought every day, which turns to effort every day, unless I have a migraine. Then, just no. But in all seriousness, the psychology of how a Fitbit gets you to think, focus and prioritize your health is really genius.

And the same can basically be said for other wearables and apps that get special treatment (like they are on your main home screen or they give you reminders). Most have all of the same basic functions and measures.

I do have some favoritism to the Fitbit because it's the only one I've used and never have felt a need to switch. Loyal customer, I guess. Haha.

But isn't that the true test of a good business and a good product?

Well, what about the cons?

So the measurements aren't perfect. It can miss steps, it can double track. Pushing a shopping cart gets you no steps because your arm isn't naturally swinging.

The food tracking concept is also not perfecr, neither is how many calories are burned day to day.

But, Karen, you're such a numbers person with all this, how can you STAND it?

Lol. I pretend.

No, really. I know I'll be in the ballpark because the math they use to figure it all out is based on the science. It's just the science isn't perfect. So no model is going to nail it.

Instead my thinking is that for each day that I might be actually over, there's likely another that I'm under, for calories in, out, steps, whatever.

And also, what really counts, enough to be a bottom line, here, is that you track your numbers to measure your own CONSISTENCY. Because consistency is what's going to get you results. It's day after day of healthy choices that make you lose weight and make you healthier.

That's the real psychology of any wearable is that it trains you to be consistent.d product?

Well, what about the cons?

So the measurements aren't perfect. It can miss steps, it can double track. Pushing a shopping cart gets you no steps because your arm isn't naturally swinging.

The food tracking concept is also not perfecr, neither is how many calories are burned day to day.

But, Karen, you're such a numbers person with all this, how can you STAND it?

Lol. I pretend.

No, really. I know I'll be in the ballpark because the math they use to figure it all out is based on the science. It's just the science isn't perfect. So no model is going to nail it.

Instead my thinking is that for each day that I might be actually over, there's likely another that I'm under, for calories in, out, steps, whatever.

And also, what really counts, enough to be a bottom line, here, is that you track your numbers to measure your own CONSISTENCY. Because consistency is what's going to get you results. It's day after day of healthy choices that make you lose weight and make you healthier.

That's the real psychology of any wearable is that it trains you to be consistent.