Do You Need a Fitness Tracker Watch?

Do you really need a Fitness Tracker Watch? An activity tracker Smartwatch seems to be all the rage nowadays. It's borderline obsessive. Everywhere you look, people are tracking every step, calorie, and heartbeat. With rising levels of obesity and inactivity, this might not be such a bad thing. A fitness tracker watch does have its benefits, but the question remains, does it only have benefits? Nah, definitely not. Here are some of the benefits and drawbacks.

Pros

Personal accountability

Research shows that even wearing the most basic pedometer (a device that counts steps) can increase your rate of activity by 30%. This is probably because your fitness tracker is tracking your goals and progress which, in turn, psychologically encourages you to walk more steps or eat a salad instead of a steak and chips for lunch.

Custom-made goals

Whether you are an athlete or a couch potato, your fitness tracker watch can set realistic goals for optimal activity. It can suggest tips and particular workouts to target the problematic areas.

Financial motivation

The average fitness tracker watch, such as a Fitbit Charge HR, ranges from $150-$200. And if you want the waterproof model so you can wear it while swimming or showering, the price is higher. This is a considerable amount of money for many people. If they spend so much to help them stay fit, chances are that they will be more motivated to follow the goals the fitness tracker sets for them.

A shoulder to cry on

Trying to stay in shape can be quite nerve-wracking. Good company always alleviates the pressure. The group dynamic of the fitness tracker watch allows hooking up with other fitness trackers in your geographic location. This way you can create workout teams and compete against each other.

Cons

Conversely, many people would argue that tracking every possible step or bite you take could be disastrous and self-harming. Do you really want to be a part of this tracking madness? We put together some of the reasons why you should not buy a fitness tracker.

You can get in shape without a wristband

People have been doing it for hundreds of years without a fitness tracker. You do not need it in order to get up and go for a walk outside. You can work out, eat healthy, and get quality sleep without wearing a activity monitor on your arm.

You probably own a Smartphone

Most Smartphones come with a built-in fitness app. If not, you can download it for free and it does almost everything a fitness tracker watch does. Thus, spending so much money on a watch, which is more or less likely to closely mimic the fitness app in your phone, is utterly ridiculous.

They are not entirely accurate

No tracker measures your metabolic rate while resting. The human body burns calories while you are not moving. The tracker does not consider this and can, therefore, give false information. Add to that, Activity trackers, especially the cheaper priced examples, are known for being potentially inaccurate when tracking steps, calories burnt when training (which is just an estimation anyway), and monitoring sleeping patterns.

Paranoia

Yes, you read that right. Fitness tracker users become paranoid, tracking every single step. They might even start thinking that the steps they take without wearing their tracker might not count as steps at all. In essence, you become a slave to your tracker and the data on it.

Conclusion

No set formula or device can magically attain your goals for you. Working on it honestly is necessary. For some people, it can be due to a fitness tracker watch. For others, an app on their phone. And for others, just good old willpower is enough. Do what works for you. But technology isn't really needed to be honest. Effort and motivation are all the tools you need to get in shape, and stay in shape. Health Contempo.