There are apps and accessories for just about everything
imaginable. It only makes sense that we’d find a few…by a few we mean a ton… things
to pump up our fitness experience (pun intended). For today’s blog we’re going to take a peek at
a few bits of technology and an app or two that can enhance how we work our
bodies.
The first personal fitness device we’ll look at is the wearable
tracker. There’s a variety of these gadgets out there, from wristbands to clip-on
units. So how do we pick one that’s right for us? It all depends on what we
want to keep track of. For some people, a simple pedometer will work just fine.
Pedometers range in price from a couple dollars to $50 depending on what kind
of functionality we want. They all count the number of steps taken over a
period of time and some will even calculate the number of calories burned. If we want to get a little more advanced, we
could always go for the activity tracker.
An activity tracker will also cover steps and calories, but some
can also track sleep patterns, heart rate, and other vital signs to be uploaded
to an application for a broader look at how we work our bodies. Two of the more
popular activity tracker brands are Fitbit and Nike. They range in price from
$50 to around $180.
Now, let’s talk about those apps. There’s one for virtually
every kind of workout. If we feel like Zumba, there’s a Zumba app. If we want
to go full-on Rich Froning (Reebok’s “Fittest Man on Earth”), there’s plenty of
Crossfit apps. The best bet for finding an app that works for us is to read the
reviews and try a few out. Some of the better reviewed apps, such as XLog,
provide a list of exercises with examples, built in timers, and the ability to
log our results. These simple pieces of software can help us stay on track in
the gym and with our health.
If you’re a regular at the Rec Center then you probably
noticed ALL OF THE NEW EQUIPMENT that went in several months back. You probably
also noticed those funky looking QR codes on each new machine. Guess what…there’s
an app that can make all of those codes a functional part of our workouts. LF
Connect is an app for both iOS and Android devices that can scan the codes and
display information about how to use each machine. It can also be used to
connect to certain Life Fitness brand treadmills, bikes, and elliptical
machines to track our overall progress towards our fitness goals.
No matter what device s or application we use, the common
theme in all of them is the ability to track what we do. Tracking every step or
calorie may seem a bit tedious, but when we look back at what we've done it
should make it a lot easier to see which way we need to go to reach our goals.
Hopefully, that means we are that much closer to living a healthy lifestyle.
As always, we encourage everyone to
meet with their physician before trying any new or intense exercise and to meet
with a personal trainer at the Rec Center to find a program that works for
them.
So, what are we waiting on? Let’s do this!
If there’s any topics or questions you think we should talk
more about, let us know on Facebook or Twitter.
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