Gadgets, I love them!
I’ve owned handheld GPS units and cell phones ever since they first came out. If there is a gadget out there to help me stay motivated, I’ve got it. I have a GPS for my bike, GPS for my swims and GPS for my runs. I also can use my iPhone for logging miles on the bike or while running. I get super excited when a new gadget comes out.
Well, a fairly new thing is out - they are called fitness trackers, also known as activity trackers. There are a bunch of different ones out there that basically all do the same thing - they keep track of how many steps you are taking throughout the day. We are recommended to take a minimum of 10,000 steps a day. On some days you would be surprised to see how hard that is to attain, yet other days it’s very easy.
As a blaster at Highland Valley Copper, my usual day is 15,000 to 18,000 steps. I have the Garmin version which I bought at Runners Sole and it works great for me. There are little challenges on a weekly basis through Garmin’s website ( www.garmin.com/ ), which are great motivators to get you out the door for an extra run.
What is a fitness tracker? It’s a small band that is worn on the wrist and, depending in the model, it tracks the steps you take, your heart rate, calories burned and even how you sleep throughout the day. All of them can link either to your computer or smartphone so you can upload to keep track of your progress. You can also link to Facebook, etc., for your friends and family to follow you.
With price ranges of around $100, do some research to see which one is right for you to help you achieve your fitness goals.
Wayne Little