Think you don’t need a fitness watch? Then read this first!

Although fitness trackers and smartwatches have become so popular in the last couple of years, many people have decided not to wear or put them away. According to the National Institute of Health, 1 in 3 users stops wearing one. No matter the reason, if you decided that you don’t need a fitness wearable we respect your decision.

Yes, you can get in shape or lose weight without fitness wearables. However, have you wondered how your body reacts to physical activity? How do you determine your fitness goals? Is your fitness strategy working for you? Do you know where you stand?

Years ago, I used to measure my progress by looking at the mirror, a scale, or people’s comments. I thought that looking good meant my routine is working. There were no fitness wearables at that time and I did not rely on health data to guide me.

I could have used a pedometer or even a chronometer but I wanted to keep things “simpler”.

However, the reality is that working out involves not only how great you look, but beyond that. Performing any activity is also about how you feel, mentality, and physically.

So, if you have decided not to self-monitor or you have put your fitness watch away, you may have a good reason.  Nevertheless, as part of a safe and effective workout knowing how your body and mind react to any physical exercise is essential.

If you cannot decide or feel unsure whether you need a fitness tracker or smartwatch you are in the right place. You will learn that taking your workout to the next level is only a couple of numbers away.

Reasons people stop wearing a fitness watch

As Fitbit, Apple, and Garmin continue to lead among the most popular in the fitness wearable market, many people continue buying fitness watches to reach their fitness goals and to improve their health. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, 1 in 5 or 21% of the adults in the USA say they regularly use a fitness wearable.

However, more than half of the users stop using their fitness watches. Why? We will explain why people stop wearing them. Are you one of those? Keep reading. You will realize that fitness trackers and smartwatches are not to blame.

These are the top 5 reasons fitness watches are put away:

• The data does not make any sense

Oooh, accuracy! We all hate to see a low number after a long walk or a jog. Unfortunately, no electronics, including dobby weight scales, digital fat analyzers, are 100 percent accurate. 

Many users can feel disappointed to see the steps taken are over or undercounted. Also, calories burned or heart rate can be inaccurate.

The problem is that we rely on data too much or get too obsessed with numbers.

What you can do about it: Keep in mind that there is no perfect fitness wearable and that they are just tools. They can be used as a guide. No matter how accurate they may be, they are still estimates. To get more personalized feedback, it is best to indicate your weight, age, gender, height, and walking/running stride length.

• Higher expectations

We all dream to achieve a great body without doing the hard work. When I bought my first fitness watch I thought I got the answer. When I analyzed the data I realized that I was not doing enough activity. Hence, I did not see the results I was expecting. I know that many users are encountering this experience that at the same time is a reality check.

What you can do about it: Create realistic goals using your data and focus on your progress. Keep in mind that the more personalized your fitness plan the more effective it will be.

• Practicality

Some people prefer not to wear anything on the wrist. Many users don’t want any distractions.

What you can do about it: You can use fitness wearables around your ankle. You can find a variety of ankle straps for fitness watches available on Amazon. Also, you can use a pedometer to track your progress. As an alternative, a clip-on fitness tracker can do the trick as well.

• They prefer to use their phone instead

Many users rely on their smartphones more than any other electronics. This is understandable especially when you want to stay connected.

What you can do about it: Smartwatches like Apple 3 and 5 have everything you need. Do not miss any call or text messages while you monitor your physical performance. Keep in mind that Apple 4 has been discontinued and replaced by a more advanced Apple 5 Series that you can find in Amazon.

• Some users did not see the results sooner.

Getting in the best shape of your life takes time, persistence, and hard work. Stay focused on your goals and always stay active.

What you can do about it: Do you want to achieve your goals quicker? It is only possible when you have the discipline to keep working harder. Workout smarter not harder. Analyze your health data and find any areas of improvement.

11 powerful reasons you may need a fitness watch

If you have put your device away you may be missing out many of the benefits that can help take your plan to the next level. Although not a perfect one, a fitness tracker or smartwatch is a great tool to help you understand your body and ease your mind. Do you want to know more? To help you understand fitness wearables, we have put together these interesting facts:

1. You can adjust the pace and intensity of your fitness plan to minimize injuries and keep improving
2. Also, you can train by heart rate zones during your cardio workout to help you reach the target
3. Not only a fitness watch can track progress and help attain fitness goals but also helps create accountability.
4. It can help encourage activity and fitness exercise as well
5. Many have a built-in music player and GPS tracker which makes your exercising more exciting and fun
6. Also, they have audio coaching on how to improve your fitness levels when used with your smartphone phone and advanced running metrics
7. It is great for those who love to keep in shape by swimming as some of these devices are waterproof
8. Fitness watches can detect any physical activity or track multiple sports
9. Many of them can monitor your sleep, Heart Rate Variability (HRV), and stress levels using heart rate tracking
10. The data can be shared with your doctor which helps spot any health conditions.
11. Besides, heart rate data can be empowering which makes people health conscious.

How to use a fitness tracker to help to stay fit

Believe it or not, enjoying the many benefits that a fitness wearable can bring will take time. Learning how to use one takes dedication and patience.

Getting to know your fitness watch is only one of the aspects that you need to learn so that your device can do its job.

The following helpful tips will help you get the most out of these wrist companions that will save you time, frustration, and inconveniences:

• Very important: Do not compare yourself with others.

Comparing yourself to someone else is one of the biggest mistakes we all have made. This attitude creates insecurity and frustration which causes you to stop working out and not believe in you.

You are only one with a unique body. Just compare yourself with your previous self. Meaning how far you moved from point A to point B. There is no doubt, using a fitness watch will help you focus on your goals and improvements.

• Do not rely on your fitness wearable only.

This is one of the reasons users put their devices away. However, smartwatches and fitness trackers are tools to help you remain motivated. Also, engagement will make a great difference and will get you where you want to be.

• Be active.

If you are not following a fitness plan, go out for a walk. Also, you can do gardening or sign up for a marathon. Use the move alert feature in your tracker.

• Adopt a positive attitude.

Believe it or not, a positive change in mindset can be rewarding. Visualize yourself achieving your fitness goals. It boosts confidence and motivation.

• Do not think too much.

Keep your fitness plan on track and let your body do the rest. If you get obsessed you will end up anxious and will not enjoy your workout.

• Keep in mind that good things are hard to get.

The more you commit to your fitness plan the better the results. Focus on how great you will feel and the rewards will come.

Should you use a fitness tracker to track performance?

We exercise to either lose weight, keep in shape, add muscle, or to attain other fitness goals. Like I always say: Without a workout program, there is no progress. No matter how we exercise we always expect to see the results.

Therefore, it’s very important to self monitor your physical performance. This is not only a strategy to reach your fitness goals or also an essential part of your workout.

Have you thought about how much your fitness levels have changed in a couple of years? So are you exercising the same way you did 10 years ago? How do you determine if your body can take more physical challenges over the years?

Before fitness wearables ever existed, I have seen many people running marathons, doing aerobics, and even jogging that never monitored the progress or they didn’t do it as much. However, this has led to premature aging, a stressed heart, and injuries.

First, find the right fitness tracker for you

Now, let’s talk about finding the right one for your needs. This is no easy task. There are so many trackers to choose with a variety of specifications and features that they can offer.

That’s why we are here to help you find the right one for your needs to help you stay motivated and improve your overall health.

For you to find the right smart bracelet for your needs, it is very important to consider the type of physical activity, fitness goals, budget, and even your lifestyle.

Why? Because many fitness trackers come with features that you may not even need. For example, if you do not swim you may not need a swim-proof fitness tracker. 

There is no perfect fitness tracker but there is one that can deliver the best user experience that fits your needs. We will explain the different functionalities and technologies to help you choose the right fitness tracker for you:

These fitness watches features will bring you more fun to your fitness plan

There are fitness trackers or smartwatches for every lifestyle, need, and taste. Therefore, we have put together a list of smart bracelets to help you stay motivated to workout and keep moving. Here they are:

• Budget fitness trackers

Who said a cheaper fitness tracker can’t help motivate you to workout? You can find affordable smart wristbands with decent functionality. Keep in mind that in many cases you get what you pay. However, if you do not want to spend too much on a fitness tracker the idea of buying a cheaper tracker could be a smart one.

Smart wristbands like Kirlor Fitness Tracker is an activity tracker for beginners, for users who love to walk or stay active without breaking your budget. Check out this affordable and functional fitness wearable on Amazon.

Features included: heart rate monitor, move alert, steps tracking, sleep quality monitor, call/text reminder, blood pressure monitoring, female health tracker, and phone tracker.

Another fitness tracker that is suitable for the money conscious is MorePro X-Core Fitness Activity Tracker. This waterproof activity tracker is great for people whose heart health is a concern and loves water sports. It monitors heart rate and blood pressure continuously plus heart rate warning. It has a decent battery life of 3 to 7 days. You can wear it in the shower, swimming, and surfing.

Other features: female health-tracking, calories, steps, smart notifications, sleep quality tracker from 6 PM to 8 AM. Find out more about this water-resistant activity tracker on Amazon.

• Multisport watches

For the active ones, sports lovers or to add variety to your fitness plan multisports watches are a great alternative. They can track basketball, cycling, golf, track & field, swimming, and many others. You don’t have to spend a fortune to buy a fitness tracker that monitors your favorite sports or activities to motivate you and inspire you.

A great example is Letsfit Fitness Tracker HR that not only can track 14 exercises, but also monitors your heart rate continuously. Besides, it tracks your fitness progress daily. Although it does not have integrated GPS it can be a great alternative.

Features included: calories, steps, smart notifications, sleep quality monitor, and others. Read more about this top-rated and discreet fitness tracker on Amazon.

With 8 exercise modes, customizable watch faces, optical heart rate sensors, smart notifications, color LCD screen, and much more, the Amazfit Pace Multisport Smartwatch by Huami takes your fitness to the next level.

This smart bracelet can inspire even the most unmotivated one!

What I love about the Amazfit Pace is that it can track your route for 35 hours and it has built-in GPS. Also, you will receive professional insight into your performance. Whether you work out in the gym or at home the Amazfit Pace will help you reach your goals.

Find out this awesome multisport smartwatch on Amazon.

• Fitness trackers with heart rate monitor

Many fitness watches can track heart rate either continuously or any time you want. This is a great alternative for users who want to take care of their heart health and for cardio training.

Trackers with this feature can motivate you to improve the fitness level and performance in general.

If you love to do cardio exercises without wearing a smart wristband the Scosche RHYTHM+ Heart Rate Monitor Armband allows you to maximize your workout.

Recommended reading: Best HRV Monitor Watch: Maximize Your Fitness Routine Now

It is a great device that monitors your heart rate accurately, calories, distance, pace, and more. It is waterproof and does not need any chest straps, helps you find your heart rate zone, and monitors your intensity level. You can stream your health data using a fitness tracker, fitness equipment, bike computers, Android, and iPhone apps.

Other features: Use your smartphone or tablet to monitor your calories burned, steps, distance, speed, and more.

If accuracy is your concern, the Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor chest strap is perfect for sports or physical activity where a fitness tracker would be difficult to use.

You can link your H10 Heart Rate sensor to a compatible camera like the GoPro Hero 5 and overlay your heart rate stats onto the recorded video.

It fits the chest measuring 22 to 34 inches. The strap has been redesigned for more comfort and security while you are exercising.

Other helpful features: waterproof, suitable for swimming, and more. Uses the Polar Beat app to monitor more than 100 sport and exercise profiles plus live voice guidance.

• Fitness watches with built-in GPS

You will find fitness trackers with integrated or connected GPS. The integrated GPS is already built-in so you don’t have to use your smartphone. However, the connected GPS uses a tablet or smartphone. Although smart wristbands with built-in GPS can be a little bit more costly than the phone GPS, you can stay away from your smartphone while you exercise.

If you want a smartwatch with integrated GPS without spending too much, the Amazfit Bip by Huami can deliver you a great user experience with its integrated GPS, all-day heart rate and activity monitoring, and very long battery life (30 days depending on settings). It has 4 sports modes that give you details into your favorite activities.

Other features: optical heart monitoring, steps taken, distance, pace, sleep quality, smart notifications, weather forecast, and more.

If you love hunting, and fishing, the Suunto Traverse Alpha can be an excellent choice. It is a durable, scratch-resistant, and water repellent nylon strap. Not only has a built-in GPS to track your routes, but it helps your way back using the automatic breadcrumb trail. The moon phase calendar that helps you determine the best hunting and fishing times.

This fitness tracker can motivate you to keep in shape while doing your favorite outdoor activities. Other features include GPS/GLONASS, built-in flashlight, built-in digital compass, barometric pressure, and more.

Read more about this water-resistant hiking watch on Amazon.

• Smart bands with music control

There are smart wristbands that have music control so you can hear your favorite songs while exercising. Perfect for fitness motivation and add fun to your workouts.

In case you are still asking yourself whether a fitness tracker can motivate you or not, the Fitbit Versa 2 smartwatch, not only tracks over 15 exercise modes and tracks your fitness progress but also can store/play more than 300 songs. You can also download your Pandora stations or Deezer playlists. Also, you can control your Spotify account. Pandora, a US-only paid subscription, is required. You can sync your music from iTunes or windows media.

Features included: on-screen workouts, female health tracker, smart notifications, continuous heart rate, sleep tracker, and more. Do you want to know more? Check out Versa 2 on Amazon.

• Fitness Trackers without Bluetooth

There are smart bands for everyone including those who want to keep it simple. Non-Bluetooth fitness trackers don’t have to be connected to your smartphone or tablet. However, these fitness trackers can motivate you or encourage you to stay active.

Many smart wristbands like the iGANK Fitness Tracker Watch are usually basic since they don’t have to be connected to any device.  This basic watch has a pedometer, calorie, alarm, and stopwatch. The battery life is 15 days.

Recommended reading: Non-bluetooth fitness tracker: The essential guide you need

Another non-Bluetooth fitness tracker is the waterproof and swim-friendly Synwee Sports Fitness Tracker. It has a pedometer, an alarm clock, and a timer. It does not need any applications.

Other features: 12 to 15 battery life, distance tracking, and more. Check out the Synwee fitness tracker watch on Amazon.

What if you don’t need a fitness watch?

If you just bought an activity tracker but don’t want to use it anymore you can try to return it and get a refund depending on the date of the transaction and store’s policy.

Otherwise, you will have to give it to someone or re-sell it. Keep in mind that the only way to know if a product works for you is by trying it for a month or so. Make sure you wear it during your fitness routine.

Some users get intimidated when using a product for the first time. Take your time on knowing your fitness tracker by reading the manual, checking some videos, or go to the merchants’ web site.

A fitness watch is the great wrist companion you need to get more insight into your overall health. Whether you are working out, gardening, walking, or doing any physical activity you can wear one to make sure you are doing a good amount of exercise. 

Final words

We hope our post “Think you don’t need a fitness watch? Then read this first!” will help to inspire you to self-monitor your progress whether you decide to wear a fitness watch or use other methods.

Keep in mind that tracking your progress can make a big difference in your routine, your fitness goals, and your quality of life. 

Taking care of your body also will benefit your mental health and encourage those around you.

BLA

B.L.A is a webmaster, content creator, and blogger who loves fitness watches and working out.

After many attempts to stick to a fitness plan, she found inspiration in fitness wearables which has helped her remain active and lead a healthy lifestyle. She is committed to encouraging individuals who need help with their motivation.

When she isn’t researching fitness technology market trends and writing, you might find Brenda cooking delicious meals, connecting with nature, growing veggies, reading about technology, and enjoying life with her husband C. A.

Check out her other blog Breathe Out Panic Attack.