It’s that time of the year again where New Year’s Resolutions are to get healthy, get in shape and lose weight which means that the gyms will be packed- at least for the next couple weeks.
But with technology and AI taking over much of our lives it leaves the question: Are gym memberships necessary anymore or can we get a great workout and stay on track through advanced technology?
Here are some techy ways to stay on track in 2019.
Wearable Tech
There are so many options for wearable tech now that you could plan your entire outfit around being fully integrated. Not sure who would want to do that, but it’s a possibility.
Wrist activity trackers are the most popular items in the wearable tech category with things like FitBit, smart watches, Garmin, and Vivosmart. Most are waterproof and track things like daily steps, calories burned, heart rate, sleep quality and time, and more. These can calculate your daily activity to give you an idea of if you’re staying on a healthy track or starting to slack. The data can all be synced back into different apps and programs to keep you accountable. You can even have it connected to friends and family’s tech so that they can track your progress and hold you accountable as well and you with them.
One of the newest items to come out of wearable tech is the invention of “smart fabrics” and I don’t just mean reflectors and safety protection gear. You can now have your pants track your workout or your T-shirt measure your heart rate.
One example of this is Sensilk, which is owned by The North Face Company. They weave a sensor into the fabric to monitor heart rate, respiratory rate, distance traveled, calories burned and time spent exercising.
Another interesting one is posture enhancer technology. These devices help fix bad posture, especially those who sit at a desk often, that tend to be the main cause of back problems and pain.
Lumo Lift is one that attaches to your shirt and tracks your activity while also reminding you to “sit up.” When it feels that you are slouching, whether you are standing, moving or sitting still it will vibrate to remind you to fix your posture. This can help with your exercise as the better your posture, the more you will get out of your workout.
Interactive Gym Equipment
Working out on the elliptical or treadmill doesn’t have to be tedious and boring anymore. New equipment has come out that give you real-life running and jogging adventures and you can watch as you run through the mountains or a path in the woods and it will increase and decrease the pace and incline to make it like you are really there. These can also get tracked back to your smart devices and apps.
Smart Water Bottles
Staying hydrated has shown to flush out toxins, prevent headaches, boost your energy levels, improve your cardiovascular health, keep your skin clear, lubricate your joints, stimulate your muscles, and even decrease your appetite. However, many people struggle with drinking the recommended 8 glasses of water a day and often get busy and forget to keep up with their hydration. However, now there are water bottles that will remind you to drink that water. They will light up or vibrate when it is time to drink more water, track how much you have consumed and even connect to your smart devices like Fitbit and your phone.
Apps
Your phone isn’t just for communicating anymore. You can have access to personal trainers, classes and quick workouts at the click of a button. Apps like BodBot and Noom have one-on-one access to personal trainers and can help you figure out the best workouts for your body. Accountability challenges like DietBet give you monetary incentive to lose the weight. There are apps to sign up for fitness classes with ClassPass and MindBody.
Your social media apps can help you stay on track as well. While social gets a lot of negative feedback when it comes to comparing looks and different body types, but there is a positive side to social media when it comes to health and fitness. Facebook accountability groups can be helpful with staying on track and sharing tips and encouragement. There are also groups you can join where you can post recipes, eating out ideas, and other diet and nutrition-related information. Of course, always be wary of taking free advice from the internet- but sometimes this can be very helpful information.
Nicole Martin is the owner of NR Digital Consulting and host of Talk Digital To Me Podcast. She is a journalist and has worked in several industries digital marketing and strategy.
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