Thighmasters, Ab Rollers, and Activity Trackers
Look, I'm no Suzanne Somers. I'm no Michale Phelps. But I do get out there and get the body moving. My mom and I are always on the go. We're always doing something. Our friends and family always comments on how we never slow down. I'm on my feet all day, every day. I don't work at a desk, I work in a restaurant. With all this standing and walking, it got me thinking "how many steps do I take in a day"? I have a love/hate relationship with activity trackers and apps. Here is why:
I do love that at any point I can see how many steps I've taken, how many calories I've burned, and what my heart rate is at. But all this info can be overwhelming sometimes.
What is our expectations vs the reality when using these devices? Are we setting ourselves up for failure if we don't perform at a certain level? Are we going to beat ourselves up if we don't achieve a goal we set? Are we going to punish ourselves if a task isn't completed? What if we decide not wear it for the day? Are we going to feel like a fraud or failure?
These are all questions I worry about when too much emphasis is put on tracking every second, every step, and every calorie.
What happened to just eating a balanced diet and exercising? Why does there have to be such a fixation on numbers?
I know people on both sided of the coin. I know people who use those trackers who are lazy and only wear it as an accessory. I know people who us them and it genuinely helps them stay focused and productive. You don't have to weigh a certain or wear a certain size clothing to be either healthy or non-healthy. I know size 2 individuals who are super unhealthy and people who are a size 18 who are the healthiest person I've ever met. I think as a society we put too much emphasis on numbers. There's many alternatives out there. Go for a walk. Go for a swim. Go on a bike ride. Do yoga. Get out in nature. Dance your ass off!
I think you need to ask yourself when using these trackers/apps is whether or not they're actually helping or hurting your progress. Are they helping or hurting your expectations? Do they make you feel more positive or negative about your progress?
This is all very individualized and you have to do what's best for you. But if it's not enhancing your mind, body, and soul then maybe it's time to reconsider.
Look out, I'm old school and I'm breaking out my Thighmaster!
I do love that at any point I can see how many steps I've taken, how many calories I've burned, and what my heart rate is at. But all this info can be overwhelming sometimes.
What is our expectations vs the reality when using these devices? Are we setting ourselves up for failure if we don't perform at a certain level? Are we going to beat ourselves up if we don't achieve a goal we set? Are we going to punish ourselves if a task isn't completed? What if we decide not wear it for the day? Are we going to feel like a fraud or failure?
These are all questions I worry about when too much emphasis is put on tracking every second, every step, and every calorie.
What happened to just eating a balanced diet and exercising? Why does there have to be such a fixation on numbers?
I know people on both sided of the coin. I know people who use those trackers who are lazy and only wear it as an accessory. I know people who us them and it genuinely helps them stay focused and productive. You don't have to weigh a certain or wear a certain size clothing to be either healthy or non-healthy. I know size 2 individuals who are super unhealthy and people who are a size 18 who are the healthiest person I've ever met. I think as a society we put too much emphasis on numbers. There's many alternatives out there. Go for a walk. Go for a swim. Go on a bike ride. Do yoga. Get out in nature. Dance your ass off!
I think you need to ask yourself when using these trackers/apps is whether or not they're actually helping or hurting your progress. Are they helping or hurting your expectations? Do they make you feel more positive or negative about your progress?
This is all very individualized and you have to do what's best for you. But if it's not enhancing your mind, body, and soul then maybe it's time to reconsider.
Look out, I'm old school and I'm breaking out my Thighmaster!
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