The Pros and Cons of Fitness Tracking
For years, I have been a relentless fitness tracker. In the 1990s, I kept paper logs of my workouts and meals. In the 2000s, I graduated to looking up macros online for more precision. When wearables were introduced, I tracked my steps, my heart rate and the distance of my runs. Then apps became commonplace and I was in heaven – one place to keep all of my fitness metrics along with my goals and trending capabilities. Ultimately, fatigue hit.
Business metrics are a way of life in the corporate world and I lived by them for decades. They are still important to me as a business owner, but my daily activities are no longer ruled by incremental measurement. Perhaps this is why I put my fitness tracker and related tools away. Here’s what I learned…
Pros
Motivation – I found the audio prompts and visual feedback inspiring while using the tracking devices and apps
Accountability – I kept the end-result top of mind and the ability to join social network challenges can further commitment
Modification – I appreciated the ability to course correct and amend my fitness approach based on the data by increasing intensity or frequency
Cons
Obsession – Gathering and monitoring data can become addictive and impact behavior, such as training when I should have rested
Tedium – As a result of compulsive tracking, my wellness activity enjoyment started to decline
Vigilance – Every decision regarding movement and food made me think of tracking impact
It’s been two months since I began this experiment. It felt odd at first to have a tracker-less left wrist. Soon after, I began to feel more ease around my choice of movement and food, mindfully checking in each morning before my planned workout and at each meal to see what my body wanted. I found that while this takes daily discipline, it’s quite effective.
Key Takeaways So Far
Weight vs Energy – I stopped weighing myself daily and now check-in periodically. I find that my energy level and how my jeans fit are good indicators for me. My weight has remained consistent.
Strength – Due to the pandemic, I have not been in a gym since February. I’ve used a combination of free-weight routines, runs and circuit training using kettlebells and body-weight exercises. My strength has increased as evidenced by the unassisted pull-ups I can now do – a first for me.
Self-reliance – My mind/body connection has increased now that I depend on mindfulness and inner cues instead of external information.
Wellness redefined – My definition of wellness expanded beyond what I can measure. For example, I can focus on my lifting form and connect with how my muscles feel as the blood flow increases.
Enjoyment – My wellness satisfaction level has reached new heights. I love my training routines, eat a wide-range of foods, incorporate long walks and hikes into my days and enjoy quality sleep.
Perhaps the biggest shift is I am focused on how I feel each day (why I’m doing something) versus how I measure up (what I’m doing). This has set off a positive chain reaction to other parts of my life, making it easier to simplify, let go, enjoy seasonal life rhythms, learn new things and explore.
I’ve extended my tracker-free experiment for now, relying on a simple monthly paper log that I’ve used for years to record my workouts. I’ll reassess tech trackers when I decide to train for my next endurance event.
Journal Reflections: What is your relationship with health and wellness trackers? What are the pros and cons for you? How would it feel to experiment with not wearing one?