The prevalence of obesity in the country reached 42.4% in 2018. Obesity can lead to a number of health concerns, including stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. By keeping track of your physical activity, you can improve your health and avoid obesity.
Having a difficult time holding yourself accountable? Consider using Fitbit to track your progress!
Before buying the first Fitbit you see on the shelf, it can help to do your research. Here are a few questions you should consider asking yourself first. By asking these questions, you can make sure you purchase the right Fitbit for your needs.
Get on track with your fitness goals and leave obesity in your dust with this guide!
What Kind of Physical Activity Do You Enjoy?
Only about one in every five adults and teens gets enough exercise to maintain good health. We should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week.
Wearing Fitbit trackers can help us all make sure we’re reaching that goal!
Before you buy a Fitbit for yourself, however, it helps to consider the type of activity you prefer. How much physical activity are you planning on enduring, and what kind of physical activity do you enjoy most?
There are many different activity trackers you can choose from. Many are designed for newcomers to exercise. However, there are also Fitbit trackers that offer more comprehensive features.
These more advanced Fitbit trackers are ideal for people who workout daily and prefer a variety of workout regimens.
Indoor Versus Outdoors
Let’s say you prefer working out in your own home or visiting a fitness center. If you prefer working out indoors, you won’t need a GPS to record your running, hiking, or biking data.
There are even trackers that are ideal for people who want to measure movements, such as weight-lifting. For gym-goers, a tracker that measures heart rate changes is best, too.
Do you love running? Look for a fitness tracker that offers a music playback feature. That way, you’ll feel motivated to hit a new personal best record.
You can pair these trackers with your wireless earbuds, too. Such trackers are also ideal if you enjoy running without wires.
If you plan on running, cycling, or hiking outdoors, look for a tracker with a GPS. Then, you can pair your tracker with your smartphone. Your tracker will measure your speed, distance, and pace for every workout!
Do You Need Longer Battery Life?
Depending on how you plan on using Fitbit in your daily life, you might need one with longer battery life. Some devices will only last a few hours, especially if you have the GPS-tracking mode turned on. Other trackers can last longer periods of time if you’re only tracking basic activities.
If you only want to count your daily steps, you won’t need one of the advanced models. Instead, start with one of the basic trackers and work your way up as your workouts change.
Do You Want to Track Your Sleep?
You’re going to need plenty of sleep to recover from your intense workout session. Many of the benefits of a Fitbit is its ability to track your sleep. A Fitbit with sleep metrics will tell you how much you’re sleeping each night.
It can also give you an understanding of the quality of sleep you’re getting.
Some of the more advanced trackers will even offer personalized advice. That way, you can sleep better. More sleep will help you recover faster after working out.
Sleep tracking varies among each Fitbit device. If you really want a Fitbit that understands your sleeping habits, consider the Fitbit Versa 2.
This Fitbit device will track your light, deep, and REM sleep. It can also tell you the difference between each stage and what you’ll need for recovery. The Fitbit will study your movements and heart rate throughout the night to provide you with more insight.
Are You a Swimmer?
Do you plan on wearing Fitbit in the water? Most fitness trackers offer some water resistance. If you’re a big swimmer, however, you’ll want to look for a tracker you can submerge.
Swimmers should look for devices that are rated 5ATM. You can submerge these trackers up to 50 meters for short periods at a time.
Look for a Fitbit that says it’s ideal for swim-tracking. There are a few Fitbits available that are great for swimmers, including the Fitbit Charge 3.
Want to look good during your next dip in the water? You can find a collection of Fitbit bands at Mobile Mob to stylize your tracker.
What Level of Heart Rate Tracking Do You Need?
Fitbit’s heart rate tracking abilities have grown a lot since the first device. Most fitness trackers use light to detect the wearer’s blood flow through their skin. Then, the data is used to extrapolate your heart rate.
These devices can even determine your VO2 max. Your VO2 max indicates how well your body uses oxygen when you’re working out.
Some trackers, including the Fitbit Charge 3, take a different approach. These trackers have active, always-on heart rate tracking. Meanwhile, others are passive.
A passive tracker will only read your heart rate at intervals. Measuring your heart rate in intervals will only provide you with an average picture. The always-on trackers, however, will help you determine your heart rate during different activities throughout the day.
Some trackers now offer ECG tracking, too. These newer models are ideal for people who have a heart condition. By regularly tracking your heart rate, these devices can give you an alert if there’s a sudden change.
What Other Features Are Must-Haves?
As you review this list, ask yourself, “What Fitbit is right for me?” Which features do you consider must-haves versus want-to-haves?
For example, you might want a tracker that will let you complete contactless payments. That way, you can pay for a bottle of water after a long bike ride, even if you don’t have your wallet.
Other devices now offer LTE connectivity, meaning you can use the internet without needing your phone.
It depends on what you need!
Using FitBit to the Max: Key Questions to Ask to Buy the Best One
Start using Fitbit to improve your health! By asking these key questions, you can buy the best one based on your unique needs. Grab a Fitbit and start living a happy, healthy lifestyle today! Searching for more healthy tips? Explore the Health and Fitness section of the blog today!
