A waterproof fitness tracker is a portable electronic device that provides the wearer with real-time information about various health metrics while they exercise.
A waterproof fitness tracker can be used when jogging in the rain, sweating in the gym, swimming in the pool or showering after your workout.
Below, our health and wellness team have compiled their list of the 9 most important benefits of the waterproof fitness tracker.
9 Benefits Of Waterproof Fitness Trackers
The following are the most important benefits of the waterproof fitness tracker as determined by our health and wellness experts.
1: Waterproof fitness trackers are, well, waterproof.
Not every fitness tracker is waterproof. And not everyone needs a waterproof fitness tracker. Sometimes water-resistant is enough. That will protect your device from sweat and from getting splashed or from a light to moderate rain. But if the pool factors into your health and wellness routine – and for older folks it should (1) – then you’re probably going to want a truly waterproof fitness tracker. One you can wear on your walk to the pool to count your steps and which you can also wear in the pool to count your laps and in the shower later.
2: Waterproof fitness trackers provide self-motivation.
Let’s face it. Motivation is a tricky thing (2). That’s often apparent when it comes to working out in groups. Sometimes you welcome others trying to push you on to ever-greater heights. And other times, you’d rather just be left alone to work at your own pace. But if you sometimes struggle to motivate yourself, working out alone can yield disappointing results. That’s where the waterproof fitness tracker comes in. You receive that external motivation, except it’s not in the form of someone standing next to the pool yelling at you to go faster.
3: Waterproof fitness trackers allow you to share as much or little as you want.
Motivation is the key to success. And fitness trackers can supply that motivation in a discreet fashion. But sometimes, when you achieve your goal, you want to share that news with friends and family. Waterproof fitness trackers allow you to do that. You can sync your tracker to your smartphone and post your results to social media. Or you can join groups of like-minded individuals in your area who share and compare results and sometimes meet up for group sessions. The point is you have the power to decide what to share and with whom.
4: Waterproof fitness trackers are like having your own personal trainer.
A lot of older folks want to get and stay in shape but don’t have a lot of experience with working out. Sure, they could always join a health club or hire a personal trainer. But waterproof fitness trackers offer a third option. Most of the best have a number of preset workouts queued up and ready to go. If your waterproof fitness tracker doesn’t have the routine you’re looking for already pre-loaded, fear not. The best trackers allow you to access and download scores of different workouts to your device.
5: Waterproof fitness trackers encourage you to get your money’s worth.
Waterproof fitness trackers aren’t going to set you back as much as a high-end smartphone. But the better ones aren’t exactly cheap either. That can actually be a good thing and may very well lead to you using it more often. Why’s that? Because there is this quirk in human nature where people tend not to value things unless they paid real money for them (3). How many times have you heard someone say, “I paid for it, I’m going to use it!” or some equivalent statement? So having a fitness tracker on your arm that you paid good money for may spur you to action in a way a free online training video won’t.
6: Waterproof fitness trackers come in a variety of styles.
Waterproof fitness trackers are now available in virtually any color, size, and shape. Some are square or rectangular. Others are tube-like or flat. And there is no end to the ways they display relevant information. While some are still aggressively bulky and scream ‘fitness tracker’, others are sleek and stylish and can be worn to your favorite fancy restaurant without giving away their true nature.
7: Waterproof fitness trackers provide easy access to your data.
Once you’ve chosen the right waterproof fitness tracker for your needs, all the data it generates will be readily accessible. You’ll be able to monitor your vital metrics in real-time. You’ll also be able to retrieve the information later to review and make changes to your workout based on that data. Most will sync to your smartphone or you can choose to keep everything in-house and simply view the data on the tracker’s screen. Whichever route you choose, the data is only a click away.
8: Waterproof fitness trackers are a great way to keep track of weight loss.
One of the primary goals of most exercise is to either lose weight or make sure lost weight stays off. And while a waterproof fitness tracker can’t display your weight, it can help you meet your exercise goals so that you stay on target with your weight loss program. Swimming is actually a good way to lose weight and keep it off (4). And a waterproof fitness tracker can help make sure you stay on course in the pool.
9: Waterproof fitness trackers even let you monitor your health while you sleep.
The value of sleep monitoring is a hotly debated issue (5). And the jury is still out on whether it’s a trend with legs or just a passing fad. Still, a waterproof fitness tracker that also monitors the quality of your sleep may be able to provide some information you can use to get a better night’s sleep. And that can’t be a bad thing.
Conclusion
The waterproof fitness tracker is a simple, affordable, effective way to monitor your current condition in real time, even if you’re swimming laps in the pool. The data it provides can be shared via your smartphone with friends, family or your healthcare provider, and used to devise more effective workouts going forward.