6 Fitness Technologies to Help You Master Your Fitness Goals  

Between job and social life, a busy professional knows how difficult it is to find time for exercise. Thankfully, wearable tech makes it easy to track the activity a busy woman is able to fit into her daily routine.  For those who are able to carve out time for a workout at the gym or venture outside for a run, these trackers will provide the data to accurately assess one’s exertion level. For busy women on the move, but not necessarily at the gym, the following tech essentials will help even the least motivated get on track to reach her fitness goals!  Look no further for tech to help you sweat.

Apple Watch Sport
The iPhone is a preferred mobile device of many professional women, and the Apple Watch Sport will perfectly complement their existing lifestyle.  It just so happens to be a perfect fit for sports-minded types, too. The Apple Watch’s activity app allows one to easily track daily activity, and the device includes a number of health features as well, such as a heart monitor. Plus, it’s compatible with all of iPhone’s apps, so while running, one can “swipe right” on possible Tinder matches while taking a breather. However, the carrier can make a difference in the use of this device; for example, T-Mobile users can make the most out of T-Mobile Tuesdays from the comfort of their Apple Watch Sport.

Other features include Stand, Move, and Exercise activity displays featuring brightly colored rings. The more complete the circle, the more time has been logged for that particular activity. The goal is simple–to close each ring by the end of each day. If that isn’t easy enough (the tracking part, not the actual doing part), one can check individual progress simply by asking Siri. Using the Apple Watch Sport is like having a personal assistant and fitness coach all in one.

FitBit Blaze
Anyone with even a passing interest in fitness trackers has heard of Fitbit. In fact, many women on-the-go already have a Fitbit to track steps or activity. The Fitbit Blaze is the latest activity tracker from the company, and may just be its best yet. Part fitness tracker, part smart watch, the Fitbit Blaze is for the individual who finds the standard Fitbit a bit too elementary in its intended function.

Features include:

• • • Heart rate monitor
    • On-screen exercises and activities
    • Multi-sport compatibility
    • GPS
    • All-day activity
    • Sleep monitoring
    • Music control
    • Call and text alerts

 It’s a smart watch, but one that has been designed specifically with fitness in mind. Though it doesn’t seamlessly marry with an iPhone like the Apple Watch Sport does, that may be of little concern to Android and Windows users.

Strava Tracker
Strava isn’t a gadget, it’s an application. What’s great about this app is that it is free, although, like many apps, a premium, paid option is available. Not everyone requires a dedicated fitness tracker, and some haven’t yet bought into the notion of wearable tech. Strava is for the user who feels a Smartphone satisfies pretty much all fitness needs and that a separate, dedicated fitness tracker is unnecessary. Strava allows for accurate tracking of walks, hikes, and bike rides with real-time mapping using your phone’s built-in GPS.

Strava Premium comes with personalized coaching and the following additions:

• • • Training plans
    • Custom goals
    • Training videos
    • Real-time feedback with live performance data
    • Live segment performance
    • Live friend tracking so one knows when friends on Strava are out and about
    • Advanced analytics with performance leader boards
    • Power meter analysis
    • Race and workout analysis

Think of Strava Premium as the Google Analytics of exercise tracking.

Athos Smart Clothing
Wearable tech tends to follow a tried-and-tested formula—it can either be clipped on to your clothing or worn around the wrist. Athos Smart Clothing upends that approach by offering smart clothing with tracking technology built-in. The company’s garments include non-adhesive, biosignal sensors that are seamlessly integrated into the fabric itself. This data is then pushed to Athos’ mobile application which can be viewed on your smartphone or tablet. The garments themselves are designed to last and have a form-fitting, athletic fit. The compression fit ensures accurate readings of vital biosignals.

Because the sensors are built directly into the clothing, they offer unparalleled accuracy and precision. Not only can Athos garments monitor heart rate and activity time, they can also identify which muscles are being used, for how long, and to what degree. Of course, such advanced technology comes at a cost. However, considering Athos combines athletic clothing and fitness tracker into one entity and is designed to be long-lasting, the price is fairly reasonable.

Garmin Vivosmart HR+
Slim and lightweight, the Garmin Vivosmart HR+ (or HR Plus) has many selling points. It features a small screen that displays key vitals, proclaims swim-friendly technology, includes GPS tracking and heart rate monitoring, and provides notifications for incoming texts and social media alerts. Though the name is a mouthful, the product itself is a terrific option for those seeking a dedicated fitness tracker or a smart watch-like option that feels unencumbered. It is affordable, too, at just under $200. For fitness buffs seeking a simpler, more basic tracker, the HR Plus is a savvy solution.

Music Player
Nothing gets the heart pumping and the body moving like good music. Whether an 80’s loyalist or a bow down to Queen bey, music will transform anyone’s exercise routine. Any music player is a game to step up an otherwise monotonous workout routine.  Just bring a pair of headphones (wireless or wired) to your next run and start moving. Use your smartphone, bust out the old Sony Discman, or put an old iPod Nano back into rotation. Check out this list of Top 100 Workout Songs to update your music player and motivate your body to get started on a fitness routine or achieve even the most rigorous workout goals.

Tech can not only invigorate your exercise routine, it can encourage even the most reluctant individual to live a more active, healthier lifestyle. Working 40, 50, or even 60-hour work weeks often leaves little time for anything else. Fitness trackers, smart watches, and activity apps can help track activity in any location, regardless of the type of the movement. Most importantly, they also help alert and remind the forgetful to get up and about. From couch potato to gym rat, there is a fitness tracker to meet everyone’s needs.