Halloween is coming, and the other winter holidays are right around the corner. That means candy, dinners, and no time to work all of that food off. Time aside, it’s getting cold—not a good time for a jog.
In a culture that glorifies indulgences when you can’t go outside and run a marathon, how do people stay healthy? Here are a few ways that people use technology to keep those holiday pounds off for good.
1. Pedometers
The most basic type of fitness technology is the pedometer. If you do not want yet another app on your phone or want a more hands-on approach than an app can offer, you can set a simple goal of doing a certain number of steps per day. Check your pedometer at the end of the day to see if you hit that goal.
The best part of pedometers is that you probably already have one on your phone. Many phones cone with a basic pedometer. Look up your phone’s OS and model and start working with your secret fitness program for zero dollars!
2. Fitness Apps
But if you feel like you need more assistance, there are many fitness apps for both iOS and Android. Apps such as Noom are mostly about tracking and modifying your diet, but some advanced apps, like the one in this Beyond Body review, will also count calories, monitor your water intake, and make meal plans for you. Several app games also use your phone’s pedometer and other functions to make exercising fun (remember Pokémon Go?). Some apps will even remind you if you forget to exercise!
3. Fitness Games
But what if you’re snowed in and don’t think you can meet any step requirements? You are not out of options. Several fitness games on the market encourage gamers to get up and active. Just Dance is the most common game to get you moving.
If you happen to have one, the Nintendo Switch is rife with fitness games that use the Joy-Cons to interact with things on-screen such as Ring Fit Adventure. If you have a gaming console, it can become your new personal trainer.
4. Interactive Equipment
Remember when you chose a pre-programmed course on a treadmill and got a bunch of red dots clumped together on a screen? Those days are gone! Most modern treadmills let people watch streaming media or listen to music as they exercise. Many people time their workouts to Netflix shows or other forms of entertainment. As satisfying as it can be to watch those red dots vanish, wouldn’t you rather run on a mountain trail?
5. Smartwatches
Smartwatches could be considered Pedometers 2.0. Most of them come with a set of built-in fitness functions. They don’t just record your steps, but also your heart rate and how much you move. While most of them are generally geared toward fitness, serious athletes may need specialized smartwatches. Scuba diving—there’s a smartwatch for that!
Conclusion
Older generations sometimes blame technology for obesity and other health problems, but what if using technology was a solution instead? Between pedometers, apps for your phone, and special fitness video games, there are plenty of ways that technology can make exercise fun and easy to fit into any schedule.
If you really want to invest in your health, you can buy an exercise machine that will let you catch up with your favorite shows on Netflix or make you feel like you’re on a mountain hike. Smartwatches are specialized pedometers, but technology can make exercise easy and fun for everybody. Even your grandma can just dance.
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