We all know that a regular and robust exercise routine is a key factor in maintaining and improving our overall health and wellbeing. Exercise can improve our mood, sleep, appetite, quality of life, and much more. Creating a steady exercise routine, on the other hand, can be a difficult endeavor. Finding the motivation to go for a walk or attending classes can be challenging!
An AARP study has shown that fitness trackers can have a significant and positive effect on exercise practices. As they say, knowing is half the battle, and 71% of the study’s participants said, “the devices made them aware of their activity and sleep patterns in general as well as their activity levels at a given moment”. Additionally 45% reported “increased motivation for healthier living,” while 46% reported “actually being more active, sleeping better or eating healthier”. Fitness trackers can be a highly useful tool for seniors looking to improve their workout habits. They also run the gamut, as far as functionality and features. Here are four health and fitness trackers that we find particularly useful.
Step by Step – OZO Fitness CS1
If you’re mobile, walking is one of the best exercises you can do. It’s low impact and great for you. With that in mind, this pedometer from OZO is perfect for seniors. It’s accurate (to within 5%), easy to read, reasonably priced (you can sometimes find it for as low as $22), and simple to use. There’s nothing fancy, but that’s the beauty of it. There’s no setup, and you can clip it on clothing or keep it in your pocket.
Amazing Features at a Manageable Price – Amazfit Bip U Pro
This offering from Amazfit comes with a ton of features, but won’t break the bank. It comes with a decently sized screen (1.43”) for easier reading and is even built in with Amazon Alexa. It can measure your blood-oxygen levels, has over 60 activity-specific measurement modes, is 5 ATM water resistant (can withstand water pressure up to 50 meters, so you can take it into the pool), includes a heart and sleep monitor, offers a health assessment system, and even has GPS. You can also sync this device with a phone or tablet.
One Watch to Rule Them All – Apple Watch SE
Apple has made a reputation out of creating intuitive, well-designed, and easy-to-use technology, and the Apple Watch is no different. In spite of the higher cost, these watches are wildly popular, and with good reason. They’re stylish, fast, effortless, and contain just about every wellness feature you could possibly ask for in a watch. While the SE version is a slightly pared down model, it retains enough features to make a Swiss Army knife blush. With this watch, you can access your favorite fitness apps, listen to music, track and map your fitness routines, keep track of your medications, measure your metrics, and much more. In cases of emergency, the watch is able to detect when you’ve been in an accident, alert you in case of heart-rate irregularities, and send an emergency SOS (including international emergency calls). There’s also a family link function that can keep your family connected via your watch.
The Android Option – Samsung Galaxy Watch5
In spite of their popularity, Apple products aren’t for everyone — they can be expensive to buy and costly to fix. For those who prefer Android products, the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 is a great option. Although this watch is a bit more than some of the more budget-friendly options, it is notably less than an Apple Watch. It has a classic design, while maintaining a clean, minimalistic air and matching the Apple Watch in terms of features. The watch also includes state-of-the-art sensors and a Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA) Sensor capable of reading your “body fat, skeletal muscle, body water, basal metabolic rate and more.”
The type of fitness tracker you want will vary widely depending on your needs. Do you want it to measure your vitals? Do you want it to sync with other devices? Do you need access to apps? Or do you just need a simple pedometer? It might be helpful to make a list of the type of capability you’re looking for, figure out your budget and proceed from there. There are a number of options available to you that can help you on your way to better health, and we encourage you to explore them!