Welcome back to The Daily Dumbbell, the fitness newsletter that's as addictive as your favorite workout playlist! So roll down the windows and start belting out your favorite song.

Today’s feature is the first in a series about Fitness Tech: We are in love with wearables, fitness apps, body scans, the list goes on and on. Is our obsession with data helping us? Or hurting us?

We’re going to find out what technology is worth it’s salt and what belongs in the trash next to those Jillian Michael’s workout DVDs.

What’s up first? Wearables.

Bionic Bodies or Data Delusions?

Picture this: It’s 2005. You’ve gone about your day and you have no idea how many calories you’ve burned. What’s more, you’re not sure how you slept last night! Your cortisol is starting to simmer (or is it?), the stress is rising…

Then! In a flash!

Fitness watches burst onto the scene like a superhero, swooping in to save the day. Finally, all the data we could ever want was right at our fingertips! We can track our sleep, our calories, our steps, our stress, and so much more. It's a new age for health and fitness, and we're all just along for the ride.

Fitbit, Apple, Whoop… Oh my.

The Wearable Tech market grew from a seven figure industry in the mid 2000s to a $35B Juggernaut in 2020. It’s anticipated to grow to $130B by the end of the decade with Continuous Glucose Monitors for the average consumer on the horizon…

But, just like act 2 in your favorite superhero story, things aren’t always as they seem. Behind the flashy exterior and seemingly endless possibilities, problems are lurking. It turns out that fitness wearables might not be as accurate as we'd like to believe. In many cases, they can be off by as much as 50% with the data they track.

Thought you burned 700 calories today? That number might be as low as 400. Whoop(s)^TM.

And their ability to track sleep? Dicey.

Not only can fitness wearables be inaccurate, but they can be counterproductive for many people. Sleep scores can stress some out to the point where worrying about sleep actually impacts sleep. Was the hero actually a villain in disguise, sabotaging our efforts to improve our wellbeing?

Is FitBit the Lex Luthor of the 21st century of health and fitness?

No, of course not. They’re just a tool. One that can be used to better your life, or to convolute it. It’s largely up to you and your ability to know yourself.

Fitness wearables do have their advantages, and they can be useful tools in specific situations. They're great for

• Monitoring your heart rate during workouts,

• Tracking your steps, and even

• Providing gentle reminders to get up and move throughout the day.

The key, as always, is balance. Actually, the key is not obsessing over the data. If you can’t commit to that, then you might want to give these a miss.

Fitness wearables are going to become more and more popular in the next few years. They’re going to promise you all sorts of knowledge and results that come from it. But don’t forget, you’re in the habit game:

Your results are a lagging measure of your habits.

Data only matters if it actually improves the actions you take. 

Rock This Not That: Useful Tech Swaps

Back in the day, Men’s Health ran a feature in their magazine called Eat This Not That. Which was really amazing if you wanted to develop disordered eating habits.

We’re going to steal that gimmick, but with a more helpful twist.

Navigating the fitness tech world can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. But fear not, we're here to help you sift through the clutter and make some super groovy choices for your fitness journey. Buckle up and let's dive in!

Carbon > MyFitnessPal: 

Remember the days when MyFitnessPal was the go-to app for tracking food intake and exercise? Well, move over, grandpa – Carbon's in town!

Designed by Layne Norton, this sleek newcomer offers more accurate:

• macronutrient tracking,

• tailored nutrition recommendations,

• and a user experience smoother than butter on hot toast.

It’s like having a coach in your pocket! Instead of an app that actively encourages you to eat 1200 calories or less. Which, is a pretty big win if you ask us.

Track Workouts. Not Calories:

You've got your shiny new fitness watch, but if you're only using it to obsess over calories burned, you're missing out. Instead, focus on tracking:

• your workouts,

• heart rate zones

• progress over time.

After all, calories are just one piece of the puzzle – and if you remember from 60 seconds ago… the watches are terrible at estimating those numbers.

So track something that matters!

Ditch the Random "Daily Workouts" for a Real Workout Plan:

When it comes to workout apps, the "build-you-a-workout-every-day" approach can be, well, a hot mess. Time to level up!

Try subscribing to an actual workout program designed by a coach like HWPO or Ryan Fischer's Chalk app. You'll get structured, goal-oriented plans that'll turn you into a finely-tuned fitness machine! Please don’t fall for the Celebrity nonsense in this space. You deserve better.

Remember, folks, a free app might seem like an amazing deal… but it’s likely free for a reason.

Have a Terrific Tuesday! We’ll see you back here tomorrow to talk about navigating sticky social situations while still smashing your goals!