Technology and your health

It's obvious that i thoroughly enjoy technology and all the new inventions and tech gadgets that are being created in our modern world, but when I was able to incorporate technology AND fitness, my blood began pumping. I thoroughly enjoy running, exercising, and being active so when I was first introduced to tech gadgets that I could use while working out to track my progress, I was thrilled!

To name a few health associated tech gadgets we have; 

Fitbit

Nike FuelBand

Jawbone

Polar watches

Fitbug

Aria

X-box Kinect

Wii

Although many of these devices are similar to one another, each will offer something unique to bring to the table. The Fitbit, Nike Fuelband, Jawbone, and Fitbug all essentially track the amount of steps you take throughout the day with a few extra specs. For example, there are several styles of Fitbit from the; One, Flex, and Zip and while they all have similar jobs, they each differ in their own unique way. Each of the Fitbit styles will track your distance, steps, and calories burned all while syncing to computer or cell phones to allow you to track conveniently. They each are protected from "MINOR" water damages such as sweat, moisture, and simple splashes and they each are available with active food logging, goal setting, and trend tracking specs. Then you have your other devices such as the Nike Fuel Band and Jawbone which, essentially, perform the same tasks as the Fitbit models but differ in style. These are "bracelet" type devices where as opposed to clipping them on you, you wear them around your wrist. Some problems I have found with these models is their accuracy. If I spend my day typing a lot or working (which I am a bartender so my hands are constantly in motion) then is my device accurately tracking my steps?

I mentioned the Aria, which is actually a pretty neat device. Although it is not a pedometer of sorts, it syncs along with the Fibit products and is a scale that tracks weight and body fat percentage to keep you more motivated and breaks the news to you whether or not you are on target and meeting your goals. 

Aside from the step tracking world, we then have the (not so "newest") but neat-o cheeto game consoles that allow the consumer to be more active whilst playing a video game. A few consoles that allow this are Playstation( although only through certain games such as Dance Dance Revolution), X-Box Kinect, and the Ninetndo Wii. While the playstaion only offers very limited activity incorporated games, DDR is probably the most (personally) beneficial "weight loss" game I have ever played. 

**TRUE STORY** Once upon a summer in the year 2004, I was shipped off to Virginia for 6 weeks and I had nothing else to do other than sing frantically to Britney Spears' 'Stronger' album and try on my 21 year old cousins clothes....UNTIL i realized that I felt like a blob and couldn't fit into her size 2 pants and tiny t-shirts. It was a sad day which followed by feeding my emotions with a pint of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream whilst watching Jawbreaker repeatedly. I wanted to find a way that I could slim down (I know, i'm 14 at this time and i'm worried about my weight...'murica) because I wanted to get in those damn jeans of hers so badly. I asked my Aunt to buy me DDR and then I got the ball rolling. Before I get too far off topic, I will conclude that that summer I managed to lose 10 pounds and although I still didn't fit into those jeans, I was able to get it up my thunder thigh for the time being. 

END RANT

The other consoles offer games such as Just Dance, Zumba fitness, UFC personal trainer, etc. and each of these games tack your progress by sensing each of the motions and determining your accuracy to whichever body motion they would like you to achieve. The only thing I have seen wrong with these types of games is that the motion sensor sometimes doesn't always keep up with you and even though it's a game (and you should be having fun) sometimes when you know that you did an EXCELLENT job and it says GOOD as your results, it'll make you want to toss the SOB.

As technology continues to expand, i'm confident that more health related gadgets will come of use in the future. 

Let's chat! Which (if any) devices have you used to optimize your health?