Should You Use A Fitness Tracker To Lose Weight?

Using a fitness tracker is a convenient way to stay on top of your goals.

My first exposure to fitness tracking was in 2015 when the Fitbit was gaining popularity in the U.S. and my employer purchased one for all employees.

I used it for daily step tracking and participated in step challenges.

I admit. It was addicting.

Today, I use a fitness watch to monitor my steps, workouts, sleep, and other metrics important to me. You might say I’m a lifetime tracker.

But while these devices can be helpful for some people like me, for others, they can lead to a sense of inadequacy.

So, you might wonder if you should buy one to lose weight.

The answer: It depends.

If you are comfortable with numbers, a fitness tracker can be an invaluable resource

pen notebook and smartphone commonly used for fitness tracking

Indeed. A wearable tracker can be valuable and fun to use if you are comfortable with numbers.

By keeping track of your numbers and other data, you can stay on track with your goals and make adjustments as needed.

Here are a few things to consider:

Fitness trackers can lead to a sense of inadequacy for some people.

Fitness tracking with mature African American woman in a blue jacket boxing with her fitness trainer

For instance.

While using a fitness tracker, it’s important to remember that the numbers you see on the screen are just numbers.

But, people in this group often think of their weight, heart rate variability, or sleep quality as an indication of their character.

You may fall into this group if:

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So, is the fitness tracker right for you?

people in black leggings and green sneakers climbing a brown rock trail

If you want to track your workouts and overall progress, and stay motivated to reach your weight loss goals. Then yes, it could be the right choice.

In fact. Approximately 28% of adults age 50-plus own a wearable device based on a recent AARP survey

Wearable activity trackers do provide feedback in real time, which means you can make adjustments as necessary.

For example, tracking your activity may inspire you to walk more. Up to 40 minutes more a day, according to the Mayo Clinic.

And taking an extra 1,800 steps per day could mean that you’ll lose weight faster.

Sound good?

Try it out and see if you like i

But a wearable tracker is not entirely necessary to lose weight.

orange resistance band and black dumbbells for workouts and fitness tracking

Think about it.

Getting fit, losing weight, and getting healthy is nothing new, and people were doing it long before the Oura, Fitbit, Galaxy, and Apple watches came along.

And while it’s great for tracking your daily steps and other actions, it may not be the right choice if you get frustrated after using it. Or you lose interest after using it for a while. 

For example, one study found that activity trackers affected how much people exercised but had smaller benefits for fitness and weight loss efforts

Is this fitness tracker working for me?

laptop with goals screen saver on top of wood desk with plant and journal for organization

So, if you’re using one currently, check in with yourself periodically and ask the following question:

Is this working for me?

Consider the following:

If you don’t like the answers to these questions, you may want to take a break from tracking so intently and focus on more enjoyable ways to see progress.

This is where working with a coach may be a better option.

A coach can help you put those numbers into perspective, so you can see results that matter.

Get your Personalized Blueprint to identify the right actions to track your goals.

With my Fit and Vibrant Blueprint Assessment, you’ll remove the guesswork and have the information you need to get started on the right weight loss goals.

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Remove the guesswork! In just 7 minutes, you'll discover the areas holding you back from reaching your weight loss goals.

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Coach Deatra Davis

Coach Deatra Davis

Deatra Davis (Dee Davis) is a healthy body coach, trainer and functional hormone educator who helps women over 50 transform their bodies through evidence-based techniques and behavior change. Her signature approach emphasizes a well-researched blend of balanced nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management and mindset change. Dee also shares with her clients her personal experience of recovering from Stage 3 Sarcoidosis and losing more than 20 pounds through menopause. She empowers women to powerfully take control of their health, so they can live a fit and vibrant lifestyle with strength and longevity, inner peace, joy and happiness.

Watch Her Story >>

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