Vent: My smartwatch made me rethink how I exercise

I see a lot of people just count steps now. But my new watch tracks my heart rate all day. It changed how I see my own fitness. Like, I can see when my heart rate stays high after a hard bike ride. That tells me I pushed too much. Now I slow down to keep it in a good zone. The data just makes more sense than steps ever did.

4 comments

4 Comments

baker.stella1mo ago

Honestly though... are we letting these watches run our lives now? Like I get the data is cool but my uncle never tracked anything and stayed fit for decades just by feeling it out. When I see @margaret_gonzalez25 talking about skipping the gym over a high resting heart rate... that seems like letting a gadget make choices for you. What if you just slept bad and your body still wants to move? The numbers aren't everything, they're just one part of the picture.

margaret_gonzalez251mo agoMost Upvoted

Started checking my resting heart rate every morning. Now I skip the gym if it's too high, even if I planned to go. Funny how a number can tell you to chill out.

abby9261mo ago

Totally get this. I used to push through every workout no matter what. Then I got a bad chest cold from ignoring a high heart rate and low sleep score. Now if my watch says my body is stressed, I swap the run for a walk. The data just gives you a heads up your body might need a break.

carter.terry1mo ago

Ever think the watch just shows you what your body was already saying? My old boss used to get headaches before he'd admit he was tired. The numbers just make that feeling harder to ignore, not create it.