JULY 16
C RY D E R
P O I N T
The following articles are courtesy of
Cryder Point’s pool management company,
Elite Amenity Management…Be Inspired!
Could a Fitness Tracker Actually
Boost Your Health?
The benefits of regular exercise are
something that most adults are familiar
with. However, having this knowledge
does not necessarily mean that we act on
it. In our society’s growing fitness needs,
there are entire businesses dedicated to
taking advantage of the desire for access to
health in a manner that is accessible. From
health teas, shakes and meal kits to mobile
applications and fitness trackers, one must
wonder: Are any of these products actually
helpful in one’s health journey?
Fitness trackers are one of the most
marketed products in the fitness industry.
Many cell phones have default fitness
tracker applications and settings. There is
also a wide market for wearable trackers,
where prices range from $30 to $500.
According to a study published by the
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine,
16 CRYDER POINT COURIER | JULY 2019 | WWW.QUEENSCOURIER.COM
fitness trackers can be extremely
beneficial in the health journey. The report
recommends a four-step guideline to
getting started and continuing use of the
tracker:
The most important step in effectively
maximizing the benefits of a fitness
tracker is consistency. You should use
your tracker every day. Consistent use of
the tracker allows us to become aware of
much or how little we are exercising, but
in general, people tend to overestimate
how active they are whether it be through
passive activity or not.
The second step is to set a goal; a common
goal is to take 10,000 steps per day.
It is recommended that you consult your
doctor before setting a goal, as everyone
has an individual health journey. A realistic
and healthy goal for you may be lower
or higher than the norm.
The third step can be split into two
parts, the first one being to find activities
that you enjoy and can be sustained over
the long-term. The next part is to create
a social support network. Some will really
enjoy and need support while others
thrive in a competitive atmosphere.
The final step is to be accountable; you
should check on your status daily to keep
motivated and track your progression.
Once you are familiar with your data and
progress, it will be easier to share with
your doctor.
Owning a fitness tracker, no matter
if it’s a high-end model or not, will not
suddenly place you on a path to health,
nor will it make you fit. Owning and effectively
using a fitness tracker can help
guide you through your health journey.
It allows you to be aware of your activity,
and having that knowledge is key to tracking
development and growth.
Brains over Brawn
You’ve been training for what feels like a lifetime. You
religiously visit the gym, maintain a healthy sleep schedule
and always opt for the nutritious meal even when ice
cream for breakfast sounds so much better.
You’ve made incredible strides from where you started,
and you’ve been eyeballing your final goal, but it remains
just out of reach. You up the intensity, workout more,
eat better, but still you cannot manage adding the extra
weight to your deadlift, or shave those five seconds off
your mile split, or whatever that goal is that you made
months ago. You’ve considered everything physical, but
you’ve neglected your mental state, which could be the
culprit.
Your mental state and physical state go hand in hand,
meaning if you maintain a positive mindset, your body
will follow suit. This mind-body-performance relationship
could very well be the reason you can’t seem to cross
that physical threshold you’ve been dying to. A shift in attitude
or confidence can dramatically change your physical
performance. Here may be some of your barriers:
• You’ve been too much pressure on yourself.
Try to remember why you set this goal in the
first place. Take time to reflect on whether it is a
healthy and achievable goal, and make sure you’re
doing it to benefit yourself.
• You’re focusing on what others are doing. You
can only control what you are doing, and you’re
not going to move at the same pace as others. Just
because you take longer to achieve the same goal
doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.
• Your goal was built on negativity. Physical goals
in terms of exercise or diet should be made with
good intentions. Focus on improving your health
rather than changing what you deem unattractive
qualities about yourself.
Heading into a workout with a positive attitude can
change the outcome of your experience and increase your
chances of improved results. Look toward your goals,
rather than what could be holding you back--chances are
it’s your brain, and not your body, that is responsible.
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