Getting out and exercising every day is good for your health, even if you only go for a walk.
In order to achieve the results you are looking for, one important thing is that you’re getting the correct number of steps in. There are a few factors to calculating that exact number, including your age, weight, and more.
What’s the magic number of steps to keeping weight off?
Studies show that walking anywhere from as little as 3,800 steps to as much as 10,000 steps each day can reduce your risk of obesity, hypertension, dementia, sleep apnea, and many other health conditions that typically develop later in life. The more steps you take, the more likely you will cut down on these health risks. However, going above 10,000 steps may cause decreasing these effects to fade, so it’s important not to overexert yourself. The best way to track your steps accurately is by using a smartwatch, and we’ve got all the information you need about them below.
How do smartwatches work?
Smartwatches have brilliant tech built into them, which allows them to accurately track how much physical work you’re doing. They do this by using a 3-axis accelerometer to count your steps.
Three components of motion are calculated: forward, vertical, and side. While you’re in motion, a sensor will track your acceleration using these 3 axes, and that will communicate the number of steps you’re taking to the step counter. The step counter calculates the steps from the x-axis, y-axis, or z-axis, depending on which axis’s acceleration change is the largest. If the changes in acceleration are too small, the step counter will discard them.
Smartwatches are accurate enough to be useful for most people for most purposes, depending on what you’re looking for. Almost all fitness trackers count your steps and distance traveled, and it’s increasingly common to measure heart rate.
How do I get my Apple watch to track my steps?
- Make sure that the Activity app is installed on your Apple Watch
- Put on your Apple Watch and wear it throughout the day
- The steps you take will automatically be tracked by the watch’s pedometer sensor and will be recorded in the Activity app
- You can view your step count, as well as other fitness metrics, by opening the Activity app on your watch or syncing it with the iPhone Health app
Some people confuse the “Activity” app with the “Fitness” app. To be clear, the “Fitness” app is not a standalone app provided by Apple. It is part of the “Activity” app on Apple Watch. It allows users to track their daily activity and workouts, and provides personalized recommendations for workouts and achievements. The fitness app also allows users to set and track goals and view their activity history.
Now, if you forget to wear your Apple Watch, you can still track your steps by carrying your iPhone with you. The data will be synced to your Health app, which can be found on your iPhone.
How do I get my Google Pixel watch to track my steps?
- To track your steps on a Google Pixel watch, you will need to have the Google Fit app installed on your watch and make sure it is properly synced with your phone
- Once the app is set up, you can begin tracking your steps by pressing the middle button on the side of your watch to open the main menu, then selecting “Start tracking” under the “Exercise” option
- You can also set up step tracking from the Google Fit app on your phone
What kind of smartwatch should I purchase?
There are lots of different smartwatches you can use to track your steps. We’ve done the research and gathered 4 of the best ones you should consider.
1. Fitbit
Fitbit can track your steps and give you a personalized daily report that will bring you closer to your goals while keeping your health and safety in mind. It also offers features like Fitbit Pay, where you can add your credit card information and pay in stores using your watch, and a stress management feature with guided breathing meditations. And the best part is its battery life can last up to 6 days without charging. At the time of publishing this product had over 152,000 global ratings with 78% giving the product 5 stars.
2. Apple Watch Series 8
The Apple Watch Series 8 is not only a step tracker, it also is water-resistant, comes with fall and crash detection, and has an Emergency SOS feature in case you require assistance. It’s the perfect watch for those who seek outdoor adventure, as it is also swim-proof and comes with a temperature sensor. It even supports Family Setup so you can connect with family members who don’t have iPhones.
3. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is an excellent step tracker and perfect for those who want to take care of their heart health. It comes with a BioActive Sensor that can measure your ECG in real-time and your blood oxygen levels. You can also use it to help track your sleep, body composition, and overall wellness. Plus, at the time of publishing, this product had nearly 4,800 global ratings, with 81% giving the product 5 stars.
Get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
4. FOSSIL Smartwatch
The FOSSIL Smartwatch keeps track of your steps, and it also alerts you when you receive texts, emails, social media notifications, weather updates, calendar updates, and more. It has various Google features, such as Google Pay, Google Assistant, and GPS functionality.
What if I need extra motivation to reach my step goals?
The beauty of living in a world with technology is that there’s pretty much an app for everything. Here are some apps you can download now to help you keep track of your goals:
Strides
With over 14,000 reviews and a 4.8-star rating, Strides has proven itself to be an excellent goal-track app. It’s free to download and allows you to track anything from good and bad habits to goals you want to reach. It lets you set reminders to hold you accountable and gives charts of your progress to keep you motivated.
Way of Life
Way of Life has over 4,000 reviews and an impressive 4.8-star rating. It allows you to pick a goal action, and the app will send you alerts daily to remind you to keep up with that goal. The app also gives tons of statistics, including charts, a chain feature, and trend lines, so you can see your progress rates.
Habit Tracker
Habit Tracker is a tracking app with over 49,000 reviews and a stellar 4.8-star rating. It’s meant to help you build good habits and reach your goals by reminding you of those goals when needed, and it gives you stats, notes, and charts so that you can have a complete vision of how much progress you’re making each day. You can even opt for the group habits feature, which allows you to set and keep track of goals with friends.
ATracker
ATracker is another great app with a 4.7-star rating and over 2,000 reviews. The main goal of ATracker is to help users get a clear idea of how they’re spending their time. It helps you manage time to be extra productive and not waste time with unnecessary activities. You begin by tracking your time with all the activities you do. Then the app will give you a pie chart so that you have a visual image of how much time you spend doing each activity. You also get to view your activities daily, weekly, and monthly.
How to get more steps in once you have your app and watch
There are some super easy ways for you to add more steps to your daily routine. Here’s a list of ways you can reach your step goals fast:
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- Take the stairs
- Park far away from your destination
- Opt for public transit
- Take active breaks from your job
- Walk in place while you have nothing to do
- Make walking a daily habit
Which watch and app do you like most to help track your steps? We’d love to hear from you.
Related:
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- This gear is on a mission to boost your health in 2023