It’s the time of year when everyone seems a little more health-conscious. Watch television, and you’ll see countless adverts promoting weight loss programs. Log onto social media, and you’ll likely find scores of posts promising better health and fitness this year. For many of us, vowing to live better is a great idea, and we go into it with the best intentions, but it doesn’t always go according to plan. Work and family commitments, travel, fatigue, and burnout all play a part in why many fitness and weight loss journeys fall flat at the first hurdle. But it doesn’t have to be that way, and 2024 could be the year of change in your life.
Watch professional boxing or mixed martial arts on TV or the best live-streaming apps, and you’ll see gladiators in unbelievable shape. Follow a Grand Slam tennis game or the London marathon, and you’ll witness incredible feats of fitness. Browse the leading athletes listed at the best betting apps in Texas or watch them perform on TV, and you’ll likely dream of getting yourself into that kind of shape. But it pays to keep your feet on the ground, learning to walk before you run and then run before you can fly to your fitness dreams and goals. Don’t aim too high too early, or you may crush your enthusiasm.
Setting unrealistic goals is another reason why many well-meaning keep-fitters don’t reach their goals. As any experienced coach will tell you, getting fit and crafting the body you desire is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s about chipping away, focusing on your long-term goals, and celebrating the short-term success. If you start training and are fitter at the end of week one than you were before starting, you’re heading in the right direction and will realize your ambitions slowly but surely.
Tech in your corner
The fitness and weight loss industry is one of many that’s benefiting from a heavy tech influence. Check professional sports competitions, like the English Premier League or National Football League, and you’ll see technology is everywhere, and it’s changing the game fast. From how you watch live games on your smartphone to purchasing tickets to the match, tech is involved. New additions like Hawkeye technology and the Video Assistant Referee help minimize errors from umpires and referees.
Technology has also revolutionized how coaches prepare their squad for matchdays, how players get fit, recover from injury, and squeeze an extra 10% out of their performances. For many years, the best training tech and stats were reserved for big-name sports teams that could afford it. Visit the training center of EPL champions Manchester City, and you’ll see players and coaches using the latest tech to help them stay one step ahead of the competition. The same tools and apps are now widely available due to a serious reduction in price.
Drop by your local gym, and you’ll see examples of tech in fitness from all angles. You may notice someone running on the treadmill while using their smartwatch for sprints and interval training. Visit the boxing room, and you’ll likely see fitness fanatics slugging away on the heavy bag with a punch counter concealed inside their gloves. There are also step counters, heart rate monitors, real-time calorie counters, and more.
Tech has dragged fitness into the 21st century, but how can it help you achieve your weight loss goals when training at the gym and also your time at rest? Keep reading as we list some useful and affordable pieces of tech that can help you lose weight effectively so it stays off.
Wearables
One of the most prominent ways technology contributes to effective weight loss is through fitness apps and wearables. These tools empower users to track their physical activity, monitor calorie intake, and set personalized fitness goals.
Popular apps like MyFitnessPal, Lose It!, and Fitbit provide a user-friendly interface to log meals, record workouts, and receive real-time feedback. Wearable devices, such as fitness trackers and smartwatches, take this a step further by offering continuous monitoring of heart rate, sleep patterns, and overall daily activity levels.
Nutrition
Technology has revolutionized the way we approach nutrition by offering personalized guidance based on individual needs and goals. Apps like Nutrino and Rise provide tailored meal plans and dietary recommendations, taking into account factors such as age, weight, activity level, and nutritional preferences.
This personalized approach not only enhances the effectiveness of weight loss strategies but also promotes sustainable lifestyle changes.
Online fitness
The rise of virtual workouts and online fitness classes has broken down barriers to accessing exercise routines. Individuals can now engage in guided workouts from the comfort of their homes, eliminating the need for expensive gym memberships or access to specialized equipment.
Platforms like Peloton, Nike Training Club, and YouTube offer a diverse range of workouts, catering to various fitness levels and preferences. This accessibility encourages consistency in exercise routines, a key factor in achieving and maintaining weight loss goals.
Artificial Intelligence
Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have ushered in a new era of personalized health and fitness solutions. These technologies analyze vast amounts of data to generate insights into user behaviors, preferences, and progress.
AI-powered coaching apps, like Freeletics and 8fit, adapt workout plans and nutrition recommendations based on individual performance and feedback, optimizing each user’s weight loss journey.
Behavioral apps
Successful weight loss is not only about physical activity and nutrition; it also involves addressing behavioral aspects. Technology has introduced behavior change apps that focus on habit formation, goal setting, and motivational strategies.
Apps like HabitBull and Streaks help users establish and maintain healthy habits by providing reminders, tracking progress, and offering positive reinforcement. By addressing the psychological aspects of weight loss, these apps contribute to long-term success.
AR and VR
Innovative technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are transforming the way we engage with fitness and weight loss. AR apps can overlay digital information on the real world, enhancing outdoor activities like running or cycling.
VR experiences, on the other hand, immerse users in virtual environments, making workouts more engaging and enjoyable. These technologies not only add an element of fun to exercise routines but also contribute to increased adherence and better results.
