At first glance the idea of IT and fitness may not seem to go together. After all, either you work out or not, right? Technology can’t make you run or exercise, and it can’t do it for you. In the end, you have to put in the work and make healthy decisions.
However, the appropriate use of technology has its place in fitness and wellness. In a previous post I talked about the importance of an organized approach and plan for fitness activities. About 5-6 years ago I decided to use technology to help me stay organized and to keep track of my progress. My personal trainer at the time also finally convinced me of the value of paying more attention to my nutrition, and I started using a nutrition app along with a fitness app to establish an overall approach to health and fitness.
The use of technology helped me keep track of my activities and allowed me to see and monitor my progress. For me, this has been valuable in helping me to establish habits and routines that are now part of my lifestyle. There are many apps available – I personally use the UA family of apps (Map My Fitness, Map My Run, My Fitness Pal) because the apps share information and help provide an overall picture of my current fitness. Also, I use UA shoes for running (I current run using the HOVR Infinite model), and my shoes have a Bluetooth device that connects to the app for real time feedback.
So, yes, I have to put in the work and make good decisions about my nutrition and exercise. However, technology has helped to provide the organization, and has helped me be more efficient.
The same applies to all areas of life. Tech will never take the place of effort, but the right use of tech can help you work more efficiently and accurately. Don’t be a slave to technology, but let it be a tool to help you reach your goals.
Fitness and Life 