Along the journey with weight and health, you’ve likely learned that nutrition is only half the battle. Staying active and moving frequently is important for achieving a healthier lifestyle! Unfortunately, it can be easy to lose focus and motivation for exercise when you have no plan in place.
If you’re overwhelmed by the thought of incorporating enough physical activity into your health plan, an activity tracker may be the way to go. Activity trackers are much like food journals in that they help you log your movement as well as your experiences with exercise. They are designed to help you think critically about your fitness routine, to identify areas in need of improvement and to show you the progress you’re making along the way!
Use these Tips to Develop a Helpful Activity Tracker
To stay consistent with your exercise and on track with your physical activity goals, consider the following tips for creating and maintaining a helpful activity tracker:
- Log the Activity – What type of activity did you complete? Was it strength training, cardio or sports? Be specific. Did you go for a run, lift weights or play soccer?
- Record the Length – How long did you exercise for? In this section, you can also set a target length and assess whether or not you’ve met that goal. Don’t forget to add your time up each week!
- Monitor Your Intensity – This is one of the most common details forgotten when maintaining an activity tracker. To do this, pay attention to your heart rate, your speed, the amount of weight you lifted, the difficulty of your exercise, etc.
- Write Down Your Experience – How did you feel during exercise? Did you barely break a sweat, or did you have trouble completing the workout? By noting these details down, you can assess your strengths and the physical activities you may need to improve upon.
- Track Your Calories – If you’re trying to pay close attention to the number of calories you consume versus the number of calories you burn, remember to track your calorie expenditure during your workout. You may want to invest in a Fitbit, pedometer or other tool in order to do this.
No matter where you are on the journey with weight and health, an activity tracker can help you work toward and achieve your fitness goals. Remember to be consistent with your entries, honest about your activity and specific with your plan of action!
Want More Tips for Tracking Your Activity?
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