5 Ways My Apple Watch Changed My Fitness Habits

5 Ways My Apple Watch Changed My Fitness Habits

I’ve had my Apple Watch since the end of the last year. I was really hesitant to get one at first because I wasn’t sure if I would use it consistently, but it has been one of the best investments I’ve made for myself. I’ve always been a fan of fitness trackers. I was one of the OG Fitbit users and had the original version that looked like a mini pager. I also had newer versions of the Fitbit, and various versions of the Garmin watch. But for me, the Apple Watch (affiliate link) has taken everything to a whole new level. Here’s why.

5 Ways My Apple Watch Changed My Fitness Habits

1. Time to Stand – I work at a computer all day long. I have an adjustable standing desk which helps, but I also rotate between sitting and standing throughout the day. I enjoy getting reminders to stand if I have been sedentary for too long. My watch will ding and give me a heads up that it’s time to start moving and get blood flowing. If I didn’t get this notification, I would probably keep cranking out work so I appreciate the reminder.
2. Set Goals – If you have an Apple Watch then you know there are three activity rings you try and close each day; Move, Exercise and Stand. I love being able to set goals every week. I try and aim for 400 move calories per day and exercise 30 minutes per day – even if it’s just from walking Kona.
3. Breathe in, Breathe out – About twice a day I have a reminder from my Breathe app. It is 1 minute of deep inhale and exhales. This app is particularly helpful for stressful days.  It’s a great reminder to breathe in the good and breathe out the bad.
4. Listen to your Heart – The Apple Watch has a great Heart Rate App that will show you currently heart rate, average resting beats per minute and an average walking BPM. I’ve heard so many stories that this is saving lives! If your heart rate drops below 40 BPM it will notify you. Amazing.
5. GPS – I’ve always been a fan of tracking my runs through various apps, but now I can leave my phone at home with the GPS Apple Watch. Just press Start and your workouts will be tracked and sent to your phone when you’re complete! I also have been using this feature for ocean swimming. It’s really cool to go back and see a map of my swim and how far I went.

Juggling mom and family life, work, and fitness is a lot to handle. I am grateful for my Apple Watch for helping remind me to focus on me and get the movement I need each day. I also enjoy turning it on cellular mode and stepping away from my phone for awhile. If something comes up, I can receive texts from my phone. It’s a great feeling. I look forward to creating goals and completing them every week.  It’s so important to keep our bodies moving, a 30 minute walk a day can make all the difference. I’ve noticed a big difference in my postpartum weight loss this time around and I really believe the Apple watch has played a big role in that by reminding me to be more mindful of my movement each day. It’s been great!

Do you have an Apple Watch? What do you love about it?