How to use fitness features on smartwatches

Smartwatches offer a range of benefits from health and fitness tracking to convenience features. They have transformed the way we approach fitness by making it easier to track progress right from our wrists. Smartwatches serve as personal trainers and health assistants. These devices provide valuable insights into our health and overall well-being. All this is possible with an array of sensors present inside smartwatches and fitness trackers. 

However, it can be overwhelming and confusing to navigate all the features of a smartwatch. Should you track each and every metric while performing a workout or study all the statistics when the activity ends? What other parameters should you track?

Understanding how to use the smartwatch’s fitness features can help you maximise its potential. In this post, we will get you started.
It’s worth noting that health tracking on smartwatches should be considered a rough guideline from a medical point of view. It’s still recommended to use clinical instruments for accurate readings and diagnosis. 

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It’s worth noting that health tracking on smartwatches should be considered a rough guideline from a medical point of view. It’s still recommended to use clinical instruments for accurate readings and diagnosis. 

1. Track workouts

Whether you go for brisk walking, hit the gym daily, or indulge in sports activities, smartwatches can track all of these. Premium models are also able to provide advanced metrics for certain workouts. All you need to do to start tracking is follow the steps below:

• Open the fitness app or workouts app on your smartwatch
• Select your preferred activity. 
• Start the session and the device will begin monitoring the progress. 

Some smartwatches also come with automatic detection for certain activities. In that case, you don’t have to follow the above steps.

2. Heart-rate and SpO2 monitoring

Every smartwatch in the market is capable of tracking heart rate and blood oxygen levels. High-end options also come with advanced metrics like detecting atrial fibrillation, heart rate monitoring while performing activities, 24×7 tracking, and more. These are often crucial in keeping a tab on your heart health. 

To check heart rate and SpO2 manually, navigate to the heart-rate tracker and SpO2 feature on your smartwatch.

3. Track sleep

Sleep affects your overall health and well-being. Many smartwatches monitor sleeping patterns including various stages of the sleep cycle. They generate insights with data so you can learn about your sleeping patterns and fix or overcome any issues preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep. 

ALSO READ: How to properly wear a smartwatch or fitness tracker?

Users must wear their smartwatch/fitness tracker to bed to monitor sleeping patterns.

4. Set fitness goals

Tracking calories burned, distance covered, and steps taken are basic features of a smartwatch. Even smartphones are capable of tracking those today. You need to set goals for each metric through a companion app that is available for each wearable device, eg. Apple Health, Google Fit, Samsung Health etc. These can also be configured on the wearable device itself.

5. Menstrual cycle

Menstrual cycle tracking on a smartwatch is a vital feature for women. The insights can help them plan their workouts, manage symptoms, and better understand their health. The feature has to be enabled on the companion app. To track menstrual cycle:

• Open the companion app on your smartphone. 
• Log your period start and end dates.
• Input any symptoms that you experience. 
• View cycle predictions and fertility windows so you don’t have to remember the dates.

Sync with third-party apps

Viewing key details of your health on a smartwatch is often problematic due to the small screen. That’s why many smartwatches have their own companion apps for smartphones where you can view insightful reports.

Most wearable devices are also compatible with third-party apps like Strava, MyFitnessPal, Google Fit, and more so you can get deeper analytics about a particular workout activity. All you need to do is download the supported app on your phone and sync your smartwatch with it. 

Using fitness features on a smartwatch is quite straightforward. By using them, you can gain a fair understanding of your overall health.