Top 5 sports gadgets to help you achieve your fitness goals of the year

With only three months to the end of the year, it is time to reflect on the goals you made at the beginning of the year. For most people these were financial goals, family goals, self improvement goals, and fitness and health goals. I find that we are more focused on goals that grow our finances and those that build our family ties than on those that target our well being like health and fitness goals.

Fitness goals are only achievable by making time for them and growing in your discipline. But we could all use a little help in keeping on the path to a healthier you. We have sifted through the barrage of fitness gadgets and identified those that will enhance your fitness experience and help you achieve the goals you set at the beginning of the year. It’s not yet too late!

Headphones

Music or a podcasts can be helpful in giving your work out momentum. Music has been known to activate the nucleus acumbens in your brain which triggers a feel good chemical known as dopamine. The podcast can be from your favorite fitness guru’s with directives to inspire you when your momentum begins to wane.

If you do not like listening to music during your workout, your favorite track at the end of the work out will still help you relax and keep you feeling good post work out.

The best headphones for working out

• Jabra Elite Sport
• Jaybird X3
• Beats by Dr Dre Powerbeats3 wireless
• Bose SoundSport Pulse wireless headphones

Heart rate monitor

A heart rate monitor will help you to identify your best training pace. Whether you are a runner, a cyclist or a HIIT workout fanatic, heart rate monitors are better placed to stay strapped on despite the amount of vigor your workout entails.

Easily strapped to your chest or wrist, heart rate sensors usually have monitoring electrodes which give accurate readings. Most fitness pros recommend the chest wrap monitors since the electrodes lay near the vicinity your heart.

Heart rate monitors can be used to promote the competitive spirit between workout buddies. They lay emphasis on the your effort rather than the number of calories you burn which is ideal for tracking the amount of energy you both expend.

Best heart rate monitors

• Polar H7 Heart Rate Sensor
• JBL UA Sport wireless
• Wahoo fitness Tickr X
• Garmin HRM – run

Smart watch

Samsung, Apple, Sony and many other technology industry leaders have created smart watches that are well on their way to making a personal trainer obsolete. A smart watch can help you count your steps during a walk and reps during a workout, challenge your best times by keeping track of your previous times and even monitor your temperature to maintain a proper balance.

Smart watches come fitted with GPS, heart rate monitoring apps, stopwatches and timers. Some even send you personalized reminders from apps that push you to your fitness limits and beyond. For example, if you have been sitting for too long the sedentary reminder feature on selected smart watches will remind you to move around.

Smart watches are also built to withstand the extremities of athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Most can be immersed in water, snow and even mud without any effect to their functionality.

Best smart watches for a work out

• Apple Watch Series 3
• Fitbit Alta HR
• LG Watch Sport
• Garmin Forerunner 935
• Polar M430

Smart Scale

A weighing scale is an integral part of your fitness journey. However, forget the traditional weighing scale and upgrade to a smart scale. Not only does it measure your weight and BMI, it tells you your bone mass, muscle mass, fat mass and some can even monitor your standing heart rate and your pulse wave velocity.

Smart scales come fitted with apps like the Health Mate and are compatible with both IOS and android. The apps are exceptional in keeping you up-to-date with your current weight with absolute precision.

Best smart scales

• Fitbit Aria WiFi
• QardioBase
• iHealth Core wireless Body Composition
• Polar Balance connected
• Garmin Index

Body scanner

Tracking the composition of muscle and body fat in your body should be done regularly. This helps you to keep tabs on the progress you are making in your fitness journey. Using a muscle scanner, you can be able to identify areas with muscle weakness, see how your body is changing and even reduce the chances injury.

The data from the scanner enables you to tweak your workouts in order to strengthen the weak muscles and correct imbalances. It is compatible with apps that can measure at least 24 muscle groups informing you of areas that need more work.

Best Body scanner

• The Skulpt body scanner
• The Evolt 360 Body composition scanner

Conclusion

Doesn’t technology just amaze you? It can enhance the quality of life with a few clicks and buttons. As the year winds down, enjoy these awesome gadgets and make progress on your fitness goals before it is completely out. You can also take these gadgets into next year and sustain your fitness goals without skipping a beat.

A few years ago some of these devices were prohibitively expensive and almost exclusive years. Now, they are very affordable and easily accessible. No matter what your budget, there is something for everyone!

Guest article written by: Nandika Amatieku, a technology writer committed to bringing tech news and knowledge to everyday people. My love for technology helps me sleep well at night and I want that for everyone.