Almost 40% of all New Year’s resolutions in the United States are related to weight. However, it is a well-known fact that New Year’s resolutions are notoriously difficult to stick to, and weight loss goals in particular are often a recurring issue for many Americans. There was a time when your ability to stick to those goals was largely dependent on how much motivation and willpower you had, but these days there are innovative technologies that can give almost anyone that extra little bit of motivation that it takes to keep going. If you want to get healthier in the new year, here are three simple steps that you can start with.
Step One: Break Out the Bike
Biking is a great, low-impact sport, and an easy way to start exercising. It works muscles in the legs and core, gets the heart rate up, and it’s fun. The first thing that you will need to do is to break your old bike out of storage and get it ready to ride again. Over the winter is a great time to bring it in for a tune-up, and to get the tires and gears checked.
Step Two: Ask for Sports Trackers This Holiday
Having the right technology, in the form of iPhone fitness accessories, and cycling sensors, will be an important factor in achieving your weight loss goals. Here are two devices that might work well for you.
- The iBike Dash CC Cycling Computer
- The 4iiii Riiiide Cycling Sensor
The iBike Dash CC is a unique system that aids in measuring and tracking your cycling activities. It is one part protective case and mounting system, which will hold your iPhone or iPod touch securely to your bike, one part innovative mobile application, and one part set of wireless ANT+ sensors for measuring data such as your speed and distance, and cadence.
If you want more data, cycling speed and cadence can be measured with the 4iiii Riiiide, which boasts a low drag profile. The best part is, because the 4iiii Riiiide cycling sensor uses ANT+ technology, it’s compatible with the iBike Dash CC.
Step Three: Set Goals, Use the Fitness Trackers, and See Progress
The rest is really up to you. Fitness technology is a tool to help you reach a destination, it is not the destination in and of itself. The key is to use the data to set goals, and measure your progress towards those goals. Every time you meet a goal, you may find that you have more motivation to keep going!
If you don’t have a bike, don’t know how to ride, or would just prefer to run, then there are similar technologies available for you. Running sensors can also be used with compatible applications, allowing you to get much more out of a run than if you were to hit the pavement with just a sweatband and water bottle in tow. Add an armband heart monitor, and you’re ready to start shedding those pounds. However you choose to stick to your New Year’s resolution, there is fitness technology that will make a big difference in your efforts. Research more like this.