{"id":41800,"date":"2015-07-29T11:15:41","date_gmt":"2015-07-29T15:15:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=41800"},"modified":"2022-04-21T18:11:15","modified_gmt":"2022-04-21T22:11:15","slug":"best-gadgets-health-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/tech\/best-gadgets-health-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Health Gadgets Experts Wish You’d Use"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whether you want to lose weight, run faster or score extra workout motivation<\/a>, there\u2019s an app for that\u2026and a fitness tracker\u2026and a new-fangled gadget. Overwhelmed yet? With the world of health technology exploding every day, it\u2019s no secret that sifting through your options to get to the good stuff can be a chore.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 19 Reasons to Work Out (Beyond the Perfect Body)<\/a><\/p>\n

That\u2019s why we did the legwork for you and went straight to the experts for their picks. These are the tech tools your favorite doctors, trainers, nutritionists and bloggers rely on to reach their<\/em> health and fitness goals. We found the best app to track your high-intensity interval training<\/a>, the easiest way to count calories and the best tool to actually help you run faster<\/a>. Plus, they\u2019ve all been tested by trusted experts and bloggers, so you can bet they\u2019re pretty darn good.<\/p>\n

Your Go-to Gym Gadgets <\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1.\u00a0The PUSH Fitness Tracker
<\/a><\/strong>Want to tone your arm muscles? PUSH<\/a> is the first device designed to help you reach your strength training goals. Strap the band below your elbow, select an exercise and the tracker will give you feedback on the number of reps you\u2019ve done \u2014\u00a0and how fast and powerfully you completed each one. \u201cIt measures power and velocity, eliminating the need to rely on a laser-focused coach\u2019s eye or\u2026watching your own reps,\u201d says Jen Sinkler<\/a>, author, personal trainer and owner of The Movement Minneapolis<\/a>. \u201cWhen speed slows down, it\u2019s time to call it a day for that movement,\u201d she says. ($189; trainwithpush.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0The Ithlete App
<\/a><\/strong>So how do you really <\/em>know if your body has recovered<\/a> from yesterday\u2019s workout? James Cotter, former professional triathlete and founder of Hard Yards relies on ithlete<\/a> to make sure he\u2019s not overtraining. \u201cThis helps all athletes arrive at the start line fresher and helps you avoid becoming overly fatigued during bigger training blocks<\/a>,\u201d Cotter says. Using a heart rate monitor or finger sensor, the app measures your heart rate variability \u2014 the time between your heartbeats when you\u2019re at rest. If the variation is minimal, then, according to the app, you\u2019re ready to train. If your body is burned out, it\u2019ll tell you to take a rest day. \u201cBeing an athlete involves being able to show up on key training days and races ready to perform,\u201d Cotter says. ($8.99; myithlete.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 7 New Recovery Tools You\u2019ll Love to Hate<\/a><\/p>\n

3.\u00a0The Tabata Pro App
<\/a><\/strong>If you love HIIT training<\/a>, you know how annoying it is to fumble with your watch to track your intervals. Luckily, the Tabata Pro app will do that for you. (The burpees<\/a> are up to you.) Celebrity trainer and author of The 20-Minute Body<\/a><\/em> Brett Hoebel says, \u201cMy 20-Minute Body classes require different timed intervals and music. This app allows for many different types of intervals as well as playing my favorite playlists over [the] timer noises.\u201d ($2.99; simpletouchsoftware.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0The Skulpt Aim Device
<\/a><\/strong>Pretty sure your BMI<\/a> isn\u2019t telling you the whole story? Skulpt Aim is a handheld device that uses electrical impulses to measure your body fat and muscle tone, from your pecs to your calves. \u201cI\u2019ve been using it monthly to track my progress in the gym,\u201d says Tamara Grand<\/a>, personal trainer, group fitness instructor and online fitness coach. \u201cI love that it allows you to compare the left and right sides of the body.\u201d The result? The ability to spot imbalances and work toward a more balanced physique. ($149; store.skulpt.me<\/a>)<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 5 Ways to Test for Muscle Imbalances and Avoid Injury<\/a><\/p>\n

Your Health and Weight Loss Arsenal<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5.\u00a0<\/strong>The Handpick App
<\/a><\/strong>Need recipe inspiration for that Swiss chard<\/a> wilting in your veggie drawer? Whip it into a delicious dish using this database of over 10,000 food items and recipes on the Handpick app. \u201cSome people get stuck preparing the same meals all the time, so an app that can encourage you to infuse fresh ideas<\/a> into the mix is a great tool,\u201d says celebrity chef Paula Hankin<\/a>. The coolest feature? You can browse a curated feed of recipes based on the best drool-worthy food pics from Instagram. (Free; handpick.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 12 Brilliant Meal Prep Ideas to Free Up Your Time<\/a><\/p>\n

6.\u00a0The Sleep Cycle App
<\/a><\/strong>If you still feel groggy after a full night\u2019s rest, put down your coffee<\/a> and download the Sleep Cycle app now. \u201cIt\u2019s an alarm clock that tracks your sleep patterns and wakes you up during light sleep,\u201d say Lori Morris and Michelle Corso, the sisters behind the health and fitness blog Purely Twins<\/a>. The app, which tracks your movements using your phone\u2019s accelerometer, claims to gently nudge you awake only when you\u2019re in a light sleep phase (your body\u2019s natural waking point). The result: You\u2019ll actually get out of bed<\/a> feeling refreshed. ($0.99; sleepcycle.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0My Fitness Pal
<\/a><\/strong>Whether you\u2019re trying to lose weight or just keep a food diary, My Fitness Pal makes it easy with more than five million foods in its tracking database. Matt Orlando, the blogger behind The Runner Dad<\/a>, used the calorie counting tool to lose about 20 pounds. \u201cIt allowed me to easily set calorie and fitness goals, track my daily intake and automatically import the data provided by my running watch to help me track my health,\u201d he says. Meanwhile, Jesica D\u2019Avanza, author of the blog rUnladylike<\/a>, relies on the app to stay on top of her nutrition. \u201cMy Fitness Pal is incredibly helpful for keeping track of the food I eat to ensure that, as an athlete, I\u2019m getting the right mix of proteins, carbs and fats<\/a> as well as eating enough calories for the amount of physical activity I\u2019m doing,\u201d says the runner, triathlete and marathon coach. (Free; myfitnesspal.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> The 10 Biggest Diet Mistakes, According to Experts<\/a><\/p>\n

Your Running Toolkit<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8.\u00a0The Spring Moves App<\/a>
<\/strong>There\u2019s no doubt the right music<\/a> can put a spring in your step. With Spring Moves, you can more easily match your running cadence to your tunes.\u00a0All you have to do is run to the beat to stay on track. \u201cAs a sports doc, I love this app for my patients since I\u2019m always trying to get them to quicken their cadence and shorten their stride, thereby reducing their risk of injury,\u201d says Dr. Jordan Metzl<\/a>, sports medicine doctor and creator of the Ironstrength Workout<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s much more user-friendly than counting steps.\u201d (Free; springmoves.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0The Strava App
<\/a><\/strong>If a little healthy competition is what motivates you<\/a>, then Strava is the app for you. With Strava, you can compare your runs (or rides) against your past efforts, or go head-to-head with others in the community. \u201cIt\u2019s the perfect app for anyone who has a competitive edge, whether you are competing against yourself to beat your best time or looking at the long list of athletes who beat you on the big climb or portion of your run or ride,\u201d says Jamie King<\/a>, CEO and founder of FitApproach and SweatGuru. (Free; strava.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> Hate Running? 25 Ways to Learn to Love It<\/a><\/p>\n

10.\u00a0Bluetooth Headphones
<\/a><\/strong>There\u2019s nothing worse than getting tangled up in your headphone cords when you\u2019re out for a run. That\u2019s why Caroline Kaufman<\/a>, MS, RDN relies on her Motorola bluetooth headphones. \u201c[They] make it so much easier to head outside for a walk or run without being tethered to your phone or strapping on some uncomfortable, sweaty, ill-fitting armband,\u201d she says. \u201cYou can listen to music and take phone calls without touching your phone.\u201d ($43.95; amazon.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n

11. GPS Running Watch
<\/strong>Some runners may say that a GPS running watch<\/a> isn\u2019t just a cool technology \u2014 it\u2019s a necessary one. At a basic level, these watches track distance, pace and time. But opinions are split as to which device does it all best.<\/p>\n

Several run-nerds we spoke with swear by their Garmins<\/a>, including Jeff Gaudette, Head Coach and founder of RunnersConnect<\/a>. \u201cThere’s nothing more important than getting an accurate time, distance and pace for your run and Garmin makes some sleek watches that get the job done,\u201d says Gaudette.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, King recommends the Suunto Ambit2<\/a>, an integrated GPS and heart rate monitor. \u201cThis GPS watch truly does it all \u2014 from recording workouts, heart rate monitoring and even weather functions,\u201d she says. You can also download running apps designed to improve your performance directly to your watch.<\/p>\n

And if you want to monitor your heart rate but hate wearing a chest strap, check out the TomTom Runner Watch<\/a>. Orlando says it\u2019s his favorite piece of fitness technology because it accurately tracks his stats and easily syncs to his phone and apps like My Fitness Pal. Amanda Brooks, the voice of the blog Run To The Finish<\/a>, depends on her TomTom to help her stick to her training methodology. \u201cAs someone who follows low heart rate training<\/a>, I have fallen head over heels for the TomTom Runner watch,\u201d she says. \u201cIt measures heart rate through the watch strap, removing the need to wear that infuriating chest strap!\u201d<\/p>\n

Disclosure:\u00a0All products featured on our site are carefully selected and vetted in the hopes of getting you closer to your health and fitness goals.\u00a0In some cases, you might come across an affiliate link on our site, which means we receive\u00a0a small commission should you decide to make a purchase.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Which health and fitness gadgets can you really count on? Get picks from our favorite trainers and nutritionists, from weight loss tools to sleep trackers. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":41808,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,25,10],"tags":[287,108,281,341,352,167,283,285],"class_list":["post-41800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-apps","category-gear-gadgets","category-tech","tag-apps","tag-running","tag-strength-training","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2weight-loss","tag-technology","tag-tracking","tag-weight-loss"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41800"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41800\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}