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Original poster

Has anyone found a smart watch helpful to improve health ?

48 replies

OrangeChips1 · 08/02/2025 22:02

I am contemplating getting one but on the other hand worried that having access to a load of stats won't be helpful

OP posts:
Anya80 · 08/02/2025 22:11

It kind of depends of what you need it for. I find it helpful in the sense that it highlights the days that I am particularly inactive and I could really get off my sofa and go for a walk, or if you have an objective in mind to increase steps or exercise you can use the stats to keep yourself accountable. I don't focus on all the stats though, I already know if I had a good or bad night so won't need to look at the "analysis" from my night for example

HoskinsChoice · 08/02/2025 22:21

The main benefit for me is the step counter as it drives me to do more if I can see what I've done (or more likely haven't done!). I also like the heart monitor as it scares me how much alcohol impacts my bpm so it makes me think about how much I drink. I log my weight and my periods (including dates and symptoms) which is particularly helpful if you're perimenopausal and on or considering HRT.

It does a million other things that I don't use. My most recent one is a very basic Fitbit as I found my previous more expensive one was pointless for what I use it for.

hereforadvicee · 08/02/2025 22:37

Apple Watch I wouldn’t touch - I think it’s more of a ‘social’ thing than an actual smart watch.

Fitbit - I used to swear by these, until I realised certain things were really inaccurate (like my steps, heart rate and sleep time).

I now use a Garmin watch and it’s brilliant! It calculates your body stress number, steps, heart rate, has a sleep coach, great for exercise/walking/running, your fitness age and so much more!

Mathsbabe · 08/02/2025 23:25

I can only use an Apple Watch because
I'm very allergic to Nickel.
I've had it for 2.5 years and lost 18kg in that time.
I track sleep and it has encouraged me to go to bed early. I'm getting about 30 mins a night more sleep than I was before I got the watch.
I'm a swimmer and I spend more time swimming than I would in I didn't have my watch.
My watch has really helped me become fitter and lose weight

RuffledKestrel · 08/02/2025 23:32

I got mine to track my heart rate throughout the day as I felt it was dropping and rising for no good reason. One of my doctors recommended it after I asked how accurate they were. Apparently most are absolutely fine for GP to use as base levels for investigations. Thankfully my heart is ok for the most part, but now if I feel it's high or low I can easily check it myself and it puts my mind at rest that it's not as high/low as it feels. Or if it is high/lower than it sould I can do something about it.

The step counter is also handy, as others have said for identifying days I'm not moving enough.

Word of advice though. Seriously considering muting all notifications on it. Otherwise you just get bogged down and never feel away from pings and dings and vibrations for stuff wanting your attention.

FrauPaige · 08/02/2025 23:33

I despise the term smartwatch as it is describes a gizmo with no purpose.

Preferable is labelling it by it's purpose - in your case, you are looking for a fitness tracker.

A fitness tracker can have great benefits with motivating you to maintain or increase activity, allowing you to set goals and track your progress against them with useless graphs and other tools.

The heart rate monitor functions make them potential life savers for people with cardiovascular disease in allowing them to set alarms for when their heart rate exceeds prescribed safe limits.

So, in summary, fitness trackers - great.

Srophia34 · 08/02/2025 23:43

Yes, another Garmin fan. It inspired me to become more active and to be accountable. Menstrual calendar and synthesis useful.

GouacheEnthusiast · 08/02/2025 23:43

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
OrangeChips1 · 09/02/2025 16:33

Anya80 · 08/02/2025 22:11

It kind of depends of what you need it for. I find it helpful in the sense that it highlights the days that I am particularly inactive and I could really get off my sofa and go for a walk, or if you have an objective in mind to increase steps or exercise you can use the stats to keep yourself accountable. I don't focus on all the stats though, I already know if I had a good or bad night so won't need to look at the "analysis" from my night for example

Thank you! I used to have a Fitbit that did measure my steps but I found running after a toddler meant I was nearly always way over my target. I mainly want to use it for measuring my stress/recovery ...very intrigued by these concepts, which were not available when I last had a fit bit

OP posts:
Original poster
OrangeChips1 · 09/02/2025 16:35

HoskinsChoice · 08/02/2025 22:21

The main benefit for me is the step counter as it drives me to do more if I can see what I've done (or more likely haven't done!). I also like the heart monitor as it scares me how much alcohol impacts my bpm so it makes me think about how much I drink. I log my weight and my periods (including dates and symptoms) which is particularly helpful if you're perimenopausal and on or considering HRT.

It does a million other things that I don't use. My most recent one is a very basic Fitbit as I found my previous more expensive one was pointless for what I use it for.

Thank you! Interesting re BPM and alcohol. When I last had a Fitbit I was running around after a toddler so I had a real life reminder to move 🤣
But now I'm back at work maybe a Fitbit would help me remember to get up off my desk every now and again

OP posts:
Original poster
OrangeChips1 · 09/02/2025 16:36

hereforadvicee · 08/02/2025 22:37

Apple Watch I wouldn’t touch - I think it’s more of a ‘social’ thing than an actual smart watch.

Fitbit - I used to swear by these, until I realised certain things were really inaccurate (like my steps, heart rate and sleep time).

I now use a Garmin watch and it’s brilliant! It calculates your body stress number, steps, heart rate, has a sleep coach, great for exercise/walking/running, your fitness age and so much more!

Which Garmin do you have? I'm very intrigued by the body stress and recovery rate functions... although I do wonder how it knows until it "gets to know you" (your baseline)

OP posts:
Original poster
OrangeChips1 · 09/02/2025 16:36

Mathsbabe · 08/02/2025 23:25

I can only use an Apple Watch because
I'm very allergic to Nickel.
I've had it for 2.5 years and lost 18kg in that time.
I track sleep and it has encouraged me to go to bed early. I'm getting about 30 mins a night more sleep than I was before I got the watch.
I'm a swimmer and I spend more time swimming than I would in I didn't have my watch.
My watch has really helped me become fitter and lose weight

That's really inspiring! Thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
OrangeChips1 · 09/02/2025 16:37

RuffledKestrel · 08/02/2025 23:32

I got mine to track my heart rate throughout the day as I felt it was dropping and rising for no good reason. One of my doctors recommended it after I asked how accurate they were. Apparently most are absolutely fine for GP to use as base levels for investigations. Thankfully my heart is ok for the most part, but now if I feel it's high or low I can easily check it myself and it puts my mind at rest that it's not as high/low as it feels. Or if it is high/lower than it sould I can do something about it.

The step counter is also handy, as others have said for identifying days I'm not moving enough.

Word of advice though. Seriously considering muting all notifications on it. Otherwise you just get bogged down and never feel away from pings and dings and vibrations for stuff wanting your attention.

Oh that's amazing that it's helped you track your health.
Yeh I don't actually want the smartphone features, just the fitness ones!

OP posts:
Original poster
OrangeChips1 · 09/02/2025 16:38

FrauPaige · 08/02/2025 23:33

I despise the term smartwatch as it is describes a gizmo with no purpose.

Preferable is labelling it by it's purpose - in your case, you are looking for a fitness tracker.

A fitness tracker can have great benefits with motivating you to maintain or increase activity, allowing you to set goals and track your progress against them with useless graphs and other tools.

The heart rate monitor functions make them potential life savers for people with cardiovascular disease in allowing them to set alarms for when their heart rate exceeds prescribed safe limits.

So, in summary, fitness trackers - great.

Yes it's a fitness tracker I want! I really don't want texts/phonecalls to come through on my wrist...I check my phone enough as it is 🙄

OP posts:
hereforadvicee · 09/02/2025 16:39

OrangeChips1 · 09/02/2025 16:36

Which Garmin do you have? I'm very intrigued by the body stress and recovery rate functions... although I do wonder how it knows until it "gets to know you" (your baseline)

Show quote history

I have the Vivoactive 5 I think it’s called, from my experience with other smart watches, this one definitely creates that baseline a lot quicker - it also gives you a body battery number each day and tells you how much you’ve added to it (say by resting or sleeping more) and how much you’ve drained from it each day (exercise, high stress etc). It’s really made me aware but in a good way of how I’m functioning each day!

Original poster
OrangeChips1 · 09/02/2025 16:39

Srophia34 · 08/02/2025 23:43

Yes, another Garmin fan. It inspired me to become more active and to be accountable. Menstrual calendar and synthesis useful.

Thats amazing! Thanks. I have an app to track menstrual cycle. I'm curious...does it pick up the extra "stress" your body is under during that time?

OP posts:
Original poster
OrangeChips1 · 09/02/2025 16:40

Srophia34 · 08/02/2025 23:43

Yes, another Garmin fan. It inspired me to become more active and to be accountable. Menstrual calendar and synthesis useful.

Also, which Garmin?

OP posts:
Original poster
OrangeChips1 · 09/02/2025 16:40

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

That's amazing. Especially that it helps you monitor your heart condition. Which Garmin?

OP posts:
Fairyliz · 09/02/2025 16:42

I’ve got a basic Fitbit that I got for ‘free’ with my Tesco club card points.
I actually think it’s very good. I’m aware the step counter might not be totally accurate; but I challenge myself to do more steps than the previous week which has helped me up my total steps. I also like the fact that it buzzes you to move if you have been sat still for too long.

Original poster
OrangeChips1 · 09/02/2025 16:43

hereforadvicee · 09/02/2025 16:39

I have the Vivoactive 5 I think it’s called, from my experience with other smart watches, this one definitely creates that baseline a lot quicker - it also gives you a body battery number each day and tells you how much you’ve added to it (say by resting or sleeping more) and how much you’ve drained from it each day (exercise, high stress etc). It’s really made me aware but in a good way of how I’m functioning each day!

Show quote history

That's exactly what I need! I wonder if I should buy it before a holiday to see how much stress work adds 🤕

OP posts:
rumred · 09/02/2025 16:45

Hiya I got a garmin venu sq music last year and it has been invaluable. I knew I was feeling tired but thought it was the meds I'm on. The garmin basically kept recording my body battery at 20% and lots less almost every day. I pushed the gp for blood tests and they came back showing low iron and thyroid.
I've changed how I take Thyroxine and started on iron tablets. Body battery occasionally makes 70% now, which it never got near before Christmas.
So did me a massive favour. Also it tracks my swimming and exercise which is useful.

rumred · 09/02/2025 16:46

Oh and my stress levels are too high- I knew this but now I can see proof.

OpenFox · 09/02/2025 16:52

My apple watch was rubbish. Really didn't like it much

My Samsung watch was really accurate on step count and activity monitoring but the battery life was awful which was annoying.

I currently have a Fitbit Versa 4 which has amazing battery life. It's good at logging exercise, I like the fact it tells me off if I haven't moved enough in an hour, but definitely over counts steps and counts things that aren't steps e.g. drumming! I've had some sync issues too.

But... my bestie has a Garmin and I am quite envious. Good battery life and really good functionality. I think hers tops my Fitbit!

ErrolTheDragon · 09/02/2025 17:02

DH and I both got Apple Watches at the end of 2019 and they helped us enormously - completing the 'rings' during lockdown was very motivating and we've carried on trying to walk about 5 miles a day (he's retired, I'm part time and die to retire). We're both much fitter now.

I doubt the step count is accurate, but we use the gps distance measurement.

Some of the other functionality is genuinely useful too. DH has atrial fibrillation, the ecg allows him to quickly check if odd heart feelings are afib or just ectopics and so whether he needs medication.
His cardiologist was very positive about him using it.

ErrolTheDragon · 09/02/2025 17:08

I really don't want texts/phonecalls to come through on my wrist...I check my phone enough as it is

I don't have notification echoing on for emails and WhatsApps, could turn off text notification to the watch too if I wanted but I don't get many except verification codes and I find it useful to see those on the watch while I type it in on the phone.