I wish my activity tracker could do a better job with strength training.

NorthCascades
NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I'd like it to keep track of how many reps I've done so I don't have to count them myself. It has a motion sensor after all. It can figure out how long a swimming pool is as long as you have good form, so I feel like this isn't asking for the moon. (Sometimes I get distracted and then forget how many I've done.)

It should be able to tell me what exercise comes next, and a note. "Overhead tricep extension - 35 lbs" I'm imagining you'd press lap when you finish one and get prompted before you start the next, but I don't really care how it works. (Then I could just leave my phone on the shelf and not touch it until my workout is finished.) It can already "drive" bike, run, and swim workouts, in great detail, so this isn't asking too much either.

I'm curious how many other people want these kinds of features? I feel like they're obvious low hanging fruit, but maybe it's just me.

Replies

  • shor0814
    shor0814 Posts: 559 Member
    Atlas Wearable does this. It was hit or miss at first so I didn't bother using it but now it has a learning mode and it is reported to work very well now.

    Dog ate my strap too so once I stop being lazy and get a new one I will try again.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    edited September 2016
    Which one do you have? I have the FitBit Surge and it tracks weightlifting, yoga, biking, hiking, and running etc.
  • CincyNeid
    CincyNeid Posts: 1,249 Member
    I mean the F3hr, and VAhr both have Strength training modes on them to monitor heart rate while lifting. But I do wish i could program in a routine and have it prompt me to do whatever next.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,260 Member
    I use an app and pre-plan my workouts that way. I hit the checkmark after a set, rest, and do the next. Wouldn't this be the same thing, just not worn on your wrist?
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,462 Member
    Counting reps keeps my mind off the pain!
  • auzziecawth
    auzziecawth Posts: 244 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    Counting reps keeps my mind off the pain!

    Haha this ^^
  • LazSommer
    LazSommer Posts: 1,851 Member
    Pay attention to how many different movements you make getting into proper position before doing one rep for any exercise. Think of how many different Tricep extensions there are, and how form and approach differs by person.

    If you're lifting, you should have a program. Your reps, sets, and weights would be pre-established prior to your workout. I could only see this being usable for someone who makes up a workout as they go - and even then you'd waste time finding the exact workout every time you do a new lift. I think this is less feasible and more cumbersome than you are hoping for.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    Which one do you have? I have the FitBit Surge and it tracks weightlifting, yoga, biking, hiking, and running etc.

    I have a Garmin Fenix 3 HR. It can track strength training, but all it really does is time the workout, record my heart rate, and put it on my calendar. That's valuable stuff, but I feel like the gadget could be doing more.
    lorrpb wrote: »
    Counting reps keeps my mind off the pain!

    Ha ha, yeah. Problem is when Beth wants to show me a house she found on Zillow or a hike we haven't done in the Methow or something, and then I can't remember how many sets I've done.
  • HermanLily
    HermanLily Posts: 217 Member
    shor0814 wrote: »
    Atlas Wearable does this. It was hit or miss at first so I didn't bother using it but now it has a learning mode and it is reported to work very well now.

    Dog ate my strap too so once I stop being lazy and get a new one I will try again.

    Have you used your Atlas since this post? Mine works flawlessly. They are also coming out with a daily tracker (think Fitbit) with a built in Coach.
  • Bry_Fitness70
    Bry_Fitness70 Posts: 2,481 Member
    I think it would be an intriguing feature, but it seems like you would spend your entire workout fiddling around with your tracker. Also, there are times that I improvise in the gym and try new things, so that would be difficult to enter spontaneously into the tracker. I have a Garmin F3 HR, and use it to document the general exercise metrics (duration, HR, calories, etc.)
  • jennybearlv
    jennybearlv Posts: 1,519 Member
    Have you been reading my mind? For some reason I thought my Fénix 3 had some sort of strength taking app built in when I bought it. Nope. I'm waiting for a well rated app to come out on Connect. I've downloaded several and they are either frustrating to use or give me error messages. There is a paid app I haven't tried that counts reps. The reviews say it counts a lot of other movements as reps too though.
  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
    My LG Sports Watch does this exact thing. But this is an old post.
  • shor0814
    shor0814 Posts: 559 Member
    HermanLily wrote: »
    shor0814 wrote: »
    Atlas Wearable does this. It was hit or miss at first so I didn't bother using it but now it has a learning mode and it is reported to work very well now.

    Dog ate my strap too so once I stop being lazy and get a new one I will try again.

    Have you used your Atlas since this post? Mine works flawlessly. They are also coming out with a daily tracker (think Fitbit) with a built in Coach.

    No, still have not gotten a new strap. I should, thanks for the reminder.
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