Wearable activity trackers help

[skb]

New findings from Australian researchers have endorsed what millions of people around the world believe: fitness trackers, pedometers and smart watches motivate us to exercise more and lose weight.

Article

[walkerwally1]

I agree with this.  I started to wear a pedometer several years ago and then got a Fitbit and over the years got more advanced Fitbits that helped by prodding me to move and gave me a goal to try to reach each day.  My Apple watch is not as good at step tracking for some reason but it does prod me to stand and move each hour.

[bigskygal]

I agree to a certain extent. I have only used a step counter on my phone, but found if I kept checking it, I often pushed myself too far to the detriment of the next day's numbers. So I kind of see good and bad in these trackers.

I check my previous day's steps in the morning when I take my fasting # for the day otherwise I don't look at the count. I do get up and walk each hour but sometimes my knee or whatever says "not right now" and I have learned it is better to listen to that...

[skb]

My Apple watch is not as good at step tracking for some reason

That is true. I have also found the ECG quite unreliable. The HRM is pretty good but does take time to stabilize after a start-up.

I check my previous day's steps in the morning when I take my fasting # for the day otherwise I don't look at the count

I don't carry the phone on me so the phone alone was not able to count all my steps. With the watch now synched with the phone I can get a reading on the phone as well, but again, the Stepz and Apple's step counters differ. After my morning Treadmill session, I really don't look at my step count.

The point the Article is making is that these gadgets are motivating people to move which otherwise they would not is quite correct IMHO.

[walkerwally1]

Yeah, I think the phone with a step counting app is just as good as anything to help keep track of at least steps. 
It is also true that as we get older it becomes more difficult to reach certain goals and it can cause you to push too hard to get to a preset goal. 

[bigskygal]

I always have my phone in my pocket. With my falling history it is also my "Help I've fallen and can't get up" device using the "Emergency" choice on the screen.