Your smartwatch alerts you to move, tracks your heart rate, and even tells you if you're overtraining. But is it actually coaching you?
If you've ever been nudged by your smartwatch to "Stand Up!" or "You're in peak zone!" you've probably asked yourself, "Is this thing just tracking me… or is it actually training me?"
Wearables have come a long way. What used to be step counters have now evolved to be health companions, tracking your sleep, heart rate, workouts, water intake, stress, and even oxygen levels.
Whether you're using a smartwatch from Apple, Samsung, Fitbit, Garmin, or even Polar, these devices and the apps they can connect to, like AIA Vitality on the AIA+ app, offer more support than ever.
But here's the question: Can your smartwatch replace a real-life fitness coach? Or is it just giving you a bunch of numbers and hoping you know what to do with them?
Let's unpack what these wearables are doing and what they're not.