8 Game-Changing Wearable Gadgets for Health and Wellness

To understand the real-life impact of wearable gadgets and health-focused devices, we asked eight professionals, including a General Practitioner and a Nutritionist, to share their experiences. From optimizing weightlifting workouts with Stance to efficient cardio tracking with Polar H10, these insights reveal how technology can significantly enhance our well-being and productivity.

• Stance: Optimizing Weightlifting Workouts
• Apple Watch: Adding a Social Element
• Fitbit Versa 3: Providing Sleep Tracking
• Oura Ring: Guide to Better Sleep
• Healthmetryx Clarinet: Revolutionizing Respiratory Monitoring
• Red-Light Therapy: Combining with Meditation
• Garmin Smartwatch: Comprehensive Health Tracking
• Polar H10: Efficient Cardio Tracking

Stance: Optimizing Weightlifting Workouts

As an NHS GP, I often sit at my desk all day and thus have to rely on effective gym workouts in order to keep fit and maintain my well-being. In order to get the most out of my weight-lifting workouts, I have beta-tested a really cool and new device called Stance.

Stance is a wearable device that can track my rating of perceived exertion (RPE) that I put into my reps when weight lifting, and using state-of-the-art AI algorithms, it can advise me on whether to increase or decrease the weight or reps to achieve my fitness goals. Research indicates that we can indeed put “too much” effort into lifting weights, which may not provide an actual benefit in terms of muscle strengthening, but instead exhausts us and puts us at risk of injury. This is where Stance comes in and it has been a game changer!

Strength training has been linked to a plethora of health benefits, including increasing bone density and reducing blood pressure, so I highly encourage my patients to practice it.

Abhinav Vepa
NHS General Practitioner

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Apple Watch: Adding a Social Element

I started using an Apple Watch back in 2020 when everything shut down. I was certainly having some difficulty getting motivated to move and stay active while I was in my apartment studying. My friends and I decided to get Apple Watches together so we could track each other’s activity and motivate each other to exercise more.

I did not expect how much I would enjoy the social aspects of the fitness trackers. The pressure of not wanting my friends to see I’ve been sitting around all day was enough to get me outside on a run or a bike ride. There’s a really satisfying aspect to closing your activity rings each day. We had a lot of fun sharing our workout stats and making sure nobody was cheating.

I also picked up outdoor cycling around the same time. The heart-rate and GPS-tracking features of the smartwatch gave me some great data collection so I could see objective progress I make in my fitness. Using a wearable gadget really helps me stay focused and motivated to get active every day.

Vikram Chandra
Marketing Analyst, My Supplement Store

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Fitbit Versa 3: Providing Sleep Tracking

As a co-founder of Total Shape, I’m constantly on the lookout for innovative, health-focused devices that can enhance both my well-being and productivity. One wearable gadget that has truly made a positive impact on my life is the Fitbit Versa 3. This sleek smartwatch has seamlessly integrated into my daily routine and has become an indispensable tool for tracking my health and fitness progress.

One of the most significant ways the Fitbit Versa 3 has helped me is by meticulously monitoring my sleep patterns. With its advanced sleep-tracking features, I can now assess the quality of my sleep, understand my sleep cycles, and make necessary adjustments to improve my rest. This has been a game-changer, allowing me to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day ahead. I’ve noticed a substantial increase in my productivity levels and overall mood since I started paying more attention to my sleep, all thanks to this incredible gadget.

Isaac Robertson
Co-Founder and Nutritionist, Total Shape

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Oura Ring: Guide to Better Sleep

As an academic who has researched wearables for a number of years, I’ve enjoyed the privilege of trialing a wide array of wearable devices. Among them, the Oura ring has remarkably stood out, imprinting a positive shift in my life and routines.

I have been collecting data from the Oura ring for seven years now, and it has revealed a huge amount of amazingly useful information about my personal sleep data. Through a meticulous process of experimentation and iterative adjustments—all informed by the rich tapestry of data from the Oura ring—I have uncovered various factors that elevate the quality of my sleep.

Over the years, the data has nudged me towards better sleep habits, which has resulted in a multitude of benefits. These include more energy, better productivity, and an improved overall mood. The Oura ring has not merely been a tool; it has been an enlightening companion, guiding me towards a more energetic, productive, and better version of myself!

Dr Mark Farrell (FIA)
Actuary and CEO, ProActuary Jobs

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Healthmetryx Clarinet: Revolutionizing Respiratory Monitoring

The Healthmetryx Clarinet is a patent-pending, wearable, exhaled-breath data collection device that will revolutionize respiratory self-monitoring, remote patient monitoring, and early detection for chronic respiratory diseases. The Clarinet, via the data it collects, indicates that an individual presents certain levels of respiratory, spirometric, and oximetric wellness and/or is inhaling and exhaling a certain level of compounds from their environment.

The Clarinet:

• Is easy to use: Users inhale and exhale through the mask, the device sensors are activated, the data is collected, and transmitted to the app.
• Collects six unique datasets: O2, CO2, chemical/VOC, spirometry data, pulse, and oximeter data.
• Is small and portable: Takes readings anywhere in real-time.

Users gain peace of mind, independence, and self-reliance by being able to self-monitor their respiratory health remotely. That saves them time and money, relieves stress and anxiety, and delivers happiness and well-being.

Robert Foney
CMO, Healthmetryx , Inc.

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Red-Light Therapy: Combining with Meditation

I’ve found a simple, effective way to enhance my daily routine by combining red-light therapy and meditation. In a quiet corner of my room, I positioned a red-light panel and spend a few minutes there each morning, meditating under the light. The red light potentially aids my physical recovery and skin health, while meditation helps me start the day with a clear mind.

It’s a straightforward practice that integrates mental and physical wellness with little effort or time, and I’ve noticed it makes a genuine difference in my day. I smile a lot more throughout the day!

Jonathan Knight
Chief Editor, RLT Home

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Garmin Smartwatch: Comprehensive Health Tracking

When I first thought about getting a Garmin smartwatch, I was a little hesitant due to the cost. Looking back now, it was one of the best decisions I’ve made for my running training, well-being, and productivity.

First, one of the great features for me is the morning alarm. Unlike traditional noisy alarms, it wakes me gently, which sets a positive tone for a productive day ahead. Moreover, the watch has significantly improved my health on various fronts. It diligently tracks my sleep patterns, heart rate, stress levels, and daily steps, and even monitors my “body battery” to gauge my energy levels. This data helps me make informed choices about my daily activities and, most importantly, when to give myself a rest.

What I also absolutely love about my Garmin watch is the planning of my workouts and running routines. The watch tailors exercise plans based on my performance and current training goals, ensuring that every session is effective.

Marketa Chalupnikova
Co-Founder and COO, Tolgee

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Polar H10: Efficient Cardio Tracking

I now track my cardio using the Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap. I can efficiently spend all of my time doing cardio in the specific heart-rate zones that I am targeting. I spend 80% of my cardio in Zone 2 and 20% in Zone 5, both of which I am able to track in real-time using the app that connects to the chest strap via Bluetooth.

I’ve been using this for 2 months and can already see a small difference in my resting heart rate (tracked via the Apple Watch), and my VO2 max has gone up from 46 to 48.

Kristine Thorndyke
Founder, Test Prep Nerds

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