fitness swimming

Everyone has different reasons for wanting a swimming pool for their home, one of the more common ones is for exercise and fitness. Fitness trackers and swimming apps have revolutionised the way people train. We’ve put together this article to share everything you need to know about the two and why they may benefit you when working on your swimming goals.

What are fitness trackers?

Fitness trackers are the latest craze in the fitness industry. They are generally a wrist-worn device that records your steps, distance travelled, tracks your sleep, monitors your heart rate, and can even detect how many laps you’ve swum. They are usually paired with Bluetooth, and it is set up via the user’s mobile device where data is collected and on display for the user to keep tabs on their health and fitness goals.

What are fitness apps?

A fitness app differs from a fitness tracker as rather than having a wrist device to track your health goals, it is done on an app that is downloaded onto a smart device. They don’t have the same comprehensive monitoring that a fitness tracker does, however they are still a great tool none the less to keep you focused and motivated on reaching your swimming goals. There are fitness-related apps for just about everything these days and you can download one that is suited to you and your fitness interests.

Why should you consider fitness trackers and fitness apps for your swimming?

Gone are the days when you have to physically remember your personal bests, how many laps you’ve swum or guessing what your heart rate is at when working out. Fitness technology allows you to focus on your workouts without worrying about the numbers as it’s all taken care of for you, no writing it down and keeping a paper log of your progress. It can even calculate and tally your physical activity when you are having fun in the pool. Swimming has always been a fantastic form of exercise, it’s low impact and gives you a whole-body workout.

The best part? It can burn double the number of calories as running or cycling for the same time. Using a fitness tracker along with a fitness app allows you to optimise and get the most from your workout. It also keeps you accountable. They can alert you to shortcomings in your daily activity or exercises, and you can add additional time to your workout or up the intensity if necessary. Not only that, having your training sessions ready to go or planned out keeps you motivated.

Make sure the devices you use are waterproof

The last thing you want to do is to go out and purchase an expensive fitness tracker only to discover it isn’t waterproof. If it isn’t waterproof, its limits the amount of activity you can track, which isn’t ideal. The same applies to your smart device or mobile phone, if you plan on using it around the pool, make sure it has a waterproof cover on it. While you may not take it in the water, accidents do happen. It can also provide you with added peace of mind if you grab it with wet hands.

Some popular fitness trackers

You are spoilt for choice when choosing a fitness tracker. Here are some of the most popular ones used for swimming. They all offer great features:

Garmin Swim 2

The Garmin Swim 2 is designed primarily for swimming-related fitness. It features a GPS, a heart rate monitor, stroke count, distance, and pace. It can alert you to when you need to slow down or pick up the pace, and it can be used in all types of water, including the ocean.

Apple Watch 6

An Apple Watch 6 offers much the same benefits as the Garmin Swim. They are waterproof up to 50 metres and you can download their apple swim app for workouts or third-party ones if you prefer. 

Fitbit 4

A Fitbit is one of the original fitness trackers and they offer similar features to the ones mentioned above. Fitbit 4 is the newest model and allows you to track your strokes, the distance you have swum, your stats are recorded, and it is water-resistant up to 50 metres.

Some popular fitness apps

With so many apps out there, it is hard to know which ones are going to support you on your journey best. It comes down to what you want to achieve, and the type of fitness you’re interested in. Here are some popular fitness apps that can help you achieve your swimming goals.

MySwimPro

MySwimPro is a tracker and trainer. You can customise your workouts to suit your swimming ability, and when paired with a fitness tracker, you can set targets based on your input and goals. It has an extensive collection of both land and water-based workouts.

Swim Coach

Swim Coach has been created to support the swimmer with their performance and technique. This app provides you with customised swimming sessions that can take your swimming to the next level.

Swim.com

The Swim.com app allows you to track your training, set goals and compare and compete against friends or fellow competitors. When used with a fitness tracker, it automatically records your swim sessions. 

A comprehensive approach to health

Fitness trackers and swimming apps can provide you with a holistic and comprehensive approach to your fitness and health in general. They take out the guesswork to make it easier for you to meet your goals. There isn’t much you can’t do with fitness technology these days, and there are many free apps out there that you can utilise to better your wellbeing. Fitness trackers, while expensive, can offer benefits that are simply unmatched by old school methods.

A swimming pool is an initial outlay, but having one in the backyard is the perfect way to work on your fitness any day and at any time. Our team here at The Fibreglass Pool Company specialise in luxurious Brisbane Fibreglass Pools that are ideal for working on your health, relaxation, and everything in between. For more information, get in touch with our friendly team.

DISCLAIMER: Ensure you speak to your GP or health professional before starting any new exercise or health-related program.